[Fear's POV]

I never thought that my announcement would be this surprising.

Or get so many jaw drops.

Pain had managed to fall asleep during my explanation and Time was right next to her, contemplating whether to wake her up gently or to prank her. From the glint in her eye, I gather she chose the latter.

Meanwhile, Max and my friends seemed to be in a state of shock. At least, all except Jack, who was busy doing his best not to laugh. I smirked at him, doing my best not to join him. Our combined chuckling seemed to knock the rest from their stupor.

A shout and about a dozen murmured apologies to Time let me know Pain just woke up.

"Is this some kind of joke?" I looked at Max, whose face was turning a rather interesting shade of red. Time deadpanned and glared right at the back of his head, while Pain was flexing her fingers, fully prepared to show him exactly how real we all were. I felt the hairs on the back on my neck stand up. I stiffened.

Casually, I looked behind Max, noting the slow forming of a shadowy figure I knew far too well. I caught Pain's gaze, who immediately looked behind Max. Slowly, we both smirked.

"Well then, Max," I was trying my best to not laugh as Pain made her way to the figure. "I think you might want to tell that to a certain person behind you."

They all (except Jack, who had 'suddenly disappeared') turned around slowly before screaming.

This has to be the most awkward and uncomfortable gathering ever. From Pain, who blatantly refused to put her blade away as she filed her nails with it, to Max, Clint and Drake, who were looking like cartoon characters with their wide eyes, to Time, who was having a casual conversation with the friendly, slightly on the tall side Italian that looks and acts like he runs the Mafia.

Technically, he runs the immortal version of it, but that's besides the point.

"So, Boogs," I hand him a cup of cocoa, complete with whipped cream, mini marshmallows and a spoon of sugar, his usual drink. "What brings you to this side of the Space-Time-Continuum? Didn't you say that after last time you want nothing to do with this place?"

Maybe I should have just kept my mouth. I felt my friends' eyes all jump to me, making me instinctively smirk, which I normally did when I was nervous. Is the temperature jumping by the back of my neck, or is it just me?

"Fear, ol' buddy, I thought you were over the whole 'scaring people for a laugh' phase?" I glared at him as I felt their innate fear (funny. Ha ha. Hilarious.) spike. I glared at Boogs before knocking him upside the head, something only Time and I could get away with. He flinched before bowing his head, understanding that he overstepped. "Sorry, pal. I know you aren't like that. You just have a habit of smirking to hide your nerves."

Will he not stop calling me out on my habits? Pain snickered as I hit him slightly harder, before pretending innocence when he glared at her. I rolled my eyes before gesturing for Time to speak. She looked at me before sending a questioning nod towards my friends. Pain made a point of leaning back against the wall and groaning out loud when I nodded. She pointed her blade at them threateningly.

"If I hear a peep out of the group of you, I will personally gut you all and hang your entrails in my room," they gulped and nodded quickly, making Pain smirk. Time and I buried our faces into our hands.

This was not going to end well.

A/N: (*multiple distant crashes down the corridor * door slamming open*)

(*distant* WHT DID NONE OF YOU TELL ME BOOGS WAS THERE? HE'S MY CONTACT! *indecipherable murmuring* FINE! *door slams shut*)

SHE NEVER TELLS ME ANYTHING IMPORTANT, DOES SHE?

(Schnitzel, was this thing on? Uh oh)

While I fish for more info :-p

Denograde out ;)