Age of Glory | Pietro Maximoff

Chapter Thirty-Eight: And We Will Be The Stars We Were Always Meant To Be

Picture is unknown.

Music is "Overture" by Black Veil Brides.

All rights go to their rightful owners.

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"And when a soul is born with that kind of purpose, it'll damn sure find a way. We're gonna get where we're going, you and me. Death and indignity be damned... we'll get there, and we will be the stars we were always meant to be." ~Helen Cobb's letter to Carol Danvers

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CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Have you ever felt a rush of anger? Not I-stubbed-my-toe anger, but pure, white-hot rage? It burns through your head, down to your toes. You feel it everywhere but one distinct place: your heart. Rage makes you act without your heart.

I drop from the sky to rush to my best friend's side. Her broken, bloody body is laying on the grass below. She's barely breathing, gashes on her stomach and legs making her bleed out.

Everything seems to go in slow motion as I take her face in my hands, tears cascading down my cheeks. I can focus on nothing else but her. "No, no! Aspen, stay with me! Don't you dare die on me!" I place my hand gently on her stomach, looking at the damage. The cuts are way too deep, and there's blood everywhere. I don't think anyone can help her now.

She coughs, trying to speak. Her eyes are terrified, wide, and teary. Her body shakes, and we both know it's soon the end. There's nothing I can do, and I know that, but that won't stop me from blaming myself for the rest of my life.

"Somebody, help! Avenger down!"

"D-Don't blame yourself, Glory," she rasps out, pulling a Wanda and reading me.

I run my fingers through her brown hair. "God, please don't leave me. Please don't leave us."

"Tell Vlad I l-love him. Tell him I-I am sorry."

I nod, my lip quivering. "I will. Don't worry, he'll be here soon. I promise."

She smiles a little up at me. "Don't b-blame him, Glory. He's not worth it."

"You are so brave and strong, Penzie." I smile at her and kiss her forehead. "I am so proud of you."

"I-I'm going to die, aren't I?" she asks.

How the hell do you answer that?

"I have a secret to tell you," I say, trying to not start bawling. "I'm pregnant. With twins."

Aspen smiles with the biggest pride I've ever seen from her. "You will b-be an amazing mother. I'm sorry I-I won't be there." She gasps, cries out, and clutches her stomach.

"Help!" I shout. "Vlad! Pietro! Anyone! Dammit!"

"It's okay," she says. "There's nothing you can do."

"No," I say. "You're going to be an aunt. A wonderful aunt. And I'm going to let you babysit, and I'm going to take you with me when I have them, and they're going to think of you as their second mother. You're going to spoil them, read them Tolkien, teach them how to be the damned best person just like you, and probably give them way too many sweets. Okay?"

She chuckles a little, and I can see the life slipping away from her. "Okay." She breathes deep, trying to retain composer through her pain and fear. "Tell the little ones their Aunt Aspen loves them, okay?"

I hold her hand, comforting her in any way I can. "I will."

Shock. Anger. Pain.

White-hot.