X-Men: Civil War

Chapter 16: Trial of Truth, Justice, and Assassination

Christin

The cell I'm in is cold and it's disposition is hard. I can't hear anything beyond the bars except for buzzing and clicks, as if people are being let out only to mock the fact that I am inside. But in the midst of these things, I hear footsteps coming straight for my door. The lock turns, it's retreat into the metal echoes in my ears.

It's time for Steve's and my trial, the one where we're most likely to be sent to the negative zone. I ease myself up and let them handcuff me, as if these flimsy chains could hold. But I know it's all a show, and don't want to think about what it means​. That they might have already reached a verdict.

I'm walked out of the prison, past the chain link fences, and into a black car with mirrored windows. Steve is already here and sits in the seat beside me, his blue eyes set in a fiery determination that makes me want to regain hope. Maybe we'll come out of this together, maybe we'll get to live normally​, maybe we won't get a life sentence.

The car rolls to a stop and before the doors can be opened I kiss him, and we are held in what seems like forever in each other's comforting embrace. Maybe this won't end too bad.

My arm is grabbed roughly though, and we're both pulled out of the car and onto the white steps of a courthouse. Now we're side by side and his arm is brushing mine like it's all I need to stay upright.

The journalists and people around us press in so tight that I wonder if there is any crowd control at all. Ahead an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D stands with her hands on her gun and a blank expression across her face.

No one notices how she pulls it out of it's holster or how she aims it at Steve as we approach where she's standing. Except for me apparently, and when she pulls the trigger it happens too fast, I jump in front of him in a desperate attempt to protect him from death.

Fire, in my chest, a hole that will never be filled. Tearing muscles, shattering bone. Pain, flaring pain, then ice, it's so cold.

I can barely breathe, the bullet is lodged deep inside me, the feeling of pain replaced with anguish. Is this really how it all ends, at least I can say I went out with a bang... No I can't say it, because I'll be gone.

I don't want to leave him, but sorrow and acceptance fills me where the bullet entered. My songs will never again be heard by this Earth, my music has come to an end.

Steve Rogers

Her blood covers my hands as I try to apply pressure to her chest. No, she can't go like this, she can't leave me now. Not when I needed her to be my strength, I should've been the one in front of the bullet, not her.

I feel tears start to swell in my eyes as she starts to close hers.

"Christie... Keep your eyes on me, keep them open." They flicker back a little and she coughs up a glob of blood.

"To the-" more blood comes up, splattering my face,"end of the line..." Her hand reaches up to my unshaved cheek and I grab a hold of it, hoping my touch will anchor her where she lays. But she only smiles a bloody grin and releases a final breath.

She's gone, she's gone and I don't know what to do except sit here, on these red steps and hold her. I lift her and plant a last kiss on her forehead.

A strangled cry is released from my lips and I let myself weep. For her, and her alone will I ever feel this way, she was amazing, and now she's...  dead.

My tears fall so heavily, that the pain becomes a numbed sensation, I feel as though I've lost everything. Her blood is everywhere, staining me forever until I'm released from life's tyrannic rule. Her hair is now covered in a dark garnet and her glasses lay shattered beside her pale face. They had fallen off when she hit the ground. The dirty ground where she now rests, never to wake up again.

My body aches, feeling the loss as though my own heart has been cut out to be sewn back in backwards.

I don't know how long I have been in this position, cradling her limp body to my more red than blue chest, but it must have been too long for the police, because I'm soon lifted to my feet, her body still on the steps.

Anger builds in my heart, who has done this, who would-. Then I see her, the S.H.I.E.L.D agent still looked at me with that calculated stare. It was her.

I rip away from the hands who hold me in place and I lunge at the woman. But, before I make it to where she stands the barrel of a gun fills my vision, an explosion, and then nothing.

Tony Stark

"Mr. Stark, I have some news that you may be upset to hear." Jarvis' voice fills the room.

"And what is that?" I ask as I saunter in with my usual manner.

"Steve Rogers and Christin Really have been assassinated." I stop, the room has suddenly turned cold, a weight suddenly lies heavily on my chest.

"Wha- what?" I can't keep the surprise from my trembling tone.

"They were killed before their public hearing, the prime suspect is a Miss. Sharon Carter, but our resources have found that Hydra is to be responsible." A wave of grief washes over my mind and I find it hard to stand.

"Cancel all my appointments for the week, don't let anyone in the building, we need a break." My words crack when I say break, and I feel like that is what I'm doing at the moment. Breaking.

Sure, I was mad at him, but he was my friend. And now he's... Dead.

"Sir, are you sure you want to do that? You have a meeting with Director Fury..." I cut him off with a wave of my hand.

"Just. Cancel it." My patience has been worn to the bone, I don't even know how to tell Maxine about her friend, but I do know that we all need time.

Although a week isn't enough, I still have responsibilities and an angry director in the end, so what we may need clashes with the reality of the world and it's expectations. The greedy, impatient, cruel world on which my friend has died.

My friend has died.