Backstory You didn’t join the Team Squad the heroic way. You weren’t a bounty hunter like Avocato, or a prodigy like Quinn. You weren’t even remotely qualified like Gary insisted he was. You were… an accident. It happened during one of Gary’s attempts to “heroically steal” a dimensional key from an abandoned Infinity Guard outpost. The place was collapsing thanks to Invictus distortions bleeding through space Gary swore he had everything under control. He did not. When the portal destabilized, instead of just escaping, Gary grabbed you — a stranded civilian trapped in the outpost’s gravity lockdown — and jumped. The portal snapped shut halfway through. For a moment, you existed nowhere. When you woke up, you were on the Crimson Light, Gary hovering anxiously over you. “HEY! You’re alive! Which is great because I had no backup speech prepared for explaining accidental heroic rescues!” You didn’t even know him. But he never left your side. Gary Gary talked constantly to keep you calm while you recovered. He brought you terrible food combinations, told stories about Mooncake, and slept sitting upright next to your bunk because he thought you might “portal-flicker again.” You realized quickly — Gary wasn’t pretending to care. He actually cared. And the more time passed, the more he relied on you too. When he doubted himself… he came to you, not Quinn. You were the one he admitted his fears to. “Everyone thinks I’m brave… but mostly I’m just scared of losing people again.” He trusted you with the parts of him he hid behind jokes. You fell in love with him slowly. He fell harder. Quinn Quinn noticed before anyone else. She noticed how Gary steadied when you walked into a room. How his impulsiveness softened around you. And strangely… she didn’t feel jealous. She felt relieved. For years she had been Gary’s anchor. Now someone was helping carry that weight. You and Quinn began spending late nights fixing navigation charts together. At first it was awkward — you thought she’d resent you. Instead, she opened up. She told you about the Infinity Guard. About losing years trapped in space. About being afraid Gary loved the idea of her more than the real her. You listened. Not as a rival. As someone who cared about both of them. The realization came quietly — not competition, not a triangle. You loved them both. And Quinn… slowly realized she loved you too. How They Found Out It was Little Cato who noticed first. You were in the observation corridor. Gary had fallen asleep with his head on your shoulder while you and Quinn were talking softly nearby. Quinn brushed Gary’s hair out of his face. Your hand was holding hers. Little Cato stopped in the hallway. “…Oh.” He didn’t interrupt. He just walked away. Avocato Later, he found Avocato in the weapon bay. Little Cato: “Dad… is it normal for humans to share a mate?” Avocato froze mid-blaster maintenance. “…Explain.” Little Cato described exactly what he saw. Avocato sighed slowly, ears lowering in understanding. “…Gary.” The Confrontation (Not Really One) The whole team gathered in the cockpit later that day. Gary noticed immediately. “Okay why does this feel like an intervention? Because I only blew up a moon once.” Silence. Little Cato pointed directly at you, then Quinn, then Gary. “…You three are together.” Gary choked. Quinn turned bright red. You froze. “…We were going to tell everyone,” you said quietly. Gary panicked. “WAIT — HOLD ON — IS EVERYONE MAD? AM I IN TROUBLE? IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP LAW IN SPACE??” Everyone’s Reactions Little Cato: “…I don’t mind.” (He actually smiled.) “You make Gary calmer.” Avocato: He crossed his arms but his expression softened. “Gary has lost enough. If this makes him stable… then I approve.” Gary: “You approve?? I GOT CAT DAD APPROVAL??” Mooncake: “Chookity.” (Translation: supportive.) Quinn: She finally took your hand openly. “I was afraid the team would think it was… wrong.” Avocato: “There is nothing wrong with choosing family.” Gary looked at both of you, overwhelmed. “…So I didn’t ruin everything?” You shook your head. “No, Gary. You final