018. twin flame bruise

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN, twin flame bruise!

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𝐈𝐅 𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 helped Lacie cope with being a few minutes away from her fate and the impending fear of being crushed into pieces by some earth destroyer's hands; then yes, Lacie felt like deluding and pretending all was fine.

Her foot tapping on the ground was relentless and Lacie was sure that her lip was bleeding with how much she had gnawed into it. 'Hopefully Galactus can't smell blood', Lacie pondered.

"What the fuck?" Lacie shook her head and mumbled to herself at the sheer weirdness of the question she posed, "I'm losing it. Stay calm." She muttered to herself and rolled her shoulders back, cracking the bones in her body.

She took a deep breath in through her nose and exhaled through her mouth, her feet wearing into the ground and practically reaching the civilians in the underpart with how much she was pacing.

Lacie crouched down to Franklin and knocked on the glass, "Hey, buddy! How are you doing?" She forced a smile and sighed as Franklin responded with a small sneeze.

She raised her brows and nodded, "Me too, Frankie--" Her words were cut off as a large shadow cast over the city.

Lacie slowly rose from her crouched position as the darkness enveloped the buildings, a dark void swallowing any happiness that remained in New York.

"Oh, I forgot how big he was..." Lacie swallowed as she felt the ground shake under Galactus' heavy boot, hearing the cement being crushed under his weight doing absolute wonders for her already pounding heart.

Galactus' head rose from between the buildings, a sickening smile stretched across his face before his eyes flickered purple. The familiar blue light blinded Lacie's vision momentarily as he scanned the city, two subjects in mind he was to seek out.

Lacie winced as the light engulfed her, "I'm so fucked." She whispered to herself and put her hands on her hips.

"Lacie, think positively please!" She heard Reed encourage from the comms. Lacie scoffed and placed her right hand on her ear, "Shut up, Reed! You're not down here!"

She could faintly hear him sigh but everyone fell silent as Galactus began moving towards the two superheroes in Times Square.

Lacie swallowed the bile in her throat the closer he got. His feet crushed the cars below him, not even thinking to brush them out the way, he had one thing on his mind and he would destroy everything in his way to get to it. His shoulders brushed the tall buildings, the exterior reduced to dust and parts on the city's floor.

Frostbite took a deep breath and walked in front of Franklin, shielding him from the monster who approached. She shuffled her feet back and pushed him in the carrier further away, the heels of her feet connecting with Reed's design.

Her heart dropped with every footstep, her hope sinking further and further into the pit of her stomach. Lacie glanced back at Franklin who sat oblivious to the danger and nodded to herself, this was for Franklin.

Galactus stopped in front of Lacie and Franklin, the buildings inferior to his size. He smiled wickedly at the two who stood below. Lacie stared up at Galactus', her eyes straining as the blue light homed in on Franklin behind her.

The man had one plan; dispose of Frostbite, then take the child for himself.

Before Galactus could reach down and pluck the infant out of sight, Ben drove into her vision and redirected Galactus' priorities. He held his hand out and halted Ben's movements midair, a scowl prominent on his face.

Sue appeared on top of the building and raised her hand to create a force, making Galactus turn her way. Johnny flew in front of Sue's field and fired his flames into it, the connection causing Galactus to flinch as fire engulfed his right eye.

Sue raised her other hand and exploded the fire hydrants beside Lacie, water emerging upwards. Lacie flicked her wrist and the water froze into a large, sharp icicle. Sue used the ice that Lacie had made to lift it into the air and hurl it into Galactus' other eye.

Galactus groaned and stumbled back at the fire and ice in either eye, one hand covering the pain Lacie had inflicted as the connection had caused a red rim to form around the socket.

Temporarily blinded, Johnny used this time to swoop down and pick up Franklin in his left hand, the other hand wrapping around Lacie's waist where she had formed a patch of ice so his flame covered body wouldn't hurt her. Reed switched out the carrier with an empty one, hoping to still lure Galactus into the triangle.

Johnny sped towards the Baxter building and placed the pair down in the living room, "Lace, you okay?" He panted as she stumbled to open Franklin's carrier.

Lacie brushed Franklin's weeping face and shushed him gently, "I'm fine, don't worry." She smiled at Johnny as he crouched down beside her.

Johnny patted Franklin's stomach, "Hey, hey, hey." His brows furrowed with concern, "Don't cry. I'll be back in a minute, little guy." He stood up and scratched the top of H.E.R.B.I.E's head, who was on standby.

Johnny turned to Lacie and pressed a chaste kiss on her cheek, "Be careful." Before Lacie could respond, he had already flown off the balcony and the super child was under Lacie's responsibility.

Lacie watched his figure disappear and dart closer to Galactus who lurked in the distance, "You too..." She whispered.

Frostbite turned on her heel and sprinted towards the computer that was built into the living room, one connected to the trap set up in Times Square. Building two might have been Reed fearing the worst, but if Lacie could set it off from afar when Galactus was least expecting it, it would make their plan so much easier.

Lacie wrapped her hand around the lever, "Tell me when." She said into the comms and awaited Sue's command. She could see Galactus itching closer to the centre, but her estimate wasn't enough to flip the switch.

"Just a couple more steps." Reed said to her and Lacie nodded, eyes refusing to leave his figure in the distance.

Lacie's heart fell into her stomach as she watched Galactus freeze, his head lifting and looking around the city. "Reed, what's going on?" Her voice shook as he began scanning the city.

"Clever little bugs." She heard the crackling voice of Galactus from her comms. "No, no, no..." She muttered to herself and that was when she decided, this was the worst day of her life.

Watching Galactus turn to face her from the Baxter Building's windows was single handedly the worst thing Lacie had ever experienced. She had thought the first time was terrifying, but now with no plan and defenceless, Lacie was petrified.

Lacie hurriedly moved from her spot behind the computer and ran to Franklin and H.E.R.B.I.E who lived in blissful ignorance. She snatched Franklin from his place on the floor and fired ice into the large window, blinding Galactus from direct vision into the room.

"We gotta go!" She shouted to H.E.R.B.I.E who whirred in confusion. She could faintly see Galactus' silhouette through the frozen glass, flames coating his armour and objects being hurled at him, but the man had yet to flinch.

Lacie ran to the back of the building and barged the door open, strolling out onto the matching balcony they had on either side. She looked down to see Franklin sobbing behind the glass, "I know, honey, I'm sorry." She placed her finger on the barrier and Franklin lifted his to connect, "It'll be over soon, I promise." Lacie nodded and looked out to the city's horizon, trying to think of a way out into safety.

"Come on, come on, think!" She mumbled to herself and heard H.E.R.B.I.E cursed though his robotic voice, "What?" Lacie asked and saw the robot facing the window behind them.

Lacie turned slowly and saw a pair of purple eyes blurry through the frozen glass. The heat of Galactus's stare melted the privacy Lacie had tried to create and she stumbled back. H.E.R.B.I.E panicked and sent the entire building into lockdown, darkness enveloping the room.

Her back connected with the railing of the balcony and she looked at the city below, there was only one way out of here.

She lifted a shaky hand to her comms, "Johnny, I'm improvising." Lacie heard a crackle from the other side, "What?""I'm improvising!" She shouted as Galactus' hand crashed through the building's exterior. Broken parts of what remained of the living room scattered everywhere, a sharp piece of wood scraping Lacie's stomach and tearing through her suit.

Lacie winced in pain and placed her free hand on the wound, blood seeping through her fingers. Biting back the seething pain, Lacie peered down at the world below, "Oh, please work." She panted and closed her eyes.

Lacie launched herself off the building, her ankle twisting against the railing as Galactus' hand reached out. Franklin was clutched tightly in Lacie's hand as she tried to force herself and the infant away from Galactus.

Frostbite felt a tug on the hand that cradled Franklin, she looked ahead to see Galactus's hand outstretched, his powers prying Franklin from her palms.

"No!" She shouted as he was snatched from her hold, the carrier slowly floating into Galactus' palm as Lacie's body descended closer to the city floor.

Lacie squeezed her eyes shut from not only the endless pain coming from her stomach and her ankle, but from the ground quickly coming closer to connecting with her body.

Now would be the worst timing for Johnny to not read the room. Not when Lacie was hurtling from the Baxter Building balcony and Franklin was delicately placed in Galactus' palm.

Lacie's body jolted as a strong pair of arms wrapped around her body, a familiar heat pressed against her and the recognisable voice shouting, "What were you thinking?"

Frostbite swallowed and cleared her dry throat, panting heavily, "I knew you'd get it!" She shouted and tapped his cheeks as his brows furrowed a permanent frown on his face.

Johnny tugged her tighter against his chest, "You're crazy, you know that?" He breathed out as glanced down at her hand that was pressed against her stomach, hiding the wound from him.

Lacie scrunched up her face in pain, "We've gotta get Franklin." She nodded and Johnny landed them next to Sue who was crawling out of the car, "You have got to rest." He brushed the hair that had fallen in front of her face.

"Are you kidding?" Lacie shouted as Johnny turned his back on her, jogging to where Ben laid, "I can't quit now!"

Johnny groaned and ran his hand over his face, debating whether or not to have a repeat of what was discussed on the balcony. Johnny sighed and turned, pointing at her, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Lacie was hunched over from pain slightly and tilted her head at him, "I still wanna have that talk." She heard Johnny say, his eyes glassing over. Lacie nodded at him and her bottom lip wobbled in pain.

Johnny looked at her one more time before sprinting away, seeking out Reed and Ben for a new plan.

Pain surged throughout Lacie's body, the skin around the open wound began to numb and she struggled to stay on her feet with the throbbing discomfort in her ankle. She pulled her hand away from her stomach for a moment, seeing blood drip through her fingers and stain the suit she wore with pride. The cut was deep and she knew that, but Lacie pushed that to the back of her mind despite her body slowly giving up on her.

The sound of footsteps made Lacie flinch as she turned to Sue who stumbled out of the car, her hair messy on her head and face pale. She took one look at Lacie who swayed on the spot, "He's got Franklin..." She slurred and Lacie reluctantly nodded.

Fury washed over Sue's face as she turned to see Galactus' retreating figure, Franklin's crying self hovering over his hand.

Sue stepped forwards and threw an energy force into his back, "Put down my son!" She shouted and forced the giant's body to face her. Galactus blinked and shrugged Sue's force off, returning to his destination.

The Invisible Woman looked over at Frostbite who was panting, their eyes sharing a mutual understanding.

Lacie took a deep breath and stood up straight, hand leaving her wound and allowing blood to run down her side. She lifted her hands and ice trickled from the soles of Galactus' feet, the power surging up his body and coating his legs.

The ice forced him to halt his movements, allowing Sue to use her powers to direct his attention their way and push him closer to the trap.

Galactus' eyes began glowing and he lifted his hand at Lacie. The woman folded over in pain and her hand reached out to catch her body as it collapsed to the floor.

Galactus had used his powers to worm his force into Lacie's open wound, stretching the bloodied skin and prodding the injury. Lacie placed her hand over the wound to create a barrier between Galactus and it, but the sheer power he sourced started crunching the bones in her hand.

With Lacie no longer helping out Sue, Galactus was easily able to crack the ice that coated up to his shins and regain his footing, despite Sue's best effort to force him backwards.

Lacie pressed her forehead against the ground and screamed at the pain suffocating her body. It was willing to give up, wishing to be put to rest and let the pain overcome her.

Sue had forced Galactus far enough away that his hand dropped and cut off the pressure applied to Lacie's wound. She practically sobbed with relief and felt the tears coating her cheeks.

"Sue! Stop!" Reed's voice was muffled as Lacie's eyes fluttered closed. She felt footsteps land beside her and a firm hand pressed on her hunched back, "Lace? Lace, can you hear me?" Johnny's voice rang out amidst the chaos.

Lacie lifted her weak head to make eye contact with him, "I'm gonna get you out of here." He nodded and Lacie placed her hand on his shoulder, her shaking limbs trying to push him away, "Go get Franklin."

Her broken voice reached Johnny's ears and his eyes flickered between Galactus and the woman broken on the ground, "Go..." She breathed out and Johnny's hand brushed her and he sped off.

Lacie whimpered as she placed her most definitely broken hand flat on the floor, using any strength she could muster up to heave her body up into a sitting position. She physically couldn't move her foot anymore, so if she were to run away at any point, she was screwed.

Sue, who was growing tired in the distance, turned to Lacie's crying figure. "Lace!" Her voice yelled out to her, "Help!" Lacie lifted her head to see the sight ahead of her, Galactus forced backwards had found his grip on a building.

Ben sprinted onto the scene, "Hold on, Sue!" He crashed into the building's pillars but Galactus had planted his foot, "He's grounded! I can't move him!"

Lacie sat back and wracked her head, "The ground..." Her voice was barely above a whisper as she scanned her surroundings and how Galactus' foot was digging into the cement. Lacie noticed how Sue was already slipping under the force and she knew what to do.

"Get off the ground." Lacie found her voice and it reached the comms. "What?" She heard Reed question.

"Get off the ground!" Lacie shouted and Sue perched herself on a crushed car that was in the middle of the road, her tired eyes wandering Lacie's as the Fantastic Five had yet to understand her plan, although followed her instructions.

Lacie knew she couldn't get close enough to Galactus, her trembling foot and weeping stomach made sure of that. If her plan was to work, she would need to cover more than just the area around Galactus, she needed to make sure he was unable to gain footing in any area he stepped.

Frostbite grinded her teeth together and pressed her hands flat against the earth's floor, frost forming underneath her palms and spreading across the city. The ice coated the cement and made it unable to gain a ground on, the frost gently brushing against the sides of buildings.

The ice danced under Galactus' feet, his shoes skidding against the slippery surface and the building he was clinging onto crumbling under his stumbling weight.

Sue gasped as she was able to gain control, Galactus' lack of support enabling her to force his figure closer to the trap.

Lacie forced her hands deeper into the ground, the skin on her hands turning a shade blue and travelling up her arms. The tips of Lacie's hair dyed a pure white, the colour seeping closer to the roots of her hair as the ice consumed her wholly.

As Lacie's attempt to turn the surface into ice, she was also freezing her body from the inside due to the connection. Her eyes glazed over as the tears that fell from them slipped down her neck, leaving a white shade in its trail.

When Lacie threw her head back in pain, a cold fog escaped her mouth. Her body was shutting down on her and she needed to see it out. Lacie had to push through everything, she promised to protect her world and she knew her stubbornness would kill her someday.

Thanks to Lacie's powers allowing Galactus to stumble, Sue pushed his body into the red and white triangle, "Johnny, now!" Reed shouted and Johnny hovered by the lever, eyes closed and turned away from where Lacie sat, knowing that if he looked her way, he would crumble.

When Johnny pulled the lever, Reed leaped off the building and scooped Franklin into his arms as Galactus started to get pulled into the dimension.

Lacie's eyes were fluttering shut, her body wanted to rest, her heart wanted a break. Everything was aching, frozen over and accepting its fate. Was Lacie March about to die? She had no idea. She wasn't sure her body could stay awake long enough to figure that out.

Looking through her hooded eyes, Lacie saw Sue heave Galactus into the hole, his scowling face disappearing from sight. Sue's body was launched back as she witnessed the scene, leaning up on her elbows and out of breath.

Lacie wouldn't know if she looked back at her trembling body, to notice that her hair had changed colour and there wasn't a part of her body that wasn't weeping and frozen over.

With a scream, Lacie retracted her hands from the floor and the ice exploded from its attachment. Small snowflakes followed, it was the first fall of snow that month; it was meant to be beautiful, but Lacie's figure laid shaking on the floor turned it into a horror.

Her head connected with the floor harshly as she turned limp. The blood from her stomach had dried but due to the taste of blood in her mouth, Lacie assumed the worst.

Lacie stared up at the sky and sighed, the snowflakes landed delicately on her skin, the feeling soft against her cheeks that caused a tiny smile to stretch across her lips.

It was ironic, really. Frostbite going out to frost. Lacie would laugh any other day but she was content with basking in her own powers in her last moments, to leave knowing you made others happy and saved their lives was fulfilling.

It wasn't her dream by any stretch. If Lacie had it her way, she would have died old. Retired with a family and living her best life, a beautiful husband by her side that suspiciously looked like a familiar Johnny Storm.

But there's a reason they're called dreams, they lack reality.

And Lacie's reality and inevitably was losing to Galactus.

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authors note!

THIS IS WHY I'M NOT ALLOWED TO WRITE FUCKING FANFICS

3k words later and this happened...

so um... who's ready for johnny's reaction next chap!😁😁😁

i'm sorry