Chasing the tesseract

Chapter 24

Sunlight creeps over the top of the trees as I pull myself out of my hammock, grabbing my jacket from where it's hung on the tree before pulling it on. After having pulled my belt tightly around my waist, I slot the blades I brought into their place at my waist as I feel a presence behind me. 

"You shouldn't have come over here." I mumble, my voice low enough so that only me and the figure behind me can hear it. My hand reaches for the blade at my waist as I hear shuffling come from behind me, the figure coming closer. 

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." he replies, a hint of a growl to his voice as I turn around to face him. A tall male stands opposite me, around 6ft tall, with a sickle in his hand pointing straight at my neck as I raise my empty hands so that he can see them. 

"Put the sickle down Thresh." I hiss, dropping my arms to my side as he slowly lowers the weapon, his eyes narrowing. Smirking, I lean back against the tree behind me, crossing my arms as I look him up and down. "Took you long enough to approach me, I saw you standing there two days ago." Turning my back to him, I pick up my backpack from the ground, pulling down the hammock in front of me and stuffing the piece of fabric in the bag. "Are you going to tell me what you're doing here or am I going to have to read your mind again?" 

"You're planning to go after the careers." he concludes as I turn back to him, pulling the strap onto my shoulder. Nodding, I smile at him sarcastically before glancing behind him to check the others can't see us. Katniss has her back to us, busy helping Rue clear away the old firewood whilst the rest of the team are lost in conversation. "I advise that you don't do that if you want to live."

"Well, thank you for that advice. I'll definitely consider it when coming up with a plan." I comment as I roll my eyes and try to step past him only for him to step in the way. Wide eyes, I chuckle sightly as I step backwards, looking him up and down. "You don't know much about me do you?"

"Obviously not." he hisses as his forehead wrinkles and he looks at me through confusion filled eyes. "We've never met before now." 

"Okay then let me give you some advice about myself." I grunt, stepping forwards so that I'm right in front of his face. "I'm every nightmare you've ever had. I am your worst dreams come true. I am everything you ever were afraid of. I will destroy you in the most beautiful way possible and when I leave, you will finally understand why storms are named after people." Smiling a devilish grin at him, I step backwards as his shaking hand tightens around his sickle causing me to roll my eyes. "Stay out of my way Thresh because you're playing my game now and I always win." I hiss before walking past him and heading for Katniss. Taking a deep breath, I force a smile as I come to a stop a few feet behind her.  "Katniss, you ready to go?"

Standing up, she turns to face me as she picks up her bow and arrows, throwing the quiver over her shoulder. "Yeah is Pietro?" she asks as she looks behind me towards where Pietro is jogging on the spot, circling his arms around and around. Completely unimpressed, I cross my arms against my chest as I stare at him, eyebrows raised. Turning around, Pietro notices me and Katniss staring at him causing his face to turn bright red. 

"Yeah erm." He coughs looking down at the ground as he scratches his head, shuffling slightly. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be." he mumbles as I roll my eyes and turn to the rest of the team who are now stood around us. 

"Okay then say your goodbyes" I announce, looking towards where Stephen and Tony are deep in conversation, his back to me as I take a deep breath. Please let him be safe during this mission. "and then we'll be on our way." 

"How long are you going to be gone?" mumbles Rue, coming across from where she's sat and looking up a me and Katniss through wide eyes. Oh no Not the puppy dog eyes, I can't say no to the puppy dog eyes. 

"We'll be back before you know it." whispers Katniss as she smiles down at Rue before turning to me and patting me on the shoulder as she walks off towards the forest. 

"I'm going to miss you guys." cries Rue as she wraps her arms around my waist, knocking me slightly off balance. After I've regained my balance, I look down at her, smiling as I bend down, sitting on the floor in front of her. 

"We'll miss you too Rue." I whisper as I wrap my arms tightly around her again. How can I leave her here when she's like this?

"Well, I never thought I'd see that." chuckles Pietro from behind me as I rest my cheek on the top of Rue's head which is now buried in my shoulder. Looking up at him, I frown.

"See what?"

"You becoming soft." 

"I am not soft." I hiss, narrowing my eyes at him as I remember last night's conversation. Rue said the exact same thing and so did Stephen. Could it really be true? Have I actually grown to care about these mortals?

"You are with Rue." argues Katniss from where she's stood on the far side of the small opening we all sit in. Sitting up, Rue smirks at me, her eyes mischievous as I give her a warning look, fully knowing why she's looking at me like that. 

"I am not." I hiss again, pointing my finger warningly at Pietro and then Katniss before I turn to where Loki is sat on a small rock. "Loki tell them I'm not soft."

"Well..."

"Will everyone stop ganging up on me."I shout, my voice ringing out through the forest as Tony and Stephen who were still deep in conversation turn to face the rest of us, both of them confused by my little outburst. 

"They aren't wrong." argues Thor, picking up Mjölnir and flipping it in his hands as he walks across to us. Show off. "I've never seen you care so much about a kid."

"You know what, it's time for us to go." I conclude, pulling myself up off the floor as I turn to Katniss and Pietro before gesturing to the forest that will lead us to the careers. 

"Please be careful." mumbles Loki as he walks across from where he's sat, his shoulders rising and falling dramatically suggesting he's not happy about this. Smiling weakly at him, I sigh before walking across to join him. 

"You too." I whisper, wrapping my arms around his shoulders as he wraps his around mine. Burying my head in his shoulder, I tighten my grip on him momentarily as a single tear drips down my face and onto his shoulder, soaking into his jacket within moments. 

"Don't worry, I'll look after them until they leave." teases Rue, smiling up at me as I step away from Loki, turning to face her through teary eyes. 

"Then I know they'll be in safe hands." I chuckle as I smile down at her before turning to Pietro and Katniss as we head into the bushes, the rest of the teams eyes fixed on us as we disappear from their sight. No going back now.