A Talk
After what happened in the cockpit, everyone seemed more quite than usual. Although, it was kind of expected because of how Nebula’s speech sounded so true and hit on really good points that even Quill who is known as a good debater lost for words. Well, despite of sour moments, no argument sparked on that day. It might be the first time after 2 weeks of nonstop arguments and complains in the ship. It felt so peaceful all of the sudden and everyone realized that. They might be trying to not ruin this moment.
Yet Mantis still curious about what happened before Nebula snapped yesterday. she really wanted to know what happened like how a mother is curious about her kids acting so out of place.
Mantis thought to herself about who was going to be her target. Her first thought was Drax, but when she saw his whereabouts, he was watching Groot playing game besides her. She didn’t want to bother that moment so she skipped him, including Groot. the very next target was Nebula, but she was just like her, devoid of any idea what was happening. She thought about Quill and Rocket, but she knew that both were the hardest to get info to, especially when they were in a bad mood, like now.
So, the remaining candidate was Thor. The asgardian might have been there all the time. Even though he was drunk constantly, he was still a nice guy to talk with. At least, that was how Mantis saw the blonde man. when she looked around to find Thor, he just went to the back of the ship. Presumably, to the kitchen. He always looked for beer when he ran out of it so it was a reasonable guess.
‘So it was decided’ she thought ‘Thor is the one’
Mantis who sit at her usual position besides Groot went to the kitchen. She found Thor who was busy looking for something in the fridge and of course, he was looking for a beer and he found it. He then proceeded to open the bottle and drank a good gulp of the beer, savoured every single drop of it. He actually finished the bottle in one gulp. Mantis just stood there, watching Thor finishing his beer. She then greeted the blonde man.
“Hello, Thor. How is the day?” She asked as she approached the sink then washed her hand. (she was doing this because she thought it would make her not so obvious. she was kind of investigating anyway). Thor then responded.
“Good! Nothing seems to explode today which is nice” he then grabbed another beer, this time it was a can. “you know it is a relief when noone is complaining, but i don’t know if it will be like this for the next hours” he added as he chugged the beer in the same manner as before.
“I think you should not drink much. It is bad for you” Mantis suggested. Thor smirked
“now here you are, ruining the streak” he then sit at one of the chair, staring blankly at the table.
Mantis who finished washing her hand walked to Thor, took a seat besides him as she patted the asgardian’s back. She knew that the new member of the guardian had a hard time on the ship just like how she was back then. She is relatively new to the team anyway so she knew how the asguardian felt right now.
“You know I am used to be the latest member of this team. I know exactly how you feel. being made fun of, getting yelled at...”
Thor was surprised at the moment, even getting angry a bit, but Mantis continued.
“but i know they are like that because that is how they behave” Thor got confused and squinted at Mantis a bit
“That is not what i meant!” Mantis responded soon as she realized Thor’s expression “i just want to say that Peter, Rocket, Drax, even Groot just like to have fun. They are sarcastic in a way, although Drax is sweeter and Groot is not that mean, but i know that they don’t mean it” she claimed as she glared at Thor, assuring him.
Thor who was kind of spooked by her... expression proceeded to calm himself down then responded. “well, um... Thank you for your attention. It means a lot” he gulped his saliva like he was getting weirded out.
Mantis who realized that immediately apologized. “I am sorry, Thor. I-“ Thor immediately responded
“No, no! It’s not your fault, Mantis”
“No, of course this is my fault, i made you weirded out. I am sorry”
“No, I don’t mind. Besides, that is how you behave anyway”
Thor gave a little smirk. Mantis didn’t respond, she smiled back instead, blushed, seemed like she was fluttered by the blonde's word just now.
After a moment, she snapped back then actually got back on track. “Ok, there is something i want to ask you” Thor heard her then asked “What is it?”
“It is about yesterday...”
Thor suddenly became pale, Mantis who realized the change on the asgardian asked worriedly
“What happened?” She then put both of her hand on Thor’s shoulders not changing her own position. “You can tell me everything. I won’t judge you. I just want to know what happened that made all of you like this”.
Mantis had a point. People who didn’t know what happened yesterday was Mantis and Nebula as both of them were at the cargo, though Nebula could care less of what happened as she just had enough. Mantis was different. She was more caring to others. She simply was the morale support for the guardians besides Gamora. Thor knew that and finally he opened up to her. “Ok, I will tell you what happened”
“It was a quite day as usual, but it was not quite like today. It was more of an intense one” Thor recounted the event yesterday with a low almost broken voice, looked down at the table, frowned (like when someone in their bad mood). “We were trying to suspect Gamora’s whereabouts, but it didn’t turn up well”
Thor stopped for a moment. Then he continued, sadder this time “It was my theory that she was just disappeared, got dusted by the snap Tony does back on Earth” Mantis shocked for a moment.
“I know it is crazy, but the logic is there. We don’t know if current Gamora is on our side, but she is in good terms with Nebula. Other than that, she might still be one of Thanos’ subordinates or that was what Tony thought. We just don’t know”
Mantis still listened to Thor, trying to understand what happened. That was a good point and the most logical so far, yet a really unfortunate one. Thor continued “Quill didn’t like that and began to shout at me. I just gave him my thoughts and he simply said it was wrong. I agreed with him, though the other seemed to agree with my theory because of how logical it is. Rocket stayed quite though”
Thor then lied down on the chair, sighed as he finished the retelling “then we got into an argument, shouting, even breaking some bottles, even getting into a fight, but fortunately, Nebula came and the rest was the same as you know”
Thor did his best on recounting what happened yesterday and Mantis finally understood. She then thanked Thor for telling her, though it might not be the best reply, but she tried.
“Thank you for telling me. Now i know why you all are like this” she patted Thor’s back then “I am sorry for Quill. He just love Gamora so much. He just can’t lose anyone anymore.”
That actually caught Thor’s attention.
“Quill loves Gamora?”
Mantis chuckled at that in disbelieve “Wait, you don’t know?”
Thor blushed for a moment “yeah, i don’t”
“I mean it is quite obvious. He acted like that because he cares so much for her. She is so important to him that he is ready to give his life if necessary”
Thor didn’t know that Gamora is everything for Quill. The asgardian might have forgotten what love is as it had been so long since he was in a relationship or a love from his people. He just lost too many people to remember how it felt to be loved or to love someone.
“Thank you for your company, Thor. It is quite a talk” Mantis patted Thor once more then proceeds to get up from her seat. The asgardian stopped her as he grabbed her hand and pulled her back to her seat.
“Mantis...”
Mantis who was still startled of Thor’s action started to stammer
“Wh- Wha- What is it, Thor! I- I-“
Thor then shaked her back and forth, tried to make her steady, as Thor stopped and Mantis stared at Thor, he said “I will make Quill realize that he is not alone” the asgardian said it crystal clear.
Mantis stopped and paid more attention to Thor, a bit confused “I won’t let him sacrifice his life just to save his loved ones. I won’t let that happen” Mantis was getting more confused of where this was going, yet the asgardian continued “because he already has his family, this is his home...”
Mantis finally put herself together and responded “Of course, Thor. He knows that alrea-“
Mantis’sentence was cut off as Thor continued, but he lowered his voice... almost like whispering
“...and i love him”
Mantis didn;t really get that. But as soon as she gets it, she gasped then lost for words. It was shocking like really shocking. She wanted to comment about that, but she looked around for a moment, catching a silhouette at the entrance of the kitchen. It might be one of the others. After a moment, it rushed back to other room. Mantis who panicked pushed the asgardian back and she was about to end the conversation, for real this time. Thor flinched for a second, although he might have been drunk for a while.
“Okay. Thor. That’s enough and Thank you for accompanying me. We have a good talk together. If you have anything to share or want to have someone to talk to, you can go to me, okay?”
Thor who snapped back to reality then replied
“Oh yeah, i will, Mantis. Thank you for the talk too”
“You are welcome” Mantis responded sweetly
After that, she rushed to the front, leaving the asgardian behind. Thor sit there for a moment, thinking of why Mantis pushed him back. Is it because of his sudden action? Is it because of his confession? It is not for Mantis anyway, but why did she panic so hard? the asgardian didn’t really take it seriously and proceeded to get more beer on the fridge.
Meanwhile...
Quill who just went from the bathroom, returned to the cockpit with heavy breath, Drax realized Quill’s condition, asking him of his condition “Quill, are you alright?” Starlord didn’t responded at first. He took a deep breath and let a big sigh out. He then responded “It’s nothing. Really.” He said it almost with no breath left from his lungs. Just what the hell is wrong with him now?!
Thor arrived at the cockpit with a bottle of beer in his hand and mouth full of beer. He gulped the beer in his mouth then spoke with a sigh.
“ok, what now?!”
he was almost angry at the moment. Quill quickly responded with a loud voice
“Nothing, Thor! I swear!”
the peace was almost gone, Nebula who was in there was ready to snap everyone back, but Quill then rushed to his room without saying anything. Nebula irritated by this
“What is wrong with him, now?!”
Thor who got stared by Nebula replied
“I don’t know, i just arrived, alright?”
Nebula looked at Drax
“I don’t know” Drax replied.
Nebula stared to Groot
“I am Groot!” Groot replied with a teenage rage sound in it
“I am sorry, Groot”
Nebula then stared at Rocket
“Not even a clue”
Nebula stopped for a moment
“Where is Mantis?” Thor who had a clue on that replied “She might be in her room. i just talked with her in the kitchen” Nebula rushed to Mantis’ room.
“Well, what great day!” Rocket said in sarcastic way or in irritated one.
“I know, rabbit. I know”
“Stop calling me rabbit, Fat Ass or I make that belly explode!” Thor then sit at his usual seat, didn’t care of Rocket’s claim and stared blankly in front of him.
“Well, what a great day indeed” Thor mumbled to himself.