Chapter 3
"Thanks for keeping this..." They look at me as I continue to fidget with it and Doc lifts my shirt to gently prod at my ribs. "Ah!" I hiss sharply and they take some pictures to check for broken ribs.
"Sorry, Rogue. It looks like only a few of them are broken, though. The rest are just bruised. Breathe shallowly." I do that and they put some patches on to help speed up the healing process. "There. Please take it easy for a little while." I nod and they check my knee over, putting a brace on it to help out with that. "There..." They hand me a rag and I look in a mirror to clean the blood off of my face. "Take it easy, alright?"
"You got it, Doc..." I finish cleaning up my face and see a portal from Krugarr open before the rest of the people from the airlocks and the kids step through it, turning to look at them. Doc crosses their arms over their chest with Segs doing the same with his numerous arms and I finish wiping my blood off of my face.
"What do you all want?" Doc asks and Gamora comes over, holding Quill.
"Are you OK?" She asks carefully and I look at her, seeing she was scared and worried.
"A little worse for wear, but yeah. I'm good." I pat her shoulder gently and she nods a bit.
"OK... Good... Um... Are your sides and stomach OK?"
"Bruised up. I'll be fine soon enough."
"How soon?"
"Not sure, kiddo..."
"OK... Um... Why were you getting beat up by Yondu and Martinex?"
"I did something they didn't agree with and Loki thought it would be fine for that to happen."
"What was that?"
"You remember Solstice Eymadra?"
"Your Mom?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Yeah... Why?"
"We went to destroy the planet that houses her life source."
"OK... Why didn't they agree with that?"
"Because I could have also died and the planet being destroyed left me stranded in the deep for a bit. They get temperamental about people being left in the deep ever."
"But, you're OK, right?" Petey asks from the foot of the cot I'm on and I nod.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"She's alive. Fine is not the word I'd apply to this situation because she has three broken ribs, the rest are bruised, and a severe injury to her knee. Among other, smaller injuries."
"Yeah... That doesn't sound fine, Mom..." Kraggles says from next to Petey and I roll my eyes slightly. "What happened to your implant?"
"Things. Things happened to my implant and that's all that you need to know."
"OK..." Nebula looks at me and leaves to get a new implant started after going through a portal created by Doc Strange. "Why are you wearing those clothes?"
"Because I haven't had a chance to get my clothes from a shop on Xandar or my ship from Xandar. Am I good to do that, Doc?"
"Take someone with you. Please."
"Can do. Gamora, Petey. Come on."
"Could you take someone over the age of eighteen as well?"
"I'll bring Tex too."
"Thank you."
"No problem. I need a portal to my hangar..." Krugarr opens one and I go through it with my oldest two, leaving Quill with Loki. "Have fun, Loki."
"How did I become the bad guy?" I turn in time to see both Segs and Doc punch him and I smirk slightly, going toward an M-ship.
"Isn't this Nebula's?" Petey asks and I borrow his wrist com to make sure it was alright that I used it.
"Feel free to use my ship, Captain," She calls from a higher level and I give her a thumbs up.
"'Preciate it, Neb!" She nods and I board with my kids, messaging Tex to get there quickly.
"What do you need, Cap'n?"
"Doc wanted someone eighteen or older to come with me and you fit the bill. Congratulations." He nods and sits, strapping in next to the kids. I nod and pilot to Xandar, explaining anything they ask.
I land next to my ship and disembark with Gamora, boarding my ship with her. "Just gotta grab my arrow and wrist com them we go see Chex."
"OK." I grab the two things and attach my wrist com to my wrist before disembarking with her again.
"Tex. We'll be back in, like, ten minutes to half an hour. Keep an eye on the ships and Petey."
"You got it, Cap."
"'Preciate it." I head that way with Gamora and she looks around a bit.
"Are you sure it's OK to bring me with you?"
"Yeah, it should be."
"OK..." I head into the shop and the three turn to look at me, Riv and Vera dropping what they're holding at the sight of Gamora.
"Dear Gods! It's like looking at a female clone of Jay," Vera hisses and I look at her, noticing she edged slightly closer to me but to be in front of me.
"Relax, kid. They ain't gonna hurt either of us."
"They already hurt you, though. Abandoning you when you were framed." They look uncomfortable and I turn her to look at me.
"Any Ravager who doesn't know their Captain that well and believes in the Code that strongly would have done the same. And we had been through a lot before that so it didn't help. Chill." She kind of huffs and nods. "Good." Chex comes out and looks at Gamora then at me.
"New crewmembers to know where my shop is?"
"Docs orders are to keep somebody by me. She's the only one I brought to your shop with me. Sorry, Chex."
"It is fine, Dear. Are you here for you Leathers?" I nod and they make a hand motion toward the same curtained-off area from before. "They are in there."
"Thanks, Chex. Gamora, behave."
"Yeah, yeah," She grumbles and I stare at her for a moment before she looks away. "I will..."
"Good." I go to get changed quickly and put my arrow in its holster, hearing them talk to Gamora. I smile a tiny bit and head back out, pulling on my neckerchief. "Playing nice?"
"Yeah. These guys are pretty cool." She smiles and I return it with a slight quirk of my mouth.
"Yeah, they are. Thanks again, Chex. See you later." They wave slightly and I leave with Gamora, ruffling her hair gently. "Thank you for being civil with them."
"No problem." We go back to the ships and board the Winter. "We heading back to the ship now?"
"Yup."
"Nice." I contact Nebula's ship and we both head back to the Shadowblade.
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We dock in the hangar and disembark to hear a song start to play. "Come on, Peter. Only killers know this. It's common knowledge."
"There once was a ship that put to sea, And the name of that ship was the Billy o' Tea, The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down, Blow, me bully boys, blow (Huh!)
"Soon may the Wellerman come, To bring us sugar and tea and rum, One day, when the tonguin' is done, We'll take our leave and go," I sing along with the song and they turn to stare at me. "Dude, this song is dope."
"How are you feeling, My Dear?" Segs asks and I look at him then look at Peter.
"You know that video of people singing about getting hit by someone else's electric car?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"You got a copy of it?"
"Obviously." He pulls it up on his wrist com and plays it.
"I apologize for what's fixin' to happen. Maybe into traffic, I will waddle. I now beg you, step on the throttle. And ALL I need is to be. Struck. By. Your. Electric CAR! Hard enough to leave a scar. Baby hit me with your car."
"Yep. That's how I'm feeling. Where's Loki?"
"Med. Those two knocked him out," Rocket explains as he points at Doc and Segs and I look at them. They smile and I'm not sure how to respond for a moment.
"Cool... Um... I'm gonna go see if he's awake, then."
"We'll be landing shortly, Captain. And it would be better if he were awake to join you," Nebula tells me and I nod slowly.
"OK..." I go to Med and see Loki sitting up with a soft groan. "Looks like they did more than just knock you out."
"They did the same amount of damage, probably more than, that you got from Captain Udonta and First Mate T'Naga. Other than my knee." I nod and go over to him, looking him over as I gently grab his chin. "Rogue-" I let his chin go and look away slightly.
"Look, I know that I fucked up, alright? I was trying to protect you guys and, um... My Mom helped me do that... I know I shouldn't have lied to you about where we were going because you don't deserve that and neither do the kids... But I knew you would try to stop us... I... I'm sorry..." I rub the back of my neck slightly and he gently grabs my hand, making me look at him.
"What you did was not right. Neither was what I did. We have both, as you put it, fucked up."
"Majorly."
"Astronomically," He agrees and I smile a bit. "Now, we just need to fix it, yes?"
"Right. How do we do that?"
"That depends on how badly your family wants to murder me."
"They threaten to eat everyone. It's our thing."
"That is not a normal thing to have, Rogue."
"Eh. It's fine." He shakes his head fondly and I smile at him a bit. "Normal to my family is way different compared to normal to your family. Normal varies for each person. It's also an illusion. What's normal for a spider is a calamity for a fly."
"When did you become so wise?"
"It's a quote from a musical Keiko liked."
"Of course it is." I roll my eyes and look him over a bit more. "I'm fine, Rogue. I heal quickly. Much like you."
"Good. We're landing somewhere for some reason." He nods and starts to get out of the cot. "I'll meet you in controls?"
"Sounds good, Captain." I nod and head to Controls to see that we were just now landing on the Meeting Planet.
"What're we doing here, Pops?"
"I told you we'd be celebrating with the Clans. This is the celebration." I roll my eyes slightly and notice the ships for the other Clans were there too while it was set up outside like my wedding with Jay. "Krugarr will be doing what I did last time. With nicer words."
"Damn. So I won't get called an idiot this time? I'm gonna miss that," I say sarcastically and he punches me in the arm, making me laugh. "No, seriously! It was such a heartfelt speech! I'll miss it!"
"Oh, don't worry. You'll still get a 'heartfelt' speech," He smirks and I narrow my eyes at him slightly as there's a flash of light behind the building we hold the meetings in. "What in the Hells?"
"Mother and Father have arrived," Thor explains with a smile and I nod a bit, opening my mouth to ask a question. "Yes. They brought ale."
"Sick." He disembarks and I start to when I'm stopped by Segs.
"Now, now. Please do not tell me you only expect your groom to be dressed nicely?" I look at myself dressed in Leathers then back at him and he looks back at me.
"I can get changed into my newer Leathers...?" He shakes his head with a sigh while the others chuckle and he pulls me toward the Designer's area.
"Even those will not do!"
"Seriously? They're nice, though!"
"The Leathers will not do, Rogue!"
"Oh. I have a tux." He freezes and looks at me, thinking.
"You have a tux?" Aleta gapes at me and I nod. "This I gotta see!" I head to my Quarters and they follow me with the rest of my misfit family, including Thor since Rocket had called him back onboard.
"Well, Loki will be wearing a robe of sorts... Yes, this will work... Let us see." I let them in and go to get changed.
"This'll be good," Rocket snickers and I get changed quickly, putting on my nicest boots.
I go downstairs as I take my gloves off and Aleta whistles while the others just look at me. "Yes, yes... This will work wonderfully!" Segs claps with a huge smile and I chuckle softly, smiling back. "You look fabulous, my Dear."
"You always say I look fabulous, Segs."
"Because it always true! Now... What to put Loki in... Hmm..." Segs looks at me and opens his duster, motioning me over. "You are much too tall now."
"I can give you a chair." He nods slightly and Bucky puts a stool next to him.
"Thank you, Bucky." He nods and Segs climbs onto the stool while I go over to him. "Now. Close your eyes." I raise an eyebrow at him and he smiles reassuringly. "Do you trust me?"
"When it comes to fashion? Yes. Surprises? Not so much." He shakes his head slightly and lightly hits my shoulder. "I am so mortally wounded! Whatever will I do?"
"Close your eyes. Please?"
"I suppose. Since you asked so nicely." I close my eyes and feel him take my glasses off. "I swear to all of the Gods, Segs, if you're about to put makeup on me, I will be forced to hurt you."
"It is only to ensure you do not see what I have before I am ready for you to see it."
"Mhmm..."
"What was it you would always say? Skits honorable?"
"Scouts honor, Segs. Scouts honor."
"Ah, yes. That." I chuckle softly and lift my chin slightly when he guides me to do so. "You need at my throat why?"
"It is a surprise. Patience is a sin, not a virtue."
"It's the other way around, but I like your way better. Patience is overrated. Ya done yet?"
"Not yet, my Dear. Another minute or so."
"Why are you taking my tie?"
"Because it is atrocious."
"It came with the tux."
"This is why you should not be allowed to buy your own outfits. You have no taste in fashion."
"Hey! I have taste in fashion!"
"No, you do not. I am sorry to break it to you. But you do not. At all."
"I do too!"
"Name one stylish thing you have other than this tux and your Leathers." I think for a moment and tilt my head slightly for a moment.
"Alright. Fair."
"Mhmm. Are your ears still pierced?"
"Yep."
"Do you have earrings anywhere?"
"Should be some in the second drawer from the top on the... The left side of my desk down here." I hear it open and someone whistle.
"What about your other piercings?"
"Still got them." He starts to put the earrings in my ears and I let him, tilting my head slightly.
"I still do not understand why you had your two ears have different styles."
"Thought it looked cool. Fucking hurt like Hell to get them all at the same time, though."
"I am still surprised that Jay willingly went with you."
"I'm not. He wanted to help me piss Dad off. And man, did it work!" I chuckle and he finishes with my earrings, adjusting a tie.
"There." He slips my glasses back on and hands me the rest of my jewelry. "Go put them in, my Dear. It will look amazing!" I shake my head slightly but go to do it nonetheless and look in the mirror at my ears. I had gotten all but the shells and flaps pierced and had a lot of piercings on my ears alone.
"This oughta be interesting after so long..." I start to put the rest of them in and I'm going to let Segs do another one of them because of my glasses.
I head back down and anyone who didn't know about the piercings stares at me, shocked, while the ones who did know laugh at the faces of the others. I had my left eyebrow pierced, my right nostril, the part between my nostrils, my bottom lip, my upper lip below the part that's between my nostrils, and two more that they hadn't seen yet. "Hey, Segs. You mind doing one more?"
"Your bridge piercing?"
"Yeah."
"Of course." I go over to him and hand him the barbell before taking my glasses off. He puts it in and I put my glasses back on carefully, nodding slightly in thanks. "Do you have your-"
"Yup. Gramps, you still got that picture of when I first got these?" He nods and pulls it up, showing me. "I love that picture so much." I look at the Avengers and Peter was looking at me in awe along with the kids. "Wanna see me recreate a picture of when I first got these?"
"Yeah!" Yondu shows them the picture first where I had my left eye closed tightly, my tongue sticking out slightly, and I was flipping off the camera and they look at me expectantly as I lean against my desk. I recreate the picture, with my glasses on, and, finally, show off my tongue piercing to them. Yondu takes a picture of it and I shake my head slightly, grinning.
"It would probably look better if I still had my hair and had it dyed black as I did in that picture. But a new cool picture. Can you send those two pictures to me?" He nods and does that. "Thanks, Gramps."
"Yeah, yeah. Ya ready?"
"Yeah. Is Loki getting escorted this time?"
"Yes. Mother is doing it."
"Nice. So I'm waiting for him at the... Altar?" Krugarr nods and I nod back. "Nice. Let's go, then."