an: Hey guys! So this is my first story I've posted in years! I used to post all time on this site back in high school years ago on a different profile but after taking a few years off I'm back and ready to go! But I'm super excited to be back and share this story! Leave a review to let me know what you think!
Chapter One: Get It Together, Baby
Skadi could barely keep herself focused; however that wasn't unusual to her. No, ever since teaming up with her Terran friend she was slowly noticing how quickly her mind would trail off during a job. At first it had been her lack of experience and her anxiety that would cause her mind to drift. But before long she began to notice her lack of focus actually came from a different source.
Upon her arrival on the Ravager ship all those years ago she instantly felt a connection to the Terran. They did have a lot in common after all, she discovered. Like herself, the Terran was taken away from his home planet by the ship's captain, Yondu, and orphaned after his mother had died from some Terran disease he called cancer. Skadi had also been taken from her home too but by a hellish looking woman who sold her into slavery. With a few hard knocks on her head upon being captured she had forgotten much about her past, only remembering glimpses and blurry faces. Yondu found and took pity on her, having been a Kree slave for years. He let her join his crew, claiming that it was because her powers would benefit his crew. But although he never said it out loud, Skadi knew that Yondu did indeed care about not only for her, but the Terran too.
Growing up together and being the youngest Ravagers on the ship, it was only a matter of time before the two of them became friends and partners. Skadi grew an attachment towards the Terran and accepted him and his issues just as he accepted her. She dealt with his rash decision making skills that nearly got them killed every job they took. She dealt with his lack of cleaning up after himself around the ship they shared and his obnoxious and tiring playboy behavior he picked up from the rest of the crew.
But there was one thing, just one small thing about said Terran that Skadi could not deal with. Skadi could barely keep herself focused on the task at hand the moment the hazel eyed Terran pulled out that blasted contraption and started blaring his music. For once, the blonde haired girl wished her friend would take their job seriously. That's all she asked for because once the Terran placed his headphones onto his head, he was teleported into another world and all focus was sucked out of him.
At first Skadi thought it was funny and dare she say adorable as the boy would just dance around, singing to her as he did. It made her feel special and gave her solace in their friendship because she knew he never acted this way around the women he picked up. But the older they got, more difficult jobs Yondu gave; meaning the consequences were higher when he wasn't paying attention. Granted, most of their jobs paid off in the end but not without a few bumps in the road first. Those bumps being her having to think quickly and get them out of danger due to the Terran's mouth or whatever.
Skadi let herself ponder about her friend and the way they operated together up until she was forced to stop herself. With her icy blue eyes narrowed, she halted her movements, standing slightly behind her friend. She furrowed her eyebrows downwards, looking questioningly at the back of his head.
"Quill?" she asked, crossing her arms across her chest.
She frowned when he didn't even glance at her direction or give any form of response. Even with his space helmet on she knew he could still hear her. Not one to be ignored, the girl repeated herself only louder and reached out a cold, pale hand to touch his shoulder.
"Peter." She said firmly. "Why are you stopping? We're almost there."
This time he looked back at her and though she couldn't see his facial expression she already knew that he was smirking behind the mask. She uncrossed her arms and placed her hands on her hips, letting out a groan. Pushing past the Terran, she heard the familiar sound of his helmet disbursing. Skadi knew that Peter was scoffing at her from behind, but she simply rolled her eyes and kept walking.
She let herself glance around the large cavern they wound up in. It was dimly lit by the moonlight that had been creeping in from the partings of the roof of the cavern. It smelt like the swamps that had been nearby her home back when she was with her slavers as a child. Skadi tried to ignore the memories it brought back. Letting out a deep breathe, she pushed forward. Luckily for her, her attention was brought elsewhere. It was as if Peter was a mind reader and the all too familiar tune could be heard faintly behind her.
Stealing a thankful glance behind her, she couldn't help but lighten up. She let herself watch Peter begin his absurd 'dancing' skills. No matter how many time he would try to convince her that he would be considered an excellent dancer back on Terra, Skadi would not believe him. She knew Quill was just flaring his arms and legs and hips around. One of the few memories of her past had been of her at some sort of ball and that was what real dancing looked like. If what Quill was doing was consider excellent on Terra, well, Skadi didn't want to see what a bad Terran dancer looked like.
Peter's eyes locked onto Skadi's, smirking at the fact that her attention was on him. He knew that the blonde haired alien liked to act that she was all business and serious all the time but he knew deep down that it was just her way of getting over her nerves. Sure, she was in fact a little too uptight for Peter's likings sometimes but then again Peter acted too much like, well, himself for her likings sometimes too. But it drove him crazy whenever she got herself stressed out so quickly over the smallest things. It was moments like this when she started to let her guard down where he'd try to push her buttons and get her to let loose.
He watched her stand there, trying her hardest to not look amused by this dancing. She thought he hadn't noticed her chuckle, but he did. He knew he had an in. He shimmied over to her, swaying his hips to the beat. Beginning to loose himself in the song, he let himself jump into a puddle, splashing her in the process. Her smile dropped as her expression changed to glare at him. He smoothly averted his eyes to the ground, playing if off as not a big deal. Maybe that wasn't the smartest way to start, he figured.
Skadi attempted to shake off her now wet combat boots. She scowled after the Terran, watching him dance away from her in retreat. Coward, she thought before relaxing a little when an idea popped into her head, "Alright, two can play at this game, Quill." She muttered to herself.
Closing her eyes, she felt the ground beneath her disappear. Reopening her eyes, she seemed a little bit taller but it was just from the fact that her feet hovered a few inches off the ground. Grinning widely, she pushed her body towards Peter, flying through the air at a decent speed. She let herself fly past him all the while letting her right hand clench into a fist. She saluted him with the other before unclenching the other, revealing a snowball. Peter's smirk turn to a look of regret, knowing what was coming next. Skadi playfully threw the snow at him, grinning proudly at the sound of it smacking him in the face.
Speeding up, she could hear him laugh after her, ready for the challenge. Peter launched himself in the air with his rocket boots, in rush to get payback. The two race through the rest of the cavern, Skadi continuing to throw snowballs at him, while Peter cursed light heartily after her. Peter was still slightly swaying and singing along to the music, stopping halfway through their battle with each other to sing to a skeleton much to Skadi's disgust.
Skadi had landed her feet, gracefully turning around to face Peter when they reached the end of the cavern and were stopped by a towering stone door. He landed a few seconds after her, dancing his way over to close the distance. Skadi stood endearingly waging her index finger at the Terran.
"Beat ya'."
"By two seconds, please." Peter scoffed, slowly taking his headphones off. He then looked at her almost seriously, "So you done with being Oscar the Grouch now?"
"Who?" Skadi gave him a look of confusion, unsure if she should take offense or not.
Peter shook his head, sulking that she never understood his references. Usually he'd go into a long and in unnecessary detail too explain whatever he had been talking about but recently stopped. Skadi never fully understood earthly things. She would often unintentionally insult Peter's stories or get offended by his references.
Peter sighed, scratching his head and simply shrugged it off, stating that it was nothing important. Skadi nodded, not pushing it any further and instead grew serious knowing that their prize was now just behind the door. Peter excused himself and cut in front of her, getting to work on picking the door's lock, humming along to his music while doing so.
"You couldn't have picked another song." Skadi sighed, motioning to the headphones that lay around his neck. "You know I can't stand it."
Peter paused, turning around to look at her in utter disgust. "Whaaaat?!" he dragged out, making her roll her eyes. "This song is a classic. Come and Get Your Love? Really? You have issues lady." Peter sneered before going back to work.
"It's just so… I don't know. I'm sick of it. I've heard it at least a million times since I met you. I don't understand how you don't grow tired of it." Skadi blew a stray hair out of her face, her ears perking when she heard a click.
Peter had cracked the lock and the door opened slowly with a loud creek. Skadi peered around him to get a peek inside. Peter gave her a soft look before shutting off the player, turning his neck so he could see her face fully.
"There. Happy it's off."
"Very. Now let's get that thing and get the hell of this planet. It smells gross and I don't like it in here."
"Awe, is little frosty scared?" He snickered.
The alien glared up at him, gripping his muscle arm tightly, letting her finger tips drop down to freezing temperatures. Peter yelped, ripping his arm away from her, rubbing his arm harshly in attempt to get rid of the cold. "What the fuck's wrong with you?"
"I've told you not to call me that. I'm not scared, I said it smells disgusting and I want to go home."
Peter mumbled insults under his breath but made sure it was low enough for her not to hear. He shook his head as he took out a little small metallic ball from his knapsack. Giving it a good shake, it lit up, illuminating the room. Eager to get this over with, they both began to walk closer to the case.
Instantly they were both in work mode, assuming their normal positions. Skadi took out her own little gadget for her side bag. She placed the little triangular magnet near the bottom of the case before going to stand close to Peter. The pair watched as the orb that was inside the case began to move. Skadi looked at Peter guiltily for beforehand.
"Look I'm sorry. You just pissed me off and you know how I get sometimes. I'm sorry." She looked down at her feet.
Peter lowered his gaze to her, "Nah, its fine. I'm sorry too. I can't help but push your buttons. We're…cool..." He chuckled, elbowing her in the ribs. "Get it cool cause your pow-,"
"You're freaking hilarious Peter." Skadi rolled her eyes, bending down to grab the orb when it clicked into place on the magnet.
"Awe, come on, I know you think I'm 'freaking' hilarious." He mocked her accent. He picked the orb out of her hands to place it in the empty space in his knapsack. Skadi grinned at him, happy that for once their mission when smoothly. Maybe he wasn't so distracting after all. Peter noticed her staring at him, raising his eyebrow at her and moving his hand to give her a high five. The pair shared a quick high five to celebrate a mission complete before turning around, ready to head back to their ship.
"Drop it!"
