Not In Love

Chapter Two

"Here she is," Peter announced, proudly, "The Milano."

Asteria felt a rush of memories flood back to her as she looked at the familiar orange and blue ship.

"What do ya think, boy?" Yondu asked the ten year old beside him.

"It's amazing," Peter said in awe, his eyes wide as they gazed at the ship in front of him.

"Well, it's yours."

His head snapped to the blue man beside him, "What?!"

"You're a man now, Pete," Yondu explained, clapping a hand onto his shoulder, "And a man needs a ride."

Peter's mouth fell wide open, dumbfounded. His eyes moved back to the ship - his ship. He had helped to co-pilot a few Ravager vessels before but this ship was so big and new and- his? Yondu chuckled, pushing the boy forward so they could inspect it.

The girl behind them snorted spitefully as she watched them walk away.

"When do I get one?" she asked no one in particular, "Why does Quill get a ship?"

She knew the answer to that already: because Peter was Yondu's favourite.

The man beside her sniggered, "What would you do with a ship?"

Asteria's head whipped around to send Kraglin a glare, "Fly it."

"Girl, we all know you can't."

She folded her arms defensively, "What do you mean?"

"You almost killed me last time," Kraglin recalled, "And the time before that. Oh and the time with the asteroid field-"

She sighed. That was true. She couldn't deny it. She was awful at piloting. The girl knew her way around the mechanics of a ship like the back of her hand and could most likely rewire a calcinator in her sleep, Kraglin himself saw to that - but piloting? Yeah, she was terrible. Peter had picked it up almost immediately, of course. He claimed it was most likely because of the video games he used to play before he was taken. Asteria had joked he could not be entirely Terran to have the skills he had at such a young age. She had been with the Ravagers longer than him, but she had never once felt a part of them.

They were fighters and pilots and criminals - what was she? Peter had promise but what could she offer? She was small, meaning she could get into most spaces - Yondu always pointed that out. Sure, she could also hack her way into almost any systems and understand some of the most intricate technology in the universe. But as soon as Peter arrived, the attention was off her. At first, she thought it was because he was a boy. Being accepted as the only girl was tough enough already, so she immediately disliked the newcomer. She was over-shadowed in every way. How could she not be jealous? But after they spoke, she came to realize he was just as lonely as her. Just as confused. Just as lost. Over the years, that mutual understanding only deepened. But, besides Peter, Asteria never felt she belonged. And if she didn't belong in the only 'family' she has ever known, she questioned if she could ever belong anywhere?

Noticing the way the girl's demeanour had deflated, Kraglin cleared his throat and awkwardly pat her head, "We'll get ya somethin' else someday. Somethin' you're actually good at."

She shook away from his hand and nodded. It was not common for Ravagers to show sympathy, but she always appreciated Kraglin's attempts to console her.

The girl was broken out of her dispirited state when Peter came running over to her, a broad smile lighting up his eyes and his cheeks rosy with excitement. HE threw an arm around her shoulders, gazing back up at his new ship, "Isn't it awesome?"

Asteria tried to smile but found the corners of her lips were caught in a jealous pout. Almost sarcastically she whispered, "Awesome."

"I need to name it," he said, not once taking his eyes off his new prized-possession.

"What about that ship from that show you liked?" she suggested.

"'Enterprise'?" he considered, "Nah, I was always more of a Wars fan."

"'Falcon', then?" she never had the chance to watch those films before she was found by the Ravagers, but Peter had told her all about them.

He shook his head, scrunching his nose, "I wanna name it after the most beautiful thing in the universe."

"'Chatta-Chocolate'?"

"No."

"'Sunrise-On-Aakon'."

"Cheesy."

"'That-One-Waitress-At-Dex's-Diner'?" she teased.

"Come on, this is serious!" he playfully hit her shoulder, fighting the blush that threatened to rush to his face, "What about 'Asteria'?"

It was her turn to hit him, a little more forcefully, "Ew, Peter!"

He laughed at her reddened cheeks and blocked himself from another hit. Most beautiful thing in the universe, hm?

Then it hit him.

"Milano," he proudly whispered.

"Huh?"

"Milano. Alyssa Milano."

"What's that?"

"She's a Terran actress," he explained.

"Is she beautiful?"

The boy nodded.

"That's sorted then," Asteria turned back to the ship, "The Milano."

Asteria returned from her reverie to find Peter standing with his arm around her again, just as he had in the memory. He was looking at the ship with the same sentimental smile, clearly reminiscing the same as her. She smiled at that.