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After leaving the Black Order and setting off for Ego's planet to meet Mantis, Javier's life took an unexpected turn. He had made his proposal to her, offering a future that was more than just the life she had known with her father. Now, he found himself on Ego, learning more about Mantis, her world, and the possibilities of their future together.
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On Ego's Planet: The Development of Javier and Mantis's Relationship
Javier had always been an observer. In his previous life, he had studied every detail of the Marvel Universe from afar, noting the personalities, the struggles, and the triumphs. But this—this was different. Mantis was not just a character from the pages of his comics. She was real, complex, and full of depth that he could never have fully understood until he stood face to face with her.
Their first few days together on Ego's planet were spent in quiet conversations, where Mantis slowly opened up to him. She was a soft-spoken, gentle soul who had always lived under the shadow of her father. Though she had never been truly alone, her heart had always craved independence. Javier, seeing the beauty in her strength and the vulnerability in her eyes, offered her a chance at freedom.
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They walked through the vast landscapes of Ego, a planet teeming with life, its flora and fauna more alien than any world Mantis had encountered. The planet, alive in its own way, responded to their emotions. When Mantis smiled, the air seemed to hum with a softer light. When she was troubled, the world grew quiet.
Javier took it slow. He never rushed her, never pushed her too far. Instead, he listened. He talked with her about their pasts, about the burdens of their lives, and about their dreams for the future. It was in those quiet moments that their bond truly grew. Mantis was drawn to Javier's calm nature, his willingness to listen without judgment, and the sincerity in his eyes. She had never known a man who treated her like an equal, who didn't seek to control her, and who didn't want to use her powers for his own gain.
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As the days passed, Javier began to learn more about Mantis's abilities—her empathy, her power to heal, and her ability to sense emotions. He marveled at her capacity for kindness and the deep sadness that lingered beneath her composed exterior. It reminded him of the complexities of his own journey. They both carried emotional burdens, but together, they began to find comfort in each other's company.
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One evening, as they sat beneath the glowing trees of Ego's surface, watching the stars flicker above them, Mantis turned to him with a soft smile.
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Mantis: "Javier... I've never met anyone like you before. You don't want anything from me... other than for me to be myself. Why?"
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Javier's response was simple, yet it held a deeper meaning. He reached out and gently brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear, his voice low and sincere.
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Javier: "Because I believe in your freedom, Mantis. I believe in you—not just as Ego's daughter, but as a person. You deserve to choose your own path."
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Her eyes softened at his words, and for the first time, Mantis felt a weight lift from her chest. She hadn't fully realized it, but she had been waiting for someone to acknowledge her true self. Javier had done that, and it was a feeling she would never forget.
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The Absence of Javier: The Reaction of Proxima Midnight, Nebula, and Gamora
Back at the Black Order, Javier's absence had not gone unnoticed. Proxima Midnight, Nebula, and Gamora—the women who had once been drawn into his orbit—were now left to deal with the void he had left behind. His sudden departure had shaken the Black Order, and the three women found themselves at a loss.
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Proxima Midnight, the fierce and loyal warrior, was the first to notice that something was wrong. She had always known Javier to be a man of purpose, but his absence felt like an empty space in the universe. She wasn't one to openly admit that she missed him, but the lack of his presence weighed heavily on her. She had become accustomed to his attention, even if she had never truly understood the depth of his feelings toward her. The idea that he was gone, off somewhere else, struck her deeply.
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Nebula, ever the skeptic, tried to push her emotions down. She had never been one to show weakness or vulnerability. But Javier's departure had caught her off guard. She found herself unexpectedly longing for the moments when he had quietly tried to make her smile. He had been patient with her, something no one else had ever been. And now he was gone. She kept telling herself it didn't matter—that she didn't need him. But deep down, she knew the truth.
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Gamora, the most conflicted of the three, felt a twinge of guilt. She had been harsh toward Javier in the past, rejecting his advances and dismissing his attempts to connect. But now that he was gone, she realized that her emotions were more complicated than she had ever let on. She had been jealous of the attention he gave to the others, especially Proxima and Nebula. Yet, in his absence, Gamora found herself yearning for his presence. She missed his strange attempts at humor, the way he would look at her with such intensity, and the way he seemed to understand her in a way no one else did.
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Gamora: "Where do you think he's gone?" she asked, her voice quiet as she stood beside Nebula and Proxima.
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Proxima Midnight, standing with her arms crossed, looked over at the two women, her gaze distant.
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Proxima: "It doesn't matter. He's always been unpredictable. Maybe he found someone better than us."
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Nebula, usually cold and detached, softened slightly at that. She crossed her arms, looking down at the ground.
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Nebula: "Maybe... but he was different. I don't think he was ever about us being just part of his harem or following orders."
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Gamora frowned, finally acknowledging the truth of Nebula's words.
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Gamora: "He never treated us like... like tools. He tried to make us laugh. Tried to get us to see that we were more than just the Black Order."
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The silence hung in the air for a moment as all three women reflected on what had transpired. Javier's absence had left a gap in their lives that none of them had anticipated.
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They hadn't realized just how much they had come to rely on his presence, even if it had been fleeting and imperfect. It wasn't about his romantic gestures or his attempts at flirtation. It was the fact that Javier had seen them for who they truly were—not just as warriors or agents of Thanos, but as women with their own dreams, fears, and emotions.
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But as the days passed and they continued their duties, each of them began to reflect on the impact Javier had had on their lives. They didn't know where he was or what he was doing, but they realized one thing for certain: Javier had changed them, whether they liked it or not.
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As the trio lingered in silence, they couldn't help but wonder what would happen when, or if, Javier would ever return to the Black Order. Would he return to them? Would he ever seek them out again? Or had he found something new, someone new, to focus on?
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But for now, they could only wait.
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End of Chapter 70: The Growing Bond and the Echo of Absence
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