an. so this is it, this is the final chapter of Under the Milky Way. I took a little longer posting it because I really wanted to make sure I have the next book fully planned out before posting it. There'll be 'end credit scene' type of chapter after this one but after that Vol. 3 will be out!
quick thank you to everyone whose been with me so far and will continue to be :)
thanks for either following/favoriting : FoxyPrism1 and Ensign Outlander
REVIEW REPLY
Arianna Le Fay: I know I wanted to make sure Yondu and Skadi had one cute moment together. And as the wise Captain once said, Patience. lol, Badass Skadi is coming.
Chapter 28: I Know I Have To Go
The next time all the Guardians were safety reunited they all stood in front of a table that the body of the former Ravager captain rested upon. Around Yondu's body, various colored cloths laid in strips over his body and face. Yaro lilies were beneath him, red-fire pyres and the toy's Yondu collected lay all around him. The Guardians, including Kraglin, now surrounded the table; the only figure not there was Dara, but no one was complaining, having only spoke a few words to her since they all boarded and took off to space.
Quill cleared his throat, knowing that he wanted to speak; he wanted to honor Yondu but had trouble finding his voice. The entire situation was still a shock to him. It'd been one night cycle since they managed to defeat his father and blast off to space. None of them really got any sleep, all still on high alert and feeling restless. Quill figured he'd only got an hour or two of sleep last night. He'd spent most of it cuddling up with Skadi near some port hole, looking out into the stars and crying. The rest of the time they spent trying to clean up the ship and find some food.
Skadi reached out and grabbed his hand, lacing their fingers together, giving him the support he needed to start speaking. He gave her a sad smile, before opening his mouth to talk.
"The other day Skadi brought up how I used to pretend my dad was David Hasselhoff," Peter saw Rocket and Drax exchange a confused look, neither hearing that name before. "He's a singer and actor from Earth, a really famous guy," Peter explains.
"Anyway, you know, last night it hit me. Even though Yondu didn't have a talking car, he did have a flying arrow. And he didn't have the voice of an angel but he sure knew how to whistle. And both David Hasselhoff and Yondu went on kickass adventures and hooked up with hot woman, and fought robots. So the thing is, David Hasselhoff kinda did end up being my Dad after all, only he was Yondu. I had a pretty cool Dad."
Peter paused, trying to stop himself from crying again. His eyes were still red and sore from all the crying he did last night. He scowled, "What I'm trying to say is that the thing you're searching for your whole life, sometimes is right by your side all along and you don't know it."
Skadi looked down at her feet as Peter finished speaking. Her jaw was clenched as she took in everything he said. She finally had what she spent most of her life searching for. Both of her lives in fact. Ever since waking up in that Kree cell, she desperately begged any higher force out there to grant her memories back to her. Now she finally had them. Back when she was on Asgard she could remember always wanting freedom. She loved her mother, her brothers, her friends and the life she had but she always hated the constriction that being a princess brought. She couldn't make choices on her own, always having to go begging to her father or sneaking behind her families back with Loki. And now she had all the freedom she wanted.
But why was she not satisfied. She tried placing her deep thought on Yondu's passing but she felt the void inside her was bigger than that. She still felt empty and confused on what step to take next. She knew she'd forever be a Guardian and stay with her new found family but she couldn't help but feel guilty more than anything. She was the reason Peter agreed to go to Ego's planet, she practically gave Peter to Ego after all the years Yondu spent trying to keep him from his father. If Skadi had listened to Gamora in the first place, Peter would still have his Walkman, none of them would've been put through what they went through and Yondu would definitely be alive right now. This was all her fault, she thought to herself.
"Hey?" Peter's voice snapped her out of her. She meet her tired eyes with his, face still emotionless as it had been since they 'woke up' this morning. "You okay?"
Skadi just looked back down as her answer, knowing that she'd break if she spoke. She gripped his hand tightly before letting go and joining the others as they lifted Yondu up to the crematory. Drax lifted him up with the help of Kraglin. Skadi noted how both Gamora and Nebula had left the room, probably going off to fight somewhere. Skadi didn't care at the moment, watching the vibrant cosmic fires engulf Yondu's body.
Peter watched Skadi walk away from him causing his chest to feel heavy. She hadn't said much since they'd been reunited. She just collapsed in his arms the moment Rocket beamed him and Yondu's body into the ship. They stood there for a while, Kraglin joining them before they all decided it was best to try and get some sleep.
"Pete?" Speaking of, Kraglin spoke, approaching Peter, holding something in his hands.
"Cap'n found this for you in some Junker's shop, on the moon, the one near Earth?" Kraglin spoke, holding up the small black item. "Said someday you'd come back to him and this would be your reward."
Peter takes the item from Kraglin, unsure what it was exactly. He presses the button in the middle of the circler dial and watches as the screen lights up. It looked like a list of words, the Rubberband Man, Surrender, Signed, Sealed, Deliver (I'm Yours), it went on.
"What is this?" Peter questioned looking up at Kraglin.
"It's called a Zune- what everyone listens to on Earth nowadays apparently. It's got like three hundred songs."
"300 songs?" Peter repeated, amazed at the device.
He rubbed his finger over the screen, touched that Yondu got him this. He noted that the condition of it was perfect. He looked up at Kraglin in thanks, knowing that he kept it safe for him all this time. He walked over to one of the tables in the room, grabbing the one item resting on it; Yondu's arrow.
"Wait," He called out to Kraglin before he could walk away. Peter held out the arrow for Kraglin to take. "Rocket grabbed the pieces and reassembled them last night. I think Yondu would want you to have it."
"Thank you," Kraglin lip trembles. "Cap'n."
Wanting some time alone, to explore the Zune more closely, Peter nodded before leaving the room. Shooting one last look to the others. They all stood by the window, watching Yondu's ashes float off into space. Quill made his way through the halls of the ship that was now theirs, granted they still had to fix the Milano, but this was theirs for now. And who knew maybe it was time to give their ship a new name?
He paused as he reached Yondu's old room. Opening the door he felt annoyed, seeing how messy the Ravagers left it when they'd taken over the ship. This was the one area him and Skadi didn't try to clean last night, not ready to face their old mentor's room just yet. Peter knew they'd fix it later but for now he sat on the bed, scrolling through the selection of songs on the Zune. Peter put the earbuds into his ears, knowing he'd have to get used them instead of his old headphones. He pauses over one song, the name sticking out to him. It was all too perfect and caused Peter to tear up again. He clicked on it, feeling somewhat calm as the light guitar came out of his earbuds.
Father and Son by Cat Stevens blares through his ears, not stopping the tears from leaking down his cheeks as the lyrics hit him hard. He's halfway through the song when he noticed a body standing in front of him. He looks up from the Zune to see Skadi holding Groot in her hands. The little tree reaches out for him to pick him up. Peter smiles down at the baby and gives him his wish. Groot curiously looks at the things sticking out of his ears, never seeing them before but could hear a faint sound coming out from them.
Peter takes out an earbud, handing it down to the little tree to take a listen to. Groot crawls up to sit on his lap and holds the earbud against his ear, amazed at how well the song sounded through this device. He hummed along even though he didn't know the words but tried anyway. Skadi let out a tearful chuckle, not being able to deny how cute Groot was and how adorable the pair looked together.
"Is that it?" She questioned motioning to the Zune. "Kraglin told me about it when I asked where you went."
"Yea," Peter said, not realizing how hoarse his voice would sound. He grabbed at her hip, inching her closer to him, until she was sat on his lap as well after he gently picked up Groot and placed him on her lap so she wouldn't crush him. He swiped her hair off of her neck, giving her a gentle kiss on the bare skin.
"Are you going to leave now?" He asked her, noting that Groot looked up at her as well but was still listening contently to the music.
"What?" She asked confused, her heart beating rapidly.
"You know, like, are you going to leave now that you know who you are?" Peter said looking away from her, embarrassed. "You're a princess after all."
Skadi bite her lip in response, mad that he made her want to cry again. She had already talked to Kraglin quickly before coming here to find him with Groot and already cried enough. Taking in a deep, shallow breath, she let her nostrils flare before she let herself speak again. She looked down at Groot before scooping him up into a hug.
"I'd smack you Star-lord, but there's a child present." Skadi laughed, giving Groot a kiss on his small forehead.
"If you were so concerned about a child being present, you wouldn't call me Star-lord," Peter chuckled, pitching her hip where Groot couldn't see.
Skadi slapped his shoulder playfully before pushing him backwards. His back hit the bed and he let out a grunt, not sure what she was up to with Groot still in her hands. He soon found out when Groot was placed on his chest and she soon joined him, laying down on her side and cuddling up to him. An arm draped over his chest, hugging Groot to him and holding his side tightly. Peter looked at her happily, smirking before giving her a long kiss on her head and reaching to put a hand over Groot's back.
"I'm staying where I am." She said, muttered into his side. Letting out a yawn she felt exhausted and ready to sleep now. "Maybe one day I'll go back to let them know I'm okay but that day isn't today or any day soon. I'm happy where I am now."
Peter felt himself heat up, happy to hear those words come out of her mouth. He rustled slightly, letting himself sink further into the bed. He could see that Groot already had his little eyes closed and had his mouth open, drooling slightly. He could feel himself grow tired as well. As the song changed he closed his eyes, letting the new music drift him off to sleep.
Down around the corner, half a mile from here
See them long trains run, and you watch them disappear
without love, where would you be now
without lo-o-o-ove
