[ It reminds him way too much of his childhood. Sitting in hushed hallways, as footsteps echoed off the hard tile. Gramps, whispering with a doctor while the doctor shook his head and Gramps dragged a hand down his face.
“Smile, sweetheart,” well-meaning relatives would tell Peter. “Smile, honey. Your mom wouldn’t wanna see you sad.”
He was too young, back then, but now, he’s old enough – and asshole enough – to croak out, ]
Don’t tell me what she’d want.
[ Because you know what else Gamora would probably want? To be here to tell Peter off for his recklessness in person.
But— she will be here, he reminds himself. She’ll be here. Any day, any second now. Gamora will be here, and so will Drax and Rocket, because this is just— where they end up, right? Peter and Mantis and Groot are here, after all, so— why wouldn’t the others show up, too? They need each other, and the universe is pretty fucked up, sure, but it can’t be that fucked up to keep them apart. ]
She’ll be here. Okay? She’ll be here soon. So stop—
Don’t talk about her like— like she’s—
[ His voice cracks, and he feels his throat close up again, and he feels his eyes water and sting behind his mask, and his hand shakes as he brings it up to push back his hair, and god, he wants to puke or scream or tear something apart with his bare fucking hands. ]
no subject
“Smile, sweetheart,” well-meaning relatives would tell Peter. “Smile, honey. Your mom wouldn’t wanna see you sad.”
He was too young, back then, but now, he’s old enough – and asshole enough – to croak out, ]
Don’t tell me what she’d want.
[ Because you know what else Gamora would probably want? To be here to tell Peter off for his recklessness in person.
But— she will be here, he reminds himself. She’ll be here. Any day, any second now. Gamora will be here, and so will Drax and Rocket, because this is just— where they end up, right? Peter and Mantis and Groot are here, after all, so— why wouldn’t the others show up, too? They need each other, and the universe is pretty fucked up, sure, but it can’t be that fucked up to keep them apart. ]
She’ll be here. Okay? She’ll be here soon. So stop—
Don’t talk about her like— like she’s—
[ His voice cracks, and he feels his throat close up again, and he feels his eyes water and sting behind his mask, and his hand shakes as he brings it up to push back his hair, and god, he wants to puke or scream or tear something apart with his bare fucking hands. ]