Bella woke up with an intense headache and the feeling that someone was standing next to her.
She groaned and tried to move her hand, but it refused to budge.
"So, Miss Stark," said a familiar voice somewhere nearby. "You've discovered our little secret."
Bella opened one eye and glared up at Aldrich Killian. "That Extremis is unstable? Yes. Where's Pepper and Miss Hansen?"
"Somewhere nearby."
Bella was lying flat on her back strapped down onto a table. A memory stirred – having one of her own inventions tested on her, to make sure it worked. She didn't try to break free – it would be a waste of energy, and she doubted it would do any good. Killian probably would have made sure that the bindings were tight enough to hold her down properly. She wasn't all that strong anyhow.
Instead, she eyed him calmly and took in her surroundings.
She was in a room, made entirely of concrete. At one end was a TV screen. And standing next to her was currently her second least favorite person on the face of the planet, after the Mandarin. Loki was actually her least favorite person in the universe, but he was on a different planet.
"So, do I get the evil scheme monologue now? Where you brag about whatever you're going to do, and I get to find out how to stop you?" The words came out of her mouth before she knew what she was saying. I've been spending too much time with Tony.
"No. That would be boring. I'm just going to implement my plan. You're a scientist type – you should enjoy this."
Bella had a strange feeling she probably wouldn't.
"See, when Stark took you in, he wasn't really keeping you safe – he was just making it harder to get at you, making you a better prize. The Ten Rings misses you, but I don't intend to send you back. You're going to be too useful."
He knew about that? He knew about everything? For the first time, Bella felt truly terrified. Don't think about it. "What do you want me to do? I'm not going to stabilize Extremis." She was slightly proud of the fact she managed to say it without her voice quivering.
He laughed. "You're quick. I like you. Too bad. You're going to, or I'll give Pepper some."
"You wouldn't."
"Yes, I would. It would be a shame – considering she might not survive – but I'll do what I have to. I was going to have Stark do it, but he got away. My people were supposed to fish him out of the water, but they couldn't find him."
"Wait. I thought the Mandarin sent those helicopters."
He hesitated a moment. "I… the Mandarin has me plan everything. He has his own work to tend to. Now, will you stabilize Extremis for me? I know you have the brains."
Bella would die before she would do it for him. But she wasn't sure if she could let someone else die for it.
Then again, many more people could die if she did.
The screen flickered to life. Pepper was strapped to a table similar to Bella's. A scientist stood by the table, a syringe in hand.
"I'm going to count to ten," said Killian, smiling at Bella. "And you're going to decide before that. One."
Bella looked at Pepper. Pepper was struggling against the restraints, trying to get away from the scientist with the needle, not like it would any good. Bella doubted Killian would have used something there was a chance either of them could break.
"Two."
Bella gazed at Killian for a moment. Her stomach turned in revulsion. He was smiling. He was enjoying this.
She'd met sadistic lunatics – Ivan Vanko, who had tricked Tony into thinking he'd murdered her while the two men were talking on the phone – and Loki, who had forced Agent Barton to drop her off the helicarrier – before, but this was a whole new level she'd never encountered before.
She looked away, forcing herself not to think about it.
"Three."
"Killian, don't do this."
His grin widened, if anything.
Bella felt nothing except for blinding rage. Pure, all-consuming rage.
"Four."
Tony would have had a plan. Like in Afghanistan. He'd built a suit of armor to escape, rather than build a missile for terrorists.
But she was just Izzy. The sidekick. She didn't have an escape plan. What was she going to do, inject herself with Extremis and run? If it was unstable, she didn't want it inside her body – who knew what could happen?
"Five."
She looked at Pepper again, as the scientist grabbed a hold of her arm.
This would have been a perfect time for Tony to come in, with his Iron Man suit, and save the day. Or for S.H.I.E.L.D. to figure things out and for some of the other Avengers to come storming in. Black Widow or Hawkeye would have been great. Or Cap. Or Thor. Even the Hulk, ripping aside the cement as if it was paper. would have a welcome sight.
But they weren't coming.
"Six."
Bella's heart knocked against her ribs. She wanted to throw up or faint, but neither would do any good. She started to yank and pull against the restraints, knowing they wouldn't break but unable to do anything else. They cut into her wrists, but she ignored the pain and the blood.
"Seven."
The onscreen Pepper's expression was one of wide eyed terror as she continued to fight uselessly against the restraints.
"You're sick! What did Pepper or I ever do to you?!" Bella screamed.
"It doesn't matter. What matters is that they're in – that they're in the Mandarin's way. Eight."
Tears started to stream down Bella's face, sobs tore from her throat. She couldn't stop. Killian's smile seemed to grow even bigger.
"Please, don't," she whimpered.
"Nine."
The scientist raised the needle.
"I'll do it, I'll do it!" screamed Bella over his voice. "Please… just, don't."
Killian pressed his ear, which probably contained some kind of communications device. "Just a minute. We're going to postpone that procedure. For now."
He signaled to someone Bella couldn't see, who came over and removed the straps. Bella sat up, tears still streaming down her face, rubbing her bloody wrists.
"Well, what are we waiting for, Miss Stark?" asked Killian. "Get to work."
Bella rubbed the tears off her face and looked at him. This isn't over Killian. Not yet. Not ever.