You choked on air, the smell invading your senses, and making your eyes burn as you gagged. Tears pricked your eyes, a sickening feeling creeping up inside you, and you spun around when you heard the creak of floorboards.
Your teeth clacked together as your lip trembled and you felt your bones weaken, but your head was on fire. Your vision was blurred with tears and you narrowed your eyes on the man you once considered a father to you.
"His life was over the second you stepped foot in this city."
Your fists were clenched, the deafening drip of blood coming from Leo's fingertips as his arm hung over the bathtub's rim, hitting the tiles below. Your jaw ticked with every breath this man still took and you knew it wouldn't be long before it was his last.
"I did this for you," He put his hands out in front of him, "You're finally free."
He kept his distance, he wasn't stupid, but you found the room shrinking in on you both. You felt as if you were floating closer to this person, and soon realized you were walking as he backed up at the action.
Your breathing was heavy, almost sending your body into shock as rage coursed through you, and he could see the physicality of his mistake.
You were barely ten feet away when he put his hands out, desperate for you to stop and let him go, but he wasn't smart enough to realize that was never going to happen.
Nightmares.
Nightmares had plagued you over what you'd done in the past, all the lives you took for some job or just trying to keep your brother at a safe distance. But the one thing you had held onto was that he was alive. You did all of this for him, for the last piece of family, of normality, you had left. If you were ever going to have a regular life again, it'd start with Leo.
"You took him from me." You gritted between your teeth and ignored the gold dust cascading off your fingers as you moved forward.
You got about four feet away from the man who barely stood taller than you and he pulled his gun, aiming it at your chest.
"That's far enough, I know what you're doing."
You looked down at the gun and took another couple of steps forward, the barrel pressing against your skin. He looked from the gun to your face as your eyes went to his and took in a sharp breath as your tears silently fell. He swallowed thickly, sweat glistening his temples even in the crisp air, and you let your eyes closed, your arms falling limp at your sides. You couldn't get the image of your brother out of your head and it pained you more than anything in the world could.
Even death.
"End of a barrel." You mumbled under your breath with a short, dark laugh.
"What?" He furrowed his eyebrows, not sure he heard you right, and you looked up at him, dead eyes set on his fearful ones.
"It's one way to go."
You kept your eyes on his as he darted them across your face, looking for the play you were making, and when he found none, he almost looked regretful of what he had done.
Almost.
"You're weak." He spat instead and you gave him a tight smile.
"Yeah, well," You narrowed your eyes on him again, giving him no choice but to believe your steady words as you spoke, "I've changed."
"I knew as soon as I saw that Stark had his claws in you," He glanced down when you just barely moved to lift your pant leg, and his face turned to confusion when he saw it was gone, "But-"
