Chapter 23
"All the crews still meetin' at Contraxia, Admiral?" Mulsa Divam asks at the end of the meeting and I pull my hair back out of my face as the returned Captains look at me, eyebrows arched slightly.
"Sure. Zen been giving you problems?" She shakes her head.
"Naw. He's been behaving lately."
"That's good." I pop my neck carefully as we head out to where our First Mates are.
"Cap'n," Tullk says as he hands me a holopad and I look it over as we walk, vaguely noticing my family following.
"Good to see the families were found. Where's the information on Mila's family?"
"She ain't 'ad no parents. They was killed durin' fights an' Mila 'ad ta watch."
"Siblings? Aunts, uncles? Any of that?"
"One big sister tha' escaped. Ya gotta- There ya go." I swipe through and nod, looking at it. "Yeah... Tha's Mila's sister."
"One Petra Maximoff. Great." I pinch the bridge of my nose lightly and look at Pepper and MJ. "You two know where she is?"
"Sadly," MJ scoffs and I nod.
"Bring her to Contraxia. Doesn't matter who you are, you don't get told over any sort of transmission that family died. That's an in-person conversation. Even if the person has the personality of an orloni's vomit."
"Damn," Kraglin scoffs and I shrug one shoulder, looking through the holopad some more.
"Alright. You take your pick on what half you want to contact and I'll do the other half."
"A'ight, Cap." Tullk takes the holopad and transfers some information to his wrist com so that he can be able to contact fifteen. "'Ere ya go." I tuck it in my pocket for now and grab a bar on the side of my ship, swinging myself into the cargo hold.
"See ya on Contraxia." The others board their ships and I send a message to Horuz and Oblo to meet us on Contraxia as the other Captains do the same with their crews before sending a message to Dad too. "I'll make sure they get contacted to meet us on Contraxia. This has their DNA reports too?" He nods and I look at him. "Tullk, what's in here that has you so quiet about the DNA?"
"Look fer yerself, Cap'n... Ain't gonna 'ave ta contact sum 'a 'em..." I look through and grip the holopad.
"Shit... The Ogords, Udontas, Obfonteris, Doc, Drax, Charlie, Mantis, Nebula, and Nex are some of their biological parents?"
"Yeah..."
"Shit..."
"Yeah..." I rub my face as he pilots us to Contraxia and I help us land, thoughts all over the place. "Who ya gonna tell first?"
Someone pounds on my ship and I sigh, sliding down the ladder. "Petra."
"What do you want?" I look over at her to see she wasn't wearing Ravager Leathers while Pietro wasn't either, behind her, and sigh softly as the other Captains watch with the Avengers and Guardians in case
"It'd be better if we talked in private, Petra."
"I'm not going anywhere with you! Tell me what you want or I'm walking away!"
"It's about your sister."
"Mila?"
"Yes."
"What happened to her? Did you do something to her?" She storms over and I hold my hands up calmingly toward her. "Tell me what happened to her!"
"She was made a slave and she got rescued but we weren't able to find her family until today. Petra, I'm sorry, but she died."
"What?" She breathes and I catch her as her knees give out, carefully lowering her into a chair Krugarr portals over.
"Easy there." I steady her carefully and she shakes her head.
"No... No Mila isn't... She isn't dead!"
"I'm sorry, Petra. I truly am. But she is." She stares at me and tears well in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. The med team did everything they could but... She was too hurt and had too many underlying conditions. We haven't done anything with, um, with her body yet so that you can give her the send-off you believe she deserves. Just let me know when you're ready for that and I can give her transport to where you are."
"Thank you," She whispers as tears fall and I nod after a moment while Pietro comes closer to comfort her. I move away to give them space and she weeps into his shoulder while he holds her close.
"Kid, you OK?" Bucky asks and I nod after a moment.
"They go much better together than he and I did."
"Alright, what did you need us here for?"
"After the meeting, the crews take a couple of solar cycles to unwind and get ready for the next annual cycle of jobs. It's worked out pretty well since there's been a higher success rate of jobs. And, um..." I rub the back of my neck slightly and try to think of the words with a sigh. "I need to talk to a lot of you..."
"Cap, Moddy," Ella calls and I look at her as she jogs over from the Eclector. "We have the families..."
"I was hoping to do them one at a time... OK... Um, don't go too far... I do need to talk you a lot of you but-"
"Yer fine, Ro. G'on," Yondu says simply and I smile slightly at him.
"Put any drinks on my tab." I head toward the ship and clear my throat, gaining all of the relatives' attention. "Hello, everyone."
"We were told that you could tell us about our children, siblings, family... Where are they?" One woman who looks like an older female Rajak that was rescued and I look at them all.
"It might be better if I told you each separately, in private...?"
"Just tell us... Please..."
"I'm sorry... We rescued them about two weeks ago, fourteen solar cycles... And they were badly injured... The med team did all that they could but... We weren't able to save them from that..." Some of the parents' collapse and I catch a man close to me while others in my crew catch the others with their family. "I am so sorry... As soon as you're ready, we're going to release their bodies to you so you can lay them to rest properly... The way you deem correct..." I carefully stabilize the man and he stands shakily. "Let's sit you down, Sir."
"She was all I had left," He whispers brokenly and I settle him in a chair Nebula brings over. "They were all some of us had left... And now they're gone... For good..."
"I know what-"
"How do you know? Have you ever lost a child?" A woman screeches and I look at her.
"Yes, actually... I have... I've lost numerous..."
"You're no more than twenty-five! How could you have lost any children? Let alone had any?" I let out a humorless chuckle and everyone looks at me, Nebula having slight sadness in her eyes.
"I've just turned fifty... My first husband and I could not keep a pregnancy no matter what we did... And I thought that I had lost all of my children that came to be out of pure miracles... I thought I've lost my entire family at times... So I know how you all feel... What you're all going through, I understand... Please don't try to fly yourselves back. Someone will give you and your lost loved ones transport back."
"Is Mommy gonna come back? Do I get to see her again soon? Get her to sing to me again?" A little boy asks and I crouch, looking at him closely.
"Is that your grandmother?" I gesture toward the woman that had spoken when I first came on board and he nods. "I'm sorry, kiddo... You won't be able to hear her sing to you again for a while..."
"When, then?" He looks at me and I hum softly in thought, looking at him as he comes closer.
"I'm not sure what religion you believe in at the moment, but I'm sure there's an afterlife in it... If the God or Gods you believe in are good ones? You'll be able to see her annual cycles down the road... But hopefully not anytime soon..."
"OK..." He starts to cry and latches onto my neck. I tense and slowly hug him back, rubbing his back in slow, gentle strokes as he sobs into my neck.
"There, there... It's, uh... It's alright..." His grandmother comes over and gently takes him, letting him cry against her legs.
"For your neck..." She hands me a napkin and I take it, carefully wiping my neck off so he doesn't see. "I'm sorry about that... He-"
"He's young and just got a lot of bad news... It's fine, I get it..." I smile gently and she nods, rubbing his back gently. "Tanas can take you to where they're being kept if you want..." They nod and Tanas leads the way as I stand. "Neb... I need you to come with me..."
"Alright," She says with uncertainty as she follows me and I see Tullk waiting outside the Mirage with the rest of my family, taking a deep breath. "Is everything alright?"
"Let me get us a private area first... Then I'll explain everything..." She nods and I nod my head toward the door, getting a nod from Tullk before he leads them after me.
"Admiral Emyrada! Long time no see! Private room?"
"Area, yeah."
"You know the way! Just pay when you leave!"
"You got it." I lead the way upstairs and lean against the bar as they filter in, most of them sitting.
"Alright, Rogue. What's up?"
"The only four that are exempt from this, that don't have to worry about what I'm going to say are Dad, 'Mora, Rocket, and Groot."
"What? What is it, Ro?" Dad asks, worried, and I rub my face as I try to think of the words.
"Six of the people we rescued, were around the same ages... All younger than Mila... But no older than five..."
"OK...?" Doc looks at me and I sigh sharply.
"OK, OK... Just gonna... Say it, then... Those six? They were your guys."
Silence greets me and they stare at me. "Wha'?" Yondu breathes and I nod. "They-They's dead?"
"No... But..." I sigh again and try to form words. "Tullk?"
"They's missin'. We ain't got a clue where they is. Tanas told me tha' a bit ago, Cap'ns."
"I have another child?" Drax asks and I nod. "Do you have any images of them?" I hand him the holopad and he looks at his and Doc's son.
"What-?" Senso clears her throat and I look at her.
"You and Krags have a daughter... Pops, you and Aleta do too... Gramps and Lumes have a daughter... Charlie and Mantis have a son... And so do Marty and Nebula..."
"Three and three," Mainframe scoffs and I nod. Krugarr seemed to be meditating and I watch for a moment.
"I have Horuz and Oblo searching the ship for them now. They happened to be the smallest ones but that just means they'll have to channel their hunting skills from when Dad was a kid." Gamora chuckles while Dad rolls his eyes and I smile. "Oh, speaking of them. What is it, cranky old bastard?"
"We found the twerps! But they won't come out of the vents! They're gonna end up burning themselves and putting the ship out of commission!" I nod and look at them.
"I'll deal with the check, get some food and drinks. Like, a lot of drinks. We're gonna need 'em. And by we I mean me. Be back with the kids." I bolt and skid onto the ship, Stephen waiting for me. "Hey, Strange."
"Admiral. I can't find their locations."
"Just get me a plant. I've got this."
"Last time you had this with a plant did not go too well."
"I've matured since then. Just- Get me a damn plant." He portals one in front of us and I rest my left hand on it as I take a deep breath, closing my eyes.
My eyes snap open to reveal them glowing as vines grow from the plant and I send them into the vents, making sure they're about the size of the largest of the kids. I look around the hall blindly as I look through the vents with the feelers on the vines and feel when they catch the kids, pulling them back to me carefully.
The Ogord kid screams and I sigh, rubbing my head slightly. "Oblo, Horuz. Help me out with taking them to their parents." I grab two of them, the Udonta and Obfonteri kids, and Horuz grabs the Ogord and T'Naga kids. Oblo grabs his half-brother and Mantis' son, following us to the Mirage again.
"This is them?" Lumes asks in a whisper and I nod as I set her daughter down with Senso's. Kraglin and Yondu stare at them and Dad looks at them.
"I'm an uncle now!" I snort and he grins brightly. "And an older brother! This is amazing!" I chuckle softly and Yondu grins slightly, looking at his daughter. Dad starts laughing and I look at him.
"What's so funny?"
"You have an aunt that's younger than you!"
"Dude, are you drunk?" He laughs still and I roll my eyes. "Your son is being an idiot."
"It's no problem. I think Yondu would sooner trust this girl with the ship than Peter," Lumes says with a small smirk and Dad stops laughing, making me laugh shortly.
"It isn't funny, Ro!"
"Hey, who said I was laughing?" He glares at me and I grin, hearing someone stop behind me before arms wrap around my waist. "Hey, Loki." They rest their chin on my head lightly and I chuckle softly as the Avengers and my kids settle in the area. "What? Petey exhausting?"
"Why are you the only one able to get children to nap without a hassle?"
"It's a gift."
"Perhaps you can transfer it to me, then?"
"Sorry, no can do. I have zero clue as to how I do it."
"That is rather..."
"Unfortunate?"
"Yes." I chuckle again and he sighs. "Is there any-?"
"Asgardian Ale? Sadly, no. There is the outlawed whiskey on the down-low, though."
"Hm... Acceptable enough." They go to get a glass and I watch them carefully.
"We should have another ceremony. Since you, ya know, died, I got remarried, and all that." I put my hands in my pockets and they hum softly as they nod.
"That is a wonderful idea."
"Great! Because it just so happens, that I have a new ring for you and I've been told that it will look amazing. Since, as we all know, I have no sense of fashion." Bucky snorts and I ignore him. "And it has, ya know... Sentiment and shit... I feel like hurling now. Ugh." They chuckle softly and look at me.
"May I have it then?"
"Oh! Yeah! That-That would be helpful, huh?" I scoff and they chuckle again as I look through my pockets, patting them carefully. "This is still going a little better than the first time... At least it isn't under a couch..." I look through my pockets again and grin casually.
"You lost it, didn't you?" They smirk and I scoff.
"What? Of course not! I, uh... I just gotta... Remember where I put it..." Dad snorts and I glare at him shortly, searching my pockets again. "I know I have it on me. I've had it on me this entire solar cycle."
"Oh. You mean this?" Indri holds up a box and I take it from her.
"Damnit, Indri!"
"It was on the floor!" I narrow my eyes at her and she holds her hands up slightly.
"Fine. Thank you. Now hush." She rolls her eyes and I smile at Loki. "See? Told you I didn't lose it."
"You are a wonder."
"I guess so, yeah. Anyways! Here you go, I hope you like it, thought was put into it. And... Yeah..." I smile while giving them two thumbs-up and they chuckle, opening the box.
"Rogue, this is empty."
"God fucking damnit," I say as I drop my head into my hands and my shoulders shake.
"Are you OK?" Dad asks and I laugh, looking at him.
"I can't tell if this is going worse or better than the first time I proposed. And this one doesn't have a tracker on it! Damnit! Rookie mistake," I wheeze through my laughter and Loki barely contains their laughter. "Fuck, can't breathe..." I try to get my laughter under control and they smile at me as I manage it. "OK, OK... We need to find your ring."
Someone's hand tugs on my duster and I look down. "Petey? You're supposed to be taking a nap!" I pick him up and he leans into me, shivering. "How did you even get here from the ship?" I wrap my duster around him and shake my left hand slightly to summon warmth to it, rubbing his back gently.
"Walked..." I notice he had something and tilt my head to look at him. "For Moddy..." He hands it to me and I take it with a laugh. "Wh-What's funny?"
"Moddy thought they lost this. Thank you for bringing it to me."
"Welcome... Cold..."
"Gee, I wonder why, Petey. Maybe because you don't have any warm clothes on and walked barefoot through the snow to get here?"
"Nuh-uh... Cuz Moddy didn't cuddle me for my nap..."
"Hey, don't be giving my secrets away like that, shh," I hiss playfully and he giggles, making me smile. "Where'd you find this?"
"In that box..." He points to the ring box Loki was holding and I chuckle.
"That's where it went, silly boy."
"Oh... Sorry, Moddy..."
"No harm done, kiddo. Here, how about you go to your grandma?"
"I have one?"
"Mhmm. She's the most beautiful, amazing grandma in all of history." He gasps with a quick nod and I chuckle. "You mind takin' him, 'Mora?" She seems a little shocked but nods and gently takes him. He looks at her and she smiles gently.
"You right, Moddy... She's super pretty!" Dad chuckles and I smile.
"When have I ever lied to you about someone being pretty?"
"Never..."
"That's right."
Music plays around us and I look at Rocket. "What? Thought some music was needed. Can't do it without the dance move!"
"Wait, a dance move?" Dad looks at me and I chuckle. "Show me!"
"Alright, alright. Loki, would you like to dance with me for a moment?"
"Of course!" I take their hand and dance with them shortly before spinning them around. I spin and fail miserably. "SHIT," I curse as I fall and knock my elbow against the bar.
"Are you OK?" Loki asks quickly and I laugh.
"That went so bad!" They try to keep from laughing and I look at them, pushing myself onto my elbow. "Eh, might as well." I grab their hand and tug them on top of me, catching them easily as they yelp softly. "Good to see I can keep you falling for me even after all these annual cycles, Loki." They laugh at that and I laugh with them, going to put the ring on their finger.
"I lost the ring again," I wheeze and they laugh more. "Gods, this is going terribly!"
"I would not change it for anything, Rogue," They remind and I smile, cupping their face to kiss them. "Though, perhaps I would change the part of losing the ring," They say thoughtfully when I pull away and I laugh, resting my head on their shoulder as my body shakes from my laughter. "Twice now," They remind with laughter evident in their voice and I laugh harder.
"Gods, stop talking, I can't breathe... Shit..." I try to get my laughter under control and they chuckle. I straighten up and they smile, making me cover their face with my left hand. "Don't even, I want to be able to breathe for at least ten minutes. And we still need to find the damn ring. This is going to Hell in a handbasket quick."
"Would you mind taking your hand off of my face now?"
"I forgot about it, honestly." I move my hand and they chuckle.
"The rings behind you to your left. Your left, Rogue," Steve sighs when I look to my right and I hold my left hand up. "Yes." I look there and grab the ring, giving him a thumbs-up. "You are an idiot."
"And you are a Capsicle. Suck it up. ANYWAY!" I look at Loki and smile charmingly, making them chuckle. "Let's try this again, yeah?"
"Sounds lovely. Without the dance, though."
"Yeah, my elbow still kinda hurts." I shift to one knee and look at them. "So..."
"Yes."
"I haven't even asked anything, yet, Loki," I laugh and they smile.
"Of course, my apologies. Go on."
"Wanna get married again?"
"No, I do not," They say sarcastically and I give them a look, making them smile. "You felt the need to ask a stupid question so I gave you a stupid answer."
"Don't make me hurt you. Your face is too pretty for a bruise." They snort and I look at them. "And give me the real answer too. If it's not too much of a hassle," I tease and they give me a look. "Do you want to get married again? Yes, yes, or more yes? I guess no could be an option as well, but it's not the right one."
"You are insufferable."
"That is still the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me during a proposal so... Thank you, I do try. It's not easy, takes a lot of effort on my part, minimal effort on-" They cut me off with a kiss and I smile, returning it. "That still isn't an answer..."
"Yes, you imbecile."
"Well, you just agreed to marry this imbecile for the second time, and this time it's for all of eternity. You ain't gettin' outta this tha' easy 'gain. Which hand?"
"The flesh hand would be more logical, Rogue."
"Fair enough." I slip it onto their finger and smile as they look at it.
"Is this a snake eye gem?"
"Yes. It's called a cerunzite. They're only found deep in the mines of Sovereign."
"How did you get a hold of it? They still want to kill us," Dad says and I just shrug one shoulder with a slight smirk. "Please don't tell me you went to that damn planet just to steal a gem for a ring!" I just look at him as I stand and he throws his hands in the air. "Damnit, Rogue!"
"I didn't, calm down. You're gonna give yourself a heart attack, old man," I smirk and he glares at me. "I need a beer. Does this place sell beer?" Sam grabs one from the bar and tosses it to me. I catch it in my right hand and grip it too hard, shattering it as I cover myself in beer. "You're paying for that one. Hand me a beer." He rolls his eyes and hands me a beer over the bar. "And I'm the insufferable one? Seriously?"
"We could make a list for you," Martinex offers as he holds his four-year-old son and I look at him. "I can start if you'd like." I grab a chair and straddle it as I open the beer with my teeth, gesturing for him to go ahead. Loki chuckles and sits at the bar. "You always have something to prove."
"You always have to be right," Tony adds and I give him a look. "Habit of mine too, don't feel bad." I roll my eyes and take a swig of my beer.
"You hold grudges for a while," Keiko adds and I look at her. "When was the last time you went into town looking normal?"
"Not wanting to associate with the people that tried to kill me on a solarly basis for seven annual cycles means I hold a grudge?"
"Yeah, that wasn't the best example."
"No, it wasn't. What about Reggie?"
"You mean the prick that drugged someone I care about and was going to sexually assault them? That Reggie, Steve?"
"That one was worse... I'd say Atar but that's also justified, even though he's dead."
"That is true and I don't have a grudge against him, per se. It's more of... He's a good cheat sheet for red flags. Which I need sometimes since I am colorblind."
"You saying Loki has red flags?" Doc asks and I snort.
"Nah, Loki's... Loki. We need to plan a Stealing of the... Marrier?" Doc chuckles and nods. "Cool, cool. Who do you want me to steal you from?"
"I suppose the Avengers. It only makes sense since they are my family."
"True. Oh, that reminds me! Cassie, look at your wrist com. I sent you something that should be helpful."
"Cryptic." She looks and nods a bit, thinking about it. "That would work... And after we-"
"If you so wished, yes."