Awakening
I own nothing; if I did I would give it to my best friend for her birthday. But I'm not, so I don't, so you should just keep reading now. :)
Rogers and I made pretty good time making our way to the Bridge. Sadly, I hadn't punched him, though I still wanted to. But, I was alive, and mostly in one piece, so I let it go; or rather, I just ignored the feeling in favor of a new one. I was beyond pissed at Fury for attempting to manipulate us, and he was the one I currently wanted to punch.
I didn't know where everyone else was, nor did I care. Rogers and I settled at the table in silence, and left each other to our thoughts. I was actually pleased to do so, as it finally gave me time to process.
I knew who had shot Penny, I had found out back in the lab. I hadn't been surprised; after all, Romanoff always had been a bit trigger happy.
I hadn't let my anger show, but I was beyond furious at the redhead; and I wasn't the only one. I literally had to order Jarvis to leave Romanoff alone, and not lock her in some room. That would only give us away.
Loki had gotten away, and most of my support team was gone. Coulson was the only one who remained, but he was on a short leash, so I couldn't really count on him anymore.
I didn't know who was pulling Loki's strings, or what the large game here was. I hated playing a game without knowing the rules and the players, and I just wished that Penny was here. It would make things so much easier.
She always knew how to play these games, and she would be able to fix this mess a hell of a lot better than I could.
I was startled out of my thoughts as Fury, Coulson, and Hill all appeared on the Bridge. I sighed as I saw them, more drama.
I locked my jaw to stop myself from trying to deck Fury again. I let myself be pleased with the fact that Fury's nose was still bandaged. That would have to do, for now.
"We're dead in the sky," Fury stated as he leaned onto the table, suddenly looking far older than he should. "Our communications are scrambled, location of the Cube is gone, Banner, Thor...I've got nothing for you."
I sighed, and pulled out my phone, which had survived my time in the blender unharmed. I quickly typed in an order to Jarvis, having him return their communications and to restart the search for the cube. We had almost had a lock, we could get another.
"Actually sirs," I glanced up in surprise as Jarvis' voice echoed down through the speakers. "Your communications are fine and the location of the Tesseract has been narrowed down to the East Coast of the United States. The virus was successful in wiping the coordinates of its location, however the program is once again running and I should have a lock within an hour. Also, if you would like the location of Dr. Banner and Thor Odinson I would be glad to activate their trackers.
"The reason that your communication monitors are frozen is because they still contain some of the virus' code. I have been redirecting everything directly onto your main display, which you have yet to open. You should regain use of your communication station in a few moments, Director."
My eyes widened in surprise, as Jarvis' tone was polite but biting. I didn't even know that Jarvis could get pissed!
"I will repeat myself, Director, are you glad that I regain control of your systems or would you rather I vacate them? Because I believe that you would be splattered across the ground otherwise." Jarvis' tone was harsher than biting, and I swore I heard anger in his tone. Anger in Jarvis' tone of voice!
"You angered my AI...I hope you realize that significance in that." I stated in awe, wondering how on earth Jarvis could even get angry.
"Wow…" Rogers muttered and for once, I agreed with the man.
"Sir, communications are back online!" A random agent shouted from the lower deck and Fury sighed as Hill and Coulson stared into space in shock.
After a long moment, Fury shook his head and started pacing in front of the table.
"We were going to build an arsenal with the Tesseract." Fury began, what sounded like a long monologue. "But I was placing all of my chips on that, because even though it fell through once, I was betting on something even riskier."
"You were betting on us." I stated as Rogers looked at me in shock. "You were waiting for the right time, just the right moment. You were waiting for the golden opportunity to pull the Avengers Initiative back together, before anyone else even realized it."
"Yes," Fury admitted, and I was slightly surprised that he did. "I was, or at least, that was what I was going for. But sadly, things didn't go as planned."
"They rarely do." I stated solemnly, thinking about all of my failed plans over the years, with and without Penny.
"I agree with Stark," Rogers stated and I literally stared at the man in shock. That was the first time that Rogers agreed with anything I said.
Fury nodded, and leaned against an empty chair with a sigh. "We were hoping that you all would work together, and fight the battles that we cannot."
"That's where you plan failed." I stated as I glanced down at the table in front of me, not looking at anyone. "You tried too hard to control the factors; you wished to manipulate the variables that you had no power over. You overstretched, over reached. We aren't just numbers, or pieces of a puzzle that will fit together in the right situation. We have our own views, our own background, and personalities that clash. The situation to build that team that you wanted just wasn't there."
Fury nodded, seeing the truth in my words. "Your right."
I literally almost fell out of my chair in shock, but I managed to keep my face blank. I still had to play the game until Penny returned. It was all for Penny…
"But we still need you, we still need heroes."
Fury's words broke through my walls, and seemed to stab me right in the heart. The loose grip I had on everything was shattered and my teeth clenched.
Heroes...he called us heroes.
I wanted to laugh, and to cry at the same time. I slid out of my chair and stalked off of the Bridge. I was crumbling, and I wouldn't let them watch me break.
They had already seen too much behind my mask today. There wasn't time for another breakdown.
We weren't heroes, and I just wished that I knew what Fury saw in us.
We were a recipe for disaster.
Besides, even if it was conceivable, what kind of hero was I?
I had abandoned my own daughter to cater to the needs of the world. I hadn't even noticed when she started dying.
I had let my own daughter die, twice, right in front of me…
I wasn't a hero.
I was just a failure of a father with a shit ton of money and too many brain cells.
Third POV
Insania sighed as she finally entered her Sister's mindscape. Looking around in curiosity she let a small smile appear on her face.
Of course Aequivalere's mind would take this shape.
She had appeared on the edge of a tree line, which acted like a barrier. To her right there was a large, dark lake, and a small wooden hut to her right. Like a wall, tall dark trees stretched out behind her and a grassy hill sat in front of her. The whole scene appeared dreary, and there was no sound accompanying the scene. The sky was overcast and grey, and there was no wind to dance among the trees.
Insania's gaze traveled up the hill, past the small path and the overgrown grass, and she sighed at the sight of what once was a magnificent castle. The stone walls had crumbled, and most of the glass lay broken on the grass. Ivy crawled up the sides of the battle torn walls and birds had nested in many of the windows.
The castle lacked the life that had once inhabited it; it lacked the magic that had once existed in its stones.
"Depressing, isn't it?"
Insania turned to see her Sister now beside her, staring up at the castle with a sad look on her face.
Her silver hair fell around her, and her green eyes were filled with tears. She only wore a simple dark blue dress which fell to her knees, and the Deathly Hallows choker around her neck.
Insania said nothing, knowing that it was better to let her Sister process on her on. She was simply here to help, to lead, to guide. Aequivalere would have to take the final healing steps on her own.
"I remember when this whole place was alive. I remember feeling the magic in the air, and the life in the walls. This place was once a sanctuary for all, a safe haven amidst a war." Aequivalere's voice echoed through the air like the wind, as they slowly walked amongst the overgrown grass.
"So much life…" She muttered, picking a small flower from the grass twirling it between her fingers. "I watched it all die Sister. I watched as my whole world faded away."
A sad chuckle escaped her lips and she gave Insania a look that almost froze her heart.
"No," She corrected herself darkly. "It didn't fade. It burned away, the whole world burned amongst a sea of blood; and I watched. I stood back and watched as the last of the humanity destroyed themselves and the world around them.
"There had been a time when I tried to stop them, when I tried to save them. But after the many decades, after the long years of bloodshed...I gave up. I gave up when Hogwarts fell, and the last of our kind was sentenced to death. I almost wish that I had simply been frozen amongst them. That I would only have to watch as they grew old, and died.
"I would have preferred to watch over generation after generation...but no. My curse was so much worse. I thought that when my world ended I would die, that I would finally be free. But then, then another life began and I was forced to fight again."
Insania looked upon her sister with sadness, not knowing how she had managed to retain her sanity for so many millennia.
"By the time my Third Life came along...I believed that I was cursed. I believed that the universe hated me, and I blamed my Bonded." Aequivalere chuckled darkly, "But I was wrong. The universe doesn't hate me...Fati does.
"For so long I was blind. I thought that I could never have a family, I thought that I could never be happy for a long period of time. I thought that I would always be trapped in this loop, living over and over again without any real life."
Her vivid green eyes connected with Insania's and the Immortal was shocked at the power, the rage, and the knowledge that resided within those orbs.
"But now I know that I was wrong. My existence isn't a curse, and I am not anyone's slave. I am my own person, with my own Realm. I may have suffered greatly, as I let myself become ensnared with Fati's web, and I may have been blind. But now...now I'm glad that I made the pact with Fati, for it's given me the key...the key to become free."
A small, but grim, smile appeared on Aequivalere's face as Insania tilted her head to the side in confusion.
"What pact Sister? What deal did you strike with Fati?" Insania's voice was filled with concern, and Aequivalere smiled softly at her older Sister.
"I grew tired in my last Life, Insania...I didn't want to continue living this way." Insania's eyes widened in surprise, she had never seen her Sister give up before. "I was in a bad place; my Duties had worn me down. The constant lives, the endless memories...they had become nothing more than an unbearable weight on my shoulders. I was weary, and I admit...my mind wasn't clear."
Aequivalere's gaze drifted back up towards the castle as she fiddled with the small flower in her hand.
"Fati appeared before me, sensing my weakness. I had been fighting for so long Sister, desperate for a way out, a way for me to finally either live...or die."
Insania literally gasped and almost grabbed her Sister. She hadn't known that it had been so bad. How had she managed to hide this? How had she not known? How had Mortem not know? Were Fati's thorns driven so deep that they couldn't even see them anymore?
"She told me that she would be merciful, as I had served her well over the years. We struck a deal, she would let me have sixteen years. Sixteen years of a peaceful life, one without Duties, or Immortality. She promised to let me have sixteen years of a Mortal life, and in return, I would let her take some of my memories."
Insania gasped, her eyes widening. How was that a good thing? Fati had manipulated her very mind and Soul...this wasn't good, this was horrible!
Aequivalere chuckled, seeing her Sister's face. "Oh, I agree. I was a fool, desperate for a way out. But it eventually led to my way out. It is what kept me from Awakening before, locking me in my half state. It's what let you and the others know that something was wrong. It gave you time, and spurred you into action. I didn't plan any of this; I was too blind to Fati's manipulations for me to be able to. Fati had been stealing parts of my memories and binding my power for centuries, it was no different to me.
"But to you...to you it made the biggest difference in the world. Finally, you, Mortem, Vitam, and Infinitas were able see just how deep the lies had been sown." Aequivalere smiled widely at Insania, a gleam in her eye. "I owe you so much, Sister; as my true power and my memories were returned when you Cleansed my Soul. I don't know why you did, nor do I care. You undid lifetimes of Fati's manipulations; you set me free Sister...you made me whole."
A small smile appeared on Insania's face and she placed a hand on Aequivalere's shoulder, remembering what the younger girl had done for her. "Let us say that we are even now."
The silver haired Immortal nodded and chuckled.
They both just stood there for a moment, the silence wrapped around them like a warm blanket, before a warm breeze appeared and startled the two out of their thoughts.
"You need to return Sister," Insania spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's time to Awaken, to take your place among your family. Fati has Interfered too many times, and you now have the power to ensure that she never does so again."
Aequivalere chuckled, as if knowing something that her Sister didn't.
"My place in Cor is still far from my reach," She said knowingly, confusing her sister. "And you need to return me now, Insania. Before Fati destroys my Realm more."
Insania looked confused for a moment, tilting her head to the side. "But you have not yet solidified your Immortal form, if you return now; you'll have to become physically Mortal again. It'll be like all of the times before."
Insania was confused, which was unusual for her. She was used to being the confusing one, not the one being confused.
"It is not time yet." Aequivalere stated as her green eyes practically shined. "But worry not, it won't matter. Not now that I'm free."
Insania nodded, only now remembering just how cryptic and confusing her younger Sister could be. She was worse than her and Infinitas at times.
Insania retreated from her Sister's mind without another word, and Aequivalere shook her head. Giving one last, wistful look at the ruined castle, she too vanished from the mindscape. The mindscape that was Hogwarts Castle was the only thing that remained from Aequivalere's First Life. It had been her first home, her true home; and that is why she crafted her mindscape into it. True, its physical form was gone now, like many of her lives. But they never were truly gone, as they left their shadows behind, in her heart and mind.
As Aequivalere vanished, she knew that she wouldn't remember her conversation with Fati but that was ok.
For while it was time for her to Awaken; it wasn't time for her to take back her place amongst her Family. She still had her own demons to battle, before she could enter Cor, and that would take another adventure.
Unknown to both girls, deep within the young one's mind, darkness twisted and curled, reaching its inky tentacles out into the mindscape.
SOOOOO What'd ya think? I'm supposed to be writing my last paper of the year…but I'm procrastinating. Sue me -.- Hope you liked it.
I'll try to update soon,
I'm gonna go watch the season finally of Arrow now! (or when is starts in a few minutes…)
Cp
