To Fix The Future

A whole day had passed, and Peter had stayed in his apartment the entire time, not even going out to play the role of Spider-Man. 

Everything that had happened recently left a heavy psychological burden on him. 

What made things worse was the possibility of being attacked by more heroes if he wore the suit. 

He was simply waiting for things to calm down. 

Peter had also begun to feel like he was being watched by Carol every time he moved around the apartment. 

Honestly, he didn't know why Carol was still in his place. Maybe she was afraid he might try something again, like the last time. 

Thinking about it, it was stupid to attempt jumping off a high building. 

In that moment of breakdown, he had forgotten his enhanced durability. All he would have done was break a few bones, making things even more painful. 

"What an idiot," Peter muttered to himself in the kitchen while preparing some spaghetti for dinner. 

Carol, who had showered and changed into some of Peter's clothes that looked oversized on her, was standing behind him and heard his words. 

"Why?" she asked from behind. 

Peter, who was stirring the spaghetti, turned to look at her. He froze for a moment when he saw her fresh from the shower, staring for just a second. 

Carol smiled at him and said playfully, "Don't stare too much, Peter." 

Feeling embarrassed, Peter rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah… uh… what?" 

Carol stepped a bit closer and pointed at the pan. "I was just wondering… why did you say 'What an idiot'?" 

Peter hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "I was just thinking... about everything. What happened, what could've happened… and I realized that, in a moment of collapse, I tried to do something really stupid. Something that would've made things worse." 

"Like jumping off a building?" Carol said lightly, as if she knew more than she should. 

Peter paused stirring and looked at her for a second, then continued without asking how she knew. 

"I don't even know why I thought that would work. My body… it doesn't let me die easily like others." 

Carol was silent for a moment, then said, "But the pain… it stays. Sometimes, the wounds you can't see are worse than any broken bones." 

He looked at her, sensing something different in her tone. She didn't sound like she was quoting someone or referring to a book. It felt like she was speaking from experience. 

"You… speak like you've been through something like that." 

Carol nodded, but didn't elaborate. "No one stays strong all the time, Peter. Not even me." 

"Then why are you still here?" he asked suddenly. 

She looked at him, eyes showing a bit of hesitation. "Because I was scared." 

"Scared? Of what?" 

"That you'd disappear again." 

Peter raised an eyebrow. "Again? What do you mean? I never disappeared." 

Carol quickly smiled, trying to mask her tension. "I meant… figuratively. That you'd shut down. Lose yourself in the darkness, in solitude… like you almost did." 

Peter nodded slowly. He wasn't entirely convinced, but didn't want to push. 

"Thanks for staying… Carol." 

"Don't thank me, Peter. I just… wanted to make sure you were okay." 

They sat together at the small dining table, eating spaghetti in silence for a while. 

There was something heavy in the air. Something unspoken. 

"Have you ever thought about leaving?" Peter asked. 

"Leaving what?" 

"Leaving Earth again… or reality, or time. Whatever it is." 

Carol almost froze. Did he know? Could he feel it? But she quickly collected herself. 

For a brief moment, she remembered the biggest mistake of her life—leaving Peter for a journey into space. From there, it felt like her life spiraled downward. But she gathered her strength again, just like Peter did. 

Carol replied hesitantly, "Sometimes I feel like I don't belong anywhere. Not here, not out there." 

Peter smiled faintly. "I feel lost most of the time. Everyone around me either doesn't trust me, fears me… or wants something from me." 

"And I just… wanted to see you safe. Even if I'm the only one who knows how close it all came to the end." 

Peter almost asked, "What end?" but held his tongue. 

Sometimes, curiosity brings regret—and he had enough of that already. 

When they finished eating, Peter cleaned the dishes while Carol stood by the window, staring out at the city. 

"Will things calm down?" he asked suddenly. 

"Yes, but not on their own. You need to make a move… choose when to come back, and how." 

"And what if I don't want to come back?" 

She looked at him. "You will, Peter. Because you weren't made to back down. You were made to stand up, again and again." 

Peter smiled quietly. "Tomorrow… maybe I'll go out. Even for a little while." 

"That's enough for a start," Carol replied, smiling back. 

Inside, she prayed that tomorrow would really be a new beginning… not another ending. 

At that moment, the doorbell rang suddenly. 

Peter looked at Carol, who seemed slightly tense, then Carol went to open the door. 

When she did, Peter was stunned by what he saw. 

She was standing there, hand on the door, his eyes widening in surprise. 

Standing in front of her… was Wanda Maximoff. 

Time froze for a moment between the two. Wanda looked at Carol, raised her eyebrows, and said with surprise, "Carol ?" 

"what are you doing here" 

. 

. 

To be continued... 

CAESAR2O NOTE : 

Hey, everyone! Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please leave a review and let me know what you think! Also, if you have any predictions or thoughts on what will happen next, I'd love to hear them. Until next time! 

Disclaimer: All characters belong to their respective creators. This is a work of fanfiction created for entertainment purposes only. 

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