The Beginning of the End (Allyson)

Chapter 3

     I found Gamora sitting around, staring out a window at the same stars, the same nebulas, the same galaxies. She held that small, jewel knife she always kept around in one hand, a vice grip indicating whatever thought hole she'd fallen down caused her to be tense. I didn't want to startle her, that could prove to be fatal for me with that weapons in her hands. Thankfully, my steps were loud enough to cause her to look at me. I'd ask if she wanted to talk about it in a moment, but I knew I'd get too wrapped up in her problem and forget to check on something for Peter's safety and well-being.

"Hey, Gamora?" She turned her head and stared at me, expressionless. "Do you know if these grenades are the blow-off-your-junk kind or the gas kind? Because Peter was thinking of hanging a couple from his belt right in that region. But he doesn't want to if they're..." I trailed off as I glanced at her face again. She didn't even smirk, like she usually did when I started to go off about one of Peter's not-so-genius ideas.

"I need to ask a favor." Her voice never wavered, but she didn't sound confident, either.

"Yeah, sure," I replied cautiously.

"One way or another, the path that we're on leads to Thanos." She stood and looked up at me, making sure our eyes met.

"Which is what I think the grenades are for." Her collected look turned into a glare, and I realized I'd stepped into Peter territory in terms of inappropriate timing. "I'm sorry. What's the favor?"

Something different crossed her features, and she turned to look back out the window.

"If things go wrong- if Thanos gets me-" She turned to look at me again, and a suddenly heavy sensation struck my chest. "I want you to promise me you'll kill me."

My mind went blank for a moment. I didn't know how to respond to her request, I could only feel the brick she'd suddenly hit me with. My closest friend, the only other girl I had to keep me company. I couldn't just lose her, especially not at my own hands. But... looking at the desperation in her eyes, clearly she knew something I didn't that was dangerous.

"What?"

"I know something he doesn't." She pushed away from the window and started to walk out. "And if he finds it out, the entire universe could be at risk."

"What do you know?"

"If I told you, you'd know too."

I stepped closer to her, casting a look down on her figure that radiated concern, with a little bit of anger.

"If it's so important, shouldn't I?"

"Only if you want to die."

"Why does somebody always have to die in this scenario?" If I couldn't get in the information out of her by direct asking, maybe I could piece things together.

"Just... trust me. And possibly kill me."

"I mean, I'd like to. I really would, but you-" Her glare silenced me.

"Swear to me." She seemed to debate something, before looking back at me. "Swear to me on your child."

I stepped back, slightly reeling from shock.

"How did you...?"

"I heard you and Peter talking about it a few nights ago."

I looked at her for a long, hard moment, attempting to assess how serious she was. She didn't flinch, not even for a moment, and I caved.

"Okay."

"Thank you."

She peered over my shoulder and walked away, leaving me to deal with what I'd just agreed to. I kept looking at the point of the wall behind where she'd been standing, tears now beginning to slip down my cheeks. I jumped suddenly as two arms wrapped themselves around my waist, a chin resting on my shoulder.

"Did you find out about the grenades?"

I tried to hide my sniffles, but the jerking of my shoulders gave me away. Peter walked around the other side of me and looked down, concern overriding the rest of his emotions.

"Ally, what's wrong? What-what did she say to you?" I shook my head as he wiped a tear from below my eye.

"I can't tell you. I'm sorry."

"You look pretty shaken up..." I blinked away a little more water falling from my eyes, then Peter grabbed onto my chin and pulled me up for a kiss. My hands remained limp at my sides for a few second, before bringing them up to rest on his arms. The heaviness pulling my heart down started to lift.

And then, a crunch from the shadows shifted our attentions away from each other. I could make out the figure of Drax, watching us from the corner with a bag of nuts in his hand. Peter's nose crinkled as I turned away, suddenly incredibly embarrassed.

"Dude, how long have you been standing there?" Peter inquired.

"An hour." My cheeks flared. That means Drax might know now, too.

"An hour?"

"Are you serious?" I groaned, my speech muffled from my face suddenly becoming buried in Peter's shirt.

"I've mastered the ability of standing so incredibly still... that I become invisible to the eye. Watch."

Peter and I watched, dumbfounded, as Drax moved his hand, slow as a snail, toward his mouth, opening in his jaw as though it were an old door hinge, refusing to move.

"You're eating a zarg-nut."

"But my movement..." He glanced down at the snack food. "...was so slow... that it's imperceptible." Peter and I looked at each other, and rolled our eyes at the same time.

"No." He continued to chew, as though somehow, our opinion would change.

"I'm sure I'm invisible."

"Hi, Drax."

Peter and I chuckled as Mantis entered the room and smiled at the self-proclaimed invisible man.

"Damn it."

Drax crumpled the bag and started to storm away, but I caught him before he could leave the room.

"Drax." He turned around, at a normal speed this time. "If you've been here for an hour, does that mean you heard what Gamora said? About what I should swear on?" He popped another zarg-nut in his mouth.

"Yes, but I already knew."

I scoffed and crossed my arms.

"And how exactly is that?"

"Rocket found your sticks in the garbage a couple weeks ago."

"Her sticks?" Peter stepped closer to me. It took him a second to figure out what was going on, but I practically saw the light bulb appear above his head. "Oh, you mean the tests."

"Yup," I grunted.

"Oh, they know that you're-"

"Mm-hmm."

"Oh...kay."

"It was bound to get out eventually. I'm just glad it was before we could stop making excuses."

Even though I laughed, the thought of what Gamora had asked of me hung over my head.