the team is already an improbable mishmash of people who were otherwise just not team players. rocket and groot are the only ones who have some semblance of teamwork, but the rest of them? they can hold it together sometimes, but then days like today, when they're caught so badly off guard...
sometimes that cooperation just falls apart.
she's quiet for a moment, like she's genuinely considering his question. ]
I do not think today was indicative of us as a whole.
Things will go badly; that is an eventuality. The way we respond and handle a situation is what matters, and we made it out alive.
[ she sighs, pulling her hand away from peter's knee to lean back in her chair, her gaze following his to the table. ]
I think we have work to do. Today showed our weaknesses as a group, and we need to avoid repeating those mistakes.
[ but she looks back at peter, still with that steady, quiet determination. ]
But do you genuinely think this is not working?
Edited (when u see a typo the instant you reply) 2017-02-20 19:50 (UTC)
[ Peter takes a few moments to gather his thoughts, staring moodily at the table.
He's always been about the path of least resistance, after all, and in this case, that particular path means calling this quits. Going their separate ways. Because if they're going to keep facing failures like today, if they're just going to get hurt like this, over and over—
Well.
That sucks. ]
I guess... [ Slowly, picking and choosing the words. ] I guess I'm just wondering if...
[ He scrubs his face. ]
I dunno that we can keep doing this. Fucking up this badly.
[ gamora doesn't reply at first, just looking at him, watching. ]
This is dangerous work. Things will go wrong. But I believe—
[ she stops herself, frowning. it's hard to articulate the way she feels about the team (because if there's anything gamora does not do, it's acknowledge or, even worse, discuss her feelings). but after everything they've managed together, after what the guardians have done for her with their very existence... she knows that this is not something she wants to lose.
and if that isn't massive for her, she doesn't know what is. ]
[ That manages to surprise him into silence, and he looks over at her again, as if waiting for the other foot to drop. Some kind of "but..." to unravel that whole thing.
It's small, but it's far more than he ever expected from Gamora, and he feels that tight knot of anxiety ease a little.
He nods slowly, dropping both hands to his lap. ]
... Yeah. I think you're right.
[ And a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, small and barely there. ]
[ ...and it's said completely nonchalant, too, with the vaguest hint of a smile on her lips, but she also knows that the dramatic improvement peter's made in their training probably helped a great deal today.
(if gamora was one to say it, she might have even told him that she's proud of him.
as it stands, it's more along the lines of, "you stayed alive. keep doing that.") ]
[ that "thank you" definitely catches her off guard, and she blinks at him for a moment, but then that vague smile is just a touch warmer. a little bigger.
(but just slightly.) ]
You're welcome.
[ and she straightens in her chair, reaching up finally to touch the braid and feel what he's managed to do. ]
[ Peter's nose wrinkles at that, arms crossing over his chest as he lifts his chin. ]
Not bad? That's all? That's probably the best damn braid in the galaxy, I'll have you know.
[ it isn't.
It's slightly crooked, thanks to lack of practice, and a tiny loop of hair may be sticking out from when he didn't properly comb through the strains with his fingers as he gathered more hair for the braid, but—
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no subject
well, that's the question, isn't it?
the team is already an improbable mishmash of people who were otherwise just not team players. rocket and groot are the only ones who have some semblance of teamwork, but the rest of them? they can hold it together sometimes, but then days like today, when they're caught so badly off guard...
sometimes that cooperation just falls apart.
she's quiet for a moment, like she's genuinely considering his question. ]
I do not think today was indicative of us as a whole.
Things will go badly; that is an eventuality. The way we respond and handle a situation is what matters, and we made it out alive.
[ she sighs, pulling her hand away from peter's knee to lean back in her chair, her gaze following his to the table. ]
I think we have work to do. Today showed our weaknesses as a group, and we need to avoid repeating those mistakes.
[ but she looks back at peter, still with that steady, quiet determination. ]
But do you genuinely think this is not working?
no subject
He's always been about the path of least resistance, after all, and in this case, that particular path means calling this quits. Going their separate ways. Because if they're going to keep facing failures like today, if they're just going to get hurt like this, over and over—
Well.
That sucks. ]
I guess... [ Slowly, picking and choosing the words. ] I guess I'm just wondering if...
[ He scrubs his face. ]
I dunno that we can keep doing this. Fucking up this badly.
no subject
This is dangerous work. Things will go wrong. But I believe—
[ she stops herself, frowning. it's hard to articulate the way she feels about the team (because if there's anything gamora does not do, it's acknowledge or, even worse, discuss her feelings). but after everything they've managed together, after what the guardians have done for her with their very existence... she knows that this is not something she wants to lose.
and if that isn't massive for her, she doesn't know what is. ]
—I believe we are better together.
no subject
It's small, but it's far more than he ever expected from Gamora, and he feels that tight knot of anxiety ease a little.
He nods slowly, dropping both hands to his lap. ]
... Yeah. I think you're right.
[ And a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, small and barely there. ]
What would I do without you?
no subject
[ ...and it's said completely nonchalant, too, with the vaguest hint of a smile on her lips, but she also knows that the dramatic improvement peter's made in their training probably helped a great deal today.
(if gamora was one to say it, she might have even told him that she's proud of him.
as it stands, it's more along the lines of, "you stayed alive. keep doing that.") ]
no subject
Yeah.
[ And even as he smiles, it takes on a sort of sheepish edge. ]
I'd definitely be dead by now, if it hadn't been for you.
[ The Infinity Stone. Leaping for it and having its power tear through him.
Peter. Take my hand.
He's not sure if he's ever really expressed how goddamn grateful he was for that, for her risking it all on the off-chance it might save him. ]
... Thanks, Gamora. [ It's only a fraction of what he owes her, but it's a start. ]
no subject
(but just slightly.) ]
You're welcome.
[ and she straightens in her chair, reaching up finally to touch the braid and feel what he's managed to do. ]
This isn't bad.
[ well, it's sort of praise. ]
no subject
Not bad? That's all? That's probably the best damn braid in the galaxy, I'll have you know.
[ it isn't.
It's slightly crooked, thanks to lack of practice, and a tiny loop of hair may be sticking out from when he didn't properly comb through the strains with his fingers as he gathered more hair for the braid, but—
It's acceptable, he figures. ]