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[ ... Alright, that pretty much hits all his pings, and he sighs, almost as if in defeat.
If you asked him a year ago if he thought he'd be talking about books while lying naked in bed with the most gorgeous woman in the galaxy, he would've snorted his drink out of his nose [because you probably found him in a dive bar] and laughed in your face.
But here he is, and here they are, and now he has to struggle through a book, and she's gonna find out that he's a dumbass (well, moreso than she already thinks), and that's gonna be a total turn off for her, probably, because Maya's smart as hell; so she'll probably be seriously unimpressed when he doesn't recognize symbolism or "deeper themes" or whatever--
What he says instead is, ]
Yeah, that sounds pretty awesome.
If you asked him a year ago if he thought he'd be talking about books while lying naked in bed with the most gorgeous woman in the galaxy, he would've snorted his drink out of his nose [because you probably found him in a dive bar] and laughed in your face.
But here he is, and here they are, and now he has to struggle through a book, and she's gonna find out that he's a dumbass (well, moreso than she already thinks), and that's gonna be a total turn off for her, probably, because Maya's smart as hell; so she'll probably be seriously unimpressed when he doesn't recognize symbolism or "deeper themes" or whatever--
What he says instead is, ]
Yeah, that sounds pretty awesome.
I know. But you need to rest. Just sleep.
I'll get us somewhere safe.
[ I owe you that much. ]
I'll get us somewhere safe.
[ I owe you that much. ]
[ She's quiet for a moment, tracing slow lazy circles on his chest with a finger ]
Hey, Peter? If I had watched Star Wars with you and then told you, sorry, but it really wasn't my thing, how would you have reacted?
Hey, Peter? If I had watched Star Wars with you and then told you, sorry, but it really wasn't my thing, how would you have reacted?
There probably would've been a lot of shocked sputtering and silent outrage that lasted no longer than a week.
Why?
Why?
Gonna carry me?
[ His little smirk at that is a distant one, followed up by a frown, but his eyes are already starting to droop. ]
Not-- not a child...
[ His little smirk at that is a distant one, followed up by a frown, but his eyes are already starting to droop. ]
Not-- not a child...
[ She runs her fingers through his hair again and, against her better judgement, plants a kiss on the top of his head ]
Let me protect you, Peter. That's what partners do.
Let me protect you, Peter. That's what partners do.
Because I'm not going to hate you if you don't like the book- or books in general. I just want you to try the things I like the same way I try the things you like.
[ Ah, damn, she pulled the partners card and kissed him.
That's just fighting dirty.
He hesitates a few moments longer before nodding again and leaning forward against her. ]
'Kay. Trust you.
[ And with Maya's healing magic generally making him drowsy, and the calming effect of the amulet working overtime, he's unconscious in an instant. ]
That's just fighting dirty.
He hesitates a few moments longer before nodding again and leaning forward against her. ]
'Kay. Trust you.
[ And with Maya's healing magic generally making him drowsy, and the calming effect of the amulet working overtime, he's unconscious in an instant. ]
I-- I know.
[ Wow, she must think he's seriously being an asshole about this. And he kinda is. He shifts a little, pulling her in closer. ]
I promise I'll give it a shot. Just, you know, might take a while, since we've always got jobs lined up.
[ Wow, she must think he's seriously being an asshole about this. And he kinda is. He shifts a little, pulling her in closer. ]
I promise I'll give it a shot. Just, you know, might take a while, since we've always got jobs lined up.
[ For a moment she just watches him, watches the way he breathes and how peaceful he looks. She runs her fingers through his hair, and brings them down to trace his jawline. ]
I'm sorry. I was careless.
... And I have no idea how I'm going to tell you what you are.
[ She sets him down gently, and moves to pick up their things. Though not before she gets rid of the remaining bodies the same way she got rid of Mordo- with flashes of white-hot flame, they're reduced to ash in seconds.
That done, and with Peter's bag and weapons slung over one shoulder, she picks him up. Staying in town is probably too risky, and besides, he'll likely be glad for solitude when the truth comes to light.
They were going to resupply, but with Peter unconscious in her arms, they don't have that luxury. So she heads north, towards the looming mountain peaks in the distance, putting as much distance between them and the sight of... whatever that was, as she can.
But the sky begins to darken and thunder rolls in the distance. Fortunately she comes across an old cabin before the rain begins to fall. Judging by the rust on the door hinges and the layers of dust covering everything, it hasn't been used in a while. But there's a fireplace, and a bed. Rain begins coming down in sheets, and it's likely that they won't be going anywhere for a while anyway, so she tucks Peter into the bed and builds a fire.
Maya herself pulls an old chair over and just... sits by the bed, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest. ]
I'm sorry. I was careless.
... And I have no idea how I'm going to tell you what you are.
[ She sets him down gently, and moves to pick up their things. Though not before she gets rid of the remaining bodies the same way she got rid of Mordo- with flashes of white-hot flame, they're reduced to ash in seconds.
That done, and with Peter's bag and weapons slung over one shoulder, she picks him up. Staying in town is probably too risky, and besides, he'll likely be glad for solitude when the truth comes to light.
They were going to resupply, but with Peter unconscious in her arms, they don't have that luxury. So she heads north, towards the looming mountain peaks in the distance, putting as much distance between them and the sight of... whatever that was, as she can.
But the sky begins to darken and thunder rolls in the distance. Fortunately she comes across an old cabin before the rain begins to fall. Judging by the rust on the door hinges and the layers of dust covering everything, it hasn't been used in a while. But there's a fireplace, and a bed. Rain begins coming down in sheets, and it's likely that they won't be going anywhere for a while anyway, so she tucks Peter into the bed and builds a fire.
Maya herself pulls an old chair over and just... sits by the bed, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest. ]
[ At some point, he thinks, he really has to stop waking up to unfamiliar ceilings.
At least he's not in pain, aside from the usual stiffness and little aches that come from a deep sleep, and that's a definite improvement over the last time he woke somewhere new and strange. For at least half of a minute, with the rain providing a constant white noise as it pounds on the roof, he contemplates drifting back to sleep.
But they were in a hurry, weren't they? Well, maybe not in a hurry, but there was definite discussion about not staying in one place too long, for fear of getting caught, and he wonders if it's the rain or him that's keeping them holed up here. Probably both, but he's trekked through worst weather than this.
So he sits up, rubbing sleep from his eyes, and turns, looking for-- ah, there she is, sitting beside the bed. He wonders how long she's been there, watching him wake. ]
How long was I out? [ His voice is still thick and hoarse, but it's a marked improvement over his speech from before, with different forms of magic pulling him down into unconsciousness, making his everything lethargic and heavy. ]
At least he's not in pain, aside from the usual stiffness and little aches that come from a deep sleep, and that's a definite improvement over the last time he woke somewhere new and strange. For at least half of a minute, with the rain providing a constant white noise as it pounds on the roof, he contemplates drifting back to sleep.
But they were in a hurry, weren't they? Well, maybe not in a hurry, but there was definite discussion about not staying in one place too long, for fear of getting caught, and he wonders if it's the rain or him that's keeping them holed up here. Probably both, but he's trekked through worst weather than this.
So he sits up, rubbing sleep from his eyes, and turns, looking for-- ah, there she is, sitting beside the bed. He wonders how long she's been there, watching him wake. ]
How long was I out? [ His voice is still thick and hoarse, but it's a marked improvement over his speech from before, with different forms of magic pulling him down into unconsciousness, making his everything lethargic and heavy. ]
Edited 2014-10-12 16:32 (UTC)
Most of the day.
[ She reaches for him- though really she's not sure why, so she stops herself, letting her hand drop. Her eyes flick to the amulet around his neck. ]
How do you feel?
[ She reaches for him- though really she's not sure why, so she stops herself, letting her hand drop. Her eyes flick to the amulet around his neck. ]
How do you feel?
[ He's rubbing his eyes again, and he misses the movement, but he glances back at her when he's done. ]
Tired, but fine.
[ He looks around the room, at the dust-covered floor and the crackling fire. The cabin is an old one, that much he can tell, and despite its poor maintenance, it does an admirable job of keeping the rain and the wind out.
He shuts his eyes and draws up his legs a little, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. The sound of the rain is seriously making him want to curl up and pass out again, and he wonders if whatever sickness from before was the cause of it--
He starts at the memory. ]
Shit. Are you okay? You weren't feeling great earlier, either.
Tired, but fine.
[ He looks around the room, at the dust-covered floor and the crackling fire. The cabin is an old one, that much he can tell, and despite its poor maintenance, it does an admirable job of keeping the rain and the wind out.
He shuts his eyes and draws up his legs a little, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. The sound of the rain is seriously making him want to curl up and pass out again, and he wonders if whatever sickness from before was the cause of it--
He starts at the memory. ]
Shit. Are you okay? You weren't feeling great earlier, either.
[ The look she gives him is serious and appraising and- try as she might- her eyes keep sliding back to the glint of silver around his neck. She purses her lips, finally catching and holding his gaze. ]
Are you ready to talk about what happened back there? You're going to need to know- so I will tell you eventually, but I want to know if you're ready now.
Are you ready to talk about what happened back there? You're going to need to know- so I will tell you eventually, but I want to know if you're ready now.
[ The last time Gaige was on a spaceship, she was stowed away in a cramped cargo bay with naught but the clothes on her back. She was on her way to Pandora, fresh on the heels of Marcie's messy demise at Deathtrap's hands and being broken out of jail by her father. She put on a brave face her her ECHOcast, but in reality, she'd been scared out of her mind.
That all felt like a lifetime ago. Sometimes the old aches came back, but for the most part, she'd come to enjoy her new life on Pandora.
And now here she was on a spaceship again. Maya's message had been a little strange (Hey, if I send you the dimensions of this room, would you be able to turn it into an inertia-proof library?) but there was nothing the Mechromancer loved more than a challenge. Which is why she's currently in Maya's former quarters on the Milano, welding a metal bookshelf into place. She's been at it for a while, welder's mask pulled down over her face. ]
That all felt like a lifetime ago. Sometimes the old aches came back, but for the most part, she'd come to enjoy her new life on Pandora.
And now here she was on a spaceship again. Maya's message had been a little strange (Hey, if I send you the dimensions of this room, would you be able to turn it into an inertia-proof library?) but there was nothing the Mechromancer loved more than a challenge. Which is why she's currently in Maya's former quarters on the Milano, welding a metal bookshelf into place. She's been at it for a while, welder's mask pulled down over her face. ]
[ He doesn't even notice the pendant hanging from his neck until the second time she glances at it -- and on the final time he grasps it, pulling it up and over his head to hold the pendant in his hand. He glances up at her, trying for a smirk, but it's clearly a nervous one. ]
The way you're talking about it isn't very reassuring, I can tell you that much. Whatever happened, it couldn't have been that bad, right?
The way you're talking about it isn't very reassuring, I can tell you that much. Whatever happened, it couldn't have been that bad, right?
Edited 2014-10-13 00:51 (UTC)
Peter, this... it won't be easy for you to hear.
[ His smile falters entirely, and the way Maya looks, the way she sounds, is really starting to freak him out. His words are far sharper than he means them to be. ]
Maya, just-- just fucking tell me.
Maya, just-- just fucking tell me.
I wasn't feeling well because your mother's pendant... it suppresses demonic power. When I held it, it latched onto me and it...
It stopped working on you.
It stopped working on you.
Stopped working? What do you mean it stopped--
[ --Oh.
With that, he suddenly goes numb.
But maybe he's misunderstood. Maybe he's jumping to conclusions. So when he looks back at her, he looks desperate, panicked. His eyes are slightly wide and his breath is starting to go ragged. ]
What the hell are you talking about?
[ --Oh.
With that, he suddenly goes numb.
But maybe he's misunderstood. Maybe he's jumping to conclusions. So when he looks back at her, he looks desperate, panicked. His eyes are slightly wide and his breath is starting to go ragged. ]
What the hell are you talking about?
You're a demon, Peter.
... Well, half actually. I think. But I saw it with my own eyes.
... Well, half actually. I think. But I saw it with my own eyes.
[ Before the events on Xandar, space on the Milano had been limited at best. There was one room that acted as personal quarters, outfitted with four bunks, two stacked in either side. And while the ship could fit four, in theory, it was really only comfortable enough for maybe two -- if the second person was small and didn't own a lot, seeing as how Peter lived like a slob.
But after it had been totaled in the battle against Ronan and subsequently rebuilt by the Nova Corps as a thank you gift, the ship had been expanded, and rooms were split up to accommodate each of the five Guardians (though Groot roomed with Rocket). Space was still limited, and Peter still lived like a slob, but at least they each had a space to call their own.
But now-- the fifth bunk is being converted. Into, of all things, a library. On the Milano.
Still kind of weird, at least to Peter, but the others seemed on board -- well, everyone but Rocket, who had campaigned long and hard to turn the room into a personal workshop -- but, frankly, everyone was terrified by the idea, so it was quickly shot down. And Gaige was already hard at work by the time it really sank in for Peter, so by then it was too late to change his mind.
It's been a few hours, at least, and Peter has spent most of it exercising in the cargo area (because a physique like his requires work). He's surprised he hasn't seen more of Gaige. He figured with her being in such close proximity to Rocket, the two of them would've fucked off somewhere to start building atomic bombs capable of taking out entire sectors, and picking apart the toaster or the oven to do so, no less. But it seems Maya was right -- give Gaige a task, and she focuses on it.
... Unless she's building explosives up there, when she's supposed to be putting in shelves. It's when that thought occurs to him that he decides to check up on her under the guise of bringing her a bottle of water. ]
Hey--oly shit, this used to be a bedroom?
But after it had been totaled in the battle against Ronan and subsequently rebuilt by the Nova Corps as a thank you gift, the ship had been expanded, and rooms were split up to accommodate each of the five Guardians (though Groot roomed with Rocket). Space was still limited, and Peter still lived like a slob, but at least they each had a space to call their own.
But now-- the fifth bunk is being converted. Into, of all things, a library. On the Milano.
Still kind of weird, at least to Peter, but the others seemed on board -- well, everyone but Rocket, who had campaigned long and hard to turn the room into a personal workshop -- but, frankly, everyone was terrified by the idea, so it was quickly shot down. And Gaige was already hard at work by the time it really sank in for Peter, so by then it was too late to change his mind.
It's been a few hours, at least, and Peter has spent most of it exercising in the cargo area (because a physique like his requires work). He's surprised he hasn't seen more of Gaige. He figured with her being in such close proximity to Rocket, the two of them would've fucked off somewhere to start building atomic bombs capable of taking out entire sectors, and picking apart the toaster or the oven to do so, no less. But it seems Maya was right -- give Gaige a task, and she focuses on it.
... Unless she's building explosives up there, when she's supposed to be putting in shelves. It's when that thought occurs to him that he decides to check up on her under the guise of bringing her a bottle of water. ]
Hey--oly shit, this used to be a bedroom?
[ At first she doesn't notice him, intent on her welding. Well, that and her welder's mask did fuck all for her peripheral vision.
She stands from where she was kneeling, giving the shelving unit a few good whacks with her metal arm. Satisfied, she lifts her mask away from her face, revealing a wide grin. ]
Oh, heya Petes. Didn't hear you come in. [ she motions at the water bottle ] That for me?
She stands from where she was kneeling, giving the shelving unit a few good whacks with her metal arm. Satisfied, she lifts her mask away from her face, revealing a wide grin. ]
Oh, heya Petes. Didn't hear you come in. [ she motions at the water bottle ] That for me?
[ For a long time, all he does is stare down at the amulet in his hand -- small, silver, engraved with a simple, swirling design. He's carried it everyday of his life for twenty-six years.
Maya wouldn't lie to him. It isn't in her nature. She couldn't be mistaken about this, either, that much he knows -- she wouldn't have said anything unless she was sure.
The panic goes out of him, the desperation and the fear, and he just feels-- blank. And when he speaks, he sounds strangely detached. ]
I killed those men, didn't I?
Maya wouldn't lie to him. It isn't in her nature. She couldn't be mistaken about this, either, that much he knows -- she wouldn't have said anything unless she was sure.
The panic goes out of him, the desperation and the fear, and he just feels-- blank. And when he speaks, he sounds strangely detached. ]
I killed those men, didn't I?
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