Beautiful Ruins

Chapter 43

"MJ, can I take you home? You should get some rest" Peter suggests. He also doesn't seem keen to party with the avengers.

"Sure, we could have a movie night and get pizza?" MJ suggests, glancing at all of us. Ned agrees quickly.

"I might stay here tonight, are you sure you don't need to be checked out?" I ask both MJ and Peter, Peter was quickly looked at, but he should probably get a head scan to make sure there's no internal damage.

"We're fine. Call us if you need us" MJ says, stepping forward and giving me a hug. "I am sorry" she says once she pulls away. I give her a small smile. I doubt she's sorry about Scarlett's death, but I can't fault her for that, if someone held me hostage, I don't think I'd shed many tears either.

I walk further into Stark towers with Clover, she refused to be looked at on the jet and I know I can't change her mind, I just have to trust her judgement. We walk slowly towards the noise; I open a door and we see most of the avengers standing around with drinks in their hands. I blink, my eyes scanning the room searching for Tony, but I can't seem him anywhere. I can't imagine Tony's response to what happened this afternoon being to party so he's probably in his room or busy working in his lab.

"Mystique and that poisonous redhead are dead!" Thor booms in a loud voice. A few people cheer in response. I close my eyes and turn away from the door, walking as fast as I can to my room. Clover doesn't say anything, but I can hear her walking right behind me. I finally reach my room and open the door. I lie down on my bed. Clover lies down, too. We both turn on our sides so we can face each other.

"That 'poisonous redhead' is the reason the four of us are alive right now" I say, unable to keep the anger out of my voice. How can they celebrate Scarlett's death? She might not have been a hero, but her final moments were saving four lives, she doesn't deserve this.

"It's insensitive of them, I'd be mad too if I were you" Clover says, an edge to her voice. Clover has her own right to be mad, her and MJ were just rescued from being held hostage, nobody seemed to think they might not want this occasion celebrated.

"You and MJ were held hostage, and Scarlett got killed by Magneto because she saved my life. Why are they celebrating? Children are being turned into killers and they're down there drinking and having the time of their lives!" I exclaim, my fists clench and my nails digging down tightly into my palms. I'm pretty sure I saw Natasha which sadly didn't surprise me much, I'm just glad it appears Tony has realised it's an insensitive thing to do.

I wonder what Magneto will tell everyone happened. Will he tell everyone that I killed Scarlett, my old best friend, to make it clear how much of an enemy I am? I don't think I really care anymore. Ashton's locked up here and I can't control what Henry believes. My eyes widen as a thought occurs to me.

"Ashton said he knew I didn't kill Mystique; do you think he knew she was alive?" I ask, I have no idea how private they would have kept Mystique's 'death.' They may have told everyone she was dead to create anger, but they also might not have bothered, it's not like any x-men would be in contact with an avenger.

"I don't know" Clover replies. "But he seemed genuine, and I don't trust many people." I hide a smile; Clover does like to go things alone. I'm surprised she agreed to stay at Stark towers, but I think we knew we had a connection from the first moment we met.

"I don't want Magneto to get away with what he did. He held two people hostages, almost killed you and Peter, and probably would have killed all four of us if it wasn't for Scarlett" Clover says, glancing at me. She's right, the x-men have done way too many terrible things, I know the avengers are trying to stop them, but it's been years, how many more children will become killers before the avengers are able to stop them?

"You want us to go after him?" I ask Clover, I'm not opposed to the idea but today wouldn't have ended well for us if it hadn't been for Scarlett, I don't think there are any other x-men who will risk their lives for us.

I glance down at my pillow, fiddling with a loose thread. Scarlett didn't deserve what happened to her today, but am I willing to take a life to avenge hers? My hands are red enough, I have to determine if killing Magneto is worth it. It could save children from becoming killers, but I don't know if I can kill again, the video Fury shows me flashes in my head every single night.

"I know you have your whole thing about wanting to be good, but I'm not asking you to kill him. I'm asking you to help me so I can kill him" Clover says, she attempts to hide the anger in her voice but it's clear. I lean my head against my pillow, I have no idea what to say or what to do. "He killed Scarlett just as she finally did something good."

I close my eyes, remembering all the times I had with Scarlett. We had so many memories, there wasn't a single negative one before I got kidnapped by Peter. Scarlett understood me in a way nobody else has managed to do, we fought well together because we anticipated each other's moves and knew the other's thoughts.

I glance at Clover, her and MJ didn't deserve to be held hostage. If something had happened, I don't know what I would have done. I promised myself I would do whatever it took to keep Clover safe, maybe this is what she needs to heal. I don't think I can handle taking another life, but I certainly wouldn't be able to handle anything happening to Clover.

"Let's do it, for what he did to you and MJ, and for Scarlett" I decide, looking directly at Clover. This is a terrible idea but nobody else is willing to do this, the x-men will certainly suffer without Mystique, but taking Magneto out of the equation could bring them to their knees without even needing the avengers involved. It's taking a life, but it could save so many others.

"Thank you" Clover says, she knows I'm twisting my moral compass for this. I might end up regretting it but right now it seems like a pretty good idea. I said I'd do whatever it took to stop more children from ending up like me and this is it – this is what I have to do.

*Author's Note* The way Storm would do anything for Clover. I love them so much.