[ The name-calling catches him completely off-guard, and even when an affronted look crosses his face, he still breathes out a startled laugh. But Gamora is smiling too, he realizes, so it’s not really an insult; good-natured teasing, he figures, and he lets it slide.
She continues on, and his own smile fades. Making that promise had terrified him, had made him hope beyond hope that he would never have to be in a position where he would need to keep it. But he had promised, because there was urgency in Gamora’s eyes. Because she had look terrified and determined and desperate.
Because at this point in their lives, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do if Gamora asked it of him. And now they both know that means shooting her in cold blood, if she needed him to.
... Not that he ever wants to do a second take on that. The memory of leveling his blaster at Gamora, of sighting down the barrel to aim directly at her heart, of his hand shaking as he squeezed the trigger – it’s burned into his mind for the rest of his life.
Still, he quietly argues, ]
It wasn’t dumb.
[ Though he doesn’t offer more than that.
When she kisses him, that cold coil of dread and fear loosens a little as he lets out a soft, acknowledging noise. He presses his brow to hers, eyes slipping shut. ]
You can’t promise that.
[ He says it with a bit of resignation. “You won’t lose everything,” she says, but that’s all Peter’s life has been for decades, now. Losing the people he loves, over and over. Mom. Yondu. The team. Gamora. Sure, they had managed to slam the reset button to bring all of the Guardians back, but just because they’re safe now doesn’t mean they’ll be safe forever.
Risking their lives is just part of their jobs, at this point. He accepted that a long time ago.
He lets out a breath, quiet and slow, before he pulls back, studying her. Sure, he has his own problems, but Gamora— she got put through the wringer, and he does nothing to hide the worry and concern on his face. ]
no subject
She continues on, and his own smile fades. Making that promise had terrified him, had made him hope beyond hope that he would never have to be in a position where he would need to keep it. But he had promised, because there was urgency in Gamora’s eyes. Because she had look terrified and determined and desperate.
Because at this point in their lives, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do if Gamora asked it of him. And now they both know that means shooting her in cold blood, if she needed him to.
... Not that he ever wants to do a second take on that. The memory of leveling his blaster at Gamora, of sighting down the barrel to aim directly at her heart, of his hand shaking as he squeezed the trigger – it’s burned into his mind for the rest of his life.
Still, he quietly argues, ]
It wasn’t dumb.
[ Though he doesn’t offer more than that.
When she kisses him, that cold coil of dread and fear loosens a little as he lets out a soft, acknowledging noise. He presses his brow to hers, eyes slipping shut. ]
You can’t promise that.
[ He says it with a bit of resignation. “You won’t lose everything,” she says, but that’s all Peter’s life has been for decades, now. Losing the people he loves, over and over. Mom. Yondu. The team. Gamora. Sure, they had managed to slam the reset button to bring all of the Guardians back, but just because they’re safe now doesn’t mean they’ll be safe forever.
Risking their lives is just part of their jobs, at this point. He accepted that a long time ago.
He lets out a breath, quiet and slow, before he pulls back, studying her. Sure, he has his own problems, but Gamora— she got put through the wringer, and he does nothing to hide the worry and concern on his face. ]
How are you doing?