The Weight Of Returning

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Light

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Light.
Too bright. Too white.
It burned behind my eyelids before my brain could catch up.

I groaned softly, forcing my eyes open. The room came into focus- sterile walls, humming machines, and that faint antiseptic smell id never missed. It looked like the compounds med bay.

I sat up too fast, dizziness washing over me. My legs hit the floor before I could think- and immediately gave out.

"Woah, woah, woah" a familiar voice said, catching me by the arms.

I blinked at him, eyes wide.
"Steve?" I said

He smiled softly.
"Hey, Elizabeth. Long time no see" he said

I didn't even hesitate- I wrapped my arms around him, clutching him tight.
"Steve, it's been so long" I said

"Too long" he said, helping ease me back into the bed.

Then it hit me.
The dust, screaming, loss.

"Steve. Thanos- he- Peter and everyone else- they turn to dust and I couldn't- I couldn't save them" my voice broke, panic clawing its way back to the surface.

"I know." He said gently.
"We fought him too. We lost" he said

The words shattered something in me over again. Tears blurred my vision as I shook my head.

"How are you alive?" He asked after a moment.

"What? What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

"Tony said you turned to dust as well" he said

"What? No- no, that's- It's a long story" I sighed, brushing a hand over my face. Before I could continue, the door opened.

"Nat?" I breathed out.

"Hey" she said with that small smile I'd missed, pulling me into a hug.








After they brought me food, Steve leaned forward, elbows on his knees.
"Start from the beginning" he said

I nodded, taking a breath.
"Okay. Um... the ship showed up while Peter and I were heading for a field trip. We got out and went to help Tony fight. We ended up getting beamed up. I found out I'm not actually from this world- the one I'm from is destroyed. My last names Pandora. It means 'all gifted' or something" I said, waving a hand.

"Anyway. The ship took us to a planet called Titan. We met some of the Guardians there. We had a plan to fight Thanos. It almost worked. I fought him - but he threw me aside and stabbed Tony. Because of that, strange gave him the time stone to save him"

I exhaled shakily.
"After Thanos left, people started turning to dust. I felt it- something inside me tugging, breaking. Wanda went first. Then Peter. And before I could even move, thanos came back and grabbed me and took me through a portal. I tried to yell for Tony, but it was too late. He brought me to this...garden. Told me to destroy the stones. I refused" I said

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