#invincible rae

You join the team shortly after Rae heals from the fight against the Lizard League

She's freshly healed and badass and you're enchanted

Rae is by far the most.... normal... of the Guardians

or at least she tries to be

but she's such a no nonsense natural badass that you can't help but admire her

This is fine, you think, you're an adult and you're both professionals

There's no reason you can't work with her AND admire her

You think about her before bed, while brushing your teeth, making food- ugh you're lovesick

It doesn't help that this isn't just a hallway crush, you know her intimately

You've saved her life, she's saved yours, you train together and fight together and you've heard her cry out thinking she's close to death

It's macabre but it brings people closer together

Rae is acutely aware of your feelings for her

She's scared of them at first, worried about the drama of dating on the team

She's seen how much of a hassle it's been for The Immortal, Kate, Rex, Rudy, and Amanda. It's annoying for everyone

but you're not a creep or anything

you're her age, her maturity, her speed

You're an adult, a professional

You give her space and seem to genuinely cherish her as a member of the team

And I mean, cmon, you're cute

It's kind of endearing watching you trip up over your words, or turning red when you see her in the shower room.

Don't think she hadn't noticed.

This "will they won't they" culminates one night when Rae leaves her room at one in the morning to get something to drink

She finds you on the couch, a blanket pulled tight around your shoulders, pooling across your torso, and a blank but uneasy look on your face

"You okay?" She spooks you, and don't think she doesn't catch how you jerk around to face her, almost falling off the couch

"Oh- uh- yeah. Just...." You suck in a breath, releasing it through an open mouth "Bad dream."

Rae nods knowingly, moving to make a second cup of her drink "Hot chocolate for the nerves?"

"Oh, yes please. Thank you..." You're embarrassed to have been found like this

After a minute, Rae hands you a cup, sitting next to you on the couch

"So, bad dream?" She prompts, raising her eyebrows at you curiously

You sigh again, a softer, less deliberate sigh, and your shoulders release some of their tension "Yeah, thinking about that fight last week, all the... blood."

Rae nods empathetically, her ever-stern face softening just a little "Yeah, it was really rough, you did good though." She held your upper arm for just a beat too long, the two of you making eye contact

"I don't know how to stop being scared, I want this. I want to be a superhero and to-" ... "I want to be able to do what I want to do, but I'm so scared all the time."

She heard you and listened, and responded with all her Rae wisdom you'd grown to love

"Well," she set her mug on the table in front of you "It's okay to be scared, that's normal. It's like with Rudy. He's got to learn how to not shit his pants every time there's a threat, but he has to feel it, so he doesn't die. Yknow? If we didn't fear failure or rejection or pain, we'd experience it all the time."

"But-" she continued "That doesn't mean Rudy doesn't fight, we're scared shitless and we do it anyway, because it saves people and makes us who we are. It makes my life better by doing what I do. Whatever you got going on, you're allowed to be scared, but you do it anyway."

Her words stirred a sense of conviction in you

"Rae I-" you paused, your shoulders tensing again "I really like you. And-"

She smiled, tilting her head "I was wondering if you were going to ask me out."

"So... is that a yes?"

"Are you asking me a question?" she shot back, a coy grin

"Oh!" your eyes widened in shock "I mean- can I... take you out some time?"