ArcelSkye here! Here's the next chapter of my fic! This chapter is shorter than the others, but I think this one is the most impactful and has more action! Oh, and there is some Starmora fluff in here too~

So without further ado, chapter 3!

The best way to describe the current situation would be awkward silence.

And it was awkward.

Well, at least it was for Peter and Gamora who were subjected to Rocket's 'You're Idiots' glare. After having explained the conversation with Aroreus and the plans to meet him on Knowhere, they both were thoroughly scolded by their companions (mainly Rocket).

Needless to say, they had been called "idiots" more times in the past ten minutes than they had in their entire lives.

"Look, Rocket, I know we're idiots- you've made that abundantly clear- but this is something that has to be done." Peter said to the still fuming Rocket. "It would be a huge help if you guys cooperate with us." He switched his gaze between Rocket, Groot, and Drax. "We're a team, right? A team sticks together."

"Yeah, and a team makes decisions together, not two members- even if one of them is our unofficial leader- calling all the shots without even consulting the rest of us!' Rocket exclaimed.

"Perhaps there was no time to ask our opinion?" Drax suggested. "We were away on a supply run."

"I am Groot." Groot agreed.

"Shut up Groot, no one asked you," Rocket muttered. His shoulders then sagged in defeat. "Fine. So what are we supposed to do?"

"We'll meet with Aroreus, as planned. However, it'll just be Peter and myself who meet him- you three will be hiding out nearby. In the case that it is a set up, you can come to our aid if necessary. Worst case scenario, we get caught. If it is a trap, they will most likely seek to subdue us, I do not think they will kill us." Gamora explained.

"And if it isn't a trap?" Drax asked.

Peter stepped in. "Then we assist Aroreus. We'll have him lead us to the weapon and take it. After that, we make like a banana and split. We won't give it to Aroreus on the off chance he betrays us."

"So what you're tellin' me is that we betray him before he can betray us?" Rocket asked.

"Exactly."

Rocket shrugged. "I'm in. Not like I got anything better to do."

"I will assist you as well," Drax agreed.

"I am Groot."

"Groot says he'll help too." Rocket interpreted.

"Alright. The rendevous is in fourteen hundred hours. I'll set a course for Knowhere." Peter approached the controls connected to the pilot's chair.

Drax, Rocket, and Groot left the bridge, but Gamora remained.

"You should get some rest," she told Peter. "We have a long day ahead of us."

Peter glanced at her. "I could say the same to you. You haven't been sleeping well lately, have you?"

Gamora turned her head to the side. "You noticed?"

"If the incident from earlier wasn't an indicator, then yeah, I noticed. Plus, you haven't been acting like yourself lately. Hell, you even let me give you a hug!"

"That was... nevermind, just forget it." She turned to walk away when Peter caught her arm.

She turned around slowly, her eyes on his face. Peter let go of her arm, only to slide his hand toward hers, carefully lacing their fingers together. "See?" Peter whispered. "Normally you would've hit me by now."

"Peter, do you... think I'm a monster?" She whispered, her gaze on their intertwined hands.

What would he say? Did he think she was a monster? And if he did, what then? Would she lose him, one of the few people she cared about?

"Gamora, look at me."

She hadn't expected that answer, though she complied nonetheless. She lifted her gaze to meet his, and she was surprised by bthe amount of compassion in his eyes, and just how deeply he cared for her.

His free hand cupped her cheek, his thumb tracing small circles on her face.

"You are not a monster," he told her, his eyes never once leaving hers. "You're one of the kindest people I've ever met, even if you can kill me twenty different ways with just your pinky." He squeezed her hand softly. "You're a Guardian. My Guardian."

She had never been told anything like that before. She didn't know how she was supposed to react.

"Peter... I-" her voice caught. "Why... why do you care about me so much?"

"Why? Because you're my best friend. But more than that," he began to lean towards her, "I lo-"

He was cut off by the sudden blaring of the ship's alarm.

"What the-" Peter said, pulling away from Gamora.

The ship lurched sharply, Peter and Gamora momentarily losing their balance.

"Yo, Humie! What's goin' on?!" Rocket, who had just entered the bridge, yelled. Drax and Groot were right behind him.

Peter whirled, rushing to the pilot's chair. The ship lurched again, this time more violently. "Everyone buckle up! We got company!"

The others scrambled to their seats, strapping themselves in.

Peter switched the ship to manual, taking the controls. "Crap, we've got six hostiles on our tail and I can't tell where they came from!"

"Less talk, more dodge!" Rocket shouted.

Peter jerked the control stick up, the Milano shooting upwards in response. Just in time- they narrowly dodged an onslaught of Quasar blasts.

"The frick- where in the hell did they get those?" Rocket exclaimed. "They're not cheap and really powerful!"

"Thanks for the lesson Rocket, I definitely needed that in the middle of a space battle! You got any helpful lessons?" Peter yelled.

"Yeah, don't get shot!"

Two enemy ships flanked each of the Milano's sides, the other two fast approaching from the bottom.

"I can't out run them! They're too fast!"

Two Quasar blasts were fired at them from below, and Peter swore as he shoved the controls downward. The ship did a nose dive as they evaded the shots.

"Peter!" Gamora said, slight panic in her tone.

Peter noticed what had her so concerned a second too late. Two enemy ships were coming at them, set on a collision course with the Milano. They were soon surrounded on all sides, with nowhere to go but forward.

Since he couldn't evade, Peter fired several rounds at the enemy, but they were reflected off red energy fields. Beams of white light shot out from the ships, connecting with the Milano. Each time one connected, the ship slowed until they reached a full halt. Peter tried the thrusters, but the Milano wouldn't budge.

They were sitting ducks like this.

"So this is how I'm gonna die," Rocket chuckled darkly. "What a jacked up way to go."

The realization that they were about to die struck Peter like a bolt of lightning. Without thinking, he immediatly cast his gaze to his right side to Gamora, and she did the same. Something seemed to pass between them, an unspoken understanding in their shared gaze.

"Is this how we are to meet our end?" Drax questioned, but it didn't seem like he expected an answer.

"I am Groot..."

"Yeah, I guess this is the end of the road for us, ain't it buddy?" Rocket sighed.

Peter reached his hand towards Gamora. Seeming to understand what he wanted, Gamora reached for his too. Their fingers touched before they loosely intertwined.

It was then that Peter decided- he wasn't about to let his friends die. Not here, not like this. Not before he could tell Gamora what he'd wanted to say before.

His mind made up, he said:

"We're not dying today. I won't let that happen." He held Gamora's gaze. He then turned his attention back to the front, where he once again saw the enemy ships. Why hadn't they fired yet? What were they waiting for? Nonetheless, he had to free the Milano.

"Peter? What are you thinking?" Gamora asked.

He gave her his trademark grin. "I have a plan."