A/N: I know it's taken some time to put up the next chapter, but I think this is a good way to take the story. Since I decided it wouldn't a one shot, I feel better about things being drawn out a little bit more than before. I'm going to keep the chapters at about a three page length. I hope you guys enjoy this one! Let me know with a review!
Gamora felt sluggish as she trudged down the muddy road to Knowhere's main marketplace. Rocket was walking beside her, but he seemed to carry himself with more purpose than she, but not much more. She knew for a fact she looked defeated. She felt defeated. Moreso than the last time they landed on Knowhere when Nebula nearly killed her.
Nebula. That was a whole other situation Gamora was afraid to let herself think about. She felt as if the last few weeks, Peter and his father, Nebula and her revelation, Peter and their "unspoken thing," and Nebula's dangerous departure had taken a major toll on her. She attempted to bottle all of it up. She had to. She failed Nebula when they were kids. She was so wrapped up in staying alive that she never considered the toll Thanos' torture had on her sister. She had failed her sister in a major way. She knew if she let her feelings for Peter and her guilt for letting Nebula leave again out, then they'd eat her alive and she'd fail another family. The Guardians were her family now, and they needed someone strong and capable more than ever.
Peter was the rock of the group for sure. He made everybody smile, despite her attempts to diminish his flirting and Rocket's constant bickering with him. Peter was the reason they came together in the first place. She shook her head, palming her forehead sharply as she tried to will her painful thoughts away. Peter didn't need to deal with her issues with Nebula at all, but especially not right now.
"Aye, Green Giant. What's eatin ya?" Rocket stopped short, turning slightly to eye the last Zen-Whoberis woman with caution. Whether he was staring at her with concern or suspicion, Gamora didn't know. She wondered if he made sure no one could tell. She tilted her head at him though, wondering what the term "eating ya" actually meant. She considered her expression and the way she was dragging behind him. It was unlike her to fall behind and be sulking, so she deducted it meant he wanted to know what was bothering her so much.
She simply shrugged, "I just didn't get much sleep last night," she mumbled, looking around the trees along the side of the road. Essentially anywhere but Rocket.
He tilted his head at her, "Uh huh." His words were drawn out, a tone that was riddled with dissatisfaction from her answer.
"That not good enough for you?" She countered, lifting Groot off her shoulder delicately and handing him to Rocket, eyeing him with irritation.
He put both hands up in defense before taking Groot and letting him climb into his jacket pocket. He opened his mouth a couple times to say something, each time he'd close it and throw her a thoughtful look. "It's just," he scratched the back of his head, "I know you're worried about Quill. We all are," he was scratching the back of his head awkwardly again, as if he wanted to say more, but didn't know what else to express.
She looked at him for a long moment, sighing deeply to break the silence and nodding at the raccoon.
She decided to settle on "Yeah," nodding once more, her eyes leaving Rocket's and looking off down the road. The sudden fear of a semi-serious conversation brewing between her and Rocket giving her the confidence to refocus all her energy on the supply run, "Let's just head into town and get what we need." She muttered softly, brushing past Rocket, ignoring the questioning look he gave her.
"Gamora!" He called wholeheartedly after her as she walked down the road.
She slowed down ever so slightly, but didn't fully stop or turn her head at all. "What?" She basically snapped.
She didn't have to look at Rocket to know he was scratching his face quickly, "You could've stayed with Quill, uh, if you wanted." He mumbled awkwardly. She could tell he wasn't sure what to say. None of her friends ever made any statements (to her directly, at least) about her "unspoken thing" with Peter. She was completely content never having to discuss whatever relationship she has with him with a talking woodland beast, a metaphorically challenged destroyer, or a toddler sized talking tree. They respected her need to keep things private and that talking wasn't her strong suit. They all did, except sometimes not Peter.
Peter really made an effort to push her from her emotional comfort zone, just as she's pushed him from his own.
Peter and Gamora were sitting in a dingy old bar on Xandar, just after killing Ronan and saving the Galaxy. Rocket was out finding Groot a nice planting pot for him to spend his early plant days in. Drax had headed to a temple at the edge of the city, requesting privacy to mourn his late daughter and wife after helping to permanently stop their murderer. Gamora, though she'd never admit it, was rather depressed her sister didn't turn on Ronan and Thanos to help her and her new friends save the galaxy. She felt like she should hate her sister, after all, Peter was right. She was a super villain. She agreed with the guardians, Nebula was insane and almost assisted in murdering every single person in the galaxy for a man that kidnapped them, tortured them, and made them into unfeeling, detached murder machines.
"Gamora, you alright?" He asked between sips of his oddly colored drink.
She blinked several times, bringing her eyes to the half human's concerned ones. "Yeah, yeah. I'm good." Her voice faltered a little bit, which she cursed herself for, especially since Peter seemed to notice.
He leaned forward, attempting to put his hand over her's supportively. She stiffened and yanked her hand off the bar, looking away to avoid seeing the twinge of hurt dance across his eyes. He took a deep breath, taking another sip, "Yeah, well you don't seem fine."
She took a deep breath, shaking her head halfheartedly, "I mean, they were the closest thing I had to a family."
She thought Peter would scoff or make a douchey joke, but he simply nodded. He was a little stiff in his movements, but it was still a nod. "They weren't your family though,"
She nodded in turn, sipping her basically full beverage. She considered his simple reply, offering a shrug before continuing, "No, I know. I just grew up there. Nebula's practically my actual sister. I barely remember my real family. I never really gave it much thought until…" her voice trailed off a little bit. She took a deep breath, not sure how to finish that statement. She took another sip, shrugging again.
"Until?" Peter pressed on, but his tone was gentle. She wasn't used to expressing herself, but talking to Quill seemed easy.
"I guess I found something closer to what I envisioned a family to really be like," She said after a heavy breath.
Peter tilted his head at her, giving her a look like no one's ever given her before. Something within her became shaky when Peter looked at her the way he was right then. His face didn't express sympathy, no. Pity was unbecoming, something she detested. Anyone that had ever heard the name Gamora knew pitying her was a death wish. That look was one of empathy, understanding, admiration. No one had ever looked at her with any of those things. His eyes searching her's, giving her some weird sense of security, something she's never felt before. That look made her knees feel slightly weaker. She was grateful they were already sitting down, so he wouldn't this new feeling brewing within her.
After a long moment a silence, the only sound were the other patrons in the bar chatting and the radio in the corner humming some Kree song softly, Gamora had to rip her focus from Peter's hand held supportively over hers. She removed her hand out from under his, ignoring the fact that it took a lot for her to pull away. A great feeling of relief washed over her once she saw Peter didn't seem hurt by her pulling away this time.
He simply smiled at her, "I'm so glad I've found you all as well." Peter stated, his eyes crinkling as a small smiled formed.
She felt herself biting her lip, attempting to will the smile forming on her face at the sight of his. "I was wrong about you," she started.
Peter gave her a questioning look, "What do you mean?"
She raised and lowered one shoulder, "When I said you had no honor or loyalty. I was wrong." She admitted once more, dropping her eyes to her hands in her lap. Watching Peter's reaction to her statement made her happy, but a different kind of happy. A kind she hadn't felt before and couldn't really explain to herself. His face lit up in a sincere way, his features softening around the edges and a newer light within his eyes appeared.
"That means a lot to me. Thank you, Gamora." He said softly, leaning forward and rubbing his hand up and down her upper arm softly. It felt nice, supportive, new.
"Mora? Gamora!" Rocket asked again, waving his small furry arms in the air in front of her. She'd been staring off into space for a few long moments, thinking about one of those first real moments with Peter. Just her and Peter.
"What? Yeah, what?" She snapped, blinking several times, willing away the heavy feeling within her chest.
Rocket took a step back, raising his hands defensively at her aggressive tone. "Just checking…" He took a deep breath, "Are you okay?"
She ran her hand through her hair, biting her lip nervously. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Rocket took a deep breath once more, "Don't mistake me for being some sensitive dumbass, but," He scratched the top of his head for a moment, "Quill lost Yondu, and you kinda lost Nebula. Not in the same way, but still."
"I am Groot," Groot stated matter-of-factly while scratching his chin.
Rocket pointed at him, nodding quickly. "He's right. You don't have to be totally okay if you're not."
Gamora narrowed her eyes at the two of them, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm fine." She felt like she sounded super robotic and rehearsed. Super fake, and she figured the two of them noticed. Well, at least Rocket noticed. He raised an eyebrow at her, but looked as if he was going to let her brushing off his concern slide.
Before he could say anything else to her, she spun on her heel, "Let's just get to the market and restock." She grumbled over her shoulder, stalking down the dirt road ahead of Rocket and Groot, heading into town.
A/N: How was that? Was the flashback a good touch? I thought it was nice, it showed what all happened between the end of the fight against Ronan and the very end of the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. I hope it worked out well, let me know with a review!