Pride

“Do not hesitate. Do not linger. One misstep, and your head will end up rolling across the floor. You enemies will not be as merciful as I am.”

“Nebula, I’ve never-”

“Held a blade in your sad little life? That’s unfortunate.”

I was panting, hunched over - sweat coated my body like a second layer of skin.

“Again”

“Nebula-”

“Again. If you want to improve, fight harder, or else you’ll bring shame to me, and to my father,” Nebula raised her blade, leveling the tip with my eye. Her voice was cold, black eyes unmoving. “Again,” she snarled.

I went again. My movements were quicker than before, but Nebula overpowered me. Again. Our blades clashed, and she narrowly avoided my attack before sweeping my legs out from under me. I landed, hard, sword sliding across the floor.

The edge of Nebula’s blade dug into my throat, one knee pinning me to the ground.

“Again-”

“Nebula, let her rest.”

I lifted my head, wincing. Nebula’s eyes travelled from me, across the room, to where Thanos was standing, rigid, arms crossed.

“You never allowed me to rest. Never. She needs to be pushed-”

“She is a human,” Thanos replied coldly. The minute he stepped forward, Nebula released me. The atmosphere changed - Nebula wasn’t exactly cowering in front of her father, but she wasn’t standing up, either. A touch of that arrogance, that smug confidence that she displayed while speaking to me, was gone.

I joined Nebula, standing. She and I were around the same height - her skin blue, textured, a fierceness in her that I’d never seen before. Thanos glanced between the two of us, saying, “You’re here to learn. Not to overwork yourselves. She’s improved, Nebula. That’s all I’ve asked for.”

That’s all you want.

I could see myself improving, physically. My muscles were more defined, more pronounced. I felt faster. I didn’t burn out as quickly anymore. Five months of training had, indeed, improved me. Nebula had improved me, although I’d never mention that.

Thanos and I had continued our usual regiment, fucking, talking, even after my additional sessions with his protege, Nebula. One of his protege. Maw like to brag that he was the favorite, but even I knew that wasn’t true. Gamora was - I’d only seen the green skinned alien woman twice.

“She’s never fought a real enemy before. Whether or not she can hold her own will determine if she’s ready.”

Thanos’ gaze travelled to me. I palmed the flat side of my blade, shrugging. “I…wouldn’t mind trying.”

Nebula almost looked….proud of my insistence. She glanced back up at her father, huffing and crossing her arms. Silence, and then Thanos replied, “Fine. There is a task I need completed. She and Maw can accomplish it together.”

Maw?

No.

No. No. No-

“I-”

Nebula gave me a sharp jab with her elbow, effectively silencing me. Her glare was enough, so I obeyed, shutting up and putting on the best poker face possible. Even then, Thanos didn’t seem to have missed the way my shoulders hunched at the mention of Maw’s name. He shot me a knowing glance before turning away, waving a hand. “Take a break. Both of you.”

We did. Nebula stepped out for a moment, before returning with two cups of water. She handed one to me, leaving me sitting on the hard ground, before moving to her own little corner.

I stared. After a long pause, she lifted her head and snapped, “What?”

“There’s...space over here. With me.”

Nebula rolled her eyes and turned away. I huffed, staring down into my cup of water before pulling myself up, muscles straining. I approached Nebula and plopped down in front of her, cross my legs.

Silence.

“Really?” Nebula drawled.

“You looked lonely,” I quipped. The blue alien rolled her dark eyes, shifting. She glanced around the room before leaning forward and lowering her voice.

“You shouldn’t have asked him for this. You are not a fighter. You’re his whore and nothing else.”

“He doesn’t think so.”

Nebula’s lip curled upward, and she smirked. “He isn’t fond of you. Don’t fool yourself.”

My eyes flickered to Nebula once again. Portions of her skin, the discolored parts, on her face, arms, legs, chest..they were metal. I’d known the moment we’d sparred and I’d grabbed her.

I didn’t dare ask. I didn’t dare look her directly in the eyes, either. They reminded me of a snake. Or a demon. A demon with a soft voice and a deadly blade.

“I’m sure that’s not true,” I murmured, trying to keep the conversation civil.

Nebula smirked. “Your naivety is almost cute,” she chugged the last of her drink, tossing the cup to the side. “ Almost . Now get up and grab your weapon.”

When I awoke the next morning, I was instructed to meet Maw and Thanos at the docking area. I forcefully dragged my sore limbs across the room, dressing, before fetching the sword Nebula had gifted me. It was a curved, sleek thing with a heavy handle. Five months ago, I would have felt awkward holding it.

How things have changed.

I reached the bay, greeting Thanos first, barely acknowledging Maw. I could feel his gaze on me as Thanos reached out and ran his knuckles lightly across my cheek, the gesture affectionate and tender.

“I expect nothing but the best. Nebula trained you well,” Thanos murmured. “You will come back to me, alive. Do you understand?”

“Yes. I understand.”

“Good, little human.”

Loading onto the circular ship alongside Maw was nerve-racking, and I was quick to distance myself as the tall, spindly alien tinkered with the controls. I kept my head down, one hand occasionally brushing across the handle of my blade.

Yet, Maw did nothing. He focused on steering the ship, only addressing me when he felt it necessary.

“We are going to be visiting an old acquaintance of yours. Hopefully negotiations will go...smoothly. If not, you know exactly what to do and who to kill.”

Knowhere.

I gulped, feeling the ship surge forward. For once, I wanted Maw to continue talking, so that I could get more information.

“What does Thanos want with the Collector?”

“He wishes to gain important details pertaining to something that you have no business knowing about-”

“Then why did he send me with you?”

I couldn’t see Maw’s face, but his shoulders visibly stiffened. He glanced over his at me, glaring. “You are just as chatty and insufferable as the rest of your species.”

“Yet you were the one watching Thanos and I have sex and touching yourself to it."

Now he froze, and I saw his fists clench as he steered the ship through the vast expanse of space. For a long moment Maw said nothing, then, in a low voice, “If you speak a word -”

“I won’t. Not this time. Not if you back off,” I interrupted, making my words slow and deliberate. Since I couldn’t see his face, I didn’t know whether or not it was working - my hand was still on my blade, the tension in the air palpable. “Whatever you want from me, whatever you’re after...I’m not giving it to you.”

“You will.”

I pretended not to hear, sitting down and leaning against the wall. We didn’t speak until the ship approached the massive, floating rock formation that was Knowhere, the skull shape evident, a green aura seeping from within.

Frightened bystanders fled as the massive ship landed, hovering just above the surface. Maw dropped first, and I followed, flanking him as we headed towards the Collectors all too familiar shop.

I entered first. The vast space was even more cluttered than before, creatures, prosthetics, rare gems, statues from all over the galaxy hung, swung, and stood upright. I saw Maw eying the room lazily, fingers laced together as he surveyed the area.

The Collector was nowhere in sight.

“He might have gotten a tip,” I said. When Maw raised an eyebrow, I explained, “He knows about you. He knows about the Order - when Corvus came and grabbed me, he didn’t put up a fight. He’s a freeloader, and a coward. He won’t confront us unless we force him to.”

“The element of surprise was not on our side,” Maw drawled. “No matter. Whatever we wish to take is ours.”

“What are we looking for, Maw?”

“None of your-”

“It is my concern!” I surged forward. Maw didn’t flinch, instead straightening up and peering down at me. “You dragged me out here. Thanos didn’t tell me shit - I deserve to know what’s going on, and why I followed your ugly ass out here-”

“Are you done ?”

I hit him. I acted on impulse, striking Maw across the face as hard as I could. The alien stumbled, dazed, and a bit shocked.

Shock turned to amusement, which wasn’t a good look on him.

“You really should not have done that,” Maw purred. “You’ve given me no choice but to retaliate.”

Oh shit.

The pure blast of invisible cosmic energy sent me flying, spinning through the air like a top before landing, hard, on one of the cluttered tables. I slid and landed on the ground, the wind knocked completely out of my body.

“That wasn’t fair. I only hit you-"

“Life isn’t fair,” Maw lifted the table, flinging it against with the wall with a simple hand gesture. “Look at you. You’ve already failed - acting on impulse is foolish and dangerous. Nebula should have taught you that. You bring shame to her, and to Thanos. Such an offense deserves correction."

He was smiling. 

Smug asshole.

I clutched my aching ribs, struggling to my feet. When I lifted my head, a pair of steely eyes locked onto mind. Maw’s long fingers twisted through my hair, grasping a handful and yanking my head back so abruptly that I thought it might snap. He was so, so close - he his scent, his breath, invaded my nostrils. I tried to turn away but he kept a firm grip on me.

You know what’s about to happen.

I did.

He bludgeoned me into the floor, not once using his powers. He was strong, for someone who looked so spindly and frail.

My head hit the concrete again. I saw stars. And then again.

He’s going to kill you.

Oh my God.

It hadn’t dawned on me. He was beating me to death. With each hit my body jerked and blood seeped from my nostrils and mouth.

Do something.

DO SOMETHING.

“Wait-”

My soft plea caused Maw to hesitate. I took advantage of that, nimbly drawing my blade and cutting a deep stripe just below his collarbone.

It wasn’t his throat, which I’d aimed for an had missed, but it was enough. He howled, hot blood cascading down onto me. I tried to roll out from under him, but he was still active - he snapped my wrist with ease, sending hot, fiery pain shooting from my hand to my brain. He let the broken limb flail before reaching down and snarling, using one hand to simply tear at my clothes, frantic, hectic, the blood streaming from his wound not deterring him. He palmed my bare breast, rutting into me like an animal in heat.

The minute he pulled his hand away and attempted to make a beeline for his pants, I struck, using what natural defense I had left: my teeth.

I bit down onto his jugular. His skin was rough, salty, and inhuman - I ignored the taste, squeezing my eyes shut and holding on. Maw’s scream was cut off by a choking sound as I tore a strip of flesh from his neck, sending blood spraying like garden house. It fell into my open mouth and onto my face.

He collapsed, rolling onto his back, stemming the flow of crimson from his wound.

Kill him

Kill him.

I was shrieking, my good hand grasping my blade, raising it high like Nebula had taught me-

“Enough.”

A bigger, stronger hand wrapped around my arm.

I froze.

“Let it go, little human.”

I did nothing. 

Thanos’ voice darkened. From behind me, I heard him repeat, “Let it go.”

Maw was gurgling, twitching, eyes wide. He was looking at something behind me - at Thanos.

I let my blade clatter to the ground. The noise echoed throughout the room.

Blood that wasn’t my own filled me mouth, dribbling down my chin. My tears came next, followed by heaving sobs that sounded foreign coming from my own mouth.

“Corvus, Proxima - deal with your brother,” Thanos pulled me back, nodding at his two children. Their wary eyes were on me, but they gingerly began tending to Maw while I was marched back to the ship like a child. It wasn’t until the doors closed that Thanos scooped me into his arms.

“You did well.”

I said nothing.

“I’m impressed. Maw likes to play with his food before he devours it - yet you prevailed.”

Still, silence. I’d stopped crying. There was a numbness in my heart that Thanos’ presence wasn’t mending. I hadn’t the energy to speak. My head pounded and I felt nauseous.

Sick . I wanted to vomit.

Get me out.

Yet I remained curled up in Thanos’ arms as if I belonged.