October 2008, 05:20. Malibu, Los Angeles, CA.
Tony's POV
"-C'mon Star, just open your eyes, please. Open them. I need you, please don't leave.- I said as I shook Star's body gently in my arms.
-Tony...- MIchael said but he trailed off. I knew what he was going to say, but I was not going to let him finish.
-No. Don't you dare say it. If you say it, I swear I'll put you in that same tank.- I said, pointing at him with my free finger.
I refuse to believe my sister is gone. She is not gone, she can't be. I looked at her. Her eyes still closed. I was not giving up on her.
I placed her gently on the floor and turned to look at Michael, who was watching my every move.
-Do you know how to perform CPR?.- I asked the man in front of me. He looked at me, with glossy red eyes.
-What? Yeah, I- I do.- He answered and I just nodded.
-Well then do it.- I said, my voice monotone as I watched my sister.
-Tony...- He said again and I just looked at him.
-You want her to live, just like I do. I can't do CPR because of the suit gloves and I don't want to hurt her. It shut down and I can't take them off if it's not on. You do it. Do it, Sinclair. Is our only option.- I said to the man in front of me. He looked at me for a couple of seconds and nodded.
His hands instantly flew to my sister's chest, doing compressions. I saw how Star's body moved with every push Michael did. She didn't respond. He took turns between doing compressions and mouth to mouth resuscitation.
-Pep, call 911. Now.- I asked my assistant. I turned to look at her. Her eyes were red and puffy from all the crying. She nodded numbly at me and took out her phone. Everyone else in the place was just watching. I ignored them. I was not going to pay attention to them.
Star's face was still expressionless. Michael kept alternating between his movements.
-They are on their way.- Pepper said as she sniffed. I nodded, still watching my sister.
-Come on, Star, you can't do this. Not now. Not to me. You still have so much to do. To live. So much. Please, we need you. I need you. You are the strongest person I know, you need to wake up.- I said as I let a few tears escape my eyes. To this point I didn't care who saw me.
It had been two minutes and Star didn't respond. Michael was starting to stop his compressions, slowly. I noticed and furrowed my eyebrows.
-What the- what are you doing, Sinclair? She hasn't woken up yet.- I asked as I watched him, anger slowly creeping on me.
-Tony, it's been 4 minutes, maybe she is not going to--. I grabbed him by the neck.
-Listen to me, she is not dead! Okay?! We just need to, we just need to keep trying.- I hissed between gritted teeth as I looked at him.
-Tony, we've tried everything, it's pointless--. Michael said, raising his voice at me.
-I'M NOT GIVING UP ON HER!-. And just as I said the last word, a coughing and movement made me stop dead in my tracks.
I turned around faster than lighting, grabbing Star's head and turning it a little.
She started coughing out all of the water that was in her lungs, which I must add, was a lot. My heart seemed to stop. No matter how much I tried, it was like my eyes didn't believe it, but my heart did, I did.
My little sister was breathing.
She was alive.
Her eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the light. She looked at me, as I was the one holding her. She opened her mouth slightly.
-T-Tony?.- Her voice was hoarse and raspy, from all the coughing. I cupped her cheek and brushed the hair out of her face.
-Yes, yes, Star. I'm here, I'm here.- I said, a huge grin on my lips as I caressed her hair.
-Tony, let me go.- She said to me, her voice barely above a whisper.
-What?.- I asked, confused at her words. -What are you talking about?.- I asked.
-Tony. Let me go. I'm dead, just let me go.- She said and then I turned around to see if everyone was listening the same thing I was.
But no one was there. It was just me and Star. The place was empty.
-No, no. Star, don't. Don't do this.- I said as I held her tiny body closer to mine. She suddenly felt colder than snow, her face paler and her eyes empty.
-I have to, Tony. I love you infinity.- She said and I saw how her head fell to the side, her eyes open but hollow at the same time.
I started to panic. Fear and desperation slowly filling my body once again. I couldn't lose her, not now. Not ever. No.
-Star? Star! Star, please come back! Star! STAR!.- I said, my eyes full of tears.
In the distance, I heard a voice calling me again. Her voice.
-Tony? Tony. Tony?.- I felt my whole body shaking. This was not real. -Tony? Tony?.- Her voice again. I kept on shaking. Maybe I'm dying as well. -Tony! Wake up, please!.
Star?"
-T, wake up! Tony?.- I sat on the bed abruptly, my whole body covered in sweat, my breathing fast and uneven. My whole body was shaking. I turned to my left.
Star was just inches away from me. Her face had concern written all over it. I took a deep breath.
She was okay. She was here with me. She was alive.
I felt her hand in my arm and suddenly relaxed at the warmness of her skin. She was real.
Without a second thought, I pulled her closer to me. I hugged her as tightly as my arms let me. Without a second passing, she wrapped her arms around my neck.
-I'm here, Tone. I'm here, with you. I'm okay. Just breathe.- Star said as she caressed my hair with one hand.
Sometimes she acted like the big sister. Well, half of the time. Alright, probably a little more than just half.
Fine. 95% of the time. Happy?
I hugged her closer. I've been having these dreams since what happened a couple of months ago. Star just came back from visiting uncle Toine in Paris, because he got sick.
I went with her for a week but I had to come back to, well, work. Sorta. This is the first time she is in the house when I have that nightmare. It's always the same one.
The events of that day repeat in my mind like a cassette. What I said to Michael, what he did, Pepper calling 911, everything is the exact same as what happened. Only that in real life, Star woke up completely and the ambulance arrived to take her to the hospital. And in the dream, she dies. She actually dies. And I have no idea why my mind would play such mean and twisted games with me.
Her hug comforts me and I know that it was just a bad dream due to all the trauma from that day, but I remind myself that she is with me in this exact moment. Alive and healthy.
After a couple more seconds, she pulls away, looking at me.
-You wanna talk about it?.- She asks me and for a moment I don't know what to say. Should I tell her about the nightmares? Should I just tell her it was a nightmare?
She sees my hesitation and smiles a little.
-It's okay if you don't want to. Just know that I'm here if you want to talk.- She said and slowly stood up. -Get some rest, it's still early for you. I'll be in my room.- She said and started to walk away.
Just when she was about to cross the door, I found my voice again.
-You died.- She stopped abruptly and slowly turned to look at me. I realized that what I had said was not really well phrased, so I cleared my throat. -I mean, in my dream. My nightmare is the same day everything happened, it repeats itself. But instead of waking up, you just tell me you need to go and then you die.- I say as I stand up, running a hand through my hair.
Star doesn't say anything. She just stands there and watches my every movement. I guess she is not really fazed by what I just told her. I walk to my window and stand there, watching the night sky getting clearer. The sun is almost up. I took a deep breath and shook my head.
I heard the faint sound of footsteps in the rug making their way towards me.
-You just said it, T. It was just a nightmare. Nothing else. Nothing more. I am here, aren't I?.- She said as she leaned her head on my shoulder.
-I know, it's just that what happened was my fault. Obadiah told me that your death would be on my shoulders, and he was right, because the moment I took you out of that tank and you were not breathing, I knew it was my fault.- I said, my voice lower than usual.
I was not someone that opened up with people, but Star is the exception. She always is. She took a deep breath, grabbed my shoulders and turned me around to look at her.
-Now listen to me, Anthony Edward Stark. It wasn't your fault. All that happened was not your fault. It was Obadiah's. You were trying to do the right thing.- She said as she looked at me but I shook my head.
-Yeah, but it almost took your life in the process, didn't it?.- I said, my voice was a little harsh, but Star didn't seem to mind.
-But it didn't, because you managed to act and do something.-She took a deep breath. -Listen Tony, what matters is that I'm here, okay? And yeah, there are going to be a lot of people out there that will come and try to hurt you and me, and maybe at some point, they will make it. Maybe at some point, they will accomplish it. You now know what my job is about. You know that I run risks everyday. And yeah, maybe someday I won't be able to make it, but nothing that happens, if it happens, will be your fault. Never.- Her words came to my brain and stood there for a good time.
For some reason, even when it is the darkest conversation, her words always find a way to soothe me. To make me feel like everything is fine. And I always believe it. Because until there is an actual threat, another risk, I know that in the meantime, we're okay.
We'll be alright.
I nod and pull her to me, hugging her tightly.
-Thank you, Star.- I say as I rest my chin on her head.
-Always, Tony.- She said as she hugged me tighter.
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November 29th, 2008. 06:30. Malibu, Los Angeles, CA.
Sophia's POV
As I finished tying my tennis shoes, I heard my phone buzzing in my nightstand. I went to grab it and looked at the screen. It was a text from Michael.
"Happy Birthday, beautiful. <3 -MS."
I looked at the text and a small smile made its way to my lips.
Now, I know what you are all thinking. What happened between Michael and I after my near death experience? Well, it's quite a story, let me tell ya.
If you're wondering if we are back together, the answer is no. We're not.
After I woke up at the hospital, he came to see me and we talked about what had happened and everything. Due to the near death experience I told him I forgave him, because this time I was able to live and tell him that.
But if I had died, then he would've never known if I did or not. It was a sort of relief for him and for me as well. That was one of the last thoughts I had when I was, well, let's say blacking out.
We talked and talked and kind of fixed things, but we're not together, because I still don't feel like we've actually patched everything enough. I told him that it was hard for me to trust him again, and he understood.
He said that he was going to try and gain my trust back during this time and that we'll see what would happen when I felt like I did. He's been trying really hard. Back to his flirtatious ways just like when we met, being a gentleman, using his charm to make me smile.
Not gonna lie, he is doing a pretty good job, and most of the time I find myself almost grabbing him by the neck and pulling him to me to kiss him. But, I don't. Maybe I want him to try a little more. I am mean, I know.
I made my way out of my room, ready to go for my morning run. As I closed the door behind me, I made my way downstairs, and just when I was reaching the last steps I almost fell butt first to the ground at the sudden yelling.
-HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY!.- The sound of Tony's, Happy's and Pepper's voices filled the living room and then the sound of a horn followed after, something exploding.
I jumped a little and took a hand to my chest, with my heart thudding wildly against my ribcage. I was pretty sure I was having a heart attack and my heart was going to burst out of my chest. A smile quickly took over my face and I felt a few tears starting to gather in my eyes.
-Guys, what is this? You didn't have to.- I said as I stepped closer to them. I was not surprised by the surprise (okay, yeah, mainly because of that), but because of the fact that it was 7:00 in the morning and they were here, all energized and cheerful.
Tony walked over to me and gave me a big hug. We stood like that for a few more seconds, until he pulled away.
-Happy birthday, Star. One more year of life, one more to create adventures, one more to enjoy life as it is, the year you're finally legal here in the U.S and we can go clubbing and get drunk!.- At the last part, Pepper slapped his arm. Tony winced and I just laughed.
-Thank you, Tony. Really, for everything. I couldn't have asked for a better present than you. All of you.- I said as Pepper walked to me and gave me a hug.
-Oh I can't believe this. I met you when you were like 13 and now you are 21 and a legal adult and you are no longer the little girl I met and this is just too much.- Pepper said as she pulled away a little but then crashed me in another hug.
I laughed and enjoyed the hug she had given me. It was true, though. The first time I met Pepper was at a free weekend I had gotten at Daylight and I was at my parent's house, for my mum's birthday precisely. Tony came to the celebration and aside from Happy, he brought his new assistant, who was previously his accountant but he gave her a raise and well, yeah. I was 13 at the time and we got along from the first moment.
She and I created a special bond. Just like with Tony, she didn't have any siblings, and I didn't have a sister, so we developed this sister bond which has been one of the best things in my life.
We pulled apart for the last time and the next person was Happy. He looked at me and smiled a little.
-I promised myself I was not going to cry.- Happy said as he grimaced and I smiled.
-Oh, Hap, it's okay.- I said and I hugged him tightly.
-I've known you since you were five. I still remember you asking me if my real name was actually Happy and how disappointed you were when you realized it wasn't. Or when you ran to me first instead of Tony when we visited you at your school.- Happy said and I smiled, remembering that day perfectly.
-Hey! It was just that she didn't want to leave you behind.- Tony defended himself from what Happy said.
-Sorry, boss. Just stating the facts.- Happy said as he pulled apart. -This might not be that important, but I am very proud of the woman you are today, Sophie. I've always been proud. Happy birthday.- Happy said and I hugged him again. This man, aside from being a bodyguard to my brother, was my best friend, my protector, my other big brother (don't tell Tony). This man has always been by my side, just like every person in this room.
-You're still my number one, Hap.- I said and he smiled.
I turned to look at them and they were looking at me with wide grins. I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion.
-What is it?.- I asked and Pepper let out a squeal.
-Pep, keep it together.- Tony said, between teeth as he kept grinning.
-Keep together, what?.- I asked as I looked at them quizzically.
-Nothing. She is just excited you are legal now.- Tony said and Pepper nodded pursing her lips, trying to hide her smile.
-Tony, tell her.- She said as she nudged my brother on the side.
-Alright, fine.- Tony said as he looked at me.
-Tell me what?.- I asked and crossed my arms over my chest, a smile displaying in my lips.
-Pepper wants me to tell you about the gift I got you, because she wants to see your reaction.- Tony said and I lifted my eyebrows.
-Tony, you didn't have to get me anything, at all, really.- I said. And it was true. I didn't want anything. I had everything I could ever need or want. My family, my friends, I was alive. There was nothing else I wanted.
-But I did.- He said as he threw me one of his famous smirks. I rolled my eyes playfully at him and shook my head.
He started to walk to the living room table where there were a lot of perfectly wrapped gifts on top. He took a small box and handed it to me.
I furrowed my eyebrows and shook the box near my ear, trying to listen to what was inside.
-What is this?.- I said as I ripped the wrapping paper apart.
-It is one part of your surprises for today.- He said as the three of them watched intently how I unwrapped the box.
When I finally managed to remove all the tape and paper, there was a brown cardboard box. I opened it and inside of it was a keychain. To be more precise, a horse keychain with another keychain attached to it, this one with my name letter on it. An S, and an angel wing shaped keychain also.
-Uh huh... A keychain.- I turned to look at the three of them with my eyebrows raised and Pepper squealed again, making me laugh. -Thanks... T. This is really, really uh, thoughtful of you.- I said with hesitation.
Tony didn't try to correct me and I actually started to think this was my present. Well, at least he tried, that's what matters. I smiled and hugged him.
-Thanks, Tony.- As we pulled apart he smirked again.
-Well, aren't you going to try it?.- He asked and I scrunch my eyebrows.
-How am I supposed to try this?.- I said between laughs as I shook the keychain in my hands.
-With your keys of course.- He said and Pepper let out another squeal.
-Alright, this is weird and what is weirder is the fact that Pep is acting like a rubber duck being squeezed.- I said while letting out a chuckle.
-Just give them to her, Tony.- Pepper said, her mouth twisted so she was speaking sideways to Tony.
I looked at my brother one more time and then to Happy, to which the latter just smiled and shrugged.
-Give me what?.- I said and saw how Tony pulled out something from his pocket, handing it to me. A key. This man really needed a catalogue on what kind of presents to give to people. -A key?.- I said as I turned them in my hands.
-Uh huh! But not just any key. This key is from--. And just when I thought I was going to know what this was for, Pepper screamed.
-THE KEY FOR YOUR DREAM CAR!.- Pepper said in a rather high pitched scream.
I froze for a moment. My dream car? No, I already had a car. And it may not be my dream car, but I like it.
-Uh, Pep, I already have a car.- I said but I saw how she walked towards me and started to blindfold me and for some strange reason, I didn't object. Once she was done, she started to walk me somewhere.
-Oh just hush and enjoy this.- She said as we walked. I suddenly felt the morning breeze hit my face and I knew we were outside.
-Ready, Star?.- Tony asked me as he took my hand in his.
-Nope. Not really.- I said, but it was too late, because they started to count to three. Tony removed my blindfold and when I opened my eyes, I was greeted by the sight of a 1960's Red Ford Mustang. A convertible one. I felt just how my jaw touched the floor and how my eyes almost popped out of my sockets.
When I was 6, I helped Tony fix the engine of an exact same model. A 1960's red ford mustang. I remember telling him this was my dream car and that when I grew up, I would buy it with my first paycheck.
Even though my family had the money and resources, I wanted to get that car by myself. But I never could. With the kidnapping and then Daylight, then coming to work for S.H.I.E.L.D and the I.I.S.A, and everything after that, I completely forgot.
But Tony didn't.
-I remember this was and has always been your dream car, since you saw the one we fixed that time. I know you said you wanted to buy it yourself, but after everything that you have gone through and everything I've put you through, I thought this was a nice way of apologizing and well a nice birthday present, yeah.- Tony said as he scratched the back of his neck, hesitantly.
I walked around the car, my fingers gracing the surface carefully and gently, afraid that if I touched it too much, I would mess it up. Once I was in front of Tony again, I let the few tears that had pooled in my eyes, run freely. I let out a muffled laugh and turned to Tony.
I wrapped him in my arms tightly. My face in the crook of his neck, and his arms holding me tightly.
-Thank you, thank you, thank you, for remembering. You truly are the best brother ever.- I said and he held me tighter.
-Anything for you.- He said, his voice muffled because of my hair and I smiled.
It was not the car itself what made me cry. I mean, it was, because it is my dream car. But what made me cry the most and what touched every fiber in my heart, was that after all these years, Tony still remembered something I told him 15 years ago. Something that to most people might be a simple detail, and not worth remembering or important, to him it was.
He remembers everything I ever tell him and I, what he tells me. People might see him as the most selfish person in the world, but they are so wrong, because they, unlike me, don't have the pleasure and fortune to know the real Tony Stark, like I do.
And that itself is also one of the best gifts I could ever have. My brother.
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First chapter of Phase IV.
Last Phase of Night Angel.
Never thought I'd be saying this, to be honest. I started writing this story exactly a year ago today after having it in mind for at least 5 years (Yes, that long, but I never knew how to start and I thought I was not going to be able to do it, but here we are).
Anyway, don't worry, Phase IV is roughly another 40 chapters to go (I know, long as hell but oh well, that's what inspiration does to you)
This is it for today, and just on a small sidenote, I just finished my second semester in college! YAY! My final grades will be given to me tomorrow, so, wish me luck, please. I'll be uploading another chapter just to celebrate.
PS: The picture on top is the car Tony gifted Sophia for her birthday. It's actually one of my (many) favourite dream cars so I wanted to use that one.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter, if you did, you know what to do!
Lots of love, C.