Walking in the Wind // Avengers

Uncle Ben

•••

It was in the early hours of morning when Lexie was woken up by her phone ringing. It was still dark out, and most of the city was still sleeping, apart from the stray college student on their way back from a party. 

She saw who was calling.

Erin.

The first through that entered her mind was that she'd found out about Peter and the powers he'd had for about a month now. The boy was ecstatic about them and loved playing around while everyone was sleeping.

Lexie rubbed her tired eyes and answered her phone. "Erin?"

The young woman was crying on the other end of the phone. "L-Lexie," she hiccuped. "It- It's uncle Ben," her voice cracked as she started sobbing. "Can you meet us at the hospital? We're already here, but I need you."

"O-Of course, honey," she tried to say in a soothing voice as she pulled on some pants and a hoodie, dread filled her entire body. "I'm on my way. Do you want me to stay on the line with you?"

"No, it's okay, the doctor will be out in a sec to tell us how he's doing, but it's really bad. I just need you to get here please," she said in a voice that sent shivers down Lexies spine. She'd never heard Erin sound so broken before, and when Erin was in pain, it hurt Lexie as well.

"I'll be there as soon as I can, I promise," Lexie reassured as she got into the car. "I love you."

"I love you too," she whispered before hanging up.

•••

Lexie had gotten to the hospital as soon as she could, and walked in. She asked the nurse at the front desk for directions, and soon found the Parkers. She froze in her steps before she could get to them though.

May was sat in a chair, face in her hands, sobbing, barely able to breathe as a doctor was walking away, his shoulders sagged and head hung low.

Peter was sitting next to her, a hand on his aunts shoulder, with a far-away look in his eyes, just staring into the air in front of him, unmoving and not crying, still processing what had happened that night.

Erin was sitting on the floor, her knees pulled to her chest and face buried against them. Lexie couldn't see her face, but could tell she was crying from her shoulders shaking. 

When she slowly approached, feeling heavier than ever, Erin finally looked up. When she saw her girlfriend, she let out a broken noise, before standing up and stumbling towards her. Lexie opened her arms as her heartbroken girlfriend pretty much collapsed against her body, her entire body shaking. 

Lexie just wrapped her arms around her, holding her as close as humanly possible, and letting a few of her own tears silently fall down her cheeks. She didn't shush Erin, she didn't say anything, she knew it would make no difference, and just held her for an unknown amount of time. When Erins breathing got a bit more even, the shorter girl finally muttered a broken: "He's gone."