For all her attempts at relaxation, there was something about Natasha's mood John couldn't quite put his finger on. He recognised so many of her defence mechanisms as his own, it was hard not to feel the twitch of anxiety in his gut. He made a tentative note to probe further when the time seemed apt, but for now, he'd leave her with her thoughts. She'd tell him her feelings in the fullness of time, with a little encouragement. That they held so little back was one of the things that John found most terrifying about loving this woman. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been so honest with another human being but it also felt liberating to have someone know him so completely.
"Always fucking hated portals," John said as they stepped out of the swirling, disorientating void and into the odd land filled with sugar. He gave Natasha a gentle squeeze of assurance, he was there and not going anywhere. "I hadn't expected this place again," he said with a frown as he looked around, taking in the scenery and the river of chocolate.
"Do you think all the portals lead back to places we've visited?" he asked, curious to know her interpretation of their journey. "Well, seeing as we're here, might as well enjoy it, eh?" The last time he'd been here he'd spent his time high as a kite and tripping balls, but that had been a different time and a very different place. "Strange said there was a portal to Tortuga too, so it would make sense," he said looking towards Natasha.
"You know what I never could figure out about this place?" John said with a tentative scowl, "where the fuck are all the ants and wasps? Surely this would be heaven to them and yet, not a one to be seen."