"Holy shit."
"Fuck yes."
Desi studied Quill for a moment, eyes full of praise. "Thank you thank you thank you!" she flounced around before happily turning the ship into a pool. The ground rolled back - a smooth, controlled mechanism she noticed - chairs folded themselves, the important buttons had a sheen of plastic to protect it from water. Floats were released as Desi dunked in.
P.J stopped, melting into view as she turned back to Maverick. "Would you do it? For real?"
Meanwhile, Sherry was snapping pictures all around the arena, walking through the rows to some open seats. "Here, fellas! Over here!" They called, waving to the other three.
"It's no problem," Quill admitted, sitting on the edge of the pool, watching Desi with a small smile. It had been a while since he'd ever had a chance to really admire his own handiwork on the ship - it was very fine, he thought.
Adira shoved nudged Maverick with an elbow toward the arena. His face a healthy shade of ghost, he numbly took a few steps forward before running to Sherry in defense.
"Coward." Adira cursed him. "What to do, what to do," her sing-song voice held hints of loathing and hatred.
"Oh. Come. On." Desi coaxed Quill. "Just get in!" She splashed the water a bit, flicking some on him in annoyance. Her arms were propped at his feet as she stared up at him. "Party pooper."
On a whim, Desiree stood up - dripping water all over the spaceship floor - pulled Quill along, and shoved him in; her falling right beside him. "That's more like it," she gasped when they resurfaced, a soft smile replacing her previous pout.
P.J looked down at all of them rather disapprovingly, then standing up and heading to the top of the arena, where the commanding box was silently. She was going to get Maverick in that pit, alright.
Meanwhile, Sherry looked over at Maverick. "You could probably charm your way out," He pointed out, snapping a picture of the gladiators below.
"Alright, fine," Quill admitted, laughing and shaking his hair. "You win. They didn't name me after a bird for nothing."
Adira watched P.J approvingly. Yes, it was sometimes useful to get on somewhat good terms with another being just as fiery as yourself. Sometimes. She glanced down at the gun in her hands with pride and irony.
Maverick's eyes widened as P.J made a beeline for him. Shit shit shit. As she approached closer, Maverick used his one and only talent: "Wow, you really had your sights set on me, huh? You went through this entire audience to come sit next - or on - me?" You'd think he would learn He faked a gasp, pretending to be honored, before his gasp quickly turned to a desperate apology. P.J snarled, and he knew he was done for.
Desi had planned to dramatically eye-roll at the cringey pun, but Quill with wet, floppy hair sent her insides turning to mush before she even realized what was happening. The water only served to plaster his shirt to his… quite fit… she gulped, turning away. Bashfully looking away, she immediately regretted choosing to turn this into a swimming pool of all places. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
"C'mere, you Carulean scum," She growling, reaching for his shoulder and teleporting both of them down to the ring. She let go of his shoulder with a little finger wave before teleporting herself back up to where the rest were sitting.
"Nice one, P.J," Sherry mumbled, the click-click of his camera insistent as he focused it on Maverick.
"You good?" Quill tilted his head with a lopsided grin. "Or has the hyperspeed got to you finally?"
Adira was halfway to the chairs Sherry had saved before seeing Maverick's helpless, pitiful form in the ring. She started back toward him and watched as his face morphed to gratitude. Rolling her eyes, she walked up, flipped him off, then turned away. It wasn't necessary to feel guilty after every single flirty remark, and she laughed evilly when she reached P.J.
Oh my god that grin should be sinful, Desiree remarked to herself. "I-I'm fine." Stuttering. "J-just a… erm, a bit cold." She couldn't tell who she was trying to convince, and a glance at the water helpfully informed her that she had officially morphed into a tomato. Oh gods, I wish I could just drown.
P.J elbowed her affectionately, nodding her head towards Maverick. "Teleportation, comes in handy sometimes, dont'cha think?"
Sherry had put down their camera and was resting their chin in their hands, grinning out towards the arena. "Yes, P.J, yes it is."
"Cold? Well, hang on." Quill swam over a little bit and pressed a couple buttons and the water started to heat up. "Is that better?" He asked, swimming back towards her.
Adira shrugged, but a real smile had super glued itself onto her face as she examined Maverick fidgeting. Some could say that if you gave kindness you would receive it… bullshit. Revenge was much sweeter. When the announcer came on to declare the first match, and both contestants had nearly ripped out the others' throat… ahh. Revenge was much, much sweeter.
No, no it was not better. Was Quill absolutely blind? "Y-yes, thank you," she breathed. Desi didn't dare to meet his eyes. She didn't dare acknowledge the butterflies that decided to warp her stomach when Quill came back closer than before, nor how her heart had fluttered when he considered to turn up the temperature. Mortified with herself, she quickly dove underwater to hide.
P.J giggled a little, looking over to Sherry, who had to begun to video the whole thing. "This should be fun."
"Waaaait a minute." Quill looked down at Desi, going underwater after her and pulling her back up so that he could speak and she would hear him. "Do you like me? Is that what this is?"
HOLD THE FRIG UP EVEN AS SOMEONE WHO'S NOT DESI I AM FLUSTERED AF SLOW DOWN YOUNG MAN WHY ARE YOU CONFRONTING MY CINNAMON ROLL LIKE THIS LSDKJFAW;OGN
Indeed, Adira thought to P.J. See, it was now Round #7, and Maverick Pave, the randomly thrown in contestant was now up. He shot a confident wink to the camera and to Sherry but faced his gladiator with fear. A wobbly, not-Maverick voice could be heard calling out, "Wow, your armor looks rather… erm, dashing, prince." Evidently the opponent appeared confused and startled for a few seconds.
The commentator could be heard roaring over the crowd: "Our random contestant attacks straight off the bat- an offensive move used to distract his rival! Does Flirting TM work? Only time will tell." owen
Adira applauded whatever genius was chosen to do the lines, P.J was dying, and Sherry was just trying to keep the camera straight.
Desi burned. Her mouth struggled much like that of a fish, opening and closing with no sound. She tried to escape his hands but his firm grip refused to let go. I've never liked someone before, and somehow I've already messed up.
Yes, P.J was dying. She was resting her elbows on her knees, her head hung between them, cackling like a witch, glancing up from time to time. "Oh my god…oh my god…" Meanwhile, Sherry was laughing in loud borks, shaking the camera in his laughter.
"I may be a little soft, yeah, but I'm not stupid." A smile tugged at the corner of Quill's mouth and he raised an eyebrow. "You do, don't you?"
Maverick froze - partially in shock at the commentator, partially reeling from the laughter bouncing from his friends. Bad move, to freeze. But the commentator was right, he did have to take advantage of this. Closing his eyes, he mentally prepared for knocking his ego down several latches-
"It appears Flirting TM does have a set back. While stuns your opponent for 20 seconds, you are reduced to a blundering, idiotic de- I MEAN STUNNED FOR 15!" he corrected. Oh Maverick was angered.
But anger doesn't make anyone able to suddenly professionally fight, and so therefore the flimsy kick that Maverick made hit the gladiator in his armor. He didn't even budge an inch. Maverick swore.
"Also, the set back includes having very weak attacks for the remaining 5 seconds. Your choice; is it beneficial or not?"
Desi would've buried her face into his neck, if only so she didn't have to look at him. Oh he knows, and he's teasing you about it. "I…" she shook her head in humiliation. "Yes," she whimpered, so quietly he barely heard, if he did. Idiot. Once again, she tried to escape his grip but he was holding too tight, and… and… Desi was about to go hide herself under a boulder for the rest of enternity.
P.J turned to Adira. "As funny as this is, we should probably get him out of her before he dies. In the meantime, though, I was thinking." Raising her hands just the tiniest bit, she cast a small helio sheild and waved another hand to make it at least somewhat invisible.
"Nice one, P.J," Sherry mumbled to themselves, clicking a couple more pictures. "Don't want to lose a new crew member that easily."
"Hey, that's not…" Quill looked for the rights words in that giant brain of his. "Not a bad thing. Look up at me." He coaxed, speaking softly and gently. He wasn't going to lie to himself, Desi was pretty - and amusing, interesting, and a lot of other things he didn't have words for.
Adira sighed. "Fine, fine. You were thinking?"
Maverick was, predictably, not doing so hot. Every 'attack' he made barely reduced the gladiators advances and his 'defenses' could be dumbed down to flirting.
After a long moment of wearily looking anywhere besides him, she finally forced her eyes to meet his. She gasped at the sincerity she found there and she found she really, really liked him. He cared, actually cared, and never once had he ever shown annoyance or treated her like a burden.
Despite everything, I can't let him get close, the mantra repeated over and over in her mind as her eyes trailed over his face. I can't let him get close. She thought, staring at his lips. I can't… otherwise he'll leave me, like she did.
“I gave him a sheild. Can’t see it well, but it’s there.” P.J admitted, while Sherry nodded. “It’ll give the warrior a bit of a kickback and surprise so we can get him out of there.”
“It’s okay, you know. Not a…not a bad thing,” Quill said, shrugging a little, but not losing any of the sincerity in his eyes or voice. “If it’s any comfort, I, uh…” He looked away for a moment and then back at her. “I kinda like you too.”
A gleam entered Adira's eyes. "Alright! How are we doing this?" She looked at Maverick, who's whimpering self was pressed against the wall of the arena. The gladiator against him had entered a 'let's kill' mode though P.J's shield was holding up.
Oh. She echoed her thoughts out loud. Helpful Desi. She berated herself. Really contributive to the conversation. "What does this make…" she gestured between them, no longer struggling. "Us?"
“Um…you’re gonna wait here for a minute. Then we’re gonna get back.” P.J instructed, slipping invisible and running over the wall of the arena close to Maverick. “Don’t move,” She whispered into his ear.
“Depends. What do you want it to be?” Quill shrugged and looked down at her - he had noticed her looking at his lips earlier, but he didn’t want to push her.
"Excuse me?" Adira was offended as she watched P.J whiz off.
'Don't move'? Maverick was frozen already. Thankfully his friends would rather not have him die in a gladiator arena. That was reassuring to know. They had waited so long to save him though, he already had bruises forming all over and his lip was bleeding, too.
I don't know I don't know! Desi internally screamed. Was she suppose to place faith this person, place her love in his hands, be willing to give him a gun aimed at her heart and trust him not to shoot? Her past had shattered her heart into so many pieces, she didn't know which one to follow.
P.J grabbed his shoulder and teleported back up to the stands, while Sherry clicked some pictures of the very confused gladiator below.
“Hm.” Quill tilted his head and let her go gently. “I can give you some time,”
"Well that was eventful," Adira smirked at Maverick's dumbfounded expression. He couldn't decide whether to thank P.J or to scream at the lot for throwing him into that hell, laughing. In fact, he didn't trust P.J enough to stand next to her - for fear of her teleporting him right back to the arena as a joke.
"Okay," she whispered, because it was the only thing she understood. Suddenly, the pool seemed very confining and the floats around them like mockery of what they were supposed to do. Feeling extremely childish, Desi gathered the water around her, loving and hating the absence of his hands on her waist. "I want this to be something more than friendship, but don't move too quickly," she decided. At the same time, the mantra in her head had quieted as she acknowledged the words she'd spoken.
“Alright.” Sherry stood and looked down at the rest of them. “We should probably start getting back now.”
“Okay. That’s fine.” Quill nodded, smiling softly at her. “I can imagine they’re all coming back now, so…do you want to clean all this up?”
"Aww," Adira commented. "But there's so many other fun activities we could do…" she trailed off, reluctantly following Sherry back to the ship.
Maverick, it seemed, had slightly recovered because: "Care to elaborate on 'fun activities'?" Maverick had now made a plan to annoy everyone as much as possible - it'd probably do him more harm than good in the future, but at the moment he wanted to get vengeance.
Desi nodded her head shyly, feeling lighter than air. Her emotions even prompted her to flick some water in his face, for good measure, before squealing away to the other side of the pool.
P.J sighed and flickered herself invisible so as not to get annoyed by Maverick, grabbed Sherry’s hand and pulled them along the plain back towards the ship.
Heccx, tHaT’s adorable, Quill thought to himself, laughing and splashing a little water in her face before getting out of the pool and walking over to her side. “Want help up?”
Adira watched P.J's transformation in envy. If only she could disappear anytime, anywhere, into a shadow or completely invisible. No, she was stuck with this idiot. Maverick was thoroughly pissed with them, but he didn't even know the half of it.
Adira decided to withhold the valuable information that Sherry had captured every single moment on his camera. That could be revealed later, along with threats of blackmail.
Blushing, Desi accepted the offer with a timid smile. Her eyes shone brightly - she would cherish this ship forever. She still couldn't let go of how Quill looked with the water dripping- no no no. Bad brain.