𝙰𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚈𝚘𝚞, 𝙰𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙼𝚎 ➍

2. Coming Home

James weakly limped across the thin halls of the Benatar: the Guardians ship as he headed to his chosen place of sleep. Due to the lack of food and water he had to hold onto the pipes that sat against the wall in order to not fall.

As he continued he could hear Tony's helmet being activated. A familiar sound that he had become accustomed to over the many days of survival on the ship.

Leaning against the wall beside the piloting area of the ship he could hear Tony sending his final message.

"Is this thing on?" Tony sighed as he went to lean against the ship's wall weakly. "Hey Miss Potts, uh.. if you find this recording... don't post it, on social media it's gonna be a real tear jerker." James let a smirk rest on his face as Tony continued. "I don't know if you're gonna see these... I don't know if you're still..." Tony let a heavy sigh leave his lips at the thought of Pepper not being alive and James' smile fell sadly. "Oh, god I hope so..." he added hopefully. "Today's date... twenty one? Uh, uh, twenty two. You know if it wasn't for the existential terror and staring into the literal void of space, I'd say I'm feeling better today... infections ran its course thanks to the blue meanie and James' constant confusion. You'd love her. Practical, only a little bit sadistic. And James... well... he's annoying but Rachel handles him just fine so, so can I. But boy does he keep worrying about her. And Rose for that matter. I do hope her and Speedy are okay. Do miss Rachel being around." James let himself chuckle quiet enough so Tony couldn't hear him. He'd be glad to admit that it was true. He had been worrying. He had no idea what they were going through back at home after all.

Whether they were even alive.

"Some fuel tanks were cracked during battle and we figured out a way to reverse the ion charge. Bought ourselves about forty-eight hours of flight time. But, now it's dead in the water. Thousand light years from the nearest 7/11. Oxygen will run out tomorrow morning... and that'll be it.... And Pep, I know I said no more surprises.. but I gotta say, I was really hoping to pull off one last one..." James' head lowered as he looked down at his own arc reactor. He had moved it from his back to his chest after the fight seen as it had become uncomfortable being on his back.

His leg unbeknownst to Tony and Nebula was far from alright though. When he and Tony were crushed by the rocks he had painfully fractured it and James knew it. James was honestly surprised no one noticed him bandaging his calf the first night on the ship. James could feel the scars on his face almost fully healed, them only leaving mini bumps that he knew Rachel would notice with her keen eyesight.

"But it looks like... well you know what it looks like. Don't feel bad about this..." Tony demanded softly after his small pause. "Well, actually, if you grovel for a couple weeks and then move along with enormous guilt." Tony's tone although coarse and rough was holding some humour as he attempted to lighten the mood a final time. Peaking his head discreetly around the corner James could see Tony rub his eyes and sigh. "I should probably lie down... Gonna rest my eyes..." James and him both know that rest would be their last. "Please know that when I drift off, it'll be like everything lately... I'm fine... we're fine." James' eyes followed Tony's hand as he went to graze his fingers against his helmet lightly. "I'll dream about you... it's always you..." Tony slowly turned off the helmet, the final recording complete. His hand leaving the helmet as he laid down on the metal floor of the ship using a coat he'd found on the ship early on in their journey home as a blanket. Tony soon fell asleep, his breathing becoming even as I did.

Knowing this James turned his head away from the resting Tony and saw Nebula not too far away. She sent him a knowing look and James nodded in agreement as if they were using telepathy to talk to one another.

The two quietly walked to Tony who by then was fast asleep and lifted him carefully into one of the many pilot chairs. James wrapped the coat gently over his torso as Nebula left James alone knowing her work was done. Gently James patted Tony's shoulder before sighing which resulted in him yawning lightly. He took it as an excuse to finally sleep. Removing his own jacket he sat himself in one of the other pilot seats, one diagonal from Tony so he had more personal space.