Fire as Strong as Iron

Bang

BANG

My sister came hurtling downstairs, eyes half open. "D-dragonfly?" She murmured softly.

"Get the hell back upstairs!" I shouted, tears blurring my eyes. I could see the blurry image of her eyes widening before she bolted back upstairs.

My eyes were wide in shock, tears threatening to spill. I pushed past the few who were still in the way of me getting to my mom, tripping and landing next to her, pulling her head and upper body into my kneeling lap. Tears spilled as she looked me in the eye, she swallowed thickly.

She grabbed my hand, slipping something into it before closing it. I held her face in my hands, tears evaporating as I stared into her now fading eyes, she let out one final breath. I started shaking her shoulders, the tears evaporating faster than they could blur my sight.

"Mom," I whispered, almost silently. "Please, you need to see Pebble grow up!" I murmured softer. I shook her a bit more, a lump in my throat stopping me from saying more. I could feel the blood trickle from my nose, it always happened when I used my powers. I held her close to me, my hair falling over my face.

I heard the footsteps of the men retreating.

~ 3rd person POV

The Avengers watched as the once strong girl broke, their eyes casting around the broken room. Blood, burn marks, a man with his tongue burned out and cauterized. Tony moved forward, his face plate lifting away from his face. He walked around, looking to see his sister. Dead.

His face fell, eyes closing as he took deep breaths. Flashbacks of the young men and women dying just so people could get their hands on him.

He shook his head, clearing it of the images. The silence dragged on.

He looked to his eldest niece. Her hair covered her face, he could see between the strands that her eyes were wide. She was staring into her mothers dead eyes. Pebble nowhere to be found. The man stepped out of the metal suit, it rebuilding itself in the form of a man.

Clint walked over, taking the dead woman from the child's arms. They were once good friends in high school (talking about Clint and the mother). The girl stayed where she was, her arms falling to her sides. Tony crouched in front of her, soon kneeling as well. He pulled the girl into his arms, holding her close as she clutched to him like a lifeline.

She wasn't crying, though. Her eyes stayed wide.

The man groaned, looking around. Steve moved forward, grabbed the man and slammed him into the wall.

"What the hell do you want?" Steve shouted at the man.

A gargling sound. "We eeyed her for her powerh" The man was able to gargle the few words before going unconscious. Steve dropped him, turning to look at Tony, then the back of the girl.

~ Dragonfly's POV

I felt them stare into me, it was like I was getting burned everywhere their eyes had traveled.

"What does that mean?" I could hear Tony, but I couldn't. It was like it was through a thick mask, most of his voice seeming distant. I was finally able to swallow the lump that had grown in my throat, pushing away from Tony and walking upstairs to my sister.

I found her hiding in her closet, she whimpered when she saw me. I pulled her out before resting against the wall, holding the small girl close to me.

"D-di-id t-they k-k-kill m-mo-o-mm-y?" She stuttered. I slowly nodded. She burst out into tears against my shoulders, sobs racking her body. I held her close to me, rubbing her back slowly in large circles.

I closed my eyes, head leaning against the wall behind me. I felt her sobs slow to evened breathing, I sighed in calmness, my body slowly drifting into a deep sleep.

~ Time skip

I found myself open my eyes to a slightly familiar ceiling. I sighed, closing my eyes again.

"Hey, Dragonfly," I heard a soft voice from the door. My eyes cast down, seeing Nat standing in the doorway.

"Hi," I mumble, still feeling like I had blood on my hands. I closed my eyes as I felt the weight of her make a dip in the bed near me. She placed her hand softly on my leg, doing what I did to Pebble once.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"I just watched my mother get killed..." There was a long silence. "So no," I finish.

"It'll get better," She murmured.

"How do you know?"  I asked.

"It got better for Tony, didn't it?" She responded.

I slowly nodded, my eyes growing heavy once again as I fell into a fitful sleep.

I stood there, holding the gun, aimed at my mother. I wanted to stop... but my hand moved on its own. I shut my eyes.

Click

...

...

...

BANG

My heart beat increased as I watched her blood splatter around, covering my face and filling my senses. I could feel the thick liquid drip.

Drip

Drip

Drip

...

Drip

"Allyson," A weak groan.

"Allyson," It was growing quieter.

"You could have stopped this," It grew full of hate.

"I tried!" I sobbed.

"You didn't try hard enough," The voice snapped, venom dripping in every word.

"I did!" I sobbed harder.

"That wasn't your best!" A growl filled my hearing.

"Allyson," The voice from before murmured.

"Allyson," It grew even weaker.

"Help," It was so quiet I could barely hear it.

Darkness everywhere I looked, I ran and ran and ran, my legs burning harshly. I stopped, seeing flashes of my mother's dead face filled my sight, flashing quicker and quicker.

I screamed, my voice growing hoarse.

I sat up in my bed, sweat dripping down my forehead and wetting my shirt. My bed sheets were soaked, I was shaking so violently I swear my bed was creaking slightly. I closed my eyes, trying to slow my quick, sudden gasps of breath.

Maybe I screamed out loud, maybe it was just in my dream but I felt unnerved. I slowly laid back down, my back making contact with the freezing wetness that was there. My hair stuck to my face from the constant movements in my sleep. 

I closed my eyes, breathing deeply. 

I opened my eyes again, unable to fall asleep. I sigh, staring at the ceiling as it seemed like the only thing to do. I couldn't bother anyone, I was far too old to.

I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Sleep didn't come until the sky grew milky with the rising sun.