AN: Fav/Follow/Review
Grace woke up feeling glorious. The heavy weight on her head had lifted up to skies where it could no longer bother her again. Her body felt even more energetic than it ever was; it was like being born again. Certainly refreshingly and different from the other times it was done at shield. A welcoming feeling to high degrees. If she could wake up like this everyday, it would make her life a whole lot better. There was a moment of silence as the inclination to stretch was met once Grace had risen from the board.
There was a moment of realization, from previous weeks, Grace had never woken up in such peaceful matter. Though her sleep was definitely lacking, there were often times when she could barely get a good night's rest every since the attack, not to forget that she was isolated from the others. There was a sense of total attachment when it came to nightly routines. She was so used to waking up in the arms of another, it almost felt abnormal, at the same time guilt would then surge into her body.
It couldn't be decided whether or not Tony's presence was one she should be grateful for. Sure, had it not been for him, she'd probably be in a deadly state. Then again, she'd rather jump of a bridge than having to listen to tony ramble on all day about uninterested nonsense topics. At this point grace was just thinking in circles, arguing about absurdity questions that had plain simple answers.
Grace made it to the door, she was relatively calm when she opened it. When she finally did leave the room, a beam of light filtered the small hallway, it was coming from the windows. As far as she can tell, it was morning. The daylight made everything clear to her once she rubbed her eyes; only to recall the previous night.
The only thing she allowed herself to remember was the anemic state she was in. The weakness that filled her body and the unwillingness to move had only left her feeling slightly embarrassed. No one has ever seen her in that way before, not even mark. Reasons for that was merely because both Mark and the people of shield had always been careful and cautious with her. They were very well prepared individuals that Grace had the privilege of never having to be in a feeble state. But this only proved to her that she wasn't capable of watching over herself. Leaving the impression that she was nothing more than a simpleton, unable to think for oneself.
Looking back, she recollected meeting Tom earlier that day; afterwards returning home, only to find out she wasn't alone. The last person she'd expect to see had abruptly managed to wiggle his way into her home who then ended up being a real savior. In a moment of weakness, she had allowed him to stay once he had offered his assistance; which she was grateful for. In fact, that is the only reason Stark was still alive and well; not that grace would actually murder him. But make it so that he understood the terror she could provide should he refuse to cooperate.
Speaking of which, where is he?
Grace's eyes darted around the room, thinking he fell asleep somewhere; they both seemed tired last night so it wasn't likely that he had already left. Quietly, she scanned inside each of the other rooms. But it wasn't until she finally walked down the stairs that she spotted him. An amusing expression spread across her face. Sound asleep with him on one of the couches just inside the Living Room, his arms were folded as his head rested on the cushioned pillows.
It was almost tempting not to disturb him in mischievous ways. His hair was all messy from the constant shifts, his clothing seemed to have wrinkled also. It was no surprise that resting on the couch would make for an unpleasant resting place. But out of respect for her home, he decided it was more appropriate. And grace could only feel all the more grateful. Instead of waking him up, she headed up to her room and slipped into something more casual, preferably comfortable.
She was confident that he wouldn't wake for another hour or so. Not that she wanted him to wake in an instant. Matter of fact, she wanted to thank him, but considering they didn't know each other well enough. She highly doubted that money would make for a good reward. The man was wealthy enough as it is; he could practically buy the house if he wanted to. Concluding her choice, grace decided to pay him in food. Though, her refrigerator was currently empty, there would be a need to head into a food store.
And with Tony still snoozing, grace thought now would be a good time to head into town. It's been a long time since she had last bought some groceries. The only mouth she had to ever feed was Mark and with him no longer here there wasn't a need to continue buying things she wasn't even allowed to use; she missed the taste of food more times than she could count. Some people don't know how lucky they have it. But that wasn't important, the unexpected guest that was currently sleeping on the sofa had justify heading to town, even if he was being intrusive. It was the only thing she could come up, as a way to thank him for his help. All she had to worry about him now was making sure he didn't wake up before she has the chance to surprise him.
888
Tony tossed and turned around the couch, hearing clanking noises coming from what sounded like the kitchen. It could only mean that Grace had finally recovered. Why was she up this early? Tony had assumed she wouldn't wake for a couple of more hours. From what he could tell, grace had completely overlooked her condition. Had it not been for his meddling stubbornness, grace might have lost consciousness; he wondered what kind of position she'd be in now. What time was it anyways?
Lazily he rubbed his eyes. Stark didn't consider himself to be the jumpy type, but this was the third time this week he's been startled by the woman. The first being caught gawking at her when they first met. The second, when she had nearly slumped down onto the floor, nearly hurting herself in the process. And now, the once hostile woman, was currently in the kitchen, preparing what he believed to be breakfast; he expected to be thrown out the minute he woke up. To his surprise, not only was he still here, but he was alive.
He could already smell the coffee from this area, only then did he decide to make his way to the kitchen. At his arrival, the former irritated woman was there, cracking two into the bowl. To his surprise the coffee that was already made had been placed on the table for him to grab. It felt like some sort of strange dream, stumble into a bizarre world. It was like watching the shows from the fifties, where the stay at home housewives catered for their families. Granted she wasn't anywhere near looking one but that scene alone gave it a strong vibe.
"Good morning." Grace smiled in small gratification.
"Morning." Tony murmured, his eyes fixed on the food that cooking behind her.
"Breakfast?" She asked once she caught him staring.
"Yeah, thanks." He answered, taking a seat by the table.
Tony didn't say anything else other than to thank her for the food. Placing his elbows on the table he stared at his plate in puzzlement. "You can cook?"
"Well, yeah. Why wouldn't I be able to?" Grace turned slightly to look back at him, then returning to the dirty pans.
Right, this awkward. Tony thought to himself. He couldn't outright ask if she can even consume human sustenance without sounding insensitive. To her it might be taken as an insult, but to him there was nothing but fascination; it was something he couldn't even imagine. Many questions plagued his mind, but only to realize that he wouldn't get them from her.
"If this has to do with me not being able to eat food than yes, I can still cook." A slight pause. "You know, I wasn't actually born this way." Grace sighed, not sounding too surprise at the question.
"I wouldn't have known that honestly. I still don't know much, other than the fact that you nearly passed out yesterday or did..." Looking down at his food. "By the way, how are you feeling?"
"Better. Thank you again. And as a way to thank you, I decided to at least feed you before I kick you out." She grinned from the kitchen cabinet, taking out a pair of pink rubber gloves.
"Appreciate it." He muttered while taking a bite of his food.
Tony was quiet when he ate his meal. He watched grace for a few more seconds, his eyes blinked in focus. Despite their rocky start, the two seemed to be getting along. It's rare to find someone who can tolerate him the way that someone like Pepper can. True, he doesn't know grace as much as he'd like to, but at least she wasn't like the other women, the one's who see him as an opportunity.
Which was fine at first, but over the recent years he began to realize that there was more to life than the one he was used to living. When he wasn't busy arguing with his friends, than he could be seen arguing with himself. With all that he knows, he often gets lost in his own thoughts that he neglects those around him. For someone who can be so smart, he can also be quite dense.
The intention was to never hurt anyone, merely to spare anyone from having to deal with his problems. The problems are there for him to solve; believing he was the only one who can do it.
In her case, her rude behavior towards him was fair; even though he thought he didn't deserve the physicality.
The phone inside his pocket started ringing. Putting his fork down he used one arm and dug into his pocket. Retrieving the device he answered the call numbly.
"Yes?" He answered nervously.
A sigh of relief. "Oh thank God, I've been calling since yesterday. Where have you been? Why didn't you call? How many times do I have to tell you not to exclude me when deciding to run off on an adventure. I was this close to having Rhodey go out on a manhunt. You promised no more heart attacks, you promised, you liar." Pepper shouted now that she knows he's alright.
Tony glanced at grace, knowing fully well she could hear Pepper's rage."I completely understand the anger, I do, and once I get home, you can bet that my lesson has been learned. Thank you, you are an exceptional beau-"
"Oh don't give me that Tony. Not now, you know how much I worry. What were thinking? What goes through that thick head of yours besides air? Where are you? And please tell me it isn't anymore of your excursions."
Tony did his best to delay a response. "No nothing like that. I-" He paused, incapable of telling her the truth without upsetting her any further.
Grace was now staring at him. Curious to know his answer, it was understandable that his girlfriend would be mad. Especially if she found out that stark had spent the night in someone else's home. That home belonging to another woman.
"Mr. Stark, I think you should take this somewhere else." She whispered carefully, making sure she wasn't heard.
Tony merely nodded and left the kitchen.
After he left, Grace went back to finish the dishes.
Scary, she thought. These types of conversations were unnerving to talk about. Misunderstandings would only fuel tensions between people. One wrong move, and the whole conversation could take a turn for the worst. Like fire, everything would burn in just seconds.
Thankfully for her, she had been blessed enough to have avoided such encounters. There was no need for it, though she will admit every now and then there were very few instances where Grace and Mark would bicker like an old married couple. Bickering until one caved in and since Mark could never stay too mad, the victor would often go to her.
Grace wondered the kind of relationship Stark had with his girlfriend. From the sound of things, stark had tendencies to leave at random times, leaving the woman in a state of alertness and anxiety. Grace wished the two worked things out, pepper seems like a nice person. Then there was considering the fact that she didn't need anymore added fuel to a fire when she had enough of her own. What Grace needed now was for stark to leave. Preferably after he's done groveling.
888
"Hey Powers great news! I worked things out with Pe-"
"Mr. Stark I appreciate the help you gave me yesterday. But I think it's time you leave." Interrupted Grace, looking at him with a pleading look.
"I'm sorry, did I miss something?" Lifting one of his eyebrows, he asked.
Shaking her head. "No. I just don't feel comfortable housing strangers that break into other people's homes."
Giving a fake cough, Tony shuffled through his hair. "And here I thought that we could eventually be friends. Also, to be fair, I wasn't really thinking when I did it. An accident really."
A grimace darted across her face. "Call it what you want, I don't care. What I care about now is you leaving. I'm sure you're a busy man who has better things to do than spend their time trying to befriend someone who isn't interested."
"How about a deal?"
"I don't gamble."
"But you'd be gaining more than I ever will! Hear me out first. Answer me at least this many questions," Holding up ten fingers. "with honest answers, and I will never bother you again. That is unless you're called in, in which case, I will not apologize for constant chatter that will go on."
The raw emotion of Grace's face was unwelcoming. The proposal was obviously one she hadn't expected. The immediate response was one that she had already decided once the words left his lips. Anything else Tony will say would only breeze right through her. She had hoped he would simply give up and leave. Clearly, she was wrong, not only did he refuse to leave, but his unyielding personality was agonizing to be around. The words might have been harsh or at least truthful in grace's opinion, but still it didn't stop her from muttering, bleakness in her tone.
"Five and I won't send a jolt straight into that thing on your chest." She absurdly uttered, unwilling to negotiate any further.
Tony frowned, he wanted to at least see a demonstration before he left, believing this to be the only time he'll get on a personal level with grace. Her hostility behavior from the day before had emerged once again. She was a completely different person, inimical towards his presence, treating him as if he was a fly. Any regular person would be scared to be in his position, fortunately for him, he's dealt with worse. That's not to say Grace would be any different, but there was something about the way she presented herself that made him think she wasn't a bad person at all. A defense mechanism really, the idly threats were nothing but untruthful words. Tony would never admit it out loud, but he was almost afraid to ask. Then again, many have died in the name of science.
"No questions and a demonstration." Tony insisted, attempting to haggle the woman who was now glaring at him.
Grace cringed for a second, snapping her eyes in Tony's direction. "Give me a reason why I shouldn't just grab you by that thick head of yours and toss you out the back and be done with you."
The answer was instantaneous. "You're not that type of person who would do that. Actually I don't think you could even hurt a fly. That's not to say I think you're weak, you simply have high morals. It makes you human honestly. I also like to point out, if you were to toss me out, you'd have done it by now."
Stark's persistence to convince her with words almost felt like he was baiting her to do his will. And it worked, uninterested with what he had to offer, she couldn't help the curiosity that lingered in the back of her mind. There was a sort of intrigue; wanting to know the response for what she is able to do. His claims of seeing things way above the normality rate was one she was willing to challenge.
Grace stood there for a few seconds, her bright blue eyes revealing tender stability. Letting out a heavy sigh. "I am not blowing up a car. I will never ever, I repeat ever, doing this again. And if Fury ever finds out about this, know that I will throw you under the bus."
"Do mean that metaphorically or-"
"I mean, in every possible way." Grace interrupted, her pending words rattling Tony's thoughts.
"Heh, can't tell if you're joking or not." Tony almost chuckled at the lack of humor her remarks were holding.
Folding her arms, Grace waited while Tony began rambling about probable procedures she could start off with to ensure successful results. But grace could care less about results, at this moment all she cared about was getting rid of this stubborn man.
Randomly a thought occurred to her. Glancing down on her hand, she no longer felt the teasing of fear. The countless times she avoided using her abilities only worsen within the years, her confidence had been pathetically low-spirited. Later on she would discover that there were factors that she never considered useful when using her abilities. Up until now, the sensitivity she felt whenever the discussion popped up was one she ultimately avoided. It was unnerving to hear the praises that were given to her; she was grateful for their support, however, they were from the ones she didn't want to hear from.
Seeing now, Stark's tone of excitement digress from topic to topic made her hesitant. That's not to say she was afraid, more so cautious about public displays. Unlike Tony, she would do practically anything to make sure no one unveiled her past history; Grace only wished to be invisible. The public's views on abnormalities often had a history of acting based on fear rather than logic. In her case, the crowd was just as equally as a threat to her than she is to them.
Silence met her thoughts, she looked at Stark for a long time. Her hand gripped tighter in concentration. Before Tony could utter another word, her body began to emit a sound that could only be described as a hum.
Instinctively she charged her hands, bringing them up to halt. Palms brought together, it caused a reaction that resulted into a form. The form itself appeared to be a round ball of light. The size of it wasn't huge, but was enough to immerse anyone who was in the room.
It took Tony a few seconds to process what he was witnessing. Eyes widened, he could hardly believe it. He felt like he was being hypothesized, and maybe he was, he couldn't tell.
The lights rapid movement within the sphere roamed in urgency, it was as if it was trying to find a way out, a release. It was a good thing that she had kept a certain distance between them, had he been any closer he was sure it would combust on its own.
Grace swirled her hands a bit. As she did, the orb of light went haywire. Containments inside only grew brighter with every bit of crazed movements that were made. Its frantic shifts of energy was enough to even make Tony feel nervous; not that he doubts her. But grace knew what she was doing.
It was a technique she learned during her time in shield. Its purpose was to help her relax, to concentrate on the flow of her body; a second to forget those around her and just focus on the light. The light was what gave her life. What water was to person, was what the current was to her. A sustainable source that gave strength and nourishment.
Closing her eyes, she breathed out, ceasing her hands calmly. In seconds, the electricity in her palms coolly went back to its soothing movements.
Minutes went by as the two figures stood there in silence, watching while the other focused.
Tony flashed her a toothy grin and turned his attention to the pellet floating between her palms.
Despite Tony's presence, Grace felt quite placid. There was never enjoyment in doing; what she considered a time to reminisce, while others were in the room. Then again, she'd never expected to perform applicable in front anyone really, especially someone like him. Still, she wondered how far do abilities go.
Director Fury had previously mentioned several times that over the span of her life, her power would only evolve. He didn't specify in what way, but was sure he had an idea. There was no telling the thoughts that go through his head, come to think of it... Grace swore she'd never seen the man blink.
She mitigated notions that clouded her mind. Now that her eyes were open, she looked back between Tony and the lit sphere she created. Looking down on her palms, it felt like the right moment to end this little demo. Carefully, but swift, her palms conjoined evenly, pressing down the former electrical sphere.
"... probably could power the neighborhood too.." Tony's misshapen words was barley processed once Grace calmed her nerves.
"... like a human battery..."
Grace blinked a few times and stared at Tony who was now trying to imitate the movements she used a few seconds ago.
"What are you blathering about?" She questioned, giving him an a slightly vexed look.
Tony looked bummed after realizing she hadn't heard a single thing. "I said, the electrolytes in your system allows the flow of electrical charge between, which is extremely close to anode and cathode, to connect with one another that causes chemical energy to be stored into electrical energy, turning it into electricity. That is until you run out of reactants, or sources, almost like a human battery."
She gave him a dull stare. "My question still stands."
"Never mind." He frowned.
"Perfect." Scratching her shoulder, she huffed. "So... now do you think you can -I don't know- leave?"
Slowly and purposefully, Tony answered. "Sure. Deals a deal. But if you ever change your mind about partnering up, give me a call will ya'." Digging in his coat pocket, he took out a card. "And hey, It doesn't even have to be about business. We could always hangout and blow stuff up, it'll be just like a party. Your choice really."
She rolled her eyes and scoffed at the suggestion as she took the card from his fingertips. "Your version of a party sounds a lot different than mines."
"It happened to me before. But that's only scratching the surface. There's explosions, murders, betrayals, constant complaints from the government, attempts on reprocessing my suits, then there's Fury I still have to deal with etc." He sighed. "It takes a lot out of you."
"You make sound like this happens regularly. "
"Heh, you'd be surprised to find out the things I have to deal with on a daily basis. And trust me when I say that none of it was exaggerated." He smirked.
Grace didn't bother to respond, instead she turned away from him and headed to the door.
Reaching the handle, she opened the door for him. "Thanks for the help, I mean it." She offered a warm smile.
"Anytime Powers."
Grace watched as Tony left the house. She could see him walking towards the gate out in the distance.
When he finally disappeared from her view, Grace closed the doors, locking it tightly.
I really need to get better security.
The last thing she wanted was for others to thinking it was ok to start breaking into her home.
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Grace stepped into the entrance doors. There she passed the variety of shops that offered the latest seasonal fashion. The signs offered discounts on certain clothing items that would intrigue the common consumers along with promises of popularity amongst peers.
Carelessly, grace browsed around each store that caught her attention.
The shopping mall was normally quiet during the afternoons. Grace found the atmosphere to be quite comfortable.
Since the summer, Grace's time outside was thankfully uneventful, boring even. The only excitement she ever got out of was watching cheesy soap operas where she witnessed problematic plots that involve friends betraying friends, women conspiring against other women. And her favorite of all; a guilty pleasure, love triangles.
It was also worth noting that during the autumn weather the sudden interest in knitting had become an unexpected pursuit. Till now, Grace was happily able to make one blanket and a scarf. Currently awaiting to finish the pillow case she's been working on for a few days. A welcoming feeling for sure. It was a good time waster for when she had nothing left to do in the day.
With the fall season now ending, Grace wanted to get a head start on winter gear. The winter season was always brutal in Chicago and the hard winds only made things worse. Grace knew it would take more than a coat and some gloves to keep her warm.
Passing by a glass display, Grace couldn't resist the urge to halt her feet.
Inspecting further, A plague started spreading through mind. The plague being in front of her very eyes. A window display of mannequins wearing cozy sweaters in front of a Christmas tree. There were also presents that casually sat under the tree along with the beautiful coloring of lights surrounding the area. It was holiday themed; and it was enough to make her feel sick to her stomach.
She cursed inside, she hadn't bothered to celebrate thanksgiving, nor any holiday before that. It wasn't the same going through it alone and honestly she didn't want to.
But Christmas was different, it held a huge significance to Grace. It was a day she held dearly. Not only for its atmospheric environment, but the traditions that came with it.
She remembered the days where her parents were still alive. Recalling the times when Grace and her mother would bake for the holidays. They would spend hours in the kitchen cooking their favorite meals for the upcoming day. Then there was her father who'd go through the lengths of setting up decorative lights around their home. Along with the joy she felt when she would help her father decorate the tree. It was their effort that made the season feel incredibly memorable.
After their deaths, Grace had a hard time coping with the association of the holiday season. Evening went as far as resenting it only because they weren't alive to celebrate with her.
Yet being with Mark had changed that. It wasn't the same as being with her parents but seeing him awkwardly and hilariously go through the trouble of making it just as memorable as it was years before was nothing but unparalleled.
It was strange too because, before Grace, he wasn't much of a holiday person either. Growing up on the opposite side made him uninterested with any holiday that had to do with family. Since Mark had grown into a world of uncareness, he'd often treated everybody like second class citizens. Through no fault but his own, Mark had changed for the better after her arrival.
Now they were both gone and she had nothing.
She let out a heavy sigh. It was only a matter of time before Christmas would show up and shove itself to her face only to remind her of what was lost.
Feeling as though she's had enough, Grace walked away from the cheery display.
Frowning, Grace went into a small toy store. The reminder of holidays still crowded her thoughts.
Ironically, she had decided to buy a present. A present for a man she hadn't seen in a while, Tom. It was in the summer where it would be the first and last time she'd ever see him since returning. She meant to keep in touch. But it became increasingly harder when she found out he'd be away from town for who knows how long. She missed him and wished she could have at least gotten a day with him; or at least a phone call.
Speaking of phones, she finally did manage to acquire her very own cell phone. Her contacts at this moment were sadly zero. It didn't matter though since there wasn't anyone to talk to. The only person she did was somewhere else in the world. Even then, Grace didn't know Tom's cell number to even warrant a call.
After a moment, it was ultimately decided that she would stop by the office building before the holidays to drop off the present and even give away her personal number. Maybe then she could finally return to the way things used to be between the two.
For now Grace would have to pick the proper gift for the busy man. It was funny, not many people knew about this. But Tom had a huge fascination with tinker toys; Grace could never understand the appeal. With Tom it was different, carefree, he would grab the spool along with the sticks, wheels, caps and couplings. There he would spend hours upon hours building whatever he felt like. An engineer to the core he'd go on to create windmills, swings and ferris wheels using pieces of wood and plastic. At some point it even went as far as to creating a catapult.
Mark would later explain that Tom used this as a way to exercise memory or "spatial intelligence" as people called it nowadays.
It was amazing watching her friend engage with each tool. Which is why she thought it would make a great gift for him. She smiled to herself, picturing his reaction. She could already see it now, Tom's goofy smile as he opens her gift, bouncing up and down like a small giddy child. A quiet laugh left her lips; she really did miss him.
She spent a good ten minutes searching for the perfect set.
Grace ultimately decided to purchase a mechanical multi-model construction kit. Granted, Tom would be just as happy with any set, this one in particular felt more his style.
Moving to the checkout, she purchased the gift without any worry. The employee who bagged the item was nice enough to offer her a small piece of candy; saying she looked like she needed a good cheering. She politely took the peppermint and placed it inside her pocket.
Other than saying their farewells, not much more was said as she left the store.
More people had arrived at the mall that it became a little more crowded. Grace maneuvered through the masses with breeze.
There wasn't much left to do other than browse around. As she passed away, she eyed a few coats that were displayed by the entrance but chose to buy it at a later time. Minutes of walking through the crowd, she decides to head home.
The autumn air hit her once she stepped out. Aside from cool winds, Grace felt relaxed. Walking down the parking lot, there wasn't much activity going on. Not that she expected anything to happen.
It felt, nice. Not having to worry about fitting in. It would have been better to have someone to share it with. Maybe I should get a pet. She's never owned a pet, her father was allergic and her mother was a clean freak so the chance in having one didn't occur until they sadly departed. Even with Mark, she still wasn't able to acquire one since he would take her everywhere he went, even aboard.
Thoughts like these gave her a sense of security. Yup, at this moment, she was at peace. Her life so far has been normally quiet, uneventful, boring, dull, uninterested...
"Help! Somebody help please!"
Spoke too soon. Grace could hear the shrieking cries of a woman. Following with the screams of various people. The sounds appeared to be coming further up the street.
Without a moment's thought, Grace sprinted forward where the shouting noises were coming from.
Bag still in hand, she ran across the street. The closer she got the more she could see what was happening.
A silent gasp escaped her lips. A fire, a fire that was quickly spreading. Their screams only increased when the office building had been engulfed with flames, causing an explosion to breakout. The gathered crowd panicked in fear as they pleaded for some sort of assistance. Those who were lucky enough to escape, had been covered in dirt and ash, coughing profusely.
Some were injured that they needed to be carried.
It wasn't long before the ambulances finally showed up. Sirens filled the public streets, moving swiftly to cease the fire. Still it wasn't enough to stop the group who began yelling, shouting that there were still civilians trapped inside.
Overhearing what some of the firefighters were talking about, she frowned angrily when she heard that it would be risky to send in a team. Unsure of the state they didn't want to take a chance so had decided to weigh it out. As if their lives mean more than theirs. Gritting her teeth, she wanted to admonish them for their stupidity. Shifting her eyes away from them, she turned her attention to the others.
The Police officers was currently attempting to calm the herd of alarmed individuals. It was futile of course as everyone wanted an explanation for this disastrous event.
Grace stood there quietly near the crowd. Listening to what might have happened. Ideas like terrorism, equipment failure, and accidental had all been brought up. But none of those ideas seemed right. Then again, what did she know.
She examined the building closely, Grace could see the fire that was coming from 34th floor. And from the looks of it, no one was going to be able to get out. Hating to have to stand here and watch, she forced herself to move.
Dropping her bag, she immediately ran towards the source, noticing the cops had let their guard down.
Ignoring the officers calls. Grace passed through the crowd; consequences be damned.
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The empty lobby was cluttered with papers and trash. But it wasn't compared to the mist that had encircled all through out the area. She watched the chaos that unfolded in her absence. There was a strange emotion that was going through her; as if there was a piece of information she was missing.
Grace quickly ran to the nearest staircase. Her heart beating with adrenalin, she moves through the smoke. Her main concern now was reaching the high the floor without wasting too much time. Confident enough, she charged up her arms and began climbing up the stairway rails. One by one Grace, with the currents support, she climbed and hopped through each level.
It only take's her a minute to reach the 30th floor. She curses upon exit when she sees the chaos that had unfolded. The flames engulfed the floor, scorching with heat, surrounding and trapping all those within. Grimaced at the sight, she needed to find anyone who might have survived.
Hundreds of thoughts spiralled in her subconscious. Mostly leaning on fear, along with nervousness. Feeling as though she has been standing there forever, she ignores the violent flames.
"Hello?!" She shouts. "Is anyone out here?"
Grace walks further into floor. Scanning each area and room. Shouting and calling out for anyone.
She barely managed to hear word as the faint sounds emerge behind a few desks. Grace had no idea how she pulled it off, her eyes begin to change form. Almost as she's gotten a new set of eyes, Grace could see a lot more clearer. Gradient of colors in her vision had given her the sense of direction; it only seemed to confuse her. But eventually, she adapted to the outlines of color.
Behind the desks was a woman. Without any hesitation, Grace runs through the burning room, reaching for the woman. Before she could though, there was a clutter of concrete and debris blocking her way. Every one her instincts quickly told her to do anything to get the woman out. Doing what she thought was best, she released a bolt of light through the scraps of junk that was in the way.
Curled up under the desk, the woman calls out. "Hello? Is somebody out there?"
"Over here!" Grace called, helping the woman up. "Are you hurt?"
Shaking her head, the woman was alarmed, but most of all, relieved. "Oh my God thank you! Thank you! I thought for sure I was going to be trapped in here."
"Is anyone else here?"
Again she shook her head. "No, I was the last one here before the ceiling fell. I was making sure everyone made it out."
Pointing behind her. "Alright, I cleared the area to the stairs. You should be able to make it out." Grace instructed.
"What about you?" The woman seemed surprised by her. "Aren't you coming?"
"I'm going to go look for others." Grace started taking off one layer of her sweaters. She handed it to the woman. "Here, pull it over head and go down. We don't have much time."
The woman felt obligated to do as she says. So she leaves without protest. "Thank you."
Grace didn't wait for her to leave the room. Instead she uses her new found vision. Gradients of blue were all but electrical, that is until she spotted a faint of white. There, it appeared to be three others still held up.
From the corner she could see piles of furniture that has been blown away, then looking back up towards the broken ceiling. Grace looked as if the light bulb in her head had lit up. Running towards the possessions, she tugs at the small couches, placing it underneath the hole.
Grace was unable to think straight when she tried climbing up to gaping hole that was the ceiling. The idea was to have each person go down, landing on soft couch; like a trampoline, then run to the stairs. Simple right? She stopped at the 30th- or now- 31st floor and advanced to the sight of where the others were hiding.
Their hearts, she could see their hearts, beating in rapid fear. The one that worried her the most was the one whose movements wasn't up to par as the others. Her eyes widened at the catastrophe; it was a miracle that this floor was still standing. Gripping her hands tightly, she sprinted against the obstacles that blocked her from reaching the civilians. Practically tearing down every wall that was in the way; literally. A few more steps, she caught sight of them.
There was an elderly woman resting on her knees. A slightly bald man who was holding the other gentleman, the one with the faint heart. They turned their attention to her once she appeared. The sight of them was saddening to see.
"Come on! We don't have much time, we have to get out." She exclaimed.
The slightly bald man shouted. "How do you expect us to get out?! We're trapped in here! Why do you think we covered ourselves here? There isn't a way out. The damn doors been busted from the outside."
"Don't worry, I've made a route just down the hall, it should take you directly to the next floor. It'll then lead you to the stairs. You can get out from there."
The elderly lady cocked her, confused. "Are you the only one here? Where are the officers? The firemen? I thought they would send in help."
Shaking her head, Grace responded. "They don't want to risk anymore lives."
"So they were just going to leave us here for dead!?" The man spewed out in disappointment.
"It doesn't matter now! What does, is helping your friend. Now come on. I don't want to waste anymore time."
Just as the words left her lips a small explosion sets off. Afterwards, a loud shriek that was coming from the floor above. "You don't need my help getting out, do you?"
Simultaneously, the two people darted up from the floor. While both tired and frightened, had managed to lift the unconscious man from the floor. Gripping him tightly in between.
"I-I think we can mange. Where did you say the exit was."
"Follow the holes in the walls, you should be able to jump down; I threw in some cushions to break your fall."
"This is insane." Nervously he stared into her eyes. He was tempted to say something but was overcome by the anxiety of her expression.
"Just go! Now!" She shouted.
The small group quickly regained their composure and paced down towards the damaged walls. Hoping they made it out, she turns her attention back to the horrible shriek that she heard not too long ago.
With her eyes, she scanned once more. The accelerated beating of a heart set her on the path. Grace practically soared through the ceiling using overwhelming force of electricity.
Her jaw hit the floor once she realized what she's done. Surprised by her actions, she lets out a loud gasp.
"Help! Somebody help me please!" Cried a woman. "Anybody! Please!"
Grace broke free from her shock. Narrowing her gaze at the scared woman. Trapped in a corner under heavy pieces of indescribable material, Grace needed to get her out.
"I'm here don't worry." Grace assured.
Her voice caught the strangers attention. "Hello? Who's there?" A heavy sigh. "Doesn't matter, you've got to help me. I'm stuck! I can't get out."
Countering the clogging object. A slight portion of hesitation went through her nerves. "What's your name?"
"Nancy." She uttered.
"Alright, Nancy? I'm going to need you to promise me something."
"What is it?"
"I'm going to get rid of this. But before I do, I'm going to need you to promise me not to freak out."
"Why-" From where she was standing, Nancy could see a bright glowing light tattering the scraps of debris. The terrified look on her face as she watched helplessly only fueled her fears.
Before she knew what was happening, the deterrents of litter were no more. Soon, Grace felt an overabundance of worried emotions at the woman's horrified appearance.
The woman barely managed to look up as Grace retreated, giving her space.
"You're a freak." The woman spoke in a low voice, hugging herself.
Her eyes suddenly turned back to its once bright color. Speechless, her head shook, unable to speak. When she did, it only came out as gibberish. "I-I...um, we need t-to leave... There's an exit be-behind me. It'll take you t-to the um, stairs..."
The woman, Nancy, simply stared at her as grace's mind went somewhere else. Grace couldn't process her comment. Gritting her teeth; it shouldn't bother her. And yet it does, her features darken, struggling to maintain the smallest pieces of composure.
What on earth was she thinking? Coming here and expecting to be well received by the public. What is wrong with her? What was she expecting? Gratitude? Clearly it was all a mistake, a big mistake. The world isn't ready for her. Grace knew that now. She was a- What did that lady call her? A freak.
A freak, she called her.
Feeling hollow, she turned away from the frightened woman. Neither said a word as they both went back down from the pathway that was created. Grace stood by first and climbed down onto the next floor.
Swiftly, they descended beneath each flight of stairs until they reached the end. Grace allowed Nancy to walk pass her, as she did, the woman immediately runs to the shattered doors. Leaving Grace behind, there were various upon various officers and news outlets all huddled together, a crowd. They all watched and waited once they heard of a brave soul who went out on a limb to rescue the innocent people.
Swallowing hard, this is the last thing she wanted to deal with. Her fears coming true, if she were to step foot outside, her life would be over. The people would know about her existence. Fury will probably be upset and the council will probably demand control over her. Grace wanted to flinch when she spotted the people she meets on the upper floors. They were each set up near the ambulance trucks. This only increased the tension within the crowd.
Before she knew, police officers started to charge the building. For what reason, Grace couldn't say. What matters now is getting away from this place.
Looking around the lobby, she came across a door down to her left. In a last ditch effort, she dashed forward to the busted down door. It lead her to an unoccupied room, a storage room. There large overcrowded room had labeled boxes. A lump ran down her throat as she read it, Elektor Med.
This must have been a new building considering she's never heard of it. Nor ever laid eyes before today. How did the fire even start? Somewhere in her gut was saying this wasn't a coincidence. She became pale, nausea hit her at the mere idea that somehow the fire wasn't accidental at all.
There so many questions rummaging through her head. It made it impossible to calm down with this pent up frustration. Nothing made any sense to her; maybe she has lost her mind.
As much as she we wanted to stay and investigate further, Grace was out of time. Hearing shouts and sirens caused her to move away. Leaving with unanswered questions.
888
Standing in front of a flat screen, her hands felt shaky. The sick feeling seeped into her stomach. They know, they know and now they were going to come for her; she was sure of it. Fury's going figure it out, he'll piece the puzzle together and realize she did it, she exposed herself. Used her power outside headquarters. It was only a matter of time before his agents would burst and bust down her doors. The thought of returning to shield made her feel sick.
Things were starting to get better for her. She was finally getting stability and a hold on life. Routines on a day to day basis had quickly become normal; she felt normal. It was over, her life was over. Something so good, ruined for trying to do the right thing. Everything she's worked for, gone, poof! Dead.
It was like being an amateur all over again. Going back to the days of inexperience and self-conscious, Grace didn't want to be treated as a child by Fury or his people. She didn't want to be a failure, didn't want to be called a "threat" or be spoon fed. Grace thought she had finally proved herself that she was in control. I still am, right?
What about that thing with her eyes? Yeah, what the hell happened with her eyes? One minute she was waddling around a burnt building, than all of a sudden a strange funny feeling begins to appear in her eyes. Grace couldn't explain it, at least not scientifically. What would Fury think? Would he see this as a drawback in her training? If so, would that mean being held back? Forced to return to shield?
Being sent away again would only damage her more. These thoughts didn't help much, her body only froze. Was trying to be normal really too much to ask? Was wanting someone to see pass her abilities a bad thing? Who knows...
"And now for our main story today. An explosion that has erupted in the Elektor Med tower has left hundreds of citizens in a state of panic. The fire quickly spread on the upper floors of the building, trapping some of its workers. Those who were fortunate enough to escape were immediately hospitalized. Eye witnesses say that the explosion came from nowhere. Others believe it to be an act of terrorism. The company has been under heavy fire since the disappearance of its founding member, Marcus Haisley.
Their current president Thomas Hughes was not in town when the incident occurred. But has been traveling abroad to promote idealistic prints for the purpose of improving MRI scanners.
When the news finally reached him, he was 'devastated' to hear the tragedy. He also wishes the employees a safe recovery and prayers for the victims families, who unfortunately, lost their lives in the fire.
Another rumor had then quickly spread amongst the city as witnesses also claim that another being had willingly volunteered to head inside the building, only to then rescue at least five people. Officers looked for the potential suspect but were later unable to find the supposed hero.
Reports say that the alleged rescuer might not have been human at all. Officials of course deny this claim, saying it was merely a bystander of sorts who had bravely saved the casualties.
Others, not convinced, believing that more and more change is coming to the world.
For now, we are left speculating and guessing about the current events that have unfolded this evening. We'll be updating this story once new information is released to the public.
And now for sports..."
All she could do was stare at the screen, hanging on every word. Replaying the events of today, going over the details that entails if her presence was known. They never mentioned her name, but they've acknowledge the fact that someone did go inside. And that person was her. They left most of the information vague, leaving her name out of the conversation, along with Mark's disappearance. It left her feeling both relieved and weary at the same time and grace was sure that it had something to do with Fury; the man had his ways of keeping things under wraps.
Try as she might, she wouldn't be able to rest until she knew she was in the clear.
Grace sighed loudly, her jaw tightening at the flat screen in front of her. It was currently showing commercials for new beauty products, but grace ignored the advertisements and simply stared. Her eyes then darted to the clock on her right, it was past midnight already. Late it may be, she couldn't stop herself from contemplating on what to do next. The desire to disappear from this life was one she often considered doing. The only thing holding her back was Mark, the promise she made to him, the promise of finding him was one she had a hard time doing. Without any leads to go by, grace's hopes started to deteriorate with each passing day.
Rubbing her temples, she turned off the screen and turned away to head upstairs. Once her foot touched the first step of the stairs, her phone suddenly starts ringing. There wasn't a soul who knew about the phone since it was recently purchased. Strange as it was, grace had an idea of who it might of been. This could be the call she's been waiting for. An opportunity to save or destroy her, she willingly answered and rested on a nearby couch, leaning back in her chair, she answers.
There was no greeting of any kind, but silence.
On the other line, a voice began, "Heard what happened today, I have to say I'm a little surprised by your actions." Fury's voice didn't seem aggressive as she had initially thought it would be.
"I am too..." She spoke with neutrality. "I had hoped to be given a day or two before someone figures it out. Guess that was my fault."
Grace couldn't help but notice the humor in his tone. "We live in the age of technology. So of course someone was going to find out. Luckily for you, we were the first. Just be glad we were able to stop the others from finding out."
"You...You stopped them from finding out?" Grace mumbled. "Why?"
"You sound surprised Powers. But I think we can both agree that if the world figures out about the possibility of the existence of enhanced beings, then we'd all be in a tight spot. Of course, there will always be the suspicious kind, but those often tend to be ignored. In your case, you have nothing to worry about."
"Don't I?" She asked, sounding not too convinced.
Noting the doubt in her tone. "Is there something you were expecting?"
"Not to be rude, but I'm pretty sure you didn't call just to check up on me. What do you need?"
There was a slight pause holding in the other line. It only worried Grace more once he didn't respond.
"At this point, nothing. But your right there is a reason.
The fire was no accident, in fact we believe it has something to with Dr. Haisley."
Her body froze into position, unable to believe what was just said. White as a sheet, her eyes widen with an expression of shock while her mouth hung open. It was a good thing she was rested down, had she been standing, she was fairly certain to have fainted on the spot.
Does this mean she's been right all along? Was this the connection she had been feeling? If this was true, than that means Mark might still be alive. Why else would they go through such lengths? Her mind started playing the guessing game and with her on the losing side, Grace was slowly suffocating at the scene.
"Wh-What makes you think that?" She asked with a sad tone, trying to contain her emotions.
"Because, this isn't the first building that's been targeted. What you fail to notice is that Dr. Haisley's company is a global empire. The attacks first began in the city of Tarma, located in central Peru. Then Kabwe, Denmark, Osaka, Bangkok, Mumbai, the list goes on.
After investigating further, we discovered minutes before the explosion, a package was delivered to their representatives. We spoke to some of their associates and they all described the same thing, a woman. But she's portrayed differently each time. Coulson and I both agreed that it's the same person, just wearing disguises."
A shiver ran down her spine, losing focus. Dawned by the facts, Grace thought more about the woman. This had to be the same person who attacked her the day Mark was taken. There was no doubt in her mind that it was all connected. As to why? The answer was not so clear.
She was slowly losing control over herself. Her emotions recoiled from shock at the sudden development to anger for allowing it to go to this extent when the answers lie just beyond. But Grace could only think of her failure. Their failure, both Grace and Fury had failed one by one in trying to save Mark and those he valued.
Doomed from the start, it was too much to take in. Trembling in her chair, she cursed inside; most of it was profanity words that shouldn't be said in front of children. She opened her mouth to speak, but found herself suddenly mute.
Staring into nothingness, her voice rattled with despondency. "Then Mark really is alive?"
"Without a doubt." He finally confirmed.
"I'm going to find him." Her mind made up, she declared, letting him know it wasn't up for discussion.
"I figured as much." He surrendered.
Gripping the phone tightly, she questioned. "Are you going to help me?"
"I think I owe it to you." He felt compelled to offer.
Nodding to herself, she adjusted her sitting position to a more comfortable one. "When can I expect to move?"
Clearing his throat, he responded evenly. "Give me a few weeks to set up. I'll need to go over the information with a few of my agents. After that we'll have to layout a solid plan. We will brief you when it's time. For now, try and get some rest. You sound like you need one after all that excitement."
Rolling her eyes, she snorted at the snide remark. "I'll do my best then."
"One more thing."
"What is it this time?"
"Congratulations on your first rescue. You are now a certified hero." Already telling he was grinning in full force.
"Do I get a diploma?" She quipped back.
"A bumper sticker will do you just fine."
Rubbing her chin lightly, she smiled. "I can't wait."
They both hung up after that, leaving Grace there to sit and ponder in silence. She rubbed her forehead and spent a great deal of time sitting. Figuring it was time to recharge, she couldn't seem to move from the fact that this is the day she's been waiting for.
The day when she finally receives the call that would determine Mark's fate. It would be either life or death. The point is, it would give her a sense of closure. That closure was now here, he was alive and still out there waiting for her to come. Still, Grace wondered how Fury plans on getting to his location. Even if it was based on theory, she was willing to accept anything at this point.
Soon, It will all be over soon. She thought as she collectedly gathered herself. Heading up stairs, Grace was prepared for a night of rejuvenating slumber.
It was slowly coming to an end, soon this will be an end to their chapter. And hopefully they can move on with their lives.
Crap, I forgot I left the present behind...
AN: I've been trying to update frequently, but of course... Writers block. Still, I've been enjoying writing the story so far. Anyways, hope everyone has a wonderful day. As always, Constructive Criticism is welcome.