And you could have it all - My empire of dirt.

[letmetakeaselfie]

Rhodey is distracting the government types long enough for Tony to hack into the airspace and make sure none of this is being recorded. He loops the moments before the Milano pierces the atmosphere and plays them back, knowing by the time he's out of the system and they figure it out they won't be able to prove it was anything but a technical malfunction. He does all of this from his phone as he stands near the landing pad with Steve flanking his side. He's trying to do things right this time -- no more lone gunslinger act, as Pepper had phrased it.

He looks over his sunglasses at the spaceship as it decompresses, wondering who he's just invited over for dinner. Hopefully they're friendly... When the platform descends it really is just like Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He can't help but geek out a little. He'd technically met space aliens before, and Asgardians, etc. but somehow this is way cooler. "Welcome to Earth and please watch your step, we don't have liability insurance yet."

Comments

[valuedstrength]

It'd be a lie to say he isn't nervous. Sure, Steve's good friends with an alien prince, but his brother also tried to kill them all. His dad is kind of a tool too. This is a long way of saying their luck with aliens is generally bad. He'd really like not to fight for his life today.

Steve tries to put that aside when they greet the group. Tony's liability joke certainly helps since Steve can't resist shooting him a look to take this seriously!!! He takes a step forward and gives a hesitant, but honest smile as he prays they're not here to murder them like literally everyone who isn't Thor.

"Thank you for meeting us."

[aromantically]

Rocket is supposed to be keeping everyone busy on the ship, but after what happened on Ego Peter wasn't about to risk leaving them alone. So he fully expects them to crash the party at some point, but at least they can try to meet with these Avenger guys in peace... at first. He should probably warn them that they have super terrifying people/creatures on board, but, hey. Yolo.

Peter glances over at Gamora before taking in their welcoming committee. He recognizes the first guy's voice from his transmission, but the other guy is like Arnold Schwartzenegger on steroids. Seriously, even in his Dad clothes the guy looks carved out of stone. But otherwise, this place seems... normal. If way higher tech than he remembers.

"They call me Starlord," he begins in a serious voice, affecting it a bit deeper before he can catch himself. He swaggers his way down the platform with one hand in his belt buckle and generally trying to exude bad hombre vibes. Is it working?? "This is my spaceship, obviously... and my--my partner, Gamora. We are the Guardians of the Galaxy. Well, two of them. We're the good at talking ones."

[favoredone]

Gamora takes this all in with open suspicion. She knows better than anyone how her 'father' gets to people. She wouldn't be surprised if he outsourced the problem of the Guardians to one of his little pawns. The fact that she knows Terra was a target of invasion, but not the full results doesn't help. She can't know how many of them he turned.

As a result, Gamora doesn't have to play tough. She looks around the area and at both Steve and Tony. The look she gives them both is withering. "Allow me to get to the point. If this is a trap, you had better spring it now if you want a prayer of surviving our wrath. I promise the rest of our team will not hesitate to crush any ally of Thanos where they stand."

[letmetakeaselfie]

Yep, that guy is every bit as goofy as he sounded on the phone. And "Gamora" is... strangely gorgeous in that Amazonian chick who will murder you horrifically way. At least it's familiar enough to deal with. "Starlord" alludes to the rest of their team being close by, which the Avengers are too, so this is a bit of a stand off isn't it? He shoots a glance sideways to make sure Steve is still breathing. Poor guy.

Tony steps forward a little, holding up his hands in a way he hopes is non-threatening. "We're the good guys, promise. We heard about how you saved the galaxy -- twice. Pretty cool stuff. We tend to just work globally." He spins his finger around to signify the planet. Then he peels off his shades in that high drama way he has. "No trap, we want that goon dead as much as you guys." There Steve he's being serious!! Well, as serious as Tony Stark gets really.

[valuedstrength]

When Peter starts them off, Steve thinks it'll finally go alright. Sure, this guy is a total goof. He's increasingly sure that his partner is 90% of the reason why they saved the galaxy twice. That's fine. He's sure he must put up a decent fight when it counts even if he doesn't play a tough guy pretty well.

Then Gamora speaks and he just looks tired in response. If he has to fight people who could be his allies for the millionth time, he's moving to the Barton farm. Fuck this already. The look he gives Tony pretty much says as much. He rather live on a farm than go through this again.

Tony comes through for him though so he relaxes. This woman, Gamora, seems less inclined to cut off their heads now. He reaches out to squeeze his friend's shoulder in gratitude before moving properly to his side again. The only way he knows how to get past this kind of defense is honesty. He lays out their motivation plainly.

"We lost a lot of innocent people when he had someone invade us the first time. We're not going to give him a chance to do it again to us or anyone else. Enough is enough." They're taking a stand. This is mostly due to Tony's proactiveness, but still. He'd feel a lot better about it if the team was bigger considering what damage Thanos' army did when only commanded by a lackey. When someone considers a trickster god a lackey, he knows they're serious business.

[aromantically]

Yeah... his Starlord schtick never goes so good, but this seems like an especially tough crowd. And then Gamora does her thing and he's not sure whether to laugh or cry. He gets why she's so on edge, but he knows it's his job to smooth it over with his fellow Earthlings... preferably without them knowing he is one of them. Stat. At least they're getting credit for being heroes!!! For a change.

Peter continues down the ramp and steps off the landing pad so he can stand level with their new friends. Once Gamora does the same, the Milano will pull the platform back up so hopefully they won't get an immediate interruption by the children on board. He can't help but throw a look towards the ship all the same. He can only hope they aren't killing each other or destroying shit by now. "Thanks, man. We haven't heard of you at all." He smiles blandly at both of them. Of course, they hadn't heard of anything on Earth, including the invasion. It makes him feel guilty even if he had no way of knowing, so he's glossing over it.

The giant guy seems really sincere actually, but so had Ego. Or maybe that had just been his own wishful thinking -- even in retrospect, it's hard to pick out the moment everything went bad. "Look, we wanna believe you, but... we've been burned before." He tips his head, getting the feeling like they aren't the only ones. If they're all this paranoid then... maybe everything is fine, actually. At least for the moment. "Nobody's killing anybody... so long as we can work together on this." Peter gives Gamora a look -- hoping she'll respect his decision at least enough not to argue in front of these guys. They've gotten pretty expert at the nonverbal communication thing.

[favoredone]

They certainly know how to say the right things. Coupled with Peter's hesitation to kill them, she's inclined to show some trust. Gamora tilts her head just enough to show she agrees to support him. Peter will need that to keep the others from jumping to paranoid conclusions too.

There is something that's troubled her. The blond's speech highlights what it is. "There's one thing I must know before we move forward." She looks around to confirm what she already knows. These people are alive and thriving. They are trying to get ahead of Thanos appearing in person.

Her eyes and tone soften. She desperately needs to know how this came to be. "How did your people survive? No planet has ever been able to successfully resist Thanos' plans before. What was different about Terra?"

[aromantically]

Peter runs into Steve in the kitchen, going for a Coke since Tony told them to help themselves to... whatever. Still super strange for a kid who's had to scrap for everything he's ever had, but hey. It's better than the alternative. "I haven't had one of these in twenty years," he points out unnecessarily, taking a swig and going a little light-headed from the bubbles.

[valuedstrength]

Steve smiles in response, going to grab his own. He knows the experience Peter's having all too well. "Hope they didn't tweak it too much since then." He goes to take a seat with his, popping it open, and taking a drink.

"You've got a pretty colorful group. Not that I can talk, but." He lets out a soft laugh. Just an observation.

[aromantically]

"Do you mean literally, or..." He still hasn't gotten past the carbonation to figure out the first thing, but he'll get there. With Drax and other aliens he's met (Tazerface springs to mind) he never really could tell if people were capable of nuance anymore. "Because, yeah. Either way." He shrugs a shoulder. They certainly are... a group.

[valuedstrength]

"It was a figure of speech." Steve confirms. It still messes with him that there's another person like him around. Bucky is too withdrawn to express much shock over anything. Peter is a normal guy thrust back into a new world like he was.

"Is it too early to ask how a guy from Earth ended up with this crew? I'm not sure if that's sore spot or not."

[aromantically]

Even a few weeks ago, it would've been a sore spot. Peter has grieved for Yondu and himself, he's been through puberty with a tree child. He's had a rough year. But he'd been anticipating the question, looking forward to it even if he's honest with himself.

"It's a long story, but... I left Earth when I was nine. My mom died and so my dad came to get me." His real dad. He bites into his lip, setting the can down and curling his hands around the cool surface. "He was a Ravager, they stole to get ahead. He taught me how to live that life." Peter tugs on his jacket with one hand, directing Steve's eye to the colors he still wears for the man he lost. "I didn't meet everyone else until much later. Dad and me weren't gettin' along so I was making my own way. I went after an infinity stone just to sell it for the cash -- I didn't know what it really was."

Peter takes a little breath. "Gamora did, though, and she was looking for it too. We started working together, and picked up a few more on the way." His lip twitches up before he takes a more generous sip from his drink. "...And maybe it's just 'cause I was a kid, but I remember these being better." Is he crazy?

[valuedstrength]

He listens, nodding when appropriate. It is strange to think of some man coming to Earth to hook up with a human woman, but who knows? Maybe they were actual star-crossed lovers. He can't exactly judge as someone who was separated from the woman he loved by time and still goes back there like a lost puppy.

This story certainly sheds some light on Gamora. No offense, he doesn't get initially why a woman so serious would be attracted to a guy like Peter off the bat. If they met during such a crucial moment and were stuck together it makes a lot more sense.

He laughs at the soda thing. He had a feeling it'd go down like this. "They probably were. Coca-Cola has messed with that formula left and right over the years. Sorry to be the one to break it to you."

It doesn't take Steve long to circle back. He doesn't want to make it seem like he wasn't paying full attention to what Peter was saying. That's some deeply personal stuff. "I guess I don't blame you for not being in a rush to come back. I mean if it weren't for my friend, I'd have run after I lost my mom too. Not an easy loss to bear."

[aromantically]

Peter goes to find Gamora after all the hullabaloo has died down, sitting at the empty table next to her with a slice of pie on his plate with a dollop of whipped cream naturally. He brought two forks with him and he passes one over to her and lifts his eyebrow. "What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?"

[favoredone]

Gamora smiles in amusement. She knows that has to be a reference to something, but she answers seriously all the same. "Making allies." She accepts her fork, wasting no time in grabbing a bite. Nebula has hyped up Steve's pies for her. She knows she's in for a treat.

"And I'm not that nice." As if he needs reminding of that.

[aromantically]

He's been looking forward to it too and doesn't hesitate to take a bite with her, humming his approval softly. She's finally going to understand why he's missed Earth food so much.

"You're nice to me," he points out, shrugging his shoulder like it's no big deal. But obviously, it is.

[favoredone]

She's been getting it. Terra really does have a fine assortment of food. It's actually becoming quite the surprise people think so little of Terra. They have excellent food, rapidly advancing tech, wonderful music, stories, and a growing number of superpowered people. If they're not careful, they might go conquer half the galaxy one of these days. That's a thought for another time.

"You're the exception." She reminds him as she goes for another bite. This really is good. "Do you think they'll be upset if Nebula steals their baker for us?" She won't actually let that happen, but if he keeps baking like this she'll be tempted for a minute at least.

[aromantically]

He flushes a little, disguising it behind another bite of pie. He likes being her exception -- he doesn't think he needs to point out that she's his, too. "Given that he's Captain freaking America... yeah. They'd mind." He shakes his head fondly, glad Nebula finally came out to greet their new friends. That was the meeting he'd been most worried about, but she didn't even try to taze anyone so he's calling it a complete win. Peter edges a little closer so their arms brush while they eat.

[favoredone]

It is unnecessary. She does spare a fond smile at the sight of that flush. It never stops getting to her how easy it is to please him. His happiness in turn leads to her own. "He is more useful to us as a protector of Terra than a baker." Gamora concedes as her arm gently bumps his. She may not know why he's a big deal, but she can respect it. "Nebula will come to terms with leaving behind these pies with time." It helps to think of it that way. After meeting these people the odds of most of them surviving this are significantly higher. She's allowing for more optimism.

[relicta]

Steve is never that hard to find, especially for her. She leans on the doorway into the gym and waits for him to wind down his workout, not minding the view one bit either. She knows he's superhuman and all, but doesn't he know after partying with space aliens you aren't supposed to spend several hours fighting with a heavy bag? Not that her form of escapism is any better, so she wouldn't call him out on it. She just wishes he'd give himself permission to relax now and again. "Hey," she calls softly when he doesn't turn around for minutes after she first stood there. She knows he heard her come in, unless he was really that lost in thought. She can be quieter than she means to be sometimes. The struggles of the ex-spy life.

[valuedstrength]

While he enjoyed the party, it did bring home how real the threat they were facing was. Relaxing isn't really in the cards. The second it's alright to do so he commits himself to training. He's not going to lose anyone if he can help it. His blind determination keeps him from noticing Natasha right away. Once he does, he makes an effort to wind down so he can stop just in time for her to call him out.

"Hey." He turns to her, wiping sweat from his brow a second later. "Something going on?" Like she can't just say hello or something.

[relicta]

She makes a face at him and pushes off the wall, moving like a cat on the prowl on her way towards him. Maybe she should let it go today of all days, but no, she can't. They're supposed to be partners in this and she can't have him shutting down like this, not again. Not when she knows what it leads to. "Why don't you tell me." Natasha stands only a foot or so away now, too close for him to continue his self-flaggelation, and crosses her arms across her chest. Only she could make it look intimidating in clothes slightly too big for her while she looks all the way up at him.

[valuedstrength]

His defenses visible go up by the way his whole frame tenses. It unnerves him sometimes how well she can see him now. Natasha knows something is up. He can't even begin to try to hide it. That doesn't mean he won't deflect like a pro.

"We have a lot ahead of us. I'm just trying to get ready for it."

[relicta]

"Uh-huh." She's not buying it, clearly, judging by the way she works her jaw and narrows her eyes. "You do know we're not in a Rocky movie, right?" Just checking.

[valuedstrength]

"I know we're not in a Rocky movie." Steve argues a little irritably. He knows he has to give her something. He can't shut her out completely when she's right in front of him. Steve runs his fingers through his hair and sighs.

"I remember what an enhanced human being with Thanos' ambition did with one stone. You can't blame me for being worried about it." Or rather reliving the horrible details with every swing of his fist. These are good people. He remembers a little too well how it felt to carry Pietro in his arms after Ultron. He doesn't want to do it again.