Malen'kaya Zemlya [2] [P. Parker]

1.7 Falling Once Again

When I came to, Peter was in front of me, my face in his hands and a terrified look on his face.

"Ash, oh my God!" He pressed his lips to my forehead shortly then pulling away. "What happened? Can you stand?"

"I- I... I don't know... How am I alive?" I asked, blinking slowly and looking blearily around at my surroundings.

"Not sure. You were almost dead when I got here then you just woke up."

I nodded slowly. "Can you help me up?"

"I don't know if that's-"

"Please?"

Peter sighed. "Alright."

He lifted me up which was when I pulled his mask down over his face. "Thanks," he said, steadying me.

"Ash!" Tony landed just in front of me. "Take these trees down. Now!"

I winced at the volume of his voice. "I- I can't."

"Yes, you can. And you will." Tony snapped.

Peter held me closer. "Mr Stark, she's-"

"Let her go, kid."

"What?"

"She can stand on her own. Let her go."

The rest of Tony's team and the remainder of ours were watching.

"Mr Stark-"

"Now!" Tony roared. He was furious. Did someone get hurt?

Peter flinched and slowly dropped his arms away from mine.

I gave him a slight nod, not too much to make my head spin, but enough for him to see it.

He took a couple of steps away, still watching me.

"What happened?" I asked, struggling to keep my balance.

"Your buddies got Rhodey shot out of the sky." Tony snapped.

"Is he okay?" I asked, my hand flying to my mouth.

"No, he's not okay!"

"Are you okay?"

"Yes! I'm fine! And you know what's the worst?" Tony took threatening steps closer to me.

I shook my head weakly, regretting it as my head pounded again.

"You're standing here, having told me you were staying neutral, completely uninjured, while Rhodey, my best friend, is lying out there paralyzed! That's the worst thing!"

I blinked away tears of pain and sadness. I knew that he didn't mean it. He was blinded by anger, his brain not comprehending things properly. My head hurt more.

"Take the trees down. Consider it compensation for what you've done." he sneered in my face then turned and stormed away.

A lone tear traced its way down my grimy cheek.

What have I done?

I shakily raised my arms, focussing all my being on putting things back the way they were.

Tears leaked out of my eyes.

So much of this was my fault.

So, so much.

"Ash-" Peter stepped forwards.

I cut him off with a shout of agony.

I screwed up my face in pain and held back a scream as huge trees began turning to dust.

Everything blurred and all I saw was red and black, my vision patching out as everything but the things that mattered returned to how they were before.

Along with my spirit, my head and my body, my heart was broken.

The people I had trusted and cared for betrayed me and I betrayed them. My new friends and I were going to be in cells for the rest of our lives and I would never see my old friends again.

I was broken in too many ways.

"Ash!"

"Ash!"

"Ashley, open your eyes, you're done!"

My eyes opened.

Scott, Ryker and Clint were staring at me.

I stumbled back, my heart racing and my head pounding. I clutched at my chest and throat, unable to breathe properly.

It was Scott that took my hands. "Okay, Ashley, you need to calm down. Count with me. One."

I took in as much air as I could. "One..."

"Two."

"T-two."

"Three."

"Th-three."

It was getting easier now.

"Four."

"F-four."

"Five."

"Five."

We counted all the way to ten and back again, and by the time we were done, I was breathing properly, my heart back to its normal pace and my hands barely shaking.

"Better now?" Scott asked.

I nodded, still breathing deeply.

He slowly let go of my wrists. "Okay."

Tony was nearby.

"Mr Stark, Tony, I-" I started my hands still shaking and sweating, tears still marking my cheeks.

"No! I don't wanna hear it!" He snapped.

My eardrums rang and my head pounded, blood still leaking out. "I'm-"

"I don't care if you're sorry! What you did can't be-" I had to lean on him to stay upright. "What are you doing?"

I gulped in as much breath as I could. "I can't-"

"Get off. You don't need a hug, kid." He pushes me off. Then he looks down at his suit. There was a huge patch of blood on it. His eyes widened. "Ashley, how much blood have you lost?"

I shrugged weakly, feeling sick. "Lots."

"Oh, God. You need to go to the hospital. Come on, I-"

I swayed on my feet. My vision was patching out.

"No, kid. Stay with me." Tony ordered, but it was too late.

I passed out, falling to the ground.

(A/N)

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

More Ashley passing out but this chapter's intense!

*more intense screaming*

I hope you all understand why Tony is written so angry and stuff. His best friend is almost dead and the girl who said she would remain neutral is standing in front of him seemingly unaffected by all this and he just needs to take it out on someone.

I hope I haven't written Ashley too weak and cry-y lately, but that's just how things are now for her. Lots of stress. Lots of sad. Lots of anger. No fun.

I love Scott and Ashley. They are both amazing. I love them.

Also, the method used to calm Ash down is one I use, so it works and if anyone has panic or anxiety attacks, feel free to use it, because it works for me and might work for you.

-lost_in_a_book__