WARNING: THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN 2 SPOILERS

Chapter 19: Maybe it's time to leave

"And the annual Stark ball was cancelled last night due to Tony Stark contracting an infectious. The Avengers have apologised on his behalf, and have said the ball will be rescheduled when Mr Stark is well again-" The TV blabbled in the background as Lex, Nat, Steve, and Loki, who was wrapped up in a dressing gown, sat in the lounge, all in various states of shock. Fury had been called in, and had removed Clint from the tower, and had assured them that he would pay for his actions. Steve had informed Bruce, who said that he would tell Tony, and ensure he didn't try to hunt down Clint. Luke and Jake had gone out on a date, and Peter had gone to see his aunt. Thor was in New Mexico collecting Jane and Darcy, who were coming to live with them.

Are you okay?

I'm fine babe. This has happened before.

You sure?

Sure babe.

Do you mind if I go find Luke? I know he's on a date, but I really need to speak to him.

That's fine, do what you need to. We need to get the whole team here anyway.

Alexis leaned over to Loki and placed a gentle, promising kiss on his lips, then teleported into Central Park, where she knew Luke and Jake had gone. She walked through the line of trees, which were turning a beautiful reddish gold, and saw them sitting on a bench holding hands while talking. She began to walk over but felt a pang of guilt over her connection with Luke. She stopped walking and crouched behind a trunk, and listened in.

"Have you ever cheated on anyone? Or been forced to go out with them?" Jake asked Luke.

Luke looked down guiltily, then back up. "Yes" he whispered, "I was trying to work out who I was, and this girl I was becoming friends with said Lexi was the perfect person to use. Lexi hated the girl; they'd had a feud the whole time we'd stayed in that house. I felt bad, because Lexi loved me, and I didn't feel that way about her. I never told her, because I wanted her to keep her happy. The worse bit is that if I told her, I know she would say it's fine, that's what friends are for, then when nobodies looking she would sneak off and cut. I hate that I did this to her."

"Oh Luke." Jake pulled Luke into a hug. "How didn't she sense it through the bond?"

"I'm better at blocking her than she realises. I can section off what I let through. This I buried more than anything."

Behind the tree, Alexis sat with tears streaming down her face. Everything had been a lie. The person she trusted the most had used her and lied to her. She got up and ran, ran like her life depended on it. She had to get away from here. Once she got far enough away, she teleported back to the tower to her room, and ran to the bathroom. She grabbed a knife and cut. Cut all over her body, not caring whether people could see them or not. At her feet a puddle of blood began to appear. She curled up into a ball on the floor. She realised she'd done exactly what Luke said she would. She thought she knew him but she didn't, when he knew her inside out. She had to get away from everyone. She'd been perfecting her glamour's; she could pull off a convincing one now. She slowly got up, wincing in pain from the cuts. She placed a small healing spell on them, just enough to make the pain bearable, but not forgettable. She shuffled into the bedroom, and grabbed some clothes and a bunch of cash she'd hidden just in case and put it all in a bag. Then, she got some paper and wrote a note.

My love,

I have to go. I can't stay here. Too much has happened, things with Luke. I'll be back in time. Tell Dad I love him, and that I'm not gone forever. I love you, and hate to do this, but it's something I have to do. I'm sorry.

Love Lex xxx

P.S. If Fury asks, I've got some personal issues to sort. Tell the rest of the team the same

She folded the letter and placed it on the bag. She closed her eyes and teleported out.

1 hour later

"Lex, where are you?" Loki called out into their empty room. As he walked into the bathroom, he saw the dry puddle of blood on the floor. He spun around, anxiously searching the room. Finally his eyes settled on the note. He picked it up and frantically read it. Fury towards Luke filled his body. He stormed into the lounge, where Jake and Luke had just returned from their date and were joking with Nat and Steve. Loki grabbed Luke and pinned him to the wall by his neck.

"What have you done to her, you puny mortal? If you've harmed her, I will release the wrath of the All-father on you!" he hissed menacingly.

"What the hell are you on about Loki?" Luke spluttered.

Nat, Luke and Jake jumped up and Steve restrained Loki, while Nat tried to calm him. Jake checked on Luke, but he had an idea what was going on.

"Loki, calm down and tell us what's going on." Nat said to him. Steve let go of his arms and Loki crumbled to the floor.

"Lex went to look for Luke to talk about what happened with Clint, and when she didn't come back I went to look for her. When I went to her room I found a puddle of blood and a note saying that she couldn't stay because of things with HIM!" Loki pointed at Luke, who realised what had happened.

"She overheard us." He murmured.

"Look, she obviously needs some space. If she doesn't want to be found, she won't be found. The best thing is give her time to cool off, and let her come back in her own time. We won't tell Stark, because he'll blow up. Alex can look after herself. For now, you two better stay apart." Steve directed, taking control of the situation. Loki and Luke nodded, and Jake dragged Luke off to their room.

At Peter's house

The doorbell rang just as they were sitting down for dinner.

"I'll get in Aunt May." Peter said, jogging to the door. As he opened it, he saw a bedraggled Alexis.

"Peter I need a massive favour. Can I stay with you, please? The others can't know. Please, I'm begging you."

That moment Aunt May came round the corner. She'd heard a girl's voice and wondered who it was.

"Hello dear, who are you?"

"This Alexis, she's a friend from school. She's got some home problems and needs somewhere to stay." Peter filled in quickly.

"I hate to impose but I really need somewhere to stay. I'll pay rent and sleep on the couch."

"My dear girl, of course you can stay. It'll be nice for Peter to have some company. Follow me, let's go eat." May began to walk back to the kitchen. "I'm May."

"Alexis." Alexis and Peter began to follow, and Alexis gave Peter an awkward hug and murmured thank you.

A few hours later

Peter and Alexis had just returned from a night patrolling New York, Alexis using a glamour to disguise herself. On the way back, she'd taught him how to roof run. he'd loved it. They sat on Peter's bed, and Alexis explained what had happened. Peter understood why she needed to get away.

"He must be feeling pretty bad though. When Gwen died, I couldn't live with myself for a while. It nearly ended up that a kid died because of me."

"What was Gwen like? You don't have to answer if you don't want." Alexis was curious. She obviously meant a lot to him, she'd read his file when she'd hacked into SHIELD to find out about Jake. They had no more on him than she did.

"No, it's good to talk about her. You have the same kind of laugh. You would have got along. She was strong, independent and could look after herself. She didn't need me to look after her until that night, and I failed her." A tear streamed down his face. Alexis leaned forward and pulled him into a hug.

"You didn't fail her. From the sounds of it, she would have wanted you to carry on being a hero without her. You did what you could, and sometimes we have to lose the one we care about the most to be able to move on."

"Thank you." Murmured Peter into Lex's hair. He pulled back and Alexis looked over at his web shooters.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, shoot away."

"Can you tutor me in science? I never went to school, and Stark's a rubbish teacher. I want to be able to understand things in the world, other than my magic."

"I'd love to. We'll start tomorrow."

They sat there, staring out the window. Slowly they fell asleep on each other. It wasn't romantic, nothing like that, but a friend way.

Across the city, Loki sat in Alexis' room, trying to find her through magic but to no avail. He missed her, like she'd taken his heart with him. He lay back on her bed, and looked at the stars, wondering if she was doing the same.