Chapter Text
PETER POV
Months have gone by since the time-freeze incident.
The air bristled against me as I swung from one street to the other. New York seemed quieter than usual. I used to love the quiet between the action, which used to be a time of rest.
But when I’m left alone to the quiet of my mind, I can’t help but suffer through the thoughts the quiet pulls.
I don’t love you.
My first leap of faith.
Facing off against the Avengers.
The Vulture Incident.
Going to space.
Dying.
The final war against Thanos.
The death of Mr. Stark.
Beck’s betrayal.
The world’s hate towards me.
And the loss of my identity to the public.
All of it I took on the chin and stood up again, and each and every time I moved forward…
But those words… I don’t love you… those four goddamn words… I don’t love you… Won’t stop-
Before I knew it I heard the continuous panicked honk of a truck headed straight for me. I was barely able to dodge in time as I almost crashed against another building.
…
I took a deep sigh and shook the nerves away. Now was definitely not the time to think about such things…
“Not now.” I mumble, especially since what I was seeking was getting nearer…
“Jean… Where are you?”
It was a question I pondered to myself often over the past few weeks…
I have no one…
You have me…
I didn’t say those words out of pity, nor did I say them without intent. I truly wanted to stand by her and help but after Frank shot me… I never found her again, since she seemingly disappeared from the city.
But now… Just this morning, I sensed it. Perhaps it was a side effect of her jumping into my mind—we had formed a bond, a mental psychic bond that allowed me to sense her.
The moment she must have stepped into the city, my tingle was sent into overdrive.
She’s near…
I swung faster and faster until finally… I landed on a nearby rooftop, my senses now flaring up.
Where are you?
Where are you?
Where-
I saw it, despite the dark. I saw a flash of red swaying in the cold night. A figure hunched over in some back alley, shaking and in distress.
“Jean.” Her name left my lips like a prayer answered. “Oh God- JEAN!”
Before I knew it I was already holding onto her, her figure slack against my body. Her appearance was unkempt and clothes tattered.
“Jean! Wake up!” Panic started coursing through me.
She was thinner. Much thinner than the last time we saw each other. Her appearance was messy and terrible.
Jean… Were you homeless this entire time? My heart broke, but I had no time to feel any of that. She was weak and non-responsive, I had to take her to a medical center-
No.
SHIT!
I can’t! That also probably explains why she hasn’t had access to shelters too…
“Damage Control.” The name alone tasted bitter in my mouth. She must have been avoiding any place she had to show up and register due to the organization’s far reaching influence.
Jean jerked forward, her coughing fit sounded terrible and grave. Her breathing ragged and barely there.
You have me…
Yes, I meant those words and I’ll be damned if I lose someone else again.
I quickly wrapped my arms around her carefully and swung to the one place I knew she could get help.
My communicator rang the one person I knew who had private medical equipment and had a freakish enough base that even the most covert CIA couldn't find.
“Hey kid-
“Frank there’s no time for me to explain, I’m coming over there now!”
JEAN POV
…
“... Ohhhh, and tell me…”
“... She needed help…”
“... The walking weapon of mass destruction needed…”
“... She’s not dangerous and don’t call her…”
‘... No! LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING…”
“... Frank…. Please…”
Loud… My vision started coming to… My head… It hurts…
Where am I?
I look around the room… It was dirty and smelled funny. I felt a small sting on my arm as I turned to see an IV drip connected to it.
Hospital…
…
…
!!!
HOSPITAL?!
Despite how weak I felt, I stood up and quickly unhooked the IV off me. I needed to leave before my name was found…
FUCK! I was doing so well too to avoid detection.
I opened the door and vaguely heard two voices arguing, their conversation was shaky for me to hear at best with this massive migraine.
Down the corridor…
The opposite direction I see another door, with no time to think I quickly ran for freedom-
?!
Pain.
I groaned as I suddenly found myself crashing down on the floor, my body aching. I heard footsteps rushing towards me…
“YOU PUT A TRIPWIRE?!”
“WELL CLEARLY I WAS RIGHT TO HAVE PUT IT DOWN HUH?!”
No, no, no, NO! THEY’RE ABOUT TO CATCH ME!
I thrashed when I felt hands on me and screamed and struggled.
“LET GO OF ME! LET GO OF ME!”
“JEAN IT’S OKAY! LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!”
Those same hands quickly cupped my face and forced me towards to see-
“Peter?” It was him… I finally found him. My vision started to blur a bit as I felt my lip wobble.
I couldn't help it anymore, I leaned into the one thing I did have.
You have me…
And wailed.
PETER POV
I froze the moment she wrapped her arms around me, and was stunned further the moment the tears poured.
If my heart wasn’t broken already then it surely would have crumbled now.
My own eyes blurred at the sound of her wailing. It was raw, unfiltered, and painful… So full of pain.
She went on and on and I held her tighter… A small part of me worried that if I let go now I won’t ever find her again.
I looked back slightly and saw Frank looking at me with an equally as perturbed look. However he simply nodded and went back to his living room, leaving us alone.
She calmed slightly as I whispered assurances and rubbed circles around her back.
We stayed like this for a while, the echoes of New York seemingly disappearing around us.
…
“You have me…”
The moment the words left my mouth, I felt the weight of her exhale release a burden she carried.
Was it fear, loneliness, despair, or pain?
It doesn’t matter because I’m here and I will keep my promise.
“Don’t you ever forget it, Jean Grey… You have me.”