Chapter 17
I'm drowning in work, sitting in my chair, when Loki wraps their arms around me from behind and rests their head on my shoulder. "It's getting rather close to 2030, my dear Captain. Where are we going?" I look at my wrist com and sigh, seeing it was 2010.
"I've gotta get this stuff done... But as soon as I'm done, I can take you somewhere of your choice. Deal?"
"Deal. Come find me when you're done?"
"You got it." I smile and they return it as they leave. "Knife."
"Damn. I thought that I had managed to slip it away." They hand it to me, handle first, and I sheath it again, catching their hand. "Yes?" I gently kiss their knuckles and they smile. "I missed you as well."
"Get back to work." They chuckle while walking away and I continue what I was doing.
Crewmembers pass as I work and it's 0330 when I finish, according to my wrist com. I look at a message and head to my Quarters, where Loki had gone according to their message since they had a surprise for me.
"Oh..." They had set up a beautiful meal with candles, fake flowers, and my favorite candies while they were asleep on the couch, wearing an amazing outfit. The candles had burnt out and there was wax on the table, a sign that it had been set up for a while. I sigh and go over, gently picking them up.
"Hm?"
"Shh... Stay asleep..." They nuzzle into me and I gently lay them in bed, sitting next to them. I toe my boots off and get under the covers with them, putting my weapons and wrist com on the nightstand. I start to lay down and my wrist com goes off with an incoming transmission. "Of course..." I get up and take it downstairs, answering it.
"Rogue, hey! So, uh... We have a problem," Morgan says slowly and I look at him then at Indri, LJ, and Keiko.
"Are you guys in jail?"
"Yeah..."
"What planet?"
"Knowhere...?"
"You-? Wow... That takes skill... Even I never got arrested on Knowhere. No worries. You'll get bailed out."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. Sit tight." I end the transmission and take a breath before setting up a transmission with my family, minus the Avengers because Morgan is in this mess too.
"Do you have any clue what time it is?" Dad yells at me and I ignore the tone he uses.
"The time that I was just about to go to sleep when I get a fucking transmission from my siblings and my youngest kid that they got arrested. On. KNOWHERE."
"No. Fuckin'. Way," Kraglin says slowly before howling with laughter and I stare at the screen as the others start laughing too. "Kid, tha's gotta be the best- Why ain'tcha laughin'?"
"Cuz I'm not joking. They got arrested on Knowhere. How the fuck does one even do that?" I hiss, looking toward the stairs when I hear the blankets rustle, headache coming on already from a lack of sleep. I listen for a moment and nod slightly, content that Loki is still asleep. "And, seriously, talk about awful timing."
"Yeah... When was the last time you slept for eight hours, Rogue? Or at least an hour?" Lumes asks carefully and I open my mouth to respond before realizing I had no clue, thinking.
"Uh... I don't remember. Hehhhh... Whatever. I called because I need advice. What am I supposed to do with those four idiots?"
"Let them sit in jail for a bit," Martinex says like it was obvious and I look at him.
"It's Knowhere."
"Bail them out then have them sit in the Brig until 0800."
"You should not be going anywhere until you sleep. I will go pick them up and have a trusted crew member put them in the Brig for you, Rogue."
"Alright. Sounds good. Thanks, 'Mora. Nebula should still be awake so message her and she can do it." She nods and I rub my face. "Alright. If you were sleeping, sorry for waking you up. Thanks for the advice. Lemme need if you know anything- That wasn't right. Lemme know if you guys need anything... But don't need anything for, like... Five hours... Thanks..."
"Quick question," Senso raises her hand slightly and I quirk my eyebrow. "What's with the table behind you? The candles, candies, and flowers?"
"Oh... Yeah, that... Loki and I were supposed to go out earlier but I got swamped with work and only just now finished, about... Fifteen minutes ago... And I guess they had this planned for when I got done but I got done too late... So... Yeah... I'm gonna go to sleep... Don't need anything for about five hours... Thanks, later... I'm signing off... Do whatever it is you guys do when I leave a group transmission..." I end my side and go back to my bunk, climbing in next to Loki after sending a quick message.
"Mmm... Hello..."
"Hey... Did I wake you?"
"No..."
"Let's go back to sleep, OK?"
"Mmm... Wonderful idea..." They pull me close and I relax, resting my ear over their heart. "I love you, my dear Captain."
"Yeah... Love you too, my Stars..." They chuckle softly and drift back to sleep while I listen to their heart calmly thud in their chest, lulling me to sleep.
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I wake to my door opening and slide out of bed, slipping into my boots quickly as footsteps come toward the stairs. I grab my knife and pull my arm back, preparing to throw it when the footsteps pause at the foot of my stairs. "Cap'n?"
"Tullk, what the fuck, dude?" I sheath my knife and start to get dressed
"The kids are in the Brig...?"
"Yes. I'm aware."
"Cuz they got arrested?"
"On fucking Knowhere."
"'Ow the fuck did they do tha'?"
"That's what I'd like to know." I look at the time and see that it was 0900. "I'll go let them out in a bit."
"Aye, Cap'n. Ah brough'cha summa tha' chow tha'cha wanted." He walks out and I head downstairs, seeing the nice breakfast on the table.
"Alright... Let's make this up to Loki..." I arrange it carefully and put small flames in the candle holders, nodding a bit just as I hear them pad around upstairs.
"Rogue...?"
"Down here." They slowly come downstairs and I go over, gently covering their eyes.
"What are you doing?" They chuckle and I smile.
"I have a surprise for you..." I lead them over to the table and gently have them sit down, uncovering their eyes. "Sorry about last night..."
"It's alright, I understand. And this looks amazing." I sit next to them and eat, smiling a bit. "Were you able to get some sleep?"
"Yeah. You would not believe how idiotic my siblings and LJ are."
"Oh?"
"They got arrested last night or early this morning."
"Where?"
"On fucking Knowhere. How do you get arrested on a planet that doesn't have any laws? It's- I just- How?"
"It hurts your brain when you try to figure it out, doesn't it?"
"So much." They chuckle and I smile, feeling my wrist com buzz with the alarm I set. "I gotta go let them out of the Brig now since they couldn't stay in a jail cell on Knowhere and be safe. See you later. Love you."
"See you later. Love you too." I peck their cheek with a smile and they return it before I can leave. I calmly walk to the Brig and look at them all sleeping, seeing that they all looked like shit.
"WAKE UP!" I bark and they all jolt awake, grabbing their heads right after. "You took two minors to Knowhere and got them drunk?"
"I'm-"
"LJ, you are not old enough to drink so you are a minor in this case."
"I-"
"You didn't age so shut your trap. You two. Yap. Now."
"They're related to you! We thought they'd be able to handle it," Indri says quickly while Morgan kinda nods, looking a little pained, and I stare at them.
"You're all fuckin' idiots. Here's what's gonna happen right now. You're all going to go shower, get clean Leathers on, go eat something, see the Lead Doc for something to help your heads, and get to work. Any questions? No? Good. Get your asses moving." I let them out and they slowly move to do as I said. "Gods above and below," I grumble and head to get my work started, putting my hair up as I go.
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The solar cycle breezes by and I go to the gym at around 1745 because I finally, finally have some damned free time to work out.
"Hey... Uh... Parental unit?" I look toward the voice and see Gamora, catching the punching bag.
"Parental unit? Seriously?"
"Well, I don't know what to call you anymore... So... Yeah, parental unit..." She rubs the back of her neck and I nod, smiling slightly.
"Fair enough. What's up?"
"Well, it's uh... It's 1800... And you said once that if one of us ever felt like we needed to talk... To come to find you at this time..."
"Yeah, I did. You need to talk to me about something?"
"Yeah... Are... Are you free to talk now?"
"Sure. Wanna go to my Quarters or just stay in here?"
"Some privacy would be better..."
"OK. Come with me, then." I lead her to my Quarters and shut the door behind us, noticing Loki's already in here, reading a book. "Hey, Loki."
"Hello, Stars. Does Gamora need to talk to you in private?"
"Um... You can stay... I guess..." I gesture for her to sit across from me as I sit in my chair and she does, not looking at me.
"So...? What's up?"
"How do you deal with it?" She asks softly and I look at her.
"Can you be more specific about that? Cuz... There's a lot you could be talking about."
"Losing parts of your life because of the Kree and Skrulls? Being used to create kids but the pregnancies fail each time? Having to kill because it's kill or be killed?" Loki looks up from their book and closes it slowly. "How do I get past that?"
"Those are some good questions. But... I'm not the person to ask how to get past them. However... I can help you try to deal with it. If you want."
"I'll take any help I can get..."
"I always had someone by my side to help me get through it... Do you have someone like that?"
"Scott's daughter, Cassie? She's... Cool." She runs a hand through her hair and had a slight blush.
"Uh-huh... Well. Cassie Lang is always ready to listen." There's a knock on my door and I motion for her to hang on, pulling up the video feed. "And here she is now." I let her in and she looks at Gamora in surprise. "Yes?"
"I, um, I wanted to talk to you, Loki, and the family in private... But, I can come back if this is important...?"
"I was just leaving," Gamora says quickly before almost running out of my Quarters and I look after her for a moment, allowing my door to shut.
"So, you want the Avengers and other people in my family minus the kids, I'm guessing?"
"They aren't kids anymore, but yes."
"You knew what I meant." I start a group transmission with them and wait.
"You just can't get enough of us, can you?" Dad smirks and I already want to end it.
"Cassie wants to talk to all of us. So... Cassie?" I look at her and she takes a deep breath, folding her hands.
"I need your help with proposing to Gamora!" Dad and 'Mora blink and I chuckle.
"My oldest daughter."
"I see."
"Did I get a kid named after me?"
"Three, technically, Dad. Petey who's my oldest son, Jason who's one of my second set of twins, and Quill who's my third youngest kid. Gramps and Krags have a set named after them too. A lot of the twins have name twins in our family."
"And you're still BREATHING?"
"Why is that always such a shock to everyone?"
"Can we get back on topic, please?" Loki requests calmly and I look at them then at Cassie. "What were you planning?"
"I have no clue."
"Alright, OK. So... Hang on, lemme get this straighter than me, which doesn't take much effort. You want to marry my daughter."
"Yes."
"But you don't know how to propose?"
"Correct."
"And you want all of our help to do so?"
"Exactly. So... Will you? And do I have your blessing as her parental unit?"
"So you're who she got it from!" I start to sharpen my knives and she nods.
"Yeah, when she was on my ship and we were making... Making sure all of the medicine was locked up with our li- I mean! Uh..."
"Please, continue. This is amusing to see you try not to admit you're making out with my oldest daughter." I inspect my blade and look at her with an arched eyebrow, seeing her getting slightly nervous.
"What? No, we weren't! I-I don't know wha'cha talkin' 'bout! Heh!" I nod slightly and toss my blade casually so I'm holding it by the tip of it.
"Ya sure 'bout tha'?" I drawl casually and she chuckles nervously. "Let's make one thing perfectly clear, Cassie. You have my blessing, but it doesn't matter because she's her own person. But! If you ever hurt her in any way, shape, or form whatsoever, I will hunt you down like a deer for dinner and come down on you with all of my wraths. And you've only seen a percentage of it. Kay?"
"Yeah! Now, uh... How do I do it?"
"Half of my exes are dead and you're asking me?"
"Fair. Anyone other than Rogue?"
"Other than who?"
"Right... Cuz people complained about that... Anyone other than Admiral Emyrada? Even though their proposal to Loki was pretty fly." I roll my eyes and lean back in my chair, putting my foot next to me. "How'd you come up with it?"
"I used what few good traits and skills I had. Didn't work that great because Loki's dense as shit."
"Hilarious." I smile and she looks at us.
"Can anyone help me achieve that thing that they have?" She points at us and I look at her, confused. "You two are the picturesque version of a perfect couple."
"That's the most laughable thing that I have ever heard."
"Better than you and Pietro. Or you and Atar."
"OK. I'll give you that."
"I'm offended," Pietro says from the transmission and I ignore it, looking at Cassie.
"Back to the topic at hand, please?" Loki requests, again, and looks at Pietro through the transmission for a moment then back at Cassie. "What would you like to know, Cassie?"
"Did you guys imitate anyone else's relationship for yours?" Loki shakes their head while I think and she looks at me.
"Sorta..."
"Explain?"
"OK... This is about to give Rocket something to make fun of me for, but... I would tend to copy what two people did... A lot in my relationships... Dad and 'Mora..."
"Seriously?" Dad looks at me, shocked, and I nod. "Why?"
"That was the first healthy relationship I had ever seen. Keiko and Dean were... Yikes, to say the least. But, yeah. I copied my parent's relationship for my relationships and most of them ended fairly well."
"Half isn't most of them, though," She scoffs and I look at her.
"Do you want to get beat up right now?"
"Why did you, truthfully, copy our relationship, Rogue?"
"Gods... Mora with the hard questions... Per freakin' usual..."
"That did not answer my question."
"OK..." I pinch the bridge of my nose and let out a sharp sigh, thinking. "So... From what I could see... You were both happy with your relationship and when you weren't, you worked it out without dragging other people into the mess. You were each the others... Yin and yang? No? OK... Um... The blue and orange to the Milano?"
"We complement and complete each other?"
"Yes."
"That's the sappiest shit I've ever heard you say. Wow," Dad says, shocked, and Rocket was barely keeping from laughing.
"Yeah, I know. Shuddup."
"Kid, that was beautiful."
"Shuddup before I skin you and make you into a Davey Crocket raccoon skin hat."
"I'm bein' serious! That was beautiful."
"Uh-huh."
"Now if only the rest of you could match it," He howls with laughter and I rub my head with my right fingers, breathing slowly.
"Oh, almost forgot. Catch." I catch the pouch Cassie tosses me and open it, taking out what's left of my implant.
"Damn. You find the Yaka or no?"
"Not yet. We're still lookin'." I nod and gesture for them to talk while I mess with my implant to make it a chip like I did with Yondu's.