𝕮𝖔𝖇𝖎𝖊 𝕾𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖉𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝕴𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖘

Exiled from Earth | M.H.

[Minor Angst/Fluff]
Inspired by Arch Enemy's 'Exiled from Earth'

You sat on a broken stone, half-buried in the ashen ground, looking out over the desolate landscape. The wind had a bitter edge, whispering reminders of the world that used to be. Beside you, Maria Hill stood, her eyes fixed on the same barren expanse. It had been days since you last saw another human face. It was just the two of you now, exiled on an Earth that was no longer a home but a graveyard, a monument to the mistakes humanity made long ago.

She glanced over, catching you watching her. You'd seen Maria steady under the worst of pressures, but there was something different now. She looked vulnerable in this light, stripped of rank, purpose, and certainty. She was just Maria now. Just another lost soul, her defenses worn down like everything else in this world.

Without a word, she sat down beside you, closer than she would have dared in the days before everything fell apart. Her hand reached out, hesitant at first, but you took it without a second thought. Her grip was firm, steady, and you held on as if she was an anchor in this swirling void. She rubbed her thumb over your knuckles, a small but deliberate gesture. You looked down at your intertwined fingers, two survivors finding solace in each other's warmth.

After a while, you spoke. "Do you think we could've done things differently?"

She sighed, a sound filled with exhaustion and regret. "I used to think so. I used to think there was always a way. But now..." She trailed off, and you understood. Some things were too broken to fix.

You leaned your head against her shoulder, and she didn't pull away. In this desolate place, the small, intimate gestures meant more than ever. You could feel her breathing, the steady rise and fall of her chest grounding you. Slowly, she wrapped an arm around you, pulling you close, her chin resting atop your head. Her presence, her strength, was a balm against the darkness that surrounded you both.

After a long silence, she shifted, turning slightly to face you. Her hand came up, brushing a strand of hair from your face. Her fingers lingered, tracing the line of your cheek with a tenderness that surprised you. You closed your eyes, leaning into her touch. Her thumb grazed your jaw, and you felt her breath against your skin as she moved closer. She stared at you with an intensity that left you breathless, as if she was memorizing every detail of your face, every line, every shadow.

Without words, she tilted her head, her lips a whisper away from yours. You didn't pull back; instead, you closed the distance, your lips meeting in a gentle, lingering kiss. It was soft, almost tentative, a promise of comfort in a world that had forgotten kindness. You felt her hand slide to the back of your neck, her fingers threading through your hair as she deepened the kiss, her mouth moving against yours with a fierce longing that took you by surprise.

When she pulled back, her forehead rested against yours, and you both sat there, breathing each other in. Her fingers traced delicate patterns along your neck, and you shivered, warmth blossoming in your chest despite the cold all around. For once, the emptiness faded, replaced by a quiet, fragile sense of belonging.

"Thank you," you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper. "For staying. For being here."

Maria's expression softened, her eyes filled with a rare vulnerability. "You're the reason I stayed," she replied. "You're the only reason I'm still fighting."

She cupped your face, her thumbs brushing gently across your cheekbones. The intensity in her gaze was undeniable, a quiet vow that spoke louder than words. There was a sense of permanence in the way she touched you, as if she was grounding herself in the knowledge that, despite everything, you were here together.

You rested your head against her shoulder, her heartbeat a steady rhythm beneath your ear. Her arms tightened around you, drawing you close as if to protect you from the world outside. You closed your eyes, letting yourself sink into her warmth, her strength, feeling a sense of safety you hadn't felt in ages.

After a while, Maria's hand moved, her fingers tracing slow, gentle circles along your back. Each touch was a reassurance, a reminder that she was here, that you weren't alone in this barren place. Her hands were calloused, the hands of a soldier, but her touch was infinitely gentle, as if she was afraid of breaking something precious.

When you lifted your head, she was watching you with a tenderness that took your breath away. Her hand moved to your face, her thumb brushing over your lips before she leaned in, capturing your mouth in another soft, lingering kiss. This time, there was no hesitation, no uncertainty. Her lips were warm, her kiss filled with a quiet, aching need. You lost yourself in her touch, the taste of her, the way she cradled your face as if you were something sacred.

As the day faded into twilight, you found yourself lying beside her, her arms wrapped around you, holding you close as the temperature dropped. She pressed a kiss to your temple, her breath warm against your skin. You curled into her, resting your head on her chest, listening to the steady beat of her heart, the rhythm that anchored you in this desolate world.

In the darkness, she took your hand again, her fingers lacing with yours. Her thumb stroked over the back of your hand in a comforting rhythm, a silent promise that she was there, that she wouldn't let go.

"You know," she murmured, her voice soft in the stillness, "I've been alone for so long, I forgot what it felt like to really care about someone. I forgot what it felt like to need someone."

You looked up at her, surprised by the admission. There was a vulnerability in her eyes, a quiet longing that tugged at something deep inside you. You reached up, cupping her face, your thumb brushing over her cheek. "You're not alone anymore," you whispered. "I'm here, Maria. I'm not going anywhere."

She closed her eyes, leaning into your touch, her lips pressing a gentle kiss to your palm. It was a simple gesture, but it held a world of meaning. You felt a warmth spread through your chest, a quiet, steady flame that banished the cold for a moment.

The hours passed in silence, broken only by the soft murmur of your breaths, the gentle brush of her fingers against your skin. As the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon, you felt a sense of peace settle over you, a quiet acceptance of the world as it was. You might be exiled, nomads in a world that no longer welcomed you, but you had each other. In that moment, that was enough.

Maria stirred beside you, her eyes opening to meet yours. She offered you a small, tired smile, her hand reaching up to cup your face once more. Her thumb brushed over your cheek in a familiar, comforting gesture, and you leaned into her touch, closing your eyes.

"Whatever happens," she murmured, her voice a soft promise, "I'll be here. I won't leave you."

You opened your eyes, meeting her gaze with a fierce determination. "Neither will I," you replied. "We're in this together, Maria. Until the end."

She nodded, her eyes softening with a quiet gratitude. And as you lay there, wrapped in each other's arms, you felt a sense of hope blossom within you. It may have been fragile, but it was real—a promise that, no matter what the world threw at you, you'd face it together.

In the silence, she pressed her lips to yours in a gentle, lingering kiss, a silent vow that spoke of love and loyalty, of promises made and kept. And as the world around you continued to crumble, you held onto her, finding solace in her touch, her warmth, her presence.

Together, you faced the dawn, your hearts intertwined, bound by a love that even the end of the world could not break.

<3

A/N: I know... I should stop writing all this depressing stuff and write something fluffy and cute instead! I'll probably do that in the next one. Thanks for reading.