Chapter Text
Though Nebula was rough around the edges, she wasn’t heartless.
If she didn’t have a heart, she wouldn’t have let the human kid stare at her for so long. The teenage boy, Peter, hadn’t stopped looking at her just sitting there. His eyes were wide, and almost unblinking. It irritated her to no end, but since she came to Terra, she promised the others she would mellow out.
She just ignored him. But he didn’t go away.
Eventually, she sighed. “Do you need something?” She turned her head towards him, eyes sharp. “Or are you just trying to count my circuts?”
He jumped. “Oh,” he stuttered. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
She turned back forward wordlessly.
”The arm, though—“ Peter pointed at it. “It’s really cool. That’s what I was looking at. And the eye thing.”
Nebula shifted her eyes back towards him. “Did you need it for something?” Rocket was always asking her for spare parts, so maybe the kid wanted to do the same.
”What? No.” He shook his head. “No, I— I’m just interested in it.”
She looked back forward again, and crossed her arms.
”I-I’m Sorry.” The boy said, ashamed. He slunked back.
Pitifully, Nebula turned her head to him. He looked so sheepish and embarrassed, it almost made her sigh.
”Don’t be.” She said, trying to keep her voice low and intimidating. “You’re fine.”
“Really?”
”...Sure.”
He exhaled. “I’m glad, because I heard that you’re, like, the deadliest lady in the universe, so...”
She perked up at that. That was the first time that someone had called her that... and not her sister.
”The most dangerous woman in the galaxy.” She chuckled.
”Yeah.” He flinched. “That.”
She shifted in her seat. It gave her an odd sense of pride, being called this. Maybe it was perverse. But it was what she trained herself for her entire life. It felt good to get some recognition. Some admiration.
After a moment of quiet, Nebula turned her entire body towards Peter. “You said you were interested?”
Parker’s eyes widened. “Sorry?”
“In the arm.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “I could tell you more about it.”
A second passed, then he smiled. “Yeah!” He nodded. “Yeah, I’d like that.”