Allie

III

"Wake up," a gruff voice demands and a firm hand shakes my shoulder. Opening my eyes I give the man a glare, it's Savin.

The blood in my body is burning as all my cells attempt to rewrite themselves to fit Extremis.

"We're moving you," he says and begins switching the IV and monitor to a mobile cart.

"Oh thank God this place was getting so dull," I grumble. He ignores me and abruptly hauls me off the hospital bed. The roughness doesn't bother me, all I feel is the heat under my skin.

Savin stands me up against a furniture dolly. I allow him to strap me down without a fight, there is no point in fighting. Killian can track me and shock me at any given moment. He has cameras everywhere, so he'd know in a second if I did anything.

Tony, Gabie, I need you right now, I really need you.

III

Gabie

III

"Seeing her like that, crying, screaming, the Extremis burning her from the inside out...that killed me," Tony mutters but I barely flinch. I just stay utterly still, trying not to close my eyes, because all I see is her crying in agony. "I would rather die a thousand painful deaths than see that again."

"I would endure years of relentless torture if it meant she would be safe, I would do anything in this world if it meant she would never cry," I return weakly. My hopes are dashed and my soul broken.

In all my wildest nightmares, in all the worst case scenarios I pictured, I could never even dream that any harm would come to Allie.

"Watching her scream, begging for us not to see, all my hope was shattered...And in that moment I wished that we had both just died in that car crash."

Tony doesn't lift his head or even acknowledge my words.

One of the two henchmen watching us scoffs, but I'm too exhausted to be angry.

"You know before we died our soulmarks weren't in color," I say. "We went under and when we came back we were each marked for multiple people. As if the universe was trying to assure we wouldn't die by putting us in the care of multiple older soulmates."

"I failed her."

"We both did, this isn't all on you," I say, confessing something I never want to admit. Deep down I know this isn't all his fault, it's my fault too, and that's what gets me.

A repetitive and loud beeping makes both our heads snap up and our eyes go to the watch. It's the alarm, it means the suit is done charging.

"We'll get her back and we'll get revenge," I promise with a sly smirk.

One the henchmen, ignoring me, grabs up the watch.

"Careful there, it's a limited edition," Tony warns then turns his head to the henchman with a long pintail. "Hey, uh...Ponytail Express. What's the mileage count between Tennessee and Miami?"

"Eight hundred and thirty-two miles," he responds quickly.

"Very nice," Tony praises and the man beams.

"I'm good like that," he brags but frowns and the still beeping watch. "Can you, uh...stop that?"

"Break it, you bought it!" Tony exclaims.

The guard drops the watch on the ground and stomps on it.

"I think I bought it," he snarks and I scowl.

"Okay, that wasn't mine to give away. That belongs to my friend's sister, and that's why I'm gonna kill you first," Tony declares cockily.

"What're you gonna do to me?" the guards teases.

"You'll see."

"You're zip-tied to a bed," the guard deadpans.

Suddenly Tony whips his hands up as if to motion his suit.

"This."

Nothing happens and the guards just stare at him, Tony moves his hand again.

"That."

Still nothing happens and what little hope I had deflates.

III

Allie

III

Bright sunlight stings my vision as I'm wheeled out of the compound.

Surprisingly the compound is a mansion.

"Typical rich white guy," I scoff under my breath.

Savin doesn't hear and continues to roll me towards a large armored truck.

"Aww worried someone's gonna rob me from you?" I tease and Savin huffs.

"Now now Allison, remember what I said about naughty girls?"

My blood goes cold at the sound of his voice and then my stomach churns at the sight of him. He's waiting by the van for me.

Around all the other guards I've put on a brave face but with him I just can't.

I'm not brave, not at all, I am so scared.

Effortlessly Killian lifts the dolly and sets it in the back of the truck. He then gets in and sits across from me.

I try not to meet his gaze, his eyes, those hands, they make me scared, they make me remember.

"I suppose I should tell you my evil plan now," he begins and any sarcastic remark does on my tongue when he looks at me directly in the eyes.

"It's not as if I could do anything to stop you," I say plainly.

"No of course not, I've done what your friend Gabie claims I could never do, I've broken you," he agrees nonchalantly and I go still.

"Gabie?"

"She said you would fight me everyday, every moment, but here you are: helpless."

Gabie said I would fight, but I haven't, not really. I've given up, he broke me. All he's done has been done to others who have risen above, but here I sit, a superhero, doing nothing, saying nothing, trying nothing. I am weak.

"Anyway it's a glorious day, Allison. This time tomorrow, I'll have the West's most powerful leader in one hand, and the world's most feared terrorist in the other. I'll own the War on Terror. Creates supply and demand for the brothers and sisters of Extremis," he recounts. "I plan on using the footage of you as my first act after I murder the president. The people seeing a beloved superhero being broken by me will be considered one of the worst acts of terror. You have many lovers Siren, this will destroy them."

My eyes widen, this man has no empathy, he doesn't care, how could he speak so causally about destroying lives, destroying hope?

He takes pleasure in the pain of others.

It makes me furious.

"You're a psychopath! You're a sick fuck! When Tony and Gabie take you down I'll be be one to kill you! I will decimate you! I'll turn you to ashes and then burn the ashes!" I snarl violently and jerk in my restraints. Thrashing violently I frantically claw he air, trying to gouge at him. The fury, the anger, I must fight back. "I won't stop fighting! I swear I won't!"

Killian chuckles and grabs my neck. This time I don't close my eyes in fear or shed any tears. This time I keep them open and glare in defiance.

Gabie believes in me, Tony believes in me.

Right now I cannot be afraid.

I stare at him and hold his gaze until the lack of air forces darkness over my mind.

III

Gabie

III

"Trust me, you're gonna be in a puddle of blood on the ground in five, four, three...come on! Two..." Tony snaps in frustration, but still nothing.

"How did we get this shit?" the first guard huffs.

"Savin won the coin toss. He gets to transfer the girl and we have to guard Stark and Trent," the other, ponytail express, replies and I stiffen.

Transfer the girl? Do they mean Allie?

I give Tony a side look but he's overlooking the new information.

"Alright, I'm gonna give you a chance to escape. Put down your weapons, tie yourselves to those chairs, I'll let you live. In five, four...bang!" he shouts but still nothing.

"Wow. That was-"

"You should be gone by now, you should have already been gone," Tony remarks.

"I am just beyond terrified," ponytail express deadpans sarcastically.

"Here it comes. Three, four-"

"Shut up."

"Five, four, three, two, one!" Only rushes out and surprisingly the gauntlet of Mark 42 smashes through the window. I cheer as it knocks a guard down and attaches itself to Tony's hand.

"Told ya."

"Lets kick some ass."