EYLIS ※ Tony Stark [3]

14 - BAD ODDS

ANGIE'S LEGS HUNG OFF the ledge of what might have been a plaza once. She gazed pensively at the wreckage of Titan around her. The dust swirling in the air did nothing to appease her thoughts.

Behind her, she could hear the ruckus of Peter and Drax bickering about God-knows-what, as they had been doing for the last few hours. Further away, Strange sat crossed legged in mid-air, eyes closed; probably meditating or whatever it was wizards did. Tony had gone back into the spaceship to see if he could salvage any part of the engine.

Angie took it as an opportunity to step away from everyone else and put some order into her thoughts — without much success so far.

The whole six of them were on edge, awaiting Thanos' arrival on Titan, which could've been in the next minute or the next day. She had played this waiting game before and it never got less unnerving.

Suddenly, the feeling of a hand on her shoulder made her jump out of her skin. Her reflexes kicked in immediately. She grabbed the spear from her side and held it up in the direction of the newcomer... only to be faced with big startled eyes and two antennas.

"Mantis..." she sighed heavily, putting the spear down "Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Oh forgive me," the alien woman chirped before plopping down next to Angie.

"I didn't say you could... nevermind," she heaved another long sigh. She'd have preferred to be alone but didn't have the strength to shoo Mantis away.

She could feel the alien woman's heavy stare on her as she returned to her quiet brooding session. It quickly spiked her annoyance.

Angie's mouth thinned into a line when she felt Mantis' hand slowly creeping in to rest on her forearm. Was this creature set on doing everything in her power to irritate her?

"What are you doing?" she hissed, shoving Mantis' hand away.

The alien woman's expression suddenly shifted into a completely alarmed one "I feel... fear!"

"What?!"

Mantis put her hand back on Angie's arm, her alarmed expression returned as soon as she made contact with her skin "You're frightened!"

Angie clenched her jaw "Excuse me?!"

Mantis quickly pulled her hand back, like she'd been burned "There is such pain," her eyes filled with tears "You... you're mourning."

"Did you just read my mind?!"

"Oh no," she quickly shook her head "I am empath, not telepath."

"What does that even mean?"

"If I touch someone, I can feel their feelings."

Angie blinked a few times "That sounds... intrusive."

The Harpy had no idea what to make of this. She'd had way too many people peering into her head lately. First Wanda, then Ranveig and now Mantis? This was much more than she was comfortable with.

The alien woman stayed quiet for a second before her big black eyes shifted to meet Angie's gaze "Why are you afraid?"

Angie's expression hardened "I am not afraid."

Mantis rested her hand on Angie's shoulder again. Angie thought of nudging it away but didn't have the strength to. She was seriously getting on her nerves now.

"Oh yes," Mantis muttered innocently "Yes, you are."

Angie thought about denying it for a second but judging by Mantis' earnest and harmless stare, that probably wouldn't get her anywhere.