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[ Gamora enjoys the absent affection, small though it may seem, and she rolls onto her hip, meeting Peter's eyes with a smile. ]
Very.
[ Very all right, very content, very— happy.
She reaches for his cheek, cupping the curve of his jaw affectionately. ]
Are you?
Very.
[ Very all right, very content, very— happy.
She reaches for his cheek, cupping the curve of his jaw affectionately. ]
Are you?
[ She certainly looks all right, given the open affection in her gaze, the warmth in her smile, though he had no reason to doubt her answer to begin with. He offers a small, private little smile, turning briefly to press his lips to the center of her palm. ]
Yes.
[ The simple answer. It doesn't seem necessary to offer up more than that. Words of praise have never exactly been his forte, after all. ]
Yes.
[ The simple answer. It doesn't seem necessary to offer up more than that. Words of praise have never exactly been his forte, after all. ]
[ The answer doesn’t surprise her – the succinctness of it – but she’s still completely relieved for it. She leans across the space between them to drop a light kiss on the corner of his mouth. ]
You are amazing.
[ Gamora, on the other hand, could be much more effusive with her praise. ]
You are amazing.
[ Gamora, on the other hand, could be much more effusive with her praise. ]
[ He lets out another quiet hum, more acknowledgment than agreement. He runs his palm idly along her side, fingertips pausing on the light scars he finds. There aren’t many, and nothing is nearly as serious as the web on her back, but he studies them all the same, intent on learning and memorizing where each one lies. ]
Do you need anything?
Do you need anything?
[ He lets out a breath, though it sounds more like a laugh than a sigh. ]
You’ll have to let go of me if you want me to get you water.
You’ll have to let go of me if you want me to get you water.
Funny.
[ In that flat, unimpressed way that says that he does not, in fact, find it funny.
But there’s still something warm in his gaze, and while he doesn’t smile, there’s at least a shadow of it on his face. ]
Do you want me to get you water or not?
[ In that flat, unimpressed way that says that he does not, in fact, find it funny.
But there’s still something warm in his gaze, and while he doesn’t smile, there’s at least a shadow of it on his face. ]
Do you want me to get you water or not?
[ He huffs out another breath, though rather than complain, he pulls away, heading toward the bathroom. Helpfully, a couple of glass tumblers already sit on the bathroom counter, and he fills one, returning to the bed. He sits on the edge, holding it out to her. ]
You'll have to sit up, too. In case you weren't aware.
You'll have to sit up, too. In case you weren't aware.
[ She folds her arm over her eyes, just waiting for Peter to return. He's quick, but that doesn't mean she's immediately inclined to move. As Peter sits on the edge of the bed, she hums in absent acknowledgement. ]
Mm, right.
[ Another couple of breaths, and then she's pushing herself up tot accept the water. She sips at it, relief in the slow slump of her shoulders. After a few gulps: ]
Thank you.
Mm, right.
[ Another couple of breaths, and then she's pushing herself up tot accept the water. She sips at it, relief in the slow slump of her shoulders. After a few gulps: ]
Thank you.
[ He watches as she gulps down the water, frowning a little. ]
Are you sure that's all you need?
Are you sure that's all you need?
More water, for one.
[ And his gaze flicks down to the half-empty glass. ]
Something to eat. A chance to rest. I'm not sure.
[ And his gaze flicks down to the half-empty glass. ]
Something to eat. A chance to rest. I'm not sure.
[ He shakes his head. ]
I'm fine.
[ He tends to be more resilient than most, as a general rule, but he also has a much better idea of what he needs and when. At the moment, he's more concerned about looking after Gamora.
He reaches over a little hesitantly, carding through her hair before he tucks a few stray locks behind her ear. His gaze leaves her face to find one of the dark marks on her shoulder, and his fingertips brush over it.
A little guiltily, ]
Your clothing may not cover this.
I'm fine.
[ He tends to be more resilient than most, as a general rule, but he also has a much better idea of what he needs and when. At the moment, he's more concerned about looking after Gamora.
He reaches over a little hesitantly, carding through her hair before he tucks a few stray locks behind her ear. His gaze leaves her face to find one of the dark marks on her shoulder, and his fingertips brush over it.
A little guiltily, ]
Your clothing may not cover this.
[ He meets her gaze, head tilting slightly. ]
It doesn't matter what I think.
[ He isn't the one sporting the marks, after all. ]
If it bothers you, though, I can be more careful.
It doesn't matter what I think.
[ He isn't the one sporting the marks, after all. ]
If it bothers you, though, I can be more careful.
[ He pauses as he thinks it over, the pad of his thumb brushing over the other mark.
It's odd, he thinks, that there's a small appeal in leaving these marks behind in plain view; little souvenirs to mark their time together, to make the fact that they're together that much more obvious.
(Mine, whispers a faint, dark, snaking thing hidden somewhere in his chest.) ]
If it doesn't bother you, then it doesn't bother me.
It's odd, he thinks, that there's a small appeal in leaving these marks behind in plain view; little souvenirs to mark their time together, to make the fact that they're together that much more obvious.
(Mine, whispers a faint, dark, snaking thing hidden somewhere in his chest.) ]
If it doesn't bother you, then it doesn't bother me.
[ He laughs, quiet and warm. ]
Probably.
You seemed like you needed a break, though.
Probably.
You seemed like you needed a break, though.
I think that's more your decision than mine.
[ And he says it wryly, teasingly.
But when she's settled back on the bed, he cups her cheek. A little more sincerely, ]
We have time. If you need another moment or two...
[ And he says it wryly, teasingly.
But when she's settled back on the bed, he cups her cheek. A little more sincerely, ]
We have time. If you need another moment or two...
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