"There is something I can do?"
Since Tony found out his girlfriend was a super, he started to say those words more and more often.
"Awww, you are so sweet Tony, you are doing more than enough for me." Violet said as he gently put an ice pack on a nasty bruise on her right shoulder. She got it on one of her super missions, even when her shields are almost impenetrable, sometimes they can't stop the momentum, making her hit herself against them.
She didn't even flinch, she got used to having bruises. Luckily for her, Tony being an athlete gave him enough knowledge of how to treat this kind of injuries.
"I'm just sorry that we had to cancel our bowling night because of me." She seemed ashamed.
He felt his throat closing. She got injured saving a group of kids. She has nothing to apologize for.
"N-no, I don't mind. Besides I think a quiet night watching movies in your house is a better date plan"
"Well...I have to agree with you on that." She then snuggles against his chest.
They were having a great night watching movies when out of nowhere Violet said…
"You are the best boyfriend ever. You know that right?"
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean?" She looked surprised that he even asked.
"We always have to change or even cancel our dating plans because of my hero duty." He noticed some embarrassment in her voice, almost at the verge of tears. Then she continued.
"And not only are you understanding of it, you always support me, whether it's helping sitting Jack-Jack or helping me with my injuries." She said, touching her shoulder.
"Hey, it's okay… none of that bothers me at all. You are the strongest and bravest person I know; I've seen you save more lives than I can count."
He saw her blushing.
"I'll gladly support the most incredible girl in the universe."
"Was that a pun?" She raises her eyebrow.
"Maybe" He said with a silly smile.
She smiles back at him. He always likes to look at her smile.
They continued watching movies on the couch and in a few minutes, Violet fell asleep in Tony's arms.
Tony turned off the TV, trying not to disturb Violet. Today's mission must have left her exhausted. He then looked at her sleeping face.
He gave a sad smile. What really bothers him was seeing her with all that burden. She is only fourteen and she has to be the last line of defense of her family. And even though she doesn't like to admit it, it's starting to take a toll on her. The fatigue, the injuries and as she has told him, the nightmares.
She always says she can handle it, one part of him believes her. But the other part of him knows that even the strongest have their limits.
So that is why he always asks her what he can do for her. Because he is afraid that If he doesn't support her enough, everything will crumble around her.
And it would all be his fault…
Two weeks have passed without major incidents. They were on a date at the mall.
Unfortunately for Violet, her parents were on a mission, and they won't return home until night. Leaving her in charge…again.
That means that on their date they were going to be accompanied by her two younger brothers.
Tony didn't mind of course, Vi on the other hand…
"Come on Vi, let's go for some ice cream."
"OOOH no no NO. You had sugar bombs this morning. I am NOT going to deal with other one of your sugar rushes"
"It's not fair…Why are you always the one in charge?
"Because I'm the oldest"
"I should be the oldest, that way you wouldn't be bossing me around".
"Well…You aren't… so suck it up."
"At least we can go somewhere? I am BORED."
"*Sigh… If we go to the comic store, would you promise to behave yourself?"
"Mmmmm, I don't know. What do you say Jack-Jack?"
"Abah- ba" The baby replied.
"You are right, we need a better offer… Make it comic store AND candy store."
"Comic store AND burgers."
"Deal"
As an only child, Tony found sibling relationships interesting and paradoxical, on one hand it seemed that they were annoyed even being in the same building, on the other he knew Vi would give her own life for those two little nuggets .
His train of thought was interrupted when Violet cringed a little when she smelled Jack-Jack.
"Tony, I am so sorry to ask you this, could you take Dash to the comic store while I go to the restroom to change Jack-Jack?"
"No problem, ma'am" He said, making a salute.
"Tony be serious" She was trying to contain a small chuckle.
"I AM being serious" He gave her a peck on the cheek, "you know you can count on me"
"Alright... Just try not to have much fun without me."
"We won't"
The reason he didn't mind Dash and Jack-Jack accompanying them to their dates was because he began to see both of them as his own brothers.
He knew Vi doesn't like comics as much as he does. When Dash found out, he was so excited to have someone to share his hobbies.
He had to admit to himself that he enjoys the little boy's excitedly rambling when he finds anything he considers cool, even when it is difficult to keep track of what Dash is saying due how fast he speaks.
"Look Tony! THEY HAVE ACTION FIGURES OF M-THE DASH!" The ten-year-old barely catches himself on his excitement.
"That's awesome little bud."
"I like that one! It has a speed cloud; it makes it look like I'm farting" He giggles.
"We can buy it if you want to."
"REALLY?"
"I don't see why not."
"YOU ARE THE BEST BROTHER-IN-LAW EVER!"
Tony was sure that if Vi was here to hear it she would be embarrassed that Dash shouted that at the top of his lungs.
After he paid for the figure, he saw some figures of Violet on the sideboard. He laughs to himself; even If she wouldn't admit it (saying something like not wanting to be part of a corporate cash grab) she would like the action figure. Then he saw her coming behind him with Jack-Jack in her arms.
"Ugh, Can you believe it? Using our likeness to make some cheap money." He saw her trying to hide her smile.
Called it.
"I don't know, they look kinda cute."
"Kinda?"
"Well, yeah. They could never compete with the real one."
"Alright Romeo" she said teasingly "Let's go for those burgers or I will never hear the end of it from Dash."
They were on their way to the food court when they heard an explosion, then people running and screaming.
"Vi, what was that?"
"I don't know Dash, let's investigate…OH SHOOT... Tony...sorry I have to... you know" She started to stammer.
"Don't worry, I understand… There Is something I can do?"
"Don't worry Tony, we can handle it"
"Oh! I know, I can take care of your stuff" He said, grabbing the diaper bag Vi was carrying.
"Oh cool… Then you can also take care of our clothes, I've lost to many good t-shirts to fire and laser beams" Dash said while in the blink of an eye he took off his t-shirt and put it in the diaper bag revealing his super suit."
"Dash, don't be rude" Violet said through gritted teeth.
"It's okay Vi, I can take care of your clothes too if you want to. I know how finding a place to hide your regular clothes is a recurring problem for you."
"Oh Tony, this is too much."
"Nonsense… Go beat up some bad guys" He gave her a kiss on the lips. Dash immediately made a sound in disgust.
After Vi gave him her clothes, she asked him to just go to the nearest exit. On the way out he helped a couple of old people and one kid that had a head injury. He knows a few months ago he would have just run away, but seeing Vi saving people every day has inspired him to be braver and help people, even if he doesn't have powers.
A few minutes later he heard a firefighter say to evacuate immediately, that the structure was unstable and was going to fall in any minute. He was about to leave the building when he felt something on the pit of his stomach. His gut feeling was telling him that something was REALLY wrong. So, against all logic he went back to find Violet and the kids.
Going through a building that was near to collapsing was one scariest experience of his life. The metal crushing made it sound like the roar of a creepy creature; it was overwhelming. But then he hears a child's sobbing. He followed the sound.
When he gets closer, he recognizes Jack-Jack's cries and Dash's voice. He has never heard the latter so... heartbroken before.
"P-please... I promise that I won't read your diary EVER again...I will stop pulling pranks on you...just...*hic... I beg you ... p-please...HOLD ON!"
When Tony arrived, he felt like a bucket of ice water was poured on him.
Jack-Jack looked unscathed, but he was crying and desperately shaking Violet's arm looking for ANY reaction from her.
Dash had a couple injuries including what seems like a huge gash on his leg. He was sobbing profusely, holding his sister like he was holding her to life.
And Vi… "Oh my God... Vi" The small cry involuntarily left Tony's lips when he saw her state.
It looked like a murder scene; she had what looked like multiple stab wounds on her abdomen and chest. The wall she was leaning on, the floor and herself were caked in blood. Her eyes were constantly in and out of focus. Her breathing was shallow and painful like she wanted to cry out but couldn't take enough air to do it.
No, no, no, NO!. This couldn't be happening, this WASN'T happening. This must be a horrible nightmare. He wanted to vomit, he couldn't think, he couldn't breathe, he couldn't…
"Vi, can you hear me? Tony is here," Dash gently shook her shoulder. "He is here to help you."
In that moment he knew he had to pull himself together, Violet needed him. He immediately took her pink sweater from the baby bag and put pressure on one of the larger wounds, this caused her to gasp in pain, the sound made Tony's unshed tears to finally fall.
"She will be okay, right?" Dash asked concerned.
Seeing how in just a few seconds the sweater he used to apply pressure was completely red now, made Tony unsure how to answer that question.
"T-ony" Violet said in what was barely a whisper. Her hand twitches, like she is trying to raise it. Tony noticed this and held her hand, intertwining their fingers.
"Vi… I'm here...I'm here...you're going to be okay" He cradled her, not knowing if he was trying to comfort her or himself. "You're going to be okay" He whispered.
"Tony...I'm…so sorry. I-I am...not...going to …make...it"
"Nononono... Don't give up...please... Don't give up…please… PLEASE!…THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING I CAN DO!" He shouted in desperation.
"The building... collapse...please...just… leave me…and…take... my brothers...out."
"NOOO! THERE IS NO WAY WE WILL LEAVE WITHOUT YOU!" Dash exclaimed.
"Vi-Vi" Jack-Jack babbled.
"See? Jack-Jack agrees" Dash grabbed his baby brother "Tony, you take Violet out of here, I will take Jack-Jack"
But as soon as he tried to stand up, he fell on his side, making sure not to hurt Jack-Jack, the gash on his leg was just too deep. "... Don't worry…It's just a scratch, I just have to..." He tried standing up from a different position, but he ended up with the same result.
Seeing this it was obvious to Tony that Dash couldn't get out of here on his own. He thought about the next best thing.
"Dash… you and Jack-Jack get on my shoulders; I will carry ALL of us out of here.
"T-Tony… no…too heavy…" Violet whispered. The rational part of him knew she was right, but his heart told him to at least TRY. Besides, he has heard stories of people going beyond their own limits in life-or-death situations.
He was surprised when he lifted all three of them, sadly he found out that WALKING with all that weight was another can of worms. He soon fell on his knees as he tried to take the first step.
When he looked down to make sure he didn't hurt Violet on his fall, he saw that she was out of it. Her eyes were completely dull now, looking into nothing.
"Vi? VI!... Can you hear me?… Please stay with me…PLEASE STAY WITH ME!" He was begging… PRAYING at this point.
Jack-Jack's lower lip was quivering.
"C'mon Vi …*sniff… mom and dad will be sad if you don't come back home." Dash said in a hoarse voice.
Her head turned towards their direction with eyes still unfocused, she was moving her lips, but no sound came out of them, she had lost the strength to say the words out loud. Tony's heart sank when he noticed she was mouthing over and over three simple yet powerful words…
I love you.
Before he could reply Violet inhaled deeply and closed her eyes as she exhaled.
Violet just took her final breath.
"Violet?" Dash said in shock and disbelief.
"Vi? Vi! VI!" Tony shook her in a vain attempt to wake her up, he then put his ear to her chest to search for a heartbeat.
There was none.
"No, no, no, NO!... VI, PLEASE!… I LOVE YOU… I LOVE YOU TOO!… SO SO MUCH!" He wailed, she died before she could hear him say those words back to her.
He was broken, at first he thought of just staying there with her and letting the building crush him. But then Dash and Jack-Jack crawl to the other side. Jack-Jack cradled in her lap saying Vi-Vi over and over, while Dash hugged her tight and said…
"It's my fault… I should have never wished to be the older sibling. I'm sorry…I'm so SO sorry" Dash placed his head under her chin. "You are my big sis Vi… and will always love you" He said, weeping.
Seeing the boys holding their sister's lifeless body made Tony remember Violet's final wish.
Please...just… leave me…and…take... my brothers...out.
Tony has asked Violet countless times what he can do for her, he now had a clear answer…
"Don't worry…I promise I will keep your brothers safe" He kissed her forehead.
It took all of his willpower, but he finally let go of Violet, gently laying her on the floor. He knew taking them out of the building wouldn't be an easy task because none of her brothers wanted to let go of her. He honestly couldn't blame them.
"Tony.. No! Let me go!.. LET ME GO! PLEASE!...I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HER!" Dash was crying and thrashing.
Meanwhile Jack-Jack turned into a demon burst into flames and proceeded to bite Tony's shoulder.
Even with all that, Tony didn't let go of them. These children were the most precious thing to Violet. He would get them to safety, even if it was the last thing he did.
When they finally let her go, he ran to the nearest exit with both of them in his arms.
"No… NO!... Vi!... VIIIII!" He could feel Dash trying to reach his sister behind them. He didn't look back. He knew that if he did it he would second guess his decision.
When he finally got out, he took the kids with the paramedics. He refused medical care, he told them he was fine and that they have to treat the two children first. When he was sure that Dash and Jack-Jack were safe he immediately went back to the mall to get Violet out. Even though she was already gone, just thinking about Vi being crushed made his mouth taste like bile.
He knew the building could fall on him, but a dark part of his mind hoped it would, so he could be reunited with Violet. But a firefighter saw him and immediately stopped him.
"No, please… let me go!...I have to get her out of there!... I HAVE TO GO WITH HER!
There was a loud sound, the crowd was looking in awe as the building crumbled down.
"NO, NO!, VIOLET! VIOLET!" Tony cried hysterically. He was kicking and punching to be let go. Fearing that he would hurt himself, the paramedics had to sedate him.
The next thing Tony knows he's in a hospital bed, the doctors said he had first and second degree burns over his arms, chest and right shoulder, not to mention bite marks all over the latter.
His parents were at his side, relieved that their son was alive. They tried as much as possible to console him about what happened to Violet, even though they didn't have the full scope. He never told them about her secret identity, and he never will, he would never break Violet's trust like that. He gave them a fake smile so as not to make them worry. They were unaware of the fact that part of him died with her.
That afternoon the doctors told him he had visitors. When he saw it was Mr. and Mrs. Parr he felt his heart on his throat. They were smiling at him, but their eyes were red and puffy. He looked down, unable to meet their eyes.
"Hey Tony, how are you feeling?" Bob asks him
"'m…fine"
He couldn't understand why they were kind to him; he was the one who had failed their daughter.
"Oh Tony… Did Jack-Jack do this?" Helen said, looking at his injuries.
"I-It's ok… I understand, he is just a baby, He just didn't want to let go of his big si-"
There was a dead silence. He saw the Parr trying to contain their tears.
"S-so… How are Dash and Jack-Jack?" Tony tried to break the silence.
"Luckily Jack-Jack was completely unharmed and Dash…was discharged this morning, the doctors said he would have to rest for a couple of weeks." Bob replied.
"Emotionally though... no matter what we tell him.. he keeps saying it should have been him ...I don't know if he can… if WE can recover from this" Helen continued.
Another long silence.
"We watched the news Tony… and how you brought our kids back to safety." Bob put his hand in the bed's armrest.
"In fact…That's why we are here, to give our thanks" Helen sat next to him
"… No, you shouldn't… I couldn't save her" He could feel his eyes get misty.
"Tony no. You can't blame yourself for that." Helen replied.
The dam finally broke.
"NOOO!… I DIDN'T DO ENOUGH!… I FAILED HER!...IF I HAD LOOKED FOR THEM EARLIER!...IF I HADN'T FROZEN FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN I FOUND THEM!...IF I HAD TRAINED MORE, SO I COULD HAVE BEEN STRONG ENOUGH TO CARRY THEM ALL!...IF I HAD TOLD HER I LOVED HER BEFORE SHE WAS GONE!... IF I…
He was interrupted by a sudden hug from Helen.
"Shhhhh… it's okay… it's okay" She gently stroked the back of his head "My two boys are alive because of you. As a mother there are not enough words to thank you… And you didn't fail Violet…"
She made a pause. Just saying her girl's name made her feel like her heart was being ripped out, but she found the strength to continue.
"I saw you go above and beyond to be there for her, to support her, to comfort her. She even trusted you enough to reveal her secret identity…So I am sure she knew how much you loved her."
"Mrs. Parr I..I" He wanted to say something but a big lump on his throat prevented him from doing so.
"Not only that, but she was also the happiest when she was with you. So …thank you…again…" Her tears began to fall "For making my daughter's last months the brightest."
Tony hugged Helen back, Bob joined and the three of them began to cry uncontrollably.
One month has passed, Tony finally brought himself to go to the local cemetery.
"Hey Vi, I'm sorry I haven't visited you until now. But I knew I had to come today, since it's a special occasion."
The only response he got was the chirping of the bird in the distance.
"I see that your family came earlier to bring you some flowers, they are beautiful" He took a deep breath to collect his thoughts.
"You know, the city made a statue in your honor. You may say it is too much, but you should have seen the ceremony. There were hundreds of people, many of them were thanking you for saving them and they all left their offerings…
He bit his lower lip trying his best not to cry.
"Oh…I bought you a present, I hope you like it" He took a stuffed kitten out of his backpack.
"I remembered that you were looking at it the other day in the souvenir shop" He gently placed the toy in front of the tombstone.
"Happy birthday Violet" He finally let the tears flow as he was reading the epitaph.
Violet Parr
1948-1963
A beautiful flower has
been taken away from us
Notes:Sorry for that...
The Incredibles was a movie that I loved watching when I was little. And since this year it's th 20th anniversary of it's premiere, I watched both movies again and it has been my hyper fixation for the last few weeks, especially the Parr children and Tony.
Of course whenever I encounter precious children in media my brain for some reason always says, make some angst out of this, make yourself and others suffer. And this is one of the few times that I have something complete and concrete, so I had to get it out of my system.
PS: Dash's action figure if you wonder product/incredibles-rev-n-run-dash-12inch-figure/hc05973
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