Chapter 6
Swinging your legs like a child as you were sitting, you were trying to explain to Nebula the function of a kettle. You laughed as she gave you this “this is the most absurd shit I’ve heard of my entire life” look. You two were sitting in the small garden behind the Avengers compound, it was a warm late spring evening and since the guardians and you had arrived to work with “Earth’s mightiest heroes” for a few days, Nebula had kept asking question about what she called your “weird Terran habits”. So you would go on walks together or you would show her around the city when you had a bit of free time (even though you had to make her wear a hat and sunglasses so she wouldn’t catch too much attention) and you were glad to explain everything to her.
“And what’s this?” She asked pointing to the small patches of roses and tulips.
“Flowers?”
“Yes. Today I saw a man giving some to someone, but they weren’t sticking out of the ground”
“Oh, well you have to cut them and you make a bouquet”
“What for?”
“You can give them as a gesture of politeness or to people you like”
“But how is it useful?” she gave you the same look as earlier.
“Well there’s not much use to it, it can be to decorate or just symbolic. Like I said, give them to people you love.”
“Like friends?”
“Sometimes, but mostly for people you love romantically. Especially red roses.”
There was a small silence during which she processed the new information.
“Do you like them?” she asked looking at you with her expressionless voice, it was always so hard to figure out what she was thinking.
“Roses?”
“Yes.”
“They’re pretty, but I think they’re a bit cliché. I love tulips, though.” You answered giving her a warm smile.
“Hm.” She paused. “..Is there any other “flower” you like?”
You took a minute to think about your answer. “Well I like lilies quite a lot. And they smell pretty good too. But, wait, you’re telling me that you, who has traveled across half this universe, have never seen flowers?”
“I’ve seen plants. And things similar to them. But none looked like this”
-
“Urgh, what are those two idiots even talking about for them to stay there so long?” Rocket said, watching you from a higher window inside the compound.
“I think it’s cute. Even heroes deserve some time off” Natasha answered.
“Well, that’s because you’ve never seen them give those doe eyes looks to each other on the ship or during diner. It’s disgusting.”
Nat just let out a laugh as they both went on their way, knowing there was no way of changing the Raccoon’s mind.
-
The following morning, you helped bring all the luggage back to the ship as it was the guardians’ last day on Terra. You would be taking off in less than 20 min so you started hugging the Avengers goodbye before making sure everything was ready. Seeing Mantis, Peter and Rocket already at the top of the Milano’s stairs, you stayed at the bottom.
“Has anyone seen Nebula?” you asked.
“I was looking for her, I thought she was with you.” Drax answered as he arrived and made his way to the ship too.
“Why would she be with me?”
“You know y/n, I’m slightly hurt that you noticed Nebula wasn’t here but not me.” he said, ignoring your question, making you roll your eyes.
“It’s just… I haven’t seen her since yesterday, it’s odd..” Usually you two would go on walks to see the sun rise in the early morning, as you were the only two who had trouble sleeping.
“Come one y/n, let’s wait for her inside. I bet your girlfriend will be here any minute.”
“She’s not my girlfriend, you filthy trash panda…” you muttered while walking to the Milano with your head down. Before putting a foot on the first step you noticed a funny look on Peter’s face who was looking right behind you.
“What?-” You questioned turning around to see what caught his attention and ended up face to face with Nebula. You raised a hand to your chest.
“Oh god, Neb, don’t scare me like that!” You exclaimed, not having heard her footsteps. “Where were you anyway?!” You yelled, remembering you had been looking for her all morning. But as she said nothing, you looked down and noticed a gorgeous bouquet of tulips and lilies between you two.
“What-”
“You said you didn’t like roses.”
“How- where did you buy them?” the questions came flooding your thoughts as you just stood there, looking at her in awe.
“I.. Uhm… Somewhere in the city” She said the first lie that came through her mind as she hadn’t exactly bought them but had threatened the first florist she found to make her a bouquet exactly like she thought you’d like.
“...Why?” you asked softly as you slowly took the flowers from her hands, admiring them and then meeting her eyes.
“I was told you give them to people you like.” she said in her low voice, her eyes now looking at the ground. It was unusual seeing her shy, especially for the rest of the guardians who were watching, still waiting in the ship.
“Oooh Neb..” without a thought you threw your arms around her in a tight hug. “Thank you, they’re amazing. You’re amazing”.
She hesitantly hugged you back, and tightened her embrace as she relaxed a bit, a faint smile spreading on her face. Smile that you couldn’t see but that your teammates definitely did.
“So, not your girlfriend, right y/n?” Rocket yelled from the Milano trying to embarrass you. You groaned.
“Do you want me to go beat him up?” Nebula asked in your ear, still hugging you.
“That would be even better than flowers…” You joked with a fake tone of despair.