WHEN KAIPO AWOKE, XANDAR WAS RIGHT IN THEIR VIEW. He looked over to Thor who had fallen asleep, snoring softly, his head tilted onto his shoulder and Kaipo blanched, hoping that he wouldn't have a crick in his neck; it wasn't because he cared, just because he didn't want to hear the blond complaining later on; though, deep down, he knew Thor never would.

"Thor," he said, lighter than he intended to, reaching out and tapping his shoulder, "Thor, we're here."

Thor groaned, opening his eyes and blinking away sleep, yawning as he stretched, trying to keep his vision trained on the oncoming planet, the two gawking at its vast size; Kaipo had never visited the Nova Empire, though he did know a good deal, especially with his vast knowledge.

"Far from home," Kaipo mumbled to himself, "Same galaxy, but opposite sides. Different empire, different customs, different everything."

"Same goal," Thor added, glancing over to him, "Live in peace. Stay alive."

Kaipo hummed at that, having nothing to say, watching as Thor easily took control, guiding the unit closer and closer to the planet, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He must have felt Kaipo looking at him, because he turned his head to give him a warm smile before turning back to the task at hand.

Coughing, Kaipo said, "We should probably figure out a way to a larger ship, if possible, since all you're doing is talking with the Corp about the stone."

"Yes..." Thor said carefully, "There is also something else, I overheard some of the patrons at the bar talking. But I agree, a larger ship would be nice, this unit can't travel very far for very long, though the jump was helpful and cut down our time. Though we won't be able to do that again."

"We could find someone to modify it," Kaipo suggested, "Though that will cost us money."

Thor sighed, dropping his head onto his fist, leaned against his arm rest. "I miss Asgard, I never had to pay for anything. I mean, I always did, but still. And on Earth, people usually threw things at me. Although, there were people who wanted me dead, but we made friends with that assassin. She was nice."

Kaipo blinked at him for a moment, sighed, shaking his head. "I worry for Earth. They're so small and so angry. So ready to kill themselves, and for what?"

Thor gave him a somber look. "I try not to think about it."

The two fell silent as they entered Xandar, eyes widening as they pushed past the cloud layer, descending towards the main city which had a very interesting shape that Kaipo could swear was based around the Nova Corp symbol, surrounded by vast blue water.

"I like the symbol. Nice touch," he commented, and Thor laughed, raising an eyebrow at him in question.

"It's based around the Nova Corp. This is their capitol of the Nova Empire," he explained, and Thor gasped, eyes brightening in understanding, and Kaipo was taken aback by his excitement.

"I read all about this," he explained, immediately falling into a longwinded explanation on the history of Xandar and the Nova Empire, jumping into tangents and anecdotes related and unrelated, blue eyes thrumming with excitement to rival the power he possessed.

Kaipo couldn't help but listen, his energy was contagious.

By the time the two finally landed in the designated area, Thor having paused to use the transmitter to explain that he was Thor, son of Odin, prince of Asgard and heir to the throne—Kaipo softly introducing himself, adding that he was the heir to nothing, much to Thor's distress—Kaipo was now completely aware of Xandar's history and in awe of his traveling companion.

"I was always more fond of history, not just because I thought it would useful for when I became king, but because it was interesting to read about people I didn't know," Thor continued to rattle as they stepped off their unit, nodding in greeting to the members of the Nova Corps who had come to greet them, as Thor and Asgard meant important news as far as Kaipo could gather.

Kaipo hummed, surprised by the new commonality between him and the blond. "I always like reading about my history as well. Though, I'll admit, it was mostly because of Alasdair. I had to find all the information I could to refute the argument that he shouldn't be equal to me."

Thor raised his eyebrows in surprise, then nodded in understanding. "That's right, the Kallrynions were enslaved by your people."

Kaipo pursed his lips, raising his eyebrows in lieu of a nod. "Long before our time, but we do live long—about as long as you, actually—and there are still some who remember being young during the end of the change. And they still harbor the mindset. Though most are dead and gone, thankfully."

Thor faltered at his last word, clearly unnerved, but said nothing in favor of looking around at the technology, mumbling how Asgardian tech was much more advanced than Earth tech, but without the flair that Xandar had; he dared to say that Xandar was much more advanced, though he did mention their use of guns.

"It's quick and efficient, but is that better?" he offered, and Kaipo nearly hugged him, he was so happy with that remark.

As Thor went about searching for the head of the Nova Corps, Kaipo went about on his own, stumbling into the center square, gawking at all the beings mulling about, some looking similar to himself, then others looking so different, all of them interacting and living.

"What's up with you?"

Kaipo turned to find a small woman looking up at her, a hip cocked out and her arms crossed over her chest, her neck craned up to look at him. For her delicate size, there was something about her that seemed so powerful, and he couldn't help but think back to that other girl he had met on the planet whose name he still couldn't quite grasp.

He tilted his head. "Why do you want to know?"

She shrugged, taking in his size. "Big guy like you, probably looking for some trouble. What's your deal?"

He shook his head, glancing around for Thor whom he couldn't see. "I'm not looking for trouble. Honestly, I-I don't fight."

She barked out a laugh. "Really? Big guy like you, what a waste! Why not?"

He frowned, shaking his head. "I just realized that there are better ways of handling things than mindless slaughter. I'm not looking for trouble, please."

She nodded slowly, with a large grin that made him uneasy, which only made him scoff; he was twice her size, yet he was ready to bend to her will at any moment.

"I believe you, big guy, don't worry, nothing's gonna happen to you," she drawled, then jerking her head over her shoulder, she added, "Honestly, my friends wouldn't let that happen. We got an shaky thing going on with the Corps. But c'mon, tell me what your deal is."

He sighed, shrugging. "Why do you want to know?" He really wished Thor was with him.

She hummed. "I'm looking for a sob story worse than my own, you know? Can't do that if I don't ask. Now c'mon, you look like you got a lot to unpack."

He rolled his shoulders. "I'm from Asterius."

Her smile dropped and she blinked at him, taking him in again. Righting herself, she shook her head, lips pursed. "Damn. Yeah, we heard about your people. Assimilated onto a planet only to get wiped out completely. I'm sorry. Wait, who are you then? Because they said their prince died on their planet."

"I am their prince," Kaipo breathed, though he could scarcely move a muscle, barely breathe at all. "What do you mean wiped out?"

She frowned, glancing around. "Wait, you didn't know? Yeah, man, it happened a while ago. I'm sure time's a little screwed up with traveling and zone passages, but we thought you'd've found out by now. It happened a while ago."

Kaipo stumbled back, falling onto the ground, mumbling to himself, head in his hands. A while ago. The jump the unit had taken must have lost them a lot of time, he hadn't been with Thor that long. Then again, they had been planet jumping, he barely even knew when day and night was, only sleep and awake. His people. All of his people.

He gagged, feeling tears well up as his heart shattered, his hand coming up to grip his necklace like it was the only thing keeping him alive, sobbing on the ground of the center, some beings turning to look at him with varied expressions of shock and worry, some backing away in fear and confusion.

"Hey, big guy, it's okay," the girl said, glancing around, "Hey, c'mon, don't cry here, that's really embarrassing, c'mon."

"No," he spat, "I-I don't know where...I can't leave."

"Okay, okay," she said, looking around desperately before turning back to him helplessly, "Okay, I'm sorry. Look, c'mon, big guy, don't cry."

"I'm suffering!" he shouted, a guttural sound from deep in his chest, "Let me mourn!"

"Okay, okay, jeez," she sighed, running a hand through her dark hair, "I'm sorry, I just—I didn't know you didn't know, else I wouldn't have said anything. I'm really sorry. Look, what's your name?"

"Kaipo Etera," he rumbled, sniffing as he wiped away his tears, only for more tears to fall, his heart clenching painfully as he gasped for air.

"Okay, Kaipo, I'm Portia," she said, standing next to him and patting his shoulder, looking around, "You got anyone Kaipo? Anyone you can tag along with? 'Cause if not, I'm sure my friends and I would be fine taking you in."

He coughed, wiping his eyes and looking around. "I-I have someone, it's okay. I don't-I don't know where he went, though."

Portia opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by a loud, "Kaipo!"

The relief that washed over him was strong enough to send him reeling back, too distraught to be confused.

"Thor," he practically sobbed, trying to push himself up, falling into the blond who didn't even touch him at first, too shocked by his behavior, jumping into action when he realized Kaipo was crying.

"What happened?" he demanded, wiping away his tears, looking over at Portia with a fierce look, "What did you do to him?"

"Nothing!" she cried, holding up her hands, taking in Thor's hulking size, "Damn, big guys stick together, huh? Look, I swear, I didn't do anything. We were talking, and I didn't realize you still hadn't heard about what happened."

"What happened?" Thor demanded, rubbing Kaipo's back as the other openly sobbed, too broken to be ashamed; he had truly lost everything.

"His people found their way onto Quinus, they were taken in and everything, but then...they got taken out. Not the usual way it's done, but the whole planet was wiped out. Everyone. They're all gone." Portia bit her lip, brushing back her hair, looking around desperately.

Thor sighed softly, looking down at Kaipo who could barely stand on his own, looking ready to collapse at any moment. "Damn. Okay, I'm sorry for shouting at you..."

"Portia," she replied, nodding towards him, "And it's cool, no big, I've had a lot worse done to me. I gotta go find my crew, but..." she paused, walking over to Kaipo and placing a hand on his arm. "I really am sorry."

Kaipo tried to take a steadying breath, but failed, forcing himself to spit out a response. "Not your fault. Thank you for telling me. I needed to know."

With that, Portia nodded to the both of them and left, nearly sprinting off, glad to be away from the mess, but glancing over her shoulder one last time before disappearing into the crowd.

Thor sighed, running his hands over Kaipo's sides, arms wrapped around him comfortingly. "I'm sorry, Kaipo. I'm sorry."

"They didn't want me," he shuddered, "But that didn't mean I didn't want them. I don't even have my people, Thor. I have no one. I don't know if Alasdair is even—"

Thor shushed him, pulling away and pressing their foreheads together. "You have me. I might not be Alasdair or an Asterion, but I am your friend, even if you don't want me to be. I am your protector and I won't leave you."

Kaipo gritted his teeth, stuttering, "Thank you. Thank you."

AUTHOR'S NOTE

( 06.16.18 )

This took an unexpected turn. I was planning on having them meet with the Nova Corps, but then...you know, at least now we have all the time to meet with them and all that next chapter! Also, as a foreshadowing, this won't be the last we hear of Kaipo's people. And I'm not talking about Alasdair.

For those who were wondering, Portia is the OC for my upcoming Gamora plot that I got from starfragment and by this point, she's changed a little from how we're actually gonna see her. Not by a lot, but a little, kinda like Drax. And the assassin vaguely mentioned by Thor is the OC in my upcoming Bruce Banner plot!

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!