Beautiful Ruins

Chapter 117

I sit in-between MJ and Peter in Stark towers. None of us have spoken, I can hear Peter crying and I know I should say something, but there's nothing to say. I'm not crying, a sort of numbness has spread through my body which somehow feels worse than if I was breaking down right now. I should be crying or screaming or helping to clean up the city, but I can't bring myself to do any of that.

Tony is dead, there was a bomb that was going to go off and Tony stopped it, one of the mutants then shot him. Natasha said he died instantly, that there was nothing anyone could do, I didn't say anything, I should have, but I didn't.

"Storm, can you please say something?" MJ asks, grabbing my hand. It's an effort to raise my head to look at MJ, but it's the least I can do after ruining her life.

"Steve wanted me to leave New York with Henry" is all I can bring myself to say, well Steve didn't mention Henry, but I think he knew the two of us were a package deal, he knew I wouldn't go anywhere without Henry. I thought I could discuss leaving New York with Tony, that he'd tell me what the right decision is.

"I'm really sorry" MJ says softly, placing her hand on my shoulder. I'm glad that most of my friends are alive, but I really wish Henry was here right now.

"Where's Charles?" Milo asks coming over, my eyes widen as I realise that I forgot about Charles, I guess I just assumed he was powerful enough to keep himself safe. He's the most powerful telepath in the world, he has to be okay.

"Probably dead" Peter mumbles, causing all of us to stare at him. He doesn't appear to notice or care. Now that it's over, everything we've been through is hitting us, there is nothing to distract us from the trauma we've experienced or the people we've lost. There are things to work out, but it doesn't really involve us, we don't get a say in what happens to the surviving x-men, but I trust that the avengers will make sure it's fair.

"Charles is fine, he's with the police" Natasha says coming over with Steve, both their eyes are red, they look devastated and exhausted. Natasha places her hand on my shoulder, I glance up at her and manage a weak smile.

"I'm sorry about Tony" I manage to say, the avengers have been close friends for years, I know they'll take his death heavily, I think lots of people will. Tony thought he was selfish and a bad person, but he was the most selfless person I knew. I glance at Peter, he's lost his parents, May, and now Tony, he's not crying anymore, just staring ahead with a blank, distant expression on his face. I wish there was something I could do.

"We all are" Steve says, he hasn't let go of Natasha's hand since coming over here, I'm glad that they have each other. My heart aches as I glance around for Henry, he should be here, it's not right that he isn't.

"I'll be right back" I say, getting up. I head into the lift and press the button for my floor, the lift goes up and I stare blankly at my reflection until the lift stops and the door opens. I walk out and open Henry's door, I shut the door behind me and a lump forms in my throat.

I walk over to Henry's desk and glance at a picture of him and Scarlett. They won't get to live their life together and grow old together, I pick up the picture and throw it, it hits the wall and the glass breaks. I glance at a picture of the four of us, how am I the only one left? I throw it and watch as it smashes, I head over and pick up the pictures, tearing them into pieces. I would've given my life for Ashton, Scarlett, and Henry, yet I'm the last one standing, it's not fair. I pick up Henry's laptop, he doesn't need it anymore, he doesn't need anything anymore, I throw it and watch as it breaks in half.

I was going to ask Henry if he wanted to leave New York with me, I was going to ask him if we should start over somewhere. I'm sure Henry would've agreed to come with me, Steve was right when he said there's more bad memories than good memories.

"I'm sorry" I say, my voice cracking. Why did I turn my back to Henry? If I had noticed Magneto, I could've killed him before he killed Henry. "I'm so sorry."

I pick up a picture of Ashton and Henry and I rip the picture into pieces, Henry doesn't need any of his pictures anymore. Henry is dead.

"Scar, I tried to protect him, I swear" I whisper, tears rolling down my cheeks. Scarlett would never forgive me for this if she was alive, neither would Ashton. I sit down, my back against the wall and place my head into my hands.

How did we go from swimming at the lake to this? It's all Magneto and Mystique's fault but I can't punish them, they're already dead. Tears stream down my face and I make no effort to wipe them away. How am I supposed to live in a world without Henry, Ashton, and Scarlett?

"Clover, come back to me" I plead, knowing she's not coming. I need Clover, I need her to reassure me that I can get through this and that things will get better after time passes because right now, I don't see anything getting better. The only person who would think to look here would be Clover or Tony, and both of them are dead.

Tears stream down my face and I clutch my chest, my heart is aching to the point where it's painful. I can't do this; I can't go on without my friends. I barely survived after Clover's death and now Henry and Tony are dead because I didn't save them.

I have no idea how long I've been sitting here for but when I look out the window it's dark outside so I'm guessing at least two or three hours. All their deaths are playing on a loop inside my head, and I can't get it to turn off, no matter what I do.

All the people who would think to look here for me are dead. Clover would guess I was here, Scarlett would know, Tony would figure it out, and Henry would guess, if someone else had died Henry would think to check their room for me. 

*Author's Note* It's over, but Storm still has so much to work through.