Chapter 18
I vaguely listen to their conversation as I work and brush my hair out of my face as I finish, oblivious to the jackass in my family planning something.
"KID!" I jolt and hit an exposed part of my arm, short-circuiting it.
"I'm getting a new fucking hat once I can fix my arm, Rocket." I focus for a moment and send a burst of energy through it, feeling my shoulder jerk back. I flex my fingers and look at the square housing the Guardians, eyes glowing dimly in a threatening manner. "You like a professional asshole or what?"
"Pretty much a pro," Yondu scoffs in sync with Rocket saying it and I look at the blue man. "Wha'? Tha's wha' 'e said 'fore we killed the Crew ya got now."
"You think I got a choice of these idiots? You did. I just took what was given to me. They work well enough and they're all terrified of me so it works out pretty damn well if I do say so myself. Anyway..." I carefully pick up the chip and look it over before adjusting my skull just enough that I can connect it to my brain, allowing my skull to reform properly once I'm done. "Now..." I whistle sharply and Dad jumps out of the way of my arrow.
"What the fuck?" I nod a bit and notice a portal open on our ends so I whistle, catching it calmly.
"That is so fuckin' cool," Cassie breathes and I smirk slightly.
"Why did you go for the Yaka arrow anyway?" Dad asks and I think, twirling mine around my fingers as I do.
"The... I want to say stability but that isn't the right word for why. Um... The security of using it. The fact that someone would need something so particular to make it so I can't feel the connection or a gag to make so I can't use it. It's... Reassuring that I have a failsafe in case anything happens. Cuz this bitch stays hidden if I'm going against annoying creatures that want me as a slave again. As for Novas... Well, it strikes fear into their souls and I love that. Gods, can you imagine Keiko and LJ's reactions? Oh, this is gonna be amazing."
"I see that you still find pleasure in the little things."
"Duh. The little things are simple, small, everyday things. They're nice. Like... It will never matter how long I've been a Ravager. The view will be breathtaking every time and it only gets better. That's what I missed most on Terra. Tony had to outfit my entire floor with monitors so that I could get a copy of the view anywhere. It's in my top ten best birthday presents."
"It got you to stop sleeping outside in the dead of winter so, yeah, seemed like a good investment and idea."
"I've had worse than a little frostbite from Terran weather. Anyway, were you able to get some help?"
"I mainly got to listen to people make fun of you and your relationships."
"Not surprised at this point. Par the course."
"I still need help."
"What does she like?"
"She's your kid and you don't know what she likes?"
"It's been a minute, OK? I know she's still good at being in Med. Just find something you both enjoy doing and incorporate that. Don't be an asshole. Can you do that?"
"Yeah...?"
"Good. Now..." I press a button on my wrist com and a video of them kissing in the hall outside of the hangar pops up. "Explain yo ass!"
"She had chapstick on and I needed some."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, plain as g-DAY!"
"You are so-" I have to stop to keep control of my laughter and keep a straight face. "You are so full of- Gimme a second." I cover my mouth and take a slow breath.
"Good?"
"Yeah, yeah. Let's try that again."
"Yeah. Plain as g-DAY!"
"You are so full of sh-! I can't," I laugh and she barely keeps herself from laughing too.
"Are you both high right now?" Tony asks and she laughs.
"We wish! They just can't keep a straight face because they're as straight as a cooked noodle."
"Not my fault I'm an enby or gender-fluid person dating, married to, in a relationship with another one. That is so straight."
"Honey, don't lie to yourself like that."
"Bitch, you can get out for that."
"Fair. But-"
"She liked carnivals a lot. Take her to one of those and win her stuff, let her win you stuff, win yourselves stuff. They have jewelry booths. Take her to one and buy, not steal, one that she lets her eyes linger on. That's how you know she likes it."
"Thought you couldn't remember?" Martinex smirks and I flip him off.
"Why no stealing it?" Mantis asks and I look at her.
"That's the booth runner's only source of income for the carnival. Pay for it and give them extra. Be a not shit person. Make sure you're recording it somehow. I want to see it."
"Sure thing, Cap. Thanks for the advice. Are there any nearby going on?"
"Not a clue. Look it up." She nods and leaves, hopeful it seems. "Ah, yes. The wonders of youth. Gotta miss it."
"You're, like, thirty-three."
"I'm turning fifty this annual cycle."
"Shit."
"Yeah. Why are you back here?"
"I just realized that we have new bounties on our heads," Cassie explains simply and I pull up the bounty site for the Ravagers.
"This sum bullshit cuz they're all from the damn Kree and Skrull radical bastards. You'd think I have a great face with the price they have on my head. Holy shit." I shake my head slightly and scroll through the site, holding a hand out to Cassie. "I know you found carnivals."
"Here." I take the holopad and swipe through them, pausing on one with some thought.
"OK. This place is a giant carnival and they screen for species. Crew could use a break. It'd be nice to reconnect with the kids," I mutter to myself and rub my face with a soft sigh. "What are you again?"
"Lead Nav."
"Right. I knew that."
"Sure you did."
"So you don't want to go to the carnival planet?" She doesn't respond and I barely smirk, scrolling through the site again. "Go put in the coordinates."
"Aye aye, Captain." She goes to do that and I scoff softly.
"So, question. What's with the mirror in the Captain's Quarters on this ship, Razzle Dazzle?"
"Oh, that. Hm. Yeah."
"Enlightening." I just shrug and think for a moment.
"I broke it with my fist because I saw Loki and Jay in it. If you want to, join us on Gatera. If not, do what you do. If you want some stress relief or to blow off some steam, well... I'm quite good at leading it. Gatera." I end the transmission as we go through jumps and look at Loki. "We'll get some time together. Hopefully. It's been too long."
"I agree." They come over to me and simply straddle my lap, wrapping their arms around my neck while we're both clueless to a plot. "Much too long."
"Why, Loki... Seems like you want to kiss me..."
"Your lips do look just so kissable, my darling."
"You won't know until you try, now will you?"
"Mmm... No, I suppose I won't." They lean forward, cupping the back of my head, and kiss me deeply. I rest my left hand on their back and cup their face with my right, returning it. "No need for you worry, my Treasure. Later during the third watch, I will. Make good. On the. Ravager name. And completely. And utterly. Ravage you," They promise between more kisses and I rest my forehead against theirs, gently rubbing a knob in their spine and their bottom lip with my thumbs.
"Well... Don't threaten me with a good time, my Harmonious Solar System." They smile and lightly squeeze my neck, making me close my eyes with a soft sigh as I relax. "Mmm..."
"Was not expecting you to be a bottom."
"JESUS FUCKIN' CHRIST!" I jump at Dad's voice and Loki turns their head slightly.
"That is just rude. Goodbye." They end the transmission and turn back to me. "Now... Where were we?" I chuckle and the ship docks.
"Damn. Later, I guess. But I know the best spot in this place. You trust me?"
"Of course."
"Good. C'mon." I lead the way off of the ship with the kids while the Crew does other things on the planet and I look at them. "Stay close to each other, OK? Morgan, Indri, Cassie. You three are in charge." They nod and I look at them. "Don't do anything stupid, OK?"
"We won't! And we're offended you think we would!"
"I'm sorry, who got arrested on a planet without any fucking laws?"
"OK, fair point."
"Yeah. Hey, you guys able to get a senior discount?" I yell at Steve and Bucky with a laugh and Bucky looks at me.
"Hilarious, Kid. So funny that I'll be nice and give you five seconds."
"How kind of you, Buckysaurus, one of the only two living fossils!"
"And there it went in that one sentence." He comes toward me and I smirk, waiting until he grabs for me.
I shift my foot forward and do a backflip to get away from him, landing on an empty table. "Might as well give up, Anakin," Dad yells as he comes in and I smile slightly.
"I have the high ground!"
"Idiot," Bucky scoffs and I backflip off of the table, sticking the three-point landing before I flip my hair out of my face.
"It's fun, though. So... I win," I smirk, standing, and he rolls his eyes. Dad wraps an arm around my shoulders and lightly digs his knuckles into my scalp.
"Told you that you'd love the movies if you watched them in the right order, kiddo."
"Get offa me!" I shove him off and he laughs while I hide a smile. "Ugh, I have your disease of happiness. Gross."
"Oh, don't act like you don't love it!"
"Shut up. Idiot."
I whirl in time to catch Peter trying to jump me and throw him to the ground, looking down at him. "You couldn't have possibly believed that was gonna work."
"Eh. I was hoping it would. But... I know that will."
"What?" I get my knees taken out by a small thing and look at the culprit.
"Moddy," Petey laughs and I smile at him, accepting the hug.
"Hey, little man." I stand and toss him in the air slightly, making him shriek in laughter. Pietro strides over and I sigh, scrunching my nose up at Petey to make him laugh again.
"I'll take him now."
"Can't even let me have ten minutes, Pietro?"
"You're the one that didn't try to fight for custody, Admiral," He reminds icily and I look at him calmly while the others watch, the tension so thick you can cut it with a knife.
"I'm not going to fight over our three-year-old. He's not a piece of property. He's our three-year-old."
"And you agreed to me having full custody of him. Meaning I decide when you can see him and for how long. It's been long enough. So I'll take him now."
"Moddy... Daddy..." He was close to tears and I look at him, gently brushing his hair out of his face.
"It's alright, little man. I'll see you later, OK?" He squeezes my face slightly and rests his forehead against mine before kissing the tip of my nose.
"Love, Moddy." I smile gently at him and gently press my lips to his forehead.
"Love you too, Petey."
"That isn't his name."
"It's what I call him. Go back to your Daddy now, OK?" I crouch with him as I set him down and he hugs me tightly for a moment before going back to Pietro.
"Bye, Moddy." He waves at me as he's led away and I return it, bending my fingers. I watch them until they go around a corner and stand with a soft sigh.
"I'm getting too old for that shit..." I notice Gabe walking over and quirk an eyebrow. "What's up?"
"I have some news for Quill." I nod as he goes over to him and a Krylorian woman comes up to me, the other Captains in my family showing up with their crews.
"Admiral Emyrada...?"
"That's me. What can I do for you?"
"I heard that I had to come to you if I wanted to marry a Ravager as a civilian...?"
"Well, any Ravager comes to me for the wedding stuff since I marry them to their spouse, but... Yeah. Why?"
"Well... I'm marrying a Ravager... And I need some explanations...?"
"The Stealing of the Bride?"
"Yeah..."
"That's an old tradition. No serious harm is done to anyone and it's a way to prove to the bride's family, home ship, whatever that the groom and his crew will be able to protect her."
"Oh. That... That's nice."
"Yeah. So... How long have you been with your Ravager?"
"Almost five years, or annual cycles... Right?"
"Right," I chuckle and she smiles a bit. "And that's not bad. Have they proposed?"
"Yes, he did." She shows me the ring and it looks familiar but it's gone before I can place it.
"Looks nice. So... Who's the lucky guy?"
"Pietro Maximoff."
To say there's a record screech would be a gross understatement with how quickly every Ravager in the vicinity goes silent. "Oh?" I ask more calmly than I feel and she nods, smiling.
"He's very sweet."
"I'm glad to hear that. How long have you been engaged for?"
"Four annual cycles."
"That's lovely." I smile sweetly and Yondu looks at me, concerned.
"And he has the sweetest little boy! He said that his mother died in childbirth, sadly."
"Truly a tragedy."
"They look just like each other, though. I can see why he's named after his Daddy." I just smile politely and see Gabe's eyes widen then Dad's when he sees us talking. "They get along so well, too! He's an amazing father." I smile sweetly and she returns it, clueless to what it means while all of the Ravagers get nervous. "Well, I have to go now. Um, I can message you when we get everything figured out, right?"
"Course you can. Let me just give you my frequency and you can send me a message as soon as you have all of it planned. Sound good?"
"Alright." I give my frequency to her and smile sweetly until she's gone, dropping it.
"Let's fuck him up," Rocket says simply and I stand, holding one finger up to him.
"I've got this, no worries." I go over to a booth and the runner gulps, looking at me.
"Y-Yes?"
"How much for a song?"
"Twenty units..."
"I'll give your forty to crank it up and give me the mic."
"Deal..." I give them forty units and they crank it up, handing the mic to me. I select the song and the runner leaves the booth so I stand on it, leaning out slightly to look over the crowd. Pietro locks eyes with me and I smile sweetly, starting to easily sing along with the song but louder than it.
"Umm, you could say that again. Dudes is square like Madison. I can't even really get mad at them. They fall, then I gotta facepalm. Shook him like a 8-ball and it's embarrassin'. Ten-page text, shoulda wrote a book, coulda made a bag. But he broke and he still waitin' till I can chill. And he really think I'ma get back to him. Doin' too much, relax a bit. Actin' like that cause your dad's a bitch. Must be the way that the planets is. Must be your face cause it's not your dick. I'm a freak, not a masochist. Shoulda known you had the baddest bitch. Left on read and can't give head. Really, you ain't shit, need a laxative," I sing as he comes over, looking pissed, and he pulls me down.
"What are you doing?" He growls and I smile sweetly.
"I'm singing a song, Pietro! What? Do you not like it?" He growls wordlessly and I smile so sickeningly sweet that his glare wavers slightly with fear in his eyes before I continue.
"Said that's not cheatin' if I wasn't with yo ass, yo! You kept secrets and yo fiance told me that! So, logical thinkin' is just something that you lack! So, what you even mad for? Lookin' like a stick up in yo asshole!" I sing angrily and he keeps glaring at me.
"Are you done?"
"What? You don't like your dirty laundry getting aired? Bold of you to assume I give a shit! You're the one that-"
He punches me across the face as he takes the mic and knocks my head to the side. "Enough!" I look at him with glowing eyes and barely contained rage.
I slam him against a building hard enough to dent the wall and grip his duster in my fists, everybody around us freezing. "You don't get to dictate when it's enough! Not after you didn't have the balls to end it with me sooner! You've been with her for almost five annual cycles! And dared to act like nothing was happening," I snarl in his face and he looks at me. "Figure out your wedding with her because after it? I better never see your face again. Petey can choose who he wants to be around once he's old enough."
"You don't g-" I slam him against the wall again and he shuts up, grunting.
"He gets to choose, Maximoff." I let him go and he stumbles slightly. "Get out of my sight before I damage the building more." He leaves and I look at Gabe, walking over.
"Hey..."
"Shut it. You are to keep an eye on my child. The second either of them does anything to hurt him, take him out of there and bring him to me. Got it?"
"Yup. Can do. And let you know?"
"Yes."
"You got it."
"Good."