TW: Mentions of self harm
Proceed with caution

——

Misty was in the kitchen, searching for something to eat. After a long day of training, she was practically starving. She found some stuff to make a sandwich.

Really? I want more than this, Scream hissed in her mind. "I'm not gonna eat my weight in food just for you," Misty said softly. You're practically a bottomless pit thanks to me. You'd be fine. Misty rolled her eyes and opened the cupboard, trying to find a plate. She found them, but they were a bit out of her reach. "Dammit," she hissed.

"Hey-" Misty jumped and quickly turned around when she heard someone speaking to her. "O-Oh! Uh, sorry." It was Peter.

"No, no, it's fine," Misty said. "Just.. be careful next time? Wouldn't want Scream eating you on accident."

Peter chuckled softly. "Do you need help?" he asked.

"Oh! Yeah," Misty said. "I'm uh, a bit short." Peter smiled and grabbed a plate for her. "Thanks," Misty said.

"No problem," Peter said as Misty started making her sandwich. "How do you like it here?"

"It's great," Misty said. "I mean, I basically have an endless amount of food." That you only take a small amount of, Scream muttered.

Peter giggled. "How long can you go without food?" he asked.

"Uh, probably a week before I start starving to death," Misty said.

"Wow," Peter said. "How does Scream work anyway?"

"Uh, it's a bit hard to explain," Misty said as she sat down. "She just kinda lives inside me, and I can hear her in my mind."

"That's pretty cool," Peter said.

"Yeah," replied Misty. "So, if you ever catch me talking to myself, you know why."

Peter chuckled. "At least I won't think you're crazy," he said.

"I mean, I probably am," Misty said. "My friends and brother were all born with powers. I have a voice in my head that eats people-" I AM NOT JUST A VOICE! "-and now I'm part of the Avengers of all things."

"It is pretty shocking at first," Peter said, "getting to know all these important people. But you learn to like them."

"Everyone's actually a lot nicer than I thought," Misty said. "Especially Thor. He's such a softie," she giggled. Peter smiled.

"He is," he agreed. "I mean, everyone here is pretty nice."

"I didn't really expect everyone to be so accepting of us," Misty said softly.

"What do you mean?" Peter asked.

"Well, we're kids," Misty said. "We have fighting experience-only thing we have going for us are powers that we've barely used. Not to mention I have a literal parasite living in me that people wanted to experiment on me for."

"I'm a kid," Peter said with a shrug. "And it's ok if you don't have fighting experience. That's what training is for."

"Training was fun until we were waking up at 6:30 every morning," Misty said.

"I can understand that," Peter giggled.

"Yeah," Misty said. "Though.. it still feels kinda weird that everyone is ok with me just having some split personality-" Don't ever call me that again "-th-that eats people. It's not even a natural thing, like, I wasn't born with Scream."

"A lot of us weren't born with our powers," Peter said softly. "Pietro and Wanda weren't. They were experimented on by Hydra."

"Oh wow..." Misty said quietly.

"Yeah," Peter said. "Katie wasn't born with her powers either. I'm not sure how she got them though. And, well, I wasn't exactly born all spidery, though being bitten by a radioactive spider isn't really as cool as being taken over by a slimy monster thing."

You guys just love making up stupid names for me, don't you? Scream hissed. Misty chuckled. "It's not exactly one of my proudest moments," she said. Oh fuck you.

"I guess not. Sounds more painful than a spider bite to be honest," Peter said.

"Actually, not really," Misty said. "From what Scream told me about all her former hosts, the ones that she likes when she enters their body don't feel pain. It's kind of a peaceful feeling to be honest. Those who she doesn't like feel pain, and the second she leaves them, they die."

"Wow, that's kinda scary," Peter said softly. Misty shrugged.

"I guess you just gotta hope she likes you," she said.

"Huh," Peter said. "I hope I never run into any symbiotes."

"They're not that bad," Misty said. "I mean, Scream is pretty nice to talk to when I'm alone."

"Still, I'm not too fond of having something living inside me and talking to me," Peter said. Misty chuckled.

"You get used to it," she said. Peter smiled at her, and she smiled back.

"A-Anyways, I need to patrol the city soon," Peter said, getting up.

"Oh, alright," Misty said softly.

"See you when I get back?" Peter asked. Misty was quiet for a moment.

"Sure," she said finally. Peter smiled.

"Alright," he said before walking away. Misty sighed softly, watching him leave.

You are aware you haven't taken a single bite of your sandwich, right?

"Uh... oops."

◇◇◇

Loki was walking through the hallway when he found Peg, sitting near a window. He walked over to her.

"Hey," he said softly. Peg looked up.

"Hi," she said, smiling. "How do you feel?"

"Better," Loki said, sitting by her. "I am a god, after all. I heal quickly."

Peg giggled. "Well good for you," she said. "I'm glad you're better? At least."

"Yeah, so am I," Loki chuckled. He sat by Peg. "Are you alright?"

"Wh- Yeah, I'm fine," Peg said. "Why?"

Loki shrugged. "You just seem a bit sad," he said softly. Peg looked back out the window.

"I'm fine," she said softly. "I just... feel weird here."

"Weird?" Loki asked.

"D-Don't get me wrong, this place is amazing," Peg said. "But... it's so big. A-And it's hard getting used to so many new people."

"I understand," Loki said softly. "It was hard for me at first as well... but, at least the Avengers like you."

Peg shrugged. "It's not that I'm worried about them liking me," she said. "But.. it's just been us four for so long, it's weird having to live with so many new people."

"It's ok, Peg," Loki said softly. "It'll take some time to get used to it, but the Avengers are great people. You'll learn to like them."

Peg smiled softly. "Well, you're amazing, so how bad can they be?" she said. Loki chuckled softly. Peg looked back out the window, sighing softly as the sunlight beamed on her.

Loki smiled at her. Peg seemed to glow in the sunlight. However, he then noticed something in her arms.

They were... scars.

They were just barely visible, but the light made it slightly easier for Loki to see them.

"Peg?" he asked softly.

"Hm?" Peg hummed in response. Loki gently grabbed her hand.

"What are these?" he asked, looking at the scars. Peg's eyes widened slightly, but she seemed to relax after a moment.

"Ah, well... I didn't do so well after leaving our home," she said softly. "It was just hard trying to take care of everyone while no one listened to me, and..." She trailed off.

"You... you don't still-"

"No, no, I got out of that habit. Thankfully," Peg said. "I'm better now, really. I had my friends to help me."

Loki just nodded slowly. He then pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said quietly. "I promise that I'll do everything I can to make sure your lives are better here."

Peg smiled, leaning into him. "I'm glad I met you," she said softly. Loki smiled and ruffled her hair.

"So am I," he said softly. And for once, Loki meant what he said with all his heart.