Things begin to heat up a bit Whoot Whoot :)
TheRYU: Awww Yisss, things are always handled on the Milano, with some flair and mostly desperation, and I'll definitely continue, in fact I can't stop thinking about what's gonna happen next :) The Rainbow Devowerer: I'm super glad you think she's cute! I actually tried to cut back on the humor so it's more unintentional, like the movie, but I normally write humor pieces so it slips in even without me wanting it to...it was suppoooosed to be serious. Plan failed :P but for the best :) Nadia: Awww tanks :D
Cass grabbed Groot and forced him to duck behind the table. He whined and reached for the fluttering leaves that she'd dropped without thinking, but Cass yanked him back down with her and whispered and apology.
"How about we have a little fun?" The man asked, stepping into the room like he owned the Milano. He had royal blue skin, Ravager clothing, and a silver ridge embedded in his head. She'd seen him only once before on Huran. It was a quiet night at the bar when his crew flooded into the room, demanding drink before they'd even taken a seat. Then he followed, looking around their dingy, dust caked bar as if he saw something he liked. Cass had downed the rest of her drink and ducked out the side door. Ravagers only meant one thing, trouble, and from the cheeky way he sauntered up to the bar, Yondu, captain of the Ravagers, had meant to make plenty that night.
Her heart pounded heavily against her ribs as more boots began entering the dining area. There were so many of them. What was a man like Yondu doing on Quill's ship? Was it because Quill used to be Ravager? Had he escaped to take on his own travels and Yondu wanted to punish him? Her palms pressed against the cold metal flooring and she looked back at Groot who lay out under the table beside her. This wasn't a good hiding place, sooner rather than later they would see the two of them.
Watching the boots disperse off one by one, Cass slid her over sized jacket off and draped it over Groot. If he played dead then anyone who didn't know trees could talk wouldn't even pay him a second glance. Somehow she needed to get him off the ship. Once Groot was safe then she could figure out what to do next. The one thing she knew, was that she needed this ship, she'd waited far too long to get here, and she wasn't about to lose this chance to a few wayward Ravagers.
Putting one finger over her lips she signaled for him to be quiet, which was only met with a confused head cock. She didn't have time to explain, sliding on her stomach across the most revolting floor imaginable, Cass kept an eye on the remaining man who watched down the hall to the lower level. Once she reached the kitchen she was able to hop up onto her feet but stayed low, creeping over to where the dishes were drying.
Weapon, weapon, she needed a weapon. Initially her fist closed around a knife, but her hand spasmed and she pulled it away. They would kill her without a second thought, she reminded herself. Better to kill them first. This time her hand locked around the handle and she stuck it through the back loop on her pants where it would be out of the way. Next she grabbed an old heavy frying pan. If she could she'd just knock them out then she could tie them up and some sort of authority would be able to do something with them.
Peeking around the corner of the door, Cass's blood ran cold when she saw her jacket under the table and no Groot. What!? Where did he go? Desperately she leaned out and looked around in time to see one of his heels turning off down to the meeting room. She had to move, she didn't know what they would do to him. Would they kill him, could they kill him? Cass didn't fully understand what he even was.
Both hands wrapped around the pans handle, Cass walked up to the man as silently as possible, keeping her body turned sideways like she was holding a stick ready to hit a ball thrown at her. The man must have caught sight of her movement and turned to her. Cass didn't hesitate. She whipped the pan around and let its weight do most of the work, smashing right against the man's nose. His eyes crossed and be hit the ground with a dull thud.
"Sorry," Cass whispered, glancing around to see if anyone else had heard the sound and she stuffed a napkin into his nose. It was probably broken, but they were Ravager, she told herself. "Groot!" She hissed quietly, both praying no one heard and that Groot would reappear at her call.
Wiping her hands off on her pants, Cass grabbed the pan once again and snuck up to the hallway. There was another one in the shower room, peeing in one of the stalls. She was tempted to leave him be and continue down to where Groot had disappeared to. With her luck he'd follow right behind and stab her in the back. Clearing her throat, Cass ducked her head down and walked up to one of the bathroom sinks. There was a toilet, two sinks, and one shower stall. All in a row. Cass flipped the sink on and cupped her hands in a bridge so the water flowed down them onto the floor. Without the advantage of size, she needed to use her surroundings as much as possible she reasoned, watching with despair as she wasted so much water.
"You peein' on the floor?" The Ravager in the stall asked with a laugh.
Cass cleared her throat and lowered her voice, "um, yea, rest of the place is a mess anyways." Her heart rammed heavily against her ribs when she heard the man zip up. Silently she tip toed around the water and pressed her back to the stall.
The man slipped only a little when his foot stepped in the water but he managed to catch himself on the stall wall mere inches from her face. Swinging around and up, Cass slammed the pan into his face, knocking him cold.
"What's with all the water?" Someone called from the hall. Hastily Cass flipped the sink off but they were already pushing the door open. "Shit!" The first man cried, his arms wind milling as he slid through the puddle. The man behind him reached out to help but only managed to slip in the water and get drug down with him.
Cass lurched forward, knowing she only had a second to react. Stomping her boot into the first man's stomach he curled forward in response, wheezing dramatically. Swinging down she clocked him in the side of the head. The second man had fallen forward onto his stomach and realized what was going on. Grabbing her ankle he yanked her foot out from under her, Cass landed with a watery splash, the knife on her back hitting sideways, sending a dull throb into her pelvis. The man's hand yanked Cass closer and she turned onto her stomach clawing at the floor to get away, wrenching her ankle.
"Who are you?" The man yelled. Panicked, Cass kicked him in the face. "Stop that." He tried to shield himself but her second attempt bounced his forehead against the tile and his grip loosened. Yanking her foot away she raced him to her feet, the butt of his gun descending heavily and cracking against her hairline.
Stunned, Cass's legs gave out under her and she hit the stall wall with her back and slid onto the floor. The man stepped forward, she watched him in the mirror, leaning closer. There was no way she'd be able to get up enough momentum to use her pan. Think, think. The sink.
Using the mirror as reference she shot her hand up to the man's collar and latched on, then used her body weight to pull him down towards the sink. The sickening crunch of his nose on the metal turned her stomach. The man writhed on the floor, hands to his face, blood pooling liberally around him and dissipating into the water. Cass slid across the floor on her hands and knees to where her pan had fallen and snatched it up, splashing to her feet, ready to flee. The man's pain filled sobs were sure to alert the others. Cass stepped back over and let the pan fall onto his brow, just over the tips of his fingers, using the heavy weight of the metal to deliver the blow.
Cass breathed heavily. Heart racing, adrenaline pumping, and hands trembling uncontrollably. Groot, she had to get to Groot. Fumbling for the pan next to the now motionless man, Cass had to hold it with both hands to keep it somewhat steady. As she peered into the hallway?
Squishing wet foot falls made her cringe. Nervously she pulled at her soaked shirt, trying to readjust her vest that managed to turn slightly around her chest. Up ahead the ladder to the cockpit loomed closer and closer. That's where most of the rest were, for sure. Cass swallowed the lump growing in her throat, wiping the flow of blood from her blow to the head out of her eyes and gripped the first rung, then the next, then the next, each hand print leaving a dull red stain. Until just the top of her head poked into the room. She didn't see Groot, but she did see four more Ravager. Yondu reclined in the pilot's chair clicking buttons.
Silent steps, Cass willed, setting her pan on the floor before pulling herself up over the rim. Years of sneaking around her house so her father didn't hear her were finally paying off. The closest man leaned lazily against the back of one of the chairs than another was reclined lazily in. Up closer to the front another Ravager leaned over one of the control panels, and Yondu clicked around in his own seat.
Speed would be the key. Cass swung immediately for the nearest mans temple, knocking him onto the floor. The pan worked like a charm for the first man, it was every other one that worried her.
"What in-" was all the second man got out before the pan made a full swing around. Unfortunately he was faster than the others, bringing his arm up and blocking it.
Cass reeled to the side as the pan bounced off his forearm, trying not to lose her footing she was forced to release the heavy weight. Spinning out of his chair the man dodged around, trying to get close enough to her to grab her, but Cass managed to sidestep and keep the chair between them.
The second man joined the little dance making it impossible for her to keep circling. In the background she heard the disturbing sound of Yondu's laughter. He was leaning against the side of the chair, arms crossed, his brilliant white smile shining mischievously.
Distracted for a second, Cass left the first man just enough time to grab at her, enclosing his hand around her neck. Not again! Cass wheezed as his fingers clamped down on her throat, squeezing it closed.
"Well now, what do we have here?" Yondu stepped forward. "Looks like we got a bit of a trouble maker."
"No…trouble," Cass breathed tightly, keeping her eye on the man. When she yanked on his hand he braced the other on the back of the chair. She kept trying to squeeze her fingers under his hand to loosen them. If she could just get to her knife. But no matter what she did, it would draw attention.
"Then what do ya call all this?" Yondu stepped forward again, motioning to the rest of the room lazily.
"A cockpit," Cass wheezed, not entirely thinking about the repercussions. Darkness began to dance around the edge of her vision, she was getting desperate. Her fingers raked down his hand, drawing out an angry growl.
"I am Groot!" Groot yelled from the hatch behind her, drawing Yondu's attention for a second.
She wasn't elegant, but the man holding her looked away for just a second, giving her enough time to reach for her back loop. The blade was sharper than she thought, slicing through her belt loop and a brief stretch along her back. Dizzy black dots bounced around her vision, but she found the man's hand to be a large enough target. The blade sunk down through his hand and into the cushion of the seat, drawing a shrill screech from the man who released her in an instant.
Stumbling back to Groot she stepped in front of him, coughing and wheezing.
"Boy I oughta cut you open right here," Yondu growled, not even glancing at his still shrieking crew member. Lifting the side of his jacket, he revealed a metal stick in a holster. Cass eyed the weapon and rubbed her throat, wishing people would stop grabbing it.
Stumbling a step to the side she snatched the pan off the floor as the second man yanked the knife out of the seat cushion and the other man's hand.
Cass held the pan protectively up in front of her chest, keeping herself between him and Groot. Her eyes didn't leave Yondu's twitching lip or cold glare until a jolt of electricity shot through her. Her hand clamped solidly around the pan handle and she dropped to the floor. Writhing and kicking. The feeling died slowly, numbing her fingers. A second jolt grabbed her body, stiffening her limbs, splintering dark and light across her vision. But she didn't black out, she refused to die in such a pathetic way.
Yondu jumped when the tree monster roared, flinging Kraglin across the cockpit. Served him right for coming into the fight late, couldn't have been a bit more help before the other got stabbed.
Kraglin fell limply to the ground. Weak, was his first thought. He watched the tree trying to judge whether or not he was gonna turn on him next. Instead it fell back to the boy's side, poking his face and receiving a pained groan. Last he'd heard the damn thing had exploded when the Dark Aster hit Xander. Walked through the bits an pieces himself actually. Turing back to the switch board he pressed the light indicating radios the Milano crew was wearing. "Hey Quill, think you better get back here pronto."
"Hey Yondu, see you made yourself at home," Quill's voice echoed back to him. "What's going on?"
Yondu didn't bother pressing the button again. If he didn't say anything then more than likely Quill would high tail it back here even faster. Grumbling at this hiccup he turned back to see the tree shaking the still convulsing man. "He ain't gonna wake," he growled. Who knew if the walking stick even understood him though. His lip curled up in discomfort at the resurrected tree. He didn't like things coming back to life, wasn't natural. The possibilities gave him a squirming feeling in his gut.
Grumbling, Yondu sank back into his chair. This was supposed to be an easy job. Grab and go. Keep the ship for a bit, then return it if Quill paid them off well enough. Sure he and Quill were still on pretty good terms. After all, Yondu was the one who kept the others from eating him, and it looked that the boy was finally appreciating it. But after the Infinity Stone incident there was some tension.
Not that Yondu was entirely upset about the ordeal, but a captain had to act like such, and that meant not allowing the stunt Quill pulled to go unpunished. The one guy that got himself stabbed whimpered in a chair, holding his trembling hand to his chest. Didn't know the guy's name, didn't have to, if he was gonna act this pathetic over a knife wound he didn't have any business in this group.
"Yondu, what's going on?" One of his men jumped up over the rim of the ladder and nearly tripped over the boy. "Who the fuck is that?"
"Don't worry about it," Yondu said, sliding up from his chair. He drew air in between his front teeth on habit and the arrow by his side twitched.
"The men downstairs are waking up," a second man pulled himself up, followed closely by the third. One day he'd learn their names if they become important enough.
"What da ya mean , waking up?" Yondu barked, eyes narrowing at the man who sat against the wall trying to stop the blood coming from his nose. First one out of the game, it would be kitchen duty for a month for everyone that let a child beat them.
"I'm not sure, they'd been knocked out somehow. The three of us were waiting outside when Grenan stumbled out with a napkin shoved up his nose saying they'd been ambushed." The man kept glancing back at the tree, the tree man made them nervous. Made them all nervous.
"Who, did he say, ambushed them?" Yondu asked, pulling the man he still didn't know under his arm.
"A giant man with metal fists, sort of assumed it was Drax," the man pulled away lightly, uncomfortable at such close proximity with him. Yondu laughed from his belly. It felt good to inspire terror in those who didn't know better.
"He's the size of a fucking child!" Yondu yelled, ceasing his laughter abruptly, grabbing the man and throwing him across the cockpit. Was he entirely angry? No, more like amused, but in order to keep control of his men they had to fear him.
"What's going on in here?" Quill asked, jumping up from the lower deck.
"Groot?" the oversized rodent always seemed to find the tree first.
"Jesus Christ," Quill stepped over the stick man and stumbled. "What the fuck happened?"
"That boy you got gave us a bit of trouble," Yondu shrugged.
"He did that?" Gamora asked.
"You received quite a fight from our cleaner. Perhaps he will make a glorious companion on the battle field." Drax laughed heartily. Irritation dug into Yondu and he gritted his teeth.
Gamora clenched her jaw and took a threatening step towards Yondu, who raised his hands and smiled. Quill stepped between them. "You had no right to board our ship." She spat but took a step back. Neither of them were fools. Yondu wanted no part of a fight with the Guardian's much like they'd rather not fight with him.
"What me?" Yondu shook his head innocently. He was walking out of here no problem. "I didn't do any of this, I just clicked a few buttons and watched the show."
"See!" The animal jumped into a chair by Quill and hissed quietly at him. "He's not normal."
"Rocket," Quill warned, not looking down at the animal.
"No one does this without some sort of motivation." Rocket growled.
"Well, I see you guys are busy," Yondu strode past the squabbling pair and motioned for his men to follow. Those who couldn't would be drug or left. He spared a glance back when he descended the ladder. The boy struggled to keep his eyes open, dark curved lashes fluttering against high cheekbones. The pan rested against his chest, hiding a good portion of upper body. Though from his angle Yondu could see the wet shirt suctioned to his body, curving lightly in all the wrong places.
"Perhaps we should get to know him a bit better," Gamora was saying as he slowly stepped down the ladder. "Such a thing might make him open up to us."
Yondu snorted and his boots hit the bottom floor with a metallic clang. His men hadn't been beaten by a child, they'd been beaten by a woman.
To all those who've read this far and are still with me:
If anyone has any ideas or suggestions I'm always open to hear what others think should happen/need to happen. I know in the Marvel Universe things tend to come out of left field suddenly, and I'm trying to keep the GotG as close to the Movie/Comic Book as I can :) That being said I'd love to hear anything you guys have to say about story line, character development, and if i'm straying to far into the OC realm for existing characters.
Thankys :)