#peter quill : dorky space demigod

[the-fallofperdix]

I asked @lovelyirony for some Nebula/Mantis prompts and she inspired me to write a little ficlet! Also, half of it deleted just as I finished so I had to rewrite it :/

~~

Mantis knows she’s there, hovering in the doorway.

Knows Nebula has knives on her, is holding them in her hands.

Knows she needs to actually be testing out her newly constructed limbs, but is awkwardly standing there.

She won’t say anything, unless Nebula makes the first step into the room.

No judgement, always.

She’s wearing a rainbow coloured pantsuit, because she once told Nebula seeing happy colours makes her feel more happy. Plus Peter had introduced her to ‘vintage’ and she’d promptly bought fourteen pantsuits.

“What are you making?” Nebula said finally, stepping into the kitchen. She doesn’t go over to Mantis, not yet, but leans against the fridge.

“Rocket brought me a cookbook,” Mantis said, turning slightly to smile at Nebula, soft and sweet. “I am attempting a ‘pancake’, it does not look much like a cake in a pan, so I don’t think I am doing it right.”

“I’m sure it will be delicious.” Nebula said awkwardly.

“Well, currently its not.” Mantis said, sighing and dropping the chunky and strange looking batter down the drain. “Maybe I’ll get Peter to show me tomorrow.”

Mantis’ antennae twitched as Nebula was abruptly reminded of the mission yesterday. Mantis had nearly died, and Nebula had to completely replace her arm and part of her side.

Clockwork parts for a clockwork girl.

“Dance with me.” Nebula blurted, turning away from Mantis, towards the jukebox.

“Alright,” Mantis said, as Nebula started playing something classical and without words. “I’ll teach you how to waltz.”

“Mantis, I’ll step on your feet!” Nebula protested. “Can we not do an energetic sway?”

Mantis laughed openly at the familiar line, before sliding into Nebulas space and starting to move her limbs into the right position. She didn’t seem to mind the rough unfinished scrap from her new arm, and directed her without hesitation.

“You’d never hurt me.” she stated calmly.

Nebula focused on calming herself, at the blind trust Mantis had around her even after everything.

They stumbled over each other, Mantis only really seeing TV shows and Nebula unused to dancing and not fighting.

“People dancing, and no one invited me?” Peter said dramatically as he entered with Gamora trailing behind him.

He caught hold of Gamora’s hand, and decided to start dancing, except it was a more flailing, jumpy dance with something that Nebula had been informed was a ‘dab’ mixed in with him trying to spin Gamora as well.

Gamora obliged, laughing slightly at how ridiculous he was being. He held out a hand towards both of them, still doing a eccentric shuffle. “Come on, join the group.”

“We were dancing first Peter, and we’re actually waltzing.” Mantis said, even though they were just swaying and watching both of them now.

“Waltzing smaltzing,” Peter said cheerfully, letting out his own laugh when Gamora decided to dip him. “Gamora back me up.”

“Why not?” Gamora said, letting go when Peter spun her out again and reaching to catch hold on Nebulas hand. She glanced knowingly between Mantis and Nebula and if Nebula could blush she would have. She accepted Gamoras hand and Mantis started copying Peters weird shuffle while Peter cheered her on.

“You alright?” Gamora said as they watched Peter start teaching a bleary eyed Drax to ‘dab’.

“Yeah,” Nebula said, watching as Mantis laughed as Drax spun Peter. “I think I will be.”

“I’m glad your girlfriend cheered you up.” Gamora said teasingly and Nebula choked.

“She’s not, we’re not-“ Nebula spluttered. “We’re just friends!”

“You keep telling yourself that baby sis.” Gamora said, winking at Nebula and joining the dancing group before Nebula could defend herself.

Nebula would have gone after her, but Mantis glanced over and held out her hand encouragingly and Nebula settled for death glaring her sister over Mantis’ shoulder.

(It didn’t help the warm feeling in her chest when Mantis held her hand.)