Notes:

Loki is Dark Loki in this story. Just warning ya :) and this is a shorter chapter than normal. This deserves to be a stand-alone chapter.

Summary:

At the climax of the battle with Loki, Spiderman is critically injured. As she held the young hero in her arms, she felt true sadness for the first time. His blood..pooling beneath her. She didn't want to let him go. She just couldn't. She wasn't ready to let him go. Because she loved him.

Previously:

"I've struck you down before. What makes you think you will be victorious this time?" Loki asked.

"Because."

Jessica's whole body suddenly became engulfed in flames, expanding until the flames were twice her size. The temperature of the whole room increased. Loki glowed gold, spear forming in his hand. His blue skin radiated cold. But not as much as the heat from Jessica's flames.

"I will make sure you pay for what you have done." Jessica glared at Loki.

"Very well." Loki grinned. "Let us make chaos."

OO-OO
OO-OO

The room was tense. Two strong beings who possessed the power of polar opposite elements were about to battle it out. Some were worried, some were excited. But mainly, people were worried. Jessica took a fighting stance. As did Loki. The two of them ran at each other. Well, Jessica flew, wrapped in flames. As soon as the two touched, an explosion sent them flying apart. Jessica fell onto her back on the stage, flames extinguished. Loki caught himself. Wobbling slightly, Jessica got to her feet, wiping the blood from her lip, hair messed up.

"Is that all you've got?" Loki sneered.

"Far...from it..." Jessica panted.

She held out one arm. Steam rose from it as he arm glowed red. Pieces of molten rock appeared on her arm, making it look like she'd dipped it in Lava. It then grew, until it was eight times its original size. Peter gaped, mouth hanging open.

"Hey, I thought we stopped her from doing that years ago because it put a strain on her body." Tony said worriedly.

"It means she's determined." Fury commented.

"I wouldn't want to be Loki right now." Peter chuckled.

Jessica then made her other arm grow to the same size. Loki fired a bolt of blue magic at her. She easily blocked it. It sizzled on contact with her arms. Puzzled, Loki sent a copy of himself running after her. Sighing, Jessica grabbed the copy's head with one arm, and flung it back towards Loki, knocking him over like she was playing bowling. The audience laughed, and you could see the embarassed look on Loki's face as he got to his feet with as much dignity as he could muster.

"Interesting." Loki mused.

"I'm flattered." Jessica smiled.

Loki glared. Jessica glared back. Her eyes, even they seemed to be on fire. Steam rose from her whole body. The ground rumbled, and the stage started crackling. Jessica's wings sprouted from her back, lit up in flames. Loki paled slightly. He started murmuring something, eyes closed. He started glowing blue as he reverted to his Jotun form. Snow began to fall lightly around him. He held out his staff with both hands. Jessica held out her own two huge hands.

"Is that a good idea?" Peter asked Thor.

"If Loki is attempting what I think he is...father, I think it would be best if we stop Loki now." Thor readied Mjolnir.

"Why, what's he doing?" Fury asked.

"Trying to teleport himself away. And take Miss Jessica with him." Thor answered.

But Thor was proved wrong. Jessica raised her hands above her head, and a ball of fire started forming. It grew and grew, gathering heat, steam rising from the ground. The audience took several steps back as the ball of fire grew to an incredible size. Jessica's eyes went white. She held the ball of fire in one hand. A ball of blue magic the same size was held by Loki.

They both prepared to throw.

Odin ordered everyone to get back.

Jessica launched the ball of fire, and Loki fired the magic sphere. Both of them retained eye contact.

People ran away, desperate to escape the impending blast.

Peter struggled to get forward, to pull Jessica away, but Thor held him back, reassuring him that Jessica would be ok.

The two spheres clashed, and a bright white light filled the room, temporarily blinding everyone still in the room.

When it cleared, everyone stared. Both Jessica and Loki were on their knees. Jessica looked more tired than Loki, but Odin was impressed that Jessica was still conscious. But he also decided that that was enough. He got up to the stage, when a blue barrier rose up. He cursed in Old Norse, and the others immediately rushed over.

"A barrier. High level. We cannot get through...this is bad." Odin mused. "Anyone who goes through could die. Thor, get the magic specialists. They should be able to bring this barrier down."

Thor nodded before dashing off.

Jessica struggled to her feet, Loki doing likewise. But while Loki stood tall, Jessica collapsed onto her front. She was unable to get up as Loki walked over. He picked her up by the neck with his left hand, holding her up in the air with little difficulty.
Peter dashed forward, and attempted to grt through, but the barrier sent a flurry of cuts up his arms. Tony had the suitcase armour on him. Deciding that this was the last straw, he immediately equipped it, slightly entertained by the strange looks the Asgardians gave him. Once it was fully equipped, he too attempted to break through. Tony had almost made it through when the barrier blasted him back. He crashed into Bruce, who was already clenching his fists together.

The two struggled up.

Loki raised his spear, and held it over Jessica's heart. She struggled to keep her eyes open.

"Any last words?" Loki asked.

Peter got halfway through the barrier, cuts appearing all over his body. It kept eletrocuting him, even giving him burns, but he kept on trying to push through. Tony too kept throwing himself at the barrier. Even Fury had got out a machine gun and started shooting where Tony was, trying to at least weaken the barrier. Seeing their determination, Odin too tried to break the barrier.

"I got two..." Jessica gripped Loki's arms. Her hands glowed red hot. Loki gritted his teeth as Jessica grinned. "...fuck you."

She somehow kicked Loki in the chest, and sent him flying backwards. Wiping the blood off her lips and nursing her sore neck, Jessica grinned.

Loki suddenly vanished.

Peter was almost through the barrier. Almost there, his spidey powers trying to heal his wounds as he struggled through the barrier.

Loki reappeared behind Jessica, and got one arm round her neck.

Time...just...

Seemed to slow down...

As Loki got out his spear.

Held it tight...

Then it all happened too fast. The audience could only watch on in horror as the spear pierced Jessica's skin, not damaging her spine, but piercing her heart until the bloody tip emerged from her front. Every member of the audience screamed in horror. With one last desperate shot from Tony, the barrier finally fell. Just as Thor returned with the magic specialists.

Moments too late...

Too late...

Tony fired a stronger bolt at Loki, which rendered the God unconscious, spear vanishing. Odin immediately restrained him.

Peter immediately went over to Jessica. Blood was already beginning to pool underneath her. Peter gently rolled Jessica onto her front. She groaned in protest. Shaking, Peter cradled Jessica in his arms, her head on his shoulders. The other Avengers knew better than to approach the two. If anyone deserved to hold her while she died, Peter did.

Jessica opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Tears began to roll down her face.

She knew.

She knew she was dying.

Jessica knew.

And it broke Peter's heart.

He held her closer.

They didn't have long left.

"Hey..." Jessica swallowed. "Please don't look like that..."

Peter stared at her.

"Come...on...at least I'll die fashionably..."

Tears began to roll down Peter's face. Even dying, Jessica still refused to be sad.

"I...I wished I told you...properly earlier..but...Jess...I love you. I do. And I wished I had the guts to tell you earlier. Properly." Peter was now crying.

She struggled to sit up. With the last bit of her strength, Jessica reached upwards, and held Peter's face with both hands, smiling...of all things. She looked into his eyes as she kissed him. A loving kiss. Passionate.

Peter felt her grip weakening. He struggled to hold himself together. Her head fell backwards, and her arms dropped limply to her sides.

"No...no no no no NO!" Peter's voice rose until it hurt everyone's ears.

Peter looked down. Jessica's eyes were closed, but she still had that beautiful smile plastered on her face. It was horrible though. Horrific. In half an hour...everything had changed. Now he was never going to get to ask Jessica to prom. Go out with her. Hear her laugh again. Marry her. Grow old with her. Like those romance movies. Time would never erase this from his memory. He would always be reminded that he was too late. Too late to save her.

Those two words echoed in his head.

Too late...

Too late...

Too late...

This occasion, Peter wasn't ashamed to cry. Even though many were watching. He didn't care. Couldn't care how much his own wounds hurt. Didn't care that he'd get scars. They'd remind him to get faster.

To get better.

To never be late again...

No matter the cost.