Chapter Four

As the pair quickly lined up, and his Pad was set up, to capture this magical moment, Yondu stood next to Kraglin, so close he could smell every inch of him. Everyone noted afterwards looking over it, Yondu had the ghost of a smile on his lips, and with that more celebrations, everyone heading out to do just that.

Over a night of drinking and the now married Ravagers who had defied everyone, to go their own way, the next morning the group headed back, with the photo in a frame with the certificate hidden behind it, with a quick reminder amidst their aching heads.

"Look, just tell no one, not going to come up in conversation anyway, but I know Aleta won't be happy…for reasons". Regellen stated, which they all understood because there was no reason for there to be a mention.

Though Yondu wondered what the issue was, since as the weeks followed, the only thing about the couple were the clandestine smiles to each other, as an indicator of anything, and the rest of them kept stum.

Aside from the night when they informed the group that after the next mission, they were leaving the Ravagers for good, and this time they meant it.

Yondu realised his much he would miss them, but at the same time kept it to himself that he was envious of their love, however even though they were secretive, it wasn't to last forever.

Aleta, realising that for one the couple were finally ceased their insistent questions about getting married, noticed more. The lingering looks, the whispers, but it was the moment where Regellen and Hoag both wasted and singing.

Hoag said causally "Come on husband, take me to bed and ravish me…I read that, sound good, doesn't it?" flowing by laughter and a man intent on doing just that when Aleta stepped from the shadows and her perfect eyes just narrowed.

However, everyone was oblivious to all of this, until the day, a simple mission went to hell.

All it was, was a simple retrieval, a simple derelict ship, which had crashed on a small moon. With things left over from the Xandarian-Kree war, going on for so long no one could remember why and how it started.

If Yondu had to pick a side, well the Kree had enslaved him, and the Xandarian saved his life. For someone like Yondu that was as close as it was to loyalty.

Yondu was expecting to be there, but Stakar had given him the orders to catch up on maintenance, letting Yondu know how impressed he was, with Yondu's recent work. Since there had to be some division among the junior Ravagers over whom they spent all their time with.

Yondu was in the hanger bay, toiling away when he heard the Iztel's M-Ship, coming in going through the sensors and noted that it was coming down erratically, as the medics began to pile through the Hanger Bay door.

Every instinct in Yondu's body jumped into action, as the door opened and Iztel and Horuz, stagged out, blue blood dripping down their faces, and Iztel holding his left arm in his hands, tying not to moan out in pain, and trying to wipe the blood from his eyes.

Horuz passed out in the arms of the medic and was taken away by stretcher. The sight caused Yondu to get concerned when he noted that there were three others not with them.

"What happened, Yondu wasn't one for emotion but his mind gave way to fury and panic, as Iztel, as he was half pulled half dragged to the Med Bay, filled Yondu in, "The bastard Kree, were there, we got the loot, but they got Regellen, Hoag and Kraglin. I saw them fall, the Kree have them".

The Kree, the ones to whom Yondu had been sold and made his life a misery and thanks to the stupid war, were more intent on wiping out Xandarians, Yondu knew the Kree, knew everything about them. "Were they alive? Horuz, I'm not fucking with you, we're they still alive?".

They were in the Med Bay at this point, and Iztel nodded in the affirmative, but then passed out, on a med bed. Since he had a serious concussion.

Yondu couldn't be mad that they had escaped without them, orders were orders, but they were down, and Yondu knew exactly what they would be going through. He turned on his heels and raced back up to the hanger, where Aleta was standing assessing the damage, as Yondu raced in and burst out.

"We have to go back for the rest of them". Yondu's outburst was rare, and for a moment Aleta just looked at him, at the young, impassioned Ravager before responding in a cold voice. "That's not possible, we're not going back for them".

Yondu was incredulous, as Stakar joined his wife who oversaw the planning of the mission and it had gone all tits up, said thoughtfully "What makes you think they are still alive?".

"Because the Kree never kill anyone straight away, they love to toy with them, it's like watching someone playing with their fucking food. They will want information. Beat it out of them, stave it out of them, rip them apart if they have to. And they hate Xandarian's, right now they are being tortured.

I know the Kree, better than you. we must go back for them. By now they would have been taken to a small off-world site, they'd be one in the area, only one. Kree are communal, like to be together. Main hub, I'll find it in seconds. We have to go back for them".

Yondu was to his shock pleading now, but realised that she didn't care, as he recalled what he had been through, and knowing that they were going through the same was too much to stomach.

Aleta just took this all in, before she coldly returned to her Pad, "Put them down as lost in the field, but no one is going back for them. They don't have any information that we could be concerned about, three Ravagers…acceptable loses".

Yondu just blinked, and within him, a fire grew which he had no idea came from "But the Kree don't know that they're being tortured right now, and your fucking standing there".

Yondu then turned to Staker, look let me just take my ship, and a few of the crew, we need to get them out of there. Yondu known for his stoicism was openly pleading for the trio.

However, within him, Staker against all his better judgement remained steadfast, and he slowly exhaled,

"Aleta was the one in charge of this mission, loss of crew are acceptable losses" before finishing with a defiant "We're not going back for them Yondu".

What wasn't being said, and what Yondu didn't realise, but Aleta was a newly minted First Mate and wife of the captain, admits calls of nepotism, he was confident she could do a good job.

But turning around and going back on her orders, could lead to the unease that both of them were incapable of doing the job, and he couldn't have that. But Yondu wouldn't understand so he didn't volumeter the information whilst realisation dawned for Yondu.

"So that's it. Regellen, Hoag and Kraglin, are just going to die, because of your stupid orders. What the hell is this". Yondu was angry now, and this was getting the attention and whispers of the others Ravages and Aleta needed to save face.

"What does it matter anyway, Regellen and Hoag were going to leave, I know what they did, they defied the code and our orders. Since they were going to leave, we've no obligation to the pair of them". Aleta said coldly.

"And Kraglin is just collateral damage isn't he". Yondu who had found his confidence and voice found himself muttering "Fuck you both" under his breath, knowing that they wouldn't, listen, and instead went back to his quarters. Resisting the urge to pinch anyone stupid enough to look at him.

Iztel and Horuz were recovering well, but that wasn't enough and in the middle of Yondu's chest he felt concern and hatred, full of energy and rage, and he had nothing to direct it to.

In his quarters, all he could do was pace and punch the walls feeling anger and betrayal, from Aleta, that bitch who hated his guts but also for Stalker. The one who had promised him a home, for as long as he wanted.

The one who suggested he make friends and roots and settle down and feel more involved, and he had taken it away, like a chew toy to a canine, well fuck him. Yondu seethed.

Collapsing onto his bed and ran his hands over the empty centre of his skill and looked over at his prototype, never used the Yaka arrow up to now, but it was all finished, but this time, maybe just maybe.

Yondu seemed that and abandoned the idea, but then it crawled back into his head, and he rubbed his skull as logic and the Ravager codes played around with his heart.

And one eventually won out, as an idea began to form. Every time he thought of the Kree doing to the species what was done to him, and that was over twenty fucking years, but all he could do was pace, in his own quarters he was going insane.

As a hand fell on one of Kraglin's blue tops, draped over a chair since he was often a lazy bastard when it came to cleaning. Yondu picked it up, and looking at the fabric, in his hands, began to breathe in his scent, and wordlessly pulled off his boots.

Yondu didn't know if it would work, and since he wasn't in the valley, with his tribe watching the rest track the animals for hunting, as it was explained to him, put his bare feet on the ground, closed his eyes, and mentally reached put for Kraglin.

Through the ship, feeling the emotions of others, the clash of bodies, Aleta and Staker arguing over something he didn't care about. Horuz and Iztel in pain and recovering, but not Kraglin, not out there nor in here.

Not as if he was expecting it, not over subspace which was so ridiculous, that even attempting it was a stupid idea since all he had now was Kraglin's scent, contained within him and an ache through his heart.

As if he could see and feel Kraglin being beaten, imagining Kraglin where he once lay, hoping that Kraglin wouldn't cry since Yondu had learned not to, but Kraglin was softer, better than all of that.

The ache in Yondu's heart go heavier and he got up and left the room finding the scent of Kraglin overpowering, and in the corridor noted that Regellen and Hoag's shred quarters door was open.

In a brief moment of hope which was unlike him, Yondu stepped in to find the shelves empty, and everything they had was gone, leaving the place bare. Even down to the linin.

Yondu turned around some more since this was not what he was expecting, and with his back to the door, he could sense Aleta before she appeared in the doorway, and Yondu clenched his fists and looked to the ground with his back to her.

"I suggest you clean out Kraglin's shit, well if you want to". The tone was meant to silence Yondu, but he manages to find his voice through gritted teeth, "You really are going to let them die, done nothing to you". realising that he sounded like a child but didn't care.

"I won't tolerate insubordination on this ship Yondu, from anyone, let's just say Kraglin's collateral as I said. Why I could see this as your motivation to leave, might be a good thing. Find a clan, that wants you, more suited to your needs."

Yondu had a plethora of insults ready to throw at Aleta but swallowed his pride because he knew there was no choice going to Starker since she was love to his life, and Yondu was loyal to…

"Well do whatever you want, Udonta," Aleta said and just stepped away, Yondu imagining her skipping since she had gotten rid of two Ravagers she hated and didn't give a flying fuck about Kraglin.

It took a few moments for Yondu. Looking around once more since there wasn't even a picture, to look over and the blue fury in his chest suddenly ignited. Yondu went back to his quarters. Which felt empty without Kraglin, pulled open a bottle of beer, and got to work.

To be continued

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