Elementals

The Date of Returning Home

"Um, if you'll excuse me I have to go to the restroom."

"Of course." Pietro says. I wipe my mouth and stand up. As I walk to the bathroom I subtly bend down and snag the backpack. I carry it into the stall with me and open it up. But when I see what's I stifle a scream.
It's a bomb. There's a countdown clock that reads 5:53 and the time is running out. I begin to panic.
Ok, what to do? What to do?
"I have to get everyone out."
I quickly stand up and leave the bomb in the stall. But I realize how difficult it's going to be to get everybody out without some kind of force. I look back in the backpack and find a gun. It's loaded. I take it and run out the bathroom door. I cover the stall in a thick layer of ice to stop anyone from going in and to hopefully lower the impact if it goes off before I get back.
I run through the restaurant until I reach Pietro and mines table.
"Pietro we have an issue. The man who walked in and walked out had a bomb with him and he's activated it." I say in a very panicked voice. His expression becomes serious.
"Where is it, I can run it out of here."

"No, there's no time. I also...didn't think of that and left it in the bathroom and froze the door. But that doesn't matter! We don't have time. I need you to get everyone out of here and out of the surrounding area. Can you do that?"
Pietro nods, "How do we get their attention. I can't just randomly start doing that."
I show him the gun. "That's what this is for."
I stand up on the table and fire the gun in the air. All eyes go to me while some people suck under tables.
"It's ok. I promise I won't hurt you but there's a bomb in here, you have to get out! He's gonna help."
I say pointing to Pietro.
I leap off the table and run to the bathroom. I bust open the door and go into the stall. I check the bomb timer.
1:48
I don't have much time. I cover the bomb with layer upon layer of ice. Hoping it will contain the explosion.
58 seconds left. I hear the bathroom door open. "Piper" I hear Pietro frantic voice. "There's no time. Run!" I yell.
But he doesn't. The stall door opens and he grabs me, despite my protests. I am suddenly whisked out of the bathroom. Just as the mental countdown in my head hits zero. Then everything proceeds in slow motion. Pietro trips over a chair and we both fall to the ground. I see him try to grab me, but something falls and he's forced to rush out. I lay their on the ground as the fire and debris from the bomb hit me and I'm launched into darkness.
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I don't dream, and I don't feel like I'm asleep. So the first thought that comes to mind is. This is death, the thing I've feared all my life, and yet even though I fear it. I still decided to take the fall and try to save all those people.

My unconscious thoughts are cut short when feeling returns to my body. It's painful. My muscles ache like never before and I can feel the burn of cuts.
My eyes open but take time to adjust to the light even though it's dim. I glance around and see that I'm in a hospital room. The curtains are closed except for a small amount of outside light that seeps in. I see and feel that I'm hooked up to an IV as well as a few other machines. But I'm alive, and that's all that matters.
The door to the room opens and Dr. Cho walks in.
She lets out a small gasp-probably because I'm alive-and she exits the room just as soon as she came in.
I shrug, or as best I can and close my eyes. Hoping for sleep so that I don't have to focus on the pain.
But that doesn't happen. The door to my room opens and Tony, Wanda, Pietro, Vision, Natasha, even Clint walk in.
They all crowd around me, happy to see that I'm awake.
"We thought we'd lost you kid." Tony says giving a small smile.
"We were so worried." Wanda says giving me a gentle hug.
"What, uh," I cough "What happened?"

"There was a bomb in the restaurant. You tried to stop it but it went off. Destroying the restaurant. You were found in the rubble and still had a pulse. So they brought you back here for medical treatment." Says Natasha. Dr. Cho speaks up.
"Yes and your official diagnosis is a couple broken ribs, lots of cuts and scrapes, and some smoke inhalation. But otherwise you should be ok."