A Blast From the Past
Disclaimer:
As always, I own nothing except for Shaelynn Banner.
Rating:
T
Genre:
Family/Romance/Angst
Lyrics Used:
Kelly Clarkson "People Like Us"
Author's Note:
I sincerely apologize for the massive delay in updates. I've just been waiting until I could figure out what Shaleynn's ability should be. I didn't want to go with something already used in the Twilight saga. But, I couldn't think of anything original that didn't just sound completely pathetic and asinine. So, in the end, I settled on giving her Benjamin's ability (controlling/summoning the elements at will).
People Like Us
We come into this world unknown | But, know what we are not alone | They try to knock us down | But, change is coming and it's our time, now
People like us we gotta stick together | Keep your head up, nothing lasts forever | Here's to the damned, to the lost, and forgotten | It's hard to get high when you're living at the bottom
Oh whoa oh | Oh whoa oh | We are all misfits living in a world on fire | Oh whoa oh | Oh whoa oh | Sing it for the people like us | The people like us
Hey, this is not a funeral | It's a revolution after all your tears have turned to rage | Just wait, everything will be okay | Even when you're feeling like it's going down in flames | Oh
Shaelynn had continued to hang her head for a moment longer as she and the captain stood in a tense, minimally awkward silence, before JARVIS had interrupted them. "Miss Banner?" He cut in, delicately.
"Yeah, JARVIS?" Shaelynn asked, slowly raising her head to give the AI her full attention.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but, I've detected persons matching the photographs you entered into my database as being the Volturi approaching the tower at a rather alarming rate." Before the AI had even finished speaking, Shaelynn and the Captain had sprung to action.
"All right, JARVIS, thank you." Shaelynn replied, rushing off to alert the Cullens and the wolves. "Do me a favor and alert the Avengers, will ya?" She asked, only half-sarcastically. "Shit's about to hit the fan."
"Already done, Miss Banner." The AI replied, smugly.
Turning her attention on to the Captain, Shaelynn's voice was all business as she asked "You sure you're ready for this, Captain?"
"About the only thing I really can be sure of, in this scenario, is that I don't have a choice." The captain fired back. "I have to be ready."
Cocking her head to the side, knowingly, Shaelynn simply replied "That'll have to do."
"Well...Well...Well..." Aro greeted, a sing-song tone to his whispery voice. "The Cullens and their latest...Acquisition..." The Avengers, Bruce in particular, all had to fight back an involuntary shudder as the man before them gestured toward Shaelynn. "With your little crystal ball, I assume you know why we are here."
"Yeah, well..." Tony began sarcastically, his voice distorted by his steel helmet. "You know what they say about assuming things." He finished, shrugging nonchalantly. "Ya know, for a species supposedly so much superior to us lowly humans..." Iron Man began, tauntingly. "You really don't seem to have much of a grasp on the concept of 'Don't take things that don't belong to you.'." After taunting the Volturi, Iron Man took a protective step in front of Bruce.
Tisking disinterestedly, Aro replied "And, this must be the famous Stark wit I've heard oh so much about. But, you should know that the man you seem so intent on protecting is-in fact-a human being-"
"He won't be much longer, if you and your little henchmen get your way." Barton snarled, tightening his grip on his arrows as he cut of the Volturi leader.
"-And, as such, he is not property for you to claim." Aro finished, smoothly ignoring Barton's interruption. "May I?" He asked, his voice deceptively gentle as he extended his hand toward Bruce.
"Hold it, right there, Dracula." Tony snarled, blocking Aro's path to Bruce.
Turning his head to the side, Bruce glanced to his daughter, looking for guidance as to how to proceed in the situation.
Catching her father's glance, Shaelynn understood the unspoken question and merely nodded, indicating for her father to do as Aro had asked.
Understanding the non-verbal answer, Bruce returned the nod as he carefully stepped around his Iron protector and accepted Aro's proffered hand.
"The hell is he doing?" Steve asked Shaleynn, quietly.
"And, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Natasha snarled, quietly.
"I thought we were supposed to be protecting your dad from these goons." Barton growled. "Not handing him over."
"Quiet." Shaelynn hissed, never once taking her eyes off of Aro and her father. "He's reading my dad's thoughts."
"What?" Steve asked, desperately trying to understand just what the hell he was getting himself into.
"Aro's a touch telepath. He can read every thought my father's ever had with just a touch of his hand." Shaelynn explained, still watching the exchange between Bruce and Aro carefully. "He's assessing my dad's value to his ranks."
"Oh, yes." Aro drawled, his eyes closed as he drank in Bruce's memories of every Hulk-out. Finally opening his eyes, he stared directly into Bruce's terrified eyes as he spoke again. "You will be my most prized recruit of all."
The very thought of the implication behind Aro's words chilled Bruce to the very bone.
"The hell he will." Iron Man growled, menacingly. Or at least it would have been menacing to anyone that wasn't a vampire.
"You said it, yourself, Aro." Shaelynn called out, defensively. "My father is a human being." She began, throwing Aro's own words back at him. "He's not some piece of property for you to claim."
"Ah, yes." Aro acknowledged. "But, I think we can all agree that...your father..." Aro taunted. "Is no mere mortal..." He drawled, continuing to terrify Avengers, Cullens and wolves alike. "It would be a shame to see such...potential...go to waste."
"His 'potential'..." Natasha sneered "...Is hardly going to waste..."
"Indeed." Carlisle agreed. "His 'potential' as you put it...Is being put to the best use of all...Protecting the entirety of the human race. I can think of no better use for his 'potential'."
"Please..." Aro replied, dismissively, releasing Bruce's hand as Bruce instinctively stepped away from the vampire army before him. "Let us dispense with all of the pretenses, shall we? You've obviously gathered your armies in anticipation of a battle-"
"Yeah, we tend to do that when one of our own is threatened." Iron Man snarled. "Call us 'crazy'."
"I believe you quite misunderstand." Caius spoke, breaking his silence. "We do not mean your friend harm."
"No, just to take away his soul." Barton snarled. "Turn him into another one of your mindless dro-AH!" The archer cried out as a sudden wave of pain unlike any other had ever incurred in his life washed over his entire existence. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't think-at least, not about anything but the pain.
"BELLA, SHIELD!" Shaelynn screamed as Bella thrust her mental shield around the writhing archer. His screams soon came to a halt as Natasha lunged forward-blatantly ignoring the protocols Shaelynn had previously set forth for their protection. "Romanov, no!" She shouted, though she was far too late as she watched the Russian red-head fly several yards backward into the side of a building-sending a sickening sound unlike anything any of them could ever put into words ringing through the air as the building's very foundation shuttered under the impact.
Before anyone could say or do anything else could be said or done, all hell broke loose as Volturi, Avengers, Cullens and wolves all blended together in heated battle. "AH!" Shaelynn's head snapped to the side as registered a familiar pained cry accompanied by the all too familiar sound of ribs cracking. Watching as Steve fell face-first into the pavement, she was at his side in a flash-ripping the Volturi henchman from his back.
"Hey, Fido!" Shaelynn called as a giant brown wolf glanced her way. "Fetch!" She shouted, throwing the Volturi henchman his way. She couldn't have stopped the sickeningly satisfied grin forming on her face even if she had wanted to as she watched the wolf catch the henchman in his mouth, ripping him to shreds. Leaping into the air, she seemed to fly over the battlefield as she touched down next to the wolf that shredded the henchman. Shaking her hands out at her sides, she watched as her hands were wrapped in brilliant red flames. Thrusting her hands forward, she watched as the flames engulfed the remains of the Volturi henchman.
"One down!" Iron Man called out, triumphantly, from the air.
"Yeah!" Clint grunted. "And, too damn many to go!"
Racing back over to where she'd left Steve, Shaelynn crouched down to his hunched over form-still face-down on the pavement. "Steve?" She asked tentatively, gently placing her hand to his shoulder, hoping to jar him. "Steve, can you hear me?" She asked, worriedly. Groaning, Steve responded by slowly attempting to get up. Watching his struggle, Shaelynn gently reached out to help him to his feet. "You okay?" She asked.
"Yeah." Steve grunted, breathlessly. "I'm fine." He added, grasping his sides in pain.
"Bullshit." Shaelynn disagreed. "You're anything but fine." Gently moving Steve's hands out of the way, Shaelynn confirmed her suspicions as Steve growled and cringed in response to her touch. "Damn it, I knew it." Shaking her hair out of the way, she looked up at Steve as she spoke "You've got multiple cracked ribs-"
"There's a big difference between 'cracked' and 'broken'." Steve argued. "I'm fine."
"Yeah, well, your cracked ribs will soon be broken if you try to keep fighting." Shaelynn insisted. "Not to mention all the other shit these guys will do to you, now that you're already weakened."
"I'm not weak!" Steve insisted, indignantly.
"No one's saying that." Shaelynn argued. "But, your current injuries make you more vulnerable to further injury and that's not a risk I'm willing to take!"
"Well, I am!" Steve snapped angrily. "And, until your dad's safe, we don't get the luxury of a choice!"
Sighing, Shaelynn hated admitting Steve was right. "Fine. Just...take extra precautions, okay?!"
"Deal." Steve agreed. "Shae! On your twelve!" He shouted, spotting another henchman coming straight at Shaleynn from behind.
Whirling around, Shaelynn gripped both the henchman's arms as she stared directly into his eyes before watching the flames from her hands spreading over his body before tearing him limb from limb. After dispensing with the remains, Shaelynn directed her attention to the sky above when she heard Iron Man's voice ring out. "You never said shit about them climbing buildings!"
"Sorry!" Shaelynn admitted, sheepishly, fighting through a stream of Volturi henchmen, dismantling and incinerating them as she went, to get to the Black Widow. "Probly shoulda mentioned that."
"Ya think?" Iron Man asked, sarcastically, as he barrel-rolled out of the path of an incoming henchmen.
Aiming her inferno hands at the henchman, Shaelynn set her faux pas right as dispensed of the vampire headed for Iron Man. "Better?" She asked, snarkily.
"Thank you!" Iron Man replied as Shaelynn returned her attention to the raging battle before her. Extending her hand to the Black Widow, she helped the spy to her feet.
"You okay?" She asked, concerned.
"Yeah, thanks." Natasha replied. "God, these guys just don't give up, do they?"
"Sadly, no." Shaelynn confirmed.
"AGH!" Shaelynn's head snapped up as she heard her father's voice cry out in pain. Disappearing in a flash, she reappeared at her father's side, shredding and incinerating his attacker.
"Hold still." She instructed, sharply, as she stood back, placing her hands over her father's chest.
"What are you doing?" He asked, breathlessly.
Opening her eyes, once again, Shaelynn released her hold on her father as she spoke. "As I said, before. All vampires have their own abilities. Mine happen to include controlling and summoning the elements at will as well sort of being a...a walking X-Ray machine if you will. I can do an internal scan of the human body and detect any injuries. You're fine, by the way. Though, you'll likely be pretty sore in the morning." She finished, sounding eerily like Tony.
"Thanks...I think." He replied, confused.
"Jasper!" Shaelynn demanded, waiting for her adopted brother to acknowledge her. "What the hell did I say?!" She screeched, angrily. "Do. Not. Let. My. Father. Out. Of. Your. Sight!" She ground out, between clenched teeth.
"Right. Sorry." Jasper apologized.
"Don't be sorry." Shaelynn insisted. "Just be on top of it!"
"You got it!" Jasper replied.
Just when they thought they had the upper hand-the wolves and Cullens had dispensed with all the Volturi henchmen, save for Aro, Alec, and Jane-the overwhelming screech of steel on pavement rang through the air as humans, wolves, and vampires alike all stood and stared as Iron Man was dragged down the side of a skyscraper by Jane. "TONY!" Bruce cried out, lunging for the man who had secretly stolen his heart, only to be physically restrained by his own daughter.
After calming her father, Shaelynn turned around where Jane and Alec lay Iron Man at her feet. "What the hell's happening?! Shaelynn?! Bruce?! I can't see anything!" Tony cried out, panic flooding his remaining senses as it coursed through his body.
"Give us the monster and we let him go." Jane demanded, calmly.
"Refuse and he dies." Alec finished the ultimatum his sister had started as he ripped the steel chest plate from Tony's suit-proving their point.
"Look, stop it! Just stop it!" Bruce cried out from behind his daughter.
"Don't you dare, Bruce!" Tony replied. Even though he couldn't see the owner of his heart, just the sound of his desperate cries was shattering his heart. "Don't you even think about giving these insects what they want-" Tony's valiant attempt at protecting his friend was cut short as one of his captors rolled him over onto his side, kicking him swiftly in the ribs, in one swift motion-causing him to spit up a small mouthful of blood into his helmet.
"I'll do whatever you want. Just please..." Bruce's voice faded into a desperate whisper. "Please don't hurt him!"
"NO!" Shaelynn screamed, holding her father back. "Jane, you and your...family..." She sneered. "Have the audacity to call my dad a monster when all he does is use his abilities to help and protect the innocent. You're the only monsters I see here. You use your gifts to selfishly further only yourselves-threatening an innocent man that never did shit to you!" Pausing for a moment, Shaelynn finished her valiant speech with "My dad will never be yours to claim."
"Have it your way, then." Alec sneered. What happened next was all a blur for the physicist as Shaelynn threw him at least a hundred yards backward where he was caught by Jasper and restrained by Jasper, Emmett, Edward, and Carlisle, while he was left to watch helplessly Shaelynn was joined by Bella, Rosalie, Alice and the wolves at her side. He released all of his fear and pain in a howling cry as the sound shredding steel rang through the air as the remnants of Tony's suit was torn from his body. Falling to his knees, Bruce felt his entire world crumbling down around him as he heard Tony cry out in pain as the arc reactor was ripped from his chest.
Lunging forward, Shaelynn wrapped her legs around Jane's waist ripping her head from her body as she lit her victim up like the fourth of July. Regaining her footing, she watched as Bella mimicked her attack with Alec. "Thanks, Bells." She spoke, darkly. "I'll take it from here. You and Alice find Stark's reactor and get it back in his chest immediately. Do you understand me?! He can only survive five minutes without it, MAX!"
"You got it, Shae!" Bella replied, helping Alice to search for the missing electromagnet.
Meanwhile, Shaelynn piled Alec's remains as she lit them in a faux Viking funeral. Rounding on Aro, she felt her lips curling apart to reveal her teeth in a disturbingly animalistic fashion as she sneered "There is no version of this where you come out on top. Your army lies in shambles around you. You have nothing left. And, I think you and I both know your only play left is to get the fuck out of here while I still allow it."
Taking in the devastation that once was his army, Aro knew Shaelynn was right. Without a word, rounded on his heel-his cloak billowing in the wind behind him. Satisfied, Shaelynn's attention was drawn back to Iron Man when she heard Bella call out for her. "Shaelynn!"
"What? What is it?" Shaelynn asked worriedly, appearing at her adopted sister's side in a flash.
"This." Alice replied, meekly, as she held up the shattered remains of Tony's arc reactor in her hands as Tony gasped and coughed and groaned at their feet.
"Shit." Shaelynn muttered under her breath. "They must have smashed it to prove a point." She surmised as Carlisle arrived at the scene-Bruce not far behind him.
"Shaelynn?" Carlisle asked.
"He's got a piece of four year old shrapnel clawing its way into his heart." Shaelynn cut Carlisle off, sharply.
"There's nothing I can do!" Carlisle explained, helpless to save the dying man before him. "There's no way for me to get in there and remove it in time."
Fighting his way into the scene, Bruce knelt by Tony's head, heart-broken, at the look in Tony's eyes as he lost the fight with consciousness. "Please..." Bruce looked up at his daughter, desperately, as he cradled Tony's lifeless head in his lap as his voice cracked and broke. "Please...I can't lose him!"
Understanding the underlying meaning behind her father's words, Shaelynn shared a knowing look with Carlisle before whispering "I'm so sorry." as she leaned down and sank her teeth deep into Tony's neck.
Author's Note:
I promise to try to do better with my updates. Sorry about the sudden plot twist and cliffhanger, but, this just kinda...got away from me...Also, FREE PREVIEW OF THE NEXT CHAPTER TO THE FIRST FIVE PEOPLE TO CORRECTLY IDENTIFY THE AVENGERS QUOTE IN THIS CHAPTER!
Anyway, please enjoy!