Alone

58: Putting Fear Aside

A week before Infinity War - About Two Years after Homecoming

Friday Afternoon - Junior Year

Elizabeth POV:

The sound of the bell rang loudly, releasing us for the weekend. I walked to my locker and grabbed all my books. 

"Did you read the school newspaper?"

I turned quickly, startled by the voice behind me, to see Peter with an amused grin on his face, now leaning on the locker next to me. I shook my head turning back to my locker.

"No, I didn't," 

"They wrote an article about Spiderman and Dark Aura and guess what they said," Peter said within a shocked tone, I shut my locker and leaned against it with a grin.

"Uh oh, what did they say?" 

"They said that Dark Aura could beat Spiderman in a fight." He said in a mock-serious tone. 

"You sound surprised," I said with a laugh, Peter opened his mouth in shock.

"She could not beat Spiderman,"

"I think you forgot she already beat him in a fight, remember Germany?" I said with a smirk. 

"That does not count, that was so long ago, plus Spiderman has gotten so much stronger since then," he said with a smug voice. 

I leaned in, tippy-toeing to reach his face, but before we kissed I stopped with a smirk, "So has she." I patted his chest and turned now walking down the hallway, he jogged to walk with me, grabbing my hand.

"Let's settle this then, we can find a rooftop and see who would beat who." 

I laughed, "Okay, just don't be surprised when I win." 

When we were finally outside the school, we ran quickly still holding hands, weaving through the crowd of students. Soon we reached an empty alley behind a restaurant, I gathered the darkness shielding it around, quickly changing into my suit. I let the darkness disperse to see Peter sliding on his mask, I put my hood up and he nodded before shooting a web. I gathered the darkness once again, lifting myself in the air, quickly reaching the rooftop of the building. 

"This will work," Peter said still standing on the ledge. 

The rooftop was empty and more hidden from the view of the streets below, I nodded and he walked over to the far end of the building.

"You're going to lose," he said, getting in his battle position. 

I smiled under my mask, the darkness now rushed around from all corners to form around my fingers. We stood for a moment, each waiting for the other to make the first move until finally, Peter shot a web towards me, I moved quickly to the side before moving a blast of darkness to Peter who flipped back, barely dodging it. He shot another web, I made no effort to move as it attached to my arm, Peter stopped.

"You're holding back," 

"I just don't want to hurt you," 

"You won't, don't worry." 

"Alright, I won't hold back,"  I grabbed the web attached to my arm and pulled it using the darkness to send Peter flying towards me. Now he stood right in front of me, he attempted to grab me but I quickly stepped on his knee using it to get my legs around his neck bringing him to the ground. He shot a web moving him away from me quickly but in a matter of seconds the dark mist was wrapped around him stopping him midair. He sighed, attempting to move but failing, I stood up now, keeping him in the air. "You told me not to hold back," 

"You haven't won yet," 

Just then he shot a web behind me, I turned quickly to see a large metal bin flying towards me, I let go of him and used the darkness to catch the bin before it could hit me, I set it down and turned just in time to see Peter flying towards me, his feet made contact with my chest and sent me flying back, I used the darkness to break my fall and then moved it to grab ahold of him again, I stood up still manipulating the darkness to form around him, making it so he could not shoot anymore webs, I walked towards him, removing my hood and mask to reveal my smug smile, now standing directly in front of him. 

"I win," I said letting the darkness disperse, setting him free. 

He removed his mask, "Ugh, I guess the school newspaper was right," he said, his a smile forming on his face, "Ill beat you one day," he leaned in and kissed me. 

When we parted we put our masks back on, he grabbed my hand and we walked to the edge of the building, sitting down letting our feet hang off the edge. 

"You were still holding back," he said, I turned raising my eyebrow in confusion, "You didn't use any mental manipulation on me, why?"

"It's just a rule of mine to not read the minds of people I know, its unfair, and invasion of privacy," Peter nodded, "plus I think I would traumatize you if I used my mental manipulation on you." 

"What happens when you manipulate someones mind?" 

"Mostly they hallucinate, they see a nightmare or a painful memory," I paused, "Back when we worked with Ultron, Wanda and I manipulated the Avengers to see what they feared most, to tear them apart, were actually the reason Ultron was created," I said staring down, "We showed Tony something that we knew would control him, and because of what we showed him he created Ultron." 

Peter had taken off his glove and held my hand, rubbing his thumb gently on my skin, something he did often to comfort me when he had no idea what to say, and it always did comfort me, it was a small gesture that showed that he cared about me and that he was there for me.

 I leaned my head on his shoulder, staring at the orange horizon. I thought of the past two years, and realized that for once in my life I hadn't lost those I loved, Tony, Happy, Peter, they were still in my life, even Wanda, who, though I could not see, I still received letters from frequently. A warm feeling washed over me at this realization.

Peter hummed softly as he stared at the setting sun, I thought of our relationship and how much he has helped me heal. I looked up at him, pushing aside any fear I felt before.

"I love you." 

It had taken me so long to utter the words for fear that admitting it would mean I'd lose him. He had confessed his love for me a few months prior but I had been too afraid to say it back. 

I love you, Lizzy. You don't have to say it back but I just needed you to know. He had said one evening after as we sat on the rooftop of his apartment building. I had wanted to say it in that moment but I was unable to let the words fall from my mouth, instead I pulled him close to me and kissed him, hoping the gesture would convey my feelings for him.

Peter turned to me now, slipping off his mask to reveal the soft smile on his face, he moved his ungloved hand to take off my mask setting it down beside me. He placed his hand on the side of my face, his thumb tracing the faint scar on my cheek softly before leaning in, his lips enclosed on mine; soft yet immersive, gentle yet powerful all the same. When we parted he made no effort to remove his hand from my face and he stared intently into my eyes.

I studied his face, seeing the soft pink undertones as he looked at me with a childlike smile. 

"Finally!" he said jokingly as his hand dropped from my face, I shook my head as I laughed, leaning on his shoulder again. "So, since this love we have is official, do you want to sit next to me on the bus next week for our field trip?" he asked. 

I laughed, "I guess I have to now,"

He then wrapped his arms around me, resting his head on mine, "I love you too, Lizzy."