New Avenger (A Steve Rogers love story)

Don't Mess With Fire

Steve's POV

Alexx's scream pierced the air, heard over the thunder, and I ran toward her. Ashley stood over her with a bloodied sword in her hand. I looked at Alexx's crumpled body and tears filled my eyes.

I moved to run to her aid, but she looked at me and held her hand out. Stopping, I looked at her. She had gashes all over, blood leaking from every gash, her nose mouth and the stab wounds in her chest and thigh. The left side of her face was swollen, her eye shut. She was soaked from the pouring rain, the water doing little to clear away the blood and ash.

Alexx stood up on wobbly legs, staring at Ashley, who -- I just noticed -- was aiming an assault rifle at my head, her finger on the trigger. Ashley pulled the trigger and Alexx was suddenly in front of me, protecting me from the bullet. How she had gotten there so fast, I wish I knew.

She grunted as the bullet shot into her right shoulder. I moved to help Alexx, but she shooed me away. I didn't move.

Alexx's good eye turned black with hate as she turned back to Ashley. Crimson streaks joined the black in her iris as rage showed. Her black hair was sticking to her face, her bangs almost covering her eyes. Soon, bright orange flames came from her hands and moved around, engulfing her entire body. I watched as the fire healed her injuries, the cuts and gashes quickly disappearing, along with the bruises. Her eye opened up, filled with the hate and rage that she felt.

Alexx grabbed the knife in her leg and ripped it out with a dead expression, turning it to dust.

Alexx was beyond angry. The state she was now in, she didn't feel physical pain. Her emotional pain was what drove her. She rarely let this happen, and it scared me every time it did.

Alexx's wounds were gone, and her wing popped back into place on its own. Her eyes were taken over by dancing orange flames, the black and crimson still there behind the flames.

She almost didn't look human anymore, her humanity almost gone.

With her wings spread wide and her body engulfed in raging orange flames, Alexx walked toward Ashley. When she was within two feet of Ashley, Alexx looked at the man holding Lily. Lily looked terrified, by the man holding her back, and by the sight of Alexx.

A dagger made of fire materialized in Alexx's hand, and she threw it toward Lily and the man, not even aiming. I moved to protect Lily, but the dagger moved as well. At first, it was headed straight for Lily. But now, it seemed to move on its own as it went right into the man's chest. The man let go of Lily and stumbled backwards, clawing at the dagger in his chest. It was made of fire, so he couldn't touch it without being burned. He soon fell backwards, his body lifeless. The dagger reduced itself to flames and retreated back to Alexx's hands.

Alexx turned to me, giving me a look I instantly understood. I ran and pulled Lily into my arms, hugging her close and trying to calm her down. She was crying and screaming, traumatized. I knelt down and watched Alexx, who was again looking at Ashley.

***

Alexx's POV

Ashley saw the emotions in my eyes and fear filled her own. She knew what I was capable of. She knew I could easily destroy her.

Ashley's eyes widened as my fire disappeared. 

"You have always hurt me, now and in the past. You kidnapped an innocent little girl and used her to get to me. You don't deserve to live." I hissed through clenched teeth.

"A-Alexx...p-please -- " Ashley cried.

I grabbed her by the neck and held her above the ground.

"I'm the one that made you  s-stronger! I...I told Jess to t-turn you into this! She...she was going to kill you! You would have been our most powerful...weapon!" she cried.

"No!" I slammed Ashley to the ground, silencing her. "I am not a weapon. I don't care what you 'did' for me. I don't think you deserve to live, but I am not the one to decide what happens to you." I looked at her closely. "And why do you want Jess dead?"

Ashley sighed. "Jess isn't exactly the loving mother a kid could want."

I looked at her, things starting to make sense.

"She was abusive, and obsessed with experimentation. She loved you because of the way you were turning out. But me? I was just her lab rat, used to perfect serums. She would always reverse the effects on me because she didn't want me to become powerful and kill everyone." She chuckles angrily. "She only cared about herself."

"I had no idea..."

"Of course you didn't. You were stupid and young and always in a cage."

I sighed and shook my head. I didn't want to feel bad for her, so I pushed everything I learned away and glared at her.

Ashley looked at me, confused.

"If I ever see you again, and I know you are still HYDRA, I will kill you." I promised.

"Why are you doing this?" Ashley asked.

"I'm a hero. I'm not a murderer like you." I moved closer to her. "I was there for you when Jess wasn't, remember that." I whispered into her ear.

I turned around and walked toward Steve and Lily, and ignored the commotion behind me as cops ran in and arrested Ashley. Within five feet of them, my legs buckled beneath me. Steve quickly ran to me, his arms out as he tried to catch me, but he was barely too late.

I grunted as I hit the ground with a thud. Steve quickly, yet carefully, pulled me into his arms. Lily stood behind him, hiding from Ashley. 

Hiding from me.

I lift my shaking arm toward Lily, wanting to comfort her. With my body so weak, my arm fell back to my side.

"I...I'm sorry for s-scaring you, Lily. I...I shouldn't have done...that." I whispered, feeling ashamed.

"I-It's okay, sis." A small relieved smile formed on Lily's face.

"Natasha!" Steve exclaimed. Nat ran over and gasped when she saw me up close. "Take Lily to her mom." Nat nodded and picked Lily up, running to Sarah.

I looked at Steve. All of my wounds had completely healed, but because I had used my fire to heal so much, so fast, my body was weak. It wasn't used to using so much power in such a little amount of time. And even if my wounds were healed and gone, my body still ached and I was still covered in blood.

Steve looked at me with tears in his eyes. He gently brushed my bangs from my eyes and smiled sadly.

"You are so beautiful." Steve's tears fell on my face, along with rain drops. He pulled me close, his face buried into my shoulder.

Steve moved back to look at me again. I placed my hand on his jaw and rubbed his cheek with my thumb. Steve put his hand on mine and held it tight, not wanting to let go.

My eyes filled with tears. I had put myself in danger, almost died. I scared Lily and probably scarred her for life. She would never forgive me for that.

I couldn't blame her.

I had scared Steve as well. I knew he hated it when I let my powers and anger take over. He had told me before that it frightened him, and I did it anyway.

"I'm so sorry, Steve." I whispered. I could feel my consciousness quickly slipping away. "S-Steve, don't worry about...me. I'm just going to...to take a...nap..."

I smiled as my eyes closed and my body slipped into darkness.