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Once the smoke cleared Starling saw her.
She saw her.
No... she was choked.
Her heart dropped and her wings flared slightly. She was standing in front of a friend, a companion, an enemy, a person on the other side, a murderer. In front of her was the villian Nixie, but also her roommate, Scarlet. The same person. She had been living with a villain, a killer.
The person in front of her grabbed their mask and returned it to their face. Scarlet ran at her, broken trident in hand. Starling was shocked, not in a good headspace for fighting. She was easily pinned to the wall. Face close to her attacker, hot breath tickled her face. Her heart was racing and she couldn't focus.
“You know.. It's such a shame it had to end like this. I did have fun with you, wouldn't you believe?” Scarlet- no, Nixie put more pressure on Starling's throat, making it hard to breathe. A cold smile crept across Nixie's face. “Any last words, Feathers?” She drew blood with the broken trident making Starling snap out of her daze.
“S-Scarlet?” Starling choked out. Nixie faltered, loosening her hold. “How… how do you recognize me?” Starling took a shaky breath and raised her hand towards their face. This is stupid, WILLOW, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Her senses screamed at her. She took off her mask and turned off her voice changer. Nixie stepped back, shock on her face.
“Willow…?” Her voice was soft. Willow nodded slowly and opened her mouth. “Why are you doing this Scarlet? Why must you do this, why must you be her? Why cause harm? Stop this… please.” Willow’s voice broke.
“I can't… this world, it's- it's unfair” Scarlet started. “Can't you see? They hate mutants like us. My own parents hated me. They despised me because I'm a mutant. They were hateful, violent, and unloving. Do you know what that does to a child?” Scarlet's voice faltered. “It changes them, and not for the better. My parents hated mutants, and yet they had one. People hate mutants, so they fight, and get violent, and oppress them, while the government does nothing for the mutants. That's why the government and heros need to be fought with. That's why I fight and kill, just like I needed to do with my parents, to protect mutants and to get rid of the scum that abuses them. That’s why I can't stop.” Scarlet looked up at Willow as Willow drew in a breath.
“You know what it's like Willow. You know the hate you receive. You know the only reason you can’t get better jobs or do better in this world is because you're different. But we can change that.” There were tears in Scarlet's eyes, and to Willow; Scarlet seemed… different. “You can join me. We can put an end to these companies. We can rid of people who suppress others because of their looks. We can fix the world together.”
Willow stepped back. “Through hate and blood? That's how you want to fix this? That's wrong. Do you really think that will work?” Willow's voice was strong, but you could hear the hurt she tried to hide. “That's not how the world works. You can't just fix it with violence!”
Scarlet moved slightly, her hair messy, with blood caked on her arm. She looked like a wild animal, a result from the fight. “I'm not going to help you Scarlet. Ever” Willow snapped, voice firm.
Scarlet stood taller and took a deep breath, tears still running down her cheeks. “Fine,” She said suddenly, pain in her voice. “I see how it is. That's fine, I don't need you anyway.” With that, she took one step back and stepped off the roof.