Alone

13: Promise?

After everyone but a few were left I collapsed onto the ground feeling, sore everywhere. I stood up feeling tired. I had never used my powers to this extent before. My head ached as I gathered darkness around me, eventually letting it go due to the pain.
"We got to move out. I can tell the air is getting real thin. You guys get to the boats, I'll sweep for stragglers." Steve said. Now it was Wanda, Clint, Natasha, and I still left in the church.
"What about the core?" Clint asked.
"I'll protect it." Wanda said stepping near the core, everyone's eyes darted towards her. "It's my job."
Clint nodded his head and turned to Natasha, "Nat, this way." He said as they ran off. Steve looked at Wanda and I and nodded once and ran off.
"Pietro will take you to the boat, you need to rest." Wanda said stepping close to me and placing a hand on my shoulder.
"No! I can fight more, I can't leave you here on your own." A smile spread across her face as I said in frustration.
"You've done well Lizzy, but you need to rest. I can handle myself, I will see you on the boat, okay?" She said, still smiling.
A loud sound was made and I turned around to see Pietro.
"Get Lizzy and the people on the boats." Wanda said, making Pietro look at her questioningly.
"I'm not going to leave you here." He said with sternness in his voice.
"I can handle this." She replied turning towards an incoming Ultron, immediately crushing it. He looked and nodded in satisfaction, seeming convinced. "Come back for me when everyone else is off, not before." She said. Pietro nodded and walked towards me ready to pick me up. "You understand?"
"You know, I'm twelve minutes older than you." He said with a light laugh, Wanda and I both smiled at him.
"Go." She said smiling at us both. I turned to Wanda now.
"Please be safe." I said as I hugged her, when we parted she smiled pinching my cheek and nodding. I turned to Pietro who smiled and picked me up and ran. In a matter of seconds we were on the boat, he set me down, and was about to run off before I stopped him.
"Pietro?" I said as he turned back around to look at me.
"Yes Lizzy?" He said squatting down to my height.
"You will be back too, right?" I said quietly, fear in my voice.
"Of course, I will be back in no time, I'm just going to make sure no one is left behind, and no Ultron's get out of here." He said smiling.
"Promise?" I asked. A smile still on his face.
"Promise. But you stay here okay, don't leave the boat, understand?" He said standing up now.
"You don't have to talk to me like I'm five, I'm fourteen you know." I said with a light laugh. A smile formed on his face, and he laughed too.

"Just stay, Lizzy. Okay?" He said, still smiling, and walking towards me wrapping me in his arms.
"Okay." I said, feeling so warm and comforting I almost forgot about the events around me.
"I love you Pietro." I said quietly.
"I love you too Lizzy." He replied, as we parted. Clint then ran up to the boat, and smiled at us.
"Clint, make sure she stays here." Pietro said. Clint nodded and turned to the passengers on the boat. Pietro turned towards me and smiled.
"I'll see you in a little." He said. I smiled and nodded.
"Okay I'll see you in a little." With that he smiled and ran off. I watched as the blue streak behind him faded. I held onto my necklace, feeling comfort from it.
"It'll be okay Lizzy. They'll be back." I said to myself, still fiddling with the gold chain nervously. I opened the locket looking once more at the picture of my brother and sister both smiling, I took a deep breath and closed the locket.