before the beginning
They were in the city when a giant doughnut came down from the sky. Kate didn’t remember much from the 2012 invasion, but Susan did. Her sister reacted faster and yanked Kate down an alley and away from the fight. The two of them huddled behind a dumpster as the streets shook and buildings fell apart.
—
Harley wasn’t one for sentiment. He didn’t have any friends, he didn’t cling to the past, he just cared about his family and looked to the future. Sure, the pseudo-workshop was nice and the best thing to come out of his Tony Stark experience but it was also the only thing. Adaline liked it and she’d sit with him when he was working and watch TV on the screen Stark had installed last year. The two of them watched as New York was invaded for a second time in six years. Harley stared as Iron Man once again flew higher and higher until he was gone.
—
Cassie’s dad was a superhero. He saved the day and even worked with Captain America. She watched the superhero spotlight on the news with her mom everyday with her mom before soccer.
—
Susan wrapped her arms around Kate and held her to the shaking wall. “Don’t move, Kate.”
—
“Harley, what’s going on?” Adaline asked. She was young, barely remembered Ultron much less New York.
“Just the Avengers. It’s gonna be okay, they’ll save the day.”
—
“Is daddy out there?”
“‘Course not,” Maggie said. She didn’t know for certain, but if she didn’t know then Cassie didn’t know and that was for the best.
—
Kate screamed as the arms around her disintegrated.
—
He didn’t know what was happening. Everything felt wrong, fuzzy.
“Harley? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, just go get mama.”
“Harley, what’s happenin’?”
—
“I’m scared.”
“You don’t need to be, baby. Nothing’s gonna happen to us, I promise.”
—
In a matter of seconds her life ended, slipping away between her fingers like the ashes of the mother she lost so many years before.
—
“Harley? Where’d you go? This isn’t funny.”
—
“Those people are turning to dust. I don’t wanna turn to dust.”
—
The Avengers failed and Kate was pissed.