#troublemcker

That speck of red hair was unmistakable in the dim lights of the bustling bar. Kaylee could hear Sophie’s laugh from the doorway and the sound was like music to her ears. Sophie had that kind of spirit. The kind that could just own any room she walked in. And her laugh was so infectious, no one could be around her without smiling too.

There was no one that brought Kaylee to tears laughing the way her best friend did. And boy, did the Stark heiress need a laugh tonight. So much of her day was spent in a board room filled with mostly men who looked at Kaylee as someone they could ignore. She was “just the boss’ daughter.” 

And as supportive as Ray was, Kaylee didn’t want someone to talk about the frustration with. She wanted to kick back and let loose. No one was more qualified to make that happen than Sophie.

`Kaylee didn’t know how many hours she had been on her feet. The last few weeks have been a blur of a hellish nightmare. World wide bombers were going into cities, their bodies glowing a white hot light she’d only seen as Stark tech, murdering thousands of innocent people. There was no proof Stark tech was the culprit, but the way her father left the office in her hands told Kaylee she wasn’t the only one who recognized the technology. And if she recognized it, who knew who else did?

If that weren’t terrifying enough, the attacks made their way on the home front. People, every day people, walking into Stark Industry buildings and finding the weakest points in all of them that would send the entire structure to the ground before detonating, killing hundreds more. The news was starting to point fingers, and it was never good who they pointed the fingers at.

Weeks of this chaos, weeks of Kaylee coming home, biting back sobs until she wrapped her arms around Zeke and it came out in a flood. She’d sit on the couch, curled up in the crook of his arm as the carnage filled their TV screen. A mere twenty-four hours ago when she saw him looking down at her, it never occurred to the heiress that the look in his eye was glee not concern.

Kaylee pressed her back to the door as it closed behind her. The big spacious living room, clean white furniture, a wall made of glass as it looked out of the city. Less than a day ago this was her home, now it was a mausoleum of memories. Of what that son of a bitch did to her family. Of what he did to the world! Her breath caught in her chest and for the first time since this ordeal began numbness was washed away by unbridled anger. Kaylee flew to the couch, picking it up easily in her hands and ripping it in half with a scream of fury. She chunked one half at the wall the television clung to sending shards of glass flying through the air. Each moment her fists made contact with walls, the events flashed in her mind. 

The underground lab that only the highest level Stark employees had access. The text message from her dad asking her to meet him there. The broken equipment that sparked with electricity when she found. The way her father’s voice screamed at her to leave before a blast like she’d never seen hit him square in the chest, sending him across the room. In a flash, Kaylee’s outfit turned from her business suit into the black and red one of Warbird.

The way her heart sunk in her chest when she saw it was none other than Zeke who had attacked her dad was a feeling Kaylee had never experienced before. The confusion that took her over. The way her dad tried to pull her out of her stunned state. But most of all, what stuck in her mind, was the way he cackled at her. The man she’d given her heart, body, and soul over to for the last two years, and it was all a game. A twisted plot for him to paint the world crimson, using her hands as brushes. 

Kaylee, he’s got more of those weapons. I can shut them down but I don’t know what will happen to me in the meantime.

Tony’s voice spoke out to her. Kaylee wasn’t as skilled an engineer as him, or her brother, but she was still above average, and she knew exactly what he was planning. “DAD NO!” she cried out to him but it was too late. There was no changing Tony Stark’s mind once it was set to something.

Darling, this isn’t your fault. It’s mine. It’s my price to pay. I know you’ll stop him. I know you’ll take care of your brother and your sister. You kids are the best thing I’ve ever done with my life. Stay sweet, my little heiress.

And with that, the spark of Stark technology came apart at the seams. Tony’s ability to nullify Stark tech via extremis was a dangerous one. Not just for those who used it, but is very own mind.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” she shouted watching as his body went down. Zeke’s laughter was cut short by his own gauntlets crackling as they puttered to a stop. Kaylee sky rocketed, slamming into him, his cheek caving against her fist as she pounded into him relentlessly.

Do it. Fucking kill me, just like your dad killed mine he sputtered, coughing up blood and teeth.

Kaylee stood up, feeling the rage burn through her. “You aren’t worth the brain space, you useless fucking worm.” she spat venom at him. There were other things to take care of. Mainly getting her dad to Dr. Foster, and Reed Richards. If anyone could save him, it would be them.

You stupid fucking bitch! he yelled after her.

Quick as lightning, Kaylee spun on her heel, her hand grabbing his thigh and tearing it away from his body. She put her hand over the open wound, letting the heat that radiated off of her cauterize the wound as steely blue eyes stared down his. “There are worse things than death Stane.” she growled, gripping his hair in her fist and slamming his head against the wall forcing him to black out.

Sudden loud knocks brought Kaylee out of her flashback and she shook her head slightly confused. She didn’t even remember moving on from the living into her bedroom, but the chaos was just as fearsome. Shattered windows, broken dressers. One of Zeke’s shirts was flapping in the wind, hung up on a broken piece of the window.

Kaylee wasn’t in the mood for company. After the battle, she flew her father to the hospital and waited on her family until her mother finally convinced her to come home. It was a hard decision, but selfishly, Kaylee couldn’t see the look on her face any longer.

Not much happened in this universe with Jean’s knowledge. She long ago had made peace with the burning flame that resided in her soul. That beautifully elegant phoenix that could destroy entire solar systems with the flick of a brow and bring it all back with the snap of her finger. 

This universe was different than the others that paralleled it. This was her domain, this was her creation, and Jean decided after the death of one Scott Summers, that she would stay on this plane of existence, to continue to grow her own soul by staying connected to the very creatures that showed her what love was.

So when Quentin Beck arrived, Jean took notice. He wasn’t a piece of her like the rest of those who existed here, and his children were somehow connected and yet not due to this fact. Their magic was foreign and unique. Perhaps it was time for the goddess to make sure their powers weren’t a threat, starting with the young redhead.

Adult Kay looking at Adult Ray: