Would anyone be interested in me sending them my plan for how they’re gonna take down the emperor to see if makes sense or if it’s stupid and I need to rework it
Neither of them sleep for the remainder of the night. When the Gemma Lynn begins brightening to signal the onset of the artificial waking-half of the rotation, Rocket can see that the broad has smudges of exhaustion under her eyes. For a moment, he wonders if she ever even went to bed in the first place, but when she finally stands up to get ready for the day, he can see she’s not wearing any pants.
He looks away. So that big white shirt is supposed to be for sleeping, then.
Chapter III. A Kindness. in which Rocket gets in his own damn way: not for the first time, and certainly not for the last
This chapter is angsty, friends. Please see behind the cut for a more thorough summary/notes/links to preceding chapters/a brief preview to Chapter IV. Got There First. Some day I'll figure out a good way to format these posts.
General Summary~
Rocket is captured by a Ravager crew hoping to get rich off the excessively large bounty on his head. Throwing a wrench in everyone’s plans is the Terran girl they hired to do some freelance assessing on a recent haul of goods they’ve seized from a Xandaran luxury liner. Oops.
slight AU starting pre-GOTG volume 1 (but will hit most of the same major plot points). slooowww burn + eventual smut with a lot of pining in the middle. kinda enemies-to-lovers? (but only one of these idiots thinks they're enemies). elements of hurt/comfort because rocket is the saddest-angriest boy. rating will go up and tags will be added to as needed.
i just want someone to be nice to my best raccoon boy
Chapter I. A Delicacy. in which our reluctant heroes meet atop a crate of Sovereign porn in the bowels of a Ravager ship.
Chapter II. Monster For A Pet. in which one hero wrestles with his inner Groot, and the other is quite possibly a moron.
Chapter III. A Kindness. in which Rocket gets in his own damn way: not for the first time, and certainly not for the last.
Coming Soon: Chapter IV. Got There First. in which our heroes obtain an arsenal and street food.
‘Verse: Resistance, co-author @whump-sprite
Version: AU: Chewtoy
Timeline: Connor has found out what's been happening to Ariadne
Investigation
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Connor takes his complaint directly to the Site Director. The Director promises to make it a priority, but of course there has to be an investigation.
"He's probably whipping her bloody right now, sir."
But Connor is forced to concede that he has no proof that it was Maclauren who hurt her, and that he can't rule out there being a legitimate reason for her detention.
He argues, and the best he can do for her right now is some paid leave while the higher-ups investigate – during which time she still isn't allowed out of the building.
Connor leaves that meeting grinding his teeth with frustration. He did know when he brought her back that the wheels of bureaucracy would take a little while to turn. But he thought the photos he took would count for a little more than this.
Apparently she needs to be seen in person by a medical professional before it counts for anything.
At least it shouldn't take long to turn up all the evidence they could possibly need. And when they do, they won't be able to justify doing nothing.
Connor looks for Ariadne in the room where he left her. She implied that she always uses the same one. There's no answer when he knocks.
He sends her an email instead to let her know that he’s kept his word.
He doesn't hear back.
Days pass with no news, from her or from Director Bloome. Connor's team accuse him of being distracted, which he is.
It takes five emails to Bloome before he gets any acknowledgement. The earliest in-person meeting he can book is next week. He gets an annoyed note from Bloome's secretary about repeated emails before he gets a response from the Director himself.
When he does, it's perfunctory. Milonas failed to attend her medical examination. It has been rescheduled.
Connor can guess why she didn’t attend.
Any time he knocks on her door, she doesn't answer. He's beginning to wonder if she lied about which room she uses. Or perhaps she's moved. Perhaps Riven made her move.
He looks for her in Interrogations, following a hunch that her leave will mean nothing to Maclauren. Maclauren's team have turned hostile since Connor's report, but they can't stop him coming in.
He finds Ariadne in a break room, passed out face down on the couch. One arm dangling off the edge, hand resting on the floor.
“Leave her alone,” says Cheng, “Can’t you see she’s sleeping?”
Her voice alerts Ariadne, who shoves herself up off the couch with a ragged gasp that sounds like pain.
“Did he hurt you again?” Connor demands.
Ari blinks at him with frightened eyes for a second, then scowls. “What d’you want, Thompson?” Sleep deadens her voice but doesn’t hide the venom.
“Did he hurt you again already?”
“Fuck off.”
Connor steps closer, meaning to – he doesn’t know, lift her shirt and take a look for himself. The way she flinches stops him in his tracks.
“Leave her alone,” Cheng repeats from the other side of the room.
Connor doesn’t look round. “I heard you didn’t make it to medical. I’ll take you, they can’t stop me. Right now, come on.”
Ari shakes her head, lips a thin, white line. “I don’t want to go.”
“Ariadne, you have to cooperate with the investigation…"
Her gaze keeps flicking to the side – past Connor to look at Cheng.
"I'm not going," she repeats. "I don't want your "help". Stop… stop interfering."
Obviously Connor has to get her away from Maclauren’s cronies if he wants to actually talk to her.
"Okay," he allows, frustrated. "Then just… come upstairs and get a coffee with me. You're not supposed to be working."
Cheng pushes her chair back, and strolls over. She's half Connor's size, but she has the swagger common to all interrogators.
"There's a coffee machine right there," she points out with a smile. "Help yourself."
"I asked her to come upstairs with me. You know, get some natural light, breathe some air that hasn't been recycled a hundred times."
Ariadne is inching sideways, trying to get out from between Connor and the couch. Reluctantly Connor steps back to give her space. He doesn't want to trap her.
To his surprise, rather than seeking space, she goes to Cheng's side.
Cheng takes another step forwards, letting Ariadne hide in her shadow. It brings her right into Connor's personal space.
“You’re bothering her,” she drawls. Her smirk practically reaches her ears. “You’re not welcome in our break room, Thompson. Let the girl nap.”
“I don’t want to talk to you,” Ariadne echoes. "Leave me alone."
It’s no use. Connor can’t talk to her like this. “Fine,” he allows. “You know where to find me.”
He tries again the next day after his shift ends. It's late and he hopes enough of her colleagues will have gone home that he might catch her alone.
The card lock beeps and refuses to let Connor through. He tries again. Then, increasingly irritated, he bangs on the security door until someone unlocks it from the other side.
Maclauren opens it, stopping the door with a boot to ensure there’s no room for Connor to push past.
“Thompson,” he smiles, poison in every word. “How can I help you?”
“Cut the crap. I’m here to speak to Milonas.”
“She isn’t here. Her shift’s over.”
“I’ll confirm that for myself. Let me through.”
Maclauren’s shit-eating grin broadens. “I’m afraid I can’t do that. We’re under lockdown.”
“Yeah fucking right. Since when?”
“Since this morning actually. Go ask Security if you don’t believe me.”
“I know what you’re doing,” Connor growls. “You’re stalling for time. Do you think it'll help you?"
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about. But I’m telling you, you’re looking in the wrong place. Ariadne’s gone to bed.”
He can’t force Maclauren to stand aside, so Connor has to walk away.
He checks her supposed room again, but knocking and calling her name still fails to elicit any response. He thinks about going back to Interrogations and knocking again. Someone less sure of themself than Riven might answer, and Connor could just push past.
But he's trying to do this the right way. Fuming, he goes to Central Security like Riven suggested.
The whole of Interrogations is in lockdown, he’s told, due to "an information security breach." Essential personnel only. No, Connor doesn’t have clearance to know more. Not that he needs to, he knows damn well it’s just some bullshit Riven made up to be obstructive.
It's fine. There's a raid planned for Thursday. When Connor brings new prisoners in he'll be essential personnel, and he'll find Ariadne then.
He actually sees her on Wednesday. He happens to cross paths with her in the hall.
Ariadne keeps her head down and pretends she doesn't see Connor or hear him call her name. She tries to ignore him even when he breaks into a jog to catch up with her. Connor catches her arm, and she gasps.
"What do you want from me?" she demands, voice brittle.
Connor looks both ways. They're alone.
"I just want to check in," he says. "You didn't answer my emails – does he let you read your emails?"
"Yes," Ariadne snips shortly, "sir."
"Well, I wasn't sure."
She tugs lightly but insistently against Connor's hand on her elbow, so he lets go. "Don't walk away from me,” he warns her. “I just want… I don't know. Are you coping alright?"
"Just fine, thank you, sir." Her lip curls. "Situation normal."
All fucked up. Sounds about right.
"Have you been seen by the doctor yet?"
"No sir. I have another appointment."
"When is it? I'll walk you there myself."
"I…" For a second the vulnerability shows through the anger. Then her expression closes again. "I don't remember, sir. I'm sorry."
Connor always used to be able to tell when she was lying. Now, he isn't sure.
"Email me," he urges with a sigh.
"Yes sir."
"Has he hurt you again? Since I took you home?"
"I can't answer that, sir."
"So that's a yes. Come on, Ari, no one's listening, talk to me."
She looks him in the eye, and says nothing.
Connor throws up his hands in frustration. "I am trying to help you."
"No, you're not." There's a sudden fire in her eyes. "I asked you for help. You're doing what you want, and I'm paying the price. You're the same as everyone else. Just leave me alone."
Connor is taken aback.
"Is that really what you want? You want me to stop trying?"
"Yes it's what I want. How many times do I have to say it?"
There are tears in her eyes, despite the snarl on her lips.
"I can't do that," Connor says slowly. "I can stop talking to you if you want. But Riven can't get away with this, I won’t stand by and watch."
"Fuck you too," Ari spits. "Don't come to my funeral."
And she storms away.
Connor almost reaches to grab her again. But looking down at his hand he sees that where he caught her arm before, his fingers are smeared with red.
Waaaay behind on a buncha stuff at the moment; gonna blame the writers block and general malaise on pms, so give it like a week idk. I need to fuckin finish 31 😩
