Restless…
Her entire life she had been restless.
Kyra Mordae, the "golden child" as she was nicknamed by her bitter siblings, studied hard so she could go far away for college, managing to get a Law scholarship to some distant prestigious university up North.
At twenty-two, she was picked up by a New York law firm right out of college.
Life seemed to be perfect. She was invaluable to her firm, hopeful for the future, and in love with her High School sweetheart, James.
She was told she was an old soul by her entire family, they always said she was going to do great things.
Greatness depends upon personal opinion.
Her mother thinks being great is getting a good job, finding a nice boy, having two kids, quitting said "good job" to raise the kids, and then settling for living through her children for the rest of her life. Kyra disagrees and had never argued.
James went to Seattle, Kyra stayed in New York. They had promised they would make it work.
Nothing could go wrong.
This was all before the Battle of New York.
Chaos is the only way to describe what was witnessed that day.
It had seemed like a normal day at the office, Karen was late, the printer was broken again, and all the coffee was shit. It had been Kyra's morning to do the weekly bagel run for her office. Then again, it felt like every week was Kyra's week to get bagels.
For once she didn't mind. Only 20 minutes after she left, her building had been toppled by some massive eel like armored alien.
She had no clue what was happening, except for the fact she was regretting wearing her new heels today. They were not built for running through the streets of downtown Manhattan surrounded by other panicked citizens.
Aliens were pouring out of the sky, buildings were smashed, and screams filled the streets.
She saw familiar faces of people she passed on her morning commute, crushed underneath Alien vehicles that had been shot down.
She knew it was hopeless to try and help them.
'Just keep running, eyes straight, you'll make it through this' she thought to herself.
...That is until she heard a familiar voice screaming her name.
Karen.
Trapped underneath the doorway of a coffee shop she saw the upper half of her notoriously late coworker.
"Kyra! Please, help me! I can't move my legs! I don't want to die here!"
Cautiously approaching Karen, Kyra checked the surroundings ensuring no aliens would get the jump on her while she tried to help her colleague. Decreeing the area secure at it was going to get, Kyra gets down to her knees to survey the damage.
"So, this is why you're always late to work, got to get your caffeine fix." Kyra attempts to laugh out. It falls flat as she looks at the bloodied face of her somewhat friend.
"Yeah... well, I've had my sights on this guy. He comes here every morning at 8:30. Guess that won't matter much anymore" Karen tries offers in response, her words are staggered due the pain on her lower half.
Kyra attempts to pull Karen out of the wreckage, only succeeding in making Karen curse from pain and covering Kyra's hands in blood.
Suddenly a careening noise sounds above the pair.
Looking up just in time to see more pieces of the building beginning to separate itself from the main structure, Kyra braces herself close over Karen, praying the doorway would offer some level of safety.
She feels rubble begin to hit her back. Then everything is black.
It's unknown how much time passes before they are retrieved from the wreckage.
All Kyra registers before blacking out again, is a strong set of arms wrapping around her middle and a startlingly blue pair of eyes staring into her own.
The next time she wakes up, its sudden. Everything is a blur of stark white and the smell of sterilization. She feels pain flash up her side into her ribs. Pressing a hand to her side she notices gauze and a flimsy piece of paper posing as a gown.
A hospital. Figures.
Looking to her side, she sees a clock hanging on the wall. 1:30 am… 16 hours since everything changed.
Kyra settles back down, content to just be alive, and begins to recount what happened to her in the previous few hours of consciousness. Realization hits her like a truck.
Karen.
Was she alive? What happened to her?
Kyra's hands immediately begin to scramble besides her, searching for the nurse call button. She tears through her bedding, desperate for the small piece of plastic.
Finally, her fingers feel a lump underneath the sheet and she grasps the button.
Shortly after the button is pressed a nurse rushes in.
"Miss, what do you need? Are you in pain?"
"My friend, I must have been found with another lady. Her name is Karen, she's about 30, blonde, and was under rubble. Is she ok? What happened to her?" On the borderline of hysterics, her breath becomes short, the constant beeping next her begins to speed up as every possible situation goes through her mind, making her pulse quicken.
The nurse approaches her as you would a wounded animal.
"Miss, I need you to calm down. If you don't you may hurt yourself more than you already have. You were found by Captain America and he brought you to our ambulance. You were the only one he brought to us before we left for the hospital. I'm sorry, your friend might have been picked up by someone else but I can't tell you more. I'm so sorry."
With that the nurse left her alone to her thoughts
Kyra knew that was code for… Karen was probably dead.
Now that she thought about it, her entire building was destroyed. Everyone she knew was probably dead… The world began to fall apart around her.
No. Now was not the time to fall apart. She needed to assess the situation, handle it like an adult and make a plan.
Knowing she would be haunted by images from everything that happened, Kyra began to make plans to leave New York. If only for a few months. Just to allow herself time to gather her thoughts, mourn, search for a new job, and heal.
Kyra was released from the hospital about two days later, scarred and bruised but alive.
Her return to her apartment was agonizing. Driving through the streets was borderline impossible due to the destruction the was wreaked upon the city.
People were driving around picking up bodies and pieces of cement alike, only to sort through each once back to where ever was the base of operations.
Since Kyra lived further from the center of the city, her area wasn't as bad but you could still see the tell-tale signs of devastation.
Half of her apartment building was crushed, while the other half was barely standing on its own. Many families were gathering their things into cars and leaving. She was about to join them.
Climbing the crumbling stairs, she pulled out her keys and unlocked the door.
Inside could be a lot worse. Many things were knocked off the shelves and objects littered the floor, but all her walls and flooring seemed to be in one piece.
In the first real moment of silence since her life had been turned upside down, she broke down.
All her emotions hit her at once. The scenes she witnessed just days before cycled through her mind, replaying again and again.
She could hear the screams of children. The firing of weapons she'd never seen before.
She could feel the heat of Karen's blood on her hands as Karen begged her to help.
All of it, ran through her head like it was happening all over again.
The doctors had informed her that she would probably experience PTSD like symptoms for a few months due to the trauma she had been through.
Once her tears ran dry, Kyra picked herself up, grabbed a glass of water, and got to work
Once all her items were boxed, she searched for her phone.
Dialing the most recent number, she heard a cheerful voice on the other end.
"Kyra? Is that you honey? Are you all packed? We have your old room ready for you when you get in. What time is your flight getting in again?"
Her mother immediately bombarded her with questions.
"Yeah mum, all set here. I just need to call a car then I'll be on my way to the airport. Should be home in about 4 hours. My flight lands at 5:15."
"Oh good. Your father and I will be there when you arrive. No need to call a car to drive you home."
"Thanks mum. I don't know what I'd do without you and dad."
"No need to thank us, we are your parents. It's what we are here for. I love you. Text me when you land"
"Alright. Love you. See you soon."
Kyra hung up and went to call a car to take her to the airport.
The drive to the airport was for the most part uneventful, except for the traffic that plagued JFK. It seemed she wasn't the only one who wanted to get out.
A wave of heat and humidity hit her face as Kyra stepped outside the airport. May in North Carolina was not pleasant. Being used to the chill that tended to accompany most days in New York, didn't help.
She quickly saw her parents white van and her mums auburn colored head bouncing around a taller dark-haired man, both looking for her.
It was her father who saw her first, his strong voice called for her to come join them.
Shifting her way through the crowd, Kyra was greeted with a strong hug around her midsection from her mother.
"Oh Kyra, we are so happy you are okay after everything that happened. Watching all of it happening on the tv was terrifying."
As though her father could feel her discomfort at the topic, he stepped up next to the pair "Margaret, let the girl breath. She's been through a lot. Probably needs to sleep for a year just to right herself."
Slightly relinquishing her hold upon her daughter, Mrs. Mordae turns to glare at her husband. "I'm giving her a mother's love! It's important for her health!"
"Yes, well your 'Mothers Love' can wait until we are home. Now get in the car."
After corralling her mother into the car, her father turns to her and wraps one arm around Kyra.
"I'm glad your safe princess." he says before picking up her case and getting into the driver's side.
The drive home was short, and filled with chatter from her mum.
Pulling up to the large white house and seeing her silver mustang in the driveway from her younger years brings a comforting sense of nostalgia. Kyra knows she will be ok.
Upon returning "home" to North Carolina, she begins to recall why she left.
It takes only a month for a familiar distaste of the neighborhood to settle over her. The people in the city were brutal but at least they were honest and upfront, the people in this little town were two faced and pretended to care; covering their sneers behind phrases like "bless her sweet heart".
She was tired of this town and the picture-perfect lawns that were used to hide the dirty secrets of small town families.
She was different before the battle of New York. She had been hopeful, fresh faced, and in love.
She still called James every other night, but he just wanted to speak about himself. He never even asked her about what she experienced during the Battle. As though it had never happened. She considers visiting him in Seattle. But he says he's so busy with everything happening, they wouldn't have much time together. Kyra sees his logic, but still finds it odd he doesn't want to see his girlfriend of 8 years who almost died.
After everything she went through, she became intolerant to consistency, tired of being treated like property, and desperate to make her mark. Her patience with this town was getting thinner each day. She begins to actually look for work, preferably away from small towns.
As though sent by the Gods, Kyra receives an email shortly after her realization.
Sent: TheStark
To: KyraMordae
Ms. Mordae,
I must say, you are a difficult one to get a hold of. You really went off the map after New York.
I had to dig to find out your contact information after your firm went down, it took a whole five minutes for JARVIS to find your personal email.
I'm sure you know who I am, Tony Stark (aka the Iron Man). I'm getting in contact with you to ask a favor.
I've dealt with your firm many times before, and indirectly dealt with you. Everyone I have spoken to, highly recommends you.
What do you say to becoming a Stark Lawyer?
After everything went down in New York, I need some new lawyers. People who were at the event and have an interest in the cause. Many were hurt during the events and they need legal help. I'm taking it upon Stark Industries to help the people of New York.
I hope you consider my offer.
Next time I ask it will be much less formal, I'm using my business email and everything right now.
T. Stark
The. Tony. Stark. Just requested her personal help on bringing justice to the people of New York?
This is exactly the motivation and job Kyra needed to get her out of town and back in the field. This is exactly what she wants to be doing with her knowledge. Helping people who need it.