Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

With Knull’s defeat by the Phoenix force aided by her friend Rocket. Rocket built a teleporter to the white hot room. The white hot room was a nexus point of all realities that lies outside of the multiverse. According to Jean Grey it’s a nexus between all Phoenix hosts and the eternal flame of the Phoenix force. All that power within the white hot room must have burned all of Knull’s darkness into crisp.

After his defeat all of the heroes, anti heroes and straight up villains who had helped fight against Knull have gone to the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda to rest. It wasn’t a party like the recent hellfire gala before it was attacked by Ultron. Everyone was tired and all they wanted to do was cool down before a new problem shows up out of nowhere. 

“So when the next big bad comes around what are going to do with our hunk of junk on a ship?” Rocket loudly complained to Starlord.

“Like I was saying Black Panther already promised us a new ship.” Peter smiled 

“Does that mean I can have my staff back Peter?” Adam asked with concern.

“Yeah, Adam, I will give your staff back. I’ll even polish it for you if you want.” Starlord joked. 

“Peter, there is no need for you to polish my staff. I can do that myself.” Adam stated plainly.

“Oh, come on Adam, it's not everyday a guy offers to polish someone’s staff for free.” Rocket laughed, making crude gestures with his hand. 

“You know that’s not what he meant, Rocket.” Mantis could feel the embarrassment 

coming off both her teammates. 

“I am Groot.” Groot said in agreement.

“Oh, come on, it was funny.” Rocket protested. “Peter just has to make sure to get all the nooks and crannies of Adam’s staff when you go to polish it.” Rocket's comments made both Adam and Peter freeze in their tracks.

“You know what team? Let’s go out and hang out with the others.” Peter left his embarrassment trailing behind him.

“Flark yeah let’s go party!” Rocket and Groot left the room.

“How about you Adam?” Mantis asked.

“I’ll be by myself meditating. Our last battle has left me feeling drained.” Adam walked away, leaving Mantis to explore the place by herself. So she left to explore.

Mantis’s empathic abilities have been one her greatest strengths as a guardian only second to her martial prowess, from her ability to talk it out with others making enemies their allies, to helping her team communicate more easily. It seemed there was nothing she couldn’t do. Even when she feels people’s more private emotions.

Her powers can make crowded places very overwhelming to her but she has gotten used to it over the years.

She wandered around the space trying to find something fun to do. 

Nothing caught her eye until she started to sense someone longing for something, she was too far to tell what it was for or who it was from. She followed it until she found the source. The source of all this longing reveals itself to be Luna Snow. It appeared like she was just staring off into the nothing. 

“Hello there, Luna.” Mantis walked up behind her. Luna jumped in surprise.

“I didn’t see you there. Manta was it?” 

“It’s actually Mantis, like the insect.” Mantis made an insect-like pose for emphasis. 

“Oh, then what brought you here?”

“I’m an empath” Mantis pointed at her antennas. They weren’t the source of her abilities but most people thought they were. “and I was drawn to your feeling of longing.”

“What! The only thing I’m longing for is a break.” Luna lied through her teeth. 

Matis put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s bold of you to lie to me because I can tell you long for.” Mantis pinned down the cause of Luna’s longing. “For her in a romantic way.” She pointed at Magik. Illyana was the mutant queen of limbo, she welded a blade made from her own soul. Mantis could sense a fire that burned bright inside Magik’s soul. Luna’s cool and calm personality could act as a good counterbalance to her. 

Luna put her hands up in defeat. “You caught me alright, she saved me back when Ultron attacked the hellfire gala. I was injured and surrounded by like five Ultrons. I thought it was the end for me but, this monster then slices them in half. But she was like a pretty monster. Anyways she totally saved my life and I just really wanted to thank her.” She blissfully explained.

Mantis could feel both Luna’s longing and anxiety over Magik. She had nothing better to do this evening plus she loved a good love story. 

“You should go and talk to her to thank her yourself!” 

Luna froze, she may be able to sing and dance in front of a crowd of thousands of people but those were planned, practiced and choreographed. This was not like that at all and she barely knew where to start. Mantis put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“Luna Snow, you are a confident woman. You should be able to Magik just fine. You should start by asking her about taste in music.” Mantis advised. Luna then felt a surge of confidence flow through her. 

“Yeah, great idea thanks, Mantis.” Luna strutted over to Magik. Who was lending against the wall. Mantis watched on from the corner.

“Hi, do you remember me? I was the girl you saved back when Ultron attacked?”

“Yeah, you’re Luna Snow. the singer.” Magik seemed to barely acknowledge her.

“Well, I just wanted to thank you for saving me back there.” Luna tucked a hair behind her ear. “You probably hear that all the time though.”

“Not as much as you think I would.” Magik twirled the drink in her hands remembering all the times people have yelled at her for being a mutant, even when she was saving lives. Having someone thank her was a nice change of pace.

“Really I thought that being saved by dashing X-man was every young girl's dream.”

“No, You must have some pretty weird dreams.” She joked.

“So what kind of music do you like?”

“I like metal music. I partially like bands like Power Wolf and Rammstein.” Magik made the sign of the horn gesture. “Although the music you make is pretty catchy. I heard Blade is on his slaylist.”

“His slaylist?” Luna questioned

“It's a play list for when he slays.” 

“Oh, A slaylist. I get it.” Luna's eyes darted around trying to think of something to say.

“So uuhh.. How did you get your sword?”

“I forged it in limbo, it’s made of soulfire. Which means it can’t melt your ice.” Magik showed off her blade.

“Wow! That is so fascinating. It's like it's made out of your own soul.”

“Basiclly, I made when I was trapped in Limbo as a young girl.”

“I’m so sorry that happened to you. That must have been so hard for you as a kid.” Luna tried to empathize with Illyana’s past plight. 

“It was but, you can’t press an undo button to all the horrible things that have happened to you in your life. All you can really do is march forward.” 

“That’s the truth, isn't it Magik?” Luna replied.

“You can call me Illyana.” She paused. “all my friends call me both Illyana and Magik.”

“Then you can call me Seol, Luna’s just a stage name.”

Mantis continued to watch the connection form between Luna and Magik. It seemed all Mantis needed to do was give Luna a little boost in confidence for Luna’s pop star charisma to do its work. 

“So Seol are you planning to do anything else tonight?” Illyana said it so casually but it almost made Luna’s heart explode in her chest.

“Oh, I’m not doing anything. Did you want to do anything?” 

“Yeah I was hoping we could do something.”

“Together, of course. What do you have in mind?” Luna smiled.

“I was hoping we could get some drinks at the bar.”

“Yeah, I could use something to take the edge off.”

Mantis sneaked behind the pair like a shadow. Standing in the corner of the bar. In most bars the queen of limbo and the famous pop star soul Seol Hee would stick out like a sore thumb but here they were surrounded by their fellow superpowered allies. 

Bucky, Black Widow and Hawkeye sat at the bar as they swapped war stories.  Thor and Loki were complaining about how weak the drinks were. Logan was bruting about his life at the bar as per usual.

Starlord sat down next to Mantis “hey what’s up.”

“I helped set up Luna and Magik on a date.”

“Luna Snow, The k-pop star!” Starlord turned.

“Peter, you don’t even like her music.”

“Mantis, you know how much her autograph can sell on Lotiara. And you know we need the money." Starlord said in a hush tone.

“Maybe we can get an autograph from Luna if the date goes well.” Mantis stated. 

“So we’re just going to watch them like a pair of cucks.”

“You’re a cuck.” Mantis bit back.

“Fine, I'll go back and hang out with Adam.” Peter got and left in a huff.

Mantis continued to watch Luna and Magik hit it off. Luna blushed as Illyana wrapped her arm around her shoulder. 

“I usually don’t get to have this much fun with someone. I hope I’ll be able to see you again.”

“It’s getting late.”

“Maybe I could walk you to your room.” She suggested.

“That would be nice.”

Mantis watched as they walked out the door. She stenched as she stood up. Magik was right it was getting late, best to let Luna and Magik have the rest of the night to themselves. Mantis was going to go to bed.

Heading to her and the guardian’s room she couldn’t help but to pick up on her friend’s emotions. Rocket was messing with his gadgets. Groot was observing the plant life outside. Peter was still thinking about finding Gramora and Drax.

“I’m Groot.” Groot waved at Mantis.

“Good evening” Mantis waved back at Groot. “I’ll be getting ready for bed soon.”

Adam walked out of the bathroom. Steam surrounded him, his golden skin and hair still dripping with water from his shower. “Showers open.”

Mantis’s antenna twitched as she sensed how quickly Adam grabbed Peter's attention.

“Wow.. way to make the rest of us insecure Adam.” Peter jested. 

“Peter, don't speak about yourself like that.” Adam went off to his room.

“No wait Adam, I didn’t mean like that.” It was too late, Adam had already closed the door.  

“I flarking understand what these naked flesh bags like about each other.” Rocket stated

Mantis was way too tired to deal with any of this so she just went and took her shower. Although she still wondered how Luna’s and Magik’s date was going. She hoped they were having a nice time together.

Magik couldn’t help but smile a little entranced by Soel’s charms. Luna met her gaze and rested her head on Magik’s shoulder. She breathed in the cool night air as she looked up at the stars in the sky. 

“The stars look amazing tonight don’t they?”

“Sorry if I’m smiling like some kind of idiot.”

“Don’t apologize, I think your smile is cute. 

Illyana grinned with a little blushed showing across her cheeks. “Thanks, your smile is also beautiful.”

When they finally got to Luna’s room there was a pause. Magik held Luna in her arms. Luna looked into Illyana’s blue eyes before then locked lips under the spotlight of the moon.

“I hope you have sweet dreams tonight.” Luna's heart skipped a beat as she pulled away.

“I hope I’ll see you in my dreams tonight. Good night Seol.” Magik 

Luna layed in bed that night with a new song in her heart as she drifted away.

Chapter Text

Mantis, Adam and Peter woke up early that morning to join the others at the training grounds. Mantis stretched soaking in the sunlight as the sun rose over the empire of Wakanda.

“I have a good feeling about today.”

“You say that everyday, Mantis.” Peter said.

“Becuase I try to have a positive attitude everyday.” Mantis smiled.

“I mean it gets results.” Peter shot at a Galacta bots. “Anyway I’m going to go see what Rocket's been working on with Penny.” Peter flew off. Mantis saw Adam and Luna snow talking so she wandered over to see what they were talking about. It looked like he was showing her some advantages that his cosmic power could grant others.

“Many have lost themselves to the power cosmic. That is a fate I will not let befall you.” Adam places a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“I can see what you mean when you call it intoxicating.” Luna started shaking.
“So you plan on mentoring me in the ways of the power cosmic?”

“If you will allow me the privilege. I see great potential in you Ms.Snow.”

Luna smirked at him. “I had an old agent who also told me about my great potential before he took 10% of all my streaming revenue and ticket sales.”

“I won’t require any form of compensation from you. My reward comes from knowing I have helped you harness your powers for the greater good.”

“I can’t imagine it getting better than this healing myself while damaging the enemy gives us an amazing tactical advantage.”

“Hi Luna. Hi Adam. What's going on over here?” Mantis approached them.

“I was showing the tactical uses of my cosmic power to Luna.”

“And it’s pretty amazing if I say so myself, Golden boy.” Luna nudged him with her elbow.

“That’s great. How was your time with Magik last night?”

Luna blushed. “It was amazing, Mantis.”

“Oh, Mantis, I believe Groot wanted to see you. He wanted to experiment with your healing and plant based abilities.” Adam stated.

“Yeah I’ll go right away. Good luck to the both of you.” Mantis spirited off to find Groot.
She found Groot practicing his powers on some Galacta bots.

“I’m here, Groot!” Mantis ran towards him.

“I’m Groot!” Groot shouted back to her

“Yeah, Adam told me everything. I think it's a great idea to mix our abilities together.” she beamed.

Mantis and Groot worked together making healing blossoms bloom on his walls of vines. Mantis’s antenna twitched as she sensed the presence of another.

“Hello there my Floral friends.”

“Can sense how tense you are all the way over there Loki.” Mantis had mixed feels when it came to the god of mischief. She found what he had done to Asgard to be abhorrent but she could still sense that under his facade he still cared for his people. He was evil but he was not totally beyond redemption. So Mantis vowed to treat him with kindness in hope that he would turn over a new leaf.

Mantis turned to face him. “I can use my empathic powers to calm your nerves, if you wish for me to do so.”

“I’m always on edge,Mantis. But I suppose I've become more unnerved due certain current circumstances.” Loki raise hand. “Although I have no desire for you to use your empathic abilities on me.”

“I’m Groot.” Groot questioned the god.

“It’s not you putting me on edge, you dolt!”

Mantis stood in between them. “You don’t have to shout at him.” she said firmly.

“I just wanted to tell you Mantis that I think your cosmic touch and my mastery of magic, if combined properly, can prove stronger than each of us alone.”

Mantis wants to make a comment on the lines of "That's how being on a team works,Loki.” But she stopped herself.

“Why thank you.” She nodded.

“I’m Groot.”

“Yes, she is quite popular. Maybe it’s that fetching shade of green she’s wearing.” Loki looked her up and down. Mantis blushed a bit, so the god of lies can tell the truth. Loki mixed in his own abilities with Mantis and Groot’s power. Mantis knew he had some form of altered motives but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Until he pulled her aside.

“I know what you did last night with Luna and Magik.”

“And so what..”

“Well I’ve been thinking about a game we could play. You must have seen how Starlord follows that perfect human around like a love sick puppy.” Mantis knew where he was going with this. “Earlier today I heard him trying to talk himself into asking out Adam.”

“What do you want with this, Loki?”

“I just want to make some bets. Don’t you want to have some fun, Mantis?” Loki pouted.

“What kind of money do you think would have me sell out my friend's love?” Mantis snapped at him.

“Oh, about 2600 credits.”

Mantis could already hear the lecture she would get from Rocket if she turned down that kind of money. The guardians were the poorest of all the teams so 2600 credits was big for them. One time they were so broke that Rocket chased Adam around with a vestable peeler.

“Fine, what are the rules?” She sighed.

“Oh, I didn’t think there would be rules but fine whatever you want.”

“You can't use your illusion magic or shapeshifting to trick them.”

“What! That's not fair!” He whined. Mantis raised an eyebrow at him.

“Fine but you can't use your empathic abilities to get them in the mood.” Loki put out his hand.

“Deal.” Mantis shook his hand.

“Your friend Starlord is going to cry himself to sleep.” Loki mocked.

“Not if I have anything to do with it.” She jeered at him.

They left the arena going their own separate ways. Mantis went to talk to her friend Adam and Loki went to pester the so-called legendary Starlord.

Mantis found Adam seemingly admiring the sky from one of the balconies.

“It’s nice to see you again, Mantis.” He turned as he heard her approach.

“Hey, what are you looking at?” She stood beside him.

“I am merely observing our allies.”

“So your people-watching.”

“You can call it that.”

“Is there anything you have noticed, Adam?” she asked

He pointed to Luna. “She has shown great promise with the power cosmic earlier today.” He then pointed out Black widow, Hankeye, and the Winter soldier. “Despite being separated by time they all work in sync with one another like a well built machine.” They watched on as the trio destroyed waves of Galacta bots.

Adam finally points to the pair known as Cloak and Dagger. “Those pair’s souls are in perfect harmony. Her light and his darkness come together to make a perfect balance.”

Adam signed. “I almost envy them.” Mantis could sense Adam’s longing.

“Do you wish for a romantic companion, Adam?”

“A companion like that would be great. I never had the time to build such a bond with someone.”

Mantis knew what she needed to do. “You know sometimes we build those bonds with others without knowing it. Love can reveal itself in the strangest of places, Adam.”

Gamora once had told Mantis of her time with Adam. She had stated that Adam was oblivious to most forms of romance unless you quote on quote throw a brick at his head. Mantis hoped to help him connect the dots.

“I know that truth, Mantis.“

“And as your local empath. I would notice if someone harbored feelings for you.”
Adam furrowed brows in thought. He opened his mouth as if to say something before he returned to his private thoughts. He is thinking of someone special to him.

“So I heard there was something Peter wanted to do with you tonight.”

“Yes, he said he wanted to spend time with me later. Just the two of us.” Adam looked at what was in front of him but his mind was 1000 miles away from here. Mantis could already hear the credits coming in.

Loki lurked behind Starlord. “Hello there, lord of stars.”

Peter jumped in surprise. “Aah!” Peter spun around trying to seem cool. “Oh! Hi Loki.”

“Good day to you.” He hated having to repeat himself.

“What are you here for man?” Starlord said.

“I just wanted to have a little chat, my friend.”

“About what?” His eyes shifted around.

“Oh, just something I’ve heard through the metaphorical grape vine.”

Peter tensed up. “What have you heard through this grape vine?”

“It’s nothing really, I just heard you have been pining after the galaxy’s favorite golden boy.” Loki's lip curls in a sick grin.

“And what if I do?”

“Then you shouldn’t tell him about it.” Loki tried to seem as caring as possible.

“Excuse me?” Peter said in an offered tone.

“I simply want what’s best for you.” Loki feigned empathy towards him. “Let’s face the facts here human. Adam is the so-called perfect human and you are a barely functioning human. I mean I’ve heard of the idea of opposites attract but, you have to be a bit delusional to believe you have a chance with him." Loki took a seat next to Peter like he was an old friend.

“A bit delusional?”

“Okay, you have to be really delusional to think you and Adam could be a thing. Adam is a mature and sophisticated man. You simply are not in the same league as him. I mean the guardians have a good thing going for them and you wouldn’t want to scare him off would you.”

“No I wouldn’t.” Peter frowned.

“See how easy it is to listen to reason Quill.”

Peter had heard everything Loki was saying to him before. He has told himself all those things before. “I’ll think about what you said.”

Peter got up and put on his headphones blocking out anything Loki said. Head filled with the song Lover Boy by Queen. Music almost always calmed his nerves ever since he was a kid. Music lets him think through his feelings.

He thought to himself “What did Loki even know about Adam? What did Loki even know about love? Who was he to act like an expert on love? He owed child support to a damn horse for Christ's sake.” Peter almost laughed, Loki made him want to kiss Adam more out of pure spite.

Loki hoped those seeds of insecurity would blossom into a flora of suffering. Yet Starlord didn't seem to care about what Loki said.

That evening Adam waited for Peter to arrive at their agreed upon location. Mantis came across her friend Peter pacing back and forth, He was shaken with anxiety.

“Peter? What is troubling you?” Mantis inquired.

“It’s nothing, I’m just very nervous?”

“Would you like to talk about it?”

“Yeah, I guess.” Peter paused for a moment.

“You’ve probably noticed I have feelings for Adam.”

Mantis respawned in the most dead pan voice imaginable. “What … No.”

“Oh Ha ha very funny. I thought I was going to tell him tonight but now I'm getting cold feet.” Peter continued “I keep thinking of all the ways this can go wrong. Like what if he thinks I'm not good enough for him? What if he hates me? What if he threatens to leave the team over this?”

“Peter, you know these thoughts are illogical. Do you really believe that Adam would threaten to leave the guardians over having romantic feelings for him?”

“No.” Peter seemed to calm down a bit.

“And if Adam hated or looked down on you I would have noticed.”

“You're right.”

“You should go and be honest about your feelings for him.”

“I just don't want my relationship with Adam to turn out like my relationship with Kitty did.” Peter collected his thoughts. “It started out amazing. We connected so easily but, then the whole being the prince of spartan thing happened and grew apart, we broke up. Everything then became so weird between us that I don't think we could get together like that again if we tried.”

“And you are afraid that will happen with Adam.”

He nodded. “Basiclly yeah.”

“Peter, don't you know the saying? it's better to love and to lose than to never love at all.”

"Yeah, I know that saying Mantis."

"Also think about how disappointed Adam will be if you don't show up like you said you would."

“Would you look at the time I should get going.” Peter looked at his watch.

“Now you wouldn’t want to be late for your date now would you, Lover boy?”

Peter ran off. “Thanks for talking to me, Mantis. Gotta go bye!”

Adam stood there waiting for Peter to show up when he heard someone speak to him.

"What's taking him so long?" Adam asked himself

“Maybe he won't even show up.” A voice behind him suggested.

“You don't know that. Peter isn't the type to go back on his promises.”

“Are you sure of that?” Loki said .

Adam turned to face Loki. “Yes, I am. Don't you have something else to do?”

“Sadly no. I just don’t understand what you see in him.” Loki mocked him.

“Peter has a beautiful and kind soul. I only see what's already in front of me.”

Loki rolled his eyes, knowing it would be impossible to change Adam's Mind.
“Whatever..” He said as he disappeared into nothingness.

Peter arrived at the scene in the nick of time.

“Hi, Adam”

“Peter, I’ve been anticipating your arrival.” Adam turned to face Peter.

Mantis and Loki watched on in secret, both hoping to prevail.

“I hope you are ready to pay up, Laufayson.”

“You’ll only get paid if you win the bet.” Loki bitterly reminded her.

“I know that. Now shut up.”

Adam looked up at the night sky. “The stars look beautiful tonight.”

“Yeah they do.” Peter took Adams' hands into his.

“There was something I wanted to tell you.”

“Do tell.” Adam fixed his attention to Peter.

Peter blushed, “Well for a while, I’ve been having these feelings bubble up.”

Adam stepped closer to him. “Are these feelings for something or someone?”

“They’re for someone very important to me.” Starlord looked into Adam’s eyes.

“How long have you known them?”

“Oh, I've known him for a while now.”

“Really?” Adam knew who he was talking about.

“Yeah, you could say we’re pretty close.” Their faces are now only mere inches apart. Adam could feel Peter's breath on his skin.

“You could say that about us.”

“Yeah..” It felt like the whole galaxy fell quiet. It was only the two of them and the endless night sky. Adam wraps his hands around Peter to support Peter’s weight as he picks him up. The two of them flew into the air in each other's embrace.

“So who’s the guy?”

“I have a feeling like you already know all about him.” Peter finally locked lips with Adam, this must be what stardust tastes like. It was perfect in every way. Adam started to bring them back down. He held Peter like he was a prize gem.

When they landed back on the ground, pulling apart from each other. For a second they just stared at each other, taking deep breaths.

“You don’t know how long I’ve waited to say that.” Peter said.

“Was it worth the wait?”

“Very.”

Mantis jabbed Loki with her elbow.

Loki groaned “I guess you win.”

“Yes, I won.”

“I’ll pay in due time." Loki disappered. Mantis could sense his lies as Loki ran off, bailing on her. Mantis walked back to the guardian’s room to get reinforcement.

“Rocket!” Mantis slammed the door open. “I need reinforcement!”

Rocket jumped up. “Who do we have to kill!”

“I am Groot.” Groot said in agreement.

“We don’t have to kill him. I just won a bet and he won’t give me what I’m owed.”

“Well how much is it? 200 credits or something?”

“Loki made a bet with me for 2600 credits.”

“2600 credits!?!” Rocket shouted in shock.

“Yes.”

"Then let's go beat that smug look off his face. Mostly for the money but also because I don’t want to hear what the “lover boys” will be doing to each other when they get back.”

“I am Groot.”

“Yeah, like new flash Quill playing music when you’re flarkin don’t cover up the sound of you flarkin. You just added the sound of music to the sound of you flarkin someone.”

“Stop talking about Peter’s sex life and help me get my money.”

“Oh yeah right.” They all quickly march out the door to get Mantis her money.

Loki was walking back to his room in the dark. He was happy due to him avoiding paying Mantis the bet money. He was completely at peace until he heard someone’s foot steps behind him. Before he even turned around an array of thorns being shot straight into his back. Some type of poison shot through his nervous system. They grabbed his horn helm from the back, causing him to fall on his back.

Then he saw the face of his assailant. It was Mantis.

“I want my flarkin money, Loki!” She stepped on his throat.

“I told you I’ll give you your money in due time.” he choked out.

She took her boot off of his throat. “You dare lie to me, Loki! I can always tell your true intent.”

Mantis viciously kicked him in the face. Loki managed to squirm away from her.

“But, will you be able to find the true Me?” Loki asked as he spawned many clones of himself. Mantis snapped her fingers.

“I am Groot.” Groot’s vines erupted from the ground wrapping around Loki and his clones. Rocket used his machine gun to shoot down Loki’s clones. Mantis was left standing over the real Loki.

“I can sense how your heart rate is rising with fear, Loki.” she cracked her knuckles.
“I can promise no more harm will befall you if you give me my dues.” She threatened.

“Unhand me this instant! You cruel intergalactic vagrant!”

Rocket laughed. “I’m the cruel intergalactic vagrant. Mantis is as sweet as sugar, if you say on her good side that is.”

Mantis got down to his level. “I could act just as cruel and as heartless as you but, I was taught to be better than that. I don’t want to hurt you, Loki. I just want my money.” She said in a low voice.

“Excuse me!”

“A bet is a bet. You shouldn’t bet on something if you are afraid to lose.

Loki surrendered. “Fine, I'll give you your money. Just untie me.”

“I am Groot.”Groot said firmly.
“Yeah like we can trust you.” Rocket pointed his gun at him.

“At ease, he’s telling the truth.”

Groot shrugged “I am Groot.” the vines retracted into the ground.

Loki through the credits at their feet as he stood up.

“Don’t worry, I love giving to charity.” He laughed at them.

“Why you little..” Rocket growled as Groot held him back from doing anything rash. Loki then walked into darkness hoping to heal himself when he got back to his room.

“Let’s go back. Cause I want some dinner.” Mantis beckoned them back.

When they arrived back to their room. They saw Adam wearing one of Peter's old band t-shirts. It looked more than a bit stretched out over Adam's more muscular form. Peter was wearing his pajamas resting on Adam's chest as they lounged on the coach.

“Hey guys what’s up?” Peter nuzzled Adam.

“Loki lost a bet to me. So we had to extort him for money.”

“How much money?”

“Oh just 2600 credits.” Mantis dropped the cash on the table.

“Oh, hell yeah!” Peter high fived her.

“So what have you two been doing?” Mantis asked.

“We’ve been watching a movie.” Adam lied through his teeth. Matis smirked back at him with knowing eyes.

“Yeah we were watching a movie.” Peter enforced Adam’s lie.

“It must have been one hell of a good movie.” Rocket snickered at the pair.

Chapter Text

Bucky looked down at one of his favorite photos. One the few photos he kept in a pocket in his vest, he kept secure right next to his heart. It was of the Natasha from his timeline with her cat Liho. Liho was a little black cat who Nat claimed she didn’t want, going so far as to name her “Liho” meaning misfortune in russian. Yet she let the cat come and stay in her apartment. So Bucky had his doubts. He fondly remembers getting Liho and his cat Alpine to play together. 

It then struck him that the Natasha from his timeline looked identical to the Natasha he and Clint met from 2099. Due to the red room injecting her with a formula akin to the original supersoldier serum given to Captain America, she doesn’t look like she aged a day. He knew his timeline’s Natasha was older than she looked but he didn’t think the supersoldier serum would keep her looking that young for that long. He lingered on what living that long would do to someone. He had spent years in and out of cryostasis so he was already older than he looked. Did the supersoldier serum slow down his aging too?

Clint grabbed the coffee pot drinking straight out of it. “How’s your daily brood season going, Bucky?”

“It was going well.” he put the photo back in his vest. “Untill you started talking.”

“You're welcome.” Clint flashed a smile at him before he went back to drinking straight out of a coffee pot.

Bucky pulls out a cup. "At least save me some.”

Now fueled by some coffee they were now ready for some training. 

Meanwhile, the guardians had just woken up that morning and after a hardy breakfast they were ready for some training. When Mantis started to overhear Clint and Captain America talking to each other she couldn’t help but listen to them.

“Being around you and Nat is so weird.”

“How so?” Steven questioned.

“Becuase I know that you aren’t the Cap I worked in the Avengers with and she’s not the Nat from my timeline but I feel this connection to you two like I know deep inside that I can trust you two with my life.”

“I'm glad that you can put your trust in me like that, Clint.”

“No problem Cap, I think Bucky feels the same way. I mean look at those two.” Clint pointed to Nat and Bucky. They were training with the Galacta bots. “They fight like they’ve known each other forever.”

“They must have been really close in your timeline.”

“I think Nat told me they both served in the red room.”

“Did I ever tell you that Bucky has a thing for red heads?” Cap joked.

“Oh yeah, in my timeline you told me about how he once tried to win something for some redhead on coney island.” Clint doubted that redheads are the only feature that Bucky was into because of how many times Bucky hit on Sam’s sister.

“Well, old habits die hard.” Cap patted Clint on the back

Mantis senses someone coming up behind her snapping her out of eavesdropping.

“Hello there Mantis, what are you up to this morning?” Loki grinned at her.

“None of your business, Loki.” She said pointedly 

“Well it didn’t seem to be any of your business but you listened in anyway.” Loki sassed her like he forgot the events of the previous night.

“I’m still not telling you anything.” She spat back.

“Oh, then let me guess you're trying to find more people for your little match making hobby.”

“What if I am?” Mantis went to leave.

“Then I want to help you.”

Mantis paused in her stride. “Why would you want to help me with that?” 

“Becuase it would be fun.” 

Mantis was surprised, Loki was being truthful to her. 

“How would you help?”

“Well I’m a master of illusions and manipulation. I’m sure there’s something I can do.”

“I don’t manipulate people.”

“Mantis, everyone has manipulated someone at some point. Haven’t you ever said something to influence someone to do a certain action?” Loki mused. 

Mantis hated that he was right. She knew she had done more than just influence others actions. Once she had changed their emotions entirely. When the guardians first formed due to the Annihilation Wave. Peter had requested that Mantis use her powers to manipulate their emotions to make the team come together more quickly. When the other guardians found out it tore the guardians apart. No one could trust each other any more. Adam almost never talked to Peter again after what had happened. Everyone in the team has moved past it now but, Mantis took it as a sign to never use her powers to manipulate anyone like that again.

Loki looked at her with knowing eyes. “You’ve done more than just influence others haven’t you, Mantis?”

“What if I have done so in the past? I wouldn’t do such a thing today.”

“That you are far more interesting than I pegged you to be.” Loki smiled at her.

“You barely know anything about me.” she stated.

“That’s the fun part of our little game.” 

“This isn't a game you can't just play with people like that.”

“But you still get to play matchmaker.” He whined.

“Ugh, whatever.” Mantis walked off. She didn’t want Loki to go out wrecking people’s relationships for funnies. Although helping both Natasha and Bucky sounded like a great idea. It may not pan out due to them being from different timeline. She’ll just have to find out more about them.

Mantis cautiously approved Natasha. The Black Widow turns to face Mantis.

“Hi, you may have heard of me. I'm Mantis.” she stated.

“So you’re the insect girl everyone’s talked about.” The black widow shifted her gaze away from Mantis pointing her gun at a Galacta bot.

“I take it you're more of a fan of arachnids. I heard they're pretty popular.”

“I guess you could say that.” Natasha sniped the head off of a Galacta bot.

Mantis could sense the walls Natasha keeps up and the emotions she kept locked away. 

“Who were you training with earlier, was it the Winter Soldier?"

“Yes. It was Bucky, why do you ask?” The Widow asked plainly. Even with her being as stoic as she was Mantis could sense all the feelings tied to the name Bucky, the feelings of love and loss.

“I was just wondering how'd I come to know him. I heard in your timeline you both worked in the redroom.”

“We did.” She paused. “He turned out a lot better in your timeline thanks to your guy’s Cap. His story didn’t end the same in mine.”

Mantis noticed the pain Natasha had with the red room.

“I’m sorry if I'm prying too much but, did he pass away in your time line?”

Natasha stops for a moment, turning to Mantis. “I couldn’t save him like Cap did.”

Once it had seemed like Bucky was free from Hydra’s mind control. Until they had dug their claws too deeply into him. She’ll never forget the pain she had in her gut  when she realized far too late, she could no longer find Bucky in the Winter Soldier's eyes. Luckily as a widow she was trained not to get angry and to just get even.

Mantis placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s not your fault, you know. I’m so sorry for even bringing it up.” 

She was feeling every once of the pain Natasha was in. Natasha pushed it down, turning back to her training.

“Mantis, you should make sure to appreciate the friends you have now because you’ll never know when you’ll lose them.” Natasha sniped another Galacta bot. “Trust me I’ve lived a long time.”

“I promise you, they are the people I hold most dear.”

“Good.” Natasha made a single word have the meaning of a thousand.

“You carry so much on your back, Natasha.” Mantis left to return to the guardians. She was surprised to find Rocket talking to Bucky. He was pesting Bucky about his arm again. 

“Oh, come on Bucky just name your price.” Rocket begged.

“Find one raccoon pelt.” Bucky snapped back.

“Hey! I’m not a flarkin raccoon.”

“Yeah, he’s a gosh darn trash panda.”Starlord interjected. 

“Yeah! I’m flarkin trash panda!” Rocket shouted as Peter and Bucky both started to laugh.

“Wait, what’s a trash panda?”

“It's a silly nickname for a raccoon.” Mantis chimed in.

“Oh come on!” Rocket stormed off.

“Thanks for getting your friend to leave.”

“Yeah, Rocket can get hotheaded at times.” Mantis nodded.

“It’s a part of his strange charm, I suppose." Peter said.

“I mean you don’t see a talking raccoon every day. Well, I guess you two do see a talking raccoon every day.”

“You know a talking raccoon is one the more normal things we see in a day.” Peter joked.

“Peter, I need you over here for a second.” Adam shouted. 

“Oh I gotta go! I’ll see you later.” Peter ran off.

“So… how has your stay here been?” Mantis questioned him.

“It’s good. Crazy how fast it’s gone by.”

“Yeah I think I'll spend the rest of our break here with the people I find the most important to me.”

“Aren’t you already around them all the time?”

“Yeah, I hope they know how much I care about them. Because with all the danger we face day to day it’s impossible to know when you’ll lose them.”She tried to weave it in naturally. 

“Don’t I know that.”

“You have someone you care for deeply don’t you?”

Bucky places his hand on his chest. “Maybe I do.”

“I hope they know how close they are to your heart.” Mantis smiled at him, as she went back to the guardians for the rest of their training.

Tonight was going to be one of the last nights they were going to spend in Wakanda so Bucky and Natasha were going to make the best of it. Bucky couldn’t shake the feeling of someone’s eye’s being on him even as he and Natasha disappeared into the shadows together. Maybe it was just his old paranoia. Maybe it was something or someone else. He was too focused on Natasha to really care.

“Won’t you give a kiss to an old soldier?” Bucky leaned in closer to her.

Natasha put her fingers to his lips. “I’ll only do it if that old soldier promises me that he’ll tell his timeline’s Natasha how much he cares about her then I can kiss him.”

“I promise you. When the timelines are put back together I tell my Natasha how much I care about her.”

“Then Maybe..” Nat held the face of the man she couldn’t save.  “Maybe I can be your Natasha for tonight.” Because tonight it was like her Bucky was still here with her. Still here to love and cherish. 

“I can do that.” Bucky embraced her. With all the nearly infinite timelines, multitverses and possibles out there. There had to be one timeline where Bucky and Nat could be happy together. Maybe that could be his timeline. It could be just him, Natasha and their cats.

Loki appears beside Mantis, setting down two glasses of wine for them. “Well, well, well,  you have successfully manipulated another pair of people into being lovers.” 

He slowly clapped before picking up his own glass.

“I haven’t manipulated anyone into being lovers, I only helped get where they were already going.” Mantis picked up her wine, swirling it in her hand. She toasted him, their glass coming together with a soft clink.

“This better not be poisoned.” She sipped

“Oh, please Mantis, poisoning your drink would be way too predictable.” He sipped his wine. “And you're too smart to fall for something like that.”

“You know what would be fun? What if we manipulate.” he pauses. “I mean pick two people who would be good together and set them up together.”

“That sounds highly unethical, Loki.” She protested. Her objections fell on deaf ears as Loki looked over the crowd. Mantis looked into the crowd of her fellow heroes and friends. She saw Magik and Luna dancing together and not far off she saw Adam with his arm around Peter. Mantis felt happy she was able to help people find love.