Sinners [4] Far From Home

Twenty One

Chapter Twenty One:

A lump formed in Hazel's throat as she stared at Beck's lifeless body.

Hands pulled her up, but she couldn't stop staring. It was over. He was dead. No more illusions.

"It's ok." Peter's voice echoed through her mind, but she squirmed in his grasp until she was standing straight and staring at him with wide eyes.

"Is this real?"

He gave her an odd look, "E-Edith said all the illusions were all down-"

"That doesn't mean anything! How do I know you're really you?" She wiped her face again, eyes softening at the expression he was giving her. "You're bleeding."

"You are too." He said said softly.

Hazel stared at him for what felt like forever, until she mumbled 'screw it' and ran at him. He stumbled backwards as she clung to him, breathing him in.

"You were gone for so long." She sobbed, fresh tears escaping her eyes. "You can't leave again—"

His arms were tight around her, "I'm not going anywhere, you know that."

She cringed, having heard those words come from another version of him only moments before.

"What did he do to you?"

Hazel shook her head, ignoring him. "Are you alright? You're pale and there's cuts—"

"I'm fine." He stepped backwards, staring down at her. "Come on, we should go."

He glanced at Beck's body before grabbing ahold of her. They jumped from the bridge, but Hazel kept her face hidden against him as she tried calming herself down. They hit the ground softly, thanks to her and they stepped away from each other.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Hazel asked, staring at him. His suit was ripped up and burnt, she was surprised he didn't look to be in any pain.

"Are you?"

Her eyes burned, she felt guilty for crying this much but she couldn't help it. She pulled him into a hug again, "I missed you so much."

He chuckled, "You say that a lot."

She sniffled, refusing to let go. "I still see you vanishing. In nightmares, in day dreams, everywhere. And now I see Steve leaving and Tony... when he—"

"Shh. D-don't say anything. I know."

"I'm sorry." She mumbled.

He stepped back, grabbing ahold of her hands. "Don't apologize. You have nothing to be sorry for. None of this was your fault. The snap. Thanos. Beck. None of it."

She went to wipe her face but he wouldn't let go of her hands, "But what if it is? I could've done more, Peter! Maybe the snap didn't have to happen... maybe if I had been strong enough—"

"Y-you cannot blame what he did on yourself. He had been planning that for years, Hazel."

"Steve told me about him! Told me he was coming but I thought he was just going crazy and I didn't believe him and then Thanos came and then he got all of the stones— and then you were gone. Everyone was almost gone—"

Peter's eyes were watering, and she had to look away. "W-we can't change any of that. I have no idea what happened within those five years, and I know for me it didn't feel that long but I'm here know. Ok? I-I am here now and you're gonna have to do a lot to get rid of me again."

They stood in silence for minutes, and Hazel finally got herself to calm down. Her eyes still burned, but that was when she really started thinking about what had happened. How there was a dead guy laying on that bridge high above them, and how many other people lost their lives with what he had done. But Peter appeared to have shoved all those thoughts down as he stared at Hazel.