Part 4/4 Peter, Yondu, Peter, Kraglin
First of all, this is a REALLY long, detailed and involved chapter, forgive me, this isn't what pays my bills so it cannot always be the focus of my world. Second, everybody can thank Ravensnight and Ponygirl for this update not being spitefully held onto for another week or more. Little about me, you don't like what I've written, I can take hate, hell, I love a little well thought out, viable hate, but you swear and yell at me thinking it's cute or something? Buddy, we're not friends. What kind of rude person never reviews or comments on a story until suddenly they're screaming for an update? How about a word on the 130k words you just binged through? Nope. Screw me, right? Well, here y'go, the computer just shit out another chapter…
Alarms were sounding everywhere and every screen in front of Peter was flashing, but Peter kept pushing one after another out of his view, focusing solely on the growing planet ahead. He could only pray he was coming in on the side of Xandar near the city and sanatorium, unable to check the navigation screen through all the warnings. He'd watched Yondu descend on the planet enough times, not to mention the one time he and Kraglin, mostly Kraglin, had emergency landed on the outskirts of Xandar's most populated area. Now Peter was doing it alone, with more distractions than even a simulator could have thought up, but failure wasn't an option.
Xandar's atmosphere pulled the ship through and Peter heard a nasty pop just as the flashing screens in front of him disappeared. Everything shut down with a discharging hum and the Eclector's entire, massive bulk floated sickeningly a moment before plummeting towards the ground.
Peter's heart sank and raced all at once, slapping the console in front of him frantically while his head pressed hard against the back of the Captain's chair.
"WORK YOU PIECE'A SHIT!" Peter screeched and slammed both fists down, almost not believing the flicker of light and energizing buzz that followed.
"See Fonzi do that," Peter muttered proudly, jiggling the controls and yanking back the second he felt tension gripping the air brakes.
"Pete?!" Yondu's frantic voice broke over his radio.
"I got it, Yondu!" Peter yelled happily, whooping a bit and jumping in the seat, "Comin' in right over town."
"Better slow down, Quill," he growled.
"Yes, sir," Peter agreed wholeheartedly, "I'm workin' on it."
His arms shook, forcing the brakes as hard as he could, harder even, and, finally, the Eclector leveled out and the alarm flashed to release the landing equipment. Peter kicked the release control with his foot, not willing to give up an ounce of power he had on the shaky brakes. Much less gently than it was used to, and with a sickening crunch, the Eclector landed in the large concrete field just outside the Xandarian metropolis.
"Nice job, Quill," Yondu sighed over the radio.
"Thank you, sir," Peter swelled momentarily with pride, then remembered why they'd had to make such a dangerous stop, "How's Kraglin?"
"Holdin' up," Yondu said, "Get back here."
Peter was already on his way and pushed into the First Mate's room just seconds later, guilt flooding his gut seeing Kraglin hardly conscious and Yondu's puffy eyes land on him. The Captain never cried, yet his normally hard gaze glistened with fear.
"Get y'r'ship ready," Yondu's order was subdued, "We gotta get as close to that sanatorium as we can."
"Yes, sir," Peter nodded and bolted towards the hangar, hearing the Captain call for Horuz and Tullk to help him move Kraglin.
Peter turned the Milano on, readying the engines and navigation module for the fastest route to the sanatorium, then jumped down the ladder to toss everything cluttering the bunk into whatever drawer he could fit it. He'd just shoved a half eaten, molding bag of zargnuts under the mattress when the Captain's heavy steps echoed on the hatch ramp.
"Ready, Quill?" Yondu asked, directing Horuz and Tullk to the bed with the First Mate they were carrying in a tightly held sheet.
Peter's throat tightened when Kraglin whimpered painfully as they laid him on the bunk and he turned up the ladder, dropping hard into the driver's seat. Yondu appeared a moment later, settling into the seat next to Peter.
"I'll tell ya the quickest way there," the Captain said, no less than slapping the navigation screen into nothingness, "Just get as close to them emergency doors as y'can."
"Yes, sir," Peter nodded, pushing forward on the controls as Yondu's head jerk towards the opening doors.
Yondu's directions were certainly faster than the navigation program would have offered, considering half the maneuvers he'd had Peter make were illegal. But they arrived at the sanatorium in what Peter imagined was record time and he followed Yondu down the ladder. Horuz and Tullk were already gently lifting Kraglin from the bunk and Peter lowered the hatch ramp after a quick nod from Yondu.
The Captain must have called the Healers ahead of time, because three came rushing to the Milano as they descended the ramp. The stretcher they brought was helpful, though Horuz and Tullk looked deflated of their use as the First Mate floated into the large building with the Captain and Peter striding behind while the Healers led the way.
Peter tried not to listen as Yondu kept every answer to their questions short and deprived of information, Kraglin had had an accident while performing a normal, on-board task, that was it. Kraglin's attempted warning, followed by the launching vent cover and his horrible, pained screeched kept cycling Peter's thoughts, knowing damn well he should tell the Captain, but the idea was too terrifying to even entertain.
How Quill had managed to get through Kree territory and land a damaged ship with impressive accuracy was beyond Yondu, but the part of him that wasn't shaking with fear over Kraglin was swelling with pride over Peter. The coolant tank wasn't his fault and would be an easy fix considering coolant tanks were generally generic to ship connections, he wouldn't even have to deal with that jackass, Saman. Overall, it could have been much worse, at least for the ship, but the Captain watched the Healers expressions carefully as they led Kraglin into an emergency bay.
After a few short answers they stopped pushing Yondu for information, hopefully noticing the irritation setting in the Captain's jaw, and set to work hooking Kraglin up to several machines. One of them started beeping the moment it was turned on and Yondu saw Peter start to shake out of the corner of his eye. Not just a quick shiver, the boy's knees practically knocked together and Peter wrapped his arms around himself only briefly before forcing them to his sides and locking eyes with Yondu.
"We need to get a look at his injuries and stabilize him," one of the Healers gestured the door.
"They gotta help him," Quill whispered as the Captain grab his shoulder and led him out of the room.
"They're gonna, Pete," Yondu assured him, throwing a threatening look at the bustling medical professionals, hoping they understood how serious he was about that statement.
For a little while, they paced the hallway near the emergency bay Kraglin laid in. Well, Yondu paced, Peter sat slumped back in a chair with his headphones blaring on his ears and his eyes shut. He watched the young man, seeming much younger with fear paling his handsome face, and the Captain found his fingers grasping at his sides, wanting to put a hand on the boy, to reassure him Kraglin would be alright.
But Yondu couldn't do it. He couldn't promise something he wasn't sure of himself and had no idea what his next move would be after attempting a comforting touch on the kid. Quill would certainly shrug him off anyway, that was Yondu's fault, he'd taught him to be strong at all times, never show weakness, and here the young man sat, stone faced and silent, exactly as he'd been raised.
"Capt'n?" Tullk said tentatively as he and Horuz approached in the hallway.
"They ain't told us nothin' yet, boys," Yondu sighed.
"What's he doin'?" Horuz scoffed bitterly towards Peter, eyes still shut, music still blaring on his ears.
"Ain't y'r'concern," Yondu growled and Horuz's eyes found the floor.
"You want us to stay, sir?" Tullk asked quickly, bringing the Captain's attention to him.
"No reason," he shook his head, "Better get on findin' a new coolant tank anyway."
"Made a few calls," Tullk shrugged, "Havin' one delivered to the tarmac," Yondu's eyebrows jumped in surprise, but the Ravager just shrugged again and said, "Seemed like somethin' the kid would'a done," his sad eyes glanced in the direction of the emergency bays.
Yondu nodded, it did seem like something Kraglin would have thought to do.
A Healer walked out of Kraglin's room, his expression completely neutral, which somehow made Yondu even more nervous than if he'd looked nervous, folks often looked nervous around him. But the man smirked and took a deep breath before addressing the Captain, who walked a little distance from his crew's ears and allowed the man to lead him to a tall counter.
"He's sustained a nasty head injury," the Healer began, "We have him under medical sedation now, but we'll need to drill a hole in his skull to relieve the pressure."
"Pressure, drill a, you wanna do what?!" Yondu sputtered.
"Sir," the Healer said calmly, "It's our best option to avoid a comatose state or worse," he paused and stared at the Captain a few moments, making sure Yondu understood exactly what that 'worse' could be before he continued, "Since he is unable to give consent, I'm assuming you're of some authoritative relation."
"Aye," Yondu nodded, "Xandarian orphan been with me since he were small enough t'fit in a yaro root crate."
"Adopted?" he asked and Yondu nodded quickly, "We're going to take very good care of him, he's already comfortable, and this procedure is really very simple, but we must be delicate and therefore take a bit of time."
"Good," Yondu said gruffly.
"I really recommend you don't wait around here," the Healer said with more indifference than anything, "It'll be quite a while before we can let any of you back after we've started."
"What?" Yondu scoffed, "Y'want me to leave? 'Cause I ain't walkin' away from that kid while he's-"
"Sir," the Healer interjected calmly, "Respectfully, your presence here will do nothing but make our staff nervous and that is truly the last thing your son needs."
Yondu's chest tightened all the way to his throat, but he managed a weak, "Aye."
The Healer continued, sliding his hand down the counter and it illuminated with electronic forms, "He's a very strong young man, I'd say many wouldn't survive these injuries, but I'm confident he'll pull through. Can I have you sign these-"
"Course."
It didn't take long to squiggle hardly useable information, exactly as he'd done when Peter's leg had been broken, the sanatorium cared if he paid the bill, not who it was for. The Healer disappeared again into the bay where Kraglin was unconscious and Yondu's breath remained in his chest much longer than usual.
"Yondu?" Peter's quiet voice made him turn to the young man slipping his silent headphones around his neck and nervously asked, "Is Kraglin gonna be okay?"
"That's what they're sayin'," he nodded, definitely not going to tell Peter about the hole that was about to be drilled in Kraglin's skull, "C'mon, let's get that coolant tank taken care of."
"We can't leave him," Peter jumped to his feet while Tullk and Horuz began walking at the order, but stopped to watch the young man challenge the Captain.
"The Healers are gonna have him for a while," Yondu sighed, not in the mood to fight with the kid, "They don't want us sittin' around, stinkin' their halls up. We'll come back-"
"I'm not leavin'," Peter sat back on one of the few chairs in the small indent off the hall and Yondu sensed Tullk and Horuz's eyes on him, waiting for a reaction.
"Peter Jason Quill," Yondu snarled, his teeth tight together, hardly satisfied by the spark of pink growing on the young man's ears at the sound of his full name, "Git y'r'ass off that chair before I do it for ya, 'cause I'll whup ya right here, boy."
That did it. It may have come with a scowl and angry mumble under Peter's breath, but he stood and walked passed the Captain, narrowing his eyes directly on Yondu's before huffing down the hall. He jerked his head for Tullk and Horuz to follow the seething young man and strode behind his crew the way they'd come in.
"Capt'n," Tullk held back a few paces in the main lobby as Horuz followed Quill, who was already out the door, "Why don't you 'n Pete stay nearby, we can handle the coolant tank, it ain't a big deal. There's a bar 'round the corner, then ya can come check on Kraglin easier. I don't think he's gonna be much help fixin' anything right now anyway," Tullk jerked his head at the door Quill had disappeared through.
"He don't want nothin' t'do with me right now," Yondu scoffed nonchalantly.
"He's scared," Tullk insisted, "And I imagine he's feelin' guilty as sin right now. Take him for a drink, you'll both feel better."
Yondu sighed and his eyes caught Quill waiting for the Milano's hatch to lower, stopping the young man in his tracks, he called, "Quill, c'mere!"
"What?!" Peter didn't move, only turning towards the Captain as he yelled from where the Milano was parked.
"Peter," Yondu hit the button on his radio and growled into the transmitter, "Git, over, here, now."
He watched the kid's head droop, but his feet started moving towards the Captain and Tullk nodded as he walked away. Yondu didn't have the heart to yell at Peter and really wished he'd drop the attitude, at least until Horuz and Tullk had gone.
"What?" Peter repeated, crossing his arms when he scuffed his boots to a stop a few feet in front of the Captain.
"We're stickin' around here," Yondu said simply, "In case we gotta come back on short notice-"
"What about my ship?" he jerked his head at the craft Tullk was climbing into.
"Tullk 'n Horuz'll get her back, there's a-" Yondu continued, but Peter snapped with another interjection.
"My ship?! Horuz'll-"
"Horuz ain't gonna do nothin' but get 'em back safe!" Yondu exploded, "Peter, I am not in the mood to argue with you! Damn it, kid, give me a break right now, please."
Warm mortification crept up the Captain's neck, he didn't often plead, certainly not with a subordinate, but Peter's anger dissolved as his gaze turned to the ground.
"I'm, just" Peter stammered around an apology, "Worried about Krag."
"Me 'n you both," Yondu nodded understandingly, "There's a bar around the corner, let's get a kojak."
Peter nodded, walking next to the Captain, though he turned back several times as they walked away from the sanatorium.
He needed to stop taking his fear out as anger on the Captain, Peter was genuinely surprised the man hadn't smack him up side the head, even more so he was offering a drink. A drink Peter knew he didn't deserve, he deserved to be the one lying in the sanatorium. It suddenly occurred to him that he didn't have a clue what the Healers were doing to Kraglin while he followed Yondu to a bar. His stomach rolled, nausea threatening the back of his throat regardless of how many deep breaths he tried to take through his nose, but successfully not drawing any attention from the Captain.
The bar wasn't an upscale place, but it was much nicer than the dives they usually frequented, it sort of reminded Peter of the downstairs of the bar he'd met Visi in before she'd dragged him upstairs and into her games. He'd take that beating all over again and then some if it would help Kraglin, but it wouldn't, and Peter continued fighting the bombarding thoughts to tell the Captain what really happened in the stack unit.
Yondu's nerves always made him thirsty and, by the time Peter was ordering his second kojak, the Captain was finishing his third. His tolerance was impressive, but Yondu did become a bit more warm and fuzzy after a few drinks. Normally, Peter appreciated the hard, proud slaps on the back, but, as his Captain's blue hand landed on his shoulder, Peter winced, guilt compiling in his gut.
"I'm proud'a you, Quill," Yondu grinned and took another sip of his drink.
Peter scoffed, hardly able to meet the man's eyes, "Why?"
"Why?" Yondu scoffed harder, slapping him on the shoulder again, "How you got the whole Eclector through Kree territory-"
"That coolant tank-"
"Screw the coolant tank!" Yondu exclaimed with a short laugh, "Coolant tanks are cheap 'n easy. You got us here, right place, just in time. I'm damn proud of ya, son."
Peter felt vomit hit the back of his throat, but swallowed hard and fought the tears trying to sting his eyes, distracting himself from Yondu's gaze with his own drink. He didn't deserve praise, not for accomplishing something he wouldn't have had to if he hadn't have caused Kraglin to be hurt in the first place. But he couldn't say that, the words physically wouldn't leave his mouth, so Peter took another long gulp of his kojak.
"Kraglin's gonna be alright," Yondu said, patting Peter's shoulder as he dragged his hand away and picked up his drink again, "You'll see, the Healers are gonna do what they do, 'n he's gonna be fine."
"What are they doin'?" Peter asked, noticing Yondu nearly choke on his kojak and cover it by continuing his extremely long gulp.
"Nothin' you should really think about, Quill," the Captain's sad smirk made Peter even more curious.
"Yondu," he raised his eyebrows challengingly, "What are they doin'?"
He sighed, grinning the same prideful grin as he looked at Peter, making his stomach roll further with culpability.
"Nobody pushes me like you, Quill," Yondu said, "Nobody's got the guts, granted I ain't had any of 'em around since they were a kid, lettin' 'em get away with murder."
Peter tried to chuckle with Yondu, but his words hit much harder than the Captain could've expected and he buried the end of his weak smile in his drink.
"Kraglin's bleedin' in his head," Yondu said quickly and, despite the liquid on his tongue, Peter's mouth went dry, "The Healers say the best thing t'do is drill a hole to relieve the pressure-"
"Into his brain?!" Peter found his voice, but was unable to control the volume for a moment.
"Pete," Yondu sighed, "they ain't gonna drill into his brain, but they gotta drain the fluid build up, that's what he said anyway."
"And you believe him?" Peter asked earnestly.
"No reason not to," Yondu shrugged, sipping his drink and said, "The sanatorium is a business like any other, they just want their money."
Peter nodded, knowing he could trust Yondu to treat money as no object in Kraglin's recovery, they could always steal more.
"How long they say it'll take?" Peter asked, eager to return to the chair near the First Mate's emergency bay.
"While," Yondu nodded, clinking his glass against Peter's, "Drink up."
The kojak seemed to be helping calm the Captain's nerves, while making the weight in Peter's stomach somehow even heavier. How could he be sitting at a bar with Yondu, tossing back drinks, while Kraglin was having his skull drilled into? It wasn't fair.
"Y'know, Quill, I know I'm hard on ya sometimes," Yondu began after a few moments of silence between them, Peter's insides rolled, "I think I either turn a blind eye or come down on you like a hammer, and I don't know why, but I'm sure the wishy washy hasn't been easier for you."
"I'm okay," Peter shrugged, really he appreciated that Yondu didn't always come down hard on him and when he did, admittedly, he usually deserved it.
"You're a tough, kid," Yondu grinned, slapping Peter on the shoulder again, "Wicked smart and you've turned into a hell of a young man. I'm proud of you, son."
Peter had to look away, wiping the few escaped tears with the back of his hand, knowing it was anything but stealthy, though he had little option at the corner of the public bar. Yondu didn't often tell him he was proud of him and, at any other moment, Peter would have relished in the compliments, but, knowing he didn't deserve the praise, his gut rolled harder with nauseous guilt.
"I'll, be-" Peter couldn't finish his sentence before throwing himself off the barstool and hurrying towards the washrooms at the back of the bar, barely making it to a toilet before his insides burst into the water below his face.
The single sob that released was stifled quickly, and Peter heaved a few deep breaths, splashed clean water on his face and made sure he looked as normal as possible before returning to the bar. Yondu was right outside the door when it opened, concern furrowed between his eyebrows.
"Y'alright, Quill?" he asked, taking hold of the young man's face with his large, blue hands, but Peter brushed him off.
"I'm fine," he grumbled.
"Y'r'not hot," Yondu agreed, walking back to the bar with the young man.
"I'm fine, Yondu," Peter insisted irritably.
"Just pretty sure I seen ya put back more kojack than that without retchin'," the Captain laughed.
"It's not the kojack," Peter said, "Just, just worried's all."
Yondu sighed, "You can't be makin' y'rself sick on account'a Kraglin bein' laid up, that ain't gonna help anybody."
"I know," Peter mumbled, forcing a sip of his kojak down his burning throat.
"Talk t'me," Yondu smirked a bit lopsidedly, "Y'think if anybody's worried about that boy up there," he scoffed, "That's my First Mate, Quill."
"I know, sir," Peter nodded at his drink, releasing the contents of his stomach had done little to alleviate his nausea.
Yondu laughed suddenly, "I'll never forget the first time he let you fly that ship'a yours. You come runnin' in the mess hall hollerin' to tell me how good y'did and Kraglin looked like he thought I was gonna bite him! But I liked that he took ya under his wing, gods know I never would've been as patient with you as he was, 'n he turned you into a damn good pilot, damn good, Pete, the way you got through Big Maggie," he sighed, grinning at Peter, "I'm proud of ya, son, truly I am."
If Peter had anything in his stomach he would have needed to return to the toilet, but he did his best to force a grin, knowing his eyes were watery with tears as he looked at the Captain. But Yondu's smile was proof that he misunderstood the motivation behind Peter's emotions and the words of admittance still stuck in his throat, refusing to form on his tongue.
"He's taught you a lot," Yondu continued with memories glistening in his eyes, "Probably more than I have, and I'm proud of who both'a you have become."
"Yondu," Peter tried, but his throat tightened and his mouth went dry, hardly able to simply nod in a show of appreciation.
"C'mon, Quill," Yondu slapped him gently on the back, offering a short, vigorous rub as he downed his kojack with the other hand, "Fresh air'll help, outta start headin' that way."
Peter pushed his half-full kojack away as he stood and followed the Captain outside. The fresh air rushing against his face helped a little, but every step closer to the sanatorium made Peter's gut twist further. No matter how hard he tried, Kraglin's skull being drilled into was an image Peter couldn't shake. He vaguely heard Yondu speaking to him a few times, but Peter was too lost in thought, only turning to the Captain when the doors to the main lobby dissolved and allowed them through.
"Hold on," Yondu motioned for Peter to stay as he approached the front desk, but he followed the Captain anyway.
The pink woman behind the counter smiled at him, she looked hardly older, but he was almost sure it was the same receptionist from when he'd been carried in with a broken leg in Yondu's arms.
"Can you tell me the status on one Kraglin Obfonteri?" Yondu asked, leaning over the desk and giving her a handsome grin, deepening the pink in her cheeks.
"Of course," she nodded, swiping and tapping the desk before looking up at the Captain, "They are currently finishing the procedure and will be setting him up for recovery soon."
"Thank you," Yondu said and walked towards the lifts, Peter followed, glad he had, seeing as the slightly buzzed Captain might have forgotten him, though he too was excited that Kraglin was nearly finished with the horrible ordeal of having his head drilled into.
But, just as the doors opened on the emergency floor, the spine-rattling sound of a power-drill reached Peter's ears, shrill and painful before winding to a stop. Peter was sure he would have vomited again, but a strong hand on his shoulder gave him the shove he needed to push his feet through the hallway.
Just as they approach the bay Kraglin was in, the same Healer walked out, followed by two others, but they hurried down the corridor as the first stopped and waited for Peter and the Captain.
"How's he doin'?" Yondu asked.
"Good," the Healer nodded, "Like I said, he's a strong young man, but I would certainly give him time to recover once he's left here."
"Course," Yondu agreed, "Boy's gonna live in his bed, long as you say, hell, longer."
Silently, Peter promise he would bring Kraglin anything he needed, just like when Peter's leg had been broken. It would be the least of what would have been added to his punishment if Yondu knew the truth.
"Can we see him?" Peter couldn't suppress the question.
"He's just gone back to sleep," the Healer nodded, "but yes, I'm sure he'd like to have you both there when he wakes."
Neither Yondu or Peter needed further invitation as they pushed passed the man and into Kraglin's emergency bay. He couldn't believe how young the First Mate looked, all the blood cleaned off and his face shaved carefully so the Healers could stich the jagged cuts along one side. Peter inhaled sharply, his chest squeezing from unintentionally holding his breath at the painful sight. Yondu's hand on his shoulder was comforting, yet heavy, reminding Peter of the Captain's own anxiety over the First Mate's condition.
The machines beeping next to Kraglin's bed brought Peter back to the hospital with his mom and a wave of fear washed over him, flooding his guilt further. With a nervous glance at Yondu, Peter carefully settled onto the side of Kraglin's cot at the Captain's small, encouraging nod. There wasn't anywhere he'd rather be than right next to Kraglin, but so much of him knew he had no right to occupy the space. The First Mate was lying in a hospital bed because of Peter, because he couldn't shut his mouth for two goddamn seconds to listen to directions.
Peter was so absorbed in self-deprecating thoughts he nearly missed the First Mate's eyes fluttering open, fully focused on him, making Peter's smile much larger than the one the First Mate greeted him with.
"Krag!" Peter exclaimed.
"Y'alright boy?" Yondu asked quickly, leaning on Peter with nearly his entire weight.
Kraglin tried to nod, but stopped short, wincing uncomfortably before his voice broke passed his cracked lips, raspy and weak, "I'm a'right, Capt'n, my head kinda hurts though."
"I imagine it would," Yondu scoffed lightly.
"Got knocked pretty good, huh?" Kraglin almost grinned.
"Yeah, boy," the Captain chuckled, "Gave me a helluva scare."
"Sorry, sir," Kraglin mumbled and Peter swallowed hard on the nausea returning to the back of his throat.
"Cut it out with your sorrys Krag," Yondu said gently, "Y'didn't do nothin' wrong 'n I'm just glad y'r'okay, son, that's all."
Kraglin's gaze moistened, turning to Peter quickly, which made Peter's eyes sting with tears and his gut dropped to his toes.
"Hey, Pete, y'okay?" he asked, making Peter feel even worse, somehow.
"Yeah, Krag," he scoffed to cover a whimper, "We're worried about you."
"Y'know me," Kraglin smiled with the side of his face that wasn't stitched back together, "I'mma be okay. They say when I can get outta here?"
"Not yet," Yondu shook his head, "But don't be gettin' antsy, however long that Healer says y'gotta stay laid up for you better expect it doubled-"
"Capt'n-" Kraglin sighed, interjecting uncharacteristically.
"Boy," Yondu interjected quite characteristically, "Y'ain't arguin' with me, 'n if y'do I might just keep ya there longer. Got it?"
"Yes, sir," Kraglin agreed quietly, though his unsliced cheek jerked upward a little, his eye catching Peter again, "Pete, ya look sick."
"I look better than you," he muttered jokingly and Kraglin grinned in agreement, "I'm just, I'm sorry, that vent flew outta my hand 'n I, I'm just really sorry."
"I should'a told'ja it does that," Kraglin said simply, staring at Peter and his insides twisted harder with guilt, knowing his next words should be a complete confession.
But, the words still refused to pass his lips, instead becoming, "No, Krags, it was, there was a lot goin' on."
It felt much longer than it probably was that Kraglin stared at him before smirking and said, "Yeah, just an accident."
Nausea still threatened his throat, blood pumped hard in his ears and Peter was sure the heat in his face was visible, but Kraglin said nothing else before Yondu spoke up again. With a bit of excitement and pride in his tone, he told Kraglin how Peter had run the Eclector through Big Maggie and landed it after an electrical short sent them into a freefall. Kraglin seemed impressed, despite his subdued tone, but Peter could hardly pay attention to the First Mate's reaction, hiding his gaze and concentrating on the dirt he was picking out from under his nails.
"Good job, Pete," Kraglin said and he forced his eyes up, pushing a grin onto his face, but dropped his attention again quickly.
"Thanks," Peter muttered, the Captain's praise had certainly pushed his physical discomfort to a level that encouraged him to locate the waste bin, just in case.
"Sir," Kraglin said weakly, "I think I'm gonna sleep again, if that's a'right."
"Course," Yondu nodded, tapping Peter on the shoulder and he jumped off the bed, "Want us to stay?"
Kraglin made a nearly audible sound that seemed affirmative, but Peter wanted to be anywhere else. He could think of no where else he'd rather be, yet the walls of the emergency bay were closer every minute. But, when Yondu settled himself in one of the two chairs by the foot of Kraglin's bed, Peter sighed and sat down next to him.
The guilt would go away, in time he wouldn't feel so bad about it and Kraglin would be fine. Peter hated how relieved he was that Kraglin didn't remember what happened, but Yondu would absolutely murder him now if the First Mate was the one to tell him what really happened, Peter had had more than ample opportunity to mention it, not to mention a piss-poor attitude. Yes, for Peter's life's, or at least his backside's, sake it was best that the truth of what happened in the center stack stayed with him.
He heard the steady beeping before his eyes slowly fluttered opened on the Healers bustling around him. Kraglin's body involuntarily jerked and he felt for the tubes connected to his arms, but was stopped by several sets of hands holding him down.
"Mister Obfonteri," one of the Healers said, keeping his voice calm and steady, "We're healing your injury, please, you're safe."
Kraglin did still, shifting his gaze around the room, but his neck hurt too badly to turn, "I'm alive?"
"Sure are," he nodded, "And you'll be back up in no time, though I will recommend some bedrest following your departure."
As quickly as his nerves settled, Kraglin felt his eyelids weighing again and managed a, "Mmmbut, Cap, needs me."
"Well, he'll make do," the Healer chuckled, "Get some rest, I'll send him and your brother in when I see them."
"Brother," Kraglin scoffed, tears stinging his exhausted eyes while his tired lips rambled, "Ain't got a brother."
"Oh, I thought the young man when you came in-" the Healer began curiously.
"Couldn't care less about anybody but himself," Kraglin said in a hoarse whisper, unsure why, and heard the Healer inhale, then exhale, clearly at a loss of response, before the First Mate grumbled, "I'm just, meds must be makin' me loopy."
"Close your eyes," he said, completely unnecessarily as Kraglin's eyes fell shut without any external encouragement.
"Night, sir," the First Mate muttered.
"Good night," the Healer said gently and Kraglin heard the others shuffling out, but warm darkness was pulling him back into slumber.
He was sure he enjoyed exactly none of it, however, before he was being woken to a familiar weight sinking the edge of his bed. Forcing his eyes open, Kraglin saw Peter staring pale faced at him while Yondu stood over his shoulder, a lighter shade of blue than usual. Peter's excitement made him wince, causing a surge of pain along one side of his face.
Kraglin wasn't exactly sure why a wariness was nagging at him, but it continued with every word further in the short conversation. Peter hardly looked at him while he sat on the bed and picked at his nails, a sign Kraglin knew meant the kid felt guilty.
"Pete, ya look sick," he commented lightly, but the grimace that crossed Peter's face made his nagging wariness soar to suspicion.
"I look better than you," Peter tried to scoff and Kraglin forced a painful grin, "I'm just, I'm sorry, that vent flew outta my hand 'n I, I'm just really sorry."
'Alright, listen,' Kraglin's own voice echoed in his head, 'y'r'gonna have t'get it outta there, but be careful, one side should come down pretty easy, but don't tear at it, the other one's sorta-' BANG! Peter's scream, 'Kraglin!'
In a moment, the scene returned to his mind, as clear as if he was still at the bottom of the dark tunnel, unsuspecting of the heavy, sharp metal about to crash down on him. Peter wasn't apologizing out of sympathy, it was guilt. And, since the kid's fingernails were free of dirt, the First Mate was sure he'd been hoarding the truth from their Captain. Kraglin's anger burned, the stitches on his face ached and his head pounded while Peter was afraid of taking a whipping from Yondu.
"I should'a told'ja it does that," Kraglin made his words neutral, watching Peter's expression, unsurprised at the pain that crossed his face.
But, as expected, he had no plans to put himself into the line of fire by confessing to the truth, "No, Krags, it was, there was a lot goin' on."
Kraglin couldn't help a smirk, not surprised by Peter's actions, but a pang in his gut grew and he recognized the roots of distrust, "Yeah, just an accident."
Whether Peter knew he remembered or not, he still stayed silent while Yondu praised his piloting skills and fast thinking to get them to Xandar. The First Mate maintained a mild grin, feeling nauseous as he said 'good job' to the guilt ridden young man, but Kraglin wasn't going to tell on him. Even then, sore all over with tubes jammed into his veins and a bandage on the base of his skull where the Healers had drilled a hole, Kraglin felt the urge to protect Peter, and hated that his loyalty clearly wasn't returned.
The moment he felt a warm rush of exhaustion wash over him, Kraglin feigned the need to sleep instantly, unable to fully answer the Captain's question. Of course he wanted his Captain to stay, but Peter, Peter didn't care about him, only about himself.
His eyes stung as he shut them and Kraglin hoped neither noticed the tear that slipped down his unstitched cheek, vowing silently to distance himself from Peter.
Thanks for reading and if you've EVER written me a review that even just said "thank you" you are not remotely who I was angered by and I appreciate your words very much.