"The suit really takes some time to get used to doesn't it?' I asked FRIDAY.
"Well I wouldn't know," the AI told me. "I don't have a body that I'm able to use it with."
"Lovely," I muttered. "Call Peter."
"He's unavailable," she told me. "Would you like me to track where his phone was last used?"
"That would be great," I told FRIDAY. The wind raced through my ears but the suit seemed to control the noise for the most part.
"He was last seen on the corner of 45th and 7th," FRIDAY told me. "That was about 30 minutes ago."
"Full thrusters," I ordered and shot off to the destination.
꧁✿?￢ﾕﾭ⊱ ⊱╮?￢ﾜ ꧂
"Nothing at all?" I asked FRIDAY for probably the 100th time in the past five minutes.
"I contacted May Parker about the situation, but no surveillance cameras have located him in the surrounding areas."
"Were you able to identify the girl he was with?" I questioned.
"Yes, Mary Jane Watson most of her close friends call her MJ," I nodded trying to jog my memory back to the girl.
"If you wanted to hide in one of the busiest places in the world where would you go?" I asked myself.
"Incoming call from Steve Rogers."
"Send him through," I told the suit.
"Where are you?" he shouted at me.
"Woah! I have a lot on my plate right now," I told the fossil. "What do you need?"
"Did you watch the interview?"
"Just because I haven't talked to her in two weeks doesn't mean that I didn't watch her interview," I said defensively. Using the suit I soared into the sky trying to pick Peter out of the large crowd beneath me.
"Where is Parker?" Steve asked quickly. "And why does it sound like you're in a rocket?"
"Steve you are wasting my time right now," I told him. "Unless you have something important to say I'm going to hang up."
"The twins ran away," he said quickly.
"What?" I shouted, stopping myself in midair.
"They didn't learn about what happened with Hayward and everything until the interview came on and…."
"And what?" I scoffed.
"Well it upset them," he muttered. "They haven't seen you in over six months and no one told them about what happened with Hayward. Wanda has only been by to visit a few times a month and I'm sure that upset them as well."
"You're sure they ran?" fear spread over my body.
"They left a note stating their intentions," he told me.
"Are you looking for them?"
"I sent Sam out about 30 minutes ago," Steve said slowly. "Wanda is at the compound right now and she's not doing too great."
"Great," I muttered. "I'll be there soon… I just have a lot going on right now."
"Come back to the compound and I'll go look for Parker," Steve said to me. "I'll leave right now even. He couldn't have gotten that far."
"Yeah," I mumbled. "Yeah, you're right. I'm heading back now."
꧁✿?￢ﾕﾭ⊱ ⊱╮?￢ﾜ ꧂
I landed outside of the compound and saw Wanda sitting on the front steps. With a small sigh, I retracted my suit.
"Steve and Bucky left 15 minutes ago," she told me, getting to her feet and walking inside. I was quick to follow behind her.
"So terrible interviewer," I silently cursed at my stupidity.
"You could say that again," she murmured, reaching for a bottle of whiskey. "Would you like some?"
"I'm fine," I said, putting up my hand.
"You know it's absolutely crazy how stupid some people can be," she said amazed. "Half of the universe including myself disappear for five years and then when we come back there is this big battle where one of Earth's biggest heroes dies. Then your wife just happens to get kidnapped for six months after you two have a fight just to be returned to you with massive amounts of trauma. Yet, people don't want to know what might be the next threat they want to know if you're dating anyone. They don't ask you how you're doing, they just push questions that interest themselves onto you."
She slammed a glass onto the counter and it shattered.
"Crap," she muttered looking down at her now bloody hand. There was a soft glow on her right wrist and I noticed she was wearing the bracelet to my old suit.
"I shouldn't have left," I told her. Her eyes fell onto mine. "I shouldn't have ran out two weeks ago. Running out didn't do anything for me and I'm sorry."
"I don't blame you," she told me, turning her attention back to her hand. "I just feel like I don't know you anymore, but I suppose that's how life works when you're gone for five years."
"I just shouldn't have left," I said looking down at my feet. She turned on the sink and started to rinse out the cut. I slowly moved closer to her. "You were there to help me but when my past became a reality I couldn't stand to hurt you as well, so I ran."
Her eyes darted from me back to the sink.
"Now I'm supposed to be the next Ironman," I said with a small laugh. "I mean look at me."
"What do you mean?" her green eyes sparkled as she looked at me. I was reminded of the ocean when I looked at her. She had me caught in her current for the first time in a while and I knew there was no way I was escaping this time.
"Tony left me with his legacy," I said slowly. "Then Peter went missing and so did the twins. It seems like the world is crashing down on my shoulders."
"I couldn't agree more," she slowly turned off the water and studied me.
"With what?" I asked with a small sigh.
"Tony's decision," she said softly. "It makes sense for you to take on the role."
"I don't deserve it."
"You can't even say that," she scoffed. "You sacrificed your life for the sake of the universe without a second thought."
"Yet, somehow I'm still here and the world's Iron Man isn't!" my voice rose a little. "With my past, I am the least worthy person for this position."
"You're the person wearing the suit," Wanda pointed out.
"Because I had no-" I was cut off by her lips against mine. She pushed me back into the low counter and pressed hard against my mouth.
"I don't blame you for running from your past," she whispered when we pulled away from each other. I felt her palm resting on my cheek. "Sometimes to run is the brave thing."
"I-" I was at a loss for words when she grabbed my chin and pulled my face close to hers.
"I love you," she whispered, placing a soft kiss on my cheek. "And I will wait until you're ready, again. Until then we have to find the twins and Peter."
꧁✿?￢ﾕﾭ⊱ ⊱╮?￢ﾜ ꧂
"Incoming call from Steve Rogers," FRIDAY said in my ear. Before I could even tell the AI to answer it Steve's voice rang in my ear.
"We found all three of them!" Steve shouted. "They're all locked in an abandoned warehouse. Sam is sending you the address now!"
"Don't do anything until I get there!" I warned. The line went dead without him responding to me. My phone lit up with a message from Sam.
"Who was it?" Wanda asked quickly.
"Stay here!" I ordered running out of the front door.
"Mya!" she shouted but it was too late. I was already flying through the air towards the place that Sam sent me.
"Call Steve," I told the suit. The line immediately started to ring and Steve was quick to pick up. "Do not engage!"
"Sam had Redwing fly into the warehouse and there are about twenty people surrounding them," Steve told me. "I'm guessing there are guards surrounding the perimeter as well so probably about forty people in total."
"Ok, I'm almost there," my voice rang with panic.
"We're right outside the fence," he said.
"Cool," I muttered. "I'm going in. Take out the guards around the perimeter."
"You're going to need backup!" Sam shouted. "Just let us go with you!"
"I'm not going to ask again!" I warned. "Just take out the guards and I've got the rest. Do you understand?"
There was no reply but it didn't matter because I was already there. I landed on top of the roof and it seemed to sink under my weight.
"The whole building doesn't seem stable, be careful," I told them before finally hanging up. Off to my left, there were muffled shouts and I figured that Steve, Bucky, and Sam had gotten to work.
Carefully I made my way across the roof and surprisingly came across no guards. As I scanned the area there was a soft noise from behind me.
"I figured you could use some help," Wanda said quietly.
"You shouldn't be here," I hissed grabbing her arm and pulling her away from the edge of the building. "Didn't I tell you to stay back at the compound?"
"If you want to get them all out alive then you're going to need as much help as possible," she told me.
Before I could protest there was a loud shout off to my right. I turned back to Wanda.
"Stay here!" I warned. "For real this time!"
I jumped off the roof and silently landed on the ground below me. The suit retracted and I silently snuck around the remaining guards. A voice in the back of my head taunted me to go into the warehouse and the harder I tried to push it out of my head and find whatever had made the noise the more the thought tempted me.
"Fine," I huffed to myself. "Just a quick peak."
I found a small opening on one of the sides and slipped into it. The warehouse was dark but the dim moonlight peaked through small cracks in the walls, lighting my way.
"It's like I'm following the light," I muttered. "Hopefully not to my… end."
I slowly glanced around a large stack of crates and saw a soft glow. I could make out three bodies in the middle of a small circle. Straining my ears I could make out some of their conversation.
"What did I do?" Peter sobbed.
"Just the work needed for the Power Broker," an unknown voice told him. "They will thank you greatly for your work here today."
"I-I-I-that wasn't me," Peter stuttered.
"Oh, but it was," another voice said. "Isn't it so exciting?"
"Now run along! Your friends are here and I'm sure they are so excited to hear about what you did," the first voice told Peter.
"Who?" Peter asked almost in a whisper.
"The one that you're going to have the most fun telling this little incident about… well she's here," a shrill voice said happily.
"Gather your stuff we need to get out of here!" someone shouted from the opposite side of the building.
"Get up boy!" a figure growled at Peter.
I looked around for an exit and spotted one right in front of me. I quickly ran out of the building. My suit formed over my body shielding me from and unnoticed guards. I blasted them easily and made my way to where I thought Peter was going to come out of the building.
"Mya!" Sam shouted from above me. "A few of them just got in a van and drove away but you have to see Peter right now!"
"Where is he?"
Sam landed in front of me and placed his hands on my shoulders.
"He's not-"
"Sam, where is Peter?" I snapped interrupting him. I could tell he was hurt by my response.
"Over there," he said slowly with the nod of his head. I looked to my left and saw Peter stumbling around and grabbing old pipes around him to hold himself up.
"Go make sure there aren't any guards anywhere," I told Sam. He hesitated before lifting himself back into the air.
I slowly made my way to Peter making sure to retract the suit before I was next to him in fear that it would just scare him away.
"Peter?" I asked softly.
He whipped his head towards me with wide eyes.
"Mya!" he yelped in fear. "I-"
"Peter, what happened?" I looked him up and down. My hand reached for his shoulder but I quickly pulled away when I felt a warm, damp spot. "Peter?"
"Mya?" he whispered. "I tried-I tried to stop myself-"
"Hey, it's ok," I pulled him into a tight hug. Warm hit my body but it was quickly followed by a soft dampness seeping through my shirt. "Peter, what is all over you?"
"Mya!" Sam shouted from overtop of me. "Still no sign of the twins, we think they're still in the building."
"Go inside and try to find them," I told him. "But be careful!"
"No!" Peter shouted, grabbing my shoulders. "Don't go in there!"
"Come on let's get you cleaned up," I said softly to him. "Sam before you go can we get a little light?"
Red Wing flew out of the back of Sam's suit and gilded towards us. A small hatched open on its belly and a small, bright light popped out. I looked up and down at Peter and my mouth hung open.
"Peter," I gasped. The boy standing before me was covered in blood. "Is this all yours?"
He wouldn't meet my eyes.
"Peter, I need you to talk to me," I said softly. I placed my hand on his back and lowered him down to the ground. "We need medical attention immediately!"
"Mya, we found something in here," Steve said in the earpiece.
"Peter!" Wanda shouted, appearing next to me. "What happened?"
I watched as she rushed to his side. With all of his attention on her, I stepped away from the two of them.
"What is it, Steve?"
"It looks like there is something set up in the middle of the warehouse," Steve told me. "Should we check it out?"
"Ye-"
"Mya," Wanda said. I looked over and saw a concerned look on her face.
"Stay put for a minute," I said in the earpiece before walking towards her. "What is it?"
Wanda glanced down at the boy in front of her. He had curled up into a ball and was rocking back and forth.
"Peter, can you tell me what happened in there?" I asked softly. His hazel eyes darted towards mine.
"Mya," he whispered. "I tried to save them."
"Who, Peter?"
"I tried to stop them from doing anything but I-I couldn't save them in the… in the end," he sobbed. "I tried!"
"Hey, it's ok," I hushed him. "Who was it, Peter?"
"Mya," Steve said seriously in the earpiece. "Where are you?"
"I tried!" Peter began to shout. Teared rolled down his face.
"Mya?" Wanda asked. I looked up at her. "What is going on?"
"What is it, Steve?"
"They're gone," Steve whispered.
"What do you mean, they're gone?" I asked.
"Billy and Tommy," Peter whispered. "I-I killed them."
I stared at the boy in front of me. Slowly, I rose to my feet and took a few steps back. A small sigh escaped my lips as I tried to wrap my mind around what Peter had just said.
"I-I didn't mean to," Peter sobbed. "I tried to save them but they told me to just end it. They-they were in so much-much pain and-and I couldn't stand to-to see them suf-suffer."
"I-"
A shot rippled through the still air stopping me from talking. It was quickly followed by another and then another.
My body forcefully jolted forwards as I fell to the ground.
"Mya!" Wanda's voice was far away. She rolled me over and I felt her hand on my chest. My blood mixed with the twin's blood that had covered my shirt.
And as the world went black the only thing I saw was red. Too much red.