nostalgiabomb | open post, vol. 2

[ Once the zipper on Gamora's dress is dealt with, Peter busies himself with shrugging out of his own jacket, unfastening the first couple of buttons on his shirt.

When Gamora glances back at him, hesitant and wary, and when she offers that strange apology, he frowns at her, a little confused. ]

Why are you apologizing? Everything worked out how you wanted it to, didn't it?

I know. But you were in that position because you were helping me.

[ He'd gone— so far out of his way for her. He's still doing it, and she doesn't— understand why. It still doesn't make sense to her, but here he is.

She keeps walking into the main room, dropping her jacket over a chair. ]

The way they treated you...

[ She shakes her head, her lips pursed in a thin line without looking back again at Peter. ]

Wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

[ The insults were different when he was still with them, obviously, and maybe they were less frequent when he was a "respected" member of the gang, but he's used to the shit they slung at him. ]

There's a reason why I quit.

Anyway. The silver lining here is that they didn't beat my ass, and you got what you wanted. Sort of.

[ He has a point, and maybe Gamora isn't one to talk about tolerating abuse like that. ]

It's more than I could have hoped for.

[ And that's true, too. This is the closest she's gotten to a tangible escape in... her entire life. ]

So there you go. Better than nothing.

[ He wanders after her into the main area, rubbing at the back of his neck. He tosses his jacket onto a nearby table. ]

Just gotta topple Taserface, or whatever it is Yondu expects, and you can be out of here before the end of the week.

And where will you go?

[ He has the money for it now, and he clearly can't stay in LA.

Gamora toes off her shoes with a relieved sound, easing her dress down so she can step out of it, left in her slip. A faint smear of red has soaked through the silk and Gamora's bandages underneath, but she subtly folds her dress, holding it close to hide the blood. She'll see to her side shortly – preferably without worrying Peter.

She had pushed herself today. ]

[ He wanders off into the kitchen to grab bottles of water, calling back, ]

... I dunno. I haven't really thought about it.

[ He returns to the common area, offering her a bottle. ]

I know this city pretty well. I haven't really thought about leaving it behind.

[ She transfers her dress to rest over her forearm, accepting the water and cracking it open with minimal strain. ]

After I leave, Thanos will send his people here. I can't promise they won't come looking for you.

[ And— she sounds remorseful. ]

[ That— gives him pause, eyes widening a little.

Clearly he hadn't considered this. ]

... Oh.

[ A pause, as he runs this new information over in his head.

Then, ]

... Well.

Shit.

[ Maw knows about Peter. He knows his face. He may even know his name, though Gamora can't be sure.

That means Peter isn't safe in LA. ]

You can afford to go where you need to, but...

I'm not sure you can stay in the city.

[ He scrubs at his face, a mix of frustrated and slightly panicked.

Sure, he had plans to eventually move on, but that was after he had built up enough of a buffer to weather whatever weird shit he encountered in the next place. After he had figured out what the hell he wanted to do. After he had a plan.

Jumping in head first was what got him in such hot water, when he first came out here. He had planned on not repeating that particular mistake.

That may not be in the cards, apparently. ]

Cool. Awesome. I'll just add moving plans on top of everything else we're dealing with for this week.

No big deal.

[ Gamora understands the panic in his voice, and she understands the weight of this revelation – though she hates to be the bearer of it.

She hesitates, her hands tightening on her bottle. ]

... You can come with me, if you want to. If you need a first solution.

[ It takes him a second to digest that, but when he does, he lifts his head to blink at her, startled. ]

... Seriously? You're— you'd be okay with that?

[ Gamora nods. Her hesitation is less because she’s unsure of letting Peter come, and more that she’s not entirely convinced the offer would be welcome in the first place. ]

You have to deal with this because of me – and you’re helping me escape. You don’t have to stay, but if you need somewhere to start, come with me.

I already have plans, I’ve just been waiting for the way out.

[ He rubs at the back of his neck, uncertain. ]

You're not worried it'll be more complicated with two?

No more than it was always going to be with one.

[ This isn't going to be an easy transition, no matter what. ]

[ He scrubs at his face again. ]

I mean, there's not much of a choice, is there?

[ He lets out a breath before starting to pace. ]

You really think they'll give two fucks about me?

[ Gamora quietly leans her hip against the table to take some of her weight. ]

Thanos believes in taking a "scorched earth" approach.

[ He'd killed both her parents in one stroke, even though her mother had nothing to do with the situation.. ]

[ He mutters a quiet, ]

Jesus Christ.

[ before returning to pacing. ]

Exactly how thorough does he tend to get? Like— do we have to worry about him getting to Yondu?

[ That question she has to consider. ]

I don't think he would be able to tie you to Yondu easily enough that it would put him at risk.

[ Peter isn't exactly a person of note, and it's not like there should be much of a paper trail tying Peter to Yondu, specifically. ]

[ He lets out another breath, unaware of how relieved he sounds.

Because he's not relieved, obviously. He hates Yondu's guts. The guy can rot, for all Peter cares.

And if he is relieved, which he isn't, it's only because that means they don't have to worry about Yondu ratting them out. ]

Well, I can stop worrying about making rent. That's something, I guess.

[ Despite everything, that finally startles a faint smile out of Gamora. As usual, she hides it with a with from her water before setting the bottle on the table and straightening up slowly. ]

That won't be a concern for you.

[ She keeps her folded dress against her side, and she nods towards the bedroom. ]

I'm going to take a shower.

Yeah. Okay.

[ He finally stops his pacing to glance up at her, his concern starting to edge back in. ]

You feelin' all right? You need a hand, or are you good?

I'm fine.

[ The automatic answer. She's fine to a point, and surely better than she was yesterday, but she needs to clean her wound and check the stitches. And probably take something to finally deal with her pain. ]

I just need to get some rest.

Yeah, sounds like a good idea.

[ He moves toward her, readying himself to position himself on her wounded side as he has for most of the night. ]

Let me help you.

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