(1)The Avengers: The Lost Goddess

22

We spent most of the afternoon at Faneuil hall, then we went for supper at Union Oyster House which has amazing clam chowder. Our whole group almost took up a whole floor of seating.

After that we went home and started packing to go to New York. I knew I'd be coming back, but I still felt like I was saying goodbye to everything.

Peter was in my room practically bouncing off the walls as he shoved everything into a suitcase. I watched as he kept throwing things towards his suitcase. Finally, I put the two shirts I had in my hand down.

"Peter, please slow down. My head hurts watching you."

"Sorry. I'm just so excited! Everyone is happy and back together. This is great."

"I know. I'm happy everything is good. Not so happy that Jacob escaped."

Honestly, I was still shaken from my run in with Loki. The last thing I wanted to do was die. I unconsciously put my hand up to my necklace and rubbed the ring between my thumb and forefinger. If my dad were here, he would know exactly what to do.

"I know you miss him, but he would be very proud of you."

I looked up to see Peter watching me. The necklace fell out of my hand and I busied myself with my clothes once more.

"I know. I just wish he was here to tell me that."

"It'll be okay, Cel. We will catch Jacob, spend a wonderful week in New York, then you and I can come back here for the remainder of the summer. Or until I start school again."

"That sounds nice. How can you be so sure we'll catch him?"

"Well, first off, we have you Celestial. Not only are you rather powerful, but you know him too. You could be our secret weapon, who knows."

"You are so trusting of me."

"Well, when you're the most powerful Avenger, you kind of are—"

"Excuse me? Who's the most powerful?" Tony asked as he walked into my room.

I snorted and continued filling my suitcase.

"Sorry, Mr. Stark. You weren't supposed to hear that," Peter mumbled.

"Can I speak with Celestial alone?"

"Of course."

Peter shot a web at the wall outside of my room and shot out to the hallway.

"Peter Benjamin Parker! I hate the webs, you better clean them up!"

He came back into view and swiped the webs into his hands and ran back to the living room.

"You two are close, aren't you?" Tony asked, sitting on the edge of my bed.

"Yeah. Ariel was my only friend ever."

"We're all your friend, Celestial."

"Yeah but with Peter it's different. The Guardians aren't even from this planet—"

"Quill is," Tony pointed out.

"Okay yes, but the last thing he remembers is the 80's. This isn't the 80's anymore."

"True. And you cannot have a conversation with him unless it's about Kevin Bacon."

"Yes, what is his deal with that?"

Tony shrugged. "You have the Cap, though. He seems pretty...in to you."

I cringed. "Don't say it like that."

He laughed. "Am I too old?"

He stopped laughing as he realized what he said.

"Listen, kid. I know none of this is ideal for you."

"I love him," I blurted out.

Tony stared at me.

"Okay," I rushed on. "I know that—that sounds bad. I'm telling you before him. But I'm serious. And maybe it's too early, but I couldn't get him off my mind the whole year and a half that I was here. I was always wondering what he was doing and where he was and how he was doing. God that sucked.

"I couldn't move on, I turned down Jacob so many times you have no idea. It is too early, I know that. But being promised death is really taking a toll on me."

I sighed and flopped onto my bed, feeling a little better that that was off of my mind. Tony was silent for a while, I figured it was just his dad sensors kicking in at the word "love." But then the silence stretched into uncomfortable territory. I looked up at him to see him watching me.

"What?" I lamely asked.

"When and where were you promised death?"

Oh no.

"I didn't say I was promised death." Oh yeah, nice save, Celestial.

"Yes you did. Did Loki visit you again?"

"Sort of?" I knew I wasn't going to be able to lie to him.

"What do you mean by 'sort of'? Was he in your dreams again?"

"Well, not exactly."

"He came to you?!"

"Hey," I yelled, sitting up so I could glare at him better. "It's not like I wanted him to."

"Why didn't you tell anyone, Celestial?!"

"I didn't think I had to! He didn't hurt me, just threatened. I am old enough to handle my own enemies, you know."

"Not when your enemy is a god and a pissed off kid with super powers."

Okay, good point.

"We're on the next train out of here, so finish up."

Is it weird that I felt like I had just been grounded? But I grudgingly finished packing and we were on a train to New York within the hour.