Peter and I walk back into the living room, sitting on the couch with Ned and MJ. They look at me in concern, but refrain from questioning me. I know I have to tell them what's going on, even though I don't want them to worry.
"Sorry about that," I say uneasily.
"Don't make me punch you for apologizing for a stupid reason," MJ teases.
I smile, but it fades when I remember what I have to say. "There's something I need to tell both of you."
"You can tell us anything," Ned says, and I take a deep breath.
"I haven't used my powers since..." I look at Peter, and he squeezes my hand reassuringly. "Since my dad died."
Ned and MJ look at me sadly, but remain silent. I gulp, keeping eye contact with them even though I want to look away.
"The only thing that prevented the serum from killing me like Hydra intended it to was using the powers it gave me."
"So, if you don't use your powers..." MJ trails off.
"I'll die."
"Can you not use them?" Ned asks.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?" MJ raises her voice.
"I haven't tried."
"Why?" asks Ned.
"Because she blames their deaths on herself and thinks she deserves to die," MJ answers for me.
"I don't want to die," I say, my voice uneven.
"But you think you deserve to," says MJ.
My eyes burn as I stare at her. I never wanted anyone to know why I haven't used my powers. I never wanted Peter to know.
"Is that true?" he asks.
I look at him, my eyes brimming with tears. My silence is answer enough. He releases a shaky breath and closes his eyes, head tilted downwards.
"I'm sorry," I say.
He looks back up at me, holding my face between his hands. "None of this is your fault."
A tear rolls down my face, and I press my forehead to his. I take a deep breath before I look at everyone.
"We should build a fort," I say.
"That sounds so fun!" Ned says.
"That sounds so lame," MJ says, before smiling. "Let's do it."
We all jump up and run around the house, grabbing blankets and pillows and pulling chairs into the living room. MJ and Peter stretch the sheets on the top of the chairs, using clips to secure them, and Ned and I cover the floor with blankets and pillows. When we're done, the fort takes up the whole living room.
Ned gets his new Lego set for him and Peter, MJ gets books for her and me, Peter gets snacks, and I fill up four water bottles. We have just finished watching The Hunger Games when the pizza arrives. May joins us in our fort, and we eat the pizza on the living room floor.
When May finishes eating, she tells us goodnight and goes back to her room. Catching Fire plays in the background while MJ and I read, and Peter and Ned build their Lego set together. Ned falls asleep when Mockingjay Part 1 ends, and MJ falls asleep when Mockingjay Part 2 ends.
Peter and I are the only ones left awake, so we cuddle in the corner of the fort. He is humming "The Hanging Tree" from the movie and slowly rubbing circles on my back.
YOU ARE READING
Undefeated
Fanfiction"I just want everything to go back to the way it was before." "We'll never be those kids again." Five years after half of all life was erased by Thanos, Gracee Stark makes a mysterious reappearance. She joins the remaining Avengers as they go back i...
