Cassius's POV
I look like a stranger standing beside my sister.
Staring dully at her side profile, I notice, not for the first time, that everything is different about us. From the tips of our nose, the carves of our face, and curves of our lips – we are more opposite than fire and water.
As I continue to stare more closely, picking up on the little comparisons about us, I notice that our eyes look the same. Not the color, nor shape or size. It is the way they glimmer under the galaxy's light. And if you look close enough, there is an emotion behind those eyes saying 'I've seen things that I've never wanted to see'.
It only takes her a few more moments to register that I am staring. Her eyes flicker momentarily towards me and then she instantly looks away, "Cassius, stop it." she orders through gritted teeth as we walk through celestial village.
We are only a few minutes away from the Milano now, according a locative wristband that Rocket had designed. Not that I would ever admit it, but I think that the invention is incredibly effective. It locates any points that you set, and provides a holographic map with various highlighted pathways to the desired destination.
"What? I thought you like people staring at you." I smirk broadly towards my sister. With each breath more heat rises in puffs of white vapour, with each gust of the wind more heat dissipates into the whiteness. I pull my coat tighter around my body.
"Not like that, you creep." She mumbles deeply, her teeth chattering slightly. She pulls the basket close into her hip and sucks in a deep breath through her chattering teeth.
The more I watch my sister suffer from the extreme temperature, the more I feel guilty. With a defeated sigh, I unwrap the scarf across my neck tangle it across hers. "Here, take this." I say and dig my hands deep into my pockets. "I don't like it. Its material is very itchy." I lie.
Alenna doesn't respond to me, and we walk in silence. I think she knows that I just lied.
"So nineteen, huh?" Alenna speaks up after a few moments of silence. "Man, time flies." She laughs, sliding past a tight crowd of natives.
I don't think Mom and Dad are interested in any parties this year. Actually, Dad was more excited about parties than we are but Mom put him in his place. She told us that we didn't need one, and we had our family to celebrate it with. I don't mind really, it's not like I enjoy being squashed by crowds of people eating unhealthy foods and consuming alcoholic beverages.
"I agree." A small smile appears on my lips. "It was just like yesterday, the both of us playing tag around the Milano with Rocket and Groot," I recall.
"And when Nolana Dey wanted to join, you threatened to bring her doll to life to haunt her." Alenna laughs, shaking her head.
"And the time where we drove the ship together." I laugh.
"Or, or, that time! That time when we had a water fight in Xandar."
"Speaking of Xandar, do you remember the Collector?" I ask.
"Remember the nightclub?"
"Eating poisoned food."
"Stealing the Infinity Stones." Alenna says.
That's when everything goes quiet.
The wind whistles past our ears and slaps our faces with icy air. The only sounds that can be heard now are the snow crunching beneath our boots, the laughter and chatter of the lively citizens, and the hollow breathing from Alenna.
My wristband begins to beep, breaking the thick tension – thankfully. I raise the band to my face and tap once on the miniature screen, expanding the map into a hologram. The beeping stops. The red pinpoint on the map representing the Milano is actually right in front of us.
I lower the wristband away from face and look up to the spaceship only a few feet away.
"Well, we're here." I state the obvious. Alenna blankly glances over to me.
We enter the Milano in silence, not speaking to each other. She really should not have brought up the whole Infinity Stone fiasco, especially today of all days.
Inside the ship, it is dark and silent. Everyone must have fallen asleep early. I mentally sigh to myself. It would have been nice of them to make an effort to stay up a little longer and celebrate our nineteenth birthday. But it's not like I care or anything…
Alenna dumps her basket of goods on to the metallic bench top with a low sigh. "Lights, on." She speaks dully, and the lights flicker on at her command.
Instead of the empty space that I expected, there are people filling every inch of the Milano. I freeze and stare at them all.
"SURPRISE!" they all shout at once, with faces full of smiles and laughter.
"What?!" Alenna's face instantly lights up with happiness.
"S-surprise?" I mumble and scan the crowd. Amongst them all, they are all familiar faces; Mom, Dad, Rocket, Groot, Drax, the Ravagers, Nova Corps, Rhomann Dey, his wife, Nolana, amongst many others.
My family are the first to emerge from the crowd, and lively chatter amongst everyone arises as background noise.
"Mom, Dad," Alenna shakes her head in disbelief. "I can't believe you did this all for us!" she laughs happily.
"I am Groot." Groot speaks disapprovingly and crosses his arms over his chest.
"Yeah, we helped too!" Rocket joins in, standing on top of Groot's shoulder.
"Including myself." Drax adds.
"Anything for my precious children." Gamora smiles softly and pulls Alenna and I forward into her embrace momentarily.
As we pull back I speak, "But I thought you said that parties were nonsense, Gamora."
"I was lying, Cassius." She says and shakes her head at me. "And what's this 'Gamora' business? You're not that old yet." She scolds, pressing a cold hand on the side of my cheek.
I smirk and shrug as she removes her hand.
Mom starts to speak to Alenna, and Dad turns to me.
"Nineteen, man." He slaps a hand on my shoulder. "You're starting to get to that age where you need a cool nickname too." He nods.
"No thanks." I shake my head.
"What do you think about Wicked Wizard?" he suggests.
"Oh geez, dad -"
"How about Quantum Prince?"
"Stop. Please."
"Planet Protector?"
"I am done." I raise my hands in surrender and walk away.
"Oh, come on!" he whines.
As I slip through crowd, everyone pats my shoulder wishing me a happy birthday, and engaging in some small talk. Some people I barely recognise, so I suppose they're either Alenna's friends or someone insignificant.
"Hey Quantum Prince, we need some help over here!" a familiar masculine voice calls out from behind me in a teasing manner.
I sigh and slowly turn around to face the group. "Really? You're in on it too?" I arch an eyebrow.
The small group erupt in to laughter after I speak, and I walk over shaking my head in disapproval.
"Nah, happy birthday Cassius." Tayln congratulates with a smile.
I don't exactly remember how Tayln and I met to be honest. He works as a security guard at Xandar. I had gone to pick up a few things at a store with Alenna, but I ended up running into him – literally. We hated each other at first, but learned that we were similar. Too similar actually. Like the twin I never had. That was all four years ago, and ever since then we've been good friends.
"Yeah, happy birthday!" a few other people in group that I identified as minor friends greet in a scrambled union.
"Happy Birthday." Liara mumbles quietly, standing beside Tayln.
"Thank you all." I nod with a smile, catching the eye of Liara for a short moment before she averts her gaze elsewhere with a small grin.
Liara is a nurse. I met her after experiencing major injuries on battleground when wild mutant beasts were accidently released from a science compound in Xandar. She cured me, and we became friends somehow. She has a strong stubborn nature. She is confident about her choices and answers yet at the same time indecisive. I like that.
"You're getting older," Tayln says with a small smirk, and folds his arms. "Do you have a romantic interest? A, how do you say? Lady friend, by any chance?" he goes on.
There is a small dramatic silence as everyone practically leans forward with eagerness.
I roll my eyes up at him, "No." I answer dully. "I don't have time for a girlfriend."
"That's what they all say, when they can't even get their hands on lady." Tayln informs. "I on the other hand, have no trouble." He speaks and slides an arm around Liara's shoulders.
"Hands. Off." Liara says simply, and Tayln quickly jumps back apologetically.
I laugh lightly at them both.
"What about Alenna?" Liara asks me.
"What about her?" I ask back with a small frown.
Rocket and Groot glide by. Groot has different branches connected to a dozen trays of different beverages.
"Thanks," I nod as I take a bright purple colored drink from one of the trays.
"She got a stable boyfriend yet?" Liara asks clearly. "Or is Gamora still latched down on to her?"
I take a sip from the drink I hold and frown some more at Liara, "What do you mean by stable?" I question.
Her eyes flicker defensively, "No, no! I didn't mean it offensively, I just…"
"Shut it." I watch as Tayln nudges her roughly in the ribs.
Taking another sip of my bitterly sweet alcoholic drink, I stare at both Tayln and Liara trying to keep my cool.
"I'm not calling her a slut or anything." Liara quickly adds before clamping her mouth shut.
"You do realise that you kind of are in a way." I narrow my eyes.
"What does it matter Cassius?" Tayln turns to me. "Let's all calm down. And it's not like you used to care that much about her a few years ago." He speaks. "Especially with the Infinity Stone events and Nova going berserk."
I clench my jaw.
Don't do anything stupid, don't do anything stupid, don't do anything stupid.
Control your temper goddammit Cassius, you do not want to start anything in front of all these innocent people. At a party. Your party. Your sister's party. And with your best friend. Or who you thought was your best friend.
"He's right. " Liara agrees with a small nod. "You used to hate her as much as we did. And be honest, you tried to kill her on purpose those few years back, right?"
The more they talk, the tighter I clench my fists, and the more I feel myself reaching a higher level. One more sentence, once more word about my sister and I will be guaranteed injure somebody.
"Cassius," Tayln's eyes widen as he stares at me, and something behind me. "Look around you."
I take a moment to look around.
Cups and other items are levitating in the air evolved in a blue aura. Everyone around has stopped sipping on their cups and chatting to one other to stare in shock and fear.
"Cassius?" Drax stands amongst the people and stares at me with wondering eyes.
I unclench my fists, and take a deep breath in an attempt to calm down. The blue aura vanishes, and all the items floating fall to the floor in a cluttered mess. But everyone continues to stare.
"Sorry ladies and gentlemen, perhaps you can experience my party tricks the next time you piss me off." I excuse myself sarcastically and weave my way through the still and silent crowd.
I make my way out to the deserted balcony, where no one stands and where I always go to clear my thoughts.
That could have ended in worse resolutions. But it hasn't even been thirty minutes and I'm losing it already. Tayln and Liara had no right to talk about Alenna and I like that, especially on our birthday. And they know I can't deal with people insulting me or my family.
This is why I hate parties. Why I hate socialising.
I lean against the railing of the Milano with a sigh, looking out to the cold dark scenery.
"Happy birthday to me." I mumble quietly to myself and take a long sip from the liquor in my cup, finishing it, and tossing it over the balcony side somewhere.
I wonder how my sister is doing.
Thank you for reading! Sorry, this story is long over-due. But I hope you enjoy it! Any questions just ask below. I also apologize for any errors because I'm beginning to fall asleep as I type this. Thank you!
-darkprisim