Ágnostos

Chapter 24

Peter

As I stirred in my sleep that night, I rolled over, trying to wrap my arm around Althea. When my arm didn't hit a body, but the bed, I quickly woke up hoping to see Althea somewhere in the room. But as I sat up, I found myself completely alone in her room.

Panic settled inside of me. What if Althea coming back was all a dream? What if she wasn't ever here.... What if Tony --

I rolled out Althea's bed, making my way out of her room. Across the hall was Tony's room. The door was opened and as I peaked inside, panic only spread -- Tony wasn't in there. It was all just a dream.

I looked passed the hallway, stopping myself from a full on panic attack upon seeing Tony in his workshop with a sleeping Thor and Althea on the couch. I let out a breath of relief, heading towards the workshop. Placing my hand on the scanner, the door opened, Tony coming to look up at me.

"Hey kid," he mumbled before returning to tinkering with the.... suit?

It didn't really look like his ordinary style of suit... or like a suit at all. It looked more like a dress made out of some kind of metallic fabric.

"Becoming a woman's fashion designer, Tony?" I asked with a smirk, coming to his side. "Being on a planet of goddesses really impacted you, huh?"

Tony chuckled. "You have no idea."

"It's for Althea," he said. "It transforms from a dress to a protective suit she can actually fight in. She'll need something for her journey..."

I stuffed my hands in the pockets of my sweats. "You're not coming then?"

Tony shook his head, staring down at his daughter who's head laid on Thor's shoulder. Thor let out a loud snore, jolting Althea.

"Beat it, Nike," she mumbled, half asleep, before laying her head on the opposite side and falling back asleep.

Tony and I chuckled. "No," he said, answering my prior question. "I can't... not when Pepper is expecting."

"Pepper is expecting!?" I shouted, causing both the god and the demi-goddess to stir. Luckily, they both fell right back to sleep.

"Yes.... and don't tell Althea," Tony said. "She'll feel obligated to stay and as much as I want her to stay... she has to go on this journey.... I'm just glad she'll have you by her side."

I smiled slightly, staring down at Althea. She always looked so peaceful and cute when she slept.

"Plus she met like.... twelve half-siblings up on Fraygard and I don't want to see her wrath when she learns she's got another one on the way," Tony added with a chuckle. "Turns our her mom is just as much a player as I use to be."

"Should I be careful with Althea?" I asked, jokingly. "Does that sort of thing run in the family?"

Tony rolled his eyes while smirking. "You have nothing to worry about Peter. She's as loyal as they come."

"I know," I whispered. "I don't doubt for a second."

Suddenly, there was a crash in the main room, jolting every superhero in the main room to alert and expectant.

"Wow," called a female voice. "I'm not here to hurt any of you — put the arrows down I know what you're thinking."

"Nona," came Thor's voice. He quickly sat up, causing Althea's head to fall. I quickly ran to her, catching her head as she woke with a jolt.

"Peter?" She asked in a tired voice.

"Hey.." I whispered with a small smile.

"Did Thor say Nona?" she asked.