[As the world caves in - Matt Maltese]

CARSON GOT to his feet, rubbing the back of his head where the edge of the rock seemed to hit. He looked around, his eyebrows coming together as there was no sign of the titan anywhere. Thanos had just... vanished.

All that could be seen was Thor and Steve stood further ahead, both staring at each other as if they'd seen a ghost.

He walked over to them and looked between the two, wondering why no one was saying anything. "What's going on? Where'd he go?"

Thor looked over at Carson. Not saying a word. Carson's eyes travelled down to Thor's axe laying on the floor, now making him just as confused as ever.

"Thor." Carson tried again. "Where'd he go?"

"Steve?" A voice spoke up from behind them.

The three men all turned around and noticed Bucky emerging from the bushes, limping towards them. Carson's eyes widened as he noticed the soldiers arm starting to fade away, turning into dust.

Bucky glanced down at his arm too for a moment, before looking up at his best friend. One last time.

Steve rushed over to Bucky but before he could reach him, the man faded away, his ashy remains falling to the ground along with the gun he was holding. He slowly crouched down on the ground, looking down at the pile of dust in disbelief.

Carson ran past Thor and Steve until he reached a clearing in the trees. He looked ahead at the battlefield, watching as hundreds of Wakandan soldiers had the same fate as Bucky, all of them fading away.

"No, no, no!" Carson shook his head.

And that's when it hit him.

His eyes widened in realisation and he turned back to the forest, entering it once more. He had to find her. To make sure she was okay. He started to search around, looking for any signs of her, pulling down any branches that were in his way.

"Wanda!" He called out. "Has anybody seen Wanda?!"

Carson's head started to snap around in all directions in a panic. His fear only heightening as he saw what was going on around him. Groot, T'Challa, Sam. All of them, gone. Okoye was stood up, looking down at the ground as she whimpered in terror.

Rhodey approached Carson from behind and placed a hand on his shoulder, he flinched and quickly spun around which made Rhodey let go and take a few steps back.

"Carson what's g—"

"I don't know, I don't know!" Carson said a little louder than intended. "Do you know where Wanda is? I need to find her, I can't... I can't find her."

Rhodey took a deep breath and tried to calm him down, placing a hand on his shoulder again. "I'm gonna need you to breathe for me okay... let's go find Steve and—"

"No!" Carson pushed Rhodey's hands off him. "Not until I find Wanda. I need to—"

"Carson..."

His movements came to a stop at the sound of the voice coming from behind him. He turned around, seeing Wanda walking towards him. A smile of relief instantly appeared on his face and he let out a breath.

"Oh thank god I...." Carson paused when he took note of her appearance. Her face had turned pale, like the colour had been drained from her skin, her whole body was trembling, her breath kept getting caught up in her throat.

His heart sunk when he saw her lose her balance as she tried to walk over to him. Before she could hit the ground he rushed forwards and caught her in his arms, lowering them both down to the ground gently.

She looked up at him as he held her close in his arms, her breath staggering as she tried to say something.

"What is it?" Carson asked, trying to push back the thoughts that were clouding his mind.

"I d-don't...." Wanda managed to get out, her eyes starting to fill up with tears. "I don't know what's happening to me."

"Hey, you're fine alright?" He told her. "You're gonna be fine. Just stay with me okay and— and we can get you some help. We can find someone, or, or, Shuri! Shuri can help you and..."

Wanda slowly lifted up her hand and the two of them looked down, seeing the tips of her fingers starting to disappear. The redhead let out a small gasp along with a cry. Carson put his hand on the side of her face and made her look at him.

"No, no, no, hey, hey!" Carson looked down at her, inhaling sharply as he felt his own tears starting to form. "Look at me, okay? Just look at me. I've got you Wands, I'm here."

"I'm s-sorry." Wanda croaked out.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." Carson gently moved away the hair that was in her face. "This is not your fault Wanda, not at all. But I'm gonna need you to stay with me, alright baby? Because we're gonna get you some help okay we're— we're gonna fix this. And then we're going to fly straight back to... back to Scotland! Where we can look at all the wedding books you want and—"

Wanda closed her eyes for a moment to blink her tears away. "Carson..."

"No!" He shook his head violently and started to scan around the area for anything that could help. "There must be something we can do... anything I— I can't— This wasn't supposed to happen."

"Carson... please, look at me." She tried, grabbing his attention once again. "We're too late."

"Don't. Don't say that." His voice cracked. "I can't lose you..."

"You could never lose me, dorogoy." Wanda swallowed thickly and gave him a sad smile. "It doesn't matter where we are. I'll always be with you. No matter what."

Carson leaned down and pressed his lips against hers, ignoring the tears that were streaming down both of their faces. He pulled back and rested his forehead against hers, his breathing starting to become uneven.

"Please don't leave me." Carson whispered.

"It's okay." She nodded against his head, holding back her sobs. "You'll be okay. I promise you."

"I can't do this without you."

"Yes you can... you can." Wanda slid her hand onto the back of his neck, running her hands through her hair to soothe him like she always does. "We'll say hello again."

Carson lifted up his head as he started to feel Wanda's body becoming lighter. His eyes travelled down her body, watching with wide eyes as he legs started to fade, the effects starting to make their way up her torso.

"No, no, no, no!" Carson pulled Wanda's body further into his arms, burying his head in the crook of her neck as he cried. "Don't go, please."

Wanda held him close and started to cry too. She knew this was it. That this would be her end. "I l-love you so much Carson. Never forget that."

"I lo—" Carson fell down as Wanda's body faded from his arms. He looked down at his lap, his breath getting caught up in his throat as saw the empty space of where she used to be. "No...NO!"

His home.

The love of his life.

Gone.

All that was left was her ring. Lying on the floor.

Carson picked it up and held it tightly in his hand, looking at the dust that had settled around him as he let out a loud yell.

"SHIT!" He slammed his hands down on the ground in a rage, all of his emotions starting to become overwhelming for him. There was a large burst of energy that emitted from his hands as they made contact with the ground, it burning all the leaves from the trees and bushes.

Steve and Natasha ran around the corner at the sound, their movements coming a halt when they saw Carson knelt down on the ground, looking down at his hands.

"I can't feel you." He whispered as he looked at the ring. "I can't feel you..."

"No..." Steve muttered, his face falling in realisation.

Natasha raised her hand up to her mouth to muffle her cries.

Their heart ached for him. He had already lost so much. His mother, his father, his freedom, his friends that had dusted away, Tony. And to top it off he'd now lost Wanda too.

Everyone that he cared for was gone.

Natasha rushed to his side and crouched down next to him. The blonde glanced at his hands and when she saw the piece of jewellery sat in his hand, it started to become clear to her, her heart shattering once she pieced it together.

"Carson." Natasha spoke up quietly as she cautiously placed her hand on his arm.

"I didn't say it back." He replied, not looking up at her.

"What?"

"She said she loved me... and I didn't get to say it back."

Natasha's concern only grew when she felt the heat around his body rising. She looked at his arms, noticing how his powers started to flow through his veins, lighting them up.

"Carson, just breathe..." Natasha tried to stop him from getting worked up again.

It didn't work.

His powers started to emerge once more as his hands started to shake erratically. But he didn't seem to care. Or even notice for that matter.

She was gone. Wanda was gone. And there was nothing he could do about it.

"Try to calm down—"

Carson clenched his jaw and snapped his head towards Natasha. His red eyes practically piercing through her, tears still running down his face.

"Calm down?" Carson replied, venom lacing his tone. "How do you expect me to calm down? She is gone Natasha. Wanda is dead. And I couldn't stop it. I couldn't stop him!"

Natasha jerked back when he raised his voice at her. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't a little scared. How could she not be? His powers were getting more prominent by the second, practically taking over his body.

Carson froze as he watched Natasha's reaction, his eyes widening a little as he realised he made her flinch. He looked over at Steve who had changed his stance, seemingly getting ready to step in if anything happened.

His powers faded from around his body and he looked back at Natasha. "Nat, shit... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't of spoken to you like that I just— I don't know wh— She's really gone..."

Natasha moved forwards and pulled him into her arms, biting on the inside of her cheek to stifle her own cries as she heard him try and regain control of his breathing that was caught up in his throat.

Maybe he wasn't meant to experience true happiness after all.

Because that's the thing about love, despite what many fairytales may tell you.

It doesn't always have a happy ending.

~~ ᗢ ~~

— END OF ACT FIVE —

I actually do feel bad for this so I'm sorry bbys but hey ho, i'll see you in the next one

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