open post, vol. 2

[nostalgiabomb]

( x )

( VOL. 1 )

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[nostalgiabomb]

[ 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.

[godslay]

[ 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. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ 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.

[godslay]

[ 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.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ 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.

[godslay]

[ 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.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ 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?

[godslay]

[ 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.

[nostalgiabomb]

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

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

[godslay]

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

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

[nostalgiabomb]

[ 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?

[godslay]

[ 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.. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ 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?

[godslay]

[ 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. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ 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.

[godslay]

[ 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.

[nostalgiabomb]

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?

[godslay]

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.

[nostalgiabomb]

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.

[godslay]

[ —wait, what.

She leans away reflexively, but can't stifle a wince and sharp inhale. ]

You— really don't have to.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He hears the hiss, immediately pulling back and raising his hands instinctively in a placating gesture.

Whoa, hey, easy.

You can stop pretending you're good, you know. I'm just trying to help.

[godslay]

[ It’s hard for Gamora to just accept the help; it’s hard for her to genuinely believe he wants to help, or what he thinks he can gain from it. But it’s becoming more and more apparent that she’s bringing this upheaval into his life and he isn’t taking the easiest out by just disappearing or finding a way to betray her. He’s just... doing this for her.

He’s choosing to take care of her.

(Why? She’s done so many atrocious things in her life, in service of her father. She’s killed so many people, hurt so many more. But Peter has consistently continued to treat her like she deserves this kindness.

Maybe she doesn’t understand it yet, but a small, treasonous part of her wants to accept it.)

Tension slowly ebbs from her shoulders, but her eyes stay fixed on Peter’s face – still that look of a wild animal, reluctantly retracting its claws. ]

You don’t have to.

[ She repeats herself, but she sounds less defensive, less mistrusting. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He keeps his hands raised, still in that gesture of surrender. ]

I know I don't have to, but I want to.

And I know you can manage it on your own, but you don't have to do that, either.

I just wanna help, but only if you'll let me.

[godslay]

[ Another beat of quiet, another second of hesitation, and finally, Gamora nods. She lets her arm relax, stops holding her dress to shield the faint stain of red that’s bleeding into her slip.

He was going to see it when they reach the bedroom, anyway. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ The tension falls away from her, at least slightly, and he lets out a relieved breath, reaching to curl an arm around her waist again.

But naturally, the flash of red at her side immediately draws his attention, and he freezes. ]

Shit, Gamora.

[ Rather than wrap his arm around her, he takes hold of her elbow, helping to support her weight. ]

I knew we shoudl've come straight here after dinner.