(Marvel, DC, images, manhuas, and every anime that will be mentioned and used in this story are not mine. They all belong to their respective owners. The main character "Karito/Adriel Josue Valdez" and the story are mine)
The door to the Star Guardian house shut with a gentle click, and for a moment, the five girls just stood there in the quiet warmth of their shared space.
Lulu was the first to speak. "That. Was. AWESOME!" She spun once, arms wide, her oversized sweater swishing with the motion. "Peter's super fun! I don't get why you're still kinda suspicious, Poppy. He danced! He played Voidling whack-a-mole! He even laughed at my sword-fry joke!"
Poppy set her bag down near the couch and sighed. "I didn't say I hated the guy." She crossed her arms, glancing at the others. "I had fun today. With everyone. He just... he's too smooth. Too prepared. It feels like he already knew how to handle us. Like he was studying us before he met us."
"Or maybe he's just naturally good with people," Lulu offered, poking her cheek thoughtfully. "Like, cosmic charisma or something."
Poppy gave her a sideways look but didn't argue further. Instead, she muttered, "Maybe I underestimated him. He grows on you."
Lux sat on the edge of the couch, arms resting on her knees, fingers loosely interlaced. She smiled softly. "Today really was fun... probably one of the best hangouts we've had in a while."
But in her mind, another voice whispered.
Why were you so quiet today?
She'd been so shy, so careful. Every time Jinx had leaned on Peter, touched him, joked with him so casually, something had tightened inside Lux's chest. And during karaoke... when the two of them sang together, laughing and perfectly in sync, that feeling had grown heavier.
Why did it bother me so much?
She didn't voice any of that.
Jinx, flopped upside-down on the beanbag chair, her red hair brushing the floor, sighed with a dreamy grin. "Okay, but seeing Peter in person? Totally worth it. I mean, texting was fun, but having the real deal there? Awesome. That rhythm game? ICONIC. And the way he caught me when I tripped? Like, swoon-worthy."
Janna, who had been unzipping her boots in the corner, glanced up. Her tone was more thoughtful. "I may have been a bit too skeptical of him. He handled today well. With all of us. He matched each of us without forcing it. I can see why you two," she gestured at Jinx and Lux, "were so drawn to him."
That caught the others' attention immediately.
Lulu gasped. "Wait... wait-wait-WAIT. Is that why you asked for his number?! Are you crushing?!"
Poppy blinked. "Hold on. What? Is that true?"
Janna calmly folded her coat and set it on the back of a chair. "I did it purely out of curiosity. He's an enigma."
"That's a load of sparkly crap and you know it," Jinx accused with a grin, sitting up and pointing a finger at her. "You're curious, huh? Like, romantically curious?"
"No," Janna replied, her tone smooth and measured. "But I can't deny there's something interesting about him. It would be... foolish not to observe."
Janna made a subtle glance toward Lux, who was unusually quiet. The blonde girl hadn't moved in the last few minutes, and Janna had noticed it throughout the day—how Lux's mood shifted each time Jinx got too close to Peter.
That might need addressing, Janna thought to herself. Soon. Privately.
She recalled the flicker in Lux's eyes when she'd asked for Peter's number. That momentary tension. Janna wasn't sure if it had been jealousy, protectiveness, or something else entirely... but it was there. Like the sudden hush before a storm.
Jinx flopped backward again, mumbling something unintelligible.
"What was that?" Janna asked, brow raised.
"Nothing," Jinx snapped quickly.
Janna didn't press. But her eyes lingered.
The room grew quieter, the buzz of earlier slowly simmering down.
Lulu yawned. "We should totally have another day like this. But maybe with more snacks. And more glitter."
Poppy chuckled. "Yeah... maybe."
Lux stood, forcing a smile. "I'm gonna shower. Be right back."
The others nodded, and as she left the room, her steps were slow. Measured.
And in the silence that followed, each of the girls was left with their own thoughts—some simple, some tangled, some hard to name.
But one thing was clear.
Peter Parker had made an impression.
And not all of them were ready to admit how deep it ran.
Lux POV
The moment I stepped into the bathroom, I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding all evening. The tiles were cold bellow my feet, and the lights above buzzed softly, casting a gentle glow across the mirror. I pulled off my clothes piece by piece, fingers trembling slightly as I undid the ribbons and clasps. My hair tumbled free from its usual style, falling like a pink cascade over my shoulders. It felt heavier than usual.
Everything did.
The day had been... a lot.
I stepped into the shower and let the water pour over me, the heat soaking into my skin, trailing down my arms like liquid sunlight. I tilted my head back and closed my eyes.
That's when the memories came rushing in—like a wave that refused to stop.
The laughter. The banter. The soft clink of coffee cups and the squeals of arcade games. And him.
Peter Parker.
He wasn't supposed to matter this much.
But he does.
The way he looked at me today—those quick glances when he thought I wasn't watching. The small smiles he gave me when I talked. The patience in his voice when he listened. And when we played that racing game together? That was something else entirely.
I grinned, remembering how focused I'd been—tongue poking out in concentration like some kind of goofball. But Peter didn't laugh at me. He didn't tease. He just... watched. Encouraged. Let me win.
I know he let me win.
The moment the screen flashed "First Place" and I jumped with my fists in the air, I turned to him expecting a playful protest. But no. He just smiled. That smile that hits somewhere in your chest and echoes. It wasn't smug. It wasn't sarcastic.
It was warm.
Real.
And then he looked me in the eyes. Right into them. Not past me. Not through me. Into me. And for just a second—I forgot how to breathe.
What the heck is wrong with me?
It's been a week. Just a week.
I shouldn't feel this way about someone I've only known for seven days. That's not normal, right?
But with Peter... nothing feels forced. He makes it so easy.
When we started talking over text, I didn't expect anything. He just struck up a conversation after we met at the pastry shop. He got the same cake I always do, and we just started talking. Casual, at first. Then more often. Then daily. Then... every hour.
It was like he always knew what to say. When to say it. Like he could see straight through the wall I usually put up. And instead of breaking it down, he just... walked through. Like it wasn't even there.
He's funny. Smart. Kind.
And interesting.
Like—genuinely interesting. He never runs out of things to talk about. And every topic? Somehow always hooks me.
He helped me with school stuff when I was drowning. He made me laugh when I felt frustrated on Star Guardian duties. He sent me the dumbest memes just to cheer me up. And when I saw him in person today for the first time since that pastry shop?
Something clicked.
I told myself the energy I felt from him that day was just coincidence. That it was just his presence. That maybe he had some weird charisma. A strange aura or something.
But no. It's more than that.
Today proved it.
He's magnetic. Every time I looked away, I found myself looking back. Every time he laughed, I wanted to laugh too. Every time he moved, my eyes followed—without thinking.
And I hated how close Jinx was to him.
I really did.
She promised me she wouldn't try anything. That she wasn't interested like that. That Peter was mine to get to know.
But she was glued to his side.
Elbowing him. Laughing in his ear. Holding his arm. Teasing him. Touching his shoulder like it belonged to her.
Three times.
Three.
And the karaoke?
When the machine flashed COSMIC COUPLE CHAOS after their duet—my stomach dropped.
I didn't even know why. It's not like Peter is mine. Not really. Not yet. But still...
The word couple burned.
And then Janna—Janna—of all people, asked for his number.
I almost snapped.
My fingers curled in the water just thinking about it. I wanted to scream, "Why?" But I didn't. I just smiled. Bit my tongue. Pretended like it didn't sting.
But it did.
And the worst part? She saw it. Janna saw it. She looked right at me when she asked. Like she wanted to test me. Like she was saying, "You're not moving fast enough."
And maybe she's right.
But it doesn't make it hurt any less.
I clenched my jaw and pushed my head under the stream, letting the water drown the heat from my face.
Why am I like this?
Why does he affect me like this?
I barely know him—but I do. Somehow. Like I've known him forever. Like he's part of me. Like he was always meant to show up in my life.
It's not fair.
Because the more I try to rationalize it, the deeper I fall. And no matter how many times I tell myself to pull back, I just can't.
Every time I close my eyes, I see him. That smirk. That wink. The way he caught Jinx like it was nothing. The way he stepped into our group like he belonged.
Like he was made to fit.
And for a brief moment—as I looked into the foggy mirror after rinsing the soap from my eyes—I saw something strange.
Something wrong.
My eyes shimmered... black. Just for a second. Like a flicker. Like a shadow crossed through me.
And then it was gone.
I stared at myself. At the reflection that looked like me but didn't feel like me. And I just... exhaled.
Something is happening to me.
Something I don't understand.
And I don't think it's going away.
I shut off the water and stepped out, wrapping the towel around me. My heart was still racing. My thoughts still spiraling. But I had no answers.
Only one name that kept repeating in my head.
Peter.
Peter.
Peter.
And I couldn't stop.
Jinx POV
I threw myself onto the bed the moment I got into my room.
Not even a pause. Not even a breath.
Just a running leap and flop—face-first into the mattress, giggling like some lovesick teen in a romance drama.
Which, yeah... technically I am a teen. But still.
I rolled over, hugged a pillow like it owed me money, and let the giggles spill out. All the tension, all the pent-up energy from today just exploded in one big, ridiculous, high-pitched squeal muffled into cotton.
"Gods above and below," I whispered into the pillow. "That was so much fun."
I wasn't even trying to hide it. Why would I?
Today was awesome. The hangout? The best idea Janna's ever had. Seriously. That woman plays the long game like a chess master, and I'd kiss her for this one if she wasn't probably already analyzing me like I'm some emotionally unstable lab rat.
Because yeah, sure, technically today started off as a "Let's see if this Peter guy is sus or not" mission, but like...
Who the hell fits in that perfectly? Who just walks into a friend group of five magical girls and vibes like he's always been there?
Peter Parker does. That's who.
Every time I thought I had him figured out—every time I thought, okay, I got his rhythm—he'd throw something new at me. Something charming. Something clever. Something unexpected.
And I loved it.
That mystery?
That magnetic pull?
It's addictive.
I flopped onto my back and stared at the ceiling, pillow still in a death grip. My heart was still fluttering like I was fresh off a sugar rush, even though we'd left the mall like—what? Twenty minutes ago?
I don't even care.
The way he looked at me when we joked? It was just us. The way he grinned when I teased him? The way he teased me back? He knew how to keep up. Like... actually keep up. No awkward pauses. No forced smiles. Just energy. Pure, chaotic energy bouncing between us like we were playing cosmic ping pong.
It was... natural.
And fun.
And real.
And gods, the dancing?
I smirked just remembering it. That rhythm game? I so thought I had him. I've never met anyone who could out-dance me on one of those machines.
But he didn't just beat me.
He obliterated me.
And he didn't gloat. He didn't get all smug. He just stood there, calm as hell, catching his breath like he hadn't just become a rhythm god.
That moment?
That's when it clicked.
This guy isn't normal.
And I'm okay with that.
Actually... I prefer it.
He's not scared of me. Not intimidated. Not phased.
It's like he gets me.
Like he speaks the same language—the chaotic, unfiltered, kinda-weird-but-also-deep one I've always been fluent in.
Like he was made for it.
Made for me.
I buried my face into the pillow again, let out another squeal, and then rolled over just as fast—my mind already racing. But then something else crept in.
A little sour note in the middle of my mental symphony.
Lux.
I bit my lip.
I did say I wasn't gonna try anything.
I promised her that. Back when we were bickering about him. After she met Peter in that pastry. Before she quickly started falling all quiet and nervous and blushy around him.
Before today.
Back when I still thought he was just another cute face.
But now?
Now that promise feels like a lie.
And that sucks.
Because Lux is my friend. One of my best friends.
But when I saw her face during karaoke? When the screen flashed "Cosmic Couple Chaos"? When I looked at her during my duet with Peter and she looked like she wanted to be anywhere else?
I knew.
I know.
This is gonna become a problem.
For both of us.
Because I'm not backing down.
I like him. And not just in a surface-level, flirt-for-the-fun-of-it way.
No.
Peter's under my skin.
In my head.
And I don't want him out.
And Lux?
Lux is already drowning in her own feelings and doesn't even realize it.
Or maybe she does.
Maybe that's why she looked like she was about to explode when Janna asked for his number.
Speaking of...
What the hell was that, Janna?
I sat up a little, brows furrowing.
She asked like it was no big deal. Like she wasn't literally throwing a molotov cocktail into the middle of a very delicate, very unspoken thing between me and Lux.
And the worst part?
Peter just gave it to her. Smiling.
I don't know what Janna's game is. She says it's "curiosity," but no one's buying that. Not even Lulu.
She's watching me now. I know it. I could feel it in the way she looked between me and Lux at dinner. She knows there's something there, and she's testing it.
And maybe I am being selfish.
Maybe I should feel bad.
But I don't.
Because today?
Today felt right.
Me and Peter? We clicked. More than clicked. We vibed on a whole different level.
And if this really is a competition?
I'm winning.
I fell back onto the bed again, the pillow smacking me in the face as I grinned.
"I should probably feel bad," I muttered.
But I didn't.
Not really.
And that scared me. Just a little.
For a split second—barely a blink—I thought I saw something shimmer in the corner of my vision. Like the shadows in the room twisted. Like my reflection in the mirror... flickered.
Something dark.
Something sharp.
Gone before I could process it.
I shook my head.
"Nope. Not dealing with that."
Instead, I picked up my phone and opened our chat.
JINX: u survive the crowd attack or did u get eaten by the void? 😈
I hit send and stared at the screen like an idiot, waiting for the typing bubble.
I couldn't help it.
I had to text him.
Even if I just saw him. Even if I was literally melting into a puddle of feelings.
I couldn't stay away.
And when that little typing bubble appeared, I squealed into my pillow all over again.
Gods help me.
I'm so screwed.
No POV
The moon hung lazily over the quiet neighborhood, casting silver rays across the empty streets and sleepy rooftops of their seaside district. The Star Guardians' shared home had settled into a peaceful hush. Everyone had showered, dried off, and retreated to their rooms in silence—a rare thing, especially after such an eventful day. The hangout had drained them in a way that wasn't exhausting... just full.
But for Janna, the night wasn't over.
She stood in the hallway outside Lux's room, hand hesitating at the door for a moment before she gave it a soft knock. The echo of her knuckles against the wood was polite, composed—just like her.
A beat passed.
Then another.
Lux answered the door with damp hair clinging to her collarbones, her loose pajama shirt hanging off one shoulder. Her eyes, half-lidded from post-shower relaxation, blinked a few times at the sight of Janna.
"...Janna?" she asked. "Everything okay?"
"I was wondering if you'd take a walk with me," Janna said, her voice as calm and measured as always.
Lux frowned in confusion. "A walk? Now?"
"Yes," Janna replied. "There's something we should talk about."
That tone... Lux knew it. That calm, persistent tone Janna used when she had something serious to say. Something she wasn't going to drop. Lux sighed internally. She had a sinking suspicion where this was going.
"Okay," Lux relented softly. "Just let me grab something."
They stepped out of the house minutes later, the door gently closing behind them. The crisp night breeze swayed through the trees, whispering through the branches like cautious onlookers. The moonlight lit their path as they followed a narrow sidewalk to a quiet park nearby—a small green space tucked away between residential buildings. It was deserted at this hour. Silent. Secluded.
They stopped near a flower bed. Benches lined the perimeter, but neither sat down.
"So..." Lux started slowly. "You gonna tell me what this is about?"
Janna took a breath. "Peter."
Lux looked away, biting the inside of her cheek. "I figured."
"I wanted to talk to you about how you've been feeling," Janna continued. "About him."
Lux hesitated.
Then, with a dry chuckle, she dropped the act. "Alright. Fine. You want honesty? I like him. Okay? A lot more than I expected. Even if it's only been a week."
"I thought so," Janna said quietly. "You look at him like you've been waiting for him your whole life."
Lux's breath caught.
"You think I'm being stupid."
"I didn't say that."
"No, but you're thinking it." Lux turned to face her now, the streetlights reflecting faintly in her eyes. "Look, I know how it sounds. But when I'm around him, I feel... I don't know, like I matter in this strange, cosmic way. He makes me feel seen. Like he gets me."
"And when Jinx brushes his arm?" Janna asked gently.
Lux flinched.
"Or laughs with him? Or stares at him when she thinks you're not looking?"
"...Yeah." Lux's voice was quieter now. "That sucks."
"You've been jealous," Janna said softly. "Of her. All day."
Lux's eyes narrowed. "Are you psychoanalyzing me right now?"
Janna tilted her head. "Maybe."
"Well, maybe you should psychoanalyze yourself next." The heat in Lux's voice rose before she could stop it. "What was that earlier? Asking for his number?"
"I told you," Janna said calmly. "I'm curious."
Lux took a step forward. "Bullshit."
Janna blinked.
"You don't do curiosity like that. You've never asked anyone for their number before. You barely talk to guys unless they're an ancient deity in disguise."
"...Lux."
"No. You don't get to play therapist if you're not honest with yourself."
The air between them tensed, charged like an incoming storm.
"You've been acting weird since we met Peter," Lux said. "Watching him. Testing him. Then suddenly you ask for his number and pretend it's just for observation? Come on."
Janna exhaled slowly. "I didn't realize it mattered to you that much."
"It does!" Lux snapped, before catching herself. Her voice trembled. "It does..."
Silence.
Janna watched her for a moment. "This isn't like you," she said gently.
"I know," Lux admitted. "And that's what's scaring me."
She looked away, brushing a strand of pink hair behind her ear. "I don't like being jealous. I hate how I felt today. Every time Jinx touched him. Every time they laughed together. Every time I saw her hand on his arm. Or your eyes on him."
Janna didn't interrupt.
"It's like he's getting into my head," Lux whispered. "Like he's in there, renting space, and I can't stop thinking about him."
Janna's expression softened. "Lux..."
"You're going to fall for him too," Lux said bitterly. "Just give it a week. Just like Jinx. And then it'll be you and her and whoever else decides to jump on the Peter train, and I'll just... be stuck in the middle of it all."
"Is that what this is about?" Janna asked. "You're afraid of being left behind?"
"I'm afraid," Lux said, swallowing hard, "of falling for someone who's too good to be real."
Janna was quiet again.
They stood in silence for a long moment, the only sound being the breeze rustling through the nearby trees. The shadows danced around them like silent witnesses, caught in a conversation neither of them wanted to have but both needed.
Then, softer now, Lux broke the silence. "I know how I sound. But this isn't some silly crush, Janna. It's different. It feels... real. And that terrifies me."
Janna finally sat on one of the nearby benches, patting the space beside her. Lux sat slowly.
"I think Peter is different," Janna said. "In ways we can't explain. I think he's dangerous too. But not in the way you're afraid of."
Lux glanced over. "Then what way?"
Janna looked up at the stars. "He makes us question ourselves. Pushes us. Challenges us. The way he fits in so quickly, connects so naturally... it's uncanny. And I've watched how we all respond to him."
Lux followed her gaze upward. "You think he's changing us?"
"I think he already has."
Lux leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, her hands clasped tightly. "If this keeps up... I'm not sure I'll be able to handle it. Watching him bond with everyone else. Watching the people I care about fall for him too."
Janna looked at her then, truly looked at her. "You're not alone in this, Lux. Whatever happens next—we'll face it together."
Lux gave a weak smile. "Even if it turns us against each other?"
Janna didn't answer immediately. "Especially then."
They stood up again, their steps slower as they turned back toward home. The walk was quieter this time, but not cold. It was contemplative. Heavy with the weight of truths half-spoken and feelings barely contained.
And just as they reached the front door, Lux stopped.
"...If you ever try to get between me and him again," she said without turning around, her voice low and even, "I won't be so forgiving next time."
Janna froze.
For a heartbeat, the breeze stopped.
Then Lux turned back to her usual self in an instant—bright smile, chipper tone. "Anyway! Night, Janna~!"
She slipped inside, leaving the door open behind her.
Janna stood there, unmoving. Her mind replaying that moment over and over again.
That hadn't been Lux.
Not really.
And as she finally stepped inside and closed the door, she felt something she rarely ever did.
Doubt.
Not about Peter.
But about all of them.
Two weeks later...
The city skies had shifted from the shimmering pastels of late summer to the cooler, sleepy tones of early autumn. The golden sunsets came quicker now, casting long shadows over Valoran City's mall fronts, rooftops, and skyline towers. School schedules had crept into full swing. The days blurred together—assignments, extracurriculars, weekend club meetings—and yet, in the minds of five girls, there was always one lingering constant:
Peter Parker.
For the past three weeks, he'd quietly woven himself into their world, their routines, their private moments. Not in an overwhelming way. Not in a suffocating one.
No, Peter was precise.
Calculated.
Intentional.
He never pushed too far. Never asked for more than what they were willing to offer. Yet somehow, each time they met him—individually or in pairs—he walked away knowing a little more, seeing a little deeper.
And they always left smiling.
Lulu had been the easiest. Pure-hearted and open like a sunflower in morning light. Their second hangout had been an impromptu baking session at a cafe that offered "Customer Creation Days." Lulu, covered in flour, had accidentally created a glittery cupcake volcano. Peter had gotten frosting in his hair. They laughed for almost ten minutes straight.
Poppy had been harder. Guarded. Tough. She had suggested something physical—so they ended up rock climbing. Halfway up the wall, Peter cracked a joke that nearly made her fall off from laughing. She hated how easily he got her to relax... and secretly loved it.
With Janna, it was chess at a tranquil library. Soft-spoken battles of wit, thinly veiled philosophy, and increasingly longer sessions with books left half-read between matches. She started off trying to study him.
Now, she was studying herself around him.
Lux had been different. Every hangout had meaning. From stargazing at the observatory, to sketching together at a gallery, to sitting at a café and sharing a slice of cake again—just like the day they met. He never had to say anything profound. Sometimes she did all the talking, and he just listened. Her heart beat faster every time he did.
Jinx? She was chaos and confetti. Arcade games, go-kart races, graffiti painting on legal walls. She made everything fun, reckless, wild. And Peter met her right there—in the middle of her storm. No judgment. Just fire for fire, beat for beat.
There was one outing with Jinx, Janna, and Lulu at an outdoor art market. What should've been a fun trio turned into a cold war of playful taunts and sideways comments. Jinx had practically clung to Peter's arm. Janna said very little, but her occasional glances and micro-reactions said enough.
Lulu? She had no idea what was going on.
And Peter? He kept it smooth. He cracked jokes when it got too quiet. He diffused tension with humor. He somehow made it all work. All three girls went home feeling satisfied—and that bothered them.
Because the truth?
They each wanted more.
The hangouts were never full-group meetups. Not anymore. Jinx and Lux hadn't spent time together with Peter since that mall day. Janna always came with someone else—but never with both Jinx and Lux. Not even once.
Whether consciously or not, the group was being split.
And the center of that gravity was Peter.
He knew it.
And he didn't even have to try.
It was Friday afternoon when Peter sat alone at a Cold Stone near the east side of the city, spoon in one hand, ice cream bowl in the other, black hoodie loose around his shoulders. His symbiote was curled quietly inside him—feeding off the emotions in his chest like a cat sunbathing on a windowsill.
He was pretending to read a comic.
His phone buzzed.
Peter glanced at the screen.
LUX: "Hey! Sooo my school's having this big camping trip thing next week. Like an overnight thing out of the city. Pretty cool! Wanna come?"
Peter blinked.
His brows rose.
A small laugh escaped his chest. Not loud. Not exaggerated. Just... tiredly amused.
"Fucking finally," he thought.
He leaned back in the seat, exhaling like a man who'd been waiting for an elevator for fifteen floors. The moment was finally here. The Starfall incident—at least, what he knew of the canon timeline—was about to begin. Events were aligning. Threads tightening.
It had taken half a month.
Half a month of acting.
Of keeping secrets.
Of setting the chessboard.
But now? Now things could start.
He read Lux's next text.
LUX: "It's next Thursday to Saturday. Two nights. We leave early in the morning. You'll need warm clothes. The location's at Camp Targon."
"Also, if you need me to, I can talk to the teacher to make sure you can come. Even if you're not technically a student. But they usually allow family or... guests. So I'll vouch. Promise 💖"
Peter grinned, tilting his head.
PETER: "Are you sure I can join? I'm not exactly PTA material."
LUX: "I'm positive. I'll make them say yes. One way or another ;)"
Peter chuckled.
The wink emoji was working overtime lately.
He stood up, tossing his empty cup into the bin nearby and slinging his backpack over one shoulder. He stepped outside into the cool air. The breeze had teeth now. Autumn had finally kicked in.
He turned down the corner and started walking toward his studio apartment. The symbiote stirred faintly beneath his skin.
He didn't speak to it. But he felt its amusement.
This next chapter was going to be a shift.
Not just for the Guardians.
But for him.
Peter had already packed half the bag in his head. Thermal undershirt. Field knife. Flashlight. Snacks. Portable charger. Hidden compartment with chemical supplies just in case he needed to whip something up. It wouldn't be a vacation.
Because even if the Star Guardians saw this trip as school-mandated bonding?
Peter knew better.
Eventually something will happen.
Something Dark.
And now, he'd be right where he needed to be.
Close to the action.
Close to them.
He didn't know what the final trigger would be. Whether Zoe was already watching, or if something else would pull the veil back. But the more time he spent with these girls, the more he realized...
They weren't ready.
Not for what's out there.
Not for what he had seen.
He walked faster.
A darker smile tugged at his lips.
His fingers twitched at his sides, the memory of a pen driven into a Dark's throat flashing like a static pop in his thoughts.
And despite himself... he grinned.
To Be Continued...