The first time Illyana’s met Mantis, she was wandering through the halls of King T’challa’s palace, letting her fingers run against the smooth wall, trying to find little imperfections and curves in the dark wood. Finally arriving at the balcony she was looking for, she was surprised (and slightly annoyed) to see that someone was already sitting at her favourite spot.
“Excuse me.” She growled slightly, approaching the person who had dared to invade her space. “Oh, Magik ! Hello” Mantis looked up, smiling warmly at her. Illyana halted in her step, blinking as she looked at the woman sitting in front of her. “Uh- hello, mantis, hello” she mumbled, ignoring the way that she felt a blush creep up on her face. The queen of Limbo, rule of demons did not blush dammit.
“Can I help you ?” The healer asked, pulling her out of her thoughts. “Oh, no, I just, sit here sometimes. It’s my spot.” She tried to sound intimidating, putting the emphasis of her sentence on the word ‘my’. Mantis just hummed, turning back to look out over at Wakanda. When the sun set, it always reminded Illyana of Limbo, the same orange hues painting the bumpy landscape often looked like it could belong in her kingdom. Illyana hesitated, looking around before deciding that no, she would not let somebody else take her spot, no matter how much she actually tolerated (liked) that specific person.
Sitting down on the same bench as the healer, she leaned back and crossed her arms. “I didn’t know you went to this spot often” she mumbled, trying to sound accusatory, and failing miserably. What the hell, I’m supposed to be intimidating. “Sometimes, I enjoy the life energy the plants give off” Mantis explained, letting some leaves float on zir palm. “Ah.” Illyana replied eloquently, trying to keep the scowl on her face from fading as Mantis smiled at her. “How about you ?” Ze inquired, looking at her with interest. “Uh- I uh, it reminds me of home. Both Limbo and Krakoa” she muttered, beginning to fidget with the loose threads on her armour reinforced pants.
Mantis gave her a pitying look, resting a hand on her shoulder. Illyana had half the mind to swipe it away, but decided against it. “I can sense a great longing in you. Beneath the fire, you are upset” the healer stated, pulling away zir hand again, (She missed the woman’s touch as soon as it left). “I’m not- don’t read my mind.” She hissed defensively, trying her best to glare at zir. “My apologies, I thought you could use a bit of help lightening your emotions.” Ze apologised, shooting Illyana a warm smile that she felt deep in her chest.
“Whatever, don’t do it again.” She scoffed, looking down to hide her blush. She did not have a crush on the healer like a schoolgirl, despite zir being one of the few people on the team she did not mind. She was a powerful mutant, feared by demons and humans alike, ruler of the Limbo realm and wearer of the Soulsword, and she did not like people. Mantis said something, humming before looking back at the horizon, the orange rays of late sunshine blending in with zir dress, highlighting zir pleasantly green face.
“I like this planet, I think I might stay here for a little longer after defeat Doom” the healer spoke, breaking the few minutes of silence thry had been sitting in. Illyana shrugged, a small scowl on her face. “I will return to Limbo when the battle is done, most humans are not acceptant of people different than them” she huffed, nose scrunching up in disdain as she thought back to the humans who had hurt her, discarding her after she wasn’t deemed useful anymore. Mantis just sighed, shaking her head with a small, sad smile. Illyana decided she didn’t like the look of it, much preferring zir usual cheerful and soft expression. “I suppose you’re right, but I’d still like to think that maybe we will be accepted if we safe the world” Illyana didn’t have it in her to say that, no, they would most likely still not be accepted, no matter how many people they save.
Instead, she just nodded, humming a quiet “Maybe” as she glanced back at the woman. “What planet are you from, then? Wouldn’t like to return?” She asked, curious as to what the origins of the healer are. “I do not really have one, I was captured by the collector from an early age” Mantis sighed, playing with some small leaves in her palm. Illyana winced slightly, nodding in understanding. “Ah, my…friend, psylocke, was also one of his victims.” She mumbled apologetically, mentally punching herself for bringing it up in the first place. “Yes, she has told me. I promised to help her get revenge” Mantis replied, lips quirking back into a smile.
Illyana laughed, not expecting zir to be plotting revenge against anyone. “Ah, I would not mind assisting you should you ever need it” she offered, relaxing a bit as she leaned her back against the wall. “I will keep it in mind” mantis smiled at her, making Illyana blush slightly.
The second time they’d met, Mantis had to break up an argument between Illyana and Magneto, managing to separate them with the help of Barnes (apparently, he did not like to be called The Wintersoldier anymore) and Stephen. Illyana huffed in annoyance, keeping a scowl of arrogance on her face as Mantis led her away from the metal mutant. “Ignore him, Magik, it’ll be easier to remain allies if you do not engage with him” the healer reassured, sitting down next to Illyana when she pulled out a chair from under the long dining table.
“Tell that to Magneto, he will not stop trying to recruit me for his fight, like I do not have enough battles going on.” She spat, glaring a hole in the wall as she clenched her jaw shut tightly. Mantis shot her a pitying look, something that usually she despised, but decided to not mind it for once. “I am sorry, I understand, Magik” ze spoke softly, moving to put a hand on her thigh but stopping zirself. “You can call me Illyana.” She mumbled, looking at the floor with crossed arms, shooting a soft glance Mantis’ way to look at zir smile.
“Alright, thank you Illyana” Mantis grinned widely, making Illyana’s inside melt into a puddle. She just hummed, looking back down again and twirling her sword around in the ground to hide the smile on her face. “If you decide to not stay on this planet after the battle, you will always be welcome in Limbo. It is not as horrible as people say.” She offered, mumbling softly as she bit the inside of her cheek, preparing for the inevitable ‘Limbo? Like hell, why would I ever want to stay there.’ Instead, she felt the healer shoot up beside her, zir face shining brightly.
“I-I’d like that, I do need plants to support my life energy though..” ze trailed off, face still in a bright smile. Illyana cursed internally, there weren’t that many ..normal, plants in Limbo. “Ah, it is not very lush, but I assure you there are some natural flora in my kingdom” she replied, giving Mantis a smile. The healer let out a warm laugh, offering her zir hand. “It’s a deal then” ze chuckled, illyana looking down at zir hand. “Deal” she smirked, shaking Mantis’ hand, suddenly feeling her left over frustration at magneto trickle out of her. She frowned slightly, tilting her head at Mantis. “Did you just…?”
Mantis blushed slightly, the pink shade mixing with zir green skin. “Sorry, it’s a habit” ze mumbled, pulling away zir hand. “Oh, uh, it’s okay” Illyana muttered, resting her hand on her lap. Why am I so fucking flustered, get yourself together Rasputina. “I’m going to, go to the training room” she cleared her throat, standing up and letting her sword appear back in her hand. Mantis stood up too, nodding with a smile. “Goodluck” ze whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to Illyana’s lips before skipping away.
“Wha-? I-“ Illyana stammered, touching her fingers to her lips as she watched Mantis leave.