Words w/out AN: 1316
Pairing(s): Starmora
I own nothing
what doesn't dancing solve?
Peter leans back in the pilot seat of the Milano. Not much piloting was necessary since autopilot did most of the work. Peter's able to calm down and kick his feet on the dash without too much worry of accidentally hitting some button or switch and disastrously throwing him and the rest of the Guardians off course.
He remembers back when it was just him on the ship. He spent most of his time in the cockpit of the Milano. It was nice and quiet. The passing planets and stars made for a nice view as the silence let him dwell on his thoughts, although it was lonely.
Ever since the Guardians became permanent passengers, that hasn't been a problem for Peter. In fact, it was quite difficult to find a moment to himself anywhere on his vessel. You're always able to hear one of the other Guardians from somewhere in the ship. Whether it was Rocket hammering away on some weapon or the sound of Gamora slashing with her sword on some practice dummies. Or one of the countless petty arguments everyone gets in with each other, all the time.
For instance one particular argument was about the best way to kill a chitauri. Drax says it's with fire but Rocket insists a bullet to the head will do just fine.
"But then you can see them panic as they slowly burn to death!" Drax laughed. "It is like they are dancing!"
"Well that's disturbing." Rocket muttered.
As much as Peter appreciates the lack of loneliness, he sometimes misses his quiet time, too.
His alone time.
But here, in his cockpit in the middle of the night while everyone else on board is sleeping, Peter discovers his new alone time.
After another nightmare, Peter stumbled around the ship trying to clear his head. The eerie silence shocked him. He can't remember hearing, or in this case not hearing, anything like it since before he gained some new occupants. He could hear every creak and squeak of the ship.
He wandered down to the cockpit to check on how far away from their destination they were, and that's where he was now.
Although they've only been on his ship for just over three weeks, it feels like so long ago, he thinks to himself.
Peter feels so nostalgic right now.
The passing stars and planets, the silence. It all reminds him of a time before the Guardians.
Not that it was necessarily better, but for the moment it was peaceful, and he might as well appreciate it while it lasts.
But even with the newfound silence throughout the ship, his alone time doesn't last.
Gamora manages to stealthily shuffle behind the piloting chair.
"Why aren't you asleep?" She asks, scaring Peter so much that he jumps out of the chair.
He spins around to face the voice, hand reaching for his holster.
"Holy hell, Gamora." He says relieved, his hand relaxing. "What are you doing sneaking around the ship?"
"I'm not sneaking around the ship. I'm merely walking." She scowls. "What are you doing?"
"I'm… relaxing." Peter carefully says.
"Were you stressed?" She asks, leaning against the chair he sat back down in;
Peter looks forward, avoiding eye contact. He doesn't really feel like exposing how he gets scared from stupid dreams.
"I couldn't sleep." He says instead.
"Nightmares?" Gamora asks, somehow pinpointing his exact problem.
"What? No I- I don't… Yeah." He reluctantly says. He sighs and leans back in his chair.
Gamora takes a seat in one of the chairs ahead of him and swivels to face him. She looks past him, thinking about something. She sighs and Peter wonders why she seems so tired.
Peter leans forward, focusing on her, wondering if she's okay. "Gamora, are you alright? You seem exhausted."
"Like you, I am plagued by nightmares. Although ever since we met, I haven't had them."
"Really…?" Peter says, wondering how she does it. "Isn't that a good thing?"
"My sleep has been peaceful, but that doesn't mean it comes easily." She says. "It usually takes me a while before I'm able to fall asleep."
"That makes two of us then." Peter comments. "I remember when it was just me on the ship. I spent countless nights up here, looking at the stars and planets."
"It really is beautiful…" Gamora says, taking in the scene before her.
"Yeah, it's a special place for me. Being alone here was really nice. I could come here and think without any distractions."
"Oh…" Gamora says, suddenly looking guilty. She looks away from him and starts shaking her head, "I'm sorry, of course. You wanted to be along, and I'm ruining that for you. I should go."
She makes to walk past him but Peter sticks an arm up and stops her, standing up in the process. "No! Wait, I- I didn't mean it like that. I really enjoy spending time with you."
"You do?"
"Yes, of course." He locks eyes with her and he figures she realizes how he actually means it.
Gamora leans against the armrest of his chair and Peter is still holding onto her from when he stopped her. They stare at each other, only an arm's length apart and Peter's breath hitches. He looks down at his arm holding her, not bothering to move it. He pulls his wandering eyes up, stopping ever so slightly on her lips as he goes to make eye contact again.
They're both subconsciously leaning in when Gamora stops. "Tell me about your dreams, Peter. Why can't you sleep?"
"My mom." He eventually says. "Every time I close my eyes, I can see her. She's laying in the hospital bed. She wanted me to take her hand. I didn't take her hand."
"Peter…" Gamora says. She takes his hand with her free hand. Everywhere their skin met was warm to the touch.
"Then she died. Right there in front of me." Peter was practically whispering now. "It's like that memory is seared inside my brain. I should've just grabbed her hand."
"Peter, I'm so sorry." She tells him.
"It's okay." He says. "We all have things we regret. Sometimes it's not possible to fix things, so all we can do is move on. I learned that a long time ago."
Gamora pulls him in for a hug, resting her head on his chest. Peter hits a button on his wrist gauntlet and soft, quiet music fills the room they're in.
They don't release from the hug, instead swaying along to it.
"My mom used to say dancing could solve any problem." Peter whispers in her ear.
"Was she right?" She asks, looking up at him. "Is it working?"
"If I manage to fall asleep without any nightmares, I'd say it is."
They continue on in silence, swaying left and right, from one song to the next. Eventually, Peter stifles a yawn or two and Gamora may or may not be asleep, unconsciously swaying with Peter. He stops them, turning off the music.
Gamora seems to be asleep, or as close to as she could possibly be. Peter laughs and scoops her up, carrying her to her room.
"I really appreciate how supportive you are of me, even for something as silly as 'bad dreams'." He tells her sleeping form.
"Hmm." She says, no actual coherent words said. Her eyes were still closed.
He tucks her into her bed and places a tender kiss to her cheek. "Thank you."
He yawns and goes to walk away but Gamora has his hand in hers, stopping him.
"Hmmmmm." She mumbles.
"I'll take that as a good night." With a final wave he leaves and closes her door.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
When he wakes up in the morning, he's pleasantly surprised to have had a clear night with no bad dreams.
hello, its me again. i posted something different because i recently watched GotG 1 & 2 + infinity war and endgame and I'm obsessed with star-lord and gamora. I'm thinking i'll keep all my gotg fics in one area (this area) just because there's a few i wanna do and they all can take place in the same universe so it might as well be the same fic. it's kinda like snapshots of the progression of starmora's relationship with the full guardians banter every now and then. pls let me know what you think of this because i'd love to know where to improve, since i'm stepping out of my comfort zone, writing about new characters and stuff. I tried hard to write gamora and peter accurately but i have a sneaking suspicion that i've horribly messed it up. oh well, all mistakes are mine and i hope you all enjoyed (also yeah i've been super inactive but i'll try and change that)