Tony brought me back to the compound.
He didn't say a word the entire flight. I could feel anger radiating off him like heat- the kind that comes from fear more than frustration.

The moment we stepped inside, he spun.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" He yelled

His voice echoed off the metal walls. For a moment, I was ten years old again- Hydra flickering overhead, someone shouting orders, fear burning down my spine.

"You're on the run, Elizabeth! What if Ross saw you, huh? He's got over a hundred looking for you  every minute of every day! One slip up, and you're done" he said

"I know. I know, It was stupid, I just-I just wanted to help Peter" I said

"It was stupid!" He snapped. Then softer.

"What is it with you and Peter anyway? Are you two....together or something?" He asked

"What? No! No, we're not" I said

He stared at me- suspicious, tired.

"He's just a friend. I didn't want him to do it alone" I said

Tony sighed and ran his hands over his face, the frustration melting into something sadder.
"Just..... I'll have happy to take you home. Please, Elizabeth, just be careful. I don't want you to get caught." He said

I nodded.
"I know. I'm sorry" I said

He crossed the room and hugged me- brief, but real. When he pulled me back, his voice softened again
"And Elizabeth....Drop this whole thing. Make sure Peter does too" he said

I just nodded again.

School felt different after that- louder, emptier. Like the walls were closing in, even though this was supposed to be freedom.

The Principal Morita called me in.
"You just need to pull your head in and focus on your studies. You're bright, if you want to be."

I nodded.
"Yes, sir" I said

"Alright, you can go. Tell Parker to come in" he said

I nodded, then walked out.

I glanced at Peter.
"You're turn. Have fun" I said

"Thanks" he muttered, walking in.

I wandered the halls until I found an empty room- or so I thought. When I opened the door, Peter and Ned were mid-conversation. I caught a glimpse of panic on their faces before I quickly backed up.

"Sorry" I mumbled, walking away.

"Wait- El- Bella" Peter called out:

I stopped. Turned.
"Yeah?" I ask

He jogged up, awkward but fidgety.
"I just- I wanted to ask you something" he said

"Okay.....what is it?" I ask

He opened his mouth, words stumbling over themselves.
"Would you- um- would you-" he started

"Hey, Peter!"

We both turned. Ann Allen, smiling, confident.

"Oh, hey, Ann" Peter said, his tone dropping half an octave in about a second.

"I have a question!" She said brightly.

Peter blinked.
"Uh- yeah, sure" He said

"Would you go to homecoming with me?" She asked

The world seemed to stop for half a second. His face fell, then forced a smile.
"Uh-Yeah. Yeah, sure" he said

"Perfect! I'll text you my address" she waved and disappeared down the hall.

Peter turned back to me, face flushed.

"Well, look at you." I said smiling, even though something in my chest twisted tight.
"Going with your crush to homecoming" I said

"She's not-" he started, then sighed.
"She's not really my crush" he said

"Oh. Well, Ned told me- never mind. What did you want to ask me?" I said

"Uh...can we talk later? At your place?" He said

"Yeah. Sure" I nod

He showed up that evening, knocking softly.

"Hey, Peter" I said, stepping aside to let him in.

"Hey" he said, voice quieter than usual.

"What did you want to talk about?" I ask

He hesitated.
"Just about the whole bird guy thing. Tony talked to me, told me to drop it, and I just don't think I can-" he starts

"Peter, no" I cut him off.

"What?" He asked

"You need to listen him. Just drop it. Please" I said

He frowned.
"Are you kidding me? Why?" He asked

"It doesn't matter. You should go get ready for tonight" I t said

"No, tell me why" he said

"Peter-" I start

"No, I'm serious! I'm trying to have a real conversation here!" He said

His voice was shaper than I'd ever heard it.
"I thought out of everyone, you'd understand what it's like to want to help people. To try to be better!" He yelled

"I do understand!" I yelled back.

"Then tell me why you want me to drop it so bad!" He demanded.

"Because I don't want you dying, alright?!" The words ripped out of me before I could stop them.
"I can't have someone I'm close to die again!" I said

The room went silent.

Peter froze, confusion and guilt flickering across his face.
"Elizabeth... im sorry-" he starts

"No, it's fine. Just...go get ready for tonight" I whisper

He didn't move.
"Please, Peter" I said

He finally nodded, and walked out.

When the door closed behind him, I fell to my knees.

For a while, I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Just saw their faces- Alexander. Pietro. Then the people I wasn't sure I'd see again- Wanda. Steve. Sam. Clint. Nat. They all echoed in my head, like ghosts I could never outrun.

So I did the only thing that ever calmed me down.
I sang.

"Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green
When you are King, dilly dilly,
I shall be Queen...."

My voice cracked halfway through, but I kept going- the melody soft, like a lullaby i was singing to the dead.

By the time I finished, my room was quiet. Empty.

Then my phone buzzed.

Peter.

I hesitated, but answered.

"The bird man!" He shouted

"What? Peter- What's wrong?" I ask

"It's Ann's dad! The bird man is Ann's dad!"
He yelled

"What?!" I said

"Yeah, he threatened me- He threatened you. He knows who you are. He said your name" he said

My blood ran cold.

"Where are you?" I ask

"I don't know- I'll send you my location. Just meet me there!" He yelled

"I'm coming" I said, already pulling on my suit.

Ross. The raft. My freedom- none of it mattered.

The only thing that did was making sure Peter was okay.