"Just breathe," I urged, my voice low and steady, though the panic lurking in my eyes betrayed my calm demeanor. Her eyes fluttered closed, staggered breaths continued as she settled toward me. Her warmth close to me is an electric connection, if only for a moment.

"Open your eyes, Jaige." I pleaded. "Please keep your eyes open."

Shadows descended from choppers, troops surrounding the building like vultures, guns drawn and shields raised.

"Stehen bleiben!" [Stand down!]

Panic gripped me as a dozen troops surged forward, encircling us. I exchanged frantic glances with whom she'd called Steve, fear etched on both our faces. His jaw tightened, muscles coiling with tension as the agents advanced. I could only glare as his hands raised toward the sky.

The agents swarmed at breakneck speed, shoving Steve and the cat suit man to his knees. I knew fighting them would ultimately threaten her survival, so I tore off my shirt. Tightening it over her jagged wound, my heart broke as she cried out.

"I'm sorry, baby, just hold on, okay?" Tears threatened to form in my eyes as her stare grew more blank.

My jaw tensed as four men pulled me away, the immediate loss of her sending a jolt of panic through me. I used all my strength to make restraint difficult, setting her gently on the ground. Their continued efforts filled me with fury. As the cuffs finally found my wrists, two agents advanced toward her, pain evident from her furrowed, restless brows and shallow breaths.

"Put pressure on the wound." I growled, my breathing shallow as I noticed how quickly the blood kept pooling beyond the tattered shirt bandage.

Pain welled in her eyes, tears betraying her as they cascaded down.

"Jaige." I protested, my voice cracking.

"Stand down, now!" A booming voice commanded. I turned to see a gray robotic suit guiding an ominous flying contraption hovering just above the rooftop. My stomach twisted as the sleek white pod descended, thrusters pulsing ominously. It settled to the ground once its many tires emerged from its undercarriage. If it weren't for the shit position we were in, I'd ogle the marvelous technology.

The robot man lost his resolve momentarily, his helmet retracting.

"Your Highness?"

I glanced quickly, finding the only one of us previously shrouded. The cat man's revealed presence seemed to slow time for those that knew him. What the fuss was over, I couldn't tell–he wore a fucking cat suit. Jaige was still bleeding out.

Now six agents surrounded me, guiding me toward the containment module, each step dragging me further from her. The robot man leveled his hands toward us, the threat palpable in the air. My mind raced, scanning the terrain—fighting a small army and a fucking robot seemed futile.

Whipping my head back around, I burned watching the two imbeciles only crouch next to her, making no effort to stop the growing red stains on her clothes.

"Help her," I gritted.

I tried to stand firm, using every ounce of enhanced strength and weight I bore. Once two more men joined, however, their combined strength successfully shoved me into the containment module. Locked in, I stood trapped and furious.

"Help her!" I pounded on the glass.

Steve opened his mouth to respond, but the words seemed to stick in his throat as the cuffs placed on him tightened. Instead, he watched as I tried to burn holes in him with my stare. It must've done something to him as he turned toward the robot man.

"Rhodey, please, it's an arterial bleed, she needs help," Steve pleaded. The robot man strutted over to him. I'm going to fucking kill them all.

Her hand started to feel the ground around her, she seemed to reach out. My fist pounded against the cold surface, desperate to bridge the distance.

"Jaige!" I cried, panic surging through me as agents began to pull her to a seated position, her head toppling to her chest.

"Hold pressure on that wound." Steve tried again, his command steady as he was led to a newly arrived armored van. Once a nod was given by the robot suit, a soldier pressed down on her shoulder, the pressure forcing a yelp of pain.

No words could escape me but rather a loud roar erupted. I was torn from her, a piece of my heart bleeding out with her—the agony threatened to destroy my grip entirely. A commotion at the edge of this terrible alley threw my focus.

"You're going to kill her!" A voice rang out, slicing through the surreality like a knife. I turned to see yet another robotic costume, a bird man now breathless yet furious, barely making it to the scene. Everyone's got a gimmick that would be amusing if not for this hapless position.

"Sam!" Steve grimaced. "A bit late to the party."

But the agents seized Sam, their grips unyielding, and I felt the weight of helplessness crash down around me. The shouts echoed in my ears as fury burned, yearning for the comfort of her.

The van, now loaded with Steve, the cat, the bird, and my love, took off. Mere moments passed before we joined them.

My mind raced to conjure an escape.