( closed ) surprise! you're a dad!

[godslay]

who: Gamora & Peter Quill
what: The portal chucks out baby Groot, and they discover they get to take care of the little menace again.
when: Mid-January
where: Community housing: floor 13, room 4
warnings: A tiny angry tree.



[ Things haven't been tense, per se, but since Peter's powers manifested, they've both been stressed.

Trying to dig up any trace of Ego doesn't yield any results, and for all intents and purposes, it seems that Peter's powers are just a fact now, a reality they're learning to tackle head-on. Gamora is insistent that he practice with the Light, so that his emotional responses don't lead to a wild outburst of energy that could be potentially dangerous. A controlled environment is safer, better, as much as Peter might not want to admit the Light exists in the first place – and Gamora won't budge on their training.

She believes in him – in his capacity to manage his abilities.

But that means they both tend to leave training a little frustrated, and she understands if he's tired, aggravated by how little progress it might seem he's made, but she keeps reminding him that it's a process. Control won't come easily, but it will be worth it – because she does not want to see him wearing one of those suppression collars out of fear.

Tonight, however, is an off night. No work, no training, and they've had a quiet day, much needed as it was. Returning from a walk in the gardens, she leads Peter from the elevator with a bag of food in one hand, his fingers curled in her other. She's ready to settle in for an episode of Pals or some movie, their takeout, then cuddling on the couch, before they both crawl into one of their beds to fall asleep curled up with each other.

(Gamora has suggested they may want to look into a queen bed, rather than the two twins they've had since arrival. She tried to be completely nonchalant about it, too, mentioned over coffee and a bowl of cereal, but it had still been a Big Thing.)

Once inside the apartment, she starts pulling out their food, poking through the boxes. ]

Pick what we're going to watch.

Comments

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He falls quiet, gaze fixed on the food container. ]

I don't plan on going without you.

[ And he says it lightly, like this isn't a huge decision to be making. He misses being back home, sure, but he has no intention of leaving anyone behind.

He pauses before forcing himself to catch her gaze. ]

You could go, though. If you wanted to.

[ And he says it earnestly. If there was only the one slot available to head home? He'd gladly let Gamora take it.

Assuming it was ever up to them, that is. ]

[godslay]

[ This is probably a more serious conversation than either of them anticipated having over boxes of takeout food, but here they are. She listens, and it honestly surprises her how much relief curls in her chest when he says he doesn't plan to take the jump home alone.

But she frowns when his eyes meet hers. ]

I don't want to.

[ No part of her thinks that's a valid option. ]

I am not leaving you behind.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ The corner of his mouth quirks up in a smile, and he huffs out a breath – almost a rueful sort of laugh. ]

Are you sure? I mean... if something cropped up now, and there was only the one shot at it, are you sure you wouldn't wanna head back? Especially considering it might be a long time before they got a good fix on it again.

[godslay]

Even more reason for me to stay.

[ If that left Peter here for months (years?) on his own, she had no interest in it. ]

I would rather go together or not at all.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Another little laugh, and he nudges her with his shoulder. ]

You don't have to babysit me, you know. I'm a big boy. I've taken care of myself for a long time.

[godslay]

[ There's something more serious in the look Gamora gives him. ]

It isn't about babysitting you.

[ Because she knows Peter can handle himself. He's competent, he's strong and capable; as much as she may harp on his terrible ideas or insist she has to keep an eye on him, she doesn't think he's a child. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ ... Ah.

He was hoping she'd take the easy bait, would tease him about how much trouble he would surely get himself into if Gamora weren't around to keep him in check. This conversation has taken an odd turn – hell, a lot of their conversations lately have taken odd turns – and he had kind of wanted to recapture the lightness of earlier in the evening.

He licks his lips, resting the box of his food against his leg.

Then, slowly, ]

... I'd be fine. If you wanted to leave. If you had to leave. I mean, I admit, I'd probably hate it, but— I'd get it. If you felt you had to go.

That's what I'm trying to say.

[godslay]

[ She nods as he speaks, taking it in. ]

I understand that.

[ And she does; she knows what he means, knows what he's trying to say, but— ]

That doesn't change the fact that I have no intention of going where you can't follow. They brought us here together, they can send us back together.

[ Because what if it is years? She's not going to leave him by himself, without her or the others, to just... exist. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He falls quiet again, studying her for a long second. Then, he lets out a breath, smiles a little ruefully. ]

It might take a while, you know. Years, even.

[godslay]

I know.

[ And even if it does, she'll be right here with him.

She reaches for his hand, tentatively lacing their fingers together. ]

I haven't changed my mind.

[ On this, on staying, on them.

She's in this, wholeheartedly. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ His chest tightens with the certainty in her voice, and when their fingers lace together, he squeezes her hand. He leans in, stealing a quick, gentle kiss, and when he pulls away, he wears a small, warm smile. ]

I dunno what I'd do without you.

[godslay]

[ A soft smile is reflected back at him when he pulls away from the kiss, that sweet look that's only reserved for Peter. ]

You won't have to find out.