[Minimus's body is lying on the bed, but his conscious is on on floor in the form of a 17-year-old friend. It better fits the playlist of angsty teenage music blaring over the music player. Not that he expected to have relationship troubles to be terrible enough to require this playlist, but Verity put it together for him, and he couldn't delete one of his remaining memories of Earth.
The holoform stands, unlocks the door, and throws herself back onto the carpet.]
[ Since Minimus doesn't tell him to fuck off, he takes the open door and an invitation and steps inside, closing it behind him. ]
Ah, hi...
[ Peter has never interacted much with the other Cyebertronians' holoforms, but he's seen Megatron's and knows of their existence. There's a brief confusion flashing on his face when he spots Minimus body lying on the bed, and his eyes land on the young girl sitting down in front f it.
Luckily, Minimus had mentioned Verity to Peter before, so he imagines that perhaps he chose a holoform based on her age, or looks. The guardian gives him...-Her? Her, then- a sympathetic look and moves to sit on the floor next to her. Peter brings his knees up, arms resting on them, offering silent company for a few rather than immediately pressing for answers about what had happened. The choice of songs speaks for itself, and Peter is familiar with finding comfort in songs in difficult moments. ]
[Verity doesn't answer. Speaking takes too much effort, and the moment Minimus tries to form noises through her mouth, he feels like crying. The holoform rolls her head back to stare at the ceiling.]
Mm.
[If only it were easy to apologize for behaving so foolishly.]
[ Ah, so it's that bad, uh? He is lacking a lot of context, but seeing Minimus this hurt, even when he looks different than his usual self, is downright painful.
If talking is difficult, then they don't have to do that.
The thing about holoforms, though, is that Peter has only seen Megatron's one through the network. He has no idea if they are pure holograms, or hard light, or something else. That won't stop him from trying to wrap an arm around her shoulders, to see if there's something solid there and he can bring Minimus closer for a half hug. ]
[She's not warm like a human, but she is solid, if a bit fuzzy where he touches the hologram. The Verity avatar turns her head to watch Star-Lord curiously.
It's nothing like a hug from another Cybertronian, but she sits up and curls into a ball. It's not a direct invitation for physical contact, but it gives Peter more space for his arm.]
[ Peter's kid is a tree, and not super huggable either, but that never stopped him from showing Groot affection. It's much the same now. He's careful not to come as overwhelming when he leans a little bit closer to the Verity avatar and starts to rub her back in slow circles. ]
[ Peter's lips make a silent 'oh' and he's quiet for a beat. Honestly, he always has some trouble figuring out if Drift and Megatron get along or hate each other due to their complicated past, although, he is almost sure any angry feelings come mostly from Drift.
Peter also knows that Drift, much like himself, is mourning the loss of his lover, and he thought that Megatron was seeing Minimus because that's what Drift had implied the last time they talked. To hear that whatever happened-and it doesn't take a genius to figure that it might be- involved them is unexpected, to say the least. Peter can only give a sympathetic, and still sort of surprised; ]
Fuck. [ Okay that is not much as far as replies go. ] Holy shit. [ Not better. Peter runs his free hand over his face briefly, then tries to catch her eye. ] That's shitty, I'm sorry. Where they drunk or something?
[The holoform's face furrows as it glares at Peter.] Of course not. How else could they have done this multiple times in the past few months and only stop recently due to an argument? If I hadn't come along, they might as well have continued their relationship and left me be!
[Verity-avatar throws her arms into the air, then lets them fall to her sides.]
If I was his second choice only because Drift wasn't available, he could have at least told me this before- [No. It was difficult enough to invite Megatron to his train cabin, and he isn't going to go into detail with someone he had known for a month. The avatar resumes staring at the ceiling.] It's my fault. I should have known better than to assume Megatron couldn't be happy without me.
[ He is silent for a moment, trying to assimilate what happened and why is Minimus so angry. Frankly, he would be just as pissed off if he were in the bot's skin. Metal skin. Uh, whatever applies. He frowns visibly, lips pursing when Minimus blames himself. ]
Ey no, none of that. Other people's mistakes are not your fault.
[ Peter is a jealous person. He is not proud of the fact, but he is aware that it is a bad trait he has. He also knows that the reason he got so annoyed when Gamora looked at other people, or when others showed interest in her, was that he wouldn't know what to do if she wasn't part of his life. Being loyal to your partner means a lot to him, but he also understands what it's like to be alone, to think that you'll never get to see your loved ones. When loneliness and pain claw at your chest and make an empty hole to crawl into and stay there. It never ends well. ]
I'm not sure how relationships are for you, guys, with your long lives, but I figure it's not that much different from any other sentient creature. We're not so different. [ The guardian starts, his voice conciliatory and a little careful, but honest. ] Admittedly, I don't know Megatron and Drift as well as I would like, but I know they have a complicated past together. They might have felt really lonely on this ship, with no one else they knew or trusted around, and not knowing it that would ever change.
[ Peter reaches out to touch the holoform cheek, to try and get her to look at him. ]
I'm not trying to excuse them, they should have talked to you about it when you got here. You have all the right to be furious and to never speak to them again if you don't want. I'm just trying to say that broken-hearted people would try anything to make the hurt go away. Even if it's only temporary, even if causes bigger problems in the long run. We shouldn't judge others by their lowest points, but by how they answer to their mistakes.
[The Verity avatar wipes invisible tears from her face.]
I could have done something differently! I could have asked him if he had anything important about our relationship to say about! About which to say! [He's slipped up on his grammar; he knows now that he's in far too much distress, but he can't stop himself.]
If that's what made him happy, why didn't he tell me? If it brought him comfort, why did he believe that hiding it from me was more important than what we wanted for centuries? I thought he trusted me. I thought I could trust him. I knew it was naïve for...whatever we had to work smoothly, but just this once, when I let my guard down...
[And like the last time he put his faith into Megatron, he was hurt. Feeling vulnerable is comforting only for a brief moment before the regret sets in. He knows, when Peter holds her cheek and the avatar inevitably turns towards him, that looking at Star-Lord in the eye will lead to a cascade of emotions that should have been left inside before it destroyed another friendship.]
...We're here together. It makes sense to have a professional relationship with them. [Verity's mouth twitches.] At the very least.
[ If the holoform is connected to Minimus's emotional state with such accuracy, it's no wonder she might cry. Peter wishes he were better at these things, so that he could comfort his new friend properly. As it is, he can only be honest. ]
When we first met, I've got the impression that you like things to be under control, but people are unpredictable, and our feelings hardly make sense to ourselves on a daily basis. Megatron's choices are only his fault, for good or bad, and torturing yourself with 'what if' will only hurt you further.
[ Peter is the last person who would call Magnus out for slipping up on his grammar, much less now that the poor Cybertronian is so clearly troubled. It's good, however, that Minimus is letting it all out instead of bottling his feelings up, even if he might regret it later. ]
That, I cannot tell you. Maybe he was scared that you would not return his feelings. Or maybe Megatron believed that he wasn't deserving of them.
[ As much as Peter loves Gamora, he's had those kinds of thoughts before. She is better than him in a possible way, something other people had reminded him of plenty in the past, and he sometimes wondered if she wouldn't have been happier with someone else.
When the Verity avatar turns to face him, Peter's own eyes are filled with sadness and sympathy. He's no stranger to betrayal, although not of this kind. ]
Then don't talk to him, you don't have to forgive him. Forgive them. You all might need some time, and Megatron certainly needs to work to earn your trust again. I know things are bad now, and you have all the reason to be angry and frustrated, but don't let it harden your heart to life’s other joys.
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The holoform stands, unlocks the door, and throws herself back onto the carpet.]
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Ah, hi...
[ Peter has never interacted much with the other Cyebertronians' holoforms, but he's seen Megatron's and knows of their existence. There's a brief confusion flashing on his face when he spots Minimus body lying on the bed, and his eyes land on the young girl sitting down in front f it.
Luckily, Minimus had mentioned Verity to Peter before, so he imagines that perhaps he chose a holoform based on her age, or looks. The guardian gives him...-Her? Her, then- a sympathetic look and moves to sit on the floor next to her. Peter brings his knees up, arms resting on them, offering silent company for a few rather than immediately pressing for answers about what had happened. The choice of songs speaks for itself, and Peter is familiar with finding comfort in songs in difficult moments. ]
That's a good playlist.
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Mm.
[If only it were easy to apologize for behaving so foolishly.]
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If talking is difficult, then they don't have to do that.
The thing about holoforms, though, is that Peter has only seen Megatron's one through the network. He has no idea if they are pure holograms, or hard light, or something else. That won't stop him from trying to wrap an arm around her shoulders, to see if there's something solid there and he can bring Minimus closer for a half hug. ]
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It's nothing like a hug from another Cybertronian, but she sits up and curls into a ball. It's not a direct invitation for physical contact, but it gives Peter more space for his arm.]
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Do you ...want me to go punch someone for you?
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[He's certain Megatron and Drift are in enough emotional turmoil. He wants them to feel enough shame.]
Physical violence might distract them from the core issue.
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[ See, Peter can also be petty, so he totally understands this reasoning. Not like Minimus doesn't have plenty of justified reasons, of course. ]
So, uhm...Them?
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[It only takes several seconds for Minimus to decide to share names.]
Drift and Megatron.
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Peter also knows that Drift, much like himself, is mourning the loss of his lover, and he thought that Megatron was seeing Minimus because that's what Drift had implied the last time they talked. To hear that whatever happened-and it doesn't take a genius to figure that it might be- involved them is unexpected, to say the least. Peter can only give a sympathetic, and still sort of surprised; ]
Fuck. [ Okay that is not much as far as replies go. ] Holy shit. [ Not better. Peter runs his free hand over his face briefly, then tries to catch her eye. ] That's shitty, I'm sorry. Where they drunk or something?
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[Verity-avatar throws her arms into the air, then lets them fall to her sides.]
If I was his second choice only because Drift wasn't available, he could have at least told me this before- [No. It was difficult enough to invite Megatron to his train cabin, and he isn't going to go into detail with someone he had known for a month. The avatar resumes staring at the ceiling.] It's my fault. I should have known better than to assume Megatron couldn't be happy without me.
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Ey no, none of that. Other people's mistakes are not your fault.
[ Peter is a jealous person. He is not proud of the fact, but he is aware that it is a bad trait he has. He also knows that the reason he got so annoyed when Gamora looked at other people, or when others showed interest in her, was that he wouldn't know what to do if she wasn't part of his life. Being loyal to your partner means a lot to him, but he also understands what it's like to be alone, to think that you'll never get to see your loved ones. When loneliness and pain claw at your chest and make an empty hole to crawl into and stay there. It never ends well. ]
I'm not sure how relationships are for you, guys, with your long lives, but I figure it's not that much different from any other sentient creature. We're not so different. [ The guardian starts, his voice conciliatory and a little careful, but honest. ] Admittedly, I don't know Megatron and Drift as well as I would like, but I know they have a complicated past together. They might have felt really lonely on this ship, with no one else they knew or trusted around, and not knowing it that would ever change.
[ Peter reaches out to touch the holoform cheek, to try and get her to look at him. ]
I'm not trying to excuse them, they should have talked to you about it when you got here. You have all the right to be furious and to never speak to them again if you don't want. I'm just trying to say that broken-hearted people would try anything to make the hurt go away. Even if it's only temporary, even if causes bigger problems in the long run. We shouldn't judge others by their lowest points, but by how they answer to their mistakes.
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I could have done something differently! I could have asked him if he had anything important about our relationship to say about! About which to say! [He's slipped up on his grammar; he knows now that he's in far too much distress, but he can't stop himself.]
If that's what made him happy, why didn't he tell me? If it brought him comfort, why did he believe that hiding it from me was more important than what we wanted for centuries? I thought he trusted me. I thought I could trust him. I knew it was naïve for...whatever we had to work smoothly, but just this once, when I let my guard down...
[And like the last time he put his faith into Megatron, he was hurt. Feeling vulnerable is comforting only for a brief moment before the regret sets in. He knows, when Peter holds her cheek and the avatar inevitably turns towards him, that looking at Star-Lord in the eye will lead to a cascade of emotions that should have been left inside before it destroyed another friendship.]
...We're here together. It makes sense to have a professional relationship with them. [Verity's mouth twitches.] At the very least.
But I am not ready to talk to him.
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When we first met, I've got the impression that you like things to be under control, but people are unpredictable, and our feelings hardly make sense to ourselves on a daily basis. Megatron's choices are only his fault, for good or bad, and torturing yourself with 'what if' will only hurt you further.
[ Peter is the last person who would call Magnus out for slipping up on his grammar, much less now that the poor Cybertronian is so clearly troubled. It's good, however, that Minimus is letting it all out instead of bottling his feelings up, even if he might regret it later. ]
That, I cannot tell you. Maybe he was scared that you would not return his feelings. Or maybe Megatron believed that he wasn't deserving of them.
[ As much as Peter loves Gamora, he's had those kinds of thoughts before. She is better than him in a possible way, something other people had reminded him of plenty in the past, and he sometimes wondered if she wouldn't have been happier with someone else.
When the Verity avatar turns to face him, Peter's own eyes are filled with sadness and sympathy. He's no stranger to betrayal, although not of this kind. ]
Then don't talk to him, you don't have to forgive him. Forgive them. You all might need some time, and Megatron certainly needs to work to earn your trust again. I know things are bad now, and you have all the reason to be angry and frustrated, but don't let it harden your heart to life’s other joys.