𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘 — the snap

━━━━━━━

 𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀 moment of blessed silence. Nothing but a vast expanse of ink-black. There was a slight pounding against her head, at the base of her skull; as though a drum was steadily being played, growing stronger and stronger. It ached.

 She felt claustrophobic, as though fresh air had been plucked by greedy hands and was held a mile away; or perhaps it was the feeling of thick dust clogging her raw throat. Seconds had passed since she had felt anything; since she had awoken, Emilia supposed.

 Now, there was a stinging sensation as her fingers twitched. They were slick with something sticky, something metallic wafted in the air; blood. They were burning, and something was stuck in the left one, digging deeper as the calloused tip of her ring finger brushed it by as she slowly watched the black expanse grow lighter.

 An ache blossomed on her forehead, and once more the uncomfortable feeling of something dribbling across her skin sparked her to move. Her brows furrowed, her throat bobbing as she tried to swallow away the dryness.

 A harsh puff of air shot through her nose, disturbing the rust-coloured dust that cloaked the ground she reclined upon. A choke tore through her lips and a shooting pain ensued as though someone had swung a mallet to the base of her skull.

 She could hear voices slowly grow louder, though still unintelligible, as though they were under a vast expanse of water.

 Emilia's eyes cracked open and flecks of ink filled her vision, whilst the rest remained a blur like mist on a glass. Another rough and wheezing gasp tumbled from her chapped lips as her hands finally curled against the dry dirt beneath them. She pushed as hard as she possibly could, wincing as whatever piece of rubble that had embedded itself within her palm etched deeper.

 She blinked. Eyelashes fluttered against her cheekbones and small particles of russet dust weaved between her lashes, dotting against her skin as the scene before her was finally revealed, like a curtain rising for a play.

 Stephen. Her eyes landed on him immediately; just as they always did. He was perched on the edge of a rock, his trembling hands clasped around his middle as his chest rose and fell in what Emilia assumed to be pain. His brows had come together, and his eyes were drooping; even the Master of the Mystic Arts couldn't battle with fatigue and wounds.

 His cerulean eyes landed upon her and the lump in his throat somewhat subsided. He couldn't get close, couldn't reach out or fall to Emilia's side without crossing the path before the Mad Titan. He had to sit and watch as her chest barely worked, as hollow breaths disturbed the dust around her.

 His clouded eyes cleared momentarily, his shoulders sagging as Emilia attempted to smile at him, to convey she was somewhat alright; yet as he stared at the blood trailing over her face and leaking from her hands, he swallowed.

 Stephen knew how everything was to end, how they would need to lose the fight now, to win the war later. But that part of his mind, or more accurately, his heart, pleaded with him to fight. Stephen could have simply handed the Time Stone to the Titan upon his anticipated arrival; it wouldn't have made any difference. He'd get it all the same.

 Thanos would hold the Stone. Faces around him would crumble to ashes, and then he would depart too. But despite the fact that Stephen knew he couldn't fight or change what was to come, he still tried. He had still fought the Titan with every trick and spell he could conjure. Hope had spurred him onwards. The thought of 'what if?' What if he could change their outcome and win there and then.

 Hope was paralysing. It was heartbreaking.

 Emilia could see the utter guilt that flashed within Stephen's eyes; it made him physically recoil, his hands tightening around his abdomen. Yet unlike when he'd visited the future possibilities, he didn't turn away. He stared her down with nothing but a remnant of guilt and utter fondness within his gaze.

 As though he'd never see her again.

 It made her stomach lurch. The sight of warm blue glistening like a lake beneath the sun would always make heat blossom atop her skin; she could never quite get enough of that stare. Yet the guilt. The longing. It almost terrified her. Did he truly believe they were going to lose?

 She wanted to stay where she was. Dissect that look, figure out what the hell it could possibly mean... But then she was finally made aware of what was going on around them. The tunnel vision that had solely illuminated Stephen's presence finally broadened and allowed Emilia to survey the damage that Thanos was causing.

 The Titan was towering over Tony with nothing short of a malicious grin splitting at his thin and crooked lips. The hand holding the golden gauntlet that had so nearly been freed from his intentions was grasping at one of Tony's wrists, holding it high above the man's head, which was now bare of his helmet... In fact, Tony's suit was hardly protecting his body at all.

 There were spots here and there that had little to no nano-particles left; the material of his trousers was visible through a gaping hole in his suit. The hand trapped within Thanos' grip was entirely bare and slowly flushing pink as the Titan curled his fingers further, tighter.

 Then Emilia's eyes widened. It was as though everything had slowed down, slow-motion jarring their movements as though to taunt them all.

 Thanos' gauntlet-free hand was tightened around a blade. The blade glinted in the muted light that rained down upon them, glistening like limelight; the weapon had formed from Tony's suit; a vibrant red littered with glittering gold crawling from the metal that still encased part of his arm.

 Tony had tried to stab Thanos; tried to end their threat by piercing his indigo skin with one swift move. Yet as Emilia stared with wide eyes, her hands clawing at the dirt beneath her as her legs scrambled to raise her up and off the ground in a rushed attempt to offer the man aid, Thanos jolted.

 A heavy clunk rang out, and then Tony gasped; a gurgled sound.

 Thanos had plied the blade from Tony's suit, snapping it like a mere twig. Nano-particles clung together and clattered to the dust whilst the sharpened point that lingered within Thanos' un-cut palm was lodged into Tony's stomach. Blood oozed out. Tony's eyes broadened into saucers as he tore his gaze from the blade lodged within his gut to peer into Thanos' glinting gaze.

 It was as though all fatigue was banished from Emilia. She couldn't even recall stumbling to her feet, tripping over every tiny rock that lay between herself and the wounded hero. Yet by the time she had finally caught up with her actions, her legs were folded breath her, and her arms were outstretched with a lingering veil of blue shrouding her.

 Thanos had stumbled back with the blade still curled within his fingers; a rock was lying to his side and his hand was pressed against the side of his head. She must have attacked in her stupor. A snarl dusted his lips as he stared down at her nothing but with utter malice.

 Tony's heavy pants echoed in her ears, she could almost smell the metallic twang of his fresh and seeping blood, and she could just about feel the warmth radiating from him as she remained planted a mere hair away from his body. A shield had erupted from her hands, clearly having been brought to fruition after whatever attack she'd forced towards the Titan.

 Emilia could feel Thanos' penetrating gaze burning into her skin like an unruly wildfire. She could hear the growl that lingered on his tongue. When she finally looked up, eyes torn away from the bloodied blade that had been tossed to the ground without a care, her eyes met his own.

 She stared, and yet all she could see was an abyss of coldness. There was no more guilt for whatever he'd done to Gamora. No sadness for his daughter, and there was no remorse for the actions he wished to commit. Nothing but slate-grey stared back at her. Utterly unfeeling.

 The forcefield wavered, and the fatigue that had been momentarily banished from her bones returned at full force. She almost winced at the feeling, ready to keel over as her arms began to ache, as her legs became numb, and as her head began to throb once more.

 She could swear that Stephen was calling her name, urgency within his tone. Yet she couldn't move even if she had wanted to. She was too tired and too scared. Scared of what would come if she didn't try. Thanos would surely finish the job he started; he'd kill Tony Stark.

 Ultimately, Emilia knew her actions would be futile; she was weak from their previous endeavours against the threat, she was paralysed from the fear permeating her blood and bones. Thanos was armed with the power of Infinity Stones; what could she possibly hope to achieve?

 The gauntlet slammed down, colliding with the shield and a guttural yell slipped from Emilia's lips as though the assault had hit her directly. She buckled, arms dipping further as the forcefield became smaller, clearer... Weaker.

 Thanos struck again; a quirk twitching at the corner of his lips.

 The shield cloaking Emilia and Tony was nothing more than a delicate film; it was hanging on by a thread, and that very thread had shattered the moment Thanos brought his gloved hand high into the sky.

 Violet swarmed him, glowing like diamonds beneath the sun. The light swirled and twisted around his fingers like snakes ready to strike, and then he did. A violet congested fist slammed downwards as Thanos simply grinned.

 There was no yell or cry from the Titan's lips as he attacked, nothing but a dull gleam of satisfaction as he watched the frail shield cave in. It shattered like a mirror, yet his fist did not still upon impact. It continued forth, a Power Stone-fuelled punch colliding with Emilia's temple.

 The sensation was horrific. A mixture of burning and stinging as though venom and fire pooled within her oozing blood. Her head slammed to the ground, an arm curled beneath her as she writhed in nothing but searing pain.

 Thanos towered over them, "Who's first?" He huffed, as though amused at the two mortals grovelling at his feet, bleeding and broken. His beaded eyes darkened as they flickered back to Stark, "You."

 There was nothing more they could do. Tony was frozen to the ground, aching as stones and rocks clawed at his buckled knees, and utterly helpless as he felt his own blood continue to trail from the wound Thanos had inflicted on his stomach. Pain seared through his body like roaring flame, it threatened to take his consciousness and burn it to ashes, yet still he hung on and stared Thanos directly in the eyes as the Titan grew ever closer. He wouldn't cower.

 Emilia was stunned. Her fingers were buried within orange dust, her throat and sinuses clogged and raw. The newly inflicted wound upon the side of her face made her want to scream, to cry, to beg someone for help; yet who could she call? Who could she beg and scream for? She was just another mindless casualty in Thanos' game. A pawn on his chessboard as he steadily grappled his way closer to his checkmate.

 Thanos' steps felt as though they shook the entire planet, like a stampede warning those around it that danger was following close by. Run. But they couldn't run.

 Emilia cast her gaze to her bloodied knuckles, watching as a single crimson droplet squirmed over her skin. There was a hefty sheen of dust that coated them, yet a small imprint on her fingers was bare, once shielded from the remains of Titan; it was where her Sling-Ring had once rested.

 It must have departed amidst one of many attacks on her body, for she could see the remnants get crushed once more beneath Thanos' boot.

 Thud. Thud. Thud.

 Thanos was merely a step away from Tony, his gauntlet high in the air like a prized trophy as he grinned with all the mirth of a wide-eyed child.

 "Stop." Stephen's hoarse and pained voice called out, cutting the silence in two. He shifted, shaking hands finally leaving the bruise buried far beneath his skin, "Spare their lives..." He looked at Emilia, entirely losing focus on Thanos as though the Titan were nothing more than a fly on the wall. His eyes were filled with emotion, a twisted web of guilt, sorrow and... terror. "... And I will give you the stone."

 "Stephen..." Emilia uttered softly, her voice almost drowned out by the ripple of wind that blew them by.

 He withdrew his gaze from her. All emotion hardened into stone as he turned to Thanos. A sneer curled at his lips as he glanced at the Stones already within Thanos' grasp, they glowed like fireflies. He had hoped, and he had fought with every ounce of his being so that they could win. So that they could change what was truly meant to happen; yet they failed. He couldn't prevent the massacre that was to come, he couldn't prevent the future that would unfold for those that would live past Thanos' dreams, and he couldn't fix a damn thing.

 "Spare them." He gritted once more as his voice grew colder.

 "No tricks?" Thanos queried as his beaded gaze studied the Doctor whose eyes had fallen back to his lover; still squirming beneath the pain of his punch. Thanos rose the gauntlet, each stone glinting ominously as he waited.

 Tony shifted, a groan threatening to part his lips as he spat, "Don't."

 Blood had coated his lips, dribbling down to his chin as the lines etched into his face seemed to grow deeper. His faltering stare lingered on Stephen, and he realised so suddenly that had he been forced to stand where Stephen stood... He didn't know what he would do.

 His ego, his desire to help people wished and begged that he'd choose to keep the Stone close, to sneer at Thanos and fight with every last ounce of life that lingered within him... Yet Stephen was pushed to stare down at the woman he loved, and choose. He had to choose whether the Stone would remain, or if Emilia would. Could he have chosen between the Stone and Pepper?

 Emilia trembled. Every muscle in her body wanted to move, to fight, yet they couldn't. She was done. They had given up and there was just no more fight left within her. She had to watch onwards as Stephen lifted his jittering hands into the air. His thumb and pointer closed together, leaving a minuscule gap where the Time stone materialised.

 He let go of the Stone and watched with a defeated gaze as the emerald gem drifted closer and closer to the giant. Thanos spared each of them a final, victorious glance as the Stone settled snug into the gauntlet, glinting with power, "One to go."

 Quill rushed forth, shooting at Thanos with all of his might, yet just as he and the others had been once before, all efforts were fruitless. Thanos merely cocked his head, eyeing Quill for a prolonged second before disappearing through a portal conjured with the power of the Space Stone. Emilia swallowed; he would be heading for Vision next, and there was no telling how many people would be harmed as he stormed for the final Stone. They could only hope that they had brought enough time for those left on Earth.

 "Did we just... Lose?" Quill spoke aloud, fingers slowly unwrapping from his gun as he secured it within his holster. He looked to Stephen, heart thudding as the man dropped his head with a heavy, defeated sigh, and then he shifted to Tony.

 The billionaire had pushed himself against a rock as he lifted a blood-sodden hand to seal his wound as best he could. A small spray of nano-particles clung to his injury and the man could do nothing more than let his head fall to the side, hooded eyes looking to Emilia as she finally used what remaining strength she had to bring herself to her knees.

 Her robes were a mess; pale-blue material was torn at the edges, marred with holes that had been burned into the fabric. Fraying edges fluttered around her with little life, and blood had soaked into her sleeves and collar. Dirt and dust clung to her clothing and skin, tangling with the sweat that had trailed over her flesh.

 His eyes lingered on her wound. It had been hidden away when she had toppled to the ground; a blanket of hair obscuring their view, but now it was free. A burn the size of Tony's hand rippled on her flesh, it was pink and raw and covered in blisters. Part of her brow had been singed away, and her left eye was swollen, a trail of blood seeping from the cut Thanos' gloved had left behind.

 Stephen joined Tony, his eyes navigating their way towards Emilia and he swallowed. He could see her fingers trembling, their movements somehow more noticeable than his own. He could see as she sucked in shallow breaths through her nose, and heavily exhaled them through her lips, biding her time as pain seeped into her flesh.

 Her twitching fingers rose in the air, lightly dusting the burn as they danced over the blisters. She recoiled.

 Emilia clamped her eyes shut, tears welling within them; be it from the pain swarming her body like writhing bugs, or from the loss that had so easily been forced upon them.

 The ringing in her ears started again. The familiar feeling of her heart pounding against her ribs as bile climbed her raw throat. Panic was clawing at her, sharpened nails digging into her skin and begging her to scream and cry.

 "Emilia." A voice called out; it was close and she could feel their warm breath tickling her ear, yet they had sounded so very far away. "Hey, you're alright."

 The person continued to soothe her, whispering here and there as a hand curled around her and fell the back of her head, pulling her closer, "It's alright. We're —"

 She heard them pause but paid no mind to the unsettling feeling that had erupted as they cut their words short.

 Her hand was grasped by another; theirs was cooler, rougher and lined with scars. She could feel the bumps beneath her fingertips. They pulled her hand closer, a gentle kiss planted on her torn knuckles before the person rested her hand upon their heart.

 It was a steady rhythm. Thud. Thud. Thud.

 And like so many times before, she found herself breathing along with it. Inhaling with one beat, exhaling with the next, until multiple minutes had ticked by. Warmth continued to flood her, seeping through the torn material of her robes.

 She had no idea how much time had passed by the time the ringing had stopped. But after a while, the relentless beating of her heart finally quelled and danced in time with the one beneath her palm.

 "There you go." The voice whispered, and Emilia finally pulled back and looked upwards; her vision filled with the soft, captivating look upon Stephen's face.

 But that look, the one filled with fondness, with the same familiar pride he'd sport after she'd resurface from those black waves that pulled her into the depths of her own mind... Those emotions faded, and instead his features were flooded with guilt.

 His eyes slammed shut, and with such a gentle and soft movement, Stephen leaned forth, his forehead lightly pressing upon her own, "I'm sorry."

 She didn't reply; all he could possibly mean was the very same thing she was thinking; they were all sorry. Sorry for failing, sorry for letting Thanos get away. Sorry for losing. That was it. Yet when Emilia's hand slid down from his heart and curled around his hand, he shook his head.

 The ink-black hairs that had fallen to tickle his forehead brushed her skin and his heavy sigh caressed her lips, "I'm so sorry."

 His voice had cracked; shattering like a mirror. He wouldn't look at her.

 Emilia's stomach flipped uncomfortably, and the prickling sensation of something being far too wrong licked at her flesh.

 "What —" But she couldn't finish her sentence before Stephen pulled back and cupped her unwounded cheek. His eyes flickered to the burn, and swiftly he found her eyes once more.

 "I love you."

 Three words that had so often filled her heart with nothing but warmth that rivalled the golden rays of the morning sun, had suddenly perished. Those three words seemed to stab her like a knife, ready for the hand around the hilt to twist it further.

 Stephen had said those words so many times before; every morning when they'd wake with skin against skin, sleep clouding their eyes as covers twisted like coils around their limbs. Every night when hot breaths caressed flesh and fingertips drew trails upon one another. Often in moments that solely belonged to them.

 But now he sounded desperate, and true to his whispered words, he sounded sorry.

 A gurgled sound managed to dislodge from her throat as she shook, "Why does it sound like you're about to say goodbye to me?"

 No words quelled her worries as he looked to the ground.

 "Stephen —" She cleared her throat as it tightened. Tears built within her eyes threatening with all their might to trail down her burning cheek. Her hand tightened around his own, "Stephen, please... Don't you dare."

 He looked at her then; looked at those wide forest-green eyes that glinted with the bitter sting of defeat, the way her lips tugged down and wobbled as she tried to keep a straight face and reel in her emotions. He couldn't lie again.

 He knew what step was next to come; the image of flittering ashes flashed before his eyes.

 He didn't know what to say to her. What words could possibly soothe what was to come? Emilia, Stark and Nebula would be forced to watch as the planet around them filled with ash; unable to help as it slipped through their fingers. Nothing would ever make that okay.

 Emilia jolted. Her fingers dug into Stephen's hands, yet he never moved away; he just helplessly watched as she gaped at the air around them; her intuition in tune with the universe around her.

 "Something's happening," Mantis spoke, her voice carrying on the air as she, like Emilia, glanced around the peculiar planet; seeking the source of the disruption that had their skin pricking.

 A beat passed, and Stephen knew as Emilia's face dropped, that Mantis had been rendered as nothing but a gust of quartz-coloured ashes that was shortly stolen by the wind.

 "No," Emilia whispered, dread seeping into her gut. That thudding started again, the hollow feeling in her chest erupting once more as she hooked her other hand around Stephen's bicep like a lifeline, "No."

 "I'm sorry."

 Her head shook back and forth, spilling more stray hairs that clung to her sweat and blood-soaked skin. The crystalline tears that had conglomerated at her waterline began to fall; over Stephen's shoulder Drax faded away just as Mantis had done. She didn't have long.

 "Why?" She whispered to herself as she snatched her hands back. She pressed the palms of her hands against her eyes as her teeth clamped together painfully, caging back the sobs ready to tear from her tightening throat.

 Why did everybody she had ever cared for, have to disappear? Her parents, her co-workers, The Ancient One, Mordo... And now Stephen. And now him. The very person that had helped her mould herself back into some semblance of a person.

 He had changed everything. Sparked her ambition to conquer her powers, soothed her nightmare fuelled evenings, quelled the anxiety that perpetually swelled within her gut... The man she loved more than anyone, and he was going to disappear right before her very eyes too.

 "It was the only way, Emilia," Stephen whispered as one of his arms had curled around her. His vision had blurred the moment Mantis had left them, for he knew the time before he was to join her was quickly ticking away.

 "Please don't leave me..."

 "I don't want to."

 His fingers twitched within the pocket of his singed and dirtied robes; cool metal tingled against his calloused fingertips. He pinched the item between his thumb and forefinger, rolling it for a moment before he nodded to himself. The item was snatched into the palm of his hand, and ever so carefully, he broke free from the confines of the pocket.

 The metal felt like a weight in his hand, weighing him down with nothing but guilt as he kept it trapped between his palm and his fingers.

 Stephen, with tears of his own trailing down his cheeks and clearing a path between the dust that clung to his skin, pried Emilia's hands from her face, ever so careful to avoid her burn. It wasn't fair, and a small part of him wished he could take her place and suffer through the years to come... But he couldn't change a damn thing.

 His touch was like silk as he lifted one of her hands; the metal had warmed beneath his touch as it lingered between their intertwined hands and Emilia was far too stricken to even question what it was.

 She peered into his eyes, watching the way tears would bubble and cling to his dark lashes, before finally plummeting towards his sharp cheekbones. She couldn't tear her eyes from his face as she mapped out each feature. Each tiny scar, each raw and scarlet cut, every line that had been etched into his skin from frowning and smiling...

 "I can't —" She choked, her free hand clawing at her own chest as though the hole that was steadily growing would cease, "I can't do this, Stephen. Not without you. Never without you."

 "We'll see each other again," Stephen whispered as he finally parted their hands. Emilia didn't look at the weight in her hand, but kept her eyes upon him, watching as each light breeze jostled the hairs that bothered him so much. As the cloak that was settled around his shoulders reached out and gently grazed a crimson edge over her arm.

 And then, he said it once more.

 "I love you."

 "I love you."

 His hands were the first to fade away; crumbling like a stone sculpture. It migrated slowly, agonizingly, until cracks appeared where the sun had hit his cheeks.

 In a mad scramble, Emilia lurched forth. She ignored the sting of her salted tears seeping into her wounds. She ignored the pain shooting through her knees as pointed stones carved into her skin. Her fingertips stretched out, reaching for his face for the very last time... And just as she prepared herself for the warmth he radiated... Her fingers slipped through thin air, littered with an abundance of ash.

 He was gone.

 There wasn't even time for Emilia to sit and dwell on what she'd witnessed. No time to sob and scream as she watched the last few ashes that had caressed her palm float away... For a voice called out.

 They were terrified, the shakiness of their croak was yet another stab of utter pain and guilt.

 "Mr Stark? I don't feel so good."

 It was Peter. He called to his mentor as tears gathered in his doe-like eyes. His breaths came out as nothing more than short rasps of shaking air. He trembled, stumbling towards Tony who, without an ounce of hesitation, opened his arms for Peter to fall into.

 Emilia didn't move. Silent tears were streaming down her face as she held her cupped hands to her chest, clamped her eyes shut and dropped her head trying to keep it all in, to give them a moment for yet another heart-wrenching goodbye.

 "I don't — I don't know what's happening," Peter mumbled as fear continued to ripple through him. He could feel a numbness within the tips of his fingers and toes, and with each passing second, it continued to spread like a virus. He clawed at Tony, "I don't wanna go."

 Tony was stunned. For the very first time, he'd been rendered silent. His heart hammered away just as it had when he'd taken that missile into space. Just as it had when he'd dreamt of a world on fire. Just as it had when Wanda Maximoff had implanted those visions within his mind.

 But this time there was no suit of metal that could prevent harm from taking Peter; from taking anyone.

 Tony risked a glance down and quickly snapped his head back up as ashes spewed from Peter's legs. The boy buckled and Tony used his remaining strength to gently lower him to the ground.

 "You're alright," Tony whispered, his voice carried by the wind.

 Emilia's heart shattered all over again as his words dug into her skin. He wasn't alright. Stephen wasn't alright. None of them would ever be alright.

 "I'm —" Tony swallowed as ashes blew him by, "I'm sorry, kid."

 Peter peered up at him. His skin was a ghostly white with a sheen of heavy sweat coating him despite how cold he felt. Tears brushed by his flushed cheeks as his numb fingers curled around Tony's bicep. He could see the guilt within his mentor's eyes; Tony always did blame himself.

 Peter heaved a great breath and tried his best to smile. He failed miserably as a grimace wobbled on his lips, "I'm sorry."

 Cracks had formed on his skin, and Tony could do nothing but mutely watch as an ashen grey crawled over his skin. He shuddered, and without warning, Peter's features began to fade away. Ashes clouded the air and Tony snapped his eyes shut; he received no warning when he fell forwards, fingers passing through a cloud of dust.

 Emilia finally opened her eyes, and it was as though Thanos' snap had taken away every ounce of warmth and colour from the world. The breeze seemed colder, yet lacked motivation as it limply brushed her by. The sunlight in the sky had faded, orange hues became murky as though someone had dipped a paintbrush coated with ink into the horizon.

 Stephens' words rang through her mind like a mantra. With every syllable, she shrank further.

 And then she lowered her hands. The item Stephen had left her had warmed beneath her touch, yet still, she felt numb as though she were back on Mount Everest once more. One finger uncurled as she stared down at her raw knuckles. Then another, and another until she let out a harsh sob.

 A small ring that would perfectly fit the fourth finger on her left hand had laid in her palm. The golden band had gleamed at her almost tauntingly whilst the shining emerald that nestled on the very front glinted dully.

 A burst of blue erupted from her chest. It was something that had never happened before, powers she had never reached out to, yet in a time of utter remorse, it came to her.  For a woman so scared of losing control, this was one of the very first times that her powers had slipped from her frantic clasp. But even so, they did not do the thing she feared. They didn't harm Tony or Nebula as the shockwave crawled over the ground. While rocks burst upon impact, whilst dust was flung into the air, casting a field of orange before their eyes, and while scrap metal was torn in two or disintegrated completely... Her allies remained utterly untouched.

 Power glossed the planet, sweeping up every inch of rubble and dust until it scuttled back, forcing it's way back to Emilia who coddled herself like a child.

 Emilia dimly registered a hand gently clamping down on her shoulder, and she could feel the odd pieces of cool metal that brushed against her; Tony, she assumed as she crumbled further, letting her arms curl around her own body. Her cheeks were soaked, a dirty mixture of blood, dirt, sweat and salted tears trailed over her skin, leaving smeared lines on her cheeks. She didn't care.

 She wanted to comfort Tony in return, or even reach out for Nebula, yet she couldn't. Emilia's pain was paralysing her, gripping at her ankles and wrists and neck with an indestructible grip. It seized her and dragged her beneath the waves that threatened to engulf her so very often when the stars came out. Whilst Tony was there, offering warmth... It was only ever Stephen's voice and touch that had managed to break through the surface and pull her out.

 Now he was gone. 

 Now she surrendered to those very waves.

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18-05-2022

ouch. that's all i can genuinely say about this entire chapter. just, ouch. maybe i teared up at this myself, okay? leave me be, my babies are sad and i hate it.

i really do hope you enjoyed this even despite the pain I've probably caused you all. there will be around a three to four week break between this chapter, and the beginning of act four (endgame) just so i can pre-write and amend my ideas as i go. so, i hope you look forward to the next parts.

don't forget to let me know what you think; and remember that i now require a particular number of comments and feedback before i consider releasing the next part (this is just to ensure people remain engaged and supportive, as well as allowing me to see what you all enjoyed most!)