TW for hinted sexual assault
Allie
III
"Maya what happened to Killian?" Maya stares at me solemnly and sits up slightly. "I mean what made him go down this path?"
We were both relaxing in our separate beds but I couldn't sleep so I woke her to talk.
"What happened? Fun fact; before he built rockets for the Nazis, the idealistic Werner von Braun dreamed of space travel, he star gazed," Maya muses intently. She has this nostalgic tone in her voice, this sincerity, laced with hurt.
I can feel her pain but there's something deeper, something dishonest.
"Do you know what he said when the first V2 hit London? The rocket performed perfectly," I raise an eyebrow but she continues. "It just landed on the wrong planet."
"What a pure thing to say," I mumble.
"See we all begin wide-eyed, pure science. And then the ego steps in, the obsession. And you look up, you're a long way from shore," Maya whispers and her breath hitches.
Maya seems genuinely disheartened and I feel for her, quite literally I can feel the despair.
"You can't be too hard on yourself, Maya. I mean you gave your research to a think tank with the best intentions. The research you were doing it was good science. You wanted to enhance people so they live longer, have less sickness, and heal those with disabilities."
"Yeah, but Killian built that think tank on military contracts. And turned that research meant for helping people into a weapon," Maya counters in an exasperated tone.
"That's exactly what Tony used to do, so don't judge yourself," I insist and reach forward to run her arm in a comforting manner.
"Thank you, Allie. I really appreciate that."
Maya smiles at me but before I can say anything else comforting a sharp knock comes at the door.
"That's either room service or Nat and Steve," I say and jump up. "I really hope it's the chocolate cake I ordered! I love ordering room service it makes me feel fancy!"
"You ordered a chocolate cake? It's twelve and you woke me up like two minutes ago," Maya remarks and smirks at me.
"Before I woke you I watched some tv and ordered the cake," I reply and head for the door.
Stilling at the door I peer through the peephole, a uniformed waiter stands outside with a silver platter in his hands.
Taking a deep breath I shake off my anxieties and open the door.
"Hi, good evening," I greet warmly to the man.
"Good evening," he returns politely.
"Come on in," I invite and step aside to let him in.
He takes one step and then he's violently grabbed from behind.
It all happens so fast: the waiters neck is snapped, his body falls to the ground to reveal Killian, and the shock of it all paralyzes me.
"Maya, run!" I shout and turn to Killian wth my fists held up.
Before I can take a swing or even scream Aldrich seizes me by the thirst and slams me into the wall. With his other hand he holds a syringe.
I struggle and kick hard, even try to channel the pain of him squeezing my throat back into him, but to no avail. He's stronger than me, and he jams the syringe into my neck unceremoniously and without pause.
It stings and sends a numbing sensation through my mind.
Frantically I try to reach out to Gabie and I barely make the connection.
"Gabie! Killian! Cl-closing with dru-"
The numbing sensation closes the bond and weakens my attempts to fight back while his hand in my throat drowns any possible screams.
I'm cut off from her, there's no one to come help me.
In my life I don't think I have ever experienced this fear, this helplessness.
"Hi, Allison." He gives a cunning smirk and turns to Maya.
She hasn't fled, she isn't even trying to fight him. She just stands there looking unamused.
"So you want to tell me why you were at Stark's mansion last night?" Killian questions.
"I'm trying to fix this thing. I didn't know you and the Master were gonna blow the place up," Maya answers sardonically.
"Oh, I see. So you were trying to save Stark, when he threatened us," Killian retorts.
"I told you, Killian, we can use him," Maya argues.
Their words I hear them but they aren't making sense. As if I can't comprehend what's happening.
Weakly I reach for Killian's throat but I do no damage.
"Allison, Allison, Allison," he chides, regarding me as if I'm no more annoying than a fly.
"Look if we wanna launch product next year, I need Stark. He just lacked a decent incentive. Now he has one."
My eyes widen, that was deep enough to understand.
They are using me to get to Tony.
Killian then turns to me and squeezes until my world turns to blackness.
III
Gabie
III
The ride is silent, neither of us speak.
What is there to say?
Our worst fears have been realized: Allie has been taken.
"We will get her back."
I turn to look at him blankly and unimpressed.
"I know this is my fault so I am going to fix it. I'll get the suit and we'll get her back," he promises but I remain mute. He gave the terrorist his address, this is his fault.
"I'm calling Harley," Tony says and pulls out the phone to dial. Harley picks up almost immediately.
"Harley, tell me what's happening, give me a full report," Tony requests.
"Yeah, I'm still eating that candy, do you want...do you want me to keep eating it?" Harley asks, his voice shaky.
"What candy?" I hiss and Tony shrugs. Tony would be such and awful parent.
"Mr Stark texted and told me to eat it so I could stay awake," Harley answers, having heard me.
"Are you trying to poison this kid!" I whisper yell.
I was warming up to Stark but now I realize I still want to kill him.
"How much did you have?" Tony inquires, moving forward from my disapproval.
"Two or three bowls," Harley replies.
"Can you still see straight?"
"Sort of."
"That means you're fine. Give me Jarvis," Tony demands and I frown in confusion.
To find answers I go into Tony's mind. He's been texting Harley instructions for hours now about how to set up the suit and power it.
All this planning, without me.
"Jarvis, how are we?"
"It's totally fine, sir. I seem to do quite well for a stretch and then at the end of the sentence I say the wrong cranberry," Jarvis responds concisely, his robotic voice not even tripling over the incorrect word. Usually I'd laugh but I'm too upset to be happy. "And, sir, you were right. Once I factored in available AIM downlink facilities, I was able to pinpoint the Mandarin's broadcast signal."
"What're we talkin'? Far East, Europe, North Africa, Iran, Pakistan, Syria, where is it?" Tony questions impatiently.
"Actually, sir, it's in Miami," Jarvis reports and Tony mutters a swear.
"Kid, I'm gonna have to walk you through rebooting Jarvis' speech drive, but not right now. Harley, where is he really? Just look on the screen and tell me where it is," Tony instructs.
"Um...it does say Miami, Florida," Harley confirms and Tony exhales sharply.
"Okay, first things first, I need the armor. Where are we at with it?"
"Uh...it's not charging."
Screeching tires, slamming breaks, and a strangled cry of shock from me are all the sounds I hear next.
Tony has jerked off the road and stopped the vehicle insanely abruptly.
"Actually, sir, it's charging, but the power source is questionable. It may not succeed in revitalizing the Mark 42," Jarvis corrects but this does nothing to soothe Tony's nerves.
In his mind the images and thoughts are flashing again.
"What's questionable about electricity? Alright, it's my suit and I can't...I'm not gonna...I don't wanna..."
His breathing becomes short and erratic as he stumbles trough his words.
Sitting up I reach over to him but he flicnhes away.
I may despise Tony Stark but I understand how hard having a panic attack is.
Tony lurches out of he car and falls into the ground.
Hastily I exit my side and rush to kneel by his side.
"Oh God, not again," Tony whimpers. I take his hand and begin squeezing it rhythmically.
"Breathe on every squeeze okay," I guide and Tony nods.
"Tony? Are you having another attack? I didn't even mention New York," Harley prattles over the speaker and I sigh. That's not helpful at all.
I'm leaving her without a piece of her soul, she's too young for that.
The sudden chanting of those words in Tony's mind is confusing and disorienting. His thoughts are scattered and all he can think about is dying in the wormhole and leaving Allie.
"Right, and then you just said it, by name, while denying having said it!" Tony exclaims loudly.
"Okay...um...uh..." Harley stammers.
"Oh, God. What am I gonna do?" Tony murmurs hopelessly. "How do I get her back?!"
"Tony keep breathing!" I snap forcefully.
"We will get her back, I swear it."
"Just breathe. Really, just breathe," Harley coaches with me and Tony begins breathing more calmly. "You're a mechanic, right?"
"Right," Tony states.
"You said so," Harley adds.
"Yes, I did."
"Why don't you just build something?"
Tony pauses as he thinks for a moment, then looking calmer he rises to his feet.
"Okay, thanks kid."
III
Tony uses Savin's phone to map to the nearest hardware store.
It's a thirty minute drive.
One I cannot stand because all I can think is of Allie being tortured.
"You met Killian, would he torture her?"
Tony nearly slams the breaks at my question.
"Allie, tortured?" His voice is weak and filled with horror.
"Who would torture Allie? She is so good, so innocent. I can't imagine anyone would want to damage such light," I murmur.
"She was kind to Killian and she has no information to give him, so why would he?" Tony returns adamantly.
In his head I can see every nightmare scenario but one, the only one I can think about.
I remember how Killian acted with Allie, the one stray thought I caught when he held her: almost perfect."
"They met at the gala and Allie got him the meeting with Pepper. He flirted with her then and he hugged her. At the meeting he held her close and said flirty things, and gave flirting looks."
Tony's grip on the steering wheel tighten and he hits the gas sharply.
"She didn't notice, she sees the best in people. But now she's with him and she can't connect with me."
The fear of the realization of what could happen builds and builds.
"I'm not sure what he'll do but I am sure of one thing."
"What's that?" Tony spits through gritted teeth.
"We will not be getting the same Allie back."