LoveBite [2]

81

"Try again."

Tony, Bruce, and Vision worked tirelessly in the lab all night without a blink of shut eye. No one came to calm them, no one wanted to try, now is not the time for a quick rest because they can mosey around the compound all day, waiting for their next instruction, they're next mission. This is their mission. Their families life is at stake, it's time to work.

They're not the only ones pushing their limit, though. F.R.I.D.A.Y. has been awake and working too. Combining all of their brains together to work for this should not prove to be as hard as one would think, but it's taken two weeks. It's taken Satine to be on the brink of death before they finally figured it out.

"Transmission completed." F.R.I.D.A.Y informs, leaving them all sitting impatiently, staring at the holographic screen in front of them.

"Is it good?" Bruce nods quickly. "Did we do it?"

"F.R.I.D.A.Y?!" Tony shouts in wait, scaring Bruce and Vision.

"It was a success." She confirms and their stomachs sink. "Congratulations. You saved her."

Bruce looks at Tony as he stumbles back and Vision quickly pulls up a chair for him to fall into. Breathing heavily, hand to his forehead, Tony itches the top of his head, holding back the tears that already fill his eyes.

"We need to get that to Satine." He demands. "Somebody get Pietro."

~

Ten years ago, at that destination spot in Hawaii, Satine and Peter sit calmly in the small pool. Her chin lays on her crossed arms that she has perched on the glass wall overlooking the ocean view, all the while Peter simply stares at her. Though he can't see her face, he doesn't need to, to know that she is happy where she is.

"How did I get so lucky?" He shakes his head and she raises a brow before turning to him. "How did I get someone so beautiful?" His eyes squint and she slowly smiles.

"Because you're beautiful." She adjusts her body to face him.

"No." He softly shakes his head while leaning forward. "No, that isn't it."

"Why not?"

"You didn't marry me, because you think I'm pretty." He shrugs doubtedly.

"You're right." She tilts her head. "Малыш, I married you because you are beautiful." She nods surely. "You are a beautiful, kind, loving, and genuine person, Peter. You're a hero. You're my hero." She shrugs as he pulls her hand to his lips. "I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you...the rest of our long lives."

~

She couldn't imagine not seeing her little girl one last time before she was gone. That baby that she saved has no idea now, but she saved her too. Satine has everyone around her to thank for saving her life, but if it weren't for Peter and Anastasia, none of the life that she speaks so fondly about would have happened. So she needed to be with them again. At least one more time.

Acceptance leads to a peaceful passing. That's all she wants.

Wanda drags Anya into the room, bringing a small trail of heroes behind her. Natasha, Steve, and Clint step in as well, not bothering to greet the couple, as they know their attention is not on them.

Peter lifts Anya onto the bed, sitting her at the end. She stares at Satine's sunken eyes and deep cheeks, the dark circles under her eyes, and the pale skin. And, she doesn't like it. She reaches back for Peter with tears in her eyes and a trembling chin of terror and he takes her hand.

"Hey, no, Anya, it's okay." He shakes his head, speaking kindly, and Satine turns her head, just barely.

"I don't wanna be here." She whimpers fearfully as a tear slips down her cheek and he tilts his head.

"An --"

"Peter." Satine calls as Wanda hurries back to Anya and pulls her down, to let her cling to her side.

He pauses as his jaw tightens and she taps the bed with her finger, causing him to turn his head to her with tears in his eyes.

"Let her be." She breathes through her dazed feeling. "She doesn't know what to do."

"I don't know what to do." He whispers with widened eyes.

"Give me your hand." She blinks, one eye at a time, and he very slowly, hesitant to listen, takes her soft and cold fingers in his hold. "I need you to calm down." She nods and he closes his eyes. "It'll be okay." She states as her heart rate increases on the monitor and his eyes flicker over, put off by every change in her. "When I leave --"

"What?" His brows furrow and she takes a deep breath, cut off by a jolt in her chest.

"I love you so much." She smiles and he loves back at the monitor, just as the rest of them. "Anya, I love you, Baby."

The screaming beeps of the monitor aren't heard for a moment. They aren't even the first thought as her eyes roll back into their lids and her chest jumps, arms and legs next. It's then that they realize it's happening again. Too soon, she's fading again.

Fading as the doctors and nurses rush into the room. Fading as they push Peter out of the way. Fading as his legs paralyze beneath him. Fading as he stands there, unable to help, and unknowing of where to even start.

Bile fills the back of his throat as he watches Satine, his first girlfriend, his fianceè, his wife, the love of his life jerk and convulse in the same bed she had rotted away in for two weeks and the saliva foam at her mouth, causing her to choke. He puts his wrist to his mouth as an unintentional gag itches at his throat. That sound. That awful sound. And, he can't look away. He can't even plug his ears, he can't move.

And he can't deny it any longer as the doctors jump their palms against her chest and inject her to try to stop the seizures. Her head drops. Her eyes close. And when the deafening tone of the flatlining bell finally rings, they know this to be true: all time runs out...and hers was limited.