Tears of an Angel

3 Years After Snap (2021)

"How was the flight?" Payton asked as swung through the city. It was summer so she finally had time to patrol again. Although she was taking a couple of online courses.

"Good." Harley answered over the phone. "My aunt and my sister were there to pick me up so that was nice." Harley had told her that his mother was among those snapped, but he was fortunate enough for his sister and aunt to survive.

"Oh how are they?"

"Good. My aunt got that promotion."

"That's great."

"Yeah. How's Morgan doing?"

"She's great." Payton assured. "Constantly fighting nap time and vegetables."

"So just like you then?"

"Ha ha." She sarcastically laughed. "I am not that bad."

"Of course not." The sarcasm was clear. "Oh I got to go. Call you back?"

"Sure."

Payton landed through the open window, ending the call as she took off her mask. She was going to be late at this rate. She quickly changed into the red sleeveless hi lo dress and heels, sliding the blue gem necklace on as she opened the door.

"Payton!" Pepper called out. "We're going to be late!"

"Sorry." Payton responded, her heels clicking with every step. "Patrol ran late, and I was on the phone with Harley."

"How's he doing?" Pepper asked kindly as she wiped the food off Morgan's face, before letting her run back to her toys.

"Good. Meeting up with his aunt and sister."

"That's good." Pepper noted before turning to Happy. "Thanks again for baby sitting."

"It's no problem." Happy assured. "Out of everyone I had to baby sit as part of this job, Morgan is by far the easiest."

"What about me?" Payton asked grabbing her purse.

"What about you?"

"I wasn't that bad," Payton half heartedly pouted. "See you tonight."

Payton followed Pepper down to the limo.

"How did patrol go?" Pepper asked after the divider was put up.

"Fine. Practically nothing happened." Payton assured. "Remind me what this gala is for."

"Raising funds for advancing STEM programs in schools." Pepper patiently explained.

Payton smiled. It was galas like these that raised money for scholarships like the one that let her go to Midtown before she met Tony.

"There is someone who would love to meet you while we're there."

"This isn't another reporter is it?"

Pepper chuckled softly. "No reporters I promise." She paused. "Well except for the ones outside, but I can't stop those."

Payton sighed pushing hair behind her ear.

"It won't be bad, I promise." Pepper assured grabbing Payton's hand gently. "He's an old friend of Bruce."

Payton smiled thinking of the scientist. Earlier this year he had managed to combine his mind and Hulk's body. It was strange at first, but after a few days it became natural, or maybe she just got used to it. Plus Bruce was really happy with the results. And apparently getting a network deal to become the new Bill Nye.

"You should've started with that." Payton said as they arrived.

Pepper chuckled as a couple of the valet opened their doors. Payton flashed a smile at the valet as he helped her out, doing her best not to grimace as the reporters cameras flashed at her.

Once Pepper got to her side, the two walked together, ignoring the reporters insistent questioning.  Once inside, Pepper was almost instantly swept up by other business people. Payton took that opportunity to head towards the banquet table.

Payton grabbed one of the small plates, filling it with delights.

"You hungry?" Payton turned to see a blonde man, slightly older than her in a tux with a blue tie next to her.

"Starving." Payton admitted before holding a strawberry out to him. "Strawberry?"

He chuckled before accepting the fruit. "Why didn't you eat?"

"Got busy." Payton admitted as they stepped away from the table. "I haven't seen you around here before."

"It's my first time." He admitted. "But I promise I'll be a regular face. Especially if all the girls are as cute as you."

"Smooth." Payton admitted with a small chuckle. "I'll admit that was smooth."

He chuckled cockily. "So you come here often then?"

"Often enough." Payton said. "My adopted mother brings me to these events often. It's part of the job. Speaking of which I should find her before the main event starts."

"Would you like to try a dance first?" He asked stepping in front of her.

"But I just got my food." Payton teased walking around him, towards the silent auction table.

"Playing hard to get?" He teased flashing her a smile.

"Never." She paused in front of a tour for Baxter Building, as she ate another strawberry. When Tony sold the tower it was quickly bought out. And now there was a new team inhabiting the penthouse.

"You want to go exploring Baxter Building?"

"Not really. Sounds boring."

"What about this one?" She looked over to where he paused a few pages away. "A date with a celebrity?"

Payton chuckled. "Listening to a self absorbed, probably empty headed celebrity talk about themselves? No thanks."

"So what would your ideal date be?" He asked walking closer to her as she moved onto the next prize, a boat.

Payton looked down as her phone buzzed. A text from Pepper: 'Come to our table. That guy I was telling you about is here.'

"As much as I would love to continue this conversation, I've got to go."

"Do I get a name before you go?" He asked as she began to walk away.

"Do I?" Payton looked to help.

"Johnny." He said with a small smirk.

"Nice to meet you Johnny." She said before walking away.

"What about your name?" He called out.

She turned around. "Maybe next time." She turned back around, smiling a little at his indignant sound.

She quickly spotted Pepper at their table. Her eyes locked onto hers, a huge smile grew.

"There she is." Pepper said as Payton approached.

"Hey Pep." Payton greeted as she put her plate down.

"Payton," Pepper gestured towards a man in a black suit with a blue tie, he looked to be in his mid twenties, but already had streaks of gray in his hair. Next to him was a blonde woman his age wearing a silver dress. "This is Dr. Reed Richards, and Sue Storm."

Payton smiled broadly as she shook their hands. "Of course. I've heard so much about y'all. And I've read so many of y'all papers, it's... Fantastic."

Sue laughed as Reed sighed almost annoyed. "We didn't have much say  in that name."

"I understand." Pepper laughed. "One moment Tony's calling it The Suit, one newspaper headline later and he's all 'I am Iron Man'."

"My brother is that way." Sue explained with a laugh.

"While Ben and I don't care." Reed explained tiredly.

"Where is Ben?" Payton asked curiously. "I hadn't seen him here."

"Ben doesn't like these kinds of things." Reed explained. "Never has. So he stayed back at the tower."

"Understandable." Payton said softly glancing over at the reporters outside. She looked back to them. "Bruce told me that despite the side effects, you're mission was successful."

"Yes." Reed said in relief. "We got some data that also seems to correlate with the radiation findings from the Snap."

"I'm glad to hear your mission was a success." Payton smiled.

"And you?" Reed asked. "Any findings yet?"

"I haven't exactly shared anything with the rest of the scientific community yet." Payton settled on. "I'm still going to MIT though, I'm just out for the summer."

"How you liking it?" Reed asked.

"It's easier than I thought it'd be." Payton said slowly. "Still hard, but how Tony went on..."

Reed looked at her impressed. "I've never hears anyone describe MIT as easy in any sense of the world."

"Well I did personally intern for Tony before the Snap." Payton explained.

"Yes." Sue noted. "Only in high school, and received one of the most sought after positions in the world."

"Honestly it just came to me one day." Payton smiled. "But how did three scientists and their little brother end up going on that mission? No offense, but none of y'all are exactly astronauts."

"Well we didn't exactly have permission." Reed said with a small smile.

"Better to ask for forgiveness than permission." Payton noted. Her smile disappeared at Pepper's face. "Not that I'd ever do that. I always ask for permission."

"Right answer." Pepper smiled before looking to Sue. "I'm surprised your brother isn't here."

"Oh he is." Sue assured. "Probably trying to find some poor girl to sweep off her feet."

"Is it true he can transform his entire body into flames?" Payton curiously asked.

"Yes." Payton turned to see Johnny walk up. "And I can fly."

"You can't fly." Reed and Sue said at the same time.

"Yet." Johnny quickly added before looking to Payton again.

"Johnny," Sue said. "This is Pepper Potts, and her ward Payton Parker. Pepper, Payton, my little brother, Johnny."

Johnny ignored her, continuing to look at Payton. "So this is where you ran off to?"

"I didn't run off." Payton defended, a slight blush rising to her cheeks.

"You two have met?" Pepper asked.

"Just a few minutes ago, at the buffet table." Johnny explained.

"It was nice." Payton agreed.

"Until we were interrupted." Johnny said, ignoring the look Sue sent him. "We were just about to go enjoy a dance."

"Is that where we left off?" Payton asked with a slight head tilt.

"That's what I remember," Johnny smirked.

"Well don't let us keep you." Pepper insisted, as she softly pushed Payton closer to him.

"Pep, we don't want to be rude."

"Oh we don't mind." Reed assured, not noticing as Sue sent him a look. "Please enjoy yourself."

"Shall we?" Johnny asked holding out a hand.

"We shall." Payton relented as she took his hand, letting him lead her to the dance floor.

"So Payton Parker."

"So Johnny Storm."

He chuckled. "I kinda assumed you knew who I was and was playing hard to get."

"Hard to get? Yes. Knew who you were? No." Johnny turned her. "I thought you knew who I was. And that's why you were trying to flirt with me."

"You get a lot of guys who flirt with you?"

"Ever since Pepper adopted me? Tons. It didn't take long to realize it was the Stark connection they were looking to get close to."

"That must sucks." Johnny said empathetically.

"Well you should get used to it." Payton warned. "Tons of girls will be throwing themselves at you if they aren't already. And if Reed's not careful, he could lose Sue to someone else too."

"Nah." Johnny argued. "She's head over heels for him. It doesn't matter how often he ignores her for lab time, or how much better she could do. She'll stay with him."

"Are you going to beat him up if he hurts her?"

"First Sue, then me and then Ben." Johnny smiled.

"Can I be counted on that list?"

Johnny laughed. "I'll see what I can do."

"I'm surprised you haven't reached out to the Avengers yet." After the events in Europe, Natasha had officially took over the Avengers.

"Reed wants to stay isolated." Johnny explained. "We don't really do anything."

"Yeah," Payton said sarcastically. "That Mole Guy wreaking havoc in California would've solved itself."

Johnny sighed. "That's what Reed wants. And I..."

"Don't want to leave your sister." Payton finished. "I get it. Really I do. But if y'all ever change your minds, I can get y'all in."

"What about you? Are you going to join the Avengers one day?"

"Pepper said I can't until after I graduate college."

"What school are you going to?"

"MIT. You?"

"I'm going to Metro College. How'd you get into MIT?" He almost sounded jealous.

"I'm kind of smart." Payton said softly. "And Rhodey has a little pull there too."

They stopped as the host announced the silent auction winners were about to be announced.

"Well I guess I should get going." Payton said noticing the others going to their seats as well.

"I guess. I'll see you later, Payton Parker."

"See you, Johnny Storm."

**** Months Later****

"Fancy seeing you here?" Payton said landing on a roof that Clint was on. He turned around, sword drawn out to face her.

"Oh it's you." He seethed his sword. "What do you want?"

Payton sat on the roof edge. "Just swinging by when I saw a dark broody figure. And Daredevil's out of town, so I took a guess as to who it is."

"You guessed, You happy?"

"Always." Payton joked. "You know I can't let you kill anyone in my city, right?"

"Cute that you think you let me do anything."

"There's an easy way to stop you." Payton pointed out.

"Oh?"

"I'll tell Natasha I got a lead on you." Payton threatened. "Can you beat her?"

"Touché." Clint muttered.

"Who are you targeting anyway?" Payton said walking over.

"A gang." Clint paused for a moment. "How is she doing?"

"As well as can be expected." Payton said. "She's the only one staying at the Compound full time. I'm sure she'd you love your company though."

"These people need to be punished." Clint said.

"Why by you?"

"When I die I won't leave anyone behind. Natasha has-"

"Did you say 'when'?" Payton demanded. "Are you trying to get yourself killed? Is that your goal here?"

"I have no one-"

"You have Natasha!" Payton yelled. "The other Avengers. She needed you. You are her family. You could've relied on each other. But no you decided to become a Ronin?"

"People like me weren't meant to have family's. I thought I could defy that and yet I lost them. Despite everything I did to protect them."

"Nothing could've saved them." Payton responded. "But we could've been here for each other. If you want to continue pitying yourself go ahead, if you want to get off your ass and actually be here for people, you know where to find us."

Without waiting, Payton jumped off the roof and swung away.

****4 Years After Snap (2022) ****

Payton walked with Flash, who had just gotten back, through Times Square.

"So that was definitely more than a year." Payton teased.

Flash laughed. "Yeah, no. My step mother kinda cut me off while I was over there, so I didn't have enough money to come home right away. "

"I'm sorry to here that." Payton said sympathetically. "If you want, Pep's got some lawyers that can help out. I can give them a call if you want?"

"No," Flash assured. "No. I don't need that money. Besides, I - uh - I got caught doing some stuff while I was over there. Decided to do some good for once. Met some really... interesting people while I was there. I don't think I ever would've met them if she hadn't cut me off." 

Payton smiled. "That's great. So what made you come back to the States?"

"New York is still home, you know. Thought I'd go to NYU then see what happens."

"You know if you ever need anything I'll gladly help."

Flash smiled at her again. "So I heard a rumor that you were dating the Human Torch?"

"No." Payton blushed brightly. "We're- we're just friends."

"Yeah right." Flash rolled his eyes. "What about the one saying you graduated MIT early? Top of your class?"

"Alright that one's true." Payton admitted. "I didn't even realize I was going through so many classes until it was over."

"Once a nerd always nerd."

"Us nerds got to stick together." Payton agreed. Suddenly her Spidey Sense screamed. Payton looked over, not noticing Flash also tensing, to see a burst of electricity travel over several of the mega screens, sparks raining down.

Payton grabbed Flash, pulling him back just in time to avoid the sparks flying over them.

"Shit!" Flash yelled as the air filled with screams as they looked over to see a blue skinned man in a black hoodie standing in the center of times square as police cars came rushing in.  

"Well that's new." Payton noted. "Get to safety. I got to handle this."

"Payton-" He protested as they got to their feet.

"GO!" Payton ordered, pushing him away as she ducked into a nearby alley.

Payton swung out to see the man had sent out a powerful blast sending police cars flipping away. She jumped in, catching a car just before it could crush a police officer.

"You alright buddy?" She asked as she gently put the car down. She sighed looking back as he staggered to his feet. "At least you're not a horse kind of cop."

She looked over as officers opened fire on the man, watching in a mixture of awe and horror as the man lifted his hands, disintegrating the bullets before they could touch him.

"That's definitely new."

"Hold your fire!" The officer she saved commanded through his radio. "Hold your fire! Stand down!"

"Stop it!" The man yelled as fires slowly stopped, Payton swung over to him. "Please! I don't know what's going on!"

"Sparkles!" Payton yelled raising her hands in a calm manner. "It's alright. It's alright. Calm down."

"I- I don't know what's happening to me." He said moving to step closer.

"That's fine." Payton assured. "Just tell me your name."

He looked down at his hands. "I can- I feel like I have so much power now." He looked at her. "And I feel so much anger."

"Hey it's alright." She said gently again as the functioning screen showed live images of the scene. "It's alright. I can see your angry, but I can also see your scared and that you don't want to hurt anyone. Can you tell me your name?"

"Max."

"Well Max, it's going to be alright." Payton said coming to meet him. "No one's going to hurt you. I know what it's like to wake up one day with new abilities and no idea what to do. But I know people now. They can help you." She reached out to him. "Just come with me and-"

"Don't!" He yelled as she touched his hand, sending enough electricity to send her flying into a nearby police car.

"Ow." She said weakly, looking up in time to see a fire ball send the man flying back. "NO!"

Payton got to her feet as the Human Torch touched down. "You alright, Spidey?"

Payton ignored him, focusing on the man as he got to his feet, anger in his eyes as they locked onto her. "You set me up?!"

"No!" Payton said walking closer to him. "This was an accident." She turned to Johnny. "Power down."

"But-"

"Do it now!" After a moment he obeyed. Payton looked back to the man.

"You lied to me!" He said in a deeper voice.

"No." Payton tried moving closer. "This was a misunderstanding, stay with me Max."

Instead Max sent out blasts of electricity towards her and Johnny. Payton flipped over his blast, grabbing Johnny by his shoulders before flipping away, and gently tossing him to the side.

"Stay out of this!" She turned around- Barley jumping out of the way of another blast. Payton ignored the screams of the nearby crowd as they were escorted out. "Max listen to me. You need to calm down-"

"I don't need to do anything!" He sent another blast. Payton flipped away as she webbed a nearby tire off a nearby car and flung at Max. She unfortunately wasn't agile enough to completely miss the blast though, causing it to send her into a nearby wall, before falling to the ground.

Payton gasped grabbing her side, looking down she saw the blast tore through her shirt, a burn formed on her side, and it was bleeding lightly. Great. Payton gritted her teeth as she shot some web on it, with a slight hiss. She looked up to see Max had landed on one of the mega screens, barley seeing him stab two wires into his chest. The nearby screens all went out in almost wave like as electricity surged towards Max. Only for him to release a huge blast causing the screens to shatter into pieces on the ground, sparks simultaneously raining down on civilians below.

Payton jumped, barley catching pieces of debris before they landed on a nearby family. "RUN!" She yelled.

They didn't hesitate, Payton looked over to see Max was now hovering in the air, blasting at Johnny who flew around him, also blasting fire at him. Payton grabbed a nearby piece of debris and threw it at Max. He landed harshly on the ground, a stray shot sent Johnny flying away.

"MAX!" Payton yelled rushing closer. "I'm sorry, but you have to calm down! If you don't a lot of people are going to get hurt."

"Maybe I want them to hurt." Max snarled getting to his feet.

"Maybe we want to hurt you." Payton looked over, jaw dropping as a giant black creature emerged from the shadow, his voice coming out in a hiss.

"Who the hell are you?!" Max demanded as he blasted electricity at him, stepping back next to a fire hydrant.

The creature stood tall, the blast having no affect as it opened it's mouth revealing a mouth full of razor teeth, and a long slimy tongue. "We are Venom."

Venom shot what could only be described as a tendril at Max, who floated away, nearly dodging him. Max shot a huge surge of electricity at the web, causing Venom to jump back with a hiss at what must've electrocuted him.

"Hey big guy!" Payton called out as Max let out random bursts of energy. Venom looked to her with a head tilt. "I'm going to distract him, you burst this open and aim the water towards him when I give the signal. Got it?"

Venom smiled. Taking this as a yes, Payton jumped onto nearby walls before flipping over Max.

"Hey!" Payton tried again, landing in front of him. "You need to stop or I'll have no choice."

"You already have no choice." Max snarled making a huge ball of electricity.

"Hey Electro!" Payton glared at Johnny as he flew back in, blasting at Max.

Max growled, throwing his blast at the Human Torch.

"JOHNNY!" Payton yelled out desperately shooting a web to a nearby building, swinging over, kicking Johnny out of the way as her Spidey Sense screamed.

A surge of electricity coursed through her, sending her flying back into darkness.

****

Johnny groaned as he sat up. Spider Girl had just kicked him out of the way.

He flew up to see Electro- he didn't hear his real name- on the ground soaking wet. A giant black creature holding Spider Girl in it's arms.

"Flame on!" Johnny yelled before shooting a line of fire in front of the monster as he moved to walk away. He flew towards them. "Let him go, Ugly."

"You hurt her." It hissed.

"I didn't." Johnny protested, as he held a flamed fist, reading to attack. "But if you don't let her go I'll definitely hurt you."

Both of them looked over as a quinjet hovered above them. The creature paused for a moment, before gently putting Spider Girl down, and swinging away.

Johnny rushed towards Spider Girl, checking for a pulse.

"Is she ok?" Reed asked as he landed on the ground with Natasha Romanoff.

"She's really hurt." Johnny said, relaxing slightly as he found her strong, steady pulse. "But alive."

"Let's get her onto the jet." Natasha said glaring at him. "We can treat her."

"Right," Reed scooped her up, before stretching the two girls and himself into the hovering jet, Johnny flying up there himself.

Reed laid her down on table in the center of the plane, as Natasha shouted orders at the pilot.

"Johnny." Sue said rushing to him as the doors closed. "Are you alright?"

"Sue I'm fine." Johnny assured.

"Good," Sue punched him in the shoulder. "What were you thinking?"

"First, rude. Second, Ow." Johnny rubbed his shoulder.

"Must you always rush head first into everything!"

"I was just trying to help."

"Sue!" They looked over to where Reed and Natasha hovered over Spider Girl. Sue rushed over as Natasha peeled away Spider Girl's top, ignoring as she gasped excruciatingly.

"Johnny grab me that first aid kit." Sue ordered as she helped Natasha pull the rest of Spider Girl's top to her waist as Reed prepared a needle.

"Here." Johnny said standing by Spider Girls' head, handing the case over to Sue. As Johnny moved his hand back, Spider Girl's arm shot out, latching onto his wrist in a bruising grip.

"Johnny." She groggily choked out in a familiar voice. "Don't leave me."

No. Johnny thought slowly as his other hand slid off her mask, ignoring Natasha. It can't be...

Payton looked at him with glazed over eyes. "Don't leave me." She said again before her eyes slid shut. 

*******

Payton woke up to find she was in one of the Compound's med bay rooms, Pepper, Natasha and Rhodey at her bedside.

"Hey she croaked out.

"Hey," Pepper said softly, holding Payton's hand. "How are you feeling?"

"Sore." Payton admitted with a lopsided smile. "What happened to Max?"

"SHIELD's got him." Rhodey assured. "They're trying to run test. See how he was changed. See if it can be reversed. But it's proving difficult."

"What about Johnny?"

"He's fine." Natasha spat. "And he and the other Fantastic Four's found out your identity though."

"Oh." Payton said softly, not entirely sure how to feel. "How'd that happen?"

"Johnny recognized your voice."

"Can I talk to him?"

"Yeah." Pepper said. "I'll go get him for you."

After Pepper left, Payton sat up. "What happened to Venom?"

"Venom?" Rhodey questioned. "Is that what that thing's called?"

"It helped me." Payton explained.

"And before that he had saved a bunch of people." Natasha noted.

"Are we looking at a new Avenger?"

"We're looking at a potential." Natasha corrected. "We still know too little."

Payton looked down at her wrapped abdomen. "What's the damage?"

"Third degree burns." Rhodey said. "Your healing's already helped a lot. But Helen thinks it'll still leave a scar."

"That's not too bad."

"Not too bad?" Natasha said. "Well then we're upping your training again."

Payton playfully groaned as Johnny walked in.

"Hey."

"Hey," Payton greeted. She looked to the others. "Would y'all mind giving us a minute?"

"Sure." Rhodey said as he and Natasha walked out.

Once it was the two of them Johnny slid his hands into hos pockets. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone in like that."

"You shouldn't have." Payton agreed. "Are you like that in every fight you get in to?"

"Uh.. Kinda, but-"

"You can't do that." Payton said, unable to reign in her rising anxiety. "You can't. I've already lost too many people I care about, I can not lose you too." She sighed, taking in a deep breath. "I can't."

"I'm sorry." Johnny said after a moment. "I just... My instincts scream at me to act first. That if I hesitate I won't be able to help anyone. I know what you're going to say: I need to start thinking."

"You do think." Payton said softly. "Just not all the way. Come training with me.

Before Johnny could accept or deny, Morgan burst through the door.

"Pay-on" She said rushing to her. "Mommy said you was sick. Are you not sick now?:

"Never felt better." Payton said, smiling up at Johnny as Morgan buried her face in Payton's neck. 

*******

Days later Payton was walking around the Compound, prematurely out of her bed again. She felt fine.

Nat had mentioned she was going to be having a meeting today, maybe she could listen in again. It's been a minute since she's seen Nebula. Payton turned the corner, coming to a stop seeing Steve and Johnny there. Johnny clearly not happy. And neither having noticed her.

"What are you doing here?" Johnny snarled.

"I-" Steve cleared his throat. "I heard Spider Girl was injured so I thought I'd check on her."

"Well she's alive if that's what you're wondering. You can go now."

Steve didn't move. "You were good out there. All of y'all were."

"To bad the Great Captain America wasn't there, huh?"

"That's not fair-"

"Which part?"

"There was nothing I could've done even if I was there." He sighed tiredly. "I retired. I'm done with this. I gave everything I had and I lost it all-"

"Everyone lost something!" Smoke began to rise off Johnny's shoulders. "But that doesn't mean we're going to curl up into a ball. Not while people still need help."

"You can't keep this up forever. Stop while you're ahead."

"I can do this all day." Johnny looked at him in disgust. "I used to think you were amazing. But now? You're nothing but a coward. To weak to fight anymore."

"Hey." Payton announced herself, looking to Johnny with a kind smile. Johnny's smoke disappeared as a smile spread across his face. "I was wondering where you went." She looked to Steve with a neutral face. "Captain."

"Payton." Steve greeted.

"Shouldn't you still be in bed?" Johnny asked kindly, walking towards her. "I thought Dr. Cho said your injury was still tender."

"I don't like sitting still." Payton smiled up at him. "Besides it's y'all fault for leaving me alone."

Johnny chuckled before kissing her softly. "What am I going to do with you?"

"I have a couple of idea." She hissed as he wrapped an arm around her waist. They separated, a quick glance showed his hand was over her burned side.

"Maybe later. Come on." He moved his arm up to her shoulders. "We should get you checked out again."

Once they were out of Steve's hearing range, she turned to him. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Johnny assured.

"Then what was that with Steve?" Payton asked as they reentered her room.

"You heard that?"

"I do have enhanced hearing."

Johnny sighed as she sat down on the bed. "He's a hero, like THE hero... And yet no one's heard from him in the last four years?"

"I think Thanos- the inability to reverse what Thanos did- I think it broke his spirit. Broke his fight."

"Why didn't you lose yours?" Johnny looked to her with wide eyes as he sat in the nearby chair.

Promise me. Tony had begged. Promise.

Great Power, Uncle Ben had explained. Great Responsibility.

"I..." She swallowed, hesitating. "I..." She took a deep breath. "I almost didn't. But if I didn't keep doing Spider Girl, I would truly be lost."