Where the River goes

Four

For the record, I always thought it was a stupid idea, to follow the river. But it was Tris' birthday request, and she and her friends begged me for hours, until I finally relented. 

We did it just after Tris and Christina got matching tattoos: a vine encircling each of their left arms.

When asked what it meant, they explained that it was to show their growth. They wanted that tattoo to stretch over the muscle that would grow there in training. And it was pretty, Christina added.

We climbed down the cliff onto the riverbank, and walked along it, marvelling at the beauty of the crystals lining the walls of the underground tunnel. "Almost as beautiful as a certain stiff walking next to me," I whispered to Tris, who blushed and hit me on the arm, hard, "ow."

"Serves you right," and she linked her arm around me.

We walked like that for a while until Uriah, who had been stumbling ahead, called out. We all chased after him. 

What he had found was a blue, swirling portal, crackling lightly, and swirling around, "Don't get too close" the words were right on the tip of my tongue when I felt something suck me in. I looked around, wildly, and Tris appeared to be feeling the same thing. The others, too, thought they tried to fight it. I could feel by calculating the weight of the pull, that it was futile, and decided to just let it take me. I groped for Trises hand and found it, giving it a squeeze as we held on tight, being sucked into the portal.

Tony

All in all, I would say the day was pretty much uneventful so far, Peter had gone to school, I had worked into he lab with Bruce. A few kisses. Simmons and Daisy were binging B99 for the fiftieth time. Steve and Bucky were training, Nat was on a date with Pepper and Maria. I didn't see Wanda or Nebula, but I assumed they were doing schoolwork or something. Thor was off world, so was Carol. Clint was visiting his family and Sam was cooking. 

Then I got the call.

Jesus, why couldn't I just have one normal day remaking modern science with the love of my life?

I met the others in the Quinjet, I was the last to arrive as I had to write a note for Pete. Nat- where the hell had she come from- started the jet, putting us on autopilot to give us the brief. Apparently there was a portal in Indiana (another one?) and Coulson needed us. Daisy perked up at finally getting to see her adoptive father for the first time in six months. Bruce and Simmons were preparing the media kit, and I smiled at the young scientist. Simmons was on her way to being the biggest genius in the world by the time she was my age, which was slightly terrifying.

Wanda was sitting, biting her lip. I watched as Nebula gently took her chin, bringing the little witch to face her. They gazed into each others eyes.

I looked away, sensing I was intruding on this private moment. I walked towards Nat, who was on this iPad- probably contacting Coulson- and sat down next to her, "So...Portal. Again."

Nat sighed, apparently noticing my tone, "Dont worry, Tony, its quite small, according to Coulson, and only like two meters off the ground. No army could come out of that." 

I gave a noncommittal grunt, but before I could reply, Nat looked over the control panel, "We're coming in."

I left her to go prepare, sparing a minute to converse with Steve about our "plan" (wing it). We landed fairly gracefully, and stepped out, heading towards Coulson and May. Daisy gave them each a hug, and Steve shook hands. Nat exchanged a nod with May. "Whaf are we looking at?" Steve turned towards the portal. 

"We-" just as Coulson was about to answer, the portal crackled, and we all pulled our weapons on it.

There was silence for a moment, then a girl flew through. Followed by another. Then a boy. Two more boys flew through, and another set of girls. The last girl to fall through landed on a tall, strong looking boy, who grunted, "Ow, Tris." 

The girl rolled off of him, and sat up. Seeing us, she swore quite loudly. The first boy to come through sat up, looking at the girl, "Wow, stiff, didnt think you had it in you." He smiled at the girl, before turning to look at us. He reeled back. The others had already seen, and put their hands up, carefully. 

"We don't want to hurt you. We just need to know everything" Nat's voice was steady as she carefully lowered her gun, sensing these kids weren't a threat. This calmed me- Nat has good judgement. 

The first boy huffed, "Where should we start?"