Afterwards ( Oneshot )

He

You forgot how it felt. To feel. To smile. To cry. To shout.

You were left as a shell of your former self after the blip. You tried to forget everything that you lost, because how could you even remember them if they didn't exist anymore?

The streets were calmer, like how you always wished for when you couldn't sleep in the late hours of the night. But you didn't know how eerie and hollow it would feel until you lived it. For five long years.

Your younger brother, b/n(brother's name), did not blip. You were so thankful for that. It didn't change much, as it was always you two. And him. However, it left the two of you alone in this new world to fend for yourself. Without him.

You had lost contact with the rest of the living avengers. You couldn't face them after everything, and they respected that. You got pushed back a year in high school after failing most of your classes. How and why could you even think of school after all the death you were surrounded by. Not after his death.

You picked up a stable job at the office a few blocks down, you were only an assistant, but it provided. Each day was the same, you woke up early and made breakfast for b/n and got ready as he woke up and ate. You hugged him every day before you left for work as he started school later on. Today felt different. You couldn't place why, but something was changing.

Halfway through the day, nothing.

Even when you got home, nothing.

So you brushed it off and started to cook b/n's favourite dinner, spaghetti, and cherry pie. You chuckled when you remembered that he taught b/n well. You continued to cook when you realised you didn't have cherries. Taking off your apron and throwing a sweater on, you shouted: "B/n I'm heading to the store!" You waited for the okay before you headed down the block. You scurried around the store picking up cherries and some snacks you knew b/n loved. Just before you lined up to pay the ground shook and you could hear some explosions from somewhere in New York. But didn't think much of it as some chaotic rebel groups were going around because they were unable to deal with the loss and turned to crime.

As you were heading back to the house you glanced at b/n's window, seeing his game still on but he was nowhere near it. You looked at the front door and it was slightly opened. A sinking feeling appeared in your stomach. You couldn't lose b/n not after you lost everyone and him. You creaked the door open looking around. You saw a small trail of blood going toward the bathroom. You screamed to yourself, how could you leave him by himself after all that has happened. You carefully placed the groceries on the counter, glancing around the corner to the hallway containing your bedrooms and the bathroom. The blood trail got heavier as it inched closer to the bathroom door. Your breathing stopped, you couldn't help but suffocate in anticipation as you closed into the room. When the door slowly opened and b/n exited, you sighed out in relief. You kneeled to face him 'B/n! Are you alright?" You place both hands on his shoulders as he nodded and spoke "Y/n! Y/n! Spiderman knocked on our door and collapsed, so- so I used my super strength to take him to a warm bath! I didn't take his mask off because I didn't want to reveal his super-secret identity!" He beamed and jumped up and down, proud of his accomplishment. You breathed out a laugh, you didn't really believe him as he was just playing the new Spiderman game and couldn't stop talking about it. You knew he won't be there. There would be no chance, but looking around at the blood you asked yourself. Who would it be?

You placed your shaking hand on the handle of the slightly agape door, you swiftly swung it open with one hand curled into a fist in front of you.

Your hands dropped.

You stared at the sleeping boy in the bathtub. The boy turned to you slowly, grabbing his torso in pain. That boy. Was my boy. My Peter.

"Y/n..." he said smiling weakly. You fell to your knees, tears swelling in your eyes. You couldn't believe your eyes, how in the world is he here? You questioned the last few years, were they even real? Were you dreaming?

You snapped out of it when he called your name again "Y/n..", gently reaching out his arm to you. Waving your arm toward b/n, you lazily said "Go get the Med Kit in the kitchen", you shuffled closer to Peter grabbing and squeezing his hand gently. "Peter... You're here." You sniffled, pressing your lips on his palm. He smiled, missing your face and your aura and you. You stood, letting go of Peter's hand to meet with your brother with the Med Kit. Peter felt weird and his stomach twisted when you let go. He wanted to be with you always like he missed so much of your life, despite it being a day for him. You sat next to the bathtub opening the box. He took this moment to finally admire your face and your beauty. That's when he noticed, you looked older, you didn't have that cheery spirit to you anymore. Your bright eyes seemed tired and had deep bags under them. You didn't seem to smile constantly anymore. It was as if you couldn't.

"Five years?..." He mumbled to himself, causing you to jolt up at him thinking he had passed out. You nodded your head and spoke, almost whispering "What happened?". He let you take off his mask, never losing your eyes. The cuts and bruises on his face made your heart ache as if something pierced you straight in your chest. Your hand cupped his head, fitting perfectly against his jawline and cheek. You let your thumb gently rub his soft skin, you missed him so much it was hard to choke back your tears. After a long but comfortable silence, he finally spoke: "Tony he-", you understood immediately and left a gentle kiss on his forehead. You knew it would make him cry if he kept talking. So instead, you talked, about your life. About how b/n has grown so much. About the nice old couple who always checked in on you. Peter couldn't help but lift the corners of his lips, he smiled at you tending to his wounds with content and a glimpse of sadness.

He couldn't bear the fact he had missed so much of your life, but he was happy he finally found his way back to you.