Terran Boys Are Easy.

Vol. 1, Track 1.

This is where everything went to shit.

Knowhere, late August 2025.

"So, you're sending me away?" I asked. my throat stung with the threat of breaking down. Tears were already swelling in my eyes. I was standing in the middle of the kitchen. Peter was sitting with a drink in his hand.

Quill sighed "please, don't cry." He slurred slightly. He wouldn't look me in the eye. "That's all you have to say!? Don't cry? What the hell is that!" And just like that I was crying. "Did you even talk to anyone else about this or did you come up with this genius idea on your own?" I asked. I felt like I couldn't breathe. "I've raised you for ten damn years I know what's best for you and right now this ain't it!" He saw the twinge of energy that sparked in my fingertips. I clenched my fists. Quill got up and took my arms in his hands. "Hey, breathe, I know how much this sucks-"

"You have no idea how much it sucks!!" I yelled and pulled myself away. Qill looked around the room, cautiously. Like I was a fuse waiting to blow.

He was afraid of me.

I took three steps back. "Don't run." He sighed as I ran out of there. I ran as far away as I could on a place like Knowhere. I heard Groot mumble something to mantis. I ran as fast as I could. I needed to be as far away from them all as possible. Drax caught me, it felt like a punch to the stomach. He picked me up despite my fighting and leaned me against a wall. My hands fell to my knees. "Valerie, look at me now." He said, like it killed him to watch me be this upset, though he has seen it before, but this was different. Looking up at Drax the Destroyer looking destroyed. I'd never seen anything like it. Normally he'd say something like 'Why do you cry, Star child?" or 'It must be so hard being ugly. But it is nothing for a warrior to cry about.' but he didn't say those things. "You knew about this" I choked out. He was speechless. Mantis, Groot came along. "Does she know about Quill sending her away?" Mantis asked. "OBVIOUSLY!!" Nebula came around. Mantis put her hand on my shoulder. She began sobbing. "NO VALERIE YOU MUSNT THINK THOSE THINGS!" Mantis cried as she wrapped her arms would me. "I am Groot?" Groot asked, Mantis sniffled. "She thinks we do not love her, that peter is afraid of her and that we are exiling her! Betraying her!" I pushed Mantis away. "Shut up! You all knew about this and went behind my back!!" I cried. Rocket walked over as he mumbled "Aw shit..." He walked over.
"No, I promise you, kid that's not what this is." Rocket said as he crossed his arms. "Exactly it is something much worse..." Drax said. "Dude!" Rocket yelled.

"Why would he... Why- Do I have to??" My voice was hoarse and shaky. It was so hard to talk and control everything at the same time."Yes." Nebula said. "No, she doesn't! You don't need to do anything you don't want to!" Rocket yelled. "Yes, she does! Valerie, look at your brother! Does he look like he can take care of you? Train you? Help you reach you fullest potential??" Nebula asked, "Does he look like he's sobered up enough to make calls for her future!?" Rocket retorted with some bite.
Shit, that hurt.
"We don't even know what the other half of her is! We don't know how to teach her to harness her powers! Or why she still has them after we defeated Ego!" Drax said. "I am Groot!" Groot stomped. "He is right..." Mantis said. "I know I am. I'm always right." Rocket said. "NO!! I meant Groot. We all need to stop fighting!" Mantis yelled. Nebula looked at me before she could say something Drax stepped forward and rested a hand on my shoulder. "We are not exiling you, that is the last thing we would ever do to you, we love you." He said those three words like he took a punch for each one.  

"ehh loves a strong word." Rocket mumbled. "SHUT UP!" Mantis yelled. I couldn't help but laugh. "Family's want to give their children the best future they can possibly craft for them. Sometimes that means a future without us for a short while, Val." Drax said.
Nebula stepped forward. she paused. "Look around. There is nothing for you here, Valerie. Your brother is selfish and drowning in his grief. That is no place for the person you must grow up to be. The warrior Gamora and Yondu wanted you to be. From how I see it you have two options. You could stand your ground with Quill, and you would win, he is weak and you could stay here and drown with the rest of us and learn to become numb, so you don't lose control." Nebula paused. "Or you rise from the ashes. You learn what you need to, you grow, you make friends, you have the endless possibilities of what kind of warrior you want to be in your hands, and it is yours. Not ours, yours. It's your destiny." Nebula said aggressively. Like it was hard for her. "We both know that you are not stupid enough to pick the first option." Nebula said, Nebula glared at me as tears swelled in her eyes. "Gamora thought the stars of you. A blue 14-year-old refugee found on Xandar by Quill with no skills other than fighting, being a copilot and stealing without getting caught. She told me 'Nebula, she has the potential to make universes collide. She gives me the hope and the wonder that me and you can be sisters again'. Gamers would want you to do this more than anyone. She would want you to take the initiative and lead your own way with guidance. We want that. I want that." Nebula said.