Allie

III

"I don't know Gabs I'm thinking that Kate and I shouldn't get back together," I muse and Gabie hums along.

"Allie don't even think about it. Kate and you had a toxic relationship," Gabie points out. I nod on agreement and turn around to face her. She's two steps behind me dragging along a half dressed mannequin.

"You're right Gabie, you're always right," I agree and turn back around. The pulley on the mannequin drags behind us in a loud fashion as it grates on the sidewalk.

"Allie do you-" A black wall slams into me and awful screeching fills my ears. My body is tossed off the sidewalk and into the dirt.

It all happened so fast.

With a gasp on my lips I jerks wake and sit straight up.

"Tony?" I whisper and look over to him. I'm shaking and scared.

Beside me Tony is grumbling in his sleep and squirming restlessly.

"Tony?" I repeat and gently shake his shoulder.

Out of nowhere cold metal fingers enclose around my neck and slam me into the bed frame.

Colored splotches fill my vision and pain my nerves.

"T-Tony," I rasp and weakly claw at the metal arm.

Tony jerks awake and wildly looks around.

"Power down!" he shouts and the suit shuts down. It's hand is still right around me.

Tony jumps to his feet and holds his hands out. The suit relaxes me and steps back. I immediately heave over and start coughing desperately. Tony slams his hands together and swipes the air making the suit crumble to pieces.

"I must have called it in my sleep. That's not supposed to happen. I'll recalibrate the sensors. Can we just...just let me...just let me catch my breath, okay?" Tony rambles and heavily sits on the bed. He reaches out to me as I cough and catch my breath.

I'm in shock and I'm terrified. "Allie I am so sorry," he mumbles and pats my back.

"S'fine, fine," I cough and rub my aching throat.

"Don't go, alright? Allie?" he pleads and takes my hand.

"Not gonna," I utter and squeeze his hand. "Won't ever."

"Thank god," he sighs and pulls me into his chest. "Just breathe okay."

"Head, check head."

"Jarvis do a head scan!" Tony shouts making me recoil as pain flashes in my temples.

"Queen Allison does not appear to have a concussion," Jarvis reports and I let out a puff of laughter. I told Jarvis to call me that.

"Good," Tony mutters and strokes my hair. "Words cannot express how sorry I am."

"Was an accident," I say as breathing finally steadies. "I understand."

"What did I do to deserve you?" he grumbles and kisses my hair.

"You saved the world," I point out and he snorts.

"That seems like a small deed compared to your utter magnificence." I giggle weakly and cling to his night shirt while he cradles me.

"Can you hold me for the rest of the night?" I selfishly ask. I know he needs sleep but I irrationally fear that if he sleeps again the suit will kill me.

III

Gabie

III

"Finally he's stopping. I thought he'd never pull over," I groan as the black minivan parks in the Chinese theater. "That ride was too long not to have snacks for."

"It's a tough job but somebody's got to do it," Happy responds and parks our car a row away from the henchman's van.

Sneakily we exit our car and follow the man keeping a lengthy distance between us. The henchman walks with a sauntering gait and a stupid smirk on his lips.

"We have to pretend to be talking and acting casual," I hiss to Happy. He is not at all playing this off.

"What's our cover? Are we friends? Siblings?" Happy inquires and I roll my eyes.

"Siblings," I say.

Outside the theater the henchman strolls up to another man on a bench. The other man is nervously playing with a set of dog tags around his neck.

"Don't look right at them," I mutter to Happy and tug him to a sunglasses stand. "Look in the test mirror." Happy nods and adjusts the mirror so he can keep one eye on the men. I stare down at the sunglasses and open my mind to theirs. "And pretend to try on some shades." Happy quickly pulls on a test pair to perfect the cover.

"Can you regulate?" the henchman, his name is Savin, asks of the shaking man. The other man, Taggert, is obviously jonesing and losing it.

"Yes, I can regulate," he lies.

"Are you sure about that?" Savin asks but it's a facade. He wants Taggert to overdose; his assignment is making sure he does.

"Yes," Taggert confirms. Savin passes a briefcase to him and Taggert immediately peeks inside. The case holds oddly shaped metal pieces.

"It's a decent batch. Don't say I never did nothin' for you," Savin remarks while obnoxiously chewing his gum.

Bored with the conversation I attempt to delve into Savin's mind and uncover what the metal pieces are.

As I go deeper a burning sensation grows in my temples and only gets worse.

Reluctantly I return to the surface thoughts and watch the rest of the exchange.

"Thank you...I mean for understanding," Taggert stammers and clutches the case to his chest. Savin gives an offhandedly expression and stalks off.

"Lets go," Happy mutters and elbows me. He casually takes off towards Taggert while I trail behind.

Taggert rises to leave and only makes it two steps before Happy "accidentally" bumps into him. The shaky man drops the case and it flies open scattering the metal objects.

"I'm sorry, buddy," Happy lies and bends down to help. I quickly go to my knees and gather some of the objects in hand. Happy slyly winks at me, so I place all of the ones I collected back in the case.

"Sorry about my brother," I add and place a hand on Taggert's arm as he slams his briefcase closed.

His skin is warm and faintly glowing red. Unable to mask my surprise I recoil sharply and back away. Happy sees the same thing and pulls me behind him as Taggert shuffles away.

"You see that?" I whisper.

"Yeah and I got this," he responds triumphantly, and holds out his hand to show me the stolen metal object.

"Nice work, now lets go before he notices." Happy nods and together we begin calmly walking towards our car.

Seemingly out of nowhere Savin bumps into Happy and latches onto my arm. I scowl and attempt to yank my wrist from his heating grip.

"What are you doin', buddy? You out with this pretty thing? A little date night? Watching your favorite chick flick maybe?" he taunts and Happy gents his teeth. I really hate this guy but I also know running my mouth will get us nowhere. However Happy does not understand this logic.

"Yeah, a little movie called "The Party's Over", starring you and your junkie girlfriend, and here's the ticket."

Happy proudly waves the stolen goods in Savin's face while I groan.

"No kidding?" he teases but reaches to snatch the thing away. He seems to be trying not to get angry. "That doesn't belong to you."

"It does now so back off," I growl.

"Aww you're so pathetic you have to have your little girlfriend stand up for you," Savin cackles and throws his head back.

When he looks back up Happy slams his fist right into Savin's nose naming the man release me and stumble back.

I jump back in surprise; I did not expect Happy to start throwing punches.

Instead of moaning in pain or bleeding, Savin grins as his flesh glows red and knits itself back together. Savin smirks and tosses Happy aside with ease. Happy goes way farther than anyone with normal strength could throw a person.

"Happy!" I call but keep my eyes on Savin. Taking steps back I reach my hand towards the pocket sewn into my jacket. I have to put my mask on and fight this guy.

"Oh I wouldn't do that sweetheart," Savin purrs and I glare.

"Oh why not? Cause no gun will hurt you? Hate to break it to you, but I got something better than a gun," I retort and Savin rolls his eyes. I can see his skin run red and begin to glow.

"Oh yeah? Whatever it is, it won't stop me from killing you."

"I think it will." With practiced precision I whip out my mask and put it on as controlled steam shrouds me. The steam dissipates quickly leaving me, Quiver, to face Savin.

He looks surprised and I take that advantage to deck him in the face and douse the healing wound with freezing water. Continuously I pull water from the set of nearby fountains and spray him with it.

"Savin!" Taggert screams dragging my gaze from the soaked man to him. He is glowing bright red and seems to be pulsing.

"What the hell?" I gasp.

"Help! Help me!" Taggert screeches as his body overheats.

It clicks in my mind instantly, he is going to blow up.

"Happy!" I cry and make a run for the injured security guard.

It all happens at so fast: Taggert explodes in a huge fiery ball of death, I make it to Happy and attempt to shield him us rubble, but before I can complete the shield shooting pain erupts in my head. Crushing weight around my throats follows the pain in my head soon after.

"Gah-ALLIE!"

Screaming in agony my shield drops partially and we're both thrown back with the force of the explosion.

III

The first thing I notice is the ringing in my ears, and then the burning agony eating away at my limbs. Blood is seeping from my body at an alarming rate, but I cannot move.

Crunching rubble grabs my attention and I allow my head to flop sideways.

Savin is emerging from the debris, healing as he goes. His limbs are burning and reforming as he walks and soon he strides away a perfectly healed man. He looks as if nothing happened.