the strongest avenger

seventy seven

August 2017 - Orlando

They didn't drop it. In fact, they constantly made jokes after each ride, asking if Tal was sore or when they were randomly walking, asking if Peter felt like a man.

The girl thought it was annoying, but she always found herself smiling and laughing at them.

Animal Kingdom was full of laughs and good times. They were all soaked from riding Kali River Rapids. Tal had dried her and Peter off by extracting the water from their bodies.

In exchange for less teasing, she dried off MJ and Ned. Pictures were taken in front of the tree of life and of nearly every animal on the Safari.

But Tal's favorite part was riding Expedition Everest. The roller coaster going through an entire mountain resembling the real Mount Everest.

After a successful day, they returned to the resort, the maid thankfully changing MJ and Tal's bed sheets.

***

The next day they found themselves at the pool. The whole day.

The four slept in late, eating a large lunch and then getting in their suits and heading down to the resort's expansive pool.

"Tallie!"

The girl groans and sits up, holding a hand over her eyes to block out the sun.

The smell of chlorine and sunscreen flows through the air, her book she was reading set on the small table next to her and MJ's chaise lounges.

She was tanning, peacefully, while the boys enjoyed themselves in the water doing god knows what.

"Yes?"

"Come in! We could play Chicken Fight!"

Tal's brows furrow as she looks to her right at MJ. "What the fuck is chicken?"

"Oh this should be fun. Let's go." MJ says while pushing up off the chair and heading towards the pool.

Talia sighs and stands, quickly checking that her yellow bikini covers everything. She strides towards the edge of the pool, smiling down at Peter as he swims towards the edge.

"Ready?" He asks as she sits down on the edge, feet in the water.

"Yeah I guess." She smirks down at him as he reaches up and grasps her waist, slowly lowering her into the pool.

"Ooo, it's nice and cool."

"Perfect for the warm weather."

They make their way over to Ned and MJ, Tal confident in her swimming skills and confident that if anything were to happen, Peter would be there.

"So, can someone explain?"

"Basically you and MJ will go on our shoulders."

"Okay..."

"And well, you and MJ just kind of push each other back and forth, until one group falls." Peter explains.

"That is...kinda stupid."

"But it's fun." Ned says.

"Okay, so am I going on Peter then?"

"Yep." He turns to her with a wide grin, to which she shakes her head.

She watches as Ned goes underwater and MJ climbs onto his shoulders.

"Alright," she says to Pete. "Get down."

She glares at him, feeling the way he wants to say something, but he holds his tongue and bites his lip before going under water. Tal swiftly gets on his shoulders, hands resting on the top of his head as he stands up.

She reaches down and pulls his floppy hair from his face, placing a kiss on his head.

"Am I crushing you?" She asks.

"No, you're light as a feather."

She looks over at MJ on Ned's shoulders. "So...how do we start?"

"Ready, set, go!" Ned calls out.

Unsure what to do, Talia holds her arms out as Ned walks closer to them. She can sense Peter widening his stance so he's more stable.

She meets MJ's eyes and smirks. As they get closer, she jerks back as MJ swings at her shoulder, trying to knock her off.

"Tal..." Peter strains.

"Didn't know we were going that hard." She mutters as she leans to the side slightly, dodging another swing.

She pushes out, catching MJ on the chest, giggling as the other girl jerks back slightly. Peter's hands tighten on her thighs as MJ pushes her in the shoulder.

They continue to go back and forth, trading shoves and swinging at each other, laughs filling the air.

Talia frantically goes to hold her nose as MJ kicks her in the leg, causing them to lose their balance.

She squeals as she falls from Peter's shoulders, hitting the water with a slap. As she settles in the water, the girl opens her eyes, finding everything surprisingly clear...and silent.

She looks around, not a sound to be heard and comes to the conclusion that's it's almost peaceful.

Her head jerks up as hands wrap around her small frame, lifting her up.

She blinks the water away, letting go of her nose, and looks up at Peter.

"You okay? You were down there for a while."

"It was so quiet. I just wanted to stay for a sec. And really clear, I never realized that the water was so clear."

"It's not..." Ned says.

"What?" Her head tilts to the side.

"When you open your eyes under water it was clear? Not blurry or foggy?" Peter asks.

"It was clear. Is it not for you?"

"Nope."

"It's probably cause I can control water."

"Makes the most sense."

"Yeah...anyone up for round 2? I didn't know you could use feet..."

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️

After more rounds of Chicken Fight and chilling in the pool, the group heads up to their room to shower and relax as they leave to go back home the next day.

Tal sits in a sundress on a chair that's on the main balcony, overlooking the savanna. Peter sits in the chair next to her, holding her hand.

"I don't wanna leave." She mutters.

"Well, you have your birthday dinner on Wednesday."

The girl groans and looks at him. "As if I want to sit at a boring ass dinner. Vis isn't even at the Compound anymore, he's with Wanda...It's just so peaceful here, ya know?"

"I get that. We should go on vacation together again."

"Let's go next year."

"Sounds like a plan my queen."

Talia chuckles and shakes her head. "Will you stop with that name?"

"Nope, never."