Malen'kaya Zemlya [2] [P. Parker]

3.25 It's Time

I'd never expected to be at the point I was then; standing in front of my mirror, in my suit.

It had been a few weeks since the Coney Island incident, and my arm was fully healed. There were still scars from the cuts I got, and it sometimes ached when I lifted heavy things, but other than that, I was healthy.

I smoothed down the front of my suit, heart pounding.

If I did this right, this would be the last time I'd ever wear it.

A knock came from my door.

"Uhhh, yes, Miss Valentinez?" Tony's sarcastic voice came through the wood. "Are you ready, ma'am?"

I rolled my eyes with a grin. "As I'll ever be."

The door opened. "Great." he smiled. "They're waiting for you."

I stepped out of the door and he closed it behind me.

My hands shook as we walked down the long corridor of the hotel side by side.

"You okay, kid?" he asked quietly.

"This is it," I murmured, barely above a breath.

"It is."

I swallowed nervously. "I never... I never thought it would end like this."

Tony stopped me with a hand on my shoulder at the end of the hallway. "Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

"Yes." I nodded, without hesitation. "Yes, it is. I have to do this. For me. It's time."

He nodded firmly. "Well, then. We should head downstairs."

The conference room the hotel had set up for us was frigid as if someone had put the air-conditioning on too low. I felt my nose and fingers chill as we entered the room.

As we did, the hoards of reporters jumped to their feet.

"Ashley! Ashley!"

"Gaia, can we have a statement?"

"Over here, Gaia!"

I ignored them all, looking down to shield my eyes from the flashes of the cameras.

Tony led me onto the stage.

"You're sure you're okay?" he uttered.

I nodded, unable to form words out of the fear that I would vomit.

He nodded in response and patted me on the back before walking off the stage.

I stepped forward to the podium.

Clearing my throat, I leaned forward. "Hi..." I said into the microphone, cringing as feedback echoed through the now quiet room. "Sorry... Um, hi. I'm Ashley, and I just..." I glanced over at Tony, who nodded reassuringly. "Many of you will know me as Gaia. One of the Elementals. But not any more."

The sea of reporters murmured anxiously.

"I'm stepping away from the suit. This is it. This is my first, and last, public appearance as Gaia. From now on, I'm Ashley; a high school student who wants to graduate, alive, preferably, and live my life." I was gaining traction, confidence flooding through me as I saw Peter standing near Tony. "Yes, I might help the city if necessary. Yes, I will always help if you ask me to protect you or someone else. No, I will not be a part of any superhero discourse or join the Avengers in any way. That part of my life is done. I am not Gaia anymore."

I blinked away tears and swallowed hard. "My name is Ashley Valentinez. I am fifteen years old. I am from New Zealand, but I live in New York, and I am now a full-time teenager who most definitely has exams to study for. I will not be answering any questions." I nodded once. "Thank you for your time."

As I stepped away from the podium, the reporters rose in a tide of questions.

The noise became a lull in the background as my ears began to ring uncomfortably.

Peter caught my hand as I walked past and squeezed it, walking in sync with me, acting as a wall between me and the reporters. Tony led us out, an assistant opening and closing the door for us.

The second the three of us got in the elevator, I breathed out a sigh of relief.

"It's over," I said softly, leaning my head against the wall. "Finally."

The TV broadcasted my voice throughout my hotel room as I lay on my bed, surrounded by room service snacks and four-star meals.

I was only staying there for one night, and I'd be damned if I didn't make the most of it.

My suit hung on the back of my wardrobe door, concealed inside a white dry cleaner's bag that Peter had pulled from his aunt's wardrobe. I tore my eyes from it and back to the TV.

"My name is Ashley Valentinez. I am fifteen years old. I am from New Zealand, but I live in New York, and I am now a full-time teenager who-"

With a wistful smile, I changed the channel.

(A/N)

That's it.

It's done.

This series has exhausted me. Reading back over The Elementals I can see how many mistakes and plot holes there are.

I am done. There is nothing left for me in this series. All I feel is freedom.

This has been a nagging thought on my mind for literal years, and I am so glad it's over.

However, I would like to thank you for making it this far (I barely did) and for hopefully enjoying this series and these characters as much as I used to.

Obviously, I have moved on to bigger and better things, such as Bright Blue Skies (another Peter Parker fic on my profile), and many other works in progress.

Thank you for joining me and Ash on this crazy journey that ultimately ended on a much happier note than I intended.

Turning Tables will be taken down. It does not matter, nor exist, in this series anymore.

Thank you again, for sticking with it and I wish you a very happy day, a Merry Christmas (for 18 days time) (and only if you celebrate it (if you don't, have a great winter/summer break)) and a Happy New Year. May 2021 be better than 2020.

I love and appreciate all of you and please message me if you'd like to talk about anything, my dms are always open x

See you in another book, or not :)

xxoo

Amy