Metallic Hearts {Metallic Charms Book #2}

Chapter 20: Dangerous Relations

Chapter 20: Dangerous Relations

~~~~~~~~~~~{Tony’s Point of View}~~~~~~~~~~~

She’s been missing for two days. It’s quieter than usual around Stark Tower. No one knows what to do or where to search. We’ve been face-tracing for the past thirty-six hours and nothing has come up.

I had been pacing uncontrollably for the past two hours.

“You really need to calm down. Noel’s a tough girl, she’ll be fine.” Bruce mused.
“How do you know, Bruce?” I snapped, “How do you know? She’s just got these new powers and she barely knows how to use them, how do you know she’ll be okay?”
Bruce sighed and stopped working, leaning against the desk. “I know this might sound a little strange, but why do you care? You broke up with her.”
“Just because I ended things doesn’t mean I don’t have feelings for her anymore.” I hesitantly replied. “I had to end things. It was too dangerous for her.”

An awkward silence hung in the air, and for the first time in a long while, I wished I’d never said anything at all. But I knew it was no use with Bruce, he could read me like an open science text book.

Bruce finally ended the silence by asking the question I was begging he wouldn’t, “Why did you break up with her? Really? Not the other bullshit you’ve been feeding Steve and Clint.”
I sighed, knowing it was stupid to attempt to try and lie to Banner. “Because it’s dangerous for her. The entire world knows my identity, hers is still a secret, she still has the option to out herself or keep it a secret. If we stayed together she would have been at risk all the time. There are a million and one people who want to hurt me and I can’t have her in the middle of that.”

Bruce placed a comforting hand on my shoulder as I hung my head. I wasn’t usually this open. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been.

“You think whoever has taken her wants to hurt her to get to you.” Bruce stated and I nodded sullenly.

* * *

~~~~~~~~~~~{Noel’s Point of View}~~~~~~~~~~~

“Steve!” I cried out gratefully, a grin on my face the size of the moon. I don’t think I’d ever been happier to see the Captain since I met him.

“Noel, Starlie!” He jogged over to us in a split second. “Are you alright?”
“We’re fine.” I nodded. Without needing any more reassuring, Steve, in his complete Captain America suit, sprinted over to Richard Hammer and threw his shield directly at his face.

It was only then that I noticed Alice making her escape. I nudged Starlie as to not startle Alice and she nodded, having noticed the same thing. I pointed behind and in front of the blonde, indicating that we should corner Alice and capture her while Steve handled Hammer.

I lunged at Alice, pushing her backwards, causing her to fall into Starlie’s open arms. Star pinned Alice’s arms behind her and I couldn’t help myself, I pulled my right arm back and swung it forward, hitting Alice in the face with a sickening thud –but oh boy, did it feel good.
Alice cried out and Starlie smiled maliciously, knocking her legs out from under her and knocking her out.

With Alice out and not having to worry about her, I watched Steve throw Richard Hammer against a wall and cuff him.
“You’re officially in custody of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.” Steve said before pushing him into the arms of waiting agents at the door. With Starlie taking care of Alice Flinders, I rushed over to Steve and leapt into his arms.

“You found us.” I mumbled into his chest as he wrapped his arms around me, and for the first time in three days, I felt safe.

“Of course I did,” Steve rested his chin on top of my head, “Sorry it took so long.”
“He drugged us and said that I needed to stay unharmed...” I looked up at him and Steve’s eyes widened.
“Noel!” He exclaimed, touching my face lightly, “Did he ...Noel, did he hit you?”
There must have been a nasty bruise on my face from when Hammer had slapped me. I turned my head away and nodded.

“That son of a-”
I cut Steve off, “Hey! You’ve done enough okay; he’ll get what’s coming to him. Right now, I just want to get out of here.”

* * *

Sadly, my homecoming wasn’t as calm as I thought it would be. All I wanted was to collapse onto a bed and sleep for a few days, I needed rest. Time to heal, but it was obvious Fury didn’t want that for me.

As soon as I stepped off the jet, I was whisked away to Bruce and some other doctors to make sure I was okay –and I understood that. But was I didn’t understand is why Bruce let Tony into the room.

The reason became evident after Bruce left though.

“You seem fine, Noel.” Bruce said gratefully, “The bruising should disappear within a few days and the drug seems to be mostly out of your system. I recommend seeing a psychiatrist if you start to have night terrors though.”
I nodded and hopped off the desk, following Bruce out of the room when Tony stopped me.

“Can we talk?” He asked and I span around.
“Really?” I asked with a biting tone, my eyes narrowed. “Now you want to talk?”
“Yes. That a problem?” Tony replied, shrugging.
“It is actually, you have thirty seconds and then I’m leaving.” My eyebrows drew together as I waited for him to speak. His beautiful brown eyes darted from left to right, trying to think of what to say.

The thirty seconds I counted out in my mind passed slowly and painfully. I couldn’t stand it; I wanted it all to be over. I didn’t want to see him again because of how much it hurt. My chest contracted with my thoughts as I wished for him to beg for me to take him back. I wanted to, badly, but I knew he wouldn’t ask –and even if he did, I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. Not after the pain.

As the thirty seconds dried up, I stepped forward and leaned into him for a kiss. He didn’t respond but I needed it. I needed that last one before I left him in the past forever.

“I’m sorry you’re so heartless.” I muttered coldly, turning away from him and letting one tear roll down my cheek before I wiped it away and called Fury.

“Barton.” He greeted on the phone.
“Fury, I need to come back to work. What have you got for me?”

* * *

Author's Note: So, when I said the next chapter would be up soon, I didn't actually think it would be this soon! xD
So, this was very much a filler chapter but pretty important to the story line.

What did you think of the Tony/Bruce bromance at the start? I have always wanted to try writing in Tony's point of view and I hope I did it okay.

Next chapter will hopefully be up by the end of the weekend. I start year 10 tomorrow so hopefully that goes well...I'm actually quite nervous -anyway!

Until the next update! Comment, like, vote!

*huggles* arielleblack.