[ His words are finally enough to make her turn and look at him, confusion and surprise replacing that grimace. ]

You thought...

[ She stops herself, shaking her head in bewilderment. Through the entire mess, there hadn't been a moment that she hated Peter for what she had to do. In the beginning, she was angry at him for everything Ego was responsible for, and she was desperate to see it all through, but— seeing flashes of Peter underneath his father's eternity made her determined, more than anything, to pull him free. She knows he never would have wanted it to be that way between them, and she doesn't blame him for leaning into what she'd offered him. That had been the point of it, after all, and if he hadn't been willing, her plan would have failed. ]

I don't hate you for this, Peter. Nor do I believe you forced me into anything. I made those choices because I valued your life, but I don't blame you for them.

I was manipulating you.

[ And it still leaves a bitter taste in her mouth to think about it that way, that she'd done that to her best friend. ]

I'd just decided to accept the consequences and that losing... this would be a worthy price to see you alive.

[ She shakes her head, forcing herself to take a slower, steadying breath. She still feels like she's reeling in the aftermath, trying to tamp down her own emotions and everything those months had brought to the surface.

(Somewhere, she hates that it feels like she'd had a taste of what being with him would be like. And she'd— loved that. Wanted it.

But she wanted the reality, not a fantasy smothered in stardust and blood.) ]