Chapter 1
Light trickled in her view as she got closer towards the hangar. Warmth slowly seeping in her skin with each step forward. The newly fixed heaters were working well, she mused—costing a pretty penny to get them back into good shape.
Slowly she arrives at the hangar and sees the trio; Peter, Groot, and Rocket. Peter, in a visibly irritated mood from Rocket's incessant rambling about—a sword? Of some kind. While Groot clearly finds Peter's irritation amusing and is happy to sit by Rocket and stay silent as this all happens. The trio are wrapped up in their discussion—technically duo In relation to how many are actively participating in the exchange, as such they don't notice as Mantis quietly walks over. Her steps, light and fleeting; if it were not for Groot's quickly growing boredom from the discussion and his clear size difference he would've been blind to her movements—though query to this he finally took notice of Mantis' presence in the room.
"I am Groot" Groot gruffly says, loud enough just for the two of them to hear. He expressed surprise at her presence, expecting her to have been busy; dispatched on a mission but nonetheless is welcoming to her. Endeared by her humanoid plant friend's efforts to communicate this despite not needing to do so as per her abilities as an empath, she hums in reply.
"I am Groot" he says as he then turns to the duo to inform them of her warming presence in this room—opposing the chilling atmosphere that Peter and Rocket's discussion;debate had caused. The duo clearly hadn't noticed this though as they continued their incessant arguing. Louder this time, Groot tries to speak to them again.
"I am Groot" no reaction.
"I am Groot" yet again, none.
Visibly perturbed by this, Groot shows a displeased expression and quite akin to a child not getting their way, pouts—if a plant being could even being properly do so. Mantis speaks up to spare Groot the trouble.
"What are you two arguing about so loudly?" Mantis asks in a generally polite–yet curious face but her voice betrays her as it shows hints of her displeasure from their arguing and ignorance of Groot and her presence.
"It's just a sword—Mantis..?" Peter tries to argue with Rocket yet Mantis' interruption clearly had gotten his attention as he slowly yet stupidly realizes her presence. Rocket then grumbles as he had lost Peter's attention from the main topic at hand.
"It ain't just' sword, it's a magic sword dumbo" Rocket mumbles through the silence, taking the chance to refute Peter's claims.
"Shush, magic or not it's still just a sword." He quips back before turning towards Mantis.
"Oh, hey—I thought you wouldn't be back till tomorrow." Peter rambles at first, trying to gain composure.
From his efforts, he soon regains his composure and explains to her. Her empath nature clearly helping him in this regard.
"Figured you were out on some mission with the others since you weren't registered as clocked in on office duty." He quickly explains to her.
"No it's fine—I'm more interested on what has you two bickering like little kids" Mantis is quick to reassure Peter and express her curiousity on the topic at hand.
"We was' talking about some new tech the new recruit had, you know—the same one they picked up earlier this mornin' ." Rocket is swift to note this interest and replies.
"Wond'r if we could take a look a' it.." Rocket silently adds, delighted at the chance to observe more mystical ‘technologies’ with the arrival of this new recruit. Though this question doesn't go unheard of by other tree.
"As if—even Peni doesn't let you have a look at her suit for more than 2 mins.“ Peter is quick shoot down his friends ambitious thoughts. "Same with the others and theirs doesn't even have magic."
"I am Groot" Groot chimes in, agreeing w Peter and disapproving of Rocket's sentiments.
"It would be wise of you to not make an attempt, last time Psylocke quite nearly keeled you over in your attempt to 'observe' her equipment." Mantis agrees w her two other close friends and reminds Rocket of his last sneaky attempt at thievery which promptly resulted in some roughhousing. Safe to say, things were tense between the team for a while.
Surprised by his friends 'bullying' of him, Rocket sputters and tries and fails to form a coherent sentence. Before finally after a while manages to squeak out.
"Y-You!! I wasn't even planning to do anything—wasn't even gonna let a single scratch get onto it!" Rocket sputters out, perturbed by the reminder of what occurred last week and its devastating consequences.
Peter, finding this amusing quips back. "Sure—not like the raccoon wouldn't want any scraps." He says lightheartedly, making a reference towards the less intelligent raccoons on earth; terra.
Irritated by this Rocket sprints towards the exit, he wasn't genuinely hurt or angry—aware of the lighthearted nature between everything, he was just irritated so he sought out an escape.
"Peter." Mantis menacingly let's out. Bite on the edge of her throat from Peter’s joke. “That wasn’t nice—despite our friendships nature of dark jokes, it isn’t a pass to hurt others.”
Peter sighs, feeling guilty yet all he lets out is a quick “Yeah, I know—I’m sorry. And i’ll tell him that—soon, hopefully.”
Pleased by his sincere guilt and hopefully trying efforts to apologize, she lets it go. She shifts her focus, interest towards more glaring matters at hand—particularly towards the involvement of a new member. Not without soon realizing the absence of big humanoid plant that was beside them on the earlier parts of the conversation. Both of them, don’t feel like worried about this though, as they connect the dots and come to the conclusion that he had left to accompany Rocket—as he usually does.
“Now, this new recruit—who are they?” Mantis asks, changing the topic.
“Not much I know but heard they’re a russian mutant sorceress from Limbo or some shit”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah—I mean other than that, she has a big ass sword she apparently lunks around. I’m not the guy to ask.” Peter adds, revealing his info or how little info he has.
“When’s she arriving?” Mantis questions, noting the pronoun used. Though if she were correct—pronouns didn’t mean much in assuming gender these days as other planets here and there have changed the ‘tradition’ of gender and pronouns.
“Dunno, probably arrived recently—around 40 mins ago if they weren’t opposed to the recruitment and all.” It’s not much information and is clumsy at best but she supposes it could do. Upon knowing this information though, she’s disturbed by the amount of time or lack thereof to prepare and properly welcome them. Though there could still be some time as they might’ve still been unpacking their items.
“If so, I must carry on then—I’ll talk with you later Pete! Oh, and apologize to Rocket just in case you’ve forgotten!!” Mantis turns towards the exit and hastily yells to Peter, inviting him and reprimanding him. The opening and closing of the hangar doors echoing in the room.
“Got it..” Peter quietly replies, sighing from the antics of Mantis—in which she suddenly left.
———
As Mantis swiftly navigates the hallways beautiful wallpapers, design and arches and its dreadfully precarious twists and turns, she turns towards a corner and is utterly surprised to find that. She finds herself on the ground and appears to have been the result of bumping into someone. Surprised as she was sure she hadn’t heard anyone walking down from this direction, she quickly tries to pick herself up and tries to regain composure.
“Mantis, just the woman I was looking for. They need you over at the meeting hall.” Looking up, she sees her fellow healer, Loki, a grin on his face from seeing the unusually messy Mantis. Upon noticing Loki, she stiffens and picks herself up.
“I see, thank you—I’ll be there in a moment.” Mantis politely replies and passes by Loki, ignoring his mischievous look and swiftly and smoothly makes her way over to the meeting hall. As she makes the journey she muses to herself and wonders what they need her in the meeting hall for and who exactly needs her. She idly entertains the thought of the new member being related to this but as quickly as it comes—she pushes it away.
After all, she wasn’t nearly as important or impressive in the whole team to be able to reinstate a new member on the team. And from my experience, they often have to tutor or mentor them.
As she’s thinking deeply, she finds the familiar hum of the heaters, clinking of the glass ceiling lights—apparently called a chandelier, It fits the room well but it’s honestly just a walking disaster waiting to happen with their organizations peculiar composition. This familiarity wakes Mantis up as all her musing has apparently made the journey shorter than it seems.
As she gets closer to the entrance of the meeting hall, she observes the glass privacy pane and vaguely catches a hint of yellow—? and orange-ish of some kind. It’s not really clear from outside, so she throws away the idea of observing and reminders of Loki’s words makes her decide swiftly and stop hesitating. She then turns to look at the door and steps forward, it opens and parts ways for her automatically.
“Where is this girl—!? I have to things to do and clearly she isn’t respecting of my time.” She hears an unfamiliar and vividly androgynous voice—with an accent of some kind, complain.
“Be patient, Loki informed me she’s on the way right now.” She hears Wanda say to the newcomer, clearly as impatient as the other was. At this, Mantis makes a quick note to make amends—she already doesn’t have the best first impression now, best to placate them with some words than let them think that she’s no good.
“No worries, there will be no need for anymore waiting." She interrupts, making sure her voice is loud enough to be heard yet not so much that other will get the impression she’s yelling.
“The little lady arrives—I see.” The newcomer says sarcastically in that nice accent of hers, slurring and emphasizing her words.
“Apologies, I was…quite caught up.” She says with some uncertainty, bowing ever so slightly to show her sincerity. Slowly she looks back up and finds herself looking at the recruit, finding deep blue eyes looking right back at her. She shivers at this, finding the look chilling—rightfully so.
“Mantis, this is Magik, our new recruit from limbo. I expect you to guide them around these perimeters as well as properly integrate them in the team.” Wanda says, slowly coming down from her anger—though still quite irritable. Blinking slowly, she finally processes the words she had just heard. ‘Me? Surely I cannot be the most suitable for this. Peter or Thor would be more suitable in all honesty.’ Mantis thinks to herself, doubting her capabilities yet still she makes no move to refuse or fight against the order. Though taking it with hesitancy, she soon realizes that the conversation has continued on without her.
“—tis is of significant standing within the team, officially or not, it does not matter. You are to respect her as your superior and treat her such.” She hears Wanda say, upon hearing what seems to be her name. Quietly she notes her new supposed superiority.
“I know, there’s no need to get all antsy!” Magik gruffs out in response—accent just a little bit more clear from her irritation. Clearly she does not like how Wanda thinks so little of her and how easily it was assumed that she wouldn’t respect the other. “Just making sure, you didn’t seem so keen on doing so earlier.”
Wanda mentions.
At this, Magik goes silent. She looks uncaring—in the outside that is. But the slight reddening of her neck indicates that she finds it embarrassing. At this small detail, Mantis can only think.
‘Thats...oddly endearing.'