Postbellum

Four

Once again, Peter saw Scarlett standing out on the edge of the pier. This time she stood in jean shorts and a bikini top while leaned against the railing so Peter could see her profile.

Nervously, he twirled the belt in his hand before heading outside. She didn't look at him when he opened the door, which he was thankful for. Instead she continued to look out at the water to wait for him to get closer to her.

"Hey," Peter said to make her look over at him. He had his hands behind his back as he softly smiled at her.

"Hey, Peter," she smiled back.

"I wanted to give you something," he started off to make her eyebrows furrow as her smile slightly widened. "I thought it could be helpful."

Peter brought his hands forward to show the thin black belt in his hands.

"You got me a belt?" Scarlett chuckled.

"Well, yes and no. Yes it is a belt, but it does something more," he explained, the hesitates for a moment. "May I?"

Scarlett nodded even though she wasn't sure what he meant. He stepped closer to her, right in front of her to reach his hands around her waist to put the belt on for her. His fingers brushed the skin on her hips as he did so.

The two stopped for a moment, meeting each other's gaze before Scarlett looked down with a small smile on the edge of her lips. Peter just continued to watch her face as he fastened the belt around her waist. As soon as it fastened, Peter let her go and nanoparticles cascades down her left leg.

"What is this?" Scarlett asked him as she looked up to him after watching the particles. He took a step back from her and held out his hands as if he was to catch her.

"Walk, without the cane," Peter told her. She set her cane against the railing and looked up cautiously hopeful to him. She then reached out to grab his hand before looking back down at her leg.

"You can do it," Peter said softly to get her to take a step. Scarlett raised her left leg then bent her knee to take a small step in front of her. Her right hand covered her mouth as she felt her jaw slightly drop. She then fully leaned on her left leg, stepping directly in front of Peter.

The whole time he watched her closely to make sure she didn't fall or something didn't work. When she took the step, he could see her face light up, but something seemed slightly off inside her.

"Thank you," she told him in full sincerity. Her smile was notably genuine, but sadness still hid behind it. But, what caught him off guard was when she reached up to hug him by wrapping her arms around his neck. For a moment he was surprised, but then wrapped his arms around her waist.

"You're welcome," Peter said quietly.

Peter woke in the middle of the night sweating at the flames once swallowing him in his own lobby. His breathing was quick as he leaned up to throw off his shirt to find a new one Scarlett had given him. Adrenaline still coursed through him, leaving him wide awake as he laid back down.

For a couple of minutes, he tossed and turned before sitting up once more. He had been debating this whole time about what to do before leaving his room. Peter walked into the living room to look both ways, thinking about each way, ultimately deciding on the left to the sunroom. He stepped down, stopping in front of Scarlett's door.

Peter then lightly grabbed the door handle to quietly push the door open, slowly seeing the outline of Scarlett asleep on her bed lit up by incoming moonlight. He walked closer to her bedside to see her relaxed face peeking out of her comforter. A small smile formed on his face at the sight, but was soon replaced with fear.