#nebula reader insert

Nebula has a complicated relationship with affection of any kind. For that reason, your relationship moved at a snail's pace. Nebula has had a hard life, a hard time loving people and being loved. Taking it slow and allowing her time to adjust is what’s best for her and you don’t mind that.

Hand holding was your love language for the longest time. It took over a month to even reach that point, but eventually she grabbed your hand during one of your late night talks on the roof of The Avengers Compound. 

You smiled warmly at her, hoping she caught onto your happiness as you squeezed her hand softly. She squeezed back, a soft smile toying on her blue lips as she shyly gazed up at the stars.

That’s all you did for months. You can tell Nebula craved affection but didn’t know how to go about it or how comfortable she felt with it, so you let her take the lead. You didn’t want to push her too far or make her uncomfortable, so you thought allowing her to guide you would be the best option.

She loves holding your hand. It’s so simple, yet so affectionate. Your gentle squeezes make her feel less like a machine and more like a flesh and blood being again. Nebula sees every touch of your hand, every smile and kind word sent her way as a reminder that she’s not what Thanos made her to be.

She was becoming more and more comfortable with you as time passed and it made you feel so proud and happy that she wanted to be with you. That she wanted this and was patient enough to wait for it.

Nebula felt the same- grateful that you are so kind and patient, that you want her. Her love for you grew by the day. 

Then, about a year after you and Nebula began dating, there was a knock at your door. It was late at night, almost into the early hours of the morning. Anxiety prickled at your chest, your mind bouncing between two thoughts- it was either Nebula, back at the compound after her latest mission, or someone else with grave news. You threw on your robe and hurried to the door.

Needless to say, you were elated to see Nebula standing outside of your door. You let out a sigh of relief as the panic in your chest dissipated, but before you had the chance to say anything, the blue woman grabbed your hands and pressed her lips against yours. 

You were stunned. The kiss was brief, she was obviously nervous and scared as she pulled back. You squeezed her hands, and she squeezed yours in return. 

“I love you. I do not want to live another moment without you knowing that.”

You smiled softly at her, leaning in and pressing your lips to hers again. Ensuring your kiss is softer, lingering and sweet to let her know that you’re not going anywhere.

“I love you too, Nebs.”

You spoke softly before inviting her inside. The two of you fell asleep watching some random movie on your couch, her head on your shoulder.

That night Nebula realized that she’s a sucker for affection. She basks in it and feels like she can never get enough. She’s never felt so loved and so lucky in her entire life, and she’s drowning in it. She finally feels as if she has a family, a home where she truly belongs and feels loved and safe.

Brief kisses and cuddling became more common after that night, Nebula wanting more and more, and you’re always more than happy to give love to your sweet girlfriend. It’s hard to think of her as one of the deadliest women in the galaxy when she rests her head in your lap and looks up at you with those wide puppy dog eyes.

Nebula has been wanting to give you something... More for a while now. She doesn’t know how to articulate it or express it, but she wants to do something meaningful for you. She wants to show you how much she loves you, to feel closer to you. But she doesn’t know how.

That was until one night when the two of you were watching a movie- the two main love interests started having sex. A thought popped into her head, her dark eyes flickering from the screen in front of you two to your features as she mulled it over. You were watching the movie, as expected, running your fingers mindlessly along the smooth metal of her head as she rested against your chest. 

The gears were turning in her mind as she watched you, wondering if that is something you desire. Something she could give to you.

An internal debate wracked her mind- caught between wanting to talk to you about it, and being too scared to do so. But then your eyes flickered to hers, meeting her gaze.

“What’s up?”

You asked, tilting your head to properly look at her. She paused as she thought about what to say.

“It’s nothing.”

Nebula grumbled, moving her gaze back to the screen.

“Nebs.. I can tell you want to ask me something.”

She moves to sit up. You pull your arms back and do the same, reaching for the remote and quickly pausing the movie. Then, you turn to her and raise an expectant eyebrow.

“Is… Is that-”

She gestures towards the tv, the screen paused on an intimate moment.

“Something that you desire?”

If Nebula had the ability to blush she would be completely flushed by now. 

Your gaze flickers from the paused scene on the screen to your girlfriend in front of you, a lightbulb suddenly stuttering on in your head as realization dawns on you.

“Oh!”

To say the least, you were a bit taken off guard by the question.

“You’re asking me if I want to have sex?”

You try to urge her to clarify and she stutters awkwardly for a moment.

"Yes."

She replies stiffly, obviously buzzing with nerves.

“It’s not something I need.. I’m just happy being with you.”

You try to answer the question in a way that doesn’t make her feel any pressure, but immediately you cringe at how vaguely you phrased it. She stares blankly at you.

“But… Do you desire it?”

Her heart leaps in her throat as you pause, letting out a sigh as you mull over her question, trying to find the right words.

Nebula regrets asking. You’re probably repulsed at the thought. She’s disfigured, she has almost none of her organic body parts. She's hurt and killed countless people. You’d never want to do something so intimate with someone like her.

“I shouldn’t have asked, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

She speaks softly, panic coursing through her as she stands from the couch. You jump up to follow her.

“Nebula, wait-”

You grab her shoulder, cautiously. She shakes her head, continuing to move out of your grasp.

“Nebula, stop, please...”

Your voice sounds so soft and sweet, it makes her heart drop. She pauses her journey to the door, turning towards you and reluctantly meeting your gaze.

“I’m sorry... I just don’t want to make you feel obligated to do anything, okay? I love you and I don’t want you to think this is a necessity for me.”

Relief washes over Nebula at your words. She nods her head, studying you with her dark eyes. You fight the urge to let out an exasperated sigh, she really is so hard to read sometimes. You don’t want to dig yourself into a deeper hole, so you think over your next words carefully.

“If you want it, then so do I. But if you’re not comfortable with it then I don’t. I don’t need sex... I just want you.”

She nods her head yet again, going to grab your hand. You give her a reassuring smile, and she squeezes softly. You return the gesture.

“Do you want to try it?”

You urge her to clarify, holding your breath as you wait to see if your words had their intended impact.

“I would like to try pleasing you, I just…”

She pauses, searching for what she wants to say. She casts her eyes to the ground, studying her feet.

“I do not know how...”

Nebula mumbles, avoiding your gaze. You smile softly at her, finding how embarrassed she gets to be absolutely adorable. You can tell she’s trying so hard to communicate and be open with you and it makes your heart swell in your chest.

“Just tell me when you’re ready, okay? We can take it nice and slow, I’ll help teach you.”

She finally meets your gaze, silently studying you for a moment.

“I would like to try it now.”

You raise your eyebrows in surprise.

“Are you sure that you don’t need more time?”

She nods her head, taking a step closer to you.

“Do you... Want to?”

Nebula speaks softly, and you smile at her.

“Yes, I do... And if you want to stop at any time, just tell me, okay? I’ll understand... I just want you to be comfortable.”

You reach up and cup her cheek, guiding her to rest her forehead against yours. She smiles softly at you.

“I will, and if you’re ever uncomfortable please do the same...”

“Of course.”

Nebula leans in and presses her lips to yours. It’s slow and soft, her lips moving shyly. She’s always so careful with you, handling you so gently and cautiously. It makes you feel so overwhelmed with love for her.

You lean in, returning the kiss. You feel her fidget with her hands her hands, trying to figure out where to place them. You smile against her cold blue lips, taking her hands in yours and placing them on our waist.

You pull back slightly, returning your hand to cradle her cheek.

“It’s okay... You can touch me wherever you want. I trust you, Nebs.”

She simply nods her head, experimentally running her hands up and down your waist. Her touch is soft as she feels you, so considerate and feather light.

“Here... This might be easier if we sit down. Can I sit in your lap?”

You suggest, and she nods her head stiffly. You smile at her as she moves back down, sitting and resting her back against the couch. Once she’s situated, you move to straddle her thighs and look down at her. 

Nebula pauses once you’re settled, staring at your body in stunned silence. Almost as if she’s trying to decide what to do or where to start, her mind overloading with nerves and the fear of doing something wrong.

“Take your time getting comfortable with everything, okay?”

Another stiff nod. You can sense how nervous she is as she returns her hands to your waist, awkwardly pausing as she processes what's happening. She meets your gaze, looking for reassurance that she’s doing okay. You smile softly down at her and that seems to help her relax a bit. 

Nebula’s gaze moves downwards and she follows the trail of her hands against your body, dark eyes nervously flitting across your form. 

Her cold hands ghost down your hips and outer thighs, trailing over your figure. She stops occasionally, softly squeezing your hips and thighs like she would your hands.

She’s becoming more bold, relaxing a bit as she moves her hands back upwards, slipping them under the hem of your shirt. She meets your eyes once again.

“This.. Is okay?”

You smile, nodding your head. You’re buzzing under her touch, craving more and more.

“Yes.. Touch me everywhere..”

You mumble unconsciously against her lips. You’ve been trying not to make her feel pressured by anything, so your words take you a bit off guard. You feel a bit worried for a moment, but it’s all washed away when a newfound confidence seems to overtake her as she moves her hands up your stomach.

“You’re so soft..”

Nebula mumbles, sounding entranced. She’s falling in love with how soft you are. It’s a stark contrast from her cold, metallic body. She never wants to take her hands off of you.

Her words leave you speechless, your heart fluttering in your chest as she traces her hands over the squishy skin of your stomach and sides.

“Can I take this off?”

You suggest softly, moving to grab the hem of your shirt. She simply nods as she moves to meet your gaze. Then, you pull the fabric over your head in a fluid motion, dropping it onto the couch next to you. You can see how flustered this makes her.

Regardless, she continues to touch you, slowly moving her hands upwards. She’s studying your chest with dark eyes, her gaze tracing over the edge of your bra and your collar bone.

“I can tell you want to ask me something else.”

Nebula pauses, internally cursing you for knowing her so well. It’s like you can read her mind.

“Can I.. Can I kiss here?”

She traces the tips of her fingers across your chest. Whenever she asks a question she sounds so stiff, so nervous and embarrassed. But you can tell that she’s trying her hardest, doing her best to ensure that she’s doing things right and you’re comfortable. You smile down at her, fondly running your fingers along the swell of her cheek.

“Of course, you can kiss me anywhere..”

Immediately after you give consent, she leans forward and begins leaving a trail of kisses against the skin of your chest.

They’re soft, experimental and sweet. Your heart is melting as you watch her carefully litter your chest and collar bone with kisses, slowly making her way closer to your breasts. You raise your hands and begin running them along her head once again, and she melts at your touch, a soft noise of content leaving her lips.

She always fights off pleasured sighs at your sweet touches. Being touched and loved in such a meaningful, intimate way always makes her head spin. But she can’t find it in her to control herself right now. 

Nebula is becoming a bit bolder, her fingers tracing up your arms. The gentle, soft brush of her fingers against your skin has a shiver running down your spine, and your heart turning to mush all at once with the amount of love in the action. Her fingers dance over your shoulders and find your bra straps, going to push them down your arms.

You go to assist her with the removal of the pesky item, moving your hands behind your back and expertly unhooking your bra. You drop it on the couch next to you, and Nebula leans back, dark eyes studying your chest. Now you’re the shy one, her intense, unreadable gaze making nerves bubble in your throat. 

She raises her hands slowly to your chest, softly squeezing your breasts. She lets out a sigh, leaning down and pressing more kisses across the squishy skin.

“So soft..”

Nebula mumbles against your skin, kneading one breast and littering kisses across the other as she drops her other hand to your waist. You return your hands to the back of her head, mindlessly tracing your fingers against the cold metal there.

Your breath hitches when she leaves an open mouth kiss on your nipple, her head perking up immediately at the noise that slipped past your lips.

“It feels good when you touch there..”

You mumble shyly, quickly trying to clarify that you felt pleasure and not pain. She’s quick to listen to your suggestion. 

She runs her thumb over one, it hardening under the cold metal digit as you squirm in her lap. Nebula leans in, deciding to experimentally run her tongue along the bud.

“Yes, like that.. Feels good..”

You encourage, and it only causes her to start flicking her tongue against your nipple as she toys with your other breast, alternating between giving it gentle squeezes and running her cold thumb along the skin.

You hum happily as she wraps her lips around the bud and sucks softly. You let out a pleased sigh, moving a hand to steady yourself against her shoulder.

Nebula’s in heaven. Your soft skin and sweet noises, how you’re affectionately caressing the back of her head. She’s melting under your love and affection, melting at your touch. Her heart leaps into her throat, burning to feel more of you.

As she bathes your chest in kisses she watches as she runs her blue thumb along the squishy skin of your breast, enjoying the color of her blue skin against your Terran tones. The sight sets something alight within her.

Nebula leans back, looking up at you with wide black eyes. You smile fondly down at her, and her heart nearly bursts when she takes note of the love in your eyes and the care in your smile.

You cup her cheek before leaning down, pressing your lips against hers in a firm kiss. She lets out a soft noise as you press her back against the couch, taking control of the kiss and licking at her bottom lip. 

Nebula feels her head spinning as she parts her lips for you, allowing you to guide the kiss this time as she raises her hands to your waist. She feels you, touching you everywhere she can reach as you slip your tongue into her mouth. The blue woman below you lets out a soft noise as you run your hands up and down her arms.

She feels herself getting lost in you, mind cloudy with how good loving and being loved feels.

You pull back abruptly, breathing heavily. She goes to follow you, to chase after you but you only pull away a fraction.

“Is everything alright? I didn’t mean to move too fast-”

“No, you didn’t.. That was…”

She clears her throat, eyes flickering over your form.

“I liked it.. Very much.”

Nebula speaks softly. You grin down at her, running your hands up her arms and resting them on her shoulders.

“Good to know.”

You mumble against her lips, a soft smile etching into yours when she speaks up.

“Where else can I touch you?”

She asks so eagerly, ghosting her lips against yours, looking as if she can’t decide between wanting more kisses or wanting to jump on pleasuring you.

You grab her blue hand, guiding it past the hem of your shorts. You don't want to throw too much at her at once, deciding that starting off more simple like this would be the best way to go. You press her hand against your clothed center, the flimsy fabric of your underwear not leaving a lot left to the imagination.

“Right here.”

You murmur against her lips, she feels your breath fanning across her cheeks as you lean in and kiss her again. She returns the kiss eagerly, her heart leaping in her throat when you softly press her fingers up into your clothed cunt.

You gently guide her movements as you kiss her. Her touch slowly becomes more bold as she catches onto the rhythm of your movements, however, beginning to grind her fingers up into you at her own pace.

You retract your hand, a pleased sigh leaving your lips. Nebula leans down and continues littering sweet kisses across your upper chest, your hips softly grinding down onto her fingers.

“Does this feel good?”

She mutters into your chest and you nod, your fingers dancing over her shoulders.

“Yes.. Yeah.”

You murmur into her skin, peppering kisses along the side of her head. You reach down and grab her hand again after giving her some time to become more accustomed to touching you, guiding the tips of her fingers to your clit and pressing down. You gasp softly into her skin.

“Touch right there..”

So Nebula does, focusing on that spot, she experimentally pushes her fingers up against your clothed clit. She can feel how warm and wet you are, her heart leaping into her throat as she continues to touch you.

She picks up her pace a bit, tilting her head back to study your features. Your eyes are half lidded, mouth parted in pleasure. Nebula is in heaven, drinking in your blissful features.

“You’re doing so good, Nebs..”

You breathe out, peeling your eyes open to meet her gaze. She’s desperate to please you, to hear you praise her. She presses down a bit harder, quickening her movements as she wraps her other arm around your back and pulls you flush to her.

Nebula leans down, taking your nipple into her mouth as she presses up into you, adjusting to her new rhythm. You gasp and let out a pleased moan, moving your hips in time with her fingers.

You hadn’t expected for Nebula to catch on so quickly. You don’t know why, she’s trained to be observant and adaptive. But you can’t help but be a bit surprised.

You feel it- a familiar pressure building, your center aching for release with every calculated drag of her fingers, every roll of your hips. You let out a soft moan, wrapping your arms around her shoulders.

“Nebula..”

You sigh, dropping your head to the crook of her neck. She swallows hard, moving to pepper kisses across your neck as you unashamedly rut against her hand.

“Don’t stop, please..”

You beg, and she inhales deeply at your desperate words.

“I won’t stop..”

She assures you, her fingers dancing across your back, desperate to feel you closer to her, but she knows that the two of you are already as close as you can possibly be.

“It feels good?”

Nebula asks, and you nod your head.

“So good.. I’m close..”

Your voice is broken as you speak into her neck. Everything is becoming so overwhelming- how delicious the friction of her fingers against your center feels, the warm metal of her arm pressing into your back, the soft, wet kisses she’s leaving against your neck. You let out a moan into her skin, throwing your head back.

Your eyes squeeze shut as the movement of your hips becomes erratic, Nebula keeps rolling her fingers up into you at her regular pace. She swallows hard when she realizes that you’ve soaked through your underwear, her fingers coated in a small layer of slick.

Nebula goes to stop, nervous she did something wrong when you tense up and grip her shoulders tightly, but when her dark eyes meet your features she realizes that she’s done everything right.

Your mouth hangs open in a silent moan, a look of pure pleasure etched onto your features as a moan finally works it’s way past your lips.

Your movements still, and suddenly you’re gasping for air, tilting your head back down to meet her gaze.

She’s looking up at you with her puppy dog eyes, admiring you with so much love you feel like you’re going to melt.

You lean down, raising your hands to cup her jaw you kiss her. She returns it eagerly, her hands going to rest on your hips. 

You pull away quickly, desperately in need of air. You meet her gaze, a smile making it’s way onto your lips.

“Was that good?”

She asks softly, playing shy so that you’ll praise her some more. Your smile turns into a grin.

“It was really good, Nebs..”

You murmur against her lips, leaving a soft kiss.

“You did really good..”

You pepper another soft, brief kiss against her lips. She’s smiling up at you now, her heart swelling with pride. She wants to do more but she doesn’t know how to ask, she wants to give you more, everything you could ever want.

“Can I do anything.. Anything else?”

You shake your head, your content, sleepy features shadowed.

“It’s okay, sweetheart.. I don’t want to overwhelm you. You did really good tonight.”

Mindlessly, you run your fingers along the back of her head. You don’t think you’ve ever seen Nebula smile so much. Her eyes are half lidded, little smile etched into her blue lips.

“Are you tired?”

She asks, one hand gripping your hip and the other tracing up your arm softly. You nod. Nebula guides you so that the both of you are laying down, you on your back, her resting her head on your chest. 

She loves listening to your heartbeat. The steady thrumming in her ear is so relaxing. Your fingers are back to mindlessly running along the back of her head, her eyes closing. 

“I love you, Nebula.”

The woman smiles softly, nuzzling further into your chest.

“What is it, Rhodey?”

Natasha asks, and you snap your head towards the door as soon as you process her words. And lo and behold there he is, sticking his head through the doorway, his eyes flicking between you and the redhead.

“Where’s Nebula? When did you guys get back?”

You ask impatiently and a nervous look crosses Rhodey’s face at your words. The two of them have been away on a mission for over a month now, and Nebula always calls you or sends you a quick message just to let you know she's okay but it's just been radio silence for almost two weeks. You’ve been worried sick.

“I know you care about her but you gotta promise not to freak out. She’s fine.”

Your heart lurches anxiously in your chest at his words. Did he really think that would make your worries disappear? You stand abruptly, pressing your palms flat against your desk as you push yourself to your feet.

“Rhodey, you’re just worrying me even more.”

A sigh leaves the colonel’s lips as you approach him, crossing your arms over your chest.

“She’s fine, she just got a little scratched up. She needs repairs to her arm and a few bandages, she should be just finishing up in med bay.”

The anxiety bubbling in your chest calms a bit at his words. Only a bit, though. You can’t help but continue to worry over her, wondering why it’s been so long since you’ve last heard from her.

“I’ll go check on her.”

Natasha and Rhodey share a knowing look as you leave the room and enter the winding hallways of The Avengers Compound. It’s a big, complicated building but over the course of the last few years you’ve come to learn it better than the back of your hand. The sound of your shoes hitting the floor echoes off of the bare walls of the hallways, and quickly you hear another pair of feet echoing alongside yours.

You recognize the way your coworkers walk by now, you’ve spent way too much time with them, so when Rhodes catches up to you it’s not a surprise. He laughs softly as he catches his breath.

“You walk so fast.”

He wheezes and you shoot him a smile.

“I’m a woman on a mission, what can I say?”

When you turn the corner and see the door to the med bay you eagerly pick up your pace, and right as you approach it the door swings open, a soft breeze brushing your face. A smile breaks onto your features when your eyes meet hers.

When she doesn’t return your smile you feel something wrong in the air surrounding the two of you immediately, your joy quickly being stomped out and replaced with anxiety. She casts her steely gaze to the carpet beneath your feet, avoiding your eyes.

“Nebula.. Are you okay?”

Her features remained stoic as she addressed you.

“I’m fine.”

She said curtly, casting her gaze to the man next to you. You felt your throat go dry when she so easily disregarded you, anxiety prickling at your heart. Have you done something wrong?

“How are you doing, Rhodey?”

Nebula asks your friend and he flickers his gaze between the two of you before responding, anxiously shifting his weight from foot to foot.

“I’m doing good, I just-”

“Good.”

She interrupts abruptly. You swallow the lump in your throat, nerves eating away at you.

“N-Nebula, are you sure you’re alright?”

Her gaze flickers to yours finally, irritation evident in her black eyes, and her lips quirk downwards in an irritated scowl.

“I said that I’m fine. Are your ears broken?”

She speaks in a low voice. You frown, biting your lip nervously.

“I’m just worried-”

“Well, don’t worry about me!”

Nebula snapped at you. You jolt backwards, shocked at her sudden outburst. She’s never treated you this way before. Your eyebrows furrow in hurt and confusion, and suddenly Nebula pushes past you and storms down the hall, the sound of her furious stomps growing quieter as she walks further and further away. Your mouth hangs open in shock and Rhodey sighs, resting a comforting hand on your shoulder.

“What happened during your mission?”

You turned to your friend, the question sounding harsher then you had intended it to.

“Just.. Let me go talk to her, okay?”

Rhodey insists, squeezing your shoulder comfortingly. You nod your head, a small frown evident on your lips.

“It’ll be alright, you know Nebula. She can be a little.. Temperamental.”

You nod your head in agreement. You understand why, she hasn’t had the easiest life. Being close to someone must be hard for her after everything she’s been through. The sound of a door slamming shut rings from down the hall.

And with that, Rhodes takes off, following after his cyborg friend. He knows where she is. There’s a door that leads outside right around the corner, and when he reaches the said door it slides open with a soft hissing sound. The sun nearly blinds him but as soon as his eyes adjust he turns and sees her sitting on a bench, arms crossed stubbornly over her chest. The man approaches her cautiously, hovering silently for a moment while he addresses the situation.

“Can I sit?”

“Obviously you can sit.”

She sounds so hostile when she speaks those words, yet Rhodey remains unphased. He sits next to her on the bench, letting the silence stew comfortably between them for a few more moments before speaking up.

“So, what was that all about?”

He asks softly, trying to push her to open up to him. Nebula sighs as she leans back and uncrosses her arms. Guilt washed over her after allowing herself time to process what she had just done.

“I don’t know.”

She mumbles, looking over at Rhodey. He raises an eyebrow at her.

“I don’t! I-”

Nebula starts, pausing as she searches for the words she wants to say.

“She’s always worrying about me..”

She says softly, her tone becoming more vulnerable and less malicious as she processes her thoughts.

“You’re upset because she’s worrying about you?”

“Yes.”

Nebula’s initial response comes quick, but she stutters as she takes a moment to elaborate.

“And she’s so considerate. She tried so hard to help me feel more comfortable here, to help me adjust to my new life..”

She speaks slowly, allowing herself to be vulnerable like this is hard for her, and that’s something Rhodey understood after years of friendship. So he nods his head and listens patiently.

“She is so kind. She always makes sure I’m okay.... And always buys me new foods to try, and makes me watch those dumb movies with her..”

Nebula starts, and Rhodey starts to slowly piece together everything as he listens to her speak.

“She even took note of the ones that I mentioned Quill would talk about and watched them with me.”

The man smiles softly at her.

“Wow.. That's really sweet.”

He comments, a lightbulb slowly stuttering on in his head, and Nebula meets his gaze.

“It is. It's disgustingly sweet…”

There’s a fondness in her voice when she speaks those words.

“I feel like if I get too close to her, she will be taken away from me.”

She admits, her voice quiet as she verbalizes her fears.

“But at the same time, I can’t imagine not having her in my life anymore. When I’m not with her all I do is think about her and what stupid movie she’s going to make me watch next..”

Rhodes nods his head as she talks, a patient listener. She doesn’t pick up her sentence.

“It’s conflicting and I don’t understand.”

Nebula sighs, frustrated.

“Wow… You’re whipped for her.”

Nebula snaps her head towards him.

“What?”

The aggression has returned to her voice, and the man is quick to elaborate.

“You’re head over heels in love.”

Nebula’s eyes widen at the realization. She swallows hard, casting her gaze back down to her hands.

“I can see it in the way you look at her,”

Rhodes starts, and she snaps her head back to look at him once again in shock.

“And in the way she looks at you.”

He finishes and Nebula feels a bit of the nerves weighing on her chest lighten at his words. 

“Life is too short, especially in our line of work. I know it’s cheesy but it’s true. When you find someone you care about, you gotta take advantage of every second you have with them. Because tomorrow Thanos could come and..”

He trails off suggestively, a tense air surrounding the two of them. Nebula casts her dark eyes to the ground, her gaze flickering over the pavement as she processes his words. He’s right, of course. Nebula knows it, and it makes her swallow that fear, because she’s already lost almost everyone she loves. She won’t lose you too.

“I’m just being childish.. You’re right, Rhodey.”

Nebula admits with a soft voice. Everything makes sense to her now. How she gets so excited to watch movies with you, because she can see how happy it makes you. How you laugh at them warms her heart, and she’s always so quick to comfort you when they scare you. How her hands itch to hold yours, how she feels a pull to you even when you’re away from her. A small smile grows on her lips.

“Maybe I am in love..”

After your little encounter with Nebula, you stood numbly in the hallway for a moment as you processed what had just happened, shock and fear washing over you.

Did you do something wrong? What happened? You bit your lip nervously as you turned around and began making your way back through the halls. Anxiety pricked at your heart, scared that your relationship with her may be endangered. Thinking about losing Nebula, not having her with you anymore scares you.

You can’t help but let your mind race as you turn into the living room. You adore her. How after everything she’s been through she’s still genuinely just a kindhearted person who deserves love, and you wish you could’ve killed Thanos yourself because of what he’s done to her. You adore how strong she is, and how she sits through all of the movies you make her watch even though you can tell she doesn’t particularly like them.

You let out a shaky breath, swallowing hard as you lower yourself onto the couch. You grab a pillow and squish it over your face, an “oof” leaving your lips as you let yourself fall backwards, your body colliding with the soft couch cushions.

No one will ever understand you like she does. You lost everyone you loved in the blip, and so did she. She’s everything to you. You don’t want to lose her.

She still needs to show you the galaxy. You childishly made her pinky promise to take you out to the stars one day, and she agreed with a low laugh leaving her lips. That’s another thing you adore about her- her frustratingly stunning voice.

You let out a deep sigh into the pillow, but it does little to relieve the anxiety crushing your chest. You flail your legs against the bottom of the couch, hoping to shake your worries from your body. Unsurprisingly, it does little to help.

“Are you trying to suffocate yourself?”

You jolt upwards at the sound of Nebula’s voice, flinging the pillow back onto the couch. You feel heat rush to your cheeks as your eyes meet hers, embarrassed.

“Maybe.”

You respond coolly, quite the opposite from how you look right now. Nebula sighs, stepping towards you. She leans down so that she’s face to face with you and raises her blue hands to your head, softly petting your wild, untame locks into place with the gentle brushes of her fingers against your scalp. You’re positive that you’re redder than a tomato by now.

Nebula smiles softly at you as she finishes, letting her hands drop back down to her sides, her dark black eyes studying her work.

“There.. That’s better.”

She mumbles almost monotonously, a Mona Lisa smile etched into her features as she leans back.

“Don’t suffocate yourself... I’d miss you.”

You cock your head curiously, the anxiety you had been feeling only moments before dissipating at her words. You smile softly at her, patting the seat next to you as an invitation. Her eyes flicker from you to the cushion next to you before she gracefully sits on the couch.

“I couldn’t do it. I’d miss you too much, too.”

You turn your head towards her as you softly speak. Her gaze flickers to the ground at your words.

“I’m sorry.”

She says firmly, her voice low and breathy.

“It’s okay.”

You don’t miss a beat with your response.

“No, it’s not.. I-”

She stutters and you watch her with patient eyes as you wait for her to piece together what she wants to say. A frustrated sigh leaves her lips.

“I enjoy the stupid movies you make me watch.”

You blink dumbly at her words. She groans, letting out a noise of frustration.

“I mean-”

She continues to stutter, her eyebrows creasing in frustration before she turns towards you.

“I am better with my actions than with my words. Can I show you?”

Nebula asks politely, a nervous edge to her voice that you’ve never heard before. You raise your eyebrows curiously and nod your head in approval, curious as to what she wants to do.

Oh.

Oh.

Your heart lurches when she leans towards you, her eyelids sliding shut as she presses her lips softly against yours in a chaste, sweet kiss. Your breath hitches in your throat and as quickly as her lips are on yours they’re gone, and she’s leaning back, away from you, as if she’s afraid of your rejection.

You miss her lips against yours. In the second that they ghosted over yours it felt as if electricity had sparked where your bodies met, and you want more of her. More sweet kisses and more fond touches. Your heart pounds in your chest when you realize exactly what your feelings are for her.

A disappointed look is on her features, and your heart aches. You only ever want to see her happy and smiling, so when she goes to stand you’re suddenly able to move again. You grab her hand and softly tug her back down to the couch. She faces you, a hopeful light shining in her dark eyes as she sits back down, and you reach out, cautious as you raise your hand and cup her cheek.

She flinches at your touch, and immediately you retract your hand, scared that you did something wrong.

“No, don’t-”

Nebula grabs your hand and places it against her cheek. You smile softly as she leans into your touch, her soft blue skin warm in your hand. She looks so tense, so nervous and jumpy. You lean in towards her and softly press your lips against hers once again, gently caressing her cheek as your lips meet.