Peter froze as he stared at the little ribbons of tape laid out across the deck. His mind blanked and for probably the first time since he had stepped foot on non-Terran ground his mind was silent. There was no more music. No more tunes to fill the lonely corners of his memories. There would be no more sitting in the comm and listening to his mother's favorite songs as he stared at the endless galaxy that stretched all around him and swallowed him whole.
The Terran walked forward and bend down picking at the loose coil at his feet. With trembling fingers, Peter grabbed the threat and picked it up, letting the twisted material crinkle as it went higher.
More and more tape gathered in his hands as Peter pulled it up from the floor. Then the pull went taunt and Peter follow it all the way from his still shaking hands to where it ended. Right under Rocket's paw. The raccoon stood there with a guarded expression on his furry face with teeth only slightly covered by his lips, almost a snarl but not quiet. His shoulders were tense and paws balled up into fists.
Rocket stared into Quill's eyes. He was waiting for a scream, a yell, a fist. He didn't know that the damn thing was that fragile. He was just curious as to how the music was recorded on it. So he pulled the tape out, tried to feed it through the analyzer, pulled all of it out, expecting maybe writing, or scratches, or anything really. But it was just dump plastic and he got bored quickly. Rocket expected it would take him a minute to put everything back together, but luck wasn't on his side, and he was left with the tape cover broken, the stringy insides spilled all over the cabin and a man with the look of utter heartbreak on his face standing there looking at Rocket like no one ever had.
Eyes so empty they could fit the universe into their void, with a blankness fit for the kings.
H-hey... Quill. Listen your damn tape is so stupid! It didn't even go through the analyzer, can you believe that? And the cover's waaay too fragile. Where'd you even get this piece of shit?- Asked Rocket as he tried to cover his nervousness. He knew he fucked up, he really did. But he couldn't just say it. So he did what he was best at and went full frontal, assaulting instead of having to defend.
-My mother gave this to me as she was dying in a dingy hospital on Terra, and I was too small and weak to help her stand, or keep her fed and pain-free. It survived 26 years on the Ravagers' ship and through countless raids, and even the Infinity Stone... I guess it was too much to ask to not touch it without my permission... - Said Peter as he stared at the small figure.
Rocket froze at that. Damn it! He really did fuck it up.
-Please step off of it, Rocket.- Asked Peter as he looked down at the edge of the tape still under the other's foot.
-Shit!- Exclaimed the man as he hurriedly lifted his paw. - Listen, Quill, I'm sorry! I just wanted to know how it worked, I didn't know it'd break, honest! Please... say something...- Pleaded Rocket as he stared up at his Captain who was slowly bundling up the rest of the tape.
-Gamora.- Called out Peter as he finished getting all the threads off the floor.
-Yes Peter? What is it?- Asked the woman as she ascended from the stairs.
-I'm going to make a call, can you take comm for a bit?- Asked Peter as he walked to the stairs she just vacated.
-Of course.-
As Peter left the deck, Gamora turned to see Rocket standing in the middle of the room, eyes not moving from the spot that Quill just occupied.
-Rocket? Did something happen between you and Quill?- She asked, coming to sit on the sofa next to him.
-I fucked up. I fucked up big time.- Answered the Raccoon, as he lowered his head. -Damn it! I knew that thing was old! I knew it! Why did I have to open my mouth and say all those things!? Damn it!- Screamed Rocket as he kicked at the stray piece of plastic still littering the floor.
-Rocket!- Cried out Gamora as she sat there shocked. -What happened? I'm sure whatever it was, wasn't that bad, right?-
-The small rodent has broken Quill tape in idle curiosity, not caring for its sentimental value to our friend.- Heard the pair as they turned their heads, facing Drax who entered the room. - I just heard Quill call the Ravager Captain Yondu.-
-What did he do that for!?- Asked Gamora, surprised.
-I'm going to go away for a bit guys.- Said Peter as he came up to the deck. He was wearing the Ravagers coat again, had his ear piece on, and there was a duffel bag next to him. - I'll be back later, but don't wait up for me.
-What? Quill... Peter what do you mean you're going away? For how long? Where are you going?- Sprung up Rocket from his spot.
-Rocket... I can't be around you right now.- Said Peter as he looked at the other. -I just can't. So I'm going to go stay with the Ravagers fo a bit, see what happens. I'm not even angry, I'm disappointed. I know you don't respect me, I always knew that. But I just hoped that... That you would have enough decency to not do something like that. Guess I was wrong...-
Before anyone could say another word the screen projected the face of the Ravagers' Captain.
-Hey kid! We're here, get your ass down up!- Said Yondu as he leaned back on his chair, Kraglin ever-present behind him, smiling at Peter.
The rest of the Guradians could only watch as Peter pushed the button, activating his mask, and went out without saying good-bye. Soon as he was out of the picture Yondu's face that was still being projected turned stone cold and Kralin's got a sneer.
-Now I dunno what you did to mah boy, but I'mm tell ya'll right now: If you even try to talk to him until he's ready, its gonna be open season on you.- Snarled the Captain as he frowned at them.
-Yondu, it was all an accident, I'm sure Peter will understand...- Tried to interject Gamora, but was stopped by a small paw on her thigh.
-We got it.- Said Rocket as he looked into Yondu's eyes.
-Was you, wasn't it?- Asked the Ravager as he entered the staring contest with the raccoon. -You done fucked up, and now he's upset. And judging by what I'm seeing on the floor behind you, you fucked up good. Ya'll aware that was his mother's gift to the boy, right? One of her last, you know. He used to get beat up black and blue trying to protect that thing. Never let anyone touch it either, unless it was Kraglin here.
-I just know how precious those things are Captain.- Said the Xandarian as he leaned against Yondu's chair. - Who do you think nursed the kid back to health?
-Ah, you always did have a soft spot for him.- Nodded Yondu with a serious face.
-So now, my lovely bunch o' fuck ups. We have a very upset Terran on our ship that's gonna mope, and be a general annoyance. And until you find a way for him to not be that, you ain't seeing him. - Stated Yondu and disconnected.
-Well now...- Murmured Gamora as she sat back down, slightly out of it. - What do we do now?-
-I suggest Rocket finds a way to appease Quill, and then we go pick him up from his parents' ship.-
-I thought his mom was dead. - Snarled Rocket as he furiously tried to think about anything other than Peter's eyes again.
-The actions of the Captain and the First Mate indicate their string parental care for our Quill.- Calmly answered Drax, as he stood at the door. - I would know.-
-Damn... - Murmured Rocket. - Okay people and plants! Who knows the way to Terra?-
-Why would you wanna know that? - Asked Gamora, as she tried to follow the furball's logic.
-Well I figured Quill's from there. We know all of the songs that were on that thing. So we might as well go to Terra and get him another copy of the tape. Can't be that hard, can it.
Drax and Gamora looked at each other. It was as good idea as any they supposed.
-I'll go look up the coordinates, Drax, please help Rocket gather up the parts of the tape that Peter missed. We'll need to make it look as close to the original as we can, I think. - Said Gamora, as she went towars the ship computer. They had a job to do.
