Don't Fear The Reaper

Chapter 4

"So, Firecracker, what are we toasting to?" Lance Hunter asked, handing me a glass that I assumed had whiskey in it.

"Not having hangovers in the morning?" I snickered.

Lance laughed, nodding his head in concession. "Not what I had in mind. But how about to friends reunited?"

I grinned and clinked my glass to his. "I can get down with that one. Bottoms up."

We both snapped the drink back in one swallow. I shook my head.

"Damn. What are you giving me, Lance?" my eyes were wide.

Lance started to chuckle as he poured more into my glass.

"Did you just give Ex," Phil held up a hand at my scowl. "Knox, Asgardian Ale?"

My brows rose. "Seriously? Are you trying to do me in?"

"Just making things fun," Lance shrugged and clinked my glass before sipping this time.

"Holy wow. I knew how to pace myself while drinking whiskey. After that, I'm not so sure. Whoa," I chuckled, wandering over to a table laden with food. "Can I help myself or what?"

"Go for it," Bobbi said as she reached around me to grab a brownie.

"Lemme get it for you, Knox," Phil grabbed a plate for me. "Trying to hold too much with that arm would be a little painful."

I bit my lip to keep from snapping at him that I didn't need help. Instead, I nodded. "Thank you, that would be great."

We all sat in the lounge, drinking, eating, and chatting. Mainly, I listened and watched, taking in all the camaraderie and family atmosphere. It was everything I wished to have with my brother growing up and never got to have.

"So, tell me more about the glyphs, Knox," Jemma turned to me with a smile.

"Glyphs?" Daisy asked.

"Yes, Knox has," Jemma started to speak.

"Maybe we should let Knox decide if she wants to tell us more about what she's been up to," Phil interrupted.

Now all eyes were on me, which had me twitching.

"Sorry, Knox," Jemma voiced. "I shouldn't have brought it up."

I heaved a sigh, looking to the floor before looking back at everyone.

"I suppose now is as good a time as any to tell you what I've been up to," I huffed. I put the plate on my lap onto the table in front of me and picked up my glass of whiskey this time-no more Asgardian Ale.

"As my brother pointed out, you all have met and been in contact with gods, aliens, and inhumans. So technically, what I've been up to really shouldn't be that hard to swallow." I paused to drink. I stared at my plate on the table.

Phil touched the fingers on my left hand. I glanced at him. He gave me an encouraging nod.

"Go ahead."

"Ugh," I tilted my head back to stare at the ceiling and back down. "With what I've been doing the last ten years is what you call hunting," I started.

There were looks of confusion.

"Hunting? What's so bad about that?" Daisy asked.

My lips tipped up, and I held back a chuckle. "Well, what I hunt is not what one just gets a license for during a season. Nor is it like being an agent," I paused and tilted my head in consideration. "Well, maybe more like an agent. The guys I work with, well, we hunt the supernatural."