𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 | 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒍

defluo

Peter's telling me another story about his adventures with the Guardians of the Galaxy as we walk on the forest floor in the direction that we feel is toward the camp. Neither of us are actually sure which way we're going, but it's not like we have anywhere else to be, so we haven't put too much worry to it.

"Then Mantis basically yelled "Go to sleep!", or something along those lines, and the entire planet just slept. Like, no joke, just stopped doing what it was doing and slept. Let's just say that if you've got insomnia issues, she's your gal."

Peter laughs a bit to himself at that, and I laugh along. I look to Peter before asking my next question, making sure that he isn't secretly torn up about talking about his friends, but he looks more at peace when talking about them than he does when he's not focused on them.

"What does she look like?"

The question seems to surprise Peter a bit, but he answers it right away. "She's about the same height as Gamora, but has antennas that stick up above her head. She's got this black bob that never seems to grow out, I don't know if maybe that's something she keeps up on or if her hair just doesn't grow, but I've never seen it out of a bob. She always wears this green and black getup, and if anyone else were to wear it they'd probably look crazy, but it looks perfect on her. Her eyes are also like, crazy big. But in an adorable way. Like a puppy dog."

I laugh when he finishes talking, the person that my mind created from the description looking absolutely crazy. "You'll have to introduce me when all of this is over, okay?"

"Of course, Ave," Peter says, then looks at me. "Is it okay that I call you Ave? I know some of the others do and I don't want to overstep, but I feel like it fits you."

I'm a bit taken aback by the kindness of the statement, a soft smile growing on my face as I respond. "Yeah, of course, Peter. You can call me whatever you want."

"I like Ave. I think I'll stick with Ave."

We keep walking for a few minutes, the stories that he's told me drifting around and flickering through my head. It isn't until Peter stops talking when I snap out of my head and look up.

"Wh–" I start, but Peter puts a hand on my arm. He taps his ear silently.

Listen.

No noises come from around us besides the occasional deep breath from one of us, but after a few moments I hear it. It sounds like talking, a distant conversation between two people with deep voices.

Peter swears under his breath before looking to me. I walk around a little to try to see who it is that's talking, but I don't see anyone. I feel a strange familiarity with this area, but I can't seem to place it. I keep looking around but after a few seconds the sounds die out and we're left with no clues as to where the people are.

"Peter, what should we do?" I ask in a whisper, my eyes finally meeting his. They're slightly widened in fear.

"I don't know," he responds simply, placing a protective hand on my shoulder.

We stand like this for about a minute, our heads slowly scanning the area around us, but we don't see anyone.

"Should we just leave?" I ask, allowing my voice to raise just above a whisper.

"I think so," Peter says as he begins to walk in the direction we were heading before. I start to follow him when a voice catches me.

"Aveline?"

I whip my head around to see the familiar voice standing about thirty feet away.

"Bruce!" I exclaim as I run to him, and he starts to run to meet me halfway. The paranoid section of my thoughts are telling me not to trust Bruce this easily and that he could stab me right now if he wanted to, but I don't listen. I found another Avenger, a friend.