young avengers → infinity war & endgame [p. parker]

THE WAR: NINE

"We love our superheroes because they refuse to give up on us. We can analyze them out of existence, kill them, ban them, mock them, and still they return, patiently reminding us of who we are and what we wish we could be."

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THE WAR

TITAN

"I feel like I should apologize to her." Valeria had been focusing on sensing Tony's emotions that were radiating off of him. They all stood in an abandoned planet that was way too far from home, getting ready for a battle with a mad titan that they kept acting like they knew what was in store for them when that was far from the truth. Val didn't know if Peter had sensed her actions, which would explain his efforts of switching the subject even if it were for a moment. Following his gaze, she couldn't help but feel a smile tug on the sides of her lips at the sight of Mantis jumping up and down. "For typing her up with your webs?"

"Yeah... I mean, just look at her. Even if she could have laid eggs on us, she wouldn't. She looks so nice." Valeria couldn't help but let out a small laugh at Peter's words, only he would still be feeling remorse over a spur of a moment decision that Mantis had surely already forgotten about. "Are you sure you just want to apologize or is the curiosity of finding out what her antennas do getting the best of you?"

Peter was about to question Valeria's words, as he hadn't even mentioned the fact that he indeed was too curious over the antennas, but the raven haired girl beat him to it. "No, I didn't use my powers. I just know you that well, now come on." Following her footsteps, Peter watched as Mantis smoothly landed on the ground once she noticed the two teenagers making their way to her. Valeria didn't know whether to feel amused or guilty at the sight of Mantis' face and demeanor go from carefree to shy written all over it. She could tell the woman was kindhearted, maybe a bit oblivious as well.

"Um, hey! Hi! I'm sorry to interrupt your fun I just wanted to say apologize for shooting my webs at you earlier. I just got scared that--"

"I don't lay eggs, I was trying to tell you that I didn't. But it's okay! I forgive you." Mantis' tone of voice went from confused to quirky, with a bright smile plastered on her lips, making the two teenagers let their own guard down and let out a laugh. "We're relieved because now we can actually ask you what we've been wondering—"

"What my antennas do?" Mantis' face scrunched up in confusion at watching Peter and Valeria's faces light up in shock, with a bit of noticeable embarrassment included. "It's okay! It's usually people's first question. I'm used to it." Shaking off their initial reactions, Peter and Valeria welcomed Mantis closing the space between them, holding out her hand towards Peter to take it.

"If I touch someone, I can feel their feelings. Sometimes I can change them also, only temporarily." Giving Mantis his hand, Peter felt amused at watching the top of her antennas light up a bit. He watched as Mantis opened her eyes, giving him a sympathetic look.

"You feel... fear." And that was expected of any teenager stuck in an unknown, abandoned space planet. Valeria had her eyes locked on the floor, ultimately looking up to catch Peter's look. He held a weak smile, she knew he wanted to convince her that he wasn't afraid. That they'd make it out alive and just in time for their junior prom. He didn't want her to know what exactly he was fearing.

Before him, Mantis felt another emotion rush through her empathy. Her eyes went from looking at Peter to the girl beside him. "You feel fear of losing the one you love."

Mantis' words made Peter snap his eyes from Valeria to her, immediately feeling a rush of embarrassment go through him. He could feel Valeria's eyes burn on him, who could see his cheeks turn to a bright red. "Um, well yeah, of course. Trying to save the world here, I have a love for those around me!"

"No! Romantic love. For her!" With that, Peter slapped his hand away from Mantis, who was still pointing her index finger towards Valeria. The sudden outburst was enough to garner the attention of the other heroes, making them gather together.

"What's going on here?" Tony hadn't missed how flushed Peter and Valeria's faces were and just how far apart they were. "N-N-Nothing! Nothing at all." Taking a two forward and straightening himself up, Peter couldn't bring himself to look back at Valeria. Sure, he was eventually going to tell her. Everything was teasing to happen at their dance, thinking it'd be the perfect moment to finally admit it if Peter found the guts to do so. He totally didn't count on an empathic alien they just met to expose him this way, much less in front of Valeria.

"Well, since I've seemed to master the art of appearing invisible since I was standing nearby and nobody noticed, Mantis revealed the spider's secret of feeling romantic love for the weird force girl." Drax's proclamation and his out of the blue nicknames were enough for Valeria to become even more dumbfounded, while making Peter even more frustrated.

"Been there, kid. Should've warned you." Quill chipped in, while still measuring the temperature of Titan. Peter shot Quill an annoyed glare, who gave him a simple shrug. Looking over to Tony, Peter mouthed him a "Mr. Stark, help" with an urgent set of help. Normally, Tony would be all in for the two teens, who he'd say he's had a front row seat in witnessing the developing spark between them, to be called out and finally speak about whatever it was going on between them. But considering the fact they were in Titan and Peter looked like he was about to melt of embarrassment, Tony felt considerate.

"Alright, alright, Space Adams Family. Enough of interrogating the boy, Thanos is going to show up at any second." Letting out a sigh of relief, Peter watched as Quill, Drax, and Valeria began to follow Tony's steps. He wanted to stop her, ask her what she thought, what she was feeling. But he could sense her heart rate being out of control, perhaps similar to his own. Peter didn't want to take her silence as an answer, but he also couldn't pressure her to confess anything in a planet already having her on edge.

His thoughts were put on hold as he caught Valeria looking behind for a bit, their eyes immediately meeting. Hoping for at least a smile, Valeria looked away, leaving Peter win more questions than before.

"She feels that romantic love also." Mantis still hadn't left Peter's side, feeling a tad bit bad that she had done it yet again with another set of people. "How would you know that? You didn't get to touch her."

"I know, but... the way her eyes look at you. I've seen it before... It's the way Gamora looks at Quill. She's just afraid. Gamora was at first also. But, she loves him." Peter only knew that Gamora had been someone the Guardians were hellbent on recovering, his mind immediately recalling back to when Quill did refer to her as his girl. His nerves relaxed a bit, taking any possibility at this point that Valeria indeed felt the same way.

Not even knowing that it wasn't an possibility, it was an absolute fact.

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AUTHORS NOTE: sicjdj OKAY i decided to give you guys another small, cute, humorous chapter because y'all know that the next events aren't cute so!!! and ofc queen mantis exposes peter cause 1. i'm unoriginal 2. i love mantis

ahhh if you guys haven't seen I published a prequel shitposting book of this story called FORCE & WEBS!!! it is also meant to provide some humor and laughs cause that next chapters won't so! if you haven't checked it out it'd be appreciated just like the love and support this book continues to get in??? I DON'T DESERVES AT ALL OKAY IDC YOU GUYS MAKE ME SO HAPPY UWU <3