Shadow

I rubbed my fingers through my hair before taking another drag on my cigarette. The door of the bar opened and I looked up out of habit. I wish I hadn't. My eyes quickly shot down and I faced myself away from the door. Steve, Tony, and Thor had just walked in the door.

"Please don't sit by me. Please don't sit by me," I whispered under my breath. My insides let out a groan as the chair next to me was pulled out. I took a glance over and saw that it was Steve. Great. Now I just have to hope the don't recognize me. Hopefully the brown hair would throw them off. I have to get out of here.

"Hey," Caleb, the bartender, said hitting the table in front of me. "You're up, sweetie."

I bit my lip and shifted in my seat, "I don't think I can do it tonight, Caleb."

"Come on," he said rolling his eyes, "You know you're the only reason why I actually have decent costumers tonight."

"So you're the entertainment for tonight?" Tony asked leaning over the bar to look at me. "Well, Pepper said you were good, so why don't you make my night worth while, girly."

I glared at him, "Asshole." I got up and walked up to the small stage in the dimly lit bar. I sat down at the guitar first and began to strum before I began to sing.

I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, "I'll never let you go"
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone"
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound

Don't you dare look out your window, darling,
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold on to this lullaby
Even when the music's gone
Gone

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound

Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh
Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh
La La (La La)
La La (La La)
Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh
Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh
La La (La La)

Just close your eyes
You'll be alright
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and sound...

Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh oh oh. x7

I swallowed and didn't look up, knowing that Tony had perked up while I was singing. I just slipped right into the next song as the clapping died down.

Black clouds are behind me
I now can see ahead
Often I wonder why I try
Hoping for an end

Sorrow weighs my shoulders down
And trouble haunts my mind
But I know the present will not last
And tomorrow will be kinder

Tomorrow will be kinder
It’s true, I’ve seen it before
A brighter day is coming my way
Yes, tomorrow will be kinder

Today I’ve cried a many tear
And pain is in my heart
Around me lies a somber scene
I don’t know where to start

But I feel warmth on my skin
The stars have all aligned
The wind has blown but now I know
That tomorrow will be kinder

Tomorrow will be kinder
I know I’ve seen it before
A brighter day is coming my way
Yes, tomorrow will be kinder

A brighter day is coming my way
Yes, tomorrow will be kinder

I saw him get up from the corner of my eye and move closer with Steve and Thor, but I just continued my set.

Run, run, run away
Buy yourself another day
A cold wind's whispering secrets in your ear
So low only you can hear
Run, run, run and hide
Somewhere no one else can find
Tall trees bend and lean pointing where to go
Where you will still be all alone
Don't you fret, my dear
It'll all be over soon
I'll be waiting here for you
Run fast as you can
No one has to understand
Fly high across the sky from here to kingdom come
Fall back down to where you're from
Don't you fret, my dear
It'll all be over soon
I'll be waiting here for you
For you, for you
Don't you fret, my dear
(Don't you fret, my dear)
It'll all be over soon
(It'll all be over soon)
I'll be waiting here
Don't you fret, my dear
It'll be over soon
I'll be waiting here for you
For you, For you

Run, Run, Run Away
Run, Run, Run Away

Tony leaned over to Steve and whispered something to him. I saw Steve's eyes widen a little, I shook it away and continued to sing.

Daddy can you hear the devil drawing near
Like a bullet from a gun, run daddy run.

All the songs you used to sing to me
Would rock birds to sleep
I need you now so please somehow
Put rockets on your feet

Oh oh oh oh

Daddy can you hear the devil drawing near
Like a bullet from a gun, run daddy run.

Saw that dark cloud coming from a million miles away.
Oh how I’ve dreaded this god forsaken day.

Daddy can you hear the devil drawing near
Like a bullet from a gun, run daddy run.

Mama’s been crying in the kitchen
Sister’s been afraid of the dark.
I’ve been gathering the pieces of all these shattered hearts.
And I don’t care where you go to
And I don’t care where you land
But just get out of there daddy as fast as you can

Oh, Oh, Oh

Daddy can you hear the devil drawing near
Like a bullet from a gun, run daddy run.

Run Daddy run, run daddy run, run daddy run.

I flew right into the next song.

You say you know love, but you are just reflecting words you hear.
No iron in your veins to give you any sense of pain or fear.
It's just another lie, it's just another calculation,
And when the power's out, we're just another old sensation.

This blood keeps me alive, but what is it that runs through you?
Electricity and wires, dictating everything you do.
You tell me that you hear me and all your memories are real,
But how do I know you don't just feel what you've been told to feel?

We run around the rules,
We run around the rules,
We run around the rules,
Round and round, two by two, we run around the rules.

There's water in your eyes and I know i'm the reason that it's there,
But still I don't feel bad because I know that you've more to spare.
And just behind your eyes are switches that can turn back on,
To clear away today 'til all your memories are gone

We run around the rules,
We run around the rules,
We run around the rules,
Round and round, two by two, we run around the rules.

we run around the rules,
We run around the rules,
We run around the rules,
We run around the rules,
Round and round, two by two, we run around the rules.

I then stood up, carefully setting the guitar down on its stand again and moved to the piano to finish my last two songs.

I don't know where I am
I don't know this place
Don't recognize anybody
Just the same old empty face

See these people they lie
And I don't know who to believe anymore

There comes you to keep me safe from harm
There comes you to take me in your arms
Is it just a game?
I don't know
Is it just a game?
I don't know

Pleading eyes that break my heart
So homesick I can't feel
But I know I must play my part
And tears I must conceal

There comes you to keep me safe from harm
There comes you to take me in your arms
Is it just a game?
I don't know
To keep you safe from my bow

Take my hand and my heart races
Flames illuminate our faces
And we're on fire
Blow a kiss to the crowd
They're our only hope now

And now I know my place
And now I know my place
We're all just pieces in their games

I cleared my throat and took a breath before playing my last song.

Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

One step closer

I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this

One step closer

I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

One step closer
One step closer

I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

I finished and stood up. The small amount of people in the bar clapped as I stepped off stage. I tried to rush out the door, but Tony, of course stopped me. But not in the way I was expecting. I was expecting him to throw his arm out and glare at me while he asked a whole bunch of questions I wasn't sure I could answer. But instead his arms wrapped around me and his buried his face in my hair.

I didn't return his hug and he just squeezed me tighter. I looked down at his shoulder, not wanting to take a chance at catching eyes with Steve.

"Where have you been?" Tony asked, still holding on to me.

I shrugged, "Around."

"Don't ever do that again, Emmy."

"Tony," I grunted shoving him off. "I'm not coming back to the tower."

"Emmy-"

"I'm not Emmy, Tony," I snapped. "I'm not your sister. I'm Emily. The loner, freak. So just go home."

"Not without you," Thor grunted. "Loki has receded from his righteous path once more. You must return-"

"Your brother is more than capable of finding his 'righteous path' on his own. Just tell him to grow up and get over it," I snap, opening up the door. "Don't follow me and don't come here again." I stormed out and made my way back to my apartment, near the tower. Tony would reach out when looking for me, so to stay under his radar, I moved into an apartment closer to him.

I stopped. A sudden feeling came over me. I felt as if I was being followed. "Tony!" I called out. "This isn't funny!" I paused. "I know you're there, Tony! I can feel it!"

"I'm not your brother, darling." I spun. A man only a few inches taller than I was, with short black hair and stubble around his face smiled at me. "But I'd be more than happy to meet him," he smirked through his Irish accent, his voice was rough and cracked.

"Who are you? Some sort of crazed fan?" I glared at him.

"Oh, no," he said shaking his head and clasping his hands behind his back. "I'm not a fan. Which is actually the reason why I'm here," he said beginning to circle me. "I hate your brother. Truly," he nodded. "He's despicable and a hot shot. I do admire his work though." He whistled. "That suit. What I wouldn't give for one of those."

I barked out a laugh, "You want a suit? Good luck! If he wouldn't make me one, you're S.O.L., man. No matter how much you offer to pay him."

"That's why I came to you," the man smirked.

I raised and eyebrow, "I just told you he won't give me one."

"I was looking more for a trade."

"A trade? What could you possibly have to trade for one of the Iron Man suits?"

"Something quiet...valuable," he nodded. "Something I'm sure he wouldn't think twice about passing up?"

"Really? And what could you possibly have that Tony doesn't?"

The man stopped and smirked. "You," He shrugged happily as a force hit the back of my head, knocking me into darkness.

~~~~~~

When I came to, I found myself bound to a cold metal bed. "Ahh. Good, you're finally awake." The bed shifted up into a vertical position and the man stepped out from behind it. "I don't think I formally introduced myself. My name is Michael."

I spat. "Some angel you are," I hissed.

He grabbed my chin, "You have no idea how much of an angel I'm being right now, Emily," he growled. I pulled from his grasp and he walked over to a table with a camera set up next to it. "But don't worry. It's about to get a lot worse." I growled pulling at my restraints. "I wouldn't," Michael sighed. "You pull too hard and break them, a needle will be plunged into which ever area that has been freed and silver nitrate will be released throughout your body." I huffed and stopped moving. "There's a good girl." He then turned back around, gloves covering his hands and a knife in his right hand.

"What are you going to do?" I huffed.

"Whatever I have to, to send a message," he then drew a long line down my forearm with the knife. I screamed in agony. "Burns, doesn't it?" he asked, smiling at the bloody knife. "Silver. Just for you."

"Asshole," I spat and he glared at me. "My brother will never give you what you want."

"Really? I guess we'll just have to see about that," he smiled, dragging the knife across my abdomen. I clamped my mouth shut, trying to keep my scream in. "You want me to stop?!" he shouted at the camera before cutting my cheek. "Give me the suit and you can have your sister back. Don't. And I'll send her back piece by piece." He clicked the camera off and looked at me. "The first to go will be your fingers," he purred before leaving the room.

I let out a breath and glanced down at the puddle that was forming on the ground. My arm was healing though, so it would stop soon. I rested my head back against the metal bed, hoping Tony wouldn't do anything stupid.