One Day at a Time-Avengers/Spider-Man

Chapter 10-Unless I die

Peter woke up and explained like he did before. Only this time he didn't share everything about the most recent day. Instead he lied and explained that they were able to stop the explosion, but not find a solution to ending the time loops.

"So we go and shut down the core and we need to get Hank and Hope Pym to find a way to end the loop?" Steve concluded and Peter shook his head.

"No, we figured out that this is our last chance, the day won't reset this time unless I die and even then it's a slim chance." Tony tensed at Peter's words.

"Well, we're going to succeed, because I am not letting you die again, especially if it's not certain that you'll wake up again," Tony reassured and Peter was so happy to have him there. Clint standing in the room was welcomed as well. He wanted to get out of bed and hug them both, but he couldn't, not without telling them why he reset the last day. Plans were made and Peter went with the Avengers this time. He hoped that he would be able to protect them and that everyone would be saved.

The facility was flooded with more opponents and the Avengers as a group weren't exactly subtle. The fight started immediately and Peter suddenly realized that this is why it took the Avengers so long to shut down the core, this is why Tony and Clint died. In the midst of the battle Peter was beginning to realize that he should have learned exactly what happened to Tony and Clint because now he was just paranoid about losing them, just like Vision predicted. Still, things were going well. An hour in, everyone was still alive, but that's when it happened, Peter heard Clint wince and he got distracted. His spidey sense tried to warn him but it was too late. Peter saw the energy weapons blast heading straight for him, but then he was surrounded by red magic and he was moved out of the way. Wanda saved him. The moment of thankfulness only lasted for a second though, because that's when he heard Wanda's scream. Peter watched, almost in slow motion as Wanda was hit and collapsed to the ground. Peter webbed up the guy who did it, but when he looked back at Wanda he saw the pained look on Clint's face.

"Clint, how's Wanda?" Steve asked, his back was to her. He didn't see Vision rushing over and lifting Wanda into his arms. Steve wasn't seeing Vision cry for the first time. Clint shook his head.

"She's gone," his voice was so empty and Peter couldn't believe it. She died because of him. Peter flashed back to the last timeline, Wanda encouraged him, she believed in him, she was one of his best friends and he let her down. He let her die. If he had just took the solution like everyone wanted she would be alright.

"Kid!" Tony shouted, blasted an enemy who was aiming for Peter. "Stay focused, I know it's hard, but you have to." Tony flew by Peter and he hated that he felt a little happy that his mentor was alive. Peter ran over to Vision and Wanda, Vision was frozen and he needed to either get up and fight or leave with Wanda. Peter couldn't let him die too.

"I didn't understand her grief at first, but now I do." Vision was mumbling to himself. "Love persevering." Peter didn't really understand what Vision was talking to but he convinced Vision to take Wanda's body back to the tower. It killed Peter to say it, he couldn't believe that he failed. But it didn't change the fact that he did. Wanda was dead.

The fight continued and they finally made it through and were faced with the unstable core. Tony shut it down with no complications and Peter smiled a little. They'd made it, almost all of them had. Everyone relaxed, and then took a moment to feel the loss of Wanda. Peter's chest ached. Wanda supported his choice to reset the day and it cost her everything. Danger. Peter's senses went off and he spun around instantly dodging a bullet, but that's when he realized his mistake. Peter looked over his shoulder in utter disbelief. He dodged the bullet, but Natasha had no warning. She didn't yell or scream, she only had time to turn when she heard the shot and then she only fell. Clint and Steve called him name, Tony pushed past them, picked her up and flew off to the tower. Peter just stayed there, kneeling on the floor, staring at the pool of blood that was left behind. If only he hadn't moved. Two deaths. Two people he cared about. Gone, again. The hulk killed the guy who hurt Nat, but still Peter didn't flinch. Finally once Steve had calmed down hulk, he turned to Peter. Clint was long gone, running back to the tower to find out what happened to his best friend. Steve walked towards Peter slowly, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"It's not your fault." Peter looked at Steve, he wanted to believe what he was being told, but he couldn't.

"I moved."

"It was instinct, you didn't mean for this to happen."

"I lied," Peter admitted. "We found a solution in the last timeline, but Clint and Tony died. I wanted to save them. Wanda told me to save them and now she's gone and Nat-"

"Don't assume, she could be fine Peter." Steve looked down at the floor and then back at Peter. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"I thought it would distract everyone, Vision said it would. I thought I could keep everyone safe. I thought-" Peter's voice broke as tears fell. "I thought everyone would live." Steve nodded and helped Peter to his feet. They then left the building and went to the Avengers Tower.

Once there they learnt the news that shattered Peter. Natasha didn't make it. She died before Tony even reached the tower. Everyone tried to tell him that it wasn't his fault and Peter was thankful that Steve didn't reveal his lie. Still, Peter felt empty. It was because of him that Wanda was gone and even more so that Nat was. He couldn't shake the sick feeling in his stomach.

"Do we know how to reach her sister?" Steve finally broke the silence.

"I don't know. I think we were the only family she really had." Clint hung his head. He was staring out the window at the setting sun.

"Peter, do you kno-"

"She didn't tell me, Mr Stark," Peter responded, but he wasn't really there. He was trapped in his own head, replaying the fight, replaying Wanda's words from the past timeline, examining his choices. "It should have been me."

"No, Nat wouldn't have wanted that. She cared about you Peter," Bruce tried to comfort the youngest hero, but Peter couldn't handle the forgiveness. He didn't want to be forgiven, not when he truly was the reason for their deaths.

"I want to be alone," Peter felt the words leave his lips, but he wasn't completely sure why he said them.

"Okay kid, just don't beat yourself up." Tony hugged Peter, but Peter just nodded a response and kept walking. 

*Potenially triggering scene up ahead... recap of contents will be at the top of the next chapter. Skip to chapter 11 to continue if you're uncomfortable.*

He wasn't even sure where he was going, only that his body was taking him somewhere. Then Peter saw it and he realized what he was going to do. One last gamble. One insanely stupid idea. There was a chance to reset the day, only it couldn't happen on it's own. Peter paced back and forth in front of the chemical cabinet. He felt crazy. Him waking up again wasn't a sure thing. He could legitimately die, he could actually end up killing himself. Even if Peter woke up again, the Avengers of this timeline would never know. How would that affect them? Peter was silently crying now. He had a responsibility to try, or that's what he was telling himself. He had to try and save them. Tony would try, right? Peter thought. Unsure what to do. Then Peter turned and opened the cabinet. He took out a lethal chemical and found a notepad. Then he wrote down all he needed to say,

I have to try and save them, I can't go on knowing I didn't try. Plus I have a feeling I'll wake up again and this time no one will die. No Avengers or civilians. I will save everyone, you just have to trust that I've gone on and saved all of you. I'm sorry.

-Peter Parker

Then Peter took a few shaky breaths and drank from the bottle. Everything went black and Peter felt cold for a moment. In that moment Peter wondered if he'd made the wrong choice, if he'd really ended his life. If this might be the end. He hoped any moment he'd hear the heart monitor. Please, he thought, just one more chance.