𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 | 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒍

expiscor

I wake up to the light shining through the makeshift fort, and my internal clock tells me that it's much earlier than the time I'm used to waking up at. I turn my head slightly to find Pietro still fast asleep, and though a part of me wants to simply close my eyes and go back to sleep, I decide against it. I sit up and remove myself from the tarp slowly, not wanting to wake Pietro. He's sleeping on the side that the exit is on, but I manage to awkwardly climb over him and get out of the stick structure without waking him.

Once out, I stand and look around. The sun has barely risen but it's enough to wake me; I'm a light sleeper to begin with and normally have to take sleep medication to get a decent night's sleep, so the yellow casts of sun are definitely enough to bring me out of my dreams. The tree caps are lightly brushed with gold, giving the dark green a soft haze that brings a small smile to my face. The quiet is peaceful and undisturbed, as everyone's still sleeping.

Well, everyone but Peter Quill, apparently.

I turn to find his gaze resting upon me, his feet planted in the same spot he sat last night. He gives me a small wave, a gentle smile appearing on his face. I walk over to the now flame-less fire pit and take a seat next to where Peter is standing. He sits with me and I shift my weight to lean on my hands behind me, looking up at the rising sun.

"It's a little after six-thirty," he tells me quietly, and I look to him with slight surprise. "Sun placement. Learned it a when I was a kid. One of those things that just sticks with you, no matter where you go."

I nod, thankful for him telling me the time. Even not knowing the time is something that makes me a little more anxious about this place, as small a detail as it is.

"How long have you been up?" I ask quietly, my voice barely reaching above a whisper.

"Not long. Probably about twenty minutes, if I had to guess."

"Well, I doubt anyone else is going to wake up soon. You up for a little exploring?"

Peter's face lights up when I suggest it, and he's quickly on his feet. He grabs a small bag I had failed to notice when I sat, swinging it over his shoulder. "Let's go cause some mayhem."

"Maybe not mayhem. It is only six-thirty, after all." I crack a grin and I stand. I sweep the seats around the fire pit for my pack, but it's not here. "I'm just gonna grab something, I'll be back."

Peter nods his head as I lightly jog toward the slowly falling fort, which is still covering a sleeping Pietro. I find the pack tucked away in the fort, and I think about taking the whole thing but instead take just the blade that Gamora gave me. I place the knife in the pocket that zips down my right bicep, deciding that the pocket on my arm is the safest place for it. I begin to turn around when a second thought enters my mind, and I quickly turn back and grab the revival serum.

Not that you'll need it, but just in case, my thoughts reassure me as I tuck it into its old spot in my boot.

I turn and jog back to Peter, slowing as I approach him. "So, where to?"

Peter spins around before pointing his hand in a random direction. "Uh, that way!"

I laugh and follow him out of the small camp our mini team made. We walk in an easy silence for the first minute or so, but once we've made it out of camp he turns around.

"Can I ask you something?" He continues to walk backwards as he asks me.

"Yeah, sure," I say as my head tilts to the side.

"Why have you been so nice to me? Like obviously I'm not arguing, I really appreciate it, but you're obviously not a dumb person so why are you so willing to be friendly with me?" He diverts his eyes and doesn't allow me to make eye contact with him as I respond, but I try anyway.