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[ Congratulations, Kasumi. You've finally hit up the one person who probably won't give her the Friendship Talk. Peter's used to people wandering in and out of his life, and after the shit that went down? He's not surprised when Kasumi drops off the radar.

It sucks, of course. It definitely sucks. He had thought they had a good rapport going, but he gets it. Being so fucking afraid of getting close to people.

Peter doesn't voice any of that, though. Instead, he responds in a pretty timely manner. There's an edge of surprise tinging his voice, though. ]

Hoods. Long time no chat.

[ She draws in a breath; she isn't quite expecting how glad and relieved she is to hear Peter's voice again, just like she wasn't quite expecting the same when she and Charlie first spoke again. She doesn't make much out of the hint of surprise in his voice that she hears. It only seems fair, considering how long they've gone without speaking. But at least his first words to her weren't "What the hell do you think you're doing?" ]

Long time no chat indeed. Did you miss me?

[ Her voice, of course, retains its usual playful tone. Because what better way to do away with the way her breath hitches in her throat, the way she might be nervous, than with a joke?

At this juncture, she's not sure if Peter would give her a Friendship Talk or not, but her gut feeling tells her that he more than most--more than she might have given him credit for--understands why she did what she did.

After all, at the heart of it, they're both still fellow collectors, right? ]

[ The smirk is evident in his voice: ] Probably not as much as you've missed me.

You, uh. [ A pause, then he tries again. ] How you been holding up?

[ To his response, she only gives a soft, "Ha." ]

Oh, I've been alright. Catching up on sleep, you know. [ A blatant lie. ] The usual.

[ There's a small pause on her end before she goes on, ]

Listen, Peter, do you have time to meet up? It doesn't have to be right now, but... soon?

[ Because she'd rather have this conversation in person, which is rare for someone like her, but she's learning that there are some things you just have to say to a person's face, and that includes apologies. ]

[ He's quiet for a second, but when he speaks again, his voice is bright. Chipper in the wake of her hesitance. Someone's gotta be blasé about this, right? ]

I've always got time for my favorite hooded crime fighter. Just name the time and place, and I'm there.

[ The chipper tone is both welcome and a little off-putting at the same time; probably because it makes her wonder for a split second if he cared that she disappeared at all.

But, no, it at least helps her tone brighten up a little, too. ]

You know, it's okay to just be honest and say I'm your favorite in general. I won't judge.

[ yeah good luck being anyone's favorite after that stunt, Kasumi... ]

So I'll see you soon, then? I'm sending a place over in a bit.

You'd better be there with bells on.

[ True to his word, he's there not too long after he receives the info. Being a teleporter is a huge help in getting around, after all. Unless she was already there waiting for him, Peter claims a spot at a table in the corner, rather than his usual preference for a seat at the bar. More private, he figures. ]

[ For once, Kasumi isn't the first one there, and for once, she doesn't appear out of thin air at the chair next to his, which is what she might have done normally. (It was, however, incredibly tempting.)

Instead, she visibly walks in through the door, recognizable in a black hood, and pauses a few paces in to look around before she spots him, and makes her way over. It speaks more about how seriously Kasumi takes this than to her getting sloppy about sneaking around. Also, this might be the closest thing anyone would ever get to Kasumi wearing bells for advanced warning. Congratulations.

She casts him a small smile as she slips into a chair. ]

You chose a corner table just for me? Oh, Peter. You shouldn't have.

[ He's a little surprised to actually see her entrance, for once, though it doesn't show aside from the way his eyebrows track slightly upward. When she sits, he offers a small smile of his own. ]

I know, I know. Look at me, getting all soft. Won't catch that happening again, any time soon.

Nothing wrong with being soft once in a while.

[ She gives a shrug of her shoulder as she leans back in her chair. Queen of Sentimentality, over here. ]

So... I owe you an apology.

[ He tucks his chin down with a frown, peering at her. ]

Do you? You're gonna have to give me a refresher on what you're sorry for.

[ She moves her hands so her palms are flat against the table top before she absentmindedly balls them into fists; she licks her lips before she speaks. ]

For going dark last month. I... I got scared, you know?

[ He's quite for a moment, letting her say her piece and digesting the information. It takes a second or two, but he slowly nods, then reaches over, covers one of her fists with his hand and trying to coax her fingers into relaxing. ]

Yeah, I think I know where you're coming from.

But it's fine, Kasumi. Seriously. I get it.

[ She turns her head when she feels his hand on hers, looking down at the table for a moment before her gaze snaps back up to meet Peter's. ]

You do?

[ A beat. ] I mean, of course you do. You probably get it more than anyone else.

[ He gives a sort of quiet, rueful snort at that. ]

Birds of a feather, I guess.

[ He squeezes her hand once, then pulls it away to lean forward on the table on his elbows. ]

Shit went down. It felt too real. You got yourself into a heap of trouble, and you thought, "When the other foot drops, I can't be around these folks."

[ he pauses, tilting his head. ]

How close am I on that?

[ She clasps her fingers together on top of the table once he lets go, leaning forward, too. At his question, she offers a wry little smile. ]

Hit the nail right on the head, Star-Lord. I knew I could count on you.

The last time I ever got close to being caught, things didn't exactly go well. I guess I couldn't help but remember that when this all went down--I didn't want to risk you guys getting dragged into it.

[ He gives another quiet huff of a laugh, lifting a shoulder a little as if to say, It's what I do. ]

So, what about now? Why the change of heart?

[ If she were to be completely honest? She didn't want a change of heart. But she's glad for it, now, if only because it's made her realize how much she really values the people she's met and befriended here. So when she answers, she can only really honestly say without hesitation, ]

Charlie. He got a hold of Cap, somehow, and asked to get involved in our... book club. [ thanks, Hawke.] He was after me.

[ She gives a small smile as she leans back in her chair again. ]

And, you know. Maybe I missed you guys a little.

Well, I can imagine you missing me, but--

[ A pause, then, ]

Seriously, though? Mini-Merlin in a crime-fighting racket?

[ She nods. ]

In a support capacity. He's not going out on missions with us.

[ She probably wouldn't let him, anyway. Protect the precious wizard. ]

But, yeah. Long story short, he found me, and I got the Friendship Talk.

[ He lets out a low whistle. ]

I can't imagine that was very fun. Kinda like getting lectured by a parent, only every other line is, "I'm not mad. I'm disappointed."

[ She smiles a little, then chuckles. ]

Yeah, that's exactly it. And then imagine getting that from Ken.

[ This time he hisses in a breath, wincing sympathetically. ]

Damn. Ken too, huh? That's even worse, since he's, like, secretly five millions years old.

[ Her smile widens then, if only because thank you finally someone who understands. ]

God, I know right? But getting lectured by him is just---wow. I really had to think about what I did after that, for sure.

[ She shrugs at him. ]

[ He reaches over, patting her hand. ]

Let's medicate that trauma with hard liquor, huh?

permavoice;

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