[ He risks a glance over to her, sees the earnest curiosity in her eyes instead of the accusation he might have expected, or maybe even something a little smug – as if to say, "So I was right all along."

At her question, though, his gaze turns a little heavy, a little meaningful, a little pained. Apparently the first reason for his going home – Gamora's death – was far too obvious to name. ]

I dunno. A lot of things.

[ He's hedging a little; it had been easier to explain it to the Guardians, who had seen him and tried to coach him through his absolute worst. ]

Mantis kind of drilled it into me. Reminded me that I lost my mom, yeah, but my grandfather lost a daughter and a grandson in same night. So I owed it to him to come home.

And I've spent so much of my life running from everything, from all my problems, and I realized I needed to stop and learn to face it all.