Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

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[phaselocknroll]

It's not, though. [ she says it softly, moving slowly to his side so as not to startle him again. She rests a hand on his arm. ] I know if a mission ever took us back to Athenas, I'd be scared to death.

Something like this... it needs to be on your terms, in your time, and it just isn't, and I'm sorry for that.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ The thing is, he doesn’t think he’d ever have "terms." Sure, in passing he may have made mention of one day coming back, but if he had the choice, he doesn’t think he ever would. He’s been a long way from home for a goddamn long time, now. He’s a completely different person -- definitely not Mom’s little Pete anymore, not the stupid kid who’d throw himself at bullies after they killed a bullfrog, that’s for damn sure. He’s this strange, selfish person who’s been running his entire life. ]

It’s fine. It’ll be fine.

[ He says it as much for her benefit as it is for his own. Still, he lets his hands drop, puts the blaster and the tool back on the table. He’s already done maintenance on his weapons a billion times since they got the assignment -- at this point, he’s pretty sure he could shoot a squirrel with pinpoint accuracy from a mile away.

He hasn’t seen a squirrel in nearly thirty years. How fucking weird.

-- And for some bizarre reason, the thought of squirrels, of all things, rips the fight right out of him, and he visibly sags. ]

I’m fucking terrified, Maya.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She doesn't know what to say to that- she doesn't have words of comfort or reassurance. She only has the barest idea of what he's going through, and while it's true that she's be terrified to go back to Athenas, her fear comes from a completely different place. It's not the same at all.

So she wraps her arms around him, combing her fingers through his hair in slow, soothing motions. ]

The fact that you are means that even in spite of time and distance, a part of you still considers Earth home.

I don't know what it's like, to be gone for as long as you have. I don't know the magic words to say to make everything better and bearable- I sure wish I did.

But I am here for you, no matter what. If you don't think you can go down there without someone to support you, I'm here. If you want to sit this one out, no one will think less of you.

Just tell me what you need, and it's yours.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He wraps his arms around her in kind, rests his forehead on his shoulder and leans into her touch. And for a long while he just stands there, pretending that it’s just the two of them in the entire universe and that he’s not some Lost Boy coming back from Neverland.

He doesn’t know why he’s freaking out so badly, honestly. Earth is a big place. Not like he’ll have to confront any of the ghosts of his past -- they're nowhere near Missouri, after all.

And Maya will be there, and the others, so it’s not like he’s alone in dealing with this. Maybe it won’t be so bad, after all.

He tries to brighten his voice to show that he’ll be okay. ]

Can’t leave you guys alone for a second. Rocket might end up nuking the entire place if I’m not there to turn the puppy dog eyes on him.

[phaselocknroll]

I'm not sure how I should feel about the fact that you use the puppy eyes on Rocket, too.

[ her tone is light, and she smiles a little before planting a kiss on his cheek ]

If for even one second, you feel like you can't do this, tell me, okay?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He shrugs at that. ] Hey, I use it on everyone. Puppy dog eyes are universal.

[ Gamora’s cuts into the quick silence, announces that they’re landing in a few moments. He smiles a little unsteadily and tightens his hug for a moment before pulling back. ]

I’ll be alright. Couldn’t do it without you, though.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She gives him another kiss, a real one this time, though it is quick. ]

I'll be with you every step of the way.

Besides, where would you all be without your resident Vault expert?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ His smile turns a teensy bit sly. ]

Oh, cool, is Gaige showing up on this job, too?

[phaselocknroll]

[ she pouts at him, just a little ]

I'm pretty sure when they say "no more whack-jobs from Pandora", they're talking specifically about Gaige. I'll have to suffice in her absence.

[ not as though the other Vault Hunters in Maya's circle of friends weren't aware of what was happening. Axton had been especially helpful, being ex-Dahl military. He filled them in on what sort of resistance and armaments to expect to go up against, as well as gave them quick rundowns on how to effectively take out the standard-issue Sabre turrets they were sure to run into.

If it turned out that getting into the Vault would require a Key like the last one, both Lilith and Tannis were on standby to help with that as well. Honestly, Maya almost wished the gang could be here. It seemed weird, hunting a Vault without them.

But Peter needed her for this, and Vault or no, there was no place she'd rather be. ]

Ready?

[nostalgiabomb]

Not at all.

[ He holsters his guns and stretches his neck from side to side. Before he speaks, he holds his hand out to her. ]

I’ll manage, though. Just gotta stick by the stand-in for the Vault expert, right?

[phaselocknroll]

[ so, so dry: ] I'll try my best not to let my lack of expertise lead you astray.

[ but she breaks into a small smile and takes his offered hand ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He gives her hand a squeeze, and there's the soft thud and a slight rocking as the Milano touches down. There's another second where everything cries out in unison, Run, but he tamps it down as best he can. ]

Alright. Let's kick some ass.

[phaselocknroll]

[ she spares a second to double-check her gear before guiding him towards the airlock ]

Do you want me to go first, or-?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ By all rights, Peter really should be the first one out. It's his home planet, after all. It's his home turf, and he has a claim to be the first one out.

... But he really, really wants to be the last one. Sometimes his instinct to flee manifests in strange ways, and he seriously has to wrestle with it.

Usually he does it by telling himself he's being a dumbass, and he mentally shakes himself as he heads to the airlock. ]

... Nah. Come on.

[phaselocknroll]

Well, as they say- age before beauty.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Thaaat earns her a low level glower, as he opens the door to the airlock. ]

You're lucky I like you so much.

[ He hops down into the airlock (and what the Milano lacks in horizontal space, it certainly makes up for it vertically). Some weird compulsion makes him punch in the code to open the door bay doors properly, even before Maya's made her way down -- maybe an eagerness that's only now rearing its head? Or maybe the feeling that he should just do it quick, like ripping off a bandage? The doors part, and Peter hesitantly steps out, taking a deep breath as he catches his first proper view of Earth in almost three decades.

They've landed in a forested area near the mountains, and the clean, crisp air carries the scent of pine and earth; memories of spending holidays at Gramps' cabin immediately spring to Peter's mind, and he inhales sharply, recoiling as if from a physical blow.

This is getting too fucking real, and he leans against the ship's hull for a second to gather his composure. ]

[phaselocknroll]

[ She just smiles in response to his glower. She's trying to lighten the mood, okay?

But she is right behind him, and she spares only a moment to look at the scenery before moving to his side, hand on his shoulder again. ]

Take your time, Peter.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Once Maya is there, he stifles that panicky feeling rising in his throat, tries to go into Professional Mode. ]

What do you think, scout the area? Take out anyone outside before moving in?

[phaselocknroll]

I think you should take your time.

[ her voice is firm, but not unkind ] Seriously, give it a moment.

[nostalgiabomb]

I just wanna get this over with.

[phaselocknroll]

I know you do, but we still have to do this right. If you need a moment, you take it, got it?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ -- she's right, and he knows she's right, which is why he stares out over the landscape and stops shutting out the shit rising up to the surface.

Quietly, ] You may need to take lead on this one.

[phaselocknroll]

Whatever you need. [ she gives him a light kiss on the cheek ] Let me know when you're ready.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He takes another breath before shoving off from the hull. ]

I'm good. Sorry. I promise this won't become a habit.

[phaselocknroll]

It's okay, really.

You are right, though. We should scout around and pick off any stragglers- work our way towards their main camp.