------- 1 year later -------

City light just barely seep through the pulled curtains while Shiloh and Cindy sleep. Cindy's on her side, wrapped up in the black comforter while Shiloh is laid on her stomach, blanket pulled down to her waist and exposing her bare back. The room is peaceful all except for the sound of Shiloh's phone vibrating against the nightstand.

It's Cindy the vibrating finally pulls from a deep sleep. She reaches out and checks the phone, seeing Ned's name almost blind her from the brightness of the screen. With squinted and blurry eyes, she reads the number of texts to see Ned's texted her fifteen times. A sigh falls from her lips while she puts the phone back and looks to Shiloh.

With her back exposed to the open air, Cindy gets the view of the scars around each should and coming down her shoulder blades while two other scars just peak out from where the blanket meets her waist, the scars on either side of her hips, harsh reminders of what she's been through as if the two on her face weren't enough. Shiloh doesn't sleep much so it's killing Cindy to know she'll need to wake her up.

Cindy glides her fingertips over the scars before she starts lightly tapping. "Shi?" She whispers but Shiloh doesn't so much as breathe differently. "Shiloh." Cindy says a little bit louder, her tapping becoming harder. "Shiiillooohhhh." Cindy moves her hand to Shiloh's shoulder, shaking her.

"Mm," Shiloh hums, a smile pulling at her lips as she starts to stir awake but the tired bliss washes away as the sound of the obnoxious ringtone of her phone starts blaring. "Ugh." Shiloh groans, face turning into the pillow.

"Ned's been texting you." Cindy says, pulling Shiloh's phone from the charger and handing it over.

Shiloh looks to Cindy with an apologetic smile, tired but kind before she checks the time on the phone and answers. "Yeah?"

"I know it's late." Ned starts, words rushed and quick, laced with guilt.

"Four in the morning, yeah it's late and it's early. What's up?" Shiloh mutters, head still buried in her pillow.

"Um," Ned stutters, trying to figure out how to ask what he needs. "Can you bail Peter out?"

Shiloh's eyes fully open as she sits up, twisting in bed and pulling the blankets to her chest. "Sorry, one more time?"

"Peter, he's been arrested. Can you bail him out? I don't have the money and I'm at Betty's. She's was asleep...and...well..."

"Yeah, yeah," Shiloh says with understanding. "She's still not particularly fond of the spiderling. Um," Shiloh looks down to Cindy, who's watching with furrowed and tired brow, knowing Shiloh's the one having to sacrifice another night with her significant other for Peter. "Yeah, I'll go. What happened?" Shiloh gives Cindy an apologetic expression before getting out of bed, locating her old Midtown High shirt that used to be Peter's and tossing it over her head.

Ned sighs on the end of the phone, allowing his frustration and disappointment for his long-time best friend to slip through. "Drugs." Ned says. "He's high out of his mind, Shi."

That's when the worry hits. Peter was never really the same after he lost his leg. He got back to being a hero, doing rehab and all that but there was always something a little off. Everyone around him knew, but no one really knew how else to help him. Peter was already seeing a therapist and he was getting help but it was like losing his leg really cost him a part of himself and he was trying to find it again in different ways. But, it was a bit more than that.

It wasn't just that it was hard to take on being Spider-Man again with a metal leg, even if it did function almost the exact same as his opposite leg. It was hard but what made it worse was Peter's lack of sleep. He had the whole nightmare traumas, every single night, if he were actually able to get sleep at all. Most of the time, he stayed awake, patrolling, working in the tower, finding something to keep him awake. Peter's superhuman, he can stay awake longer than normal people but it did eventually catch up to him and when it did, it was hell for not only him but everyone around him.

The nightmares left him howling and screaming and wailing at the very top of his lungs. There was one day even when he showed up to one of Shiloh's practices to help with some photos and he could barely talk because of the screaming that came from a nightmare the night prior. They were always flashes of Ned bleeding out, Shiloh almost getting ripped to shreds, Flash being electrocuted. The building. Losing his leg, bleeding, the gore, everything. He's in a constant state of reliving his worst moments. And because of that, he, unfortunately, remembers what he did when he wanted to sleep and avoid it.

Morphine.

It's a heavy drug, one doctors don't really like to prescribe for this exact reason but Peter was prescribed it to deal with his pain. But, he's been relying on it to sleep, not for pain. He needs to sleep, he takes double what he's supposed to because being his superhuman body metabolizes it too quickly and he needs more. And sure, it does help him sleep, dreamless nights even, but at what cost?

Michelle.

It's hard to be a hero when you're stoned out of your mind and didn't catch the call your girlfriend was attacked by your infamous villain, the Green Goblin. Peter was woken up when May got the news MJ was in trouble. The Goblin was Peter's villain but Wanda stepped in with Shiloh to take care of it before Peter showed up but Michelle was already gone by the time the two of them had arrived. And it only got worse when Peter came.

One look at Michelle's body laying lifeless and he lost it. Norman didn't even stand a chance. Peter's intent wasn't to kill him but in the fit of agony and maybe even his high, he forgot his strength just for a second and killed Norman with a single punch. Ever since then, Peter simply doesn't care when he's high and when he's not. If he can't save the people he loves, what's the point?

And now, apparently, he's resulted in finally being arrested.

"Okay," Shiloh says quietly, grabbing a pair of her sweatpants, moving the phone between her shoulder and ear. "I've got him."

Ned sighs. "You're gonna get him?" There's a different kind of strike in Ned's tone, catching Shiloh off guard.

"Yeah? Why wouldn't I?" Shiloh asks, holding the phone back with her hand.

"You're always chasing after him, aren't you tired of it? You should call your dad." Ned asks and it's a blunt question, one he wants a brutally honest answer for. It's four in the morning and he's tired but so is Shiloh.

Peter's a good hero, heart of gold really but after Michelle, he just can't do it. He's been getting into trouble, mostly petty crimes that would only result in a cheap fine but it's crime nonetheless. And Shiloh is the one always making sure he's not getting into too much trouble, making sure he isn't like this, high while out and walking around. Tonight's the one night Shiloh decided to take to be with her girlfriend, live her own life for once. So, Ned's question is valid.

Shiloh sits on the bed to slide on her shoes, phone still balancing between her ear and her shoulder. "He's my friend and he's yours, too, last time I checked. And..." Shiloh trails off. "I can't get my dad involved and you know that."

It's not that Shiloh can't get Tony involved, it's that she doesn't want to. Peter always looked up to Tony and if he knew what Peter was getting into, Tony would be disappointed. Shiloh doesn't want that added guilt and disappointment weighing on his shoulders even if it might be the better decision.

A groan comes from the other end. "I know." Ned says. "He's my best friend, I love him like a brother but--"

"But what?" Shiloh grabs her phone and switches ears.

"I think your dad is a better option." Ned admits, sorrow in his voice.

"He's not. I know he's not. I can do this, okay? I get you don't want to or you can't but I can and I will." Shiloh lets out a breath, bringing her voice down. "My responsibility. I promised."

On the other end of the phone, Betty is handing Ned a cup of tea, her brows pulled together in a look of sadness for her long-time boyfriend. "Thanks." Ned says to her, his face relaxing before he goes back to the conversation with Shiloh. "Shiloh," Ned says. "You can't save everyone."

"I'm not trying to save everyone." Shiloh retorts.

"Fine, you can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved." Ned's words are blunt and harsh.

"Guess I'll die trying." Shiloh almost snaps as she locates the athletic jacket on the floor and slides it over her arms, taking a glance at Cindy who looks only disappointed, sending a wave of guilt over Shiloh.

"You already almost died trying." Ned's teeth are clenched together with his words. "Do you not remember that?" He's losing Peter and he's afraid he's losing Shiloh, too.

Shiloh scoffs. "No, I forget every fucking time I look in a mirror."

Ned shakes his head. "I didn't mean it that way." Ned says.

"I know." Shiloh responds. "It's four in the morning, Pete's been arrested, and we're worried." Shiloh's voice is brought back down as she squeezes the bridge of her nose.

"Yeah."Ned says, understanding in his voice. "Tell him to call me, okay?" Ned asks, dropping the argument.

"I will." Shiloh states. "Wish me luck, not his favorite person." Shiloh huffs, walking over to Cindy's side of the bed.

"Good luck, got your stuff?" Ned asks.

"Never leave home without it." Shiloh chuckles, pulling Cindy in for a hug.

"Good luck, be safe."

"Will do, text you when I get him out." Shiloh reassures before the two hang up, leaving Shiloh to look at her girlfriend with sad eyes. "I have to."

"It's something you have to do." Cindy says, it's disappointment but also frustration in her voice. "Answer me, will there ever be a day you pick me first?"

Shiloh shrugs and shakes her head. "It's not picking him first, Cindy--"

"Then what is it? I haven't seen you in weeks because you're always going after him. You almost died--"

"Don't go there." Shiloh warns. "You weren't there."

"I'm trying." Cindy pleads. "But you always leave like this."

"We've been through more than you can imagine. Life is shit but Pete and me, make it work. We get it. You don't have to but it's four in fucking morning and my best friend was arrested and I need sweet talk these fucking cops and hope to fuck they'll let me take him otherwise I have to pull the fucking Tony Stark card so if you want to fight this over, I'll call you in the morning."

It's hard and Shiloh isn't stupid, she knows that. She's watched her mom go through it. Her dad might not have completely chosen the hero life, it kind of fell into his lap and became something or a moral obligation but her mom didn't sign up for that. She's in love with Tony and she knew Tony before he was Iron Man and she didn't choose to be in danger or to be rushed off with her kid when something goes south or have to deal with the thought of Tony never coming home and it almost happening all the time. She didn't sign up for that when she met him but Tony makes it worth it and all Shiloh wants to do is be like her dad but, looking at a teary-eyed Cindy and hearing Ned snapping and knowing Peter is sitting in a cell, she knows she's failing. She's not a hero and Cindy didn't sign up for this.

"Go, I'll call you later." Cindy mutters, getting to her knees and kissing Shiloh's cheek.

"Okay." Shiloh nods, quickly grabbing her wallet before exiting the bedroom and then the apartment entirely.

Shiloh makes her way to the station Ned texted her and she's doesn't even have to work herself up for it. She knows she'll walk in there and either they'll immediately hand Peter over when Shiloh gives them money or she'll be calling Tony. Tony faces enough guilt with Peter and Shiloh, she doesn't want her dad to deal with this, too. If he can handle everything under the sun, Shiloh can take care of her friend. They're not kids anymore.

The station is horribly lit with fluorescent lights as if it were the basement of a run-down school. The scent of floor cleaner burns Shiloh's nostrils as she walks to the front desk where an officer is seated very clearly bored at the computer. A large thin slice of pizza is sitting beside the officer, the plate already having small grease stains and it's not until the officer reaches for the pizza that he even notices Shiloh.

"Ah, Stark." He greets, cheeky grin and all, discarding the pizza across the desk.

"Hi." Shiloh says with the roll of her shoulders. "My friend was arrested, I'm here to bail him out." Shiloh cuts to the chase, already feeling a little uncomfortable.

"Her name?" The office gives her a side eye with the question.

"His name is Peter. Peter Parker." Shiloh says through a sigh.

"Sky High? That's your friend?" The officer scoffs, looking down the hallway and back to her. "Didn't think someone like you would--"

"I don't have time for this. What's his bail?" Shiloh asks, pulling her wallet from her pocket.

The officer scoffs. "Who said he's getting out tonight? He doesn't know which way is up."

"Well, I'm not leaving until you let me bail him out. So, how much is his bail?" Shiloh stands un-wavered by the officer's strict and condescending tone.

The officer gains a smirk with the shrug of one shoulder. "Give me everything you have and we'll call it even or, we can process him."

"That's bribery and extortion. You should know you're being recorded at all times so you're going to tell me his bail, right now, or I'll be on the phone with Colonel James Rhodes and you're going to deal with a lot worse than me." Shiloh offers with a smile and the officer immediately stands up, leaning over the desk.

"Bullshit, why don't you call daddy?"

Shiloh holds the same, irking smile. "Marty? Playback, please."

"Yes, miss." Marty, Shiloh's AI responds through her ear and a hologram comes through the arc reactor necklace around her neck, showing every detail and allowing every word that's been shared between Shiloh and the officer to be on display. "Call Rhodey."

"Okay." The officer stops her. "It's two hundred."

"End call." Shiloh says and she pulls out the money, not bothering to even figure out if that's right, her only concern being to get Peter out of there and sober him up.

"Wait here." The officer glares at her but makes his way down the hallway and to the back where the cells are.

Shiloh waits, weight shifting between feet as she waits. She checks the time and it's almost five in the morning and it's too early to be doing this. She's too old to deal with this but she doesn't seem to have much choice. It's just exhausting and all Shiloh wants is a simple rewind.

She wants to go back to when it started and be there for Peter, whether it be for Michelle or for when he lost his leg. Maybe had she been the one arriving earlier, maybe Peter wouldn't be here. Maybe had she just set up the emergency alarm sooner, maybe things would all be different and the guilt just eats away at her, a constant gnawing every single time she thinks about it and every single time she sees Peter. And it only amplifies as Peter is being walked out with the officer, his hair disheveled and dirty, one shoe untied, favoring his left leg as he limps, and a lazy smile turning into a scowl when he spots Shiloh.

"He's yours." The officer says.

"Thanks. C'mon, Pete." Shiloh goes to grab his arm but Peter yanks it away, walking past her and for the door.

Shiloh hangs her head, a deep and frustrated sigh coming from the back of her throat before she follows Peter.

"Go." Peter says, word thick and rough.

"You're high." Shiloh says, still walking behind him as they walk along the sidewalk.

"Not high enough." Peter mutters.

Shiloh's blood starts to boil as her teeth grind and her fists ball at her sides. Peter hasn't been exactly kind to her since Michelle died. Shiloh thought it was just Peter grieving, his way of blaming himself was to blame everyone else, too but now it's been almost a year and Peter still gives Shiloh the cold shoulder. He gives her entire family the cold shoulder. But, Shiloh is determined.

"Peter, stop!" Shiloh yells after him but he keeps walking. "What is your damage, Parker?" She questions, running to catch up with him and walk in front of him.

Peter bumps right into her and his face immediately shoots red with anger. "YOU." Peter yells at her, eyes locked on hers and all Shiloh can see is hatred and pain and agony in his eyes.

"What did I do then? Yell at me for whatever and let's move on. You're high for fuck's sake!" Shiloh's arm flails out in frustration.

"Just leave me the fuck alone!" Peter yells right back but he doesn't make an attempt to move.

"No! You're my friend and I'm not gonna watch you kill yourself!"

"Then don't!" The veins in Peter's neck stick out with his scream and it doesn't even hurt him but it hurts Shiloh.

"No." Shiloh lowers her voice. "I won't watch you kill yourself because I'm not gonna let you."

"It's not your choice." Peter's giving her a death glare, almost determined to just spite her.

"Look, we've all been through shit and I'm sorry that you always get dealt the wrong end of the stick, okay? You deserve so much better but this isn't you. I'm worried about you."

"Then get over it." Peter retorts." She's dead because of you."

Shiloh nearly yells out in frustration. "She's not dead because of me and she's not dead because of Wanda or you. Or anyone besides Norman. I'm fucking sorry we didn't get there in time but MJ was my friend, too. She might have been your girlfriend but she was my friend. You were the one stoned. Maybe get sober and..." Shiloh stops and she's realizing she's taking it too far.

Peter nods. "And what? Go ahead." Peter scoffs.

"Get sober. See a doctor. You have a limp and you shouldn't. We're here for you, Peter." Shiloh drops it, keeping her voice level.

"I don't want you." Peter scowls. "Fuck off."

"No." Shiloh puts a hand on Peter's chest, stopping him from walking away but also knowing he has the strength to push her away with ease if he wanted. "We're worried. This," Shiloh points her finger between the two them. "We do it together because we get it right?"

Peter looks at her and he's still so angry with her that it's hard to keep himself from pushing her away but his eyes are on her face. Those scars that go from temple to chin on the right side of face. They get it. And it hurts. Those scars did so much damage to her. Shiloh is headstrong but Peter remembers her trying to deal with it, trying to get back into cheerleading once her other wounds were healed. It was agony for her and it was devastating to Peter knowing that it was his villain that did it and it was because they were friends. And maybe that's a reason to stay away from her or maybe it's a reason to keep talking to her.

"I miss her." Peter mutters, leaning for the latter of his choices.

Shiloh hangs her head with a soft nod. "I know. It's gonna be okay, eventually." Shiloh tries to reassure but Peter's jaw is moving just enough where she knows he's trying to keep himself calm. But she doesn't even have time to address it before her phone interrupts them and she was all ready to send it right to voicemail until she sees it's Tony. "Hey?"

"You need to get to the clock tower." Tony says. "Sam is on his way now and I'm right behind him."

"Why?" Shiloh's heart races with Tony's words. She doesn't usually face anyone, facing the aliens at the Avengers building and in Wakanda were rare events. Shiloh does what she can but she keeps her eyes on Peter a lot. "What's wrong?"

"It's May. The funky looking elf has her."

Shiloh's eyes go wide as she looks to Peter and it's as if he's sobered up immediately. His pupils aren't dilated and his face has gone ghost white. Peter's superhuman hearing isn't always the best.

"The goblin?" Shiloh asks for confirmation but before Tony can answer, Peter's ripping the phone from Shiloh.

"The Green Goblin has May?" Peter asks, his voice trying to be strong but there are slight cracks in the words.

Tony pauses but only for a second, knowing he doesn't have the time to argue with him. "Yeah, kid. Give the phone back t--"

Peter tosses the phone at Shiloh before he heads to the clocktower, Shiloh chasing after him while putting the phone to her ear. "How bad is it?"

"I wouldn't have called if I knew you were with the Spider-Ling." Tony says and Shiloh can hear the unease in Tony's voice.

It's bad.

"I'll be there in ten minutes. Send the Iron-Spider suit to Peter." Shiloh hangs up and presses her finger to the necklace, armor coming out from it and coating her body in the red metal before she takes off using the blasters.

When Shiloh arrived, it was bad. It was worse than just bad. It was horrifying and paralyzing. The Green Goblin had May at the top of the clock tower, Peter scaling the building dawning the Iron Spider suit. Tony and Rhodey were flying around the tower, clearly trying to talk the villain down, to let May go but this villain, he's only a little more than deranged. This isn't about winning, this is strictly about causing the most pain he can to Peter and what better way to do that than to capture his aunt, the woman he's looked at as a mother for most of his life, and drop her?

That's the thing with being a hero. Always making enemies, always making your enemies hate you even more. That's the case with Peter. Norman killed MJ, Peter killed Norman, albeit accidentally but killed nonetheless, and now his son Harry is out for revenge. Peter killed his father so it's time for him to kill the person Peter looks at as his mother.

And it all happens too fast to even process. One second, Harry is holding May and the next, the hoverboard he's on starts firing, distracting and trying to kill Tony and Sam while he let's go of May. Peter tries to shoot a web for her and misses, Shiloh is flying as fast as she can but all of that falls useless as Harry turns the board down and takes a fatal shot to May, killing her just before Shiloh reaches her, just before Peter's web grabs the both them, and just before Sam grabs the green villain. It's too late.

-------

The sky is grey as clouds cover the usually vibrant blue and blinding sun. The cold breeze sends the occasion chill down spines as a crowd of people gather in the gloomed cemetery, not ready to put May to rest but having no other choice. Not a person is dressed in anything other than black, the funeral seeming to make it all worse. It makes it real.

Peter has his hair slicked back, a full black suit hanging from his body, his head hung low. The casket has been lowered and people are leaving, most of them giving Peter a squeeze on the shoulder before leaving him to his own. He hasn't said a word the entire service, not quite knowing or understanding how he's going to live or process a life without his aunt May.

Before any of this, he always felt like he was drowning, consistently treading water and suffering to breathe but now it's like he's just accepted this is life. A life of misery and danger and sadness and loss all wrapped into one and now he's just letting his body sink. He's still drowning but it's silent and maybe that's most deadly form.

A hand rests on Shiloh's shoulder, pulling her attention away from Peter as she watch him from a distance. Her eyes look up to see Tony standing beside her.

"We're gonna head out, meet you back at the tower?" He asks, eyes misty.

"Yeah," Shiloh answer shortly, nodding to her mom.

Pepper looks to Peter and back to Shiloh with sad eyes. "Why don't you try and talk to him again?"

"Yeah." Shiloh responds again, eyes going back to Peter. "Go ahead, I won't be long." She reassures and her parents nod, heading back to their own car with heavy hearts.

All that's left now is Shiloh, Peter, and Ned with Betty at his side. A light breeze picks up and the air starts to smell of the smallest hint of rain. The scene of the sky and the dullness around her could be considered the exact opposite compared to how Peter looks. The small curls that always falls onto his forehead is hanging down but he's not bothered to move it from his vision. His eyes haven't even moved from the casket. His shoulders are slumped, barely even moving with his breath and his lips are pulled into a straight line, almost emotionless, just almost. And all Shiloh can do is hang her head as she tries to find a way to talk to Peter.

"You gonna talk to him?" Ned asks, standing beside her, leaving Betty behind to have a moment alone.

Shiloh glances to her friend with a nod. "Yep."

"You're just standing here though." Ned offers with furrowed brows and sad eyes.

"Yep." Shiloh answers, sucking on her teeth, hand moving to fiddle with the silver and blue necklace around her neck.

"He needs us." Ned states, brows raising as if he's trying to get more of a response from her, hoping to get a better response.

"Yep."

"Can you say anything besides "yep", please?" Ned asks, the tiredness in his voice leaking through.

"Sorry." Shiloh says, sucking in a breath. "I'm worried about him."

"Yeah, me, too." Ned puts a hand on her shoulder. "But, we've helped him get through everything so far. He can get through this, too."

Shiloh nods, glancing to Ned with a fake smile, trying her best to hide her fear for Peter. "Yeah, I know."

Ned nods, unsure of what else he could say to try and convince Shiloh differently. "Betty and I are going to our house but if you want, you can come by later." Ned offers.

Shiloh shakes her head before declining the offer. "I think I'm just gonna go stay at the tower. Everyone is there for a few days and maybe I can convince Peter to show up or something." Shiloh sighs. "Maybe."

Shiloh knows it's a long shot, she's only fooling herself really but she also knows that Peter needs to be at the tower. Everyone is there. Thor, Bucky, Wanda, Clint, Nat, everyone is there. All of them came today, all for Peter. Being with everyone would help him even just momentarily but Peter isn't always easy to convince and today would be the worst day to convince him to do anything.

"Okay, good luck." Ned offers a quick hug to her. "Text me if you change your mind."

Shiloh nods her head with a quiet promise to text him later before Ned heads back to Betty, the two of them allowing Peter and Shiloh to be the only two left in the cemetery. Shiloh isn't afraid of very much, it comes with the territory of her dad and everything she's either been through or seen but one thing she is afraid of is interacting Peter right now.

Peter already blamed her for MJ and Shiloh's certain he's going to blame her for May as well. He can't even look at her or her family and it is terrible, excruciating even. If Peter handled MJ's death with using drugs to sleep, Shiloh can only imagine the length Peter is going to go to get sleep or even function with May's death. He'll need help but it's like Ned said, she can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved. If Peter already felt his world was crumbling with MJ, his world has just imploded with May and he definitely doesn't want any form of help now.

But, nonetheless, Shiloh doesn't give up that easily. She might be worried to talk to him but she won't give up on people she cares about. It'll kill her one day but if she's helping her friends and the people she loves, that's okay. It'll be worth it. So, Shiloh takes the walk to Peter and stands at his side, facing him.

"Peter?" Shiloh whispers and, as expected, Peter doesn't even move. His eyes close but with his head hung, Shiloh doesn't even notice. "Everyone is back at the tower, maybe..." Shiloh trails off, putting a hand on his arm. "You could come back with me and--"

Shiloh's cut off with the sudden movement of Peter. She went from her hand being on his arm to the palms of his hands landing hard on her collarbones and shoving her away from him. The force of the push sends her to the ground, staring up at him with wide eyes and normally, Peter would have been an apologizing mess for using his strength but his face is red and his eyes are puffy. Dark bags decorate the pale skin under his eyes and the lines on his forehead spell out every ounce of his fury.

"Don't fucking touch me." Peter snarls and Shiloh's about to stand up and fight back but Peter's standing over her and yelling. "This is your fault! Your fault and Tony's! If you'd just stayed out of my life none of this would have happened! May's dead and it's your fault!" Tears escape Peter's eyes, falling down his cheeks with his broken words.

"Hey," Shiloh says, trying to keep her own voice from breaking. "I tried. I tried, we all tried."

"It wasn't enough!" Peter cries out. "She's dead! It wasn't enough, it's never enough! You're not enough! You're supposed to be some fucking genius like your dad and you're supposed to save people but you've never saved anyone!" Peter's voice continues to rise and all Shiloh can do is take his yelling. If it were anyone else, she'd have laid them out already, but it's Peter. "You show up and people die! My girlfriend, my aunt, Flash! You killed Harry! All you do is kill people and bring death!"

Everything he says hurts a lot more than Shiloh would like to admit. Peter knows where she's most vulnerable and he's hitting every spot. Her entire life she's wanted to be like her dad and now Peter's knocking her down from that. Shiloh wants to be good enough and most days she knows she is but then there have been those days where everything feels like it's too much and too loud and too heavy and it's not enough, she's not enough and she'd confide in Peter. Now he's using that against her. And it all stings.

Shiloh can feel the back of her eyes burning while thunder rips through the sky above them. "Look, Pete, I know this hurts--"

"Hurts?" Peter chuckles coldly, a few drops of rain landing on his face. "Are you hearing yourself?" Peter's eyes lock with hers and the disgust that fills his face makes Shiloh's stomach turn. Peter shakes his head, taking a few steps back. "Go home." Peter states, words perfectly enunciated.

"Come with me." Shiloh says, getting to her feet, ignoring the collapsing pain in your chest.

"Can you hear me? Why don't you understand? I hate you." Peter's teeth clench together while he tries to keep his bottom lip from quivering.

"You don't mean that." Shiloh says, just above a whisper, not sure who she's trying to convince. Her or Peter.

Peter shoves his hands in pockets, afraid he might push her again. "I fucking hate you." Peter says, swallowing the lump in his throat.

"Come with me." Shiloh says, trying not to be phased by his words.

Peter shakes his head and he has to suck in a breath, blood boiling and his bones screaming, cool rain starting to cascade from the sky in irony. "I never want to see you again." Peter says, turning away from her, leaving her alone in the rain.

"Peter!" Shiloh calls after him, walking and trying to keep up with him, afraid of what he's going to do but he can sense and hear her following him.

Peter barely looks over his shoulder before his arm twists around and a ball of webbing shoots just in front of her. It makes three ticks before it explodes, sending Shiloh back a few feet, webbing getting on her and knocking the wind out of her as her back hits the ground. This, Peter using his own web grenades on Shiloh, draws the line in the sand, saying exactly where her and Peter stand. They're not friends. He's not okay. And this is going to be hell.