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[ Just like that, he's gone.
His head lolls forward and his fingers go slack, and Maya has no more energy left to cry. She laughs instead, though it's a quiet, broken sound. ]
Yeah. Okay. Just this once, you can be Han.
[ He can't hear her- she knows he can't, but she says it all the same.
God, she's so tired. Her clothes are soaked with fresh blood- her own, leaking steadily from the open wound in her side, and she's ready. She's ready to just sleep.
She settles back against the wall where Peter's pinned, and she leans her good shoulder against his. Her eyes fall shut and she lets the exhaustion and the blood loss ease her slowly, steadily into the darkness.
Her thoughts are fleeting, flickering like the lights of a passing train. She has no idea how long she's out, but she feels herself smile when the cool, calm grip of nothing begins to take hold of her.
I'll catch up, Peter, she thinks, serene and somehow detached. Not even lions can tear us apart.
She goes limp, head dropping against Peter's still form, blue hair falling in dirtied curtains around her face. The ship continues its free fall, but there's no one left on board to witness it crash. ]
His head lolls forward and his fingers go slack, and Maya has no more energy left to cry. She laughs instead, though it's a quiet, broken sound. ]
Yeah. Okay. Just this once, you can be Han.
[ He can't hear her- she knows he can't, but she says it all the same.
God, she's so tired. Her clothes are soaked with fresh blood- her own, leaking steadily from the open wound in her side, and she's ready. She's ready to just sleep.
She settles back against the wall where Peter's pinned, and she leans her good shoulder against his. Her eyes fall shut and she lets the exhaustion and the blood loss ease her slowly, steadily into the darkness.
Her thoughts are fleeting, flickering like the lights of a passing train. She has no idea how long she's out, but she feels herself smile when the cool, calm grip of nothing begins to take hold of her.
I'll catch up, Peter, she thinks, serene and somehow detached. Not even lions can tear us apart.
She goes limp, head dropping against Peter's still form, blue hair falling in dirtied curtains around her face. The ship continues its free fall, but there's no one left on board to witness it crash. ]
[ She gives him a very long look in response ]
... Are you asking me to kill you?
... Are you asking me to kill you?
[ He tries for a smile. ] Ideally, no? But if the pendant breaks, or it gets lost, or if it's taken...
[ There are a lot of "ifs" in his head, now, snuggled up alongside that blank patch of memory. There's a lot to think about. ]
[ There are a lot of "ifs" in his head, now, snuggled up alongside that blank patch of memory. There's a lot to think about. ]
[ When Peter had first offered her a spot in the Guardians, her only stipulation was that she could come and go as she pleased. She still wanted to know about her Siren lineage, and that had taken precedent.
The closer she got to Peter, the less she really cared. It would be nice to learn about where she came from and why she could do the things she could do, but she had no real desire to learn any of that without him. She loved her new place among the Guardians, and she wouldn't give it up for anything.
But then Lilith had contacted her with a lead to some hidden Eridian archives, limited time offer. The price for Eridian artifacts was high on the black market, and if they wanted even a hint, they would have to get to it before the treasure hunters, scavengers, and dealers did.
Luck would have it that the Guardians themselves were in the middle of something well-paying and a little more long-term than their usual fair. They could afford to spare Maya, but not she and Peter both. (That had been a very long and involved discussion, where by and large, the others insisted she go. There wouldn't be another chance at this. She should go.)
It's been a little more than a month since she left. (One month and eight days, ten hours, and twenty seven minutes, but she wasn't counting.) The archives had been a bust- she and Lilith had found them looted and what hadn't been taken had been destroyed- and while that left her feeling somewhat disheartened, she was anxious to get back on the Milano.
God, she missed Peter something fierce. Sure, they kept in contact with constant status updates (and maybe a couple of instances of ECHOsex), but it just wasn't the same. They had agreed to rendezvous on Pandora, near what used to be Opportunity (and had sort of become an extension of Sanctuary more recently). It was a good place for the Milano to land, and Lilith and Maya could part ways from there.
She and Lilith's little shuttle had touched down a while ago, and now she's waiting for the others to arrive.
A lot can change in one month and eight days, ten hours, and twenty seven minutes, and even Maya would admit she'd changed a little. She has to wonder what they would think of that. ]
The closer she got to Peter, the less she really cared. It would be nice to learn about where she came from and why she could do the things she could do, but she had no real desire to learn any of that without him. She loved her new place among the Guardians, and she wouldn't give it up for anything.
But then Lilith had contacted her with a lead to some hidden Eridian archives, limited time offer. The price for Eridian artifacts was high on the black market, and if they wanted even a hint, they would have to get to it before the treasure hunters, scavengers, and dealers did.
Luck would have it that the Guardians themselves were in the middle of something well-paying and a little more long-term than their usual fair. They could afford to spare Maya, but not she and Peter both. (That had been a very long and involved discussion, where by and large, the others insisted she go. There wouldn't be another chance at this. She should go.)
It's been a little more than a month since she left. (One month and eight days, ten hours, and twenty seven minutes, but she wasn't counting.) The archives had been a bust- she and Lilith had found them looted and what hadn't been taken had been destroyed- and while that left her feeling somewhat disheartened, she was anxious to get back on the Milano.
God, she missed Peter something fierce. Sure, they kept in contact with constant status updates (and maybe a couple of instances of ECHOsex), but it just wasn't the same. They had agreed to rendezvous on Pandora, near what used to be Opportunity (and had sort of become an extension of Sanctuary more recently). It was a good place for the Milano to land, and Lilith and Maya could part ways from there.
She and Lilith's little shuttle had touched down a while ago, and now she's waiting for the others to arrive.
A lot can change in one month and eight days, ten hours, and twenty seven minutes, and even Maya would admit she'd changed a little. She has to wonder what they would think of that. ]
That's a lot of "ifs", Peter. I would prefer we guarded against them.
Fuck no, I got better sense than that.
Which means I should be allowed to play with my robot in the house.
Which means I should be allowed to play with my robot in the house.
Nope, but nice try. Sorry kiddo.
[ GOIN' IN FOR THE NOOGIE. ]
[ GOIN' IN FOR THE NOOGIE. ]
Only defense we have is this-- [ And he holds out the pendant in his palm. ] -- and it's not very much at all.
[ Peter has no fucking clue how people could do long distance relationships.
Like, seriously, it was the worst thing. After months and months of getting to wake up with Maya beside him, having her watch his back while he watched hers on every job, fucking around (sometimes literally) when they found themselves with some downtime -- these past few weeks (well month, really [well, one month, eight days, and ten hours, actually]) have pretty much been hell.
He can barely remember what he used to do without her.
(That's not true. He knows he used to wake up next to a random, good-looking girl (or man, or undecided, or ???) that he met at a club or a bar or some divey restaurant, and he would try to sneak out before she woke, or he'd offer to buy her breakfast somewhere to get her off the ship; before he left the Ravagers, Yondu would give him solo jobs that didn't seem to require backup, though they always did; and during downtime he would go out searching for someone to share the night with and start the cycle over again.
Most of his relations were empty and meaningless. He thought he was having fun, but it wasn't until he had started something with Maya that he realized he was actually lonely as hell during all that time.)
It was just their luck that they'd get one of the best paying assignments in a long while just as Maya and Lilith caught wind of some Eridian artifacts, but he didn't begrudge her the opportunity. After all, they'd made the agreement early on that she could come and go as she pleased, and Peter was really trying to become a man of his word where his team was concerned. Even though they frequently messaged and called each other, he missed her like crazy, and it's the most distracting thing he’s ever experienced (also possibly not true, if he were to include that kinky guy he met several years back, who had decided that a strategically placed remote-controlled vibrator and taking Peter to somewhere very public and respectable was his idea of a really great time). It just sucked not having her with him as they took out this slaver ring piece by piece. It would've been fun.
(The couple that kills together, stays together? It occurs to Peter that their relationship is pretty non-traditional.)
Gamora often had to pick up some of his slack when they planned out their jobs, but while she didn't approve of his inattention, she understood where he was coming from, at least, and seemed to approve of that. Maybe she thought it was sweet how he was pining after Maya like a stray puppy left alone at home for the first time. Drax kept shooting him these knowing looks and nods of commiseration (at least he thinks they were commiserating looks? what if they were come hither looks? oh god), and Peter would just look away in embarrassment. At least Rocket and Groot were easy to deal with. Rocket didn’t give a shit, and Groot would just grow him a little blue flower when he noticed he was getting really down.
Peter has a lot of little blue flowers hidden away somewhere in his room.
But one slave ring dismantled and a month (and eight days, and ten hours, and twenty-fucking-seven long minutes) later, and the Milano is touching down outside of Opportunity. He sees the unmistakable flash of blue out of the ship’s canopy, and he can’t help the wide grin from appearing on his face. Once they’ve landed properly, Peter’s the first one out of his seat, naturally, the first one sliding down the ladder to the airlock, the first one out the door, and he’s fucking charging to sweep Maya up in a bear hug--
-- And skidding to a halt just in front of her, because-- ]
Holy shit, your hair.
Like, seriously, it was the worst thing. After months and months of getting to wake up with Maya beside him, having her watch his back while he watched hers on every job, fucking around (sometimes literally) when they found themselves with some downtime -- these past few weeks (well month, really [well, one month, eight days, and ten hours, actually]) have pretty much been hell.
He can barely remember what he used to do without her.
(That's not true. He knows he used to wake up next to a random, good-looking girl (or man, or undecided, or ???) that he met at a club or a bar or some divey restaurant, and he would try to sneak out before she woke, or he'd offer to buy her breakfast somewhere to get her off the ship; before he left the Ravagers, Yondu would give him solo jobs that didn't seem to require backup, though they always did; and during downtime he would go out searching for someone to share the night with and start the cycle over again.
Most of his relations were empty and meaningless. He thought he was having fun, but it wasn't until he had started something with Maya that he realized he was actually lonely as hell during all that time.)
It was just their luck that they'd get one of the best paying assignments in a long while just as Maya and Lilith caught wind of some Eridian artifacts, but he didn't begrudge her the opportunity. After all, they'd made the agreement early on that she could come and go as she pleased, and Peter was really trying to become a man of his word where his team was concerned. Even though they frequently messaged and called each other, he missed her like crazy, and it's the most distracting thing he’s ever experienced (also possibly not true, if he were to include that kinky guy he met several years back, who had decided that a strategically placed remote-controlled vibrator and taking Peter to somewhere very public and respectable was his idea of a really great time). It just sucked not having her with him as they took out this slaver ring piece by piece. It would've been fun.
(The couple that kills together, stays together? It occurs to Peter that their relationship is pretty non-traditional.)
Gamora often had to pick up some of his slack when they planned out their jobs, but while she didn't approve of his inattention, she understood where he was coming from, at least, and seemed to approve of that. Maybe she thought it was sweet how he was pining after Maya like a stray puppy left alone at home for the first time. Drax kept shooting him these knowing looks and nods of commiseration (at least he thinks they were commiserating looks? what if they were come hither looks? oh god), and Peter would just look away in embarrassment. At least Rocket and Groot were easy to deal with. Rocket didn’t give a shit, and Groot would just grow him a little blue flower when he noticed he was getting really down.
Peter has a lot of little blue flowers hidden away somewhere in his room.
But one slave ring dismantled and a month (and eight days, and ten hours, and twenty-fucking-seven long minutes) later, and the Milano is touching down outside of Opportunity. He sees the unmistakable flash of blue out of the ship’s canopy, and he can’t help the wide grin from appearing on his face. Once they’ve landed properly, Peter’s the first one out of his seat, naturally, the first one sliding down the ladder to the airlock, the first one out the door, and he’s fucking charging to sweep Maya up in a bear hug--
-- And skidding to a halt just in front of her, because-- ]
Holy shit, your hair.
So we strengthen it. Fins someone to enchant it make it harder to break, or even find a way to put the spell on you directly, if that's what you want.
[ She had been ready for the bear hug- had been expecting it- but suddenly he's stopping and---
Wow. Way to make her feel self-conscious in a matter of seconds. ]
What about it?
Wow. Way to make her feel self-conscious in a matter of seconds. ]
What about it?
[ OH SHIT she was not expecting that, and it makes her mask fall back down over her face as he does it. She flails, trying to shove him off. (She's mindful of her robot arm, though. That thing can smash concrete and the last thing she wants to do is flail it into something vital or easily broken. Like his nose or something.) ]
Aaah! I give already!! Knock it off!
Aaah! I give already!! Knock it off!
[ He's got an arm hooked around her neck and is merciless. ]
Not till you say "Star-Lord is the greatest and I won't summon screaming metal murder machines on his ship."
Not till you say "Star-Lord is the greatest and I won't summon screaming metal murder machines on his ship."
Dunno if you remember, but we're kind of trying to lay low. It'd be kind of suspicious to go up to an enchanter and ask, "Hey, no big deal or anything, but you got anything that can suppress demon natures?"
It looks-- [ longer-- nice-- pretty-- holy shit--
After a second he grins. ]
-- You look really fucking sexy like that.
[ That said, he's stepping in to grab her around the waist and hug the living daylights out of her, possibly spinning her around for good measure, just for fun. ]
After a second he grins. ]
-- You look really fucking sexy like that.
[ That said, he's stepping in to grab her around the waist and hug the living daylights out of her, possibly spinning her around for good measure, just for fun. ]
[ The noogies continue--! ]
Don't make me give you a wet-willy, Short Round.
Don't make me give you a wet-willy, Short Round.
I realize I've made it sound simpler than it is, but they're options to consider.
[ When he says that, she blushes in a way she hasn't blushed since the early stages of their relationship, and she laughs as he picks her up and spins her, arms looping around his neck. ]
God dammit, I've missed you so much.
God dammit, I've missed you so much.
Don't make me punch you in the dick with my robot arm, Petes.
[ He heaves a sign and lets go, keeping both hands up as a sign of no foul play. ]
You're lucky I'm feelin' generous, squirt.
You're lucky I'm feelin' generous, squirt.
Yeah. Just, you know. Guess I'd feel better if we had a fallback plan.
[ She holds up her mask long enough to stick out her tongue and flip him the bird with her robot hand, bastion of maturity that she is. With that she flicks the mask- bright yellow, pilfered from a Hyperion engineer who won't be needing it ever again- back down over her face and takes up her welder again. ]
[ He sets her down and pretends to look puzzled. ] Has it been very long? Jeez, I hadn't even noticed.
[ He says that, but he also has a book filled with pressed blue flowers, courtesy of Groot, that says otherwise. One month, eight days, ten hours, and the longest twenty-seven minutes of his life were enough to amass a small collection. ]
[ He says that, but he also has a book filled with pressed blue flowers, courtesy of Groot, that says otherwise. One month, eight days, ten hours, and the longest twenty-seven minutes of his life were enough to amass a small collection. ]
[ Peter leans against one of the cases, an elbow resting on one of the shelves, and he watches her work. He waits for a pause in her work before he interrupts. ]
Hey, mind if I ask you a question?
Hey, mind if I ask you a question?
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