Dependence

Chapter 16

         They're all down. Laying on the dirty grounds of Titan, while Tony's still fighting, Peyton is stronger than the rest as she has avoided most of the fight, so maybe she can help. She doesn't have any training or super strength like her brother, but her dad is alone. She stands but Peter grabs her hand.

"Peyton, no, you can't." he says.

"Peter, I have to help him," she turns just in time to see a sword push through Tony's chest and everything stops. She feels a scream rip from her lungs but she doesn't hear it, she tries to run to him but hands are pulling her back. No. No, no no no.

She watches as Strange speaks with Thanos but she can't hear what they're saying. Her ears are ringing. Eternity seems to go by in what is only a moment and suddenly it's all reversed. Suddenly he's fine and he's walking towards them. She's let go and she begins to run. Thanos is gone but she doesn't care, she collapses on her father, sobs tearing through her entire body.

~~~

"Tony? Tony, I don't feel so good." Peyton turns from where she had just watched another hero fade to see her brother stumble towards their father.

"You're okay," Tony says as Peter comes towards him and Peyton is glued in place. She knows what's happening. She refuses to acknowledge it. She just stares.

"I don't wanna go. No. No, I don't wanna go... Dad." Peter falls into Tony and they stumble. He looks at his sister who is still frozen in place and then to his father.

"I'm sorry." Peyton watches in horror as her brother fades away. Tony looks at her in sorrow and fear, he's expecting her to go next. She looks at her hands. Nothing happens. She falls to her knees, her dirty palms are still solid and real. When she realizes she's not going anywhere she screams for the second time.

"No! Take me! Take me! Peter!" she feels strong arms wrap around her and suddenly both her and her father are crying into each other. It's the end.