A Glimpse of Fire

18

    Fire, it burns everything it touches, it's how people describe those who are filled with determination. It's a force of nature, unstoppable, formidable, but in the end it can be doused.
You stood in a circle of flames, hearing roar of the inferno around you, the wail of sirens in the distance. Adian stood opposite of you, his hands up before him, palms glowing neon red. You knew that there would be no escaping him, no running, you had to face him.
     The flicker of flame sprang up from between his palms and grew. You shifted your stance, wondering how the hell you were going to do this. A blast fire flung from his hands and you ducked low, feeling the heat rush across your back. You stood up right and took a deep breath and started to walk toward him, grasping hold of the moonstone tight. Another ball of flames came spiraling at you, red wisps engulfed the ball as you brought your hand up and sent it careening to the side.
He snarled at you as you continued to come towards him, the edges of the circle closing in as you neared. He hurtled another ball of flames at you, it's smashed against you palm dying as it touched, his face contorting in pure rage. Flames licked at your back as you lunged at him, knocking him straight off his feet, sending you both into the wall of flames.
   You could smell your clothes begin to singe and burn, heat radiating around your body you screwed your eyes tight as Adian fought back against you. You pulled the flames down back towards the ground dousing their intensity. Pain flourished through your temple the second Aidan's fist made contact and your grip loosened on him.
    "You bitch!" He yelled as he shoved you hard while freeing himself of your grasp. His emerald eyes glared to you as he stood and you followed suit moments behind him. The fire erupted again, catching the diner behind you on fire, you could hear the roar from a fire truck approach. He looked out toward the side, a wicked grinned formed as he looked back to you.
    You launched yourself at him again as he stuck his hand out to the side, a steady stream of fire hitting the truck throwing it to its side. You wrapped both your arms around him, engulfing yourselves in flames, people shouting and screaming. You closed your eyes tight again.
"Y/n, where are you hiding?" You heard him ask, looking around for the girl. You heard a giggle to your left and you slowly turned, you still didn't see her. "Y/n, come out!"
    "Aidan, I'm right here." The girl stated as she pushed a part of the wall forward, slowly crawling out on her hands and knees. She beamed up with bright eyes, cobwebs and dust clinging to her as she let out another giggle. "We should hide in here, that way they'll never find us."
    "They'll still find us, we have to run a way." His voice came out weak, and you could feel your body slump with defeat. There was only pain here, at least having a friend made it easier but still what it would be like to have someone to love you.
    "We can't run away Aidan, where would we go? We have no family, and no friends except Mr. Travis. We're kids, and we have no money." She sighed walking back with you to your room. You flopped back on the metal bed, picking up the green plastic army toy.
    "I know, but still." His voice whined, tossing the toy in the air and catching it. You felt the desperation flowing through you.
"No!" Aian screamed trying to wiggle out from under you, the heat from the fire started to burn your skin as you held on tightly.
You laid there as they strapped you down, starring straight up at the white ceiling watching as the shadows from the lights outside danced across the smooth surface. You had long given up trying to fight them, they only punished your disobedience. A sharp bite into the crook of your arm was the beginning of the things to come. You looked away from them, towards the bare blank beige wall as they hooked the bag into the IV drip attached to your arm.
"Stop!" Aidan shrieked above the sound of the flames. You glanced up briefly, the walls were beginning to lower and you knew it was working.
Ice pumped through your veins, it cooled your body quickly, you shivered despite the sweat that glistened on your brow. Soon the cold began to hurt, every time you flinched it was like your joints were stuck and it hurt to move them. The liquid slowly creeping through your veins, crawling up your scalp, your hair standing on end. They were cooling your body temp, to keep you from igniting when they started their torture. This was the worse part of them, trying to repress you.
A scream erupted from both your lips together as the pain of the memory coursed it's way through both of you. The fires dying instantly, smoke billowing toward the heavens. You breathed heavy, Aidan trying to curl himself into a ball as you pushed yourself away from him. The smell of burnt fabric and hair filled your senses, you stood to unsteady feet as you looked around.
Parts of the diner were charred, as well as the street surrounding the both of you. The over turned fire truck still wailing and the lights continued to flash, the side completely smashed in and singed. Dozens of people stood awkwardly look in your direction, Steve shoving his way through as Tony landed just outside the blackened circle. You swallowed thickly, a slow clapping started and you felt your brows furrow.
You turned away from the street and looked back at the diner. His posture was rigid as his crystal blues bore into you, slowly you walked up to the Winter Soldier his eyes tracking you as you neared. You kept eye contact, the wind gently blowing at your back, it felt cold against your skin. Slowly you raised your hand placing it against his chest. Time to bring him home.
"I'm with you till the end of the line." Steve stated, clapping you on the shoulder.
Bucky recoiled away from you, grasping his head, his eyes flicking down and away. He breathed hard, blinking wildly before his eyes lifted back to you, brow furrowed, disbelief written on his face, horror in those twin blues.
"Steve give me your jacket!" You heard Tony yell from behind you. Your legs felt weak and the world around you began to tilt and darken.