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Lethal Legion, one of the pains in the Guardians of the Galaxy's side. The Guardians were always up to something, so someone was always wanting their head for some unintentional misdeed. Even after Nova Corps stopped looking for them, someone else had a bounty on their heads. Hence, they were more than familiar with the Captain Glory that took up a lot of these bounty attempts on the Guardians.
They were battling it out on Knowhere after an ambush from their attempted captors. The cheerful, cheeky comments from each of the Guardians filled the air among the sounds of bullets and pained grunts, all of which was nearly background noise to Adam Warlock's brilliant focus on the battle.
But when Peter's own bravado was starting to become less audible, that's when Adam started to worry. He glanced around for Peter, then saw Captain Glory himself beating down on Peter. How Peter ever lost his footing like that was unknown to Adam, but he had to save him.
Energy surged through Adam's body and focused into his staff, and he sent a karmic blast to the Kree captain, knocking him away from Peter.
Glah-Ree got up with that cocky smile, probably the only guy that could best Star-Lord's cockiness. “Adam Warlock, the so-called ‘perfect being’.”
The start of taunting that Adam had heard more times than he cared to count.
“I fail to see the perfection, but you alone may be worth more than any of these imbeciles combined.”
“I'm aware of how sought out after I am.” He clenched his karmic staff, ready for his next attack. “But you're more foolish than you think my team to be if you think you are capable of defeating me.”
The two engaged in their battle. Captain Glory would prove himself to be tough, as the Kree are, for Adam had to focus harder and calculate his moves better.
Yet his focus would start shifting when he could feel something within him rising. Indistinct chatters faintly echoed upon his ears.
Okay, so, maybe Adam wasn't quite feeling like himself lately…
As Adam knocked him down with his staff, he peered down at him as though the other man was some filthy animal and nothing more; his brows furrowed, chest puffed. “You would be wise to respect me.”
Captain Glory growled, “Who do you think you are? You couldn't beat a Kree, let alone kill one,” he laughed.
Adam pointed the staff just under his opponent's chin and lifted his head, their eyes locking on. “What is a mortal Kree to someone who has the potential of godhood? You should be bowing to me.”
Gamora pulled Peter closer. “Something isn't right with Adam.”
“No kidding. What's up with that talking?”
“Doesn't he have, like- an evil side? Magus?”
“Oh flark-”
Peter broke off from Gamora and rushed to Adam's side. He grabbed his shoulder firmly. “Hey, you've done enough, we got the rest of them, we can go.”
Adam turned to leer into Peter's eyes, and Peter felt uneasy. There normally wasn't a lot to read in Adam's glowing eyes, but they almost seemed to dim. “Should a lesson in respect not be taught?”
Peter's face scrunched in confusion. “Respect isn't earned through intimidation, you know that better than anyone. Let him go.”
Captain Glory scoffed and began some snarky speech, but his words fell on deaf ears as Adam considered Peter's words.
“You're right, Quill. I… I don't know what came over me.”
Drax stepped between the two. “Perhaps seeing a fallen comrade filled you with enough rage to cloud your judgement.” They both stared at Drax. “It has happened to me before.”
“Drax is right,” Peter agreed. His hand took Adam's own to begin guiding him back. “Which means we gotta go. C’mon.”
Thus, the Guardians have spared their attackers, and retreated to the Milano. Best not to spend too much more time on Knowhere if the Loser Legion was there to hunt for them.
As the Milano drifted across the galaxy, Peter returned to his private quarters, as he knew Adam would be there. His assumption was correct when he found Adam sitting on the edge of his bed, his locks covering his face as he hung his head.
“Hey, uh… Everything alright?” Peter asked as he cautiously approached.
“I'm fine.”
“You know, that's one of the biggest lies across the whole galaxy. Gamora's probably the worst for it.”
“I'm not Gamora.”
“But you're still Adam, right?”
Adam lifted his head to once again stare at Peter. “Of course I am. Why would you question otherwise?”
“You just… Seem kind of off lately.”
“Off?” Adam parroted, a touch of offense flavouring his word.
Peter's eyes started to nervously dart around the room. “Yeah, uh… You're like… All quiet and all… And we- I- I've never seen you so… Confrontational? Especially to some nobody like that.”
Adam then stared dead ahead into Quill's mirror, and dreaded the sight of himself. Those maddening whispers were creeping back in. His stomach started to hurt more the louder they were getting. He still had that golden skin, that blond hair, but a darkness in his own eyes that kept him from fully recognizing himself; a darkness that created a disconnect from himself. His soul was unbalanced once again.
“I must confess, Peter Quill. As I reflect upon your observations, I believe it is fair to say I am… Unwell.”
Peter had to bite his tongue so as not to say he told him so. Instead he nodded, allowing Adam to continue.
“Drax's theory holds merit, but it is not the explanation. I was momentarily concerned for your wellbeing, but I knew you would be fine. Yet something more overcame me. A hunger for power and respect. Worship, even. A lust to see someone squirming under my boot.”
Peter coughed, nearly choking on nothing at the suddenly unintentionally kinky turn of words. “Yeah, that's really not like you Adam. You're like, super powerful and all, but I know power isn't something you crave. I mean, you're the one that lectured all of us on the dangers of power and how it collapses societies or whatever.”
“Yes. When a man in power abuses his privileges, the common man will rise against, thus creating conflict, and conflict only proves to further divide all due to everyone's unique perspectives, regardless of if they have a common enemy or not… But I ponder upon this theory. Power doesn't have to lead to a collapse in society if they all simply obey the one in power.”
Peter found himself backing until his back pressed up against the door, and his fingers lingered over the emergency open button. “Adam, you know that's not possible- that's just slavery. D-do you even hear yourself?”
“As of late, I hear too much from myself.”
“Right, that's totally not cryptic!”
No longer could he bear to look at the mirror. His eyes screwed shut as he turned his head away.
“You-” Peter's voice cracked, “You're really starting to scare me, Adam. Like-”
“I need to leave.”
“No- no, no, I'm not kicking you out-”
“No, Quill, I need to leave. There is a darkness in me that I need to fight- alone.”
“Alone? Isn't that kinda… not a good idea?”
“If I don't do it alone, someone will get hurt.”
“Look, it's… Your whole darkness thing, it's the Magus, right?”
Adam nodded. “He is the manifestation of my darkness, what happens when my soul loses balance and gives in to his chaos. If I don't fight him, the universe as we know it will be doomed.”
“Okay, so, it's like magic depression or some scut.”
“Depression?” Adam asked. “I was created to be perfect. An illness of my brain shouldn't be possible.”
“It happens to anybody, Adam. I… Mantis could explain this better than anybody, she knows emotions really well.”
Adam assessed the scene before him. Peter was still pressed against the door, hand over the emergency button, his other hand gripping the gun that sat in its sling strapped to his thigh. Deep, manual breaths raised and lowered his chest. Beads of sweat formed upon his brows. Yet he spoke calmly, he was all but. Adam could sense the fear in him. Looking upon the sight, he felt the blade deepen into his own chest, but the mirror showed no such reflection. He was scaring the soul he treasured so deeply, and it was almost enough to snap him out of it and hear Peter out.
“Do your best to explain, Quill.”
Peter swallowed hard. “Well… Think about all the times you told me about where you cocooned under pressure and hid from everyone. That's isolation. That's… letting your depression win, even if you do come back out for some… cosmic purpose. Lashing out, that's depression. Thinking about dooming, scary things, that's depression… And I get it. There's a lot to be depressed about, especially for you. You're this… space messiah, an idol to so many people, the perfect man. It's a lot of pressure to handle… Even your whole power thing, that's just looking for control because you feel like you have none, and you think total control would fix everything… I get it, Adam… All of us on this ship, we've had our own battles with depression and grief.”
How badly he desired to hide in his cocoon and avoid all of these emotions. Still, deep down, he knew Peter was right. He looked back at Peter, a flicker of… something, in his eyes. Desperation? Sadness? Fear? He found himself at a loss for words as he attempted to process the revelations brought upon him.
Of course there was much to be depressed about. Much to mourn. There was chaos and disorder across the galaxies and throughout every single timeline that he couldn't fix nor prevent. He was aware of some of the timelines, aware of his failures in them, and aware of succumbing to the Magus and the damage that ensued in some of these timelines no matter how hard he tried to prevent it. He was aware of his failures in protecting the universe, the innocents of this cruel world.
“I fear the failures that are, and the ones to be in this timeline,” he murmured under his breath, his thoughts spilling from his aching brain and past his lips.
“I understand you, Adam. We all do… Let us help you fight the Magus while he's still just some nasty thoughts.”
“But what of your safety? You would be willing to risk your life just to comfort me?”
Peter nodded. “That's my duty as a guardian of the galaxy and as your friend- er- boyfriend.”
Adam closed his eyes to give it thought. Here stood a mortal man, willing to risk it all for him. He then nodded. “Every time I begin to descend into these episodes, I fight them alone… You have given me a new perspective, Peter Quill. With that perspective, I am willing to continue my battle with my inner emotional turmoil with you by my side.”
The flickering became a glow of new hope in his white eyes, almost literally.
Finally, Peter relaxed, both hands dropping to his side and more confidently approaching the bed to sit next to Adam. “Hey, like I've said, we've all been there. You're my boyfriend now, and you're part of this family we have. Families help each other. We're all gonna help you, okay?”
Although he finally accepted he was safe, Adam began to hunch over himself again, as though he was trying to hide himself, his shame. Those cocooning instincts, surely. But instead of the gooey walls of his cocoon, he felt Peter's arms around, pulling him into a hug. He felt a wetness in his own eyes and a shaking in his hands. He was vulnerable, yet no longer to the Magus- the darkness within him. No, he was vulnerable to Peter, his anchor to this realm. For the first time since his initial birth, the protector was finally protected.
“You're okay,” Peter whispered, a comforting reminder to the both of them. “You're okay… When did all this, uh… Your episode, when did that start?”
Adam began to recount, “It was our failed mission that had begun this upset.”
Right. Not many cycles ago, they were tasked with fighting off an invasive monster that was wreaking havoc on a far out planet. While the monster was slain, it was not without casualties.
“It was my duty to protect those people… They died under my watch…”
“I get that. It… Ugh, we won, but…” Peter shook his head, best not to linger on it. “We did our best, but we can't save everyone. That's just a guilt we all have to live with… We can only try our best and continue to guard the galaxy for those that are still alive, right? Because turning evil- that's just- I mean an evil you, man that would just-”
“I suppose it would be significantly counter productive. Magus would only seek to harm and enslave.”
Thank the stars Adam caught on and finished the thought. “Yeah, that. Counter productive… Hey, you know what calms my nerves?”
“Your music.”
“Yeah! You wanna listen? I just made a new mixtape.”
“I believe we could both benefit.”
The air felt cold again when Peter let go to retrieve his walkman and cassette, even if only for a moment.
“I actually made this mixtape with you in mind. Songs I know you like and songs I think you'd like. I was gonna wait to give this one to you, but then you said you forgot your creation day and uh, I didn't know if you celebrated anything else.”
“That's incredibly kind of you, Peter.” He knew how much music meant to Quill. To not only share his passion, but make a personal gift of it purely out of love, it was so charming in a way Adam struggled to put into ways beyond a smile. As he observed the cassette that was handed to him, he felt a weight on him again- only this time it was a blanket being draped over his shoulder and head, save for his face.
“And since I'm kinda scared of you going into your real cocoon, I'll give you the next best thing: a blanket cocoon!”
Peter was sitting next to him again, arm back to holding Adam and sharing the earbuds between them as he hit play on the walkman. The track crackled a bit, then the tunes began.
Adam had to process the scene again. He was so used to isolation, to hiding in his cocoon and drifting off until the universe decided it needed his aid once more. Nobody with him, just the memories of his previous painful lives and grief. Just him and the ever-lurking Magus, battling internally for control of the soul. The scene he found himself in now, in the arms and blanket of someone who cared for him, someone else protecting him, someone else saving him from himself, was far different than what he was used to- but not unwelcome. Even while the music was beginning to make his head float in a relaxing way, the weight of Peter kept him grounded to reality; a reality no longer warped by the temptations of Magus or his depression.
“Your care for me is much appreciated, Peter Quill. To think when I first met you, I had assumed you were little more than some self-centered ignoramus. I could not have been more incorrect in my assumptions.”
Peter knew this was Adam's way of saying ‘I love you’, the guy hardly ever admitted fault or being incorrect. He gently pulled Adam closer to press a firm kiss to his forehead, as if to cure the troubles brewing in his brain. “Love you, too, Goldie.”