CHAPTER THREE; AVENGERS

❝ they were two of the smartest people anyone knew, yet, they couldn't see what was right in front of them❞

( a - n
guys, can you please comment. It is hard to have inspiration to write her story when no one is reacting to anything. not even parts that would maybe anger you, there's nothing. Not commenting makes it more likely the story will just end bc I'll think you guys don't care and aren't enjoying it. Pls, if there's things you want to say good or bad ( as long as it's not rude ) is fine. )

･ ｡ﾟ☆

❝ quinjet ❞

HER EYES WERE SHUT AND THE WORLD Alina was in was completely out of tuned with the one she was from. But her sleep was anything but peaceful, each second was plagued with intense cold, and horror filled screams. Thousands, perhaps millions of voices crying out that she wished would cease.

Visions of chaos and pain, pain like she had never felt before that made her squirm even as she slept. Eventually, Connor who had returned from asking how much longer they had noticed her moving. In his moment of hesitation, he saw wisping lines of a nearly artic blue started to surround her like a cocoon.

Once the realization hit, Connor raced to her side and the second his hand touched her she sprung up gasping for air. "Lina, Lina, you're okay! Everything fine, you're on the ship," he told her trying to distract her from whatever was scarring her.

Alina placed her hand over her own heart pressing down trying to force herself to breath correctly. Moving so he was in front of her Connor grasped both her hands saying, "Look at me, just look at me and take a deep breath." Doing as she was told she locked onto his blue eyes focusing on them while matching his breathing. "That's it, you got it. Now a couple more breaths for me," he urged as he helped her lean back against the jets seat.

When he saw she finally had evened out he asked, "What happened? You were fine when I left, did you have a nightmare?"

Alina thought for a moment about what she had heard and seen and tried to decide if it was a nightmare, or something else altogether. Doing the only thing she thought to do, Alina warned, "I think...I think something bad is going to happen. I never have felt this type of weight on my chest going into a fight and it's different. It's not fear it feels like a warning."

"A warning for what," Connor wondered.

Looking past his shoulder to make sure no one else was there to hear before Alina said, "I think the road were on leads to a lot of people dying..." Connor swallowed hard, the look in her eye told him her fears were real. "Promise me if things get really bad, you'll come find me," Alina insisted not only keeping her promise to Gwen in mind but also how much she genuinely cared for the boy.

"I swear," he told her knowing that if her fears were this real to her, there was no reason not to trust her instincts.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ avengers compound ❞

"Still no word from Vision," the holographic version of Ross before Rhodes asked.

Quickly he answered walking towards the projection, "Satellites lost him somewhere over Edinburgh."

Frustrated as he always was the old man declared, "On a stolen quinjet with four of the world's most wanted criminals and two accomplices that I could only guess who they are. But let me tell if I get confirmation, Alina Dranganov will be in a cell faster than your head can turn."

"You know they're only criminals because you've chosen to call them that, right, sir? And Alina Dranganov has a deal with our government, instances where the world is under threat, and she uses her abilities are categorized as acts of citizen helping out their fellow man, no differently than someone would during a fire."

Disgusted with the deal the Starks managed to get her Ross grimaced, "My God, Rhodes, your talent for horseshit rivals my own. And that's true, until after her 21st birthday thank God for fine print. After that, it's either the accords or jail for her."

"If it weren't for those Accords, Vision would've been right here. Alina would still be living here as well as every other Avenger you drove out," declared Rhodes.

Getting up from the desk walking around to come face to face with him and said, "I remember your signature on those papers, Colonel."

"That's right," admitted the colonel his eyes casting downwards ad the cast permanently on his body now so he could walk. "And I'm pretty sure I've paid for that."

Practically dismissing the sacrifice, he asked, "You have second thoughts?"

With his arms crossed Rhodes promised, "Not anymore."

The two men paused feeling presences getting closer. Turning their heads they saw Steve, leading the same very band of 'criminals' the secretary spoke of. Ross and the authority he represented starred daggers into him, before his gaze fell upon Alina. It was like her throat swelled shut in an instant. Him and his authority was the was one of the last remaining fears she had in this world.

"Mr. Secretary," greeted Steve moving slightly to be blocking Alina from his line of sight.

Looking the solider up and down in disgust, Ross grimaced, "You got some nerve. I'll give you that."

"You could use some of that right now," added Natasha as she too stood before Alina. Seeing the two of them filled her with relief, she felt safest when they and, or Peter were around.

"The world's on fire. And you think, all is forgiven," questioned the old man as he neared the soldier. Reaching out for her hand Connor squeezed it reminding her she was okay, protected. A feeling she needed.

Still as calm water Steve replied, "I'm not looking for forgiveness. And I'm way past asking for permission. Earth just lost her best defender. So we're here to fight. And if you wanna stand in our way... We'll fight you, too."

The old man said nothing, he turned his back approaching Rhodes again stating, "Arrest them." Alina scoffed, not even now would he admit, perhaps he was wrong, even if it met saving the planet. Pride. Ross stunk of it, he thought they were all freaks, and humanity was just perfect before them. Alina knew he just didn't like being inferior to anyone, and people with powers, how could he beat them without destroying everything?

"All over it," said the Colonel before shutting off hologram. There was pause as the screeching sound of the fax machine told Rhodes, "That's a court-martial." Breaking his serious demeanor Rhodey grinned opening his arms, "It's great to see you, Cap."

Returning his embrace Steve said, "You too, Rhodey."

As they pulled apart and he noticed the group of gathered forces Rhodey returned, "Well. You guys, really look like crap. Must've been a rough couple of years."

"Mainly for them," Alina spoke up gesturing between herself and Connor, "We had issues but we at least had stability."

Both Natasha and Steve answered together, "Alina's friend."

At the same time Connor had tried to say, "Hey, I'm Connor."

Rhodey starred between them for a moment incredulously before Sam spoke up, "To answer your question, the hotels weren't exactly five star so not too good."

Alina was just about to speak when she sensed someone news anxiety getting closer. Before she had to a chance to question it, Bruce came out of the back room announcing, "Uh, I think you look great. Yeah. I'm back."

Everyone in the room froze, except for Connor who had no clue of the underlining tensions. At least not until Natasha turned at the sound of his voice and practically breathlessly said, "Hi, Bruce."

And the nail in the ideas coffin for Connor was the way Bruce returned, "Nat."

The blonde boy pointed between the two in question and mouthed, "The two of them?" Alina nodded fighting her urge to watch the scene before her. Looking between her and Steve now Connor admitted still mouthing his words, "I thought she was with Cap."

Seeing Alina shaking her head no Connor hummed accepting it, but not really understanding it. Sam on the other hand, who had been helping Wanda hold a still sore Vision said, "This is awkward."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ avengers compound [ conference room ] ❞

Alina and Connor sat down at the table listening as everyone discussed their next steps. Which if she were honest, she was pretty sure they were as clueless about what to do as her.

"So, we gotta assume they're coming back, right," proposed Rhodey as he paced around the room.

Adding on Alina warned, "And they can clearly find us."

"We need all hands on deck. Where's Clint," began Bruce at the end of hearing everyone's points.

"After the whole Accords situation, he and Scott took a deal. It was too tough on their families," said Natasha knowing she was the only one with the answers. 

Bruce narrowed his eyes on confusion, "Who's Scott," he asked.

Quickly Steve said, "Ant-Man."

Absorbing the information still Bruce confirmed, "There's an Ant-Man and a Spider-Man?"
He saw his words mentioning spider man instantly make Alina grab for something around her neck. "Okay, look... Thanos has the biggest army in the Universe. And he is not gonna stop until he... He gets...Vision's stone.

Pushing off the table she was leaning off the now blonde widow answered, "Well then, we have to protect it."

"No, we have to destroy it," said Vision suddenly from his spot leaning against the glass wall. All eyes turned to him as he pointed to the stone in question, "I've been giving a good deal of thought to this entity in my head, about its nature. But also, its composition. I think if it were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source, something, very similar to its own signature. Or a signature it's attacked before but couldn't harm or destroy, perhaps... Its molecular integrity could fail."

Suddenly, Alina noticed how he was nearing herself and Wanda who stood not much further away. "And you, with it. We're not having this conversation," dismissed Wanda as he stood between the two strongest avengers in the room.

"Eliminating the stone is the only way to be certain that Thanos can't get it," said Vision in a voice so gentle and selfless.

Alina who he was now looking to refused, "That's too high a price. I have been forced into killing enough people to last me a lifetime."

"Only you two, have the power to pay it," reminded Vision as he turned to Wanda cupping her face as he finished, "Thanos threatens half the Universe. One life cannot stand in the way of defeating him." Wanda refused to listen pulling away from him.

Stopping Wanda from ever needing to argue for his life, Steve proclaimed, "But it should. We don't trade lives, Vision."

While walking toward Steve, the android reminded, "Captain, 70 years ago, you laid down your life to save how many millions of people. Tell me, why is this any different?"

Steve took a breath, but before he had a chance to answer Bruce began, "Because you might have a choice." The hope made all eyes fall to the scientists who pieced together, "Your mind is made up of a complex construct of overlays. Jarvis, Ultron, Tony, me, the Stone. All of them mixed together. All of them learning from one another."

"You're saying Vision isn't just the stone," confirmed Wanda who needed hope.

Careful not to give her false hope, Bruce said, "I'm saying that... If we take out the stone, there's still a whole lot of Vision left. Perhaps the best parts."

"Can you do that," questioned Connor reminding everyone he was there still.

The scientists shook his head refusing, "Not me. Not here."

"You better find someone, and somewhere fast. Ross isn't exactly just gonna let you guys have your old rooms back," cautioned Rhodey who was waiting for the door to be kicked in any minute.

There was a moment of pause as everyone tried to think of a place to go. It wasn't long before Steve announced, "I know somewhere. Grab what you need, twenty minutes to refuel and we're leaving."

"Leaving to where," wondered Alina as she stood up to speak to him while he walked out.

"Wakanda."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ avengers compound [ alinas old bedroom ] ❞

Back in her suit, Alina entered her bedroom immediately going to her closet. Inside she found the same box she left there still perfectly charmed to remain unseen. She snapped her fingers and instantly her Carbonadium metal bo staff with a curved blade sticking out of both ends. "Never saw you use that before," said Connor who had just come to give her a 10-minute warning.

Examining her weapon she admitted, "That's because it's been a long time since I've picked it up."

"Can I see," he asked to which she handed it over for him to see. Almost instantly he said, "This is terribly well balanced." He twirled it in front of himself before he placed it back down on its blunt end. "Is that the only reason it's special," he wondered why a girl like her would even choose to fight with weapons.

"It poisons people when they're cut with it," she admitted as she watched him reaching for the sharp edge of the curved blade.

His eyes widened slightly, "Noted," he said pulling his hand away from the blade as took the staff back placing it against her wall for a moment.

Elaborating on her answer she told him, "If I'm honest, I'm getting it because I'm a little freaked out about what we're up against. I felt of those stones before, I don't want to imagine the things it can make you feel or see when there's all of them. You can still go back to Gwen; you don't have to come."

Shaking his head, the hooded Stacy teen happily accepted the risk, "Now if I left who else would be keeping you this amused." Alina fought her smile as he became serious to say, "In all honesty, I'm here because I know you don't need someone to fight for you, but you deserve that. Someone on your side no matter what you have to do or have done."

"That's one of the things I like most about you. I always will," Alina declared and before she knew it, she knew it she was adding, "I'm still sorry for how we turned out. I kinda hope if that theory Peter as telling me, the one about the multiverse. If that's true I like thinking that in one those, we got our shot. We aren't just this almost something. We are two teenagers who got a real chance to make each other happy. Even if it doesn't work out, because let's face it, the world is always going to hell around you and I. The world and its arguing about whether I'm good or bad, things like Thanos and Ross...they just always get in the way."

Alina hadn't realized how close he had gotten until she finished speaking. "The two of us and chaos, kinda our thing, huh," he sadly questioned making Alina nod regretfully. Knowing it might very well be the last time either of them ever saw each other, each of them began inching their faces closer. Her eyes kept glancing to his lips as she gingerly moved closer. Connor was the one to seal the kiss cupping the sides of her face.

It was much more tender than their first, the way he caressed her hair back as his hands rested near her neck. Alina ahead this sickening feeling it was their last kiss. As he pulled back Connor rested his head on hers, "I just wanted to make sure I did that one last time, just in case their is no later for one of us."

"It's okay, a goodbye kiss," she said sadly. Connor looked as if there was something else he wanted to say, but couldn't make himself do it. "Say it. Whatever it is, say it," Alina told him knowing each would regret it if he didn't.

Connor scanned her face pushing her hair behind her ear, "You should talk to Peter about how you feel about him when he gets back."

"What," she questioned stepping back not understanding what he was trying to get at now.

The Stacy boy laughed sadly, "I know Alina, everybody knows. Except you and Peter apparently." Seeing the denial still written across her face Connor stepped back telling her, "It's okay, I always knew. I just...I thought maybe if I were different, but it was too late. You never want to be without him Alina, you've been terrified since you left him. Nor have you stopped reaching for your pendant to let him no you're okay. In the middle of all the chaos, his safety was all that mattered. Being a hero is hard for people like you and me. We will always love someone else above everyone else. And I saw the way he looked at you. You're right about those realities, in one of them we go get a happier story. Just not this one, here we just never get our timing right."

"How does he look at me," Alina tentatively questioned.

Connor exhaled telling her the truth, "Like every time he saw you was him seeing the ocean for the very first time and being completely caught it's beauty and power." He paused fighting his tears so well she would think they weren't there. If she couldn't feel just how much what he was saying broke his heart. He didn't want to let her go, but he was. "It's the same way I look at you. The same way I'll always see you, and I'll always be there when you need someone. Doesn't matter what, doesn't matter if someone has to die, be fought or lied to. I'll do it, for you, always."

Alina wanted to say something, but it all felt wrong. To try and convince him what she herself had begun to wonder. She never used her powers to find out what Peter felt. It was hard but she made sure her powers never caught more than an accidental slip of his surface emotions. "I'll always save you," Alina swore those being the only words she could offer.

"You already have Alina," he told her his voice hoarse and broken and he rushed to the door. His feet made him stop at the door but didn't look back. That wasn't fair to either of them, so he opened the door leaving her behind. As he left Alina's two fingers rested over her mouth stopping the voice that wanted to tell him she was sorry. But her words weren't for him, they were for her. Exhaling she reached for he pendant under her suit watching as the red glow pulsed in her hand. She returned the message knowing Connor was right, she had to talk to him when he returned.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ thanos' ship ❞

The bright familiar pulsing glow of the blue moon in his hand filled Peter with relief. He was sitting in front of the windows looking at some of the most gorgeous views he'd ever seen, on his way to fight an alien, and he couldn't stop worrying about if she was okay. Had more of those aliens come to earth? What would Alina do to protect everyone? All these thoughts left a troublesome scowl on his face that couldn't be ignored by Strange or Tony.

"How did he get that," Strange questioned gesturing to the glowing pedant in the boy's hand.

"Something Alina gave him," Tony said never having given it too much thought before.

The Stark man could see Strange thinking about something, "That's a witches token," he finally said keeping his voice down.

With a raised brow Tony jeered, "A witches what?"

Repeating himself Stephen enunciated, "Witches token. The girl you're talking about does she know what she is?"

"If she could figure that out, she would be writing a book about how annoyed she was it took her so long to find out. Why does it matter," reasoned Tony knowing the best they had come up with was myths and the conclusion her DNA was different than anyone else he, shield, the red room, or hydra had been able to discover.

The wizard frowned impressed with the fact little trailing, or rather none at all and she'd be able to master the skills she had. "All I know is any other witch would've needed the incantation and to know the requirements. She didn't."

Tony put his hand dramatically to his head, "Ah yes, I know exactly what that means now. Thanks."

Strange rolled his eyes dryly telling him, "I mean that if she made it with no guidance and no real knowledge of what she was making, that takes real power. And one strong will to keep Mr. Parker there alive." Tony starred off at the boy who was still periodically glancing at the necklace waiting for it to glow again.

He had grown suspicious of the bond between them after he knew Peter covered with Ross for her. Tony wasn't an idiot; he knew Alina had helped Natasha bring down the red room and he couldn't blame her for helping. But seeing Peter lying without a single thought or hesitation; it was sweet.

Taking it upon himself to say what most teenage boys sometimes needed another to tell him; how to not be a clueless idiot with girls. Tony made his way over to the boy and once he was close enough her pointed to the pendant asking him, "How does it work?"

Peter stood up clutching the moon she'd given him telling Tony, "This? Alina tried explaining it once, took a few tries for her to get it right. I'm pretty sure she connected it to my heart, or life. Alina said it was something like that. It was kind of hard for me to understand but she it that basically I tap it twice it tells her I'm okay. Three times and she will know I'm in danger and to come." The older man nodded humming as he thought to himself, "What," Peter wondered.

Leaning against the metal frame of the ship Stark noted, "Oh nothing, it's just Natasha is her favorite person in the world, is on the run, and Alina didn't think to give her one of those. That means above everyone she wanted to make sure you, and only you, had the option to get her attention in just a moment."

"She's my best friend. There's nothing we wouldn't do for each other," reasoned Peter putting the pendant back around his neck and under his suit so it didn't fall off.

Stark looked down at the ground for a moment huffing out a breath muttering to himself, "God I hope I wasn't this clueless at your age." Looking back to the teen vigilante he added, "Is that all you really think it is?"

"What else is it," raised Peter.

Pushing off the wall he leaned against Tony stepped toward him trying to get him to realize without saying it himself, "Do you know she took off in an instant when you said you were getting beamed up? No question, no hesitation, not even thinking about the other guy who she left behind she left to chase you."

"She is Alina, I would do the same for her," Peter said as easily as he breathed.

"Jesus just flying over his head," Tony groaned looking back to Strange who had been clinging onto every word they were saying, "Care to help me out with this?"

Walking across the grated flooring Strange tried a different approach, "Did you not just hear what you said? You just confirmed that you both, key word, both, would do the most reckless things to save each other."

The Parker boy narrowed his eyes denying what he was starting to understand out of fear, "Yes, best friends. I'm sorry would your guy's best friends just not do that for you and that's why you're confused?"

The doctor pinched his nose, "Oh my god."

From his spot behind him Tony said, "See I told you." Switching tactics yet again, Strange placed his hand on the boy leading him to the same place he had just been seated.

Kneeling before him looking him dead in the eye Strange pointed out the obvious, "I hardly know either of you, in fact, I never met Alina, but I know magic and what's in front of my face." Pointing at the pendant he knew was hidden beneath the suit he reasoned, "That token she made, extremely powerful to be connected to your very life. Alina has never been to the sanctum or any other for that matter, so she didn't learn it from us. That means she did it by sheer will, a will to protect you. And you? You haven't stopped touching it since the," looking back at tony he asked, "What did you call him?"

"Squidward," replied Tony.

Strange rolled his eyes looking back at the teenage boy finishing, "Since, Squidward was flung out of the ship."

He could see Peter was putting pieces together nearly there but was choosing to stay in denial because he didn't want what he knew about himself to be something he felt alone.

Stepping back into view Tony nudged Strange to stand saying, "Pete, buddy, sit here and in deep contemplation think back about all the times you spent with her and come back to us and tell us if we're just two crazy old men, if we are then fine. You tell us we will never mention it again. If you come and agree, then I suggest when you get back to earth you have a long talk with her. Never know when you'll never be able to again."

As the two men left Peter began to think back upon the river of memories that contained him and Alina. His mind focusing in on the blue glow of the moon returning to him like a beacon calling him home. He wasn't thinking of anything particular for a moment until he remembered when she came back from destroying the red room.

Peter was watched as the credits for Star Wars: A New Hope covered the tv screen in Alina's bedroom. "So, how did you like it," asked Peter as he looked down his shoulder at Alina. Only he didn't find a face of excitement, just one of exhaustion. Mainly because she was fast asleep, he smiled thinking about how he had warned her this would happen eventually.

Since returning from the red room a few nights prior she had been refusing to sleep. She claimed she was too wired to try, and shockingly for three days straight she was fine. Yesterday was when she started to get loopy, today was the day her looniness had driven her to agree to watch Star Wars.

Alina had made it at least halfway through however, he had seen her eyes open last around then. But now, she was finally at rest, and all he could think about was how much he admired her. In his eyes, there was no soul on this earth or in the universe brighter than her. Alina was a pillar of strength and survival in his eyes.

When he needed someone's voice to tell him he was enough, that he could do the impossible, it was her voice he heard. Her's and May's always reminding him to keep going. Deciding not to disturb her, Peter reached for the phone shutting off the Tv.

Carefully he pulled his body from the support he offered her placing her head softly on the pillow. She groaned feeling the movement but seemed to accept it once he pulled her blankets back over her. Taking one gaze upon her as she slept Peter smiled pushing the hair out of her face. "My Alina," he said to himself softly before getting off her bed.

He had shut off her light and reached the door when Alina's voice croaked out, "Peter?"

"Yeah, Alina," he returned turning the light back on so he could see her. She was propping herself up by her arms but he could tell she wanted to let them give up.

"Will you stay? I don't want to be alone right now," she admitted knowing she had wanted to sleep for day but until Peter was in bed beside her, she didn't feel safe enough to. She was so terrified the second she did Ross would show up and take her.

She knew if Peter was around, he wouldn't allow her to be hurt or taken again. "Of course," he agreed without thought shutting off the light once more. Luckily his shoes were outside her bedroom, so he didn't have to remove them again. He climbed under her purple comforter opening his arm allowing her to rest her head on his chest once more.

He let silence fill the room again ignoring the question he was wanting to ask. "You can ask it Peter. The silence is already doing it for you," she said tiredly.

"Sorry, it's just...you never have asked me that before. I guess I was just wondering why you needed me," questioned Peter not knowing what he wanted the answer to be.

Alina sleepily answered as he played with her hair, "The nightmares aren't bad when you're here." The answer made a small smirk come across his face knowing she felt just as safe with him as he did with her. Just as the sleep was over taking her, Alina said, "And I always need you Peter..."

"Wait what," Peter asked but she was already asleep, but the grin he had couldn't be taken away.

As the memory of them began to fade Peter was left knowing, they were right. Ever since meeting Alina, no other girl matter. Not even when Liz was around did, she make him feel the way Alina had. When he returned to earth, he had to find some way, the perfect way to tell Alina how he felt. He needed it to be perfect because she never had a love that was, and he wanted to be it.

a/n

ahh!! Alina and Peter have finally realized they like each other now we only need them on the same planet.