Chapter Text
It only takes about 36 hours after they leave the Quadrant before someone breaks.
“Alright that’s it, we need a new flargin’ ship.” Peter whips his head around to gawk at Rocket, who enters the cockpit of the Milano , paws dragging down his face.
“Dude, what the hell are you talking about?”
“There’s too many krutackin’ people on this shit excuse of a ship, Quill.” Rocket plops down in the seat next to Peter. “Doesn’t help that she’s falling apart too.”
“Two weeks ago you were claiming she was your ship, which is totally not true by the way,”
“That was before you crashed her!”
“I did not–”
“Whatever that’s not the point,” Rocket motions back to the ladder he just climbed up. “I just walked in on Drax droppin’ a deuce! Probably the most disturbin’ shit I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen some shit.” Before Peter can protest, he hears the light click of boots climbing up the steps.
“Rocket’s right Peter.” Gamora says, taking her seat behind the navigation screen.
“You walk in on Drax too?” Rocket asks, not looking back to see a brief look of disgust pass over Gamora’s face.
“I meant the size of our ship. It was tight enough before, but now we have Mantis and Groot is growing every hour.” She shifts her gaze to Peter. “I know how much you love the Milano, but our team has outgrown it. Drax doesn’t even have a bunk to sleep in at night.”
“He would if you two would just share Quill’s.” Rocket mumbles just loud enough that he knows the other two will hear him. Peter feels his cheeks get hot and notices Gamora’s turn a shade darker at the implication.
It’s not that they were trying to keep their…whatever it was a secret, they just hadn’t explicitly told any of the other Guardians what they were (mainly because that would require having to have that conversation themselves). Right now both Peter and Gamora were happy to think of it as a spoken thing, with the benefits of making out when no one else was around.
“So I’m guessing you’re already pulling up coordinates for the nearest outpost.” Peter says almost too loudly in an attempt to break the awkward silence, ignoring Rocket’s snicker.
“About two hours away.”
The team ends up choosing a brand new M-class ship with six full bunks, captains quarters, and most importantly custom tailored seating in the cockpit. As Peter begrudgingly transferred the credits to the overenthusiastic salesman, he couldn’t help but feel a little bit guilty.
He knows it’s silly, but he had a genuine attachment to the Milano. She was the first thing he’d ever stolen, and Yondu had let him keep her as reward for a job well done. He had had so many firsts on that ship (including some firsts that he would definitely not be telling Gamora about), it felt almost wrong to replace her like this.
Peter is about to walk into the new cockpit and join the rest of his team when he feels a hand on his arm, stopping him. “Thank you for agreeing to this Peter,” Gamora says quietly. “I know you’ve already gone through enough change these past few weeks. You’re a good captain.” The soft smile she gives him awakens the butterflies in Peter’s stomach.
“Well, a captain is only as good as his navigator.” Gamora rolls her eyes, fighting back a widening grin.
“Before we rock and roll, the ship needs a name.” Peter swivels his chair to the side to face the rest of the group. “Anyone got any ideas?”
“The Asshole-Mobile.” Rocket says, not looking up from the ridiculously large ship-manual he’s flipping through.
“I’m being serious Rocket,”
“So am I! We’re a bunch of assholes, that makes the ship a ship full of assholes, makes perfect sense.”
“Not really.” Peter sighs, looking to the others for help.
“Oh I know, how about we name it after that great Earth hero you were telling me about, Kevin Bacon!” Mantis exclaims excitedly, antenne lighting up.
“That’s actually not a bad idea, but maybe we should pick someone without a food-related name. What do you think, Drax?” Peter turns his attention down to Drax, only to realize that he’s somehow passed out in the minutes since the conversation started, snoring lightly. Also fast asleep is Groot, who’s resting on Drax’s shoulder. “How did he…nevermind. Gamora?”
She takes a moment to think, rolling her lips before answering. “What’s the name of that one singer, the woman who sings of love being a battlefield?”
“Pat Benatar?” Gamora nods.
“Her songs indicate she knows the life of a warrior, I think it would be fitting.”
“Huh, yeah. The Benatar has a nice ring to it, right guys?”
This earns Peter an enthusiastic yes from Mantis, a non-committal grunt from Rocket, and a loud snore from Drax, which was pretty much as close to an unanimous agreement as he was ever going to get. Glancing at Gamora, she gives him another secret smile, and it reminds him of the first time they boarded the Milano as an official team after defeating Ronan (he also remembers that that was the first time he’d seen her wear a skirt, and there go the butterflies again). Peter doesn’t realize he’s staring until Gamora raises an eyebrow. He quickly shakes his head and clears his throat.
“Alright then, the Benatar it is.”