Chapter 17
"Who are the Destroyers?" Peter asks and I think of a way to explain it, letting out a short huff of breath.
"OK... Um... Y'know how the NYPD and FDNY have an entire feud going on?"
"Yeah. What about it?"
"The Ravagers and Destroyers have something like that. They don't have a code and do whatever they want. So... Yeah."
"What target did you steal from under their noses?"
"I dunno. I did it a lot," I scoff and let out a slow breath, thinking. "OK... These guys let in Ravagers who got kicked out for breaking the Code or, in one person's case, for beating on me."
"How did that work?" Steve asks and I look around the corner carefully.
"His former Captain's one of my uncles." They make soft noises of understanding and I bring my head around quickly, having seen a familiar face. "Oh boy... Of course, they brought him... Why wouldn't they?" I take a deep breath and think quickly.
"Hey! I think I saw her Colors over here!"
"Fuck," I breathe and tap my hand against my leg quickly as I think. "OK... Um... Yeah... OK, so... These guys will not hesitate to kill all of you. So, once I step out of the alley, go down this way, turn right, go past four alleys, turn right again, and bolt for the ship. Oh, and guys?"
"Yeah?" Tony raises an eyebrow at me and I check my knee before I look at them.
"Move quickly. Go."
"Don't kill them or hurt them too badly, Rogue. Please," Peter begs and I nod a bit.
"You got it." I step out of the alley and the familiar face greets me. "Atar. Been a while." He grabs me by my jacket and throws me into the building Tony had been in front of. I grunt and crumble to the ground. "I see that you're still pissed that I turned down your proposal..." I start to stand, vaguely noticing the Avengers just now getting around the corner, and he grabs me by the throat, throwing me into the alley they turned right down. "Dude, you're screwing up all of these buildings." The other Destroyers were following us and Atar picks me up by the throat, throwing me down the alley again.
"You got married to a twig! When you could have had me!" He kicks me in the ribs and sends me flying down the alley the others had gone down. "We heard what you told them to do. They're gonna see you getting beaten to a pulp." He picks me up by the throat and throws me out of the alley, into the open street that the Avengers had just gotten through to get to the ship.
He comes over and kicks me in the ribs again, making me roll away slightly. I try to get up and he kicks me in the stomach, knocking me back to the ground. He slams the heel of his boot into my ribs and I barely keep from crying out in pain, only grunting. "Oh, come on! You know I like it when you make noise when I spar with you! I still can't believe you told everyone that I beat on you when you'd come into my Quarters! You came in willingly! Anything that happened, you agreed to it!" He was slamming his heel into my ribs with each sentence he said and only stops when I was struggling for air.
"Ugh. You're just as pathetic as I remember you being." He turns his back on me and I stand with difficulty, grunting and gasping in pain.
"I'm the pathetic one? You're the one that had to force me to do anything with you in your Quarters. You're the one that had to beat on me because you were a shitty Ravager. You're the one that found where you belong with a bunch of no-good assholes! You're a pathetic sack of shit and I'll see you in Hell!" He had turned to me when I started talking and I blast him in the knee, vaguely noticing the Avengers and kids watching me as I go over to him.
"You're lucky I made a promise to not kill you." I spit on him and leave, limping slightly from the blaster shot to my knee. I board my ship and close it up before going over to Controls, hiding my pain to not worry the kids.
"Are you OK?" Gamora asks and I nod, sitting in my chair. Leta runs over and climbs into my lap, hugging me tightly. I hug her back and control my reaction to the tight hug on my sore, and probably broken, ribs.
"I'm fine. You guys finished with the hangar?"
"Yes, Captain."
"And your studies?" I look at all of the kids and they shake their heads.
"No. You took the people we study with, with you to sell the loot," Petey explains and I wave my hand slightly in a 'fair point' motion.
"OK. Well, they're here now. Get to studying. Go."
"Why do we need to learn this stuff?"
"Because I said you do. Now go." They go off to study and I hold Leta, rubbing her back gently as I set a course for Contraxia. Leta coos at me and I smile, petting her hair gently. "How are you, sweet girl?" I ask softly and she giggles, smiling brightly at me. They all look so much like Jay when they smile like that and it hurts my heart every time, but I just smile back.
I'm never going to do anything that will make any of you not smile like that anymore. Because when that happens, it takes so long to get it back and so much effort. I'll keep all of you safe and loved. I'd die before I let you get hurt because I love you. Even if I don't say it, I love you.
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We land on Contraxia and the crew had been given their units for partaking in the job, the kids too cuz they helped. I think a bit and look at Tony and Pepper, who had Morgan with them, as we disembark the ship. "Hey, could you two make sure the kids don't get kidnapped? There's a bar, restaurant, and arcade over there. The kids will be immersed in that and you guys can have like a date night sort of deal."
"We were gonna give Morgan to Drax and Rocket for the night so we could have a date night. Can't they watch the kids too?"
"Fair point. Rocket!" I yell and he turns from where he, Drax, Groot, and Mantis were heading to the arcade bar.
"What?"
"You get the other kids tonight!"
"OK! I like those kids!" Petey and Gamora lead the kids over and I smile a tiny bit.
"Make sure they don't get kidnapped! And stay by Rocket, you guys!"
"Obviously!"
"Fuck you, Rat!"
"Back atcha, kid!"
"That's Captain to you, asshat!"
"Fine! Back atcha, Captain!"
"That's more like it!" The two of them were watching in amusement and I shrug one shoulder. "Um, if you want, I can take you to a bar that gives you private areas?"
"Sounds great." I lead the way to the bar and Tony pays for their area.
Once they're gone, I pay for my own area on the other side of the bar and go to it, giving Loki the information over a message. I had brought some Rhone and whiskey over and set them on the table with glasses, chewing my lip slightly. I take a deep breath and sit down in the seat facing the door, waiting for Loki.
He comes in and smiles at me as he shuts the door behind him. "Captain."
"Loki." He sits down across from me in the booth and picks up the menu.
"What do you suggest to eat here? Also, I can not read this menu." I move around the booth to sit next to him and point to something.
"That's kind of like a steak, but juicier and it bleeds purple. It comes with the equivalent of potatoes and I recommend that because it is so good."
"How much is it?" He asks as he looks at me and I turn my head to look at him.
"No worries. My treat." I smile at him and he smiles back.
"If you say so, Captain," He says in a sultry voice and I blush a bit, clearing my throat as I look at the menu again.
"Um... This is a dessert... It's like angel's food cake and devil's food cake had a baby..."
"It sounds delectable. Much how you look right now." I blush more and chuckle nervously as I go back to the other side of the booth. "So... Captain?" I look at him and he was smiling mischievously at me. "What is this supposed to be?"
"A date," I say quickly and honestly and he looks taken aback while I blush more. "Sorry if it isn't coming off like that... This is technically my first real date... So, I'm kinda... Nervous...?" I try and don't look at him, choosing to instead look into my drink.
"No need to apologize, my dear Captain. This is... My first real date, as well... I am just as nervous..."
"You do realize that I was lying when I said I had a crush on Bucky, right?" He looks at me in shock and I roll my eyes slightly. "Everyone made it seem like it was obvious... I, um... I like you, Loki..."
"And I like you, Captain." I look at him in shock and he smiles slightly. "I lied as well... I do like you. Very much so." I smile a bit and he smiles back.
"Well, um... Would you like to start dating, then?" He nods after a moment and I smile. "I think that's how it works... Oh well. We got the same results as any other people would when they start dating." He chuckles and leans forward slightly.
"Would you mind if I kissed you, Captain?"
"Not at all..." He leans over the table and captures my lips with his, kissing me gently, yet fiercely. I kiss him back and can feel the tension melt off of me before he pulls away.
"That was enjoyable." He smiles and I nod my agreement. "Captain, I feel I should mention... If we ever go into your Quarters together... I do not submit, I dominate," He says in a slight growl and I shiver slightly, clearing my throat a bit.
"Got it. But, outside of there, you'd have to listen to me. Or would that bruise your dominant side too badly?" I smirk and he growls softly, catching my chin in a light hold. My breath hitches in my throat and we make eye contact before a smirk slowly spreads across his face.
"Good girl," He murmurs and my body relaxes at that while I purr softly, making him smile. "You will be my Queen, mine and only mine, sitting beside me on a thrown with your crown." I nod with my eyes closed and he strokes my cheek gently while I lean into his touch. He pulls away and I open my eyes, looking at him. "We need to talk about how this will work."
"Right... Um... Well, it'll need to be a secret for now... Until we can tell my family... And, maybe, the other Avengers..."
"You believe me to be part of the Avengers?" He asks in shock and I nod.
"Yeah. You turned a new leaf and became better, in the eyes of the public on Terra. That makes you an Avenger in my book."
"And when we decide to tell them? What about the rest of the crew?"
"You'll need to gain their respect. So, fight back and stick up for yourself. I can help you out if you want. During our whiskey talks." He nods and I smile a bit. "And, um... If we have... Whatever we had earlier, no one can know."
"Of course, my dear Captain. Perhaps we should talk about my rules and expectations for you?" I quirk an eyebrow at that and he smiles, pulling out a holopad. "I have a list made up. I made it the first time I saw you." He hands it to me and I look through it.
'Respect me when we are in private. Do your best to respect me in front of others. I am the only way you will get pleasure unless given verbal and written permission. I am allowed to punish you when you have broken a rule how I see fit, keeping in mind your history and trauma. Do not hide from me. Do not run from me. Do not lie to me. Do not lie about your health. Be as careful as possible. Respond verbally when we are in private. Do not do reckless things such as dare a Nova Corpsman to blow your head off with his blaster. More rules will be added as I see fit.'
"Well... The last one was specific..." I chuckle and look up to see Loki kind of glaring at me. "I knew that he wasn't going to do it."
"I believe there is also a rule on there about lying."
"OK, I didn't know that he wasn't going to. But, I was pretty sure he wasn't going to." He takes the holopad and adds a rule.
"Do not rely on partial knowledge or being 'pretty sure' when doing something," He says as he types it in and I roll my eyes slightly. "No eye-rolling when we are in private. Careful with the attitude when we are in private." He looks at me and I was sipping on my drink slowly. "No being rude to me while around others and not expecting any consequences." I open my mouth to argue that I wouldn't do that before closing it again and he nods slightly. "Do you agree to the rules, my dear Captain?" I nod and he quirks an eyebrow at me, repeating himself.
"Oh. Um, yeah." He smiles and I smile back a bit, sipping my drink. I get a transmission from Rocket and look at it, slightly annoyed.
"It is probably important. Please, answer." I do as I put an earpiece in my ear.
"What, Rocket?"
"Um, we got a problem."
"What is it?"
"Indri's missing and we can't find him."
"What?" I growl and clench my hand around my glass, cracking it slightly.
"We can't find Indri," He repeats. I growl wordlessly for a short moment and set my glass down, standing up.
"I'll be there in a minute." I end the transmission as I put my earpiece back and look at Loki. "Sorry to cut this short before we can even eat. But, they can't find Indri."
"I am sure they will. Please, sit back down."
"I can't. I promised that I'd keep him safe. I need to keep that promise, Loki." He looks at me and nods.
"I will help."
"OK. Um, Tony and Pepper are here on the other side of the bar so, be careful following me." He nods and I leave before he follows a few minutes later. I walk briskly outside and freeze for a moment before continuing to walk. "Indri! Get away from him! Now!"
Indri spins to look at me and Atar grabs him by his jacket, leveling a blaster against his head. "Hey again, Rogue! This runt belong to you?" Atar smirks and charges his blaster up when I get closer. "If you don't want him hurt, you better stop right there," He growls and I stop, looking at Indri. He was terrified and looks at me.
"Atar, let him go," I growl and vaguely notice the rest of my crew and my kids come out. "Now."
"No. Not until you understand the embarrassment that I felt when you turned me down. No one turns me down! Especially not some Terran bitch," He barks and shoves the blaster against Indri's head, making him tense. "If you want me to let him go, then get rid of your weapons. All of them." I hesitate for a moment before taking my blaster holster off and toss it to Rocket. "Knives too." I take off my thigh knife holster and toss it to Rocket, with my katana too. "And the one between your shoulders, Rogue." I grit my teeth but take out my other knife and toss it at Drax's feet.
"Happy?"
"Pull your duster away from your body." I pull my jacket(duster) away from my body and show him that my hips were bare of weapons. "Good."
"I did what you wanted. Let him go. This is between you and me, Atar."
"If you want me to let him go, get on your knees and beg."
"No," Indri yells and Atar yanks his head back by his hair.
"Shut up, Runt!"
"Ouch! Stop it! You're hurting me," He was starting to cry and Atar presses the blaster to his temple, looking at me as he lets go of his hair.
"You've got three seconds, Rogue. Or I'll blast his head off. One." I look at Indri and he was looking at me with wide, teary eyes, terrified. "Two!"
"Fine!" I drop to my knees and look at Indri. "You're gonna be fine, Indri. OK?" He nods a little bit and sniffles a little bit. I grit my teeth for a moment at how scared he is and look at Atar.
"Atar, come on, man... He has nothing to do with this... Let him go..." I had my hands near my hips and Indri was watching me. "He's my kid brother, Atar... He's all I've got left of my Dad..."
"That's nice," He scoffs and presses the blaster into his temple more. I flick my eyes to Indri and he was shaking slightly.
"Atar! Come on, man... He's just a kid..."
"I don't care. Say goodbye."
"Atar, please... Don't hurt my family..." Indri drops and I pull a blaster from behind my back, blasting Atar in the shoulder. I stand and go over to Indri. He scrambles up and over to me. I push him behind me and level my blaster on Atar, who was writhing in pain on the ground. He grabs his blaster and points it at someone behind me. I blast his head off and his blaster falls to the ground.
Indri was hugging me from behind and I carefully pull his arms from around me, checking him over quickly. "You OK? You hurt anywhere?"
"I'm OK..."
"Good... Good..." I grab him by his shoulders and look at him. "What the Hell, kid? What happened?"
"He... He said that he was gonna bring me to you," He says nervously and I close my eyes to keep from killing him as I let him go, blue streaking across my implant. "Are... Are you mad?"
"Am I mad? We've gone way past mad, kid," I bellow and he flinches, taking a small step back. "I told you to stay with Rocket! If I wanted you brought to me, I'd have someone on the crew get you! Or I'd come to get you my fucking self! I tell you this shit for a reason! Not for you to ignore me and nearly get killed!"
"Kid, calm down," Rocket says carefully and I spin on him, making him shrink back before I turn back to Indri. He looks terrified and I clench my jaw tightly, taking a deep breath.
"Indri, I told you to stay with Rocket because I know that there are people that want to get back at me and the other Ravagers for stupid shit. I can't always watch your back. I need some help, kid."
"How do I help?"
"By using what's in here," I pat his head and he looks at me. "And trusting your gut if you think something ain't right. Come on, I need to talk to the rest of the kids too."
"OK..." He follows me over to the other kids and they all look at me.
"You guys haven't been working on your physical training, have you?" They don't respond and I nod slightly, taking their silence as an answer. "You need to keep up on it. Bucky, Steve," They look at me and I motion at the kids. "Help them out with the physical stuff."
"Alright." They nod and I rub my temples slightly.
"And Indri is to practice getting out of holds and disarming techniques for longer than the others."
"What? That isn't fair!" I glare at Indri and he shuts up, not happy about it.
"It's plenty fair. Because you didn't listen, you got grabbed and had a blaster to your head, which is why you're working on them longer. Got it?"
"Yes, Captain."
"Good. Go back to what you were doing. And you guys stay by Rocket or else," I growl and the kids nod their understanding, running back toward the arcade bar with the remaining Guardians while I attach my weapons back where they go easily as I walk back to the bar.