#pacman and messing around with word documents

[nexus-nebulae]

i like using 📎/📎s solely for the fact that on windows the paperclip emoji shows up as clippy

[starwitch3000]

What’s Your Story - 2

Pairing: Peter Quill x Reader

Summary: During lunch with their best friend the reader decides to do things a little differently.

Warning: Drinking and language. also this chapter is more of a look into the readers life and her friendship with Natasha. But Peter is in there and he’s a little sad. also Mantis!! 

masterlist  ~  ff.net

chapter one

You sighed sitting in one of your favorite coffee shops waiting for Natasha to show up. You were both on your lunch breaks and decided to meet up for a chance to hang out.

It's been a week since you dumped your problems on the bartender at The Milano and while that night you were filled with hope and motivation not much has really changed. You were shocked you haven't walked out on your crappy job because ever since not getting promoted everyone around the office has been acting like you’re incompetent. They'll praise the new guy over the tiniest things which is annoying as all hell.

You did however have a small stroke of luck. While sifting through your morning emails and nursing your third cup of coffee you had an idea. A story idea. And one that stuck with you too. You abandoned your emails immediately and opened a text document and threw everything in your head into the document like vicious word vomit. And all week you've been spending your free time piecing together an outline. Your dining room table was a disaster covered with notebooks and random slips of paper but you felt confident that this mess was going somewhere. Just not somewhere fast enough.

So now you're just trying to find some sort of escape route at work. You wanted out asap but you also needed rent and food, so you decided against just up and quitting. You were also thinking about reaching out and finding a new editing job somewhere else, but your search has come up empty so far.

You were also feeling incredibly lonely and bitterly heartbroken. The apartment you lived in just didn't feel the same after your ex moved out and you felt that same ache that you normally did after a break up. Which is usually when you end up jumping into a new relationship without thinking. It was hard for you to admit to yourself but ever since high school you never really stayed single for long. Always jumping from one commitment to the next like some sort of addict. So now you've been single for nearly three weeks and that similar itch has overtaken you.

"Sorry I'm late," Natasha was suddenly next to you breaking you out of your thoughts suddenly like a bucket of ice water was just dumped on you, "you would not believe the line I just had to deal with. People are fucking idiots."

She ranted without even acknowledging that she scared the shit out of you.

"I hope you don't mind burritos with your coffee," she continued, "but I've wanted a burrito all damn morning thanks to Clint so here we are."

She tossed two brown paper bags onto the table in front of you and she settled into her seat. You slid her the coffee you bought for her and she gratefully took a drink. You each grabbed a bag and dove into your meals setting into a comfortable silence as you ate.

"So how's work today?" Natasha asked breaking the silence after a while.

"Oh it's great," you replied sarcastically, "the new guy figured out the copy machine all by himself today. Pretty sure the gold statue of him will be finished by the end of the day."

She winced, "well at least the good news is it’s Friday. So you'll have two whole days to yourself where you don’t have to look at him."

"Yeah that's true," you sighed, "you want to get really wasted tonight?"

"I can't tonight," she replied awkwardly biting her lip.

"Something going on at work?" You raised an eyebrow watching mild panic cross your friends face.

"No, no it's not work," her hand grabbed her coffee to fiddle with, "Bucky just wants to go out tonight just the two of us."

“Okay you’re aware I know who Bucky is right?” You questioned raising an eyebrow at her, “He’s been your boyfriend for a while now. I’ve met him. We’re all friends. Why are you acting weird about this?”

She sighed, “It’s just… been a little weird talking boyfriends right now I didn’t want to bring it up.”

“So you were just going to pretend Bucky didn’t exist for my sake?” you watched her bite her lip looking a little ashamed.

“Maybe?”

You sniffled feeling touched, “you know I love you right.”

“Man shut the hell up,” she rolled her eyes, “look, I’m just saying, I’ve seen you after bad breakups and I didn’t want to make things awkward.”

“No offense but pretending a whole ass person doesn’t exist kind of make this awkward,” you said, “and, for the record, I’m fine. Sure getting dumped out of the blue really sucks, especially when you think things are really good, but he made his choice and there is no going back. So I’m gonna focus on me for a little bit. I need to sort some things out for myself before I decided to start dating again.”

“You’re acting strangely out of character you know,” she said with a faint smile on her lips, “but I kind of like it.”

“Please don’t hide Bucky from me okay?” you kindly asked, “He’s not the boogeyman okay I’m not afraid of him anymore.”

Natasha snorted into her coffee before taking a drink.

“At least promise me when you do start dating again it’s not going to be some deadbeat again,” She said setting down her coffee cup giving you a stern look.

“If I knew ahead of time that the guy was going to be a deadbeat why would I date him?” you questioned.

She shrugged, “Because he’s cute and you can never stay single long.”

"That’s not going to happen this time because my life is a mess right now why burden someone else with that bullshit," you sighed, “No matter how cute he is.

“Oh come on, it’s not that bad,” She said.

“No but for the first time in my life I think I just want to deal with my shit by myself you know,” you shrugged.

“Well no matter what you know you’re not in this alone,” She replied.

“You’re a total sap,” you shook your head teasing your friend, “look what love has done to you. I can’t wait to tell Bucky about this.”

“Watch it,” She warned.

Later that night you were at your apartment staring at the mess that was your dining table. It was a scattered mess as you were working on some outlines but you had hit a wall for the evening. You felt it. No matter how hard you tried to get anywhere you kept spacing out. Sighing you walked away from the table. There is no point forcing it so might as well clear your head.

Flopping onto your couch you didn’t even bother with the TV so you sat there in silence staring up at your ceiling. You stared for what felt like an eternity but in reality, as you checked your phone for the time and it read 7:30, it was only a couple of minute.

You couldn’t just sit in your house doing nothing all evening, as much as you wanted to work you knew it wouldn’t happen. So you got up grabbing your jacket and purse, stopping to fix your hair, and left your apartment and just walked. You walked wherever your feet wanted to go and as you walked down the sidewalk you thought through your options, you could get some food, maybe do some grocery shopping, call a friend to hang out. But you didn’t do any of those things because before you knew it you were standing outside a now familiar bar.

The Milano.

Might as well, you thought staring up at the bar sign and walked on in.

The place was a little more filled than it was last week and you saw a couple of familiar faces from the last time. One of those being Kraglin who was standing at a table near the bar with a beer in hand talking to a couple of people you didn’t know. He saw you walk in and gave you a kind nod causing the people with him to look your way. One older and taller with a red mo-hawk, a graying beard, scars and a mean look on his face. The other was a shorter, bald, muscular man who had both of his arms covered in red tattoos.

Putting on a friendly face you nodded in return to Kraglin as you made your way to the empty end of the bar. You noticed Peter was there behind the bar, but he was having a heated conversation with a small girl sitting on a stool in front of him. You were going to mind your own business and wait to get a drink but you overheard Peter say, “I don’t care how many times we have this conversation I will never understand why Jigglypuff is in smash.”

Given both of their serious expressions you were a little shocked that they were talking about a video game.

“Says the guy who only ever plays as star fox,” the girl in front of him sneered, “We get it Peter you want to be a spaceman, stop shitting on my favorite characters.”

“I’m not shitting on them, I’m just saying, you already have kirby bringing in another round pink character is just there to confuse people,” Peter defended throwing his arms up in defense.

You leaned against counter and watched the two taking in this girls appearance while the two continued their argument. She was sitting cross legged on the stool and wore a large dark green sweater and some leggings. Her black hair was straight and fell just past her shoulders.

“You know what sis I give up,” Peter threw his hands up again this time taking a dramatic step back, “If you want to attack pacman this way, that’s your choice. You’re wrong but it’s your choice to be wrong.”

Shaking her head she smacked her hands against the counter, “It’s like you’re not even listening to me!”

You grinned adamantly watching the two.

“Well I’m not anymore so have fun beating classic mode without me.” Despite arguing with this girl he still refilled her drink. Dropping the drink on the counter you finally caught Peters attention.

Leaning against the bar grinning over the argument that just took place, “Don’t look at me I’m a pikachu girl all the way.”

“Somebody gets it,” The girl rejoiced and threw her hands up in praise.

“Didn’t expect to see you again,” Peter said ignoring the girl.

“Yeah well where else do I have to be on a Friday night?” You joked.

“Ouch,” Peter hissed, “that hurts you know. What can I get for you? Having another one of those pity parties tonight?”

“Rude but fair,” you shrugged and asked for a beer.

“Bottle or tap?” Peter asked then nodded to the girl he was arguing with, “This is Mantis by the way I’m not speaking to her anymore so if you could let her know that’d be great.”

“Bottle is fine,” you replied then smiled towards Mantis, “Nice to meet you I’m (Y/N).”

Peter grabbed you a beer and opened it sliding it to you.

“Nice to meet you,” Mantis smiles, “I’m Peter’s sister and apologize in advance for any of his behavior.”

Confused because Peter and Mantis looked nothing alike you nodded and raised your eyebrow at Peter for confirmation on what you were just told.

“We grew up in the same foster family together,” He shrugged, “technically family.”

“Isn’t he just the sweetest?” Mantis gushed dropping her legs down from the stool she was perched on, “I feel the love Petey.”

He scowled at his sister as she walked away joining Kraglin and the other two men from before.

“I like her,” you grinned sitting in the stool you’ve been standing next to and earning a scowl of your own, “oh come on you can’t really be that upset over some video game.”

Peter sighed scratching at his scruff, “I’m not it’s just other stuff really.”

You took a swig of your beer watching Peter. He was just as handsome as you remembered. Tall and beautiful filling out that sweater nicely on the outside he looked perfectly fine, but perhaps focusing a little more on his eyes he seemed tired. Something was clearly bothering him.

Taking a deep breath you asked, “So what’s your story?”

He raised an eyebrow at you giving you a looked that just screamed, seriously?

“What? It’s only fair,” you shrugged fixing him with a mischievous look, “Tell me Peter, would you like to commit arson tonight?”

Shaking his head he let out a long sigh, “You know what I think I just might.”

“I’m all ears and no judgement,” you took another swig of your beer leaning your arms against the bar.

“Similar to you I was dumped recently,” Peter admitted, “though I wouldn’t really say we were dating in the first place it was more of a long term booty call, but we’ve lived together for a while now. We’ve been fighting a lot recently and this morning she officially moved out for good.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” you frowned and found yourself echoing him from last week, “Getting dumped fucking sucks.”

He nodded solemnly, “tell me about it.”

You were both silent for a moment. 

"Well you seem happier than last week," Peter says busying himself with cleaning a small area of his work space. He seemed a little fidgety from talking about his problems so he was looking to change the subject. 

"I am," you shrugged, "well trying to be. I started writing finally but I'm still at that shitty job constantly listening to my bosses praise this new guy. Who, by the way, is a fucking moron."

"Ugh, why would you stay?" Peter questioned with a look of disgust.

"I've got bills to pay man. I hate my job but I would really hate being homeless okay," you defended.

"Okay fair," Peter said, “but at least you're moving forward."

"At a snail's pace but I'm okay with that," you shrug, "too much shit has happened recently I want some peace and quiet."

At that moment a certain redhead stormed into the bar and made a beeline towards you. Seeing Natasha startled you mostly because she was supposed to be on a date with her boyfriend.

"What-"

"You have to stop him," she cuts you off immediately, "he won’t listen to me so it has to be you. Put a stop to this."

"What on earth are you talking about," feeling completely jarred by the situation.

"James," she verified, "you have to stop him."

Raising an eyebrow you asked, "are you asking me to murder him? Because sure okay just don’t arrest me for it."

"Thanks (Y/N)," Bucky, who had followed Natasha into the bar and was standing just beside her, said.

"No hard feelings it's kind of a best friend thing. She asks. I murder," you shrugged.

"Who are you going to murder?" Mantis, who made her way back to the bar for a refill, asks overhearing your conversation.

"This guy apparently," you gesture towards Bucky, "wanna help?"

Mantis grins but before she can answer Natasha cuts you both off.

"No I'm not asking you to murder him," she fixed him with a hard stare, "yet. I'm asking you to knock some sense into him because he wont listen to me."

"About what?"

"He wants to get a cat."

"Oh no," you huff in a unconvincing rage, "the bastard."

Natasha glares at you, "don't patronize me."

"I'm being completely serious. He should be hanged for his crimes."

"Okay I understand you don’t want a cat tasha, but look at this little guy," from under his jacket Bucky reveals that he's holding a small kitten that fits perfectly in his hand. The little thing is all black with hazel eyes that squeeze shut in content when Bucky pets under their chin.

"Oh my God you are so precious," you squeal reaching out to gently run your finger on the cats head.

Natasha huffs annoyed.

Peter clears his throat, "uh pretty sure the sign outside says no animals in the bar."

"But you're allowed in?" Mantis questions Peter, "that doesn't seem right."

"You can't seriously be mad about this little thing just look at the little face," you say to Natasha.

"We don't have the time for some animal. That thing is just going to destroy the apartment," Natasha argues.

"Babe you might be exaggerating just a bit were only gone during the day, for the most part, I think we can handle one cat," Bucky reasons. You had to agree sure work for Natasha got in the way but there’s always Bucky to be there to take care of the small thing.

“I know were like best friends and all Nat but I have to side with Bucky on this one,” you winced preparing for the incoming rage.

“Then you take the damn thing,” she spat getting mad that no one would listen to her.

“I can’t my building has strict rules because my landlord is deathly allergic to cats,” because this isn’t the first time you wanted a cat but being stuck on your lease with a decently priced apartment in New York you were always unable to have one.

“So move!”

“I can’t afford that! Look, just give the little guy a test run and if it doesn’t work out I’ll help you guys find him a new home okay?” you reasoned.

“Fine,” she huffs and looks at Bucky, “Don’t expect this to work out.”

“I love you too Nat.”

~

Chapter 3

alright here’s chapter 2! let me know what you think so far. I’m really trying to finish writing this one before I post more but I just can’t help myself. I’m also posting this on fanfiction.net if you prefer reading over there link is at the top.  enjoy! ~Star