[She's in perfect agreement with him right up until the end. She does trust him, surprisingly. Hiro has been perfectly competent, and if not as emotionally stable as her other superhero allies, she can attribute that to age. But the final part. That this is his job? That somehow implies it's not hers. And while technically no, it isn't? It's not something she wants to hear. Her job is to protect the future queen of the Earth, not to go traipsing around in the jungles of some alien planet, but by the same token his job is to protect his version of Earth. And she can't let that stand entirely unchallenged.
Her eyes flicker up, meeting his, suddenly flashing with heat and her voice carries a note of command that usually only Mars can manage. It was more difficult to keep that side of her locked away when she was unstable. And that instability is exactly why she knew she shouldn't be going into the jungle. No matter how powerful she might be, she wouldn't be thinking clearly and that would endanger others. But his line of thinking was arguably worse in her mind.]
No. [flatly.] It's not your job. I do trust you, Hiro-kun, because you've proven to be a competent and reliable person. I don't extend my trust to men easily. But do not take on a risk like this just because you think it's your job. That kind of cavalier attitude leads to nowhere good.
[Her feet crunch on the loam of the clearing's floor, feet crossing the distance between them in a span of heartbeats. One hand drops to his shoulder, squeezing it firmly, The other balls up into a small fist.]
Don't be a hypocrit, Hiro-kun. It's not something you have to do. There are others who can and will if you don't. I don't doubt that you'd be good at it, or that you want to do it, but if you are just haring off because you think it's your job while telling me it's alright to stay home? That's not right.
[After all, who's the elder, more seasoned superhero here? Guardian of the actual galaxy.
There's a moment where she seems like she wants to say something else...but she stops, takes a breath, and slumps forward just a little bit. It's hard to avoid keeping worry out of her voice, but his attitude just doesn't...sit well with her. Nevermind that she does this all the time herself but when someone she actually likes does it? She worries herself sick.]
I'm not saying don't go. I encourage it. I'm just saying think very hard about why you're doing this, and about what might happen. You've never died, Hiro-kun.
[And then she pauses, swallows, and drops one of her other bombshells. This is important.]
no subject
Her eyes flicker up, meeting his, suddenly flashing with heat and her voice carries a note of command that usually only Mars can manage. It was more difficult to keep that side of her locked away when she was unstable. And that instability is exactly why she knew she shouldn't be going into the jungle. No matter how powerful she might be, she wouldn't be thinking clearly and that would endanger others. But his line of thinking was arguably worse in her mind.]
No. [flatly.] It's not your job. I do trust you, Hiro-kun, because you've proven to be a competent and reliable person. I don't extend my trust to men easily. But do not take on a risk like this just because you think it's your job. That kind of cavalier attitude leads to nowhere good.
[Her feet crunch on the loam of the clearing's floor, feet crossing the distance between them in a span of heartbeats. One hand drops to his shoulder, squeezing it firmly, The other balls up into a small fist.]
Don't be a hypocrit, Hiro-kun. It's not something you have to do. There are others who can and will if you don't. I don't doubt that you'd be good at it, or that you want to do it, but if you are just haring off because you think it's your job while telling me it's alright to stay home? That's not right.
[After all, who's the elder, more seasoned superhero here? Guardian of the actual galaxy.
There's a moment where she seems like she wants to say something else...but she stops, takes a breath, and slumps forward just a little bit. It's hard to avoid keeping worry out of her voice, but his attitude just doesn't...sit well with her. Nevermind that she does this all the time herself but when someone she actually likes does it? She worries herself sick.]
I'm not saying don't go. I encourage it. I'm just saying think very hard about why you're doing this, and about what might happen. You've never died, Hiro-kun.
[And then she pauses, swallows, and drops one of her other bombshells. This is important.]
I have.