Without You {𝟙𝟚} | Marvel √

chapter nine

In the control room, Emma sat in the conference room, staring into nothing as Tony kneeled down before her, trying to get her to talk. But she was silent. Tears swelled up in her eyes, her cheeks already tear stained. And she was visibly shaken. Completely still.

She didn't like this. She didn't like being this vulnerable. This weak. Bucky Barnes could've snapped her neck without a second thought and she had no power to stop him. She couldn't have defended herself even if she wanted to.

Emma was usually a headstrong kind of person. She didn't think of herself as frail or delicate. But with what just happened with The Winter Soldier, she had a harsh reality check that she really was only human. She wasn't a supersoldier. She wasn't an assassin. She wasn't able to shoot webs from her wrist, or swing from building to building. She was just — human. She was a weak, fragile, and powerless human.

She didn't want to be like that. She didn't want to be weak. Natasha Romanoff was only human but yet, she's physically the strongest person Emma knew.

As Tony continued to get Emma to speak to her, with Desmond standing nearby, staring at the Stark sternly, the news played on the TV close by. Tony reached over to take her hand into his, but she flinched back, not wanting him to touch her. Not wanting anyone to touch her. Tony sighed, lowering his head. He shouldn't have involved her. He shouldn't have involved her in anything. He should've learned his lesson from New York, though Loki or Lidianna never hurt a hair on her head — Tony should've known better. His daughter got hurt because of him. She almost died because of him. He thought she would be safest with him right by her, but he couldn't protect her from one single person. Maybe he was the problem...

"James Barnes, der mit dem Bombenanschlag auf die UN in Wien in Verbindung gerbracht wird, ist heute aus der Haft entflohen. Ebenfalls vermisst werden die Avengers Captain Steve Rodgers, Alexandria Romanoff Rodgers und Sam Wilson."

Emma didn't know what the news had said. It sounded German. But when she heard her friend's name, she glanced over to the TV, and spotted English subtitles at the bottom of the screen. When she read what was said, a tear slipped down her cheek;

"James Barnes, the suspect in the UN Vienna bombing escaped custody today. Also missing Avengers Captain Steve Rodgers, Alexandria Romanoff Rodgers, and Sam Wilson."

Finally, Emma placed her eyes on her father, whose head was still lowered in guilt. "Daddy..." she softly said. She knew that Desmond would hear what she said. That he would find out her true identity wasn't Pepper Potts' niece — but that didn't particularly bother her. Not anymore.

Tony quickly glanced up at her, worry clear in his eyes. He wanted to hold her hand again, but feared she'd flinch away.

"We need to help Allie," she softly said and Tony lightly frowned, "She hasn't done anything wrong. She's our friend."

"She broke the law, honey—"

"To help her uncle," Emma said and he eyed her.

"An uncle who almost killed you—"

"I don't care about that—"

"You don't? Really?" Tony asked, "Then why won't you let me touch you—?" But she pushed away from him when he tried to hold her hand. He sighed as she stood from seat, a determined look on him.

"If you won't help her...I will," she told him.

He shuddered a sigh as she turned around, heading towards the door but stopped when Desmond suddenly stood in her way. His green, stern eyes pierced into her blue, teared eyes.