(1)The Avengers: The Lost Goddess

14

To clarify, yes Peter and I are still in contact and even hangout for weekends every once in a while. No, he does not know I work for Shield, and yes, he thinks I'm in college. Boy, do I have a lot to explain. I finished my day of work, then stood waiting for Peter in the lobby of the science museum. He got off a bus and ran inside, breathless.

"Celestial—"

I cut him off with a hug. He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tight.

"I missed you," he said. "A month is too long apart from my best friend."

"It's been rough," I agreed.

"But we have to go. They got the train right after me."

"Let's ride the ferry, they won't be expecting sea travel."

He smiled. "I like the way you think."

Turns out my way of thinking kind of sucked. I completely forgot the Ferry docked near the aquarium. Peter wrapped his arm around me and tried to hide me with his body as we ran to catch the last ferry out. I didn't relax until we were sailing on the open ocean.

"Peter," I finally said. "I have a lot to explain to you."

"Yes. Maybe you can start with all the lies you've told me, huh?"

I winced. "Yeah...I'm really sorry."

"Explain when we get to your house."

When we walked into my house, I threw my stuff to the floor and dropped the key on the table by the door. I made both of us a cup of hot cocoa and we went out to the roof deck.

"Okay, tell me everything."

I sighed. "Peter, I'm not a college student. I work for Shield as a spy. I didn't have an evening class tonight, I have a mission. I've been working for Shield the whole time and I've been in contact with Fury as well as you. He didn't know about you, and you didn't know about him."

"That explains why he didn't seem worried about you missing."

"Yeah. I'm really sorry I didn't tell you. This is the first time it's ever been a problem."

"But I'm your best friend, Celestial. You're supposed to tell me everything."

"I know. No more secrets," I smiled at him and patted his hand.

"They miss you, you know."

"What are they like now?"

He leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Oh, same old. They all fight and argue the same. Mr. Stark is a wreck. He's been looking all over for you. Captain America has been training a lot. When Quill showed everyone that video, the only thing everyone could say was 'She dyed her hair red!' Oh, Celestial. You have no idea how close I was to blurting out 'That's her natural color!' Would've been pretty hard to explain."

"That's all they could say?" I laughed.

"Yeah. They're doing good other than that."

"Listen, I'm really sorry I put you through that. I realize that it was very childish of me to ask you to keep a secret like this. If they find me, they find me. They know I'm alive so I have a feeling they won't stop looking."

"God, you definitely have that right."

"So, Peter, I have a mission tonight, would you like to come with?"

"Sure! What is it?"

"Black tie event. Think you can handle a suit?"

"Celestial, darling. I look better in a suit than every day clothes."