Fade: Evolved

Chapter 1 - Aftermath

-Edited August 27, 2021-

6 months earlier

Present Day

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Tony's POV

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The bright light cascading from the gauntlet had blinded all of us on the battlefield. But once the light died and the dust cleared, only one word runs through my mind.

Erin. 

"FRIDAY? Show all heat signatures." I say panicked. 

"Heat signatures shown, boss." she returns. 

At first, I don't see her at all. I'm surrounded by a sea of similarities but can't find the odd one out. 

"Boss there's no sign of her..." I hear Friday say. 

My heart rate picks up and my movements become more sporadic. I can't have lost her again. I just found her again. She had to be the hero and she probably died doing so. Even the thought of finding her lifeless body soon makes me want to throw up. I continue to search the area with no success. Parker soon finds me without Erin and tears instantly fill his eyes.  

"C' mon, kid," I say while my helmet recedes into the back of my armour. "We're going to find her."

"And if we don't?" he says, his voice cracking.

"We will," I grumble while grinding my teeth together. 

Together the kid and I continue to look for Erin with no success. The rest of the fighters from earlier soon join our search. It feels like hours we had been searching when it had only been minutes. But then I saw the crowd around one specific place. 

I rush over with Parker following close behind. There in the middle of all of them lay Erin in Pepper's arms. Her entire left side was burnt and she just laid there...lifeless. I quickly crouch beside her and lays my two fingers over one of her major arteries. And I wait...and wait. Until I finally feel a pulse. A sigh of relief echoes from within me and I look at Pepper. 

"We need to get her back to the house, ASAP," I tell her.

"But how? One wrong move and we could make this all worse." Pepper says quietly. 

"I can help," Peter says from behind both of us, looking as pale as a sheet.  "I can make a sling out of webbing and one of you guys can fly her back with you in it." 

I think it over.

"Sounds like a plan, kid," I say while standing up. 

Peter crawls closer to her and lays her in a comfortable position before webbing her up. Once she was secure, he made two handles for me to grip onto. Before getting back up, he lays a gentle kiss on her forehead which makes me tense up a bit. But then I feel a metal hand on my back. 

"Breathe, Tony. It's okay," Pepper says from beside me.

I follow what she says and take a few deep breaths.

"She's ready to go," Peter says with a sniffle. 

I nod as my helmet reappears on my head. I grab onto the two handles and slowly fly into the air. Once I was sure she was secure, I jet it back home.