Holding out for a hero, Peter Quill

014. ALWAYS RUNNING AWAY

Chapter fourteen

"Always running away." 

Drax was hanging out with Mantis and Peter had gone to spend time with his father, yet Atara was watching him from inside "do you think he'll be happy?" she asked, and as she did, Gamora walked up behind her "he's happy right now." she told her "I mean when we're gone. All he's ever wanted was to meet his dad and now he has. And I think..I think he's gonna stay." Atara shared, and when she did, Gamora began to realize something "when Mantis said you were worried about him..it wasn't because you were worried he would find out that you love him too..you were worried that he's gonna leave us..you." she shared.

And when she did, Atara took a deep breath "I need..I need a minute alone." she shared, turning and walking away from her "Atara.." Gamora told her, but Atara didn't turn back, heading outside, Gamora followed after her "Drax? There's something I must tell you." Mantis could be heard saying, as Atara and Gamora looked at each other, the two furrowed their brows, as they turned walking through the door.

"Ware you guys doing?" Atara asked "this gross bug lady is my new friend." Drax shared "I'm learning many things, like I'm a pet and ugly." Mantis shared "your neither of those things." Atara told her "Atara's a princess, practically an angel from the sun." Drax told Mantis "Mantis, can you show us where we'll be staying?" Gamora asked.

Where the four of them then began walking off through the planet Ego "why are there no other beings on this planet?" Gamora asked "the planet is Ego. A dog would not invite a flea to live on it's back." Mantis shared "but your allowed to live here?" Atara questioned "I have a purpose. I help him sleep." Mantis shared "yeah you said that." Atara told her, grabbing her by the arm and making her turn to her "what was so important that you had to share with Drax before we walked out?" she asked, as Mantis looked at her, then to Gamora then to Drax and back to Atara "nothing." she told her.

As Atara let her go, Mantis began walking off "your quarters are this way." she said, as Atara looked to Gamora and Drax, neither of them no longer trusting Mantis, as they turned walking after her, where Atara's worry for Peter no longer became about him leaving them but more about if he'd be safe here, wondeing if Yondu keeping him wasn't just for him being able to fit in tight places but to keep him safe like Rocket and Groot did by changing her name to Red.

Where when they got to where they were staying, Atara stood on the balcony having been trying to contact Rocket even when Peter returned, as music was playing "so I guess this could all be mine someday." Peter shared, looking out onto the planet "Rocket! Rocket, this is Red can your hear me?" Atara asked through her transmission, not noticing Peter looking over at her since her back was turned to him, Atara huffed "stupid!" she voiced, slamming the transmission against the railing.

Peter walked up behind her and put his arms around her and when he did, Atara felt that feeling she got anytime she got close to him, which according to Mantis was called love "Peter.." she told him, as Peter moved to the other side of her "dance with me." he told her "I already told you I don't know how to dance to your music." Atara shared, as Peter grabbed her transmission and threw it on the chair nearby "this is Sam Cooke, one of the greatest Earth singers of all time." he shared, turning her to look at him, as he grabbed her hands and moved her to the middle "and this?" he asked.

Putting one hand behind her back and holding the other as he began to sway with her "this I know you know how to do." he shared, as Atara put her arm that wasn't laced with his hand on his shoulder, as the two looked into each other's eyes, Atara felt her worry slipping away and that strong feeling of love she felt for him start to consume her, as Peter spun her out and then back toward's him, her hair and her dress, flowing around her, as she came back to him, the two's face's were now closer.

"Drax thinks we can't be together because I'm not royalty. But look at me now." Peter shared, and when he did, Atara was surprised by that as she furrowed her brows "you really think I care about that?" she asked him "well anytime I try to make a move about this unspoken thing between us, you runaway from me." Peter shared "you think I'm running away because I don't feel the same as you do?" Atara asked, taking her arms off of him and stepping back "I'm running away because never in my entire life have I felt anything as strong as I have when I'm with you. And now?" she asked, shaking her head.

"I'm about to mess it all up because.." she said, huffing as she walked toward's her transmission and grabbed it "what I'm about to tell you about how I feel about this place is gonna make you hate me forever." she shared, walking into the room "what are you talking about? You're the one who was talking about new dreams!" Peter voiced "that was before I knew that girl Mantis was not only hiding something but is also afraid of whatever it is." Atara shared "why are you trying to take this away from me?" Peter asked her.

As Atara turned to him "no, Peter, I'm not trying to take anything away.." she shared "he's my father. He's blood." Peter shared "you said the same thing about Yondu and what did I tell you?" Atara asked him "you said he wasn't my only family and clearly you were right!" Peter voiced, and when he did, Atara felt like she was gonna cry as she shook her head "you know this..this fantasy was not what I meant." she shared "this is real! I'm only half human, remember?" Peter asked her "yeah and that's what I've been worried about!" Atara voiced.

"Oh, so I get it. You're jealous..because I'm part god, and you like when I'm the weak one." Peter shared "that's not true! I've never seen you as weak!" Atara voiced, holding up her transmission, she banged it against her hand, as she turned and began walking out "oh! So now your gonna runaway from me like you always do!" Peter voiced, and when he did, Atara quickly turned to him "I am not running away!" she voiced "I finally found my family. Don't you understand that?" Peter asked her, and when he did, Atara felt like she had been stabbed through the heart as she nodded "yeah, I do." she told him, her voice breaking, as she turned walking out.