Chapter Two: the Ceremony and the Life of Yondu Utonda

-o-

Of what they expect at the Ravenger's ceremony it wasn't what they assumed. Of course there it was a little formal but it was far different then the one that they had to go through at Xandar in which made Peter feel very under dressed and not knowing the culture norms in which he had to make a speech in front of so many people at a podium and was given a metal and credits. Besides the food and money, the best thing that came of it was his ship, the Milano was repaired and was better then it was before. Of course now everyone now knows them which is again awesome, they get calls, emails and requests all the time now of people wanting to hire them, so much that they can pick and choose who to work for, what jobs they are hiring them for and can easily haggle money from their clients without worrying of loosing the job. Its not like the Guardians of the Galaxy is hurting for money now and maybe not ever if they keep saving everyone like they did twice now.

Come to think of it; they need to go pick up his old ship at the planet called Berhert. Peter hope the Sagittarians haven't found it and destroy it. Rocket have told him he was half way done with the repairs before Yondu's crew found them. So they may be able to fly it back and able to repair it here. Peter will have to ask Fury to borrow a M-ship to go get it after whatever they are doing now.

Peter can feel everyone staring at him when the group went to main floor area where the four mother ships conjoined. "Kraglin, what are we suppose to do?" he whispered to man beside him. He was the only one that should know what to do without making a joke of himself. Well he hopes Kraglin wouldn't lie that is.

"Just walk like you own the place towards the book over there next to Stakar, and sign your name. Based on rank of any who wish to be an Ravager officially sign their name under you." Kraglin whispered back. Peter nodded which didn't help much of how nervous as he felt. He knew many others before him did the same. Hell even Yondu before him had and he was much younger then himself now. What if he trips and falls on his face? In front of EVERYONE?

"We are here to honor the life of Yondu Udonta. But first we will accept our new brothers and sisters of joining the Ravengers!" Stakar said, everyone cheered, roared and few people throw the drinks up at the air. There was a gun shot. Already many people are drunk or high as one person was thrown off his chair as everyone there laughed. "Quiet down, you maggots! Peter Jason Quill, the adopted son of Yondu Udonta will take his place as captain." There was more roars and did he heard a few boos? Who is booing at him? Peter looked around to see who is booing but there was too many people eating, drinking and whatever else people do that was hard to tell who was doing what. "And sadly only two people have survived from Yondu's original crew. But they will rebuild. Let us welcome the new crew."

On cue, Peter walked up on the wooded platform, was given a pen to write his name with on the ancient thick book. Books are rarely used anymore as the book looked well kept but ancient. He notice that there was many Xs as if some people are illiterate or doesn't know how to write their names on paper without typing it. Carefully he wrote his name, remembering his mother encouraging him of writing his name in cursive and be very neat. One by one of his crew behind him signed their own names under his. Surprisingly Kraglin had no issue on writing his name, Gamora was hesitant as if trying to remember how but did so very carefully and Drax signed his by slicing his thumb and slapping the book with his own blood.

Rocket didn't feel that he should join the little gang of Ravengers (he always viewed them as a group of losers) and that was more of a Quill thing as he was more of a hired mercenary then anything but... he felt that doing so would somehow honor Yondu. The man did help him, got him to let go of insecurities (well some of them at least) that he been bottling up inside. Rocket scoffed, at Drax of being so dramatic, he has blood everywhere now. Where is going to sign his damn name now on this stupid book? Rocket took the pen that lay forgotten where Gamora that sat it on the table and crudely wrote ROCKET in capital letters. With the little help, Groot wrote his name as well under Rocket's name.

Mantis who just got dragged in all this, not 100% understand what is going on or what being a Ravenger entails, jumped up all bubbly towards the book after Groot was done. She was all smiles, loving the mix emotions she feels in the room (with so many people around her it was much more easier to feel emotions without touching someone. A person would feel over whelmed but she grew up with a God. She is able to handle it with grace). She wrote her name in bubble handwriting with a smile face next to it for good measure.

"It is done! Let's the celebration continue!" Stakar have said, raising his fist into the air as everyone cheered.

And that was that.

-O-

The Guardians of the Galaxy lingered not knowing what to do after.

"What to grab a drink, Gamora?" Peter asked taking her hand within in own. He kissed her knuckles, looking up at her with a smirk on his face. He heard music on the other side; he would love to dance with her all night long. He can smell food, liquor and smoke knowing that they are not going to sleep tonight.

"Before you go," Coulson appeared out of no where, handing each of them a card key with a number at the back. " here is your key into your rooms. Let me know if you need anything." And he left within the crowd.

"That guy is weird." Rocket said. How did the guy know the Eclector Core doesn't have any sleeping quarters? "Something about him... can't point my finger on it."

"I am Groot." Agreed Groot.

"We'll see you guys later. I heard some gambling over there I'm going to check out." Rocket said, making sure Groot was secure on his shoulder before jumping off the raise platform.

"I will company you." Drax said walking beside the mercenary. Rocket shrugged in responds.

"Do not do what you guys did the last time!" Peter ordered them thinking about the last time Rocket and Drax gambled back in Knowhere. After that fiasco he been trying to get the team not start petty fights (that are meaningless, sure hit the guy if the person started it but do not start any fights), call the enemy of there whereabouts and cause too much damage that results them into paying damage costs and getting to jail because of stupidity. They may not be low on money but that doesn't mean they should get into the habit of going to jail knowing they have money to pay bail.

"And don't let Groot or Mantis out from your sight!" Gamora said. Rocket and Drax kept on walking without a word (Groot hasn't left Rocket's shoulder yet but wish to but Rocket don't want anything to happen to him like what what happened when Yondu and he was locked up in the brig), waving their hands in the air in acknowledgement as Mantis followed Drax asking questions about gambling. Drax felt that the girl is too young to drink and went to get something non-alcoholic as Rocket ordered a pint of whatever good stuff they have as they went. Groot has taken a liking to Mantis (maybe because the empath knew what Groot was basically saying through his emotions?) and shared her drink with a straw.

"Come on, Peter. They don't need us mothering them any longer. They will be fine." Gamora said taking his arm and pulling him towards the dancing floor. Peter didn't need to be told twice as the couple left in smiles.

Kraglin was left alone as he was silent the whole time. He felt out of place without his crew (they are dead because of him) and his captain. He was the most alone he have ever felt since his time before Yondu saved him from slave labor (1). Kraglin will make do to try to make friends with Peter's group but each of them had their own stuff they do together. Peter and Gamora doesn't need a third wheel of them dancing and enjoying their us time. Drax, Rocket and Groot is now enjoying their drinks and teaching Mantis the art of gambling as he watch them bet on which animal makes it to the end of the race line. It looks like Mantis can guess pretty well which is more luckily to win and not get eaten as she can tell by petting the creatures which is less scared. Scared animals run blind by escaping terror.

Kraglin felt pain in his chest as he slowly walk to the nearest bar to get wasted. He will figure out what to do in his life later. Right now he just needs to numb out the pain he feels of his regret and the what-ifs. He wanted to stop Yondu from going to save Peter, knowing that Yondu will not return. Sure he likes Peter enough but he never understood their relationship until it was too late. Maybe if he had known he would not have accidentally cause the mutiny. He didn't know Nebula was there. It was because of her everything went south but then again if he didn't start the mutiny to begin with then Nebula would not defeat his captain. Or maybe if Kraglin have known little bit more about the relationship between Yondu and Peter, he would have helped calm down the crew a lot better of Yondu going soft on the boy when he stole from them not once but twice. Stealing from your fellow Ravagers is against code. Many of the crew hated Peter because of it, view it as traitorous act.

But Kraglin did what he was told to do and kept his mouth shut knowing he had no right to say nothing as he betrayed and failed his captain when he needed him the most. Kraglin doesn't blame Rocket of shutting the doors, allowing Yondu to leave and stunning Gamora so she won't go after Peter herself. Rocket too knew Yondu will die and save Peter.

They both lost a friend that day.

-0-

It was hours later when Drax ventured out from the drinking and the gambling to find food. With the help of Mantis both Rocket and Drax won a lot of credits enough that they both agreed they had to stop winning so much so they don't cause a fight of being accused of cheating.

He found food near the dancing floor. He guessed as he saw people coming out from that area with food in their hands. He doesn't understand dancing as he glance at Gamora and Quill making a fool of them selves. He was about to walk pass the swigging doors and follow the smell of food when he stopped.

Sitting alone with a drink in her hand sat a Terran woman, the same woman that sat in the meeting when they entered the ship between where he stood and the dance floor. He doesn't remember her name as she wasn't important enough to remember. But what stuck him as odd was that she didn't move a muscle with the music. There was no tapping on her foot, no nodding her head. She sat there still, a person would think she was dead if she wasn't drinking her drink.

Drax had a sudden memory of his beloved wife Hovat as that was how they met during a war rally. He banish the thought of his late wife and child. He has accepted their deaths and when he finish his revenge on their deaths by killing Thanos it is then he join them in death in open arms.

If only the Terran wasn't skinny and weak looking he would find her attractive. But no, just like Mantis he shivered at the thought of bedding her. But he had to ask her why she isn't dancing. As the question wouldn't leave his mind.

"What do you want?" She asked as he approach.

"Why aren't you dancing, making a fool of yourself?" he asked her.

Over her drink as the woman finished her shot looked at him straight in the eyes. "I don't dance." She said.

This confused Drax. Quill have said that music is highly valued in his home planet. "Doesn't all Terrans love music?" He asked.

"No." She said flatly.

"If only you weren't skinny and weak." He said with a sigh. This made her look at him in full view, her eyes narrowing.

"What?" She asked. Her voice sounded dangerous.

"If you weren't so ugly I would have ask to bed you tonight."

Melinda May had an enough. She been having a horrible day, this idiotic party that Stakar made for the Revenger clans is getting on her nerves; everyone is throwing drinks all over the damn floor, getting bat shit drunk and high, the music is too loud, and she hasn't been out in a mission in weeks and now this alien had called her ugly and weak.

Without hesitation May got up; grabbed Drax by the arm and with all her strength throw him over her shoulder onto the table breaking it. She heard a loud creak as the man hit his head pretty hard on the floor and table. She saw little bit of green blood coming from a small cut on the man's head but she didn't care. The man deserved it, he just so happened to be in her way when she finally snapped.

The few people near them cheered drunkenly as everyone loved to see someone get owned. May walked away without saying a word. She went to find Coulson as he always seem to know what to say to her when she's angry. If that doesn't help then she will look for a sparing partner.

-0-

"Get your ass off the damn floor, Drax!" Drax slowly woke up as he looked up and saw Rocket, Mantis and Groot looking down at him. Why are they looking down on him when they are so tiny? Why is he on the floor and covered in beer and questionable fluid? "Were you sleeping Drax? You damn light weight, get the fuck up. You're embarrassing yourself covered in beer."

"What happened?" Drax asked as he got up with the help of Mantis who slightly flinch in pain as she touched Drax's arm. He was getting a slightly headache from the cut on his forehead.

"You are hurt. You need to go to a doctor." Mantis told him. Drax shook his head. He doesn't need to go see a butcher.

"What? I don't know. You left a while ago saying you were getting food. You never came back and we came looking for you. You found you past out on the damn floor!" Rocket looked at the now ruined table that Drax was lay on. "Did you seriously need to land on that table when you past out? Quill ain't going to be happy to know we have to pay damage fees!"

"There was this woman." Drax said confused.

"I am Groot!"

Rocket laughed. "Yeah, Groot. He's just lying to covered up the fact that he is now a light weight."

"I am not a light weight. I can hold my beer just fine. There was this woman... I called her ugly and she..."

Mantis got excited. "Did you tell her she was pretty inside?"

"No... she grabbed my arm and... then I woke up."

Rocket laughed. Oh this too good. "So you got bested over a fight because you called a woman ugly?!"

"I need to find her."

"Maybe she is your new love?" Mantis said touching his arm and felt confusion, fascination, soreness and a spark of...something that she can't place but whatever it is the only way to describe it was potential.

Rocket scoffed. "Yeah right. Drax found his soul mate? In this dump?"

"I am Groot! I am Groot!"

"You are too young!" Rocket hushed Groot. He is still a baby. Groot jumped off Rocket's shoulder landing on Mantis' shoulder. The girl picked him up and hugged him. Rocket chuckled. "The likely hood of you finding her is not a chance in hell." There was thousands of people here. It's doubtful of finding her.

Drax shook his head. "She was there at the meeting."

"Huh? Which one? Captain Aleta Ogord or the two Terrans?"

"She is the black haired Terran." Answered Drax.

"I am Groot."

"Groot said her name is May." Rocket looked at Drax putting his foot down on this. Quill made is clear a while back when visiting unknown areas; do not in anyway cause a fight. And Drax broke that rule. "But the likely hood of her not killing you the next time she sees you unlikely. Quill ain't going to be happy that you cause a fight with one of the Terrans. You know how much they hold grudges."

Quill can hold a grudge for a long time even though they haven't known each other for a year. Peter still hasn't stopped mentioning the time Drax called Ronan to Knowhere. Or the time that Rocket made him loose money over a stupid joke over taking someone's leg. The only person not effected by this is Gamora but Quill does talk about how they first met outside the Broker's shop back in Xandar as he won the fight (Gamora won in her account of that day).

Drax agreed. "Of such a short life span species they do not forget mistakes."

Mantis of course been with the group for just a few days. The only things she knows about humans is from the stories from Ego growing up. Even though Ego viewed himself superior of all life forms, including all of his children that didn't hold the light even he thought the Terrans are amusing race. One of his few true loves was a Terran. However that never stopped Ego from killing her along with all the other mothers; the only difference is that those that he truly loved did not die in childbirth.

-O-

May found Coulson in Fury's office. Coulson has the first 12 hour shift of keeping watch. With this much of people in one area in which half is unable to fight because they are incapacitated from drunk or high, if there is an attack at least half will be able to fight. Such events like this is beacon for those that want revenge on the Ravagers. Hydra is still a threat to that of S.H.I.E.L.D even though they are not a threat yet to the other planets but they are rumored of joining the Skrull which very worrisome.

It didn't take long for Coulson to notice May standing there at the door. "May?" He asked. "Aren't you suppose to have fun with the others?"

He knew Simmons, Daisy and the guys was hanging out as Fitz was studying on how to fly a M-ship as he volunteered of taking the first 12 hour shift along with Coulson. Being out in space it's required by everyone to know how to fly a M-Ship much like how people drive cars back at home. Of course May was able to learn how within a day with her experience of flying the Bus. Of course it took a while for Coulson, himself to learn but he did. Coulson has yet to experience on a battlefield however. Simmons passed barely but the likely hood with her job she may never seen combat while flying one. The others of their team as well passed either on the first or second try.

Only Fitz is the last one of the team to get the a-okay. He is having troubles only by doing the driving part . Plus with his brain damage he feels that he is a liability which isn't so. Coulson feel that it's just nerves and putting himself down is the problem. He needs someone outside the team to get him going.

Give Fitz questions from a textbook, or ask him where everything is inside and out of the M-Ship blindfolded he will pass with flying colours. But physically sitting at the cockpit? He only was able to lift the ship off the floor before having to put it down because he freaked out.

Coulson had a plan and he hope Rocket and Fitz will be up for it. After the celebration of his plan works out into his favor, Fitz will comment of not knowing how to fly to Rocket as he helped them repair their ship and with Rocket's own ego will take it onto himself to make Fitz learn from him.

"I had to be alone for a while." May said.

"Is there something wrong?"

May shrugged. "Do we have any missions?"

Coulson knew that she had a fight with someone, lately she been itchy for a mission. They all been having cabin fever. They been stuck on the mother ship for weeks now.

"We may." He said. "Fury wants us to make friends with Guardians of the Galaxy."

Eyebrow rises. "Why?"

"He believes they are part of a key to defeat Thanos and finding the rest of the infinity stones."

May nodded. Makes sense, one of the members is one of his daughters. "I may have dent that friendship with the group."

"Oh?" Coulson smirked.

"Drax called me ugly and I may have flip him over my shoulder. He wasn't moving when I left him."

Coulson forced himself from laughing. He knew Drax's species is more brawls mind set of beauty standards. May doesn't look like she has any strength as she doesn't have a bulky frame like most of Drax's species. The females are as well are bigger then their male counter parts. "He may start to like you or want a rematch." He said knowing that Drax will not allow her to defeat him.

May looked forward for a proper rematch. Weapons and all. "Looking forward to it." She said.

"Be careful."

"Aren't I always?"

Coulson laughed, out of the two of them, it is he that is more reckless. It was later when Coulson left Fury's office after doing some paper work that needed to be done. Fury is off doing something with Stakar. May went back to look for the group know how late it is. Coulson felt that it is time for bed when his 12 hour shift ended.

However before he was able to head towards his room he found Kraglin laying on the floor in the hall near the celebration.

(End of chapter)

Words: dd

(1) Why do i think Kraglin too was a slave other then Yondu? Based on the tattoos on Kraglin's neck that is viable on his neck (that may as well go down on his shoulder) either is a slave number or some form of a prison number. Because the Guardians wasn't marked when they went to Kyln Prison, I am assuming slavery numbers. Because Kraglin seems to be more of a hands on engineer/pilot person I'm more leaning towards slave labor. Yondu was sold into slavery by his own parents for money, kept in a cage most of his youth and was trained as a Kree battle slave for twenty years. And according to labkatoons from tumblr when i asked about Kraglin's neck tattoo in a tumblr post, they agree with me them being slavery marks. PLUS IF its common thing for Ravenger's be once slaves, it explains a lot of why the code of "no deals with kids" is put there as most slaves are sold as children besides it being a code of moral principle.

Author Notes: hey everyone. Hope this chapter is good. :) the next chapter will be little bit of limes in it. The start of hopefully lemons in the future. I do not know where this spark of this parting Drax/May came from. ? Anyone want that to continue or just leave it as a friendship in the future of friendly dual? Let me know in the comments! I can go either or on that parting. Hell we can even have them be only friends with benefits.

-Marsha