Sanjeevani leapt over the rooftops of her new home, her dancers' feet crushing some of the tiles as she landed and then crushing some more as she concentrated the power into her legs to propel herself up and forward into the air. Since she didn't have Captain America or Spider-Man's strength, she had to rely on what she had at her disposal, which was her biomanipulation abilities.

Controlling and changing her body's energy and strength came a lot easier to her after she started spending several hours each day meditating and focusing on her organ systems. Still, it's not easy to relax and focus when your blood sugar levels fluctuate like a pregnant woman's mood swings.

She jumped forward once more, but instead of landing on a roof, she fell several tens of feet and dropped onto the sidewalk. Of course, the concrete cracked under the force of her landing, so she rushed away so no one would notice her mistake. Or, well, mis-landing. Thankfully, the Parisian public was asleep around midnight, so no one should have seen her break the ground.

Would she regret being up this late? Yes. Did she care? Not particularly. It was the weekend already, so no classes! She could sleep in, for once.

But her dance lessons were the last thing on her mind.

More than that, more than anything, she had to see him again. She had to. And so, she ran. Sprinted. And made her way up the Eiffel Tower, jumping off of each beam to the next level until she could see more than half of the city from her position. She plopped down on one of the flatter beams and sighed in a breath, eyes closed and head tilted up to the cosmos.

Hero work was more taxing than she had anticipated. This shit was a PAIN. But the smiles Sanjeevani got to see when the helpless of Paris were relieved of their physical pain and injuries and illness? That was worth the struggle.

And in the distance, a black shape loped towards her, slinging itself through the darkness until it reached the last building she had jumped off of. It flung itself off of the building as hard as it could, using threads and strings of shadow like a slingshot. And with a shudder, the Eiffel caught it, old iron creaking from the impact.

The shape, now appearing more humanoid than blob-like, clawed its way up to Sanjeevani, who adjusted her black-and-white suit and black mask.

She jumped in her seat when she realized the shape was Venom and his shark-like teeth and not Havardr and his grace. Her face fell, but her mask hid the disappointed expression. "Hey, bud."

Venom growled a low hello. "The White Witch. What a surprise. Good to see you."

"Mm. Good to see you too, Venom. What are you doing here?"

The monstrous creature grinned with all its giant teeth. "We have some information for you. We heard there are a few people going against the company we mentioned. We think it would benefit both you and us to find and ally with these people."

Sanjeevani sighed. "Do you know who and where they are and why they hate the company? If our goals don't align, then an alliance wouldn't help any of us, even with a common enemy."

Venom made this kind of purring noise at the bottom of his throat and grumbled. "So many questions. You're like Mrs. Chen." She rolled her eyes and rubbed her face.

"Who the hell is Mrs. Chen?" With a shake of her head, she paused. "Never mind. Don't answer that. Look, I'm gonna be honest, Venom. I was expecting someone else, but you're here instead. So this isn't exactly a pleasant surprise." Grunting from the effort and exhaustion, the heroine pushed herself up to sit straight and rolled her shoulders. Venom mumbled something and sat down on her right, wincing at the iron beam's creaks and groans. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be rude. I just, I haven't seen him in a month. I've really missed him."

Venom's monstrous face pulled back to reveal Eddie, who didn't smile or frown and instead gave a sympathetic wince. "I know what you mean. It's been weeks since I've seen Anne and Dan. Good friends of mine, better than family. Hard to be away so long, huh?"

She could only hum and nod before laughing a little. "I'm sorry, Anne and Dan? Did you just make them up for the conversation?"

Eddie rubbed his temples and shook his head, swatting away Venom, who was poking at his face with a noodly black finger and laughing in that weird snake-like hissing way they do. "They're real people, I assure you. Back to my question, though. How long have you known him?"

The young heroine laughed nervously, wondering if he'd judge her for her answer. "I met him for the first time a month ago. Never saw him again after that."

Eddie, usually the more level-headed and non-dramatic of his friends, throws his head back to groan loudly, exasperation spilling out of his tone like a flood after monsoon season. "Now I understand why Elsa got so mad about Anna and that asshole wanting to get married." Sanjeevani smirked and raised an eyebrow, to which Eddie grumbled. "Venom was curious, okay? Oh, shut up. Okay, look. Kid. You can't miss someone you barely know!"

Sanjeevani shrugged. "Look, I'm just telling you what I feel. Since the moment I met him, there was this fluidity. I could be with him in any situation, and I felt safer than I ever did with my parents." Eddie gave her a deep, concerned frown.

"That sounds bad. Really bad. I want to ask about your home life, but…"

Her lips curled into a scowl. "Don't. Don't even think about it." She tightened all of her muscles at once and hugged her knees. "If you do, I might have to kill you."

Eddie smiled. "You wouldn't, though."

"Fuck you for being right, dude."

He snorted, patting her back gently. "Fucking me is someone else's job." When the girl tossed him a horrified stare at him, he just shook his head. "Don't ask. Just…" He drew in a vast breath and looked up to the stars. Almost unknowingly, she mirrored his actions and leaned back against her hands to watch the sky with him.

When he spoke, she could almost touch the love in his voice. It was so real, so painfully obvious how strongly he felt about the subject. "Sanjeevani, Venom comes from up there. The sky, the heavens, space, whatever you wanna call it. But I've never been up there, you know that? Not even once. And I never want to go there. It's too big. Way too big." Eddie's face erupted in red when Venom gurgled a statement to him quietly, inaudible to the heroine beside them both. "Shut the fuck up, V."

Sanjeevani only tilted her head to the side curiously and watched him. "Anyways. My point is," he continued after calming down, "Venom isn't from Earth. Not by a longshot. And yet, he's the only one who completely gets me. It's a weird relationship we have. No one else in the universe knows me like he does."

She scrunched up her nose at that, but it made sense to her that Eddie's alien cohabitant knew him perfectly. The creature had full access to Eddie's brain and body, of course Venom knew their human host better than other humans could. Eddie mused with a light laugh, "Actually, I didn't like him at first. It took me a long time to tolerate him and cooperate with him. It took me just as much time to love him."

The girl gazed at him carefully, scooting closer to watch the older anti-hero with new fascination. He released a slow breath, turning his head to return her careful stare. "Is that boy like that for you?"

She nodded with a sad smile. "Without a single doubt."

He nodded back and exhaled through his nose, eyes once again turned up to the blanket of darkness glittering with stars. "Be safe, okay? I don't know you well, but you seem like a good kid. You've got healing powers. Not exactly a tangible threat. Don't mess around with people you don't know."

Sanjeevani grinned. "Is this the beginning of parenthood for you, Eddie? Should I call you Dad or Mom or Parental?"

The man smacked his forehead with his hand. "And now I remember why I don't have friends younger than thirty-six."

She snorted through her amusement and bumped shoulders with him, "If you say so, old man." Eddie retorted with a sputtering huff and left it at that, too tired to argue with the energetic young dancer. Sort of suddenly, Sanjeevani yelped and jumped when she felt something tap her left shoulder.

When she whipped around to face her assailant, her heart melted. Havardr winced behind his helmet, pulling away. "Sorry. You looked like you were having a lot of fun, and I didn't know how else to get your attention without interrupting. Sorry."

After yanking her mask up to reveal her face, she yanked her tall friend into a tight hug, laughing nervously when he asked her to loosen her grip. Havardr took a deep breath and grinned, returning her embrace for a few moments. Venom covered Eddie's face quickly, and the duo stood quickly, wordlessly watching their new companion and their (maybe) new adult child.

And with the silence of the two kids now hugging, Eddie couldn't help the instinctive urge to smack Venom hard enough to toss them off the Tower. And then began the internal dialogue between the host and the Symbiote. Because Venom had this weird thing with adoption that Eddie couldn't understand.

V, we are NOT adopting this one. I don't know why you keep bringing this up. I can barely take care of myself, much less an adult child.

Venom gave the feeling that they were pouting. Well, I think we should. Look at her. She's like those fleshbags you showed me once. Babies. She's like a baby, but big.

V, that's what all humans are. Fleshbags. And all of us are also large babies. You're not convincing me.

Oh, yeah?! Well, she REEKS of phenethylamine, and I'm hungry.

We are NOT eating her. Absolutely not!!!

Who said anything about eating her? But if we adopt her, she'll give us what we need out of parental affection.

Um…that's not how this works, but we'll talk about this when we get home. Jesus Christ, man.

The antihero-duo were shocked out of their mental conversation by Havardr, who reached a hand out towards Venom, eyes wide like dinner plates. "A Klyntar…by Odin's beard!" His eyes flicked to Sanjeevani. "Can I touch him?"

The heroine smiled like a smitten fool before responding. "Oh, that's for Venom to decide."

He grinned. "Venom is the coolest name I've ever heard in my life."

The Symbiote's toothy grin widened. "I like this one. Eddie, I want to be his friend."

Eddie huffed. "What have I said about saying my name in the open, V?"

"Sorry, Eddie."

Havardr's eyes widened, and he cooed aloud. "They respond to you? Like a friend, at that!" He beamed down at Sanjeevani, who still stares at him, lovesick to the bone. "Sanju, can I be their friend? Both of them?"

She just sighs and grins a dopey little grin, nodding. "If they're okay with it."

He gazed up at the anti-hero with awe in his eyes. "Can we be friends?" Venom and Eddie glanced at one another before nodding.

Eddie raised an eyebrow at the two youths. "Sanjeevani, didn't you say you two needed to talk?" He chuckled at her nod. "So should we head out?"

She shook her head. "No. I…" She paused, frowning. By Odin's beard? In her excitement at seeing Havardr again, the phrase had completely slipped her mind. Who the hell said 'by Odin's beard' to exclaim something in the modern day?

Well, obviously, some people still worship the old gods of Europe. Norse pagans, some people called them. No reason Havardr couldn't be one of those guys, she figured, but that sounded way more personal than it would for most people. Of course, I didn't ask for all his secrets, so maybe he's got something with religion that he never mentioned? But that's not for me to ask if he doesn't wanna talk about it.

Her eyes wandered to the fair-skinned, dark-clothed man who watched her curiously. She remembered what she had intended to ask him. "Havardr, that mission you mentioned. I know you don't know Eddie and Venom, but what exactly is the goal? Please, if you're gonna be in my life, I need you to tell me. I think I've just connected some things, and I need to make sure that I can trust you and that you trust me. Please, I need to know…" She begged with her eyes, trying to piece together the beginnings of her theory.

Her gut told her something at that moment. She usually didn't listen because she knew better than to trust random feelings without any logical reasoning behind them, but this was something big, she knew subconsciously.

He sighed and nodded after taking a slow breath that shook as he drew it into his lungs. "Fine. Okay. My friend said it was okay to tell you. We worked it through faster because you actually got in his way tonight. Otherwise, we would have waited two months and two weeks." She pouted at that but nodded. Two months and two weeks to gain trust? Sure she didn't know them well, but that seemed like a bit much.

Havardr plopped down and leaned against one of the vertical beams, gently tugging on Sanjeevani's hand to guide her down.

She sat beside him, face stiff with concern now. "Big issue, Sanjeevani. Not something we can stand for."

When she gave him a gentle smile, he began telling the story. "We're trying to find evidence against a big company here in Paris. They've been taking young people off the streets and experimenting on them. They dress like homeless people, disabled people, lower-class people, anyone the public ignores or wants to avoid. They dress like the most vulnerable people in the city. We know because we saw it happen. And, of course, that whole thing also starts new riots and issues in Paris. The same talks about disrespect and discrimination towards the vulnerable in any city would become massive fights in the streets. Starting shit is an area of expertise for those monsters." Sanjeevani and Eddie shared quick, nervous looks that they couldn't hide.

Havardr's face darkened soon after his brief pause. There was something in the downward stare of his eyes. The two self-healing humans knew Havardr had secrets about this case that he wasn't telling them, or anyone, maybe. "The reason we even began investigating them is that someone left an anonymous tip on Kuro's doorstep that this company was involved in the killing of his brother. This person knew details that no one else could have known about the case, things that the police only told Kuro. Things he told me in complete privacy after I earned his trust. We figured it was worth pursuing." She rested a hand on his shoulder when he put his head in both hands and tried to keep his breathing even.

Unable to keep himself calm anymore, the closeted Asgardian continued through tears. "I remember we followed one of those kids that were being kidnapped and tried to see what was going on. These people would drug them and toss them into unmarked vans. It was children of many ages. The youngest, to my knowledge, were seven. The oldest were about sixteen or seventeen. I know how scared they were. They would try to scream but didn't get a chance from the drugging."

Havardr paused to heave a sob before continuing. "I don't know what that's like for the kids. I don't know what even happens to them. I remember going up to one of the floors of the building the van went to, and those kids' screams gave me a panic attack. I don't know what to do about these kidnappings. But I know that none of those kids deserve it. They didn't do anything wrong. These assholes are hurting them, trying to do something to them. I couldn't do anything when those kidnappings happened the first few times, but I want to stop them."

Sanjeevani turned her head up to lock eyes with Eddie while still speaking to Havardr. "And what's the name of that company, Havardr?"

"Genesystem Labs."

Eddie's previous warm smile morphed into a scowl of steel and stone. "The same ones involved in your case, kid," the man confirmed, eyes trained on her face. "I did some more prying and interviewed some of the officers who worked on that girl's case. They said that they caught her killers, but the killers were hired by someone from Genesystem Labs. The cops documented the goons' testimony but were told to keep quiet because GL paid off one of their superiors to shut down the investigation and file it as a cold case. The officers I spoke to personally heard the phone call between their superior and the rep from GL, but there's no paper trail to lead the bribery back to GL or the corrupt officer."

Sanjeevani breathed in slowly. "Then we're all after the same goal. Havardr, I assume that guy beating up the old man on the bench, the masked guy that I stopped, was your friend fighting one of those goons from GL?" The fair-haired man nodded, smiling sheepishly.

"Yes."

Sanjeevani grunted. "Could you call up your friend? I'll grab my own partner, and the five of us can meet in my room. This is a bigger matter than any one or two of us."

Havardr raised an eyebrow at that. "How will I know where to go?"

She grinned. "You dropped me off at the building. Just come up to the eastern wall. I'll be waving from one of the windows, and that's how you'll get in." Eddie smacked his forehead, annoyed at Venom poking at his cheek.

"I don't know if it's your whole generation or just you, but that was the fastest conversation I've ever seen. I caught like five words in that whole mess, but I'll join you anyway. You got some black coffee and chocolate at home?"

"Absolutely, Edward."

Venom pulled themselves up to cover 'Edward's' head. "Good. And don't ever call me Edward again. It's so weird coming from a kid. We going with you?"

She shook her head. "Follow behind, but stay in the shadows. Too much talk if you're seen with me. Paris already doesn't know how to shut up about new heroes."

With that, the three of them split ways, Venom trailing Sanjeevani as she searched for Wicker, and Havardr bounding over buildings to find Kuro.


The new heroine strolled up to the gender-ambiguous figure of Wicker, who sat on the railing of a balcony overlooking the city's red-light district. "Wicker," she called out, cupping her hands around her mouth. The psychic turned around and nodded hello.

"Whatcha want, Witch?" Sanjeevani rolled her eyes at the nickname and sat down beside the non-hero.

"What do you know about the company Genesystem Labs?"

Wicker's shoulders stiffened, and she began breathing more heavily. Anyone else wouldn't have noticed, but as someone who spent several hours with her every night, both in suits and in bed (and as a healer working to expand her powers), Sanjeevani knew well that Wicker had begun hyperventilating after the question was asked.

"Nothing. Why?"

Resting a firm hand on the other vigilante's shoulder, Sanjeevani spoke warmly. "You can't lie to me, Wicker. I've seen you at your maybe best and almost worst. Tell me the truth."

A heaving sigh. "I'm trying to help my friends take them down."

"Havardr and Kuro?"

Wicker tugged off her mask and gaped at her companion. "How in the world did you-"

A smirk. "Havardr is the guy I mentioned to you. The one I've been hoping to run into again. Wicker, all of us have the same mission. Even Eddie Brock."

The non-villain raised a perfect eyebrow. "The bigshot reporter who got his ass handed to him by life? Why's he in on this? If it's just to make a buck off the story, let me know. I'll fucking wreck him."

Sanjeevani snickered at that. "Slow down, partner. He's helping us. Actually, he's got this super-powerful, super-scary friend. The two of them brought to me this case that Genesystem Labs is apparently involved in. He only told me about the company's involvement today. All six of us have the same goal. I think it's time we came together and worked on it. What do you say?"

Wicker scowled. "I'm not bringing you into my mess." And she then winced at the consequent smack to the back of her head. "Owwww!"

"I'm not someone to hide away in bubble wrap. I'm a hero too. I've taken falls and broken more bones than anyone else in Paris. Don't act like I'm too soft to handle this. Besides. I whooped your ass the first time we met. You know I'm not weak." Sanjeevani's retort left no room for argument.

Wicker let her hands slide down her face tiredly, nodding. "Thanks for bringing up my defeat. Real nice of you. But I know I won't be able to convince you to stay out of this. Where's the meeting?"

"My apartment."

A bright grin. "You should have said that first. I would have agreed to anything!"

The White Witch grumbled and exhaled through her nose. "Dummy. Come on. Eddie and his friend are following behind us. Come up to my window when I give the signal. I'll wave my left arm out of my window, and you come up. I'll pull you and the others in."

She led Wicker and Venom to her apartment, making them stand in the shadows of the eastern wall's alley while she made her way back into her unit from the front door. Wicker glanced up at the massive monstrous creature, holding out a hand. "Wicker." Venom grinned at the tiny vigilante with their shark teeth.

"We are Venom. Nice to meet you. How do you know the White Witch?"

Wicker smirked widely, rolling her shoulders back. "We've got a little partnership-exchange-deal thing going on."

Venom grumbled at the back of their throat. "A partnership-exchange-deal? What does that mean?"

"It's very simple, big guy. I give her info, and she joins me in bed for a few hours, and we have some fun. Completely consensual, don't you worry."

Before the alien-human dynamic duo could retort or ask how that was ethical at all and how (and why) Sanjeevani agreed to it, the heroine opened her window and waved her arms at them. Wicker rushed up to the building and scaled the wall, fingers and feet digging into the brick as she made her way up. She grabbed Sanjeevani's hand and let the woman tug her in through the window.

Venom made it to the window in one jump, and as the creature retreated into Eddie's skin, the White Witch pulled them inside. Wicker could only huff at the display of the duo's strength. "Show-off."

"Yes he is, but that's not why he's here," Sanjeevani retorted. "Anyways, where the hell are the other two?"

She screamed when a hand landed on her shoulder from behind her. Eddie still stood to her diagonal right, and Wicker was in the process of adjusting her suit right in front of her, so who the fuck had touched her?! She whipped around and saw Havardr and another guy in a completely black suit and biker helmet. With an exasperated groan, the young woman hugged her friend. "Havardr, you know I love you, man, but seriously, you gotta stop scaring me like that. How in the world did you get in here?!"

He didn't respond immediately due to being lost in thought, so the other guy spoke for him, taking off his helmet to be heard better. "Havardr has some skills with dark energy. He's pretty good at using it. One of the things he does well is make portals. Practically his specialty," he admitted with a wink. The man of obviously East Asian descent held out a hand. "Nice to meet you, Miss White Witch. What's your actual vigilante name?"

"Oh, I don't have one," she admitted while shaking his hand. The guy had a seriously strong grip for someone so wiry. Still, he looked pretty strong. He was maybe half a head shorter than Havardr, and all of his musculature seemed lean and tight, like that of a ballet dancer or swimmer. His face seemed fairly rounded and smooth, except for the hard lines of his jaws and the scars littering his eyes, cheekbones, and chin. Wide, flat nose, bold dark brown eyes, hair that flopped down so low over his eyebrows that Sanjeevani worried about his ability to walk around without bumping into telephone poles and walls. But his skin held a faint enough tan that told her he spent a little too much time outside in the heat.

(Paris was nowhere near the Mediterranean, but it could get hot as hell near the end of spring and throughout the summer.)

Reclining on the singular queen-sized bed in the room, Wicker huffed again. "I tried to suggest a few names, but she kept saying no. Like, how cool is Healio?!"

Sanjeevani threw her arms up. "I'm not calling myself Healio! Stop suggesting that!"

Kuro sighed, plopping down on the ground. Havardr hummed and sat to his right, nodding. "You need a superhero name, though. Kuro's right! …Whoops…" Havardr grinned sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders at his friend. "Sorry, buddy."

"Whatever. I mean, yeah, big secret. Just go ahead and tell everyone in the building." When Havardr gave him a shocked expression and raised his hand like a school student, he sighed. "I was being sarcastic, dude." Sheepishly, the taller man sat down again, avoiding Kuro's gaze.

"Cool off, lover boy. He's told me a lot. Besides. He already knows my identity." She pulled off her mask, and Wicker soon followed.

Kuro gaped. "Wait…" Sanjeevani grinned. "You're the-the dancer girl! The girl from the park!"

Sanjeevani stood and took a bow, laughing with Wicker and Eddie. "Indeed. Welcome to my humble abode." She looked at Havardr and grinned. "You never told me your buddy has superpowers!"

He shrugged. "You never told me you were friends with a Klyntar's host."

"Touché, but I only met him earlier today." She sat down with the others, inviting Eddie and Wicker to sit with her. "So. We're all here for a good reason, but we need to know who we are first. Should we go around the circle?"

Eddie nodded. "Brings me back to elementary school. Not fun, but if you think we should, that's fine."

Kuro raised his hand. "Name's Kuro. I go by Mirror while suited up. Havardr is currently living with me, and we're working to find the assholes who killed my brother. My powers in one word: photomanipulation." He recoiled when everyone turned to look at him at the same time. A cough slipped out of the young man when Sanjeevani tossed him a literally way-too-bright grin, her gums emanating pure white light.

"Nice to meet you, Kuro! You're really brave for going after those people! And your powers seem super cool! Maybe you could teach me how to not glow all the time!" She exclaimed excitedly. Her lips puckered into a pout when Wicker patted her arm to keep her quiet for a bit.

With a giggle, Havardr flicked his gaze between the two light-related superhumans. "You two would be a great team!" Sanjeevani and Kuro hummed somewhat dreamily at the same time, both blushing and looking away when they caught each other staring at the fair-haired youth.

"Okay. My name's Havardr, but I go by Midnight in the suit. I use dark energy most of the time, but I love learning about magic way more. And yeah, I'm helping Kuro with his mission. Unfortunately, I'm only staying until this mission ends. I can't be here forever." When Eddie probed further and tried to understand why the superhuman wasn't going to stay, Havardr stated in one sentence his need to escape from his horrible family.

Sanjeevani tried to avoid looking hurt when hearing that. Was he already breaking his promise? The heroine pushed down all the doubt and smiled sweetly to cover up all the doubt and fear and slight heartbreak.

Meanwhile, Wicker said a little bit about themselves in a grim tone.

"Call me Wicker." The pseudo-villain sighed and poked Sanjeevani's arm. "My real name is Lien. I'm a friend of Kuro's, and I've been working to help find and take down the guys who killed Kuro's brother. I'm a psychic. I can read minds and see the future. Now you go, doll," Wicker told the young heroine.

"I'm Sanjeevani Rao, or, as the news has been calling me recently, the White Witch. I don't really have my own name." Lien snickered and snorted at that, amused by the girl's phrasing. "I guess I can follow Kuro's pattern. My thing is biomanipulation, but only with humans. I've just been trying to help the poor and homeless of Paris with injuries, diseases, and other health issues, but I want to help you guys because Eddie here told me about a theory or suspicion of his that Genesystem Labs killed the version of me from this reality, and she was just a fourteen year old. I'm not from this universe." She didn't look at anyone when speaking. She didn't trust herself to not burst into sobs at the thought of that happy little girl (the happier version of herself) getting killed.

While Kuro, Havardr, and Lien took a moment to absorb the information she told them about her origins, she did her best to not wallow in that heartache and distress. It would do no one any good if she got depressed over something she couldn't change now. All she could do was work to give that littler version of her justice and take down those assholes at Genesystem Labs.

Eddie rubbed her back quietly and awkwardly. Comforting people was not his forte, or so Venom said. Anne and Dan seemed to think otherwise, but Sanjeevani seemed to appreciate it, leaning into him a little bit for warmth. He made his introduction while she cooled down. "I'm Eddie Brock. Yeah, the guy who messed with every corporation in the US. My 'friend' that this kid probably mentioned is Venom. A Klyntar, as Havardr said." Venom rose up from Eddie's skin and bared those massive teeth in greeting.

"Hello. I am Venom. We are helping because we hate evil scientists. And because Sanjeevani promised us chocolate." Eddie groaned at that because it seemed like Venom and Eddie only cared about the chocolate, but the young woman only laughed and rubbed away her tears, kissing the top of the alien creature's bulbous, glistening head.

Sanjeevani soon leapt up out of nowhere, though, startled by the sound of knocking at her door.

She made a wordless plea to Kuro, who nodded and averted the light in the room from the group while she walked up to the door, a long blanket pulled over herself to cover up the super suit.

She stared at the space behind her in shock when they became invisible. Kuro is the coolest guy in this room right now, she mused to herself.

Her face split into a massive grin when Ahmed waved to her from behind her now-opened door, smiling awkwardly in his elegant and very comfortable-looking satin pajamas. "Can I come in, Sanju? Did you have guests? I don't see anybody…" he mused when walking in.

"Kuro, it's fine! You can let down the light-shielding-thing. It's a friend!" The vigilante hero undid the invisibility and waved hello at Ahmed, who turned to glower sternly at the heroine, arms crossed and right foot tapping away on the ground like a mother whose teenager came home after midnight with guests.

Ahmed rubbed his temples and breathed in slowly, speaking through clenched teeth. "Who are they?"

She beamed like a kid showing her parent the stray kitten she brought home. "My new friends! I'm helping them take down an evil corporation in Paris!" came the young woman's elated exclamation.

Kuro turned to state at Havardr and Wicker. "Friends? I barely know this chick. Does she do this a lot?"

The friends of the healer nodded simultaneously.

"Consistently."

After convincing her best friend to meet the others, Sanjeevani dragged Ahmed closer to introduce him. "Guys, this is my best friend. Ahmed, these are my new friends! Kuro, Havardr, Lien, Eddie, and Venom! They're all really nice!"

He huffed and nodded hello, greeting them abruptly. "Good to meet you all. How did you get inside this building?" He got right to business. Frankly, random vigilantes shouldn't be able to enter an asylum housing location with such ease. Maybe he should contact someone about getting new security measures so nobody could come in and wreck the place or put people in danger. Sure, he trusted Sanjeevani, but she trusted other people too easily.

Kuro smirked. "Chillax, my man. Your Sanju let us in. Well, kinda. Havardr can get around any security. Venom and Wicker had to be let in through the window." He quietly observed the Sikh man's face get redder and redder with irritation before suddenly relaxing into the original cool brown tone it held earlier.

"Okay. Fine. Sanju, next time you have a party with strangers, you tell me about it, okay?"

She nods and grins with pearly whites, teeth literally shining from the light coming off of her skin. He looked away, telling her with a hiss, "Eyes, please. Don't blind me, Sanju!"

Her mouth snapped shut. "Sorry!"

"Good. Now, um." And then he was shy. Why was it so hard to tell her stuff like this?! "I have to tell you something…"

Sanjeevani tilted herself to the side. "Yeah?"

Ahmed breathed deeply, loosened up his shoulders and arms, and looked his friend right in the face. "I want to join you. I want to protect my city, my home. You've been doing a great job healing and protecting people, and I feel like I can't keep sitting on the sidelines anymore."

She gaped at first. Silence washed over the room. It nearly choked everyone, so much so that Venom started clacking their teeth together just to break the quiet. And with a practically supersonic squeal, she tossed herself at the taller youth and hugged him with the strength of ten thousand men. "That's AMAZING!!!" At one point, she lifted him up into the air, her back bending to compensate for the height difference between them. "I'M SO HAPPY! YOU'RE GONNA DO GREAT!"

Havardr couldn't help but laugh, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Sanjeevani, set him down. You're gonna break his back. And the walls. Too loud for the room, honestly." Sheepishly, she set her friend down and buried her face in his chest.

"Sorry, buddy. But seriously, I am so happy you decided to join us." She pulled back and gazed at him with wide, brilliant eyes. Half the room could see the gears turning in her head without looking inside of it. "In fact, how would you like to join our mission?"

The man of Punjabi and Pakistani descent frowned, stroking a hand through his beard. "What's the goal, and would I have to hurt people deliberately outside the scope of self-defense and protecting innocents?"

Her face split into a smirk, and she pulled him down to sit down in the awkward circle, squishing him between herself and Kuro. "We're trying to investigate and maybe take down Genesystem Labs, who Eddie believes killed the version of me from this universe, and who Kuro believes killed his brother." Ahmed winced.

"Yeah, that's absolutely a good reason to investigate them."

She nodded. "The violence would only be to protect kids from Genesystem Labs. Havardr and Kuro have seen these thugs kidnapping teens and kids off the streets in order to do something to them. They're prime witnesses to that crime." Ahmed glanced at the young men in question and sighed when they gave him grave expressions, silent teary eyes, and/or weak nods.

"Okay. I think this is a good idea. But I need training and information about hero stuff. I need training in fighting, spotting crimes in the making, de-escalating problems, and getting around the city conveniently. And how to use my powers."

Sanjeevani tapped her lips, huffing quietly. "I see. I can help you with the fighting, finding crimes, and de-escalation. Transport should be easy for someone who can turn into magical creatures. But I'm not sure how much I can help you use your powers."

Havardr raised his hand, eyes bright and hopeful. "My entire thing is magic. I can help him! I can maybe help both of you." When he received only shocked, stiff looks, he retracted a little bit, looking away. "I mean, I learned all I knew from books and stories and observing other people who have experience in magic. Maybe I could teach you some of the stuff I learned to do with dark energy, but I don't know how that would make sense with your powers, but I think if we…"

He stopped and looked up when Sanjeevani rested a hand on his shoulder, her face bright with a smitten smile. "Thanks, Havardr."

The former guard just nodded, returning the smile easily. "No problem!"

She sat down again and turned to the others. "So…what's the plan?"

Ahmed met eyes with her. "We need to join the Avengers."

Sanjeevani set her eyes on his face for the next three minutes without moving, to the point where the others in the room began shifting around from discomfort. She didn't even blink, she was so shocked. "Could you tell me how you reached that idea? Because what the fuck does that have to do with this mission?"

He nodded slowly. "Yeah. So right now, you're not that big of a hero, no offense. You don't have much pull with the government or with the people. Nor do any of these guys. Eddie and Venom might, but that's a big might. Also, they eat people, and that won't get them any points with the government or with the public."

When Eddie tried to respond, Ahmed rolled his eyes. "I've seen the news, Eddie. I pay attention to this stuff. I'm not dumb." The older man nodded, and the bearded youth returned to his previous point. "But if we join the Avengers, we can get trained, we can learn how to use our powers in a safe and secretive environment, and we can figure out ways to take down Genesystem Labs without messing with the safety and wellbeing of innocent people."

She grinned. "Ouch, but you've got a point." The heroine gave each of the others a meaningful glance and turned to Wicker. "You're my partner in kinda-crime. Wanna join me in this?"

Lien let out a slow, low-pitched groan in response. "Fine. But only to protect you and to get shit about the Avengers in case they betray us or something."

"I knew you'd be a big help," Sanjeevani agreed with a laugh.

She jumped to her feet and beamed at everyone. "Well, guys, I'm glad I met you all, but I'm on a nine-to-four as a teacher, and I still need to get in some nighttime healing and rest before I waste away in naps tomorrow morning."

Lien whistled at her, a high squeal over the constant hum of traffic. "Am I sleeping over or nah? I know our agreement was info-for-fun, but," Her eyes gleamed with a flicker of something that irritated the heroine's best friend and other well-wishers to no end. "I'm feeling lonely tonight. And I'm part of the good guys now, so don't I get some credit?"

Sanjeevani tutted. "If you asked earlier, I might have said yes, but it's already late, and I am exhausted beyond comprehension. Alright, who here has an aversion to alcohol?"

When no one raised their hands, she grinned. "Good to hear. Vodka is my meal replacement drink."

Eddie gave her a squint of disapproval. "Kid, nothing good happens when you drink too much alcohol. You might be able to heal your liver immediately, but the damage is still done."

"Oh, la dee dah. Eddie, I can literally change my body's chemical processes and metabolism. Bold of you to assume I haven't already discovered and perfected the method of converting alcohol to a usable form of energy in the human body." The young woman huffed and pulled a giant bottle of vodka out from her bedside table's drawer, twisting off the top. She took a long swig and carried it back to her spot after wiping her mouth clean. Ahmed sighed and shook his head tiredly.

"Besides, vodka is really calorie-dense, which is a life-saver after missions. I have to use my own energy for healing and biomanipulation, so I need a high-calorie supplement to make sure I don't pass out from a blood-sugar plummet."

The other superhumans and human plus alien just watched her guzzle down half the bottle, her face a mirror of absolute relief and pleasure. "Oh man, it still burns, but the satisfaction of feeling like I ate without eating is unmatched." Havardr stared at her like she put the moon in the sky, which, considering her lack of wings and extremely powerful magic, is not very possible.

"That's beautiful," the closeted Asgardian admitted with a grin. "You drink like a beast."

She just laughed and tried to not take it to heart. A white dude calling a woman of color a beast? Not a good call, in her eyes. But she didn't think he meant anything bad by it. The guy had a face implying he'd never seen a woman drink like her before, which she felt was probably a compliment. "Thanks, man. That's real sweet of you to say."

"If you two lovebirds are done flirting, we have to make a plan. Taking down an evil scientist is not even a fraction as hard as taking down an entire corporation of evil scientists," Kuro grumbled, both arms crossed petulantly over his chest.

Together, the two chorused, "Sorry, Kuro!"

And so began the plotting.


While the others remained inside drinking coffee and hanging out after having taken a break from plotting, Kuro and Lien stood outside together, smoking from two different cigarettes but breathing in the same air. They didn't exchange words until Sanjeevani shut the door to keep out the smoke, glaring at them with equal but affectionate intensity. "Keep the tobacco out of my place, fools."

The two snorted, and Kuro dared to ask, "Again, is she always like that?"

"With smoking, yeah. She drinks too, so she doesn't mind that as much."

He bobbed his head understandingly before turning away again. "How'd you two meet?"

The semi-hero shrugged, rolling back tired shoulders to loosen them up a little. "She got on my nerves when I was up against one of our agent enemies. You know the ones. The guy was dressed up like an old man, and she jumped in to save him like some amateur, without even considering the situation."

The young man took a long draw and then dropped the cigarette, stamping it out on the floor of the balcony. "Let me guess. You whooped her ass?"

Lien laughed aloud, rolling dark brown eyes without a care in the world. "Fuck no. She handed me mine. I didn't even realize how good she got me until I was on the ground, feeling like roadkill." With a huff, they tried to ignore Kuro's smoke-softened snickers and wheezes, but it was too much. "Keep going, and you'll go off the edge, shiny boy."

"Your nicknames have gotten lazier since we last met," he retorted, lips curved up into a smirk.

"Shut the fuck up." The two turned around when Sanjeevani heaved open the door, pouting.

"Okay, new rule. No smoking when you visit. None at all. The smell is soaking into my curtains. Both of you put those out and get inside. A couple more things to talk over, and Eddie got us food." A quick shout of indignation from the inside, where Eddie was bitching at her that he said not to tell anyone he was getting the food.

She turned and stuck her tongue out at him over her shoulder. "Get over it, Eddie!"

Kuro let himself chuckle. "Where's Havardr?"

The healer looked at him with a curious and very shit-eating grin. "Missing your boyfriend already? I won't judge. Anyways, he's just in the bathroom. Something about the lights being too bright? I dunno. I said he could stay in there as long as he needed."

"Oh shit. Is he in there now?" Kuro hissed out while shaking her shoulders. She yelped but nodded.

"Yeah."

He sprinted inside and knocked on the bathroom door gently. "Havardr? Buddy? You okay? Want me to come in? Is there something I can do to help?" Sanjeevani watched on silently, confusion and concern spreading across her face.

"Is something wrong?" she wondered aloud. Lien sighed.

"Havardr has sensory overload. I've seen it happen a couple times. Usually, he gets overwhelmed by visual stimuli. The lights sometimes seem brighter to him than they might seem to anyone else, so that's why he wears a lot of black. And it helps that Kuro can redirect light, so those two are connected at the hip. Did you do something? Not to be mean, but you do literally produce light, so…" the psychic probed.

Sanjeevani shook her head without a word and frowned. "I haven't lit up since I got back from tonight's shift, except for when I started shining at Ahmed with a smile. Should I turn all the lights in the room off? Would that help him?"

Lien shrugged, patting the young woman's shoulder. "No idea. But you can ask him, right?"

The bathroom door cracked open, and Havardr let Kuro inside. Without another moment of hesitation, the White Witch rushed to the door and asked quietly, "Do you want all the room's lights off, Havardr? I'm okay with that. I can turn them off, if you'd like."

He gave a soft "No, thanks" in response before closing the door again.

She sighed. This was a new development. But she knew those two could handle it. In the meantime, she had to figure out the rest of the plan with the others. Rising to her feet, she returned to her spot in the oval from earlier. "Okay, guys. Havardr is having a sensory overload moment, so let's continue on the plan while waiting for him and Kuro. We'll update them when they return. Oh, and the food will be here in fifteen minutes."

She grinned and leaned over to the left to give Venom a kiss on the head and Eddie a painfully tight hug. "Thanks, Eddie!"

"Ouch! Kid, what the hell?! We need to have a discussion on personal space. Jesus Christ." Eddie rubbed his sore shoulders, a grunt escaping his lips as he tried to ignore the new pain in his back. "I am not as young and strong as I used to be."

Ahmed rolled his eyes, munching on Sanjeevani's hidden stash of potato chips while throwing a rebuttal at the journalist.

"That's how time works, Eddie. As the oldest person in the room, you should know that."

Venom, Sanjeevani, and Ahmed laughed together, laughing at the red and angry face of the reporter-turned-antihero.

Eventually, Lien joined them, having finished their cigarette. "You lot having fun, are you?"

The dance teacher among them grinned. "Eddie blushes real easy, you know that? It's so fun to watch him turn into a humanoid tomato." When the psychic sighed and shook their head, Sanjeevani pouted. "Whaaat? Why are you doing that? What did I do?" A squeak ripped out of her throat when the other vigilante yanked her into their lap.

"You're so mean to your friends for a wholesome little healer, Sanju," Lien joked.

Another pout. "It's not mean if it's not genuine, bud."

Lien snorted, rolling their eyes. "Suuure. You say that, and then we'll see you in two weeks, dumping Ahmed's clothes out the window like an asshole," they retorted. Sanjeevani grumbled, crossing her arms while settling into her partner's lap.

"Rude. Also, I wouldn't do that. If I really wanted to hurt him, I'd cut up this suit that he spent a week and a half making using vantablack-dyed cloth that he treated to make sure the color wouldn't bleed out in the wash."

Ahmed clutched his heart, gasping in horror. "You've been thinking about this, haven't you?!" He squinted at the girl, who just grinned and winked at him. "Sanju, that's not an answer!"

Eventually, Havardr and Kuro walked out together, the light-sensitive youth now donning a pair of deep black sunglasses to guard his eyes. Sanjeevani tossed him a soft smile. "You okay, Havardr? Feeling a little better?"

He shrugged, rubbing his temples. "A little. Just gotta get home and get some rest, maybe cover my room in darkness. Might help more." Havardr raised an eyebrow at her state, chuckling tersely. "You look comfortable." She laughed, nodding her head.

"Lien's real good at this kind of stuff. The post-sex cuddles are divine, honestly. And the fact that they overheat during the do makes them a great human space heater," Sanjeevani admitted with a giggle when Lien responded to that by tickling her sides. "Nooooo!" She tried to wriggle free, but found herself further trapped and accepted her fate. "Oh well. Anyways, do you want me to maybe help? I can heal and stuff. I could heal you too, if you-"

Havardr abruptly stopped her suggestion. "No thanks! I'm good." At seeing everyone's confused and amused glances, he sighed. "It's okay. Thanks for the offer. Just…more light probably won't make it any better."

Sanjeevani thought that was a bit odd that he refused so quickly but realized her misunderstanding. "Oh yeahhhhhhhhh! I completely forgot. Sorry!" she exclaimed with a slow nod. "Just let me know if you ever need any help or healing, yeah?" After one last smile his way, she looked to the others.

"So, where do we start? This is a big mission. It's not gonna be easy at all if we all do the same thing at the same time. Maybe we should split up?"

Kuro nodded slowly, the gears turning in his head almost visible to the rest. "Sounds okay. But who does what and when and for how long are the critical details to work out right now."

Ahmed tapped his ring a bunch of times quickly before throwing a hand up. "I got it! We need to split up the work first. We need to investigate the company, stop the kidnappings, keep the bad guys from wrecking Paris, and prevent everyone from discovering our plans. Everyone means everyone: the public, the feds, the company, and anyone else with interest. Even the Avengers.."

"But how are we gonna do that? That's four whole missions and only six of us!" Lien protested with a huff. "There's no way we can do all that on our own," they decided.

A spark lit in Sanjeevani's eyes. "What if I said I have two prospective heroes that I've been speaking to for two weeks now? Two heroes who I trust with my life and know can help us with this whole mess?"

Everyone whipped their gazes to the young woman, and Lien just leaned around her to look at her face. She grinned. "One of them has powers relating to technology and software. She calls herself a technopath and technokinetic. She's pretty fantastic, and she's going to college here in Paris. Computer science major with a near-godly talent for coding. I actually met her through her younger sister. Absolutely wonderful girl." Lien pouted but raised an eyebrow at the 'younger sister' part.

"You've been fucking other people without telling me?" At Sanjeevani's unimpressed side-eye, Lien grinned and leaned back. The heroine continued her explanation.

"The other person is a young man with powers relating to inorganic substances, specifically rocks and minerals. He's practically geology in human form. He moved to Paris a few months ago to find work. The guy is actually working to save up for grad school. I think he said he wanted to go into biochemistry or biomedical engineering. Something like that."

Havardr locked eyes with her and spoke softly. "How did you figure you could trust them?"

She beamed, trying to make sure she didn't glow and further aggravate his eyes. "Remember I twisted the arm of that guy on the bus? He was feeling up this little girl in a school uniform?"

He nodded, an eyebrow pulled up in amusement. "Yeah. Hilarious moment when you almost broke his entire radius bone, in my opinion. Why?"

Sanjeevani hummed. "That little girl is this girl's baby sister. I had seen the kiddo around elsewhere, and she forced her older sister to come with her when she realized I was teaching dance lessons in the park. The same way you found me, so did the kiddo." Kuro gave his best bud a pointed stare, laughing quietly when the man looked away and covered his face.

"I hate you, man," Havardr mumbled shyly. Kuro just patted his back, winking at Sanjeevani, who tipped her head forward in thanks.

She resumed her story as soon as the boys finished their shenanigans. "And I started talking to the older sister to check on the younger one every once in a while, and we became friends. The older girl told me about her powers after she saw me healing my feet in secret in an alley after a particularly strenuous day of classes. It's the kind of insurance trust that we all have right now. As in, if any of us spill another's secret, the other will spill ours. Same thing. But also, she helped me save a bunch of people a few times when tech-based baddies kept targeting hospitals and shit."

"What about that guy? The inorganic dude," Ahmed wondered.

"Oddly enough, I met him on a walk." Sanjeevani received a bunch of eye rolls and snorts. "Cliche, I know. He was working with some high school students, fully dressed up to the eyes. Completely suited up, just like me during my nightly rounds."

Ahmed raised an eyebrow at that and grinned.

"Does he make his own suits?"

He got a huff and a pout in response. "They thought he was weird as hell, but he gave them all the information they needed. I think they were collecting specific rock samples and stuff for class, and he got them exactly what they needed and explained stuff to them. Just at that moment, one of those crazy four-armed monkeys came in and started wrecking shit. You guys know those mutated apes, right?"

Havardr winced, nodding his head. They'd nearly ripped Kuro's head clean off at least once during their very few daytime missions. He could recognize the sound of one running along the road, long nails clacking against the asphalt from miles away.

Sanjeevani sighed slowly, nodding. "This guy made this giant half-sphere around the kids and protected them while I got to work scaring off those monkeys. And when the kids left for safety in the city, he helped me take down the rest of the mutated things and put them to sleep until animal control could be called." She paused for air, smiling. "I asked him why he was all suited up and fighting with his powers, and he told me something beautiful."

Everyone leaned in close, at least one ear turned to her to hear everything fully. She took a long inhale before replying.

"He said that, 'I was abnormal from birth. Sand and rock moved for me like waves move for the moon. God gave me this power. To do what, I don't know. But I had to choose what to do with it, and I chose to protect the weak and helpless. I chose to do good, like I know you did."

"That's so sweet!" Ahmed approved with a bright grin. "He sounds like a wonderful person. Is he a self-made hero just like you?"

The heroine shrugged her shoulders, a nervous giggle spilling from chapped bloody lips. "I wouldn't say I'm self-made, but yeah. He learned to fight all on his own. I have a lot of respect for the guy. Day after tomorrow, I want you all to meet him and the girl. I can't tell you their names because, obviously, they wouldn't trust you just yet."

Kuro turned his eyes to her and murmured softly. "I need to talk to you when everyone's gone, including your new dad. That okay?"

Sanjeevani smirked at Eddie, who tossed a scowl in her direction and grumbled. "Both of you shut up," he grumbled.

"But I didn't even say anything~!" she croaked out between giggles. He grumbled, putting a hand to his forehead and shaking his head.

"Still." Eddie exhaled through his nose and hummed. "But yeah. Of course it's fine with me. I don't make Sanjeevani's decisions for her." He nodded at Kuro, eyebrows furrowed. "But just know that I'll be close enough. I need to talk to her too."

Ahmed clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's eyes to him. "Okay. Now. We have the four main problems or goals. We have two prospective new members. We need a way to communicate without the general public, the government, or the bad guys from discovering our plans. And we need to figure out how to meet on a regular or semi-regular schedule to touch bases about the missions we have."

Lien raised their voice after clearing their throat. "I can ask one of my friends to make us burner phones that can't be tracked, wiretapped, or intercepted. And my family has its own phone line that is still open to me. They won't tell anyone what's discussed on the calls or texts."

Eyebrows went up in shock. Sanjeevani only frowned. "Will your family be okay with this? I know you don't really like them and vice versa."

They smirked. "They don't have a choice. My grandfather left me sixty percent of everything he owned in his will. I've got all the resources. If they want me to still provide for them, then they listen to me," the hero admitted with a sly grin. Sanjeevani just giggled, letting her partner in vigilantism squeeze her.

"Good. That's a solid plan, Lien. Go ahead with that. If possible, hand over the phones to Sanju so she can distribute them among everyone herself. Probably easier and safer that way. And meetings?" Ahmed wondered.

Eddie rapped his knuckles against the floorboards, a spark lighting in his eye. "Probably best to meet here itself." Sanjeevani really did not like that plan, but the man insisted. "Kid, come on. It's easy to get in and out, and because Ahmed is one of the employees, no one can say anything. Besides, we all know where it is, and going to my apartment or anyone else's might become a security hazard in that the media will start to speculate about everyone's identities. You yourself complained how the press has been hounding you."

With a reluctant nod, the heroine sighed. "Fine. But you all come in like Havardr and Kuro did. Eddie, Lien, you two meet up with these guys and come here as a group. Way easier that way, and way more secure."

After everyone worked out the details of the mission to bring down Genesystem Labs, the group began preparing to go their separate ways. Each spoke to the others for a little while before leaving.

Kuro and Lien spoke to one another while Eddie, Venom, and Ahmed took a moment to discuss in detail about something. Havardr stood beside the young heroine and asked softly, "Are you okay?" She shook her head in response. He didn't dare say another word after that until she turned away and leaned against the wall beside her bathroom door.

Careful eyes keeping watch over the other heroes, Havardr approached Sanjeevani, tapping her shoulder hesitantly. "Is something wrong? Can I help?" He walked around her to try and see her face, only to recoil at the sight of tears streaking down her cheeks of polished dark jasper.

She shook her head and put her index finger to her lips. "Don't say anything. Ahmed will just freak out, and it'll be a whole thing."

Not wanting to upset her or inform the others of her state, the Asgardian youth rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. "What happened, though?" Sanjeevani's eyes weakened with tears before clamping shut, and a new wave of woe washed over her.

"My family cast me out because I refused to stay with them. The day Dr. Strange brought me to this reality was the same day my family discovered my powers. I had been practicing and experimenting with them in my room, and when they found out, they dragged me downstairs." Breath and voice muddling her explanation, she braved through the words. "My father hit me until I bled. My mother screamed until my heart scarred over. Strange saved me and forced them to be still and not touch me. He promised safety and protection. Why would I refuse?"

Havardr nodded quietly, knowing she would need the moment to talk through the pain. His own parents had never beat him, but their loud voices and enraged screaming were enough to send him into what he now learned are called anxiety attacks. Kuro seemed horrified at the details of his family's treatment of him. He could now understand Kuro's sentiments. He didn't understand how any parent could hate their child for having powers that the child themselves never knew about.

"Why did they hit you?"

She smiled, or grimaced, as she spoke. "Well, they assumed I knew about my powers my entire life and hid the truth from them because of selfishness. They thought I actively didn't want to help my relatives who were ill and dying. They blamed me for all of the family's loss."

With sad eyes, Havardr grasped both of Sanjeevani's shoulders, asking earnestly. "You know that that's not true, right?"

She chuckled, wiping at the wetness on her cheeks and under her nose with a handkerchief. "I know. There's no way I could have saved them because I didn't even know I had powers until then." Her expression softened, and the young woman stood on her toes to give her friend a kiss on the cheek. "But thank you for the reassurance."

He just grinned. "No problem." The smile melted soon after, but he didn't want to freak her out by suddenly frowning. "Still, though. Um. Can I help you?" She shook her head and sighed, a smirk playing at the edge of her lips.

"I don't think I can be helped. But since you heard my sad story, I want to hear yours." Havardr sighed at the request but agreed.

"Fine. But not with everyone else around."

She nodded. "Fair. Tomorrow, then? Two in the morning. Meet me at the Tower."

He raised an eyebrow at that. "Again?"

Sanjeevani huffed. "Not like I've been traveling much since I came to France. It's been more hard work than anything else."

Havardr snickered, patting her arm sympathetically. "Okay, okay. Fair. How about this? I'll meet you in front of the cafe across the street from this building around nine in the morning for a little coffee break. Is that okay? I know you probably prefer tea, but the caffeine helps me relax."

Her eyes shot wide open at that. "Um, sounds fine with me, and I totally want to talk about the caffeine relaxing thing, but uh. Could you stay over for a little bit after all these guys are gone? Please?"

Unsure of the reasoning, but not wanting to disappoint, Mr. Snow White just agreed with a shrug and a nod. "Okay."

"Thanks."

Eventually, Lien came up to give the heroine a hug, not questioning the tears or expression. "Stay safe, you hear? I don't like seeing you constantly getting your entire body whooped on the news every day. If you have no other choice, move to my place. Havardr can bring you."

Sanjeevani shook her head, smiling. "Thanks, but I can't. My family is here. Ahmed and my mutual friends. I need to be here to protect them. Besides, I've got something planned for the Avengers to force them into the spotlight. Dr. Strange has been bitching at me recently, and I wanna get back at him for it." Lien frowned at the response, but nodded.

"Will it mess with our plans?"

She laughed. "Fuck no. The Avengers need me. They wanted me on since I healed Stark. They won't let me go. They're the reason that Strange keeps showing up in my dreams to check up on me. And when they hear that you and Ahmed are joining me, they won't be able to refuse." The other vigilante grunted, sighing sadly a moment after.

Wicker just held the heroine's face in her hands. "Just…if you need help, ask for it. I know how you get." With a kiss pressed to constantly smiling lips, the almost-hero of Vietnamese origin grinned and waved, patting Havardr's shoulder just before rushing out the window again.

Havardr raised an eyebrow in pure silence, smiling at his friend, who flushed a faint red under her dark skin as she protested his amused expression. "Oh shut up. Lien is gorgeous and has been a real companion to me. Besides, have you seen those biceps? I lose my mind a little every time she gets undressed. I agreed because they always look so goddamn good. And because I know there's a lot of good in her. I could never ally with someone horrible."

He hummed. "How do you know I'm not horrible?"

She smirked. "You'll have your answer soon enough, bud." He rolled his eyes.

"I'm probably older than you, you know."

"You say that like you think I give a shit."

Rolling his eyes, he watched as Kuro approached them, gaze calm and cautious. "You got a minute, lightbulb?"

She pouted. "Worst nickname ever, but yeah."

Havardr nodded at both of them and walked to the window, helmet yanked over his head as he stepped out with Eddie and Venom. Kuro sighed as the two fairer-skinned men left the room, leaning against the same wall as the White Witch. "So. You met him a while ago?"

Her lips curved into an indelicate frown. "A month. He passed out right after bumping into me as I was walking, and I was still teaching myself how to use my powers. I decided to heal him. He freaked out when he woke up because, obviously, he didn't know where I was. I got nervous too, and I told him the truth about my powers. Havardr thanked me and apologized. And then acted as my escort to the dance school audition I had to go to. I was trying for a teaching position there, but I was stuck in a random place just outside the city limits. I didn't know the area, and he led me back to the class. Stuck with me when I got rejected."

Kuro snorted at her explanation, rolling his eyes. "You? Rejected? Hard to believe." She gave him a scowl, whacking him upside the head. "Ouch! What?! I was telling the truth. You're too good of a dancer to be rejected. Not that I know anything about Indian classical dance, but Havardr tells me a lot about it because of his obsession with Indian classical music. He said you're one of the best dancers he'd ever seen."

A faint blush and a nervous smile grew on her face when she heard the compliments but quickly shook her head. Moment ruined. "People look for more than just talent, man. Indian people can be just as bad as anyone else when it comes to discrimination."

He frowned, eyebrows furrowed stiffly. "What are you- what the hell are you talking about?"

The woman let out an annoyed groan. "My skin, dumbass. I'm dark, right? Indians judge that too. Brides, models, actresses, dance teachers. Anyone who is seen by others is judged for their skin."

"Oh." Kuro didn't have much to say after that. He didn't expect to hear that, but the colorism made sense. It exists everywhere. He just didn't think it would exist in a place where most people already have brown skin. He really underestimated the reach of colorism. And just discrimination in general.

After a long, awkward pause from the surprising new information, he decided to ask his questions. "How do your powers work?"

She smirked. "Is this for a contingency plan or are you just wondering?"

"Both."

Her eyes narrowed. "Fair enough, dude. Science-based. They come from a genetic mutation. I don't exactly know how they work, but the Avengers seem to think they're magic. I frankly can't agree because I get drained when I use my powers too much. Hence the vodka as a meal replacement." The young man nodded, biting his lip.

"Yours?"

He grinned. "Smart girl. Same thing. Science-based. But because it's more redirection of light than anything else, I don't have to worry about getting drained. Next question: Why did Dr. Strange bring you here?"

"To save Tony Stark. Strange found me somehow and brought me into this reality. I gave him the idea to use two of the stones he had after the battle to find Stark's soul and bring it into his body with force. I healed his body while Strange searched. When the time was right, I bound his body and soul together. Took up all of my energy. I passed out, and eventually, the Avengers wanted to recruit me for something. I couldn't be a hero when I had just lost my family. So, I left. Ran away. To here."

Kuro smiled. "A runner? Didn't expect that from you considering how you constantly throw yourself into fights that aren't yours."

Sanjeevani grunted. "I would do anything to protect people."

"Even die?"

A shark's grin rose to her lips. "Bold of you to assume I can die. Even bolder of you to assume I don't already want to die."

He walked away laughing and nodding. "I can respect that, Witch." He stopped halfway to the window and turned back, eyes sad and soft with tears. "One last thing." Sanjeevani gave him a hesitant smile. "Do you love him?"

She said nothing for a moment but then just chuckled, shrugging. "My friend, if I knew what love was, do you think I would hesitate about my answer like this? I'm afraid to say yes, but I'd hate myself if I said no. Just know, though, that if it came down to him or me, I'd always choose to die first than let anything happen to him. That goes for you and the others too. You're all my friends now. All my family."

Kuro focused a gentle stare at her, lips curved up in a weeping smirk. "Good to know. And for the record? I don't know love either, but I'd dare to say I love him as a friend. I can do that right?"

Sanjeevani giggled, rolling her eyes. "If I can say I would die for him after not having met him for a month, you're allowed to say you love him as a friend, Kuro," she argued as he walked away with a quiet smile on his face.

Eddie stepped in, eyes narrowed at the sight of Kuro's expression. He turned around and watched the young man leave the room once he was within arm's length of Sanjeevani. "What's that about?" he wondered aloud while gazing down at the girl.

She shrugged. "Nothing I can explain. Let it go. What did you want to talk about?"

He sighed. "I needed a moment to tell you the details of her death. You know. The littler you. The kid."

Her lips pursed, eyes filling with white-hot anger. "Tell me everything. And how much I should hate the people who hurt her."

Eddie rested a tired, scarred hand on her shoulder, guiding her to the chair in front of her desk. "You'll need to sit down for this one."


She did indeed sit. And as for how much she hated Genesystem Labs? She was, for the first and last time, willing to commit murder.

Eddie even had to call on Venom to hold her back when she got up to throw her entire desk across the room after the end of his explanation. Venom quieted and returned into the reporter's body just as quickly, not wanting to get involved with the healer's mess. Her eyes blazed with rage for a few minutes, and he had to look away to not blind himself. "Sanjeevani. Eyes." She relaxed again, teeth grinding audibly.

"Sorry. Just. We better have those phones soon so you can update me the moment you get a new lead," she decided stiffly. It would take her a while to come to terms with these details. He nodded in agreement and left after she forced him to promise he'd visit once in a while.

"Hey, don't worry about it. I'm not leaving Paris until GL is rotting in the lowest ring of hell." He tried to reassure the youth, poking fun at her angry hugs and red nose. "Relax. I won't leave you alone. And I promise I won't bitch at you like Strange does. He seems like a really annoying kind of dad, huh?" She laughed at that, burying her face in his shoulder.

With a snort, she pulled back and rubbed away the last of her tears. "Don't get me started. I had to deal with a physically and emotionally manipulative asshole growing up. I'd take Strange's annoying over my biological dad's abusive any day. But now that I figured he's just working on behalf of the rest of the Avengers, he's been promoted to a pest."

He rolled his eyes, nodding. "If you say so, kid. Just stay safe, yeah? And I'll drop by as much as I can." Ruffling her hair, Venom rose up around him, wrapping around the man's limbs and torso. The giant creature pressed its teeth to the girl's head.

"We like you. Don't trust anyone too easily. And thanks for the chocolate. No brains for the road?"

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Go raid a neurology lab for that, Venom."

With an alien hiss of indignation, Venom patted her head with a massive clawed hand.

"I'm not sure that's allowed. Also, you should have more coffee in here."

"I don't really like coffee, though," Sanjeevani retorted with a light laugh.

Venom huffed. "Boring. See ya later, crocodile." Eddie complained that the phrase was completely wrong, but the massive creature didn't seem to care. That pulled another laugh out of the girl, and Venom waved goodbye as he leapt out of the window.

Havardr gave Kuro a brief explanation of why he was staying back and created a portal for him to head home. "I promise, Kuro. It's nothing. I'm sure she just has some questions for me. I'll be home soon. Relax." With a hug, the two boys separated, and the dark-haired youth gave Sanjeevani one last wave, chuckling at her innocent smile and double-armed wave. A leap into the ring of darkness, and it closed behind him.

Sanjeevani couldn't help her fascination at the creation of the thing, eyes wide and curious as Havardr moved his hand up, palm forward, uttered a few words in a language she'd never heard before, and closed the circle of pure blackness in her room.

"How did you learn to do that?!" He shrugged at her question.

"It's a long story. I'm not sure I wanna get into all that," he admitted with avoidant eyes. But then he remembered why he was still there to begin with. "What exactly did you want to talk about?"

Her lips pursed, and she looked away before meeting his eyes again. "How did you read my mind?"

Havardr balked at that.

"What are you-"

"Earlier, you said I like tea better than coffee. Never once have I told you that. In fact, today is the first day we've talked since we split ways a month ago. How did you know that? I don't think you've been spying on me or anything. You have better things to do, and frankly, there's not much to see. I don't talk about that stuff with my friends when there are more interesting topics." Sanjeevani focused on his face, her own expression stiff and cautious. "So I ask again. How did you know that?"

A frown rose to his face, and he looked down, shaking his head. "I don't know. I really don't know. I just remember this kind of thought in the back of my mind like, 'Hey, she doesn't like coffee! Why are you suggesting that?'" His eyes widened. "I have an idea! Quick! Tell me something you know about me."

She bit her lip and sighed. "Okay, um. Alright. Let's see. You're absolutely terrified of lizards, specifically Komodo dragons."

Havardr nearly fell backwards, and the two opted to sit on the bed as a safety measure. He nodded slowly after they took their seats. "Yeah." Gulp. "That was my second day on Earth away from my family. I had been moving all over the world, and I landed in the middle of a forest in India. Rainforest, maybe. That Komodo dragon, small and puny as it was, nearly ripped my pinky off. I hate lizards."

Sanjeevani giggled a little. "Sorry, sorry. I'm not laughing at you. It's just. The idea that you're this big, strong dude afraid of the Geico Gecko's older cousin."

He huffed. "It's not funny when you're on the other side of those evil teeth, those beady eyes," he bemoaned with wiggling fingers for some extra spooky effect. She laughed harder at that, falling backwards and grinning like a fool.

"That's easily the funniest thing I've heard all day. I mean, I acknowledge it must have been scary for you, but…" a few more giggles and she was finally calm. "Okay. So…any idea why we're able to do this?"

Havardr bit his lip and groaned. "I can't tell you until you know everything about me. Are you ready for a long night?"

She smiled. "I've got my vodka and some of last night's dinner stored away in my mini-fridge. I'll manage."

He hesitantly returned her look, tilting his head to the side. "Can I- Can you do something for me?"

Sanjeevani raised an eyebrow. "Sure."

"Could you stand up while I kneel? And just hold your hand out towards me?"

A curious smirk pulling at a corner of her lips, she did as he asked, trying to guess why he wanted her to do all this weird stuff. "Is there a specific direction I need to be facing or anything like that?"

He shook his head. "No. Just stand up and hold your hand out to me like I'm a kid, and you're offering to walk me across the road."

She giggled a little, agreeing. And when she held her hand out, him still down on one knee as if preparing to propose, his eyes blurred with tears. She stepped back, horrified that she'd made him cry, only to be yanked into his embrace.

"Oh gods. Oh my gods, it's you. It's you." Sanjeevani whined and pulled away, now frightened by Havardr's reaction to her.

"What is going on?! Dude, what are you doing?"

The young man leapt up and laughed through his tears, rubbing his eyes with the back of his fist. "You're the one who kept me going every day I was in Asgard. You're the one I kept seeing when I was learning to use my magic. My mother and father and other adult relatives thought I made you up, but you're real!" His eyes seemed velvet soft with tears, and he held his hands out to her. Unable to avoid her curiosity, Sanjeevani moved closer and rested her palms in his. "I called you Peace. Every time you appeared to me, you were quiet. Not a single word said. You always offered support, hope, helpful suggestions that were pretty weird."

Her voice shook when she spoke. "How do you know that's me? I've never met you before a month ago. Not once."

He smiled sadly, moving closer to lean his forehead against hers. "Are you sure? Think back to your childhood. Did your shadow seem different from other kids'? Did you ever fear the dark, or did it comfort you? Did you ever fall in love with the night?"

Her heart just about stopped, and her own vision blurred. Havardr could do nothing but hold her closer and try to quell her tears. Trembling lips could barely murmur their first word. The one word Sanjeevani understood in its entirety at the delicate age of three, to her family's great surprise and confusion. "Sena?"