Their location is a dive, as trading outposts are known to be. It's a quiet dive though – smaller than most worlds' moons and all the more unimpressive for it – and any fear that Yondu will bump into old friends is significantly lessened by its 'no alcohol' policy. Most of the outpost is comprised of forests so thick with overgrowth it would take thousands of years to cut them down, and the few clearings on offer have long since been converted to market-towns and villages by greedy businessmen. If Yondu cared for natural beauty, the rickety huts or steel towers interrupting the greenery may have incensed him, but as the views become clearer he can only greet them with mild indifference.
Peter, on the other hand, is entranced.
Any attempts to force the kid to stay in his seat have failed. For the last half-hour he's been glued to the window, watching the planet grow larger with wide eyes and an absent smile that suggests he's forgotten Yondu is there. Small hands are pressed against the thick glass as if trying to touch the damp leaves or feel the air, and even the boy's precious headphones remain in place around his neck; the distraction they provide no longer necessary. Yondu's happy enough to leave Peter to his drooling, only pulling him into his seat when they approach the ship-bay of the largest town. He's merely grateful that the views have kept Peter quiet.
Their ship lands as smoothly as though she were a bird. The bay is as busy as one might expect, with traders from all over the galaxy coming to sell their wares. Beyond the window, Yondu can make out brick-like shuttles and massive cargo vessels, lined up in rows and guarded by an intricate series of alarms, and to his relief he recognises none of them. The presence of another M-ship may have forced him to waste the coming days flying uselessly in space until Kraglin could confirm it was safe to return, and the boredom of such an endeavour would likely have driven both him and Peter to madness. A quick escape shouldn't be necessary, however, and Yondu rises from the captain's chair to grab his belongings, ignoring the sensation of curious green eyes following him wherever he goes.
The first problem with their trip presents itself a mere five minutes after landing.
Yondu's barely lowered the ramp onto the dusty surface of the landing pad before he's launching himself towards solid ground, closing his eyes as fresh air fills his lungs and warm sunlight shines upon his face. He hadn't realised just how maddening the Eclector's atmosphere had become, but now that he's free of it he's starting to wish he didn't have to return. There are few planets in the galaxy he would consider safe enough to settle, and doing so would likely bore him, but it's occasions like this that have the possibility creeping into his brain like a parasite.
Any musings on the impossibility of a peaceful existence are interrupted when he turns, only to get his first taste of how annoying being accompanied by a small child promises to be.
Peter has made it to the edge of the ramp and no further. His eyes are fixed on the ground as though afraid he will sink into it if he dares take another step, and any eagerness that gripped him during the trip seems to have vanished. The boy's hold on his backpack is crushing, and when he finally acknowledges the impatient captain staring down at him, it's difficult to tell whether he's excited or terrified.
"Is it safe?" he asks, his voice surprisingly steady despite the adrenaline that must be gripping him. It occurs to Yondu far too late that this is technically Peter's first new planet; what is nothing more than a necessary trip in his eyes marks one of the most significant moments of the kid's life so far. No wonder he's putting off the first step – this is hardly a moment he'll ever be able to recreate.
"Nowhere's safe," Yondu tells him plainly. When an expression flashes across the boy's face that suggests he'd happily take a step back, Yondu releases a sigh and decides to try a more comforting approach. "But the air's breathable. Most people here ain't lookin' to hurt anyone, least of all a kid. And ya got me lookin' out for ya, which I know ain't the most comfortin' thing you've ever heard but it's all I got."
To his surprise, his last point earns him a laugh. It's a hesitant sound and all too brief, but it's enough to chase the fear from the child's eyes for a moment. Yondu tries not to dwell on the fact that it's the happiest Peter's seemed since they picked him up.
He gives Peter a moment to gather himself, before one foot finally advances onto the dust followed by another. The boy takes a few more steps until he emerges into the afternoon glow, his eyes lifting to take in the blue sky and twin suns above him. He makes no effort to hide his smile now as a grin so wide it must hurt spreads across his face, and it speaks volumes of his excitement that its brightness doesn't waver even upon looking back to Yondu.
The captain simply shakes his head, the novelty of this situation having long since worn off for him, before securing the ship and paying for her stay through the lot's computer. As soon as he's done and red lasers embrace the ship to guard her from intruders, he sets off towards the neighbouring town with little care over whether the kid follows him or not. A soft patter of feet at his back is enough to assure him that Peter's decided to stick by his side, but he doesn't say a word as they draw closer to the heart of the settlement.
The town is quaint, if unimpressive. Several rows of wooden houses lend an old-world feel while business-owners stand guard outside their stores, advertising everything from toys to ship parts to local antiquities. The cobbled paths extend into narrow alleyways where pickpockets linger, eyeing the upper-class among the crowds, and in the distance a clocktower rings to announce the arrival of a new hour. Yondu focuses on navigating his way through the dithering crowd – the quiet nature of the planet being one that attracts an older clientele with less adventurous lifestyles – but even if the mass of people weren't in his way, one look back informs him that having Peter around will slow him down regardless.
The boy's eyes are soaking in every detail that surrounds him, from the redwood of the buildings to the diversity of the crowds. Yondu watches as Peter returns a smile thrown his way by an elderly woman with leathery brown skin and a curved back; as his attention drifts from a group of six-limbed individuals with glistening, scaly skin, to a muscular man with tattoos covering every inch of his body who looks like he could snap Peter like a twig. Sure enough, the awe in his green eyes is quickly replaced with apprehension when the man halts and utters "What do you think you're looking at?!" in a deep, rumbling voice, and Yondu reluctantly finds himself stepping into the man's shadow to hide Peter from view.
"The boy's curious, is all," he says, adorning what he hopes is a charming smile, though it does little to thaw the icy expression on their assailant's face. Sensing that the man is unlikely to forgive a perceived insult, Yondu settles for a more reliable tack and lets out a high whistle.
Any menace in threatening grey eyes vanishes as soon as the arrow comes to rest mere inches from the man's forehead, leaving a faded red trail in the air. Yondu can sense the surrounding crowds freezing in their excitement, unwilling to move for fear they'll miss the moment the blood spills. It won't come to that, he knows, but he can't help but enjoy the power that flows through his veins whenever the arrow answers his call, and the fear which now grips the man who would happily have beaten him mere seconds ago is satisfying to watch.
"What do ya say we go our separate ways without makin' a fuss, does that sound good to ya?" Yondu proposes, and though his large opponent's face doesn't so much as twitch, his relief seems to pour off him in waves.
"Aye," the man concedes, fixing Yondu with his gaze as though doing so will erase the arrow's existence. "I won't argue wi' that."
"Good man!" Yondu exclaims, letting his opponent stew in his own tension for just a little longer before recalling the arrow; catching it cleanly in his hand and concealing it in his coat. The surrounding crowd lets out a groan en masse – half relieved, half disappointed – but Yondu pays them no heed. He glances back to find Peter staring up at him with an expression that might be awe, before clapping a hand on a muscular shoulder and shoving past the man who had been at his mercy. "Glad we could work tha' out."
"As am I, my friend," the man agrees, before continuing on his journey and, to Yondu's surprise, releasing a hearty laugh that echoes along the entire street.
At least someone's enjoying himself.
They manage the remainder of their journey without further interruptions; Peter having gathered that he shouldn't stare at people who could easily break him. The boy has practically glued himself to Yondu's side since the confrontation, sticking so close he may as well be clutching the leathers of his coat. Yondu tries to ignore the brewing discomfort over a child relying on him for safety. There's a familiarity there that threatens to crush him, and the guilt from his dealings with Ego is something he's been able to ignore fairly successfully up until this point. He doesn't need the ghost of sentiment to mess that up for him.
Their location finally comes into view after an hour of trekking through the crowds. Eili's shack lies on the outskirts of town, barely metres from the impenetrable forest. The cobbles have long since been replaced with a worn dirt-track and footprints of many different shapes indicate she's already seen her share of customers lately and might not care for any more. She's always had a soft spot for Yondu though, with him being among the few Ravagers not chased away from a planet devoid of alcohol, and much as he'd happily deny it, he has a fondness for the old woman himself.
The wooden door to her shack swings open with ease, a creak and the ringing of a bell announcing their presence. Her shop is blessedly empty of people, even the owner by the look of it, and Yondu amuses himself for a few moments by scanning her wares. Most of the items are useless trinkets; there's a shelf dedicated to dolls modelled from the forest's redwood, and moth-eaten items of clothing which must be as old as Eili herself.
There are a few treasures to be found, however. Behind reinforced glass sits a stall dedicated to precious jewels from across the galaxy, glittering beneath the lamplight in all shades of red, green and blue. A purple jewel resting upon a golden plate is one Yondu himself claimed for Eili in exchange for thousands of units, back when he worked under Stakar. Another stall is dedicated to lifelike sculptures fashioned from the finest marble, and Yondu resists a snigger as Peter's attention is drawn to one of a beautiful Xandarian who has the added bonus of what appears to be real eyes in her stone sockets. The boy doesn't seem to know whether to be impressed or disgusted, so Yondu spares him from having to decide by placing a hand on his back and leading him towards the store counter.
Eili emerges into view moments later, leaping in surprise at the sight of her two visitors despite them having made no effort to be quiet. She clutches her chest with one twisted hand before letting out a raspy laugh and making her way to the counter on shaky legs.
"Udonta!" she exclaims, her violet eyes wide with glee as she takes in his face, and he rests a polite kiss upon her hand when she offers it. Her skin is papery to the touch, her thousand years of existence making itself known, but as she rises to full-height she still carries the elegance she must have had in her heyday. Her weather-beaten skin is as orange as her planet's sunsets, with the odd pink scar hinting at a time she too would travel the stars in search of riches. Her hair is dyed black and seems to have been hacked short, but somehow it suits her, and when she offers him a gap-toothed smile, Yondu imagines she'd make a better Ravager than most of his crew even now. "What brings you here, young man? And who is this little creature?"
Her attention has been stolen by Peter, who seems to shrink under her gaze and looks up to Yondu in the hope that he'll do all the talking.
"'e's one of Kraglin's brothers," Yondu lies with ease, and to his credit Peter doesn't so much as blink in reaction to the words. Eili would never harm a child regardless of any reward Ego's promised so there's little reason to conceal the truth from her, but he can't be too careful. "I've been showing him the ropes, an' I can hardly do that without paying ya a visit."
Eili's grin brightens, evidently flattered, though there's a hint of mockery in her tone as her next words come forth. "You're looking for a job, ain't ya?"
"Ya know me too well," Yondu says with a mock bow, and the sight of him humbled has the old woman cackling. She looks to Peter with a warmth he likely hasn't seen for months, and the boy seems reassured enough to take a few steps forward.
"Rule one of being a Ravager, kid," she says with glee burning in her eyes before pointing in Yondu's direction. "Don't be as obvious as this one. Won't do yourself any favours if folks can see right through ya."
"So ya got anythin' goin?" Yondu asks before their conversation can become side-tracked. He likes Eili well enough, but he has no intention of hanging around for long. Especially seeing as her words have brought another smile to Peter's face, and it isn't lost on Yondu that it's entirely at his expense.
"Be patient," Eili says sternly, and for a second Yondu's forced to think of the mother he never had. She reaches for her spectacles and dodders over to a desk, flicking through the yellowing papers piled high there. Adopting the technologies of today doesn't seem to be on her agenda, but it doesn't take long for her to find the file of interest and bring it to rest on the counter.
"According to some, there's a collection of precious jewels hidden all the way out on Morag," she says, pointing to a hurried drawing of a red diamond beneath a wall of scribbled words. "Legend says if you look into their hearts long enough you can see the whole universe."
Yondu scans the page quickly, and sure enough the legend surrounding the stones is highlighted more than once. It seems to explain the high value placed on them, for nothing else regarding their origins suggests that they're anything special, and that fact has him laughing before he can stop himself. "You believe that crap?"
"Of course not," Eili replies with a cunning smirk. "But customers will buy anything if you make it sound mysterious enough. You find any, I'll give you two hundred-thousand units apiece."
"Consider it done," Yondu responds, before offering a hand which Eili enthusiastically shakes, sealing the deal. With that settled, he folds the paper and tucks it away in his coat before bidding the woman a silent farewell and making his way to the door.
A faint orange hue drifting through the windows announces the setting of the suns, their light struggling to break through the recent cloud cover. It's quiet outside; with any luck, their journey to a tavern should be a peaceful one.
"Until we meet again," Eili calls at his back, and Yondu turns and gifts her with a final nod. At his side, Peter seems to break out of his shyness enough to wave and utter a quiet "Bye," and it'd be difficult to miss the delight in Eili's eyes as she waves back.
Perhaps she'd be a good candidate to entrust Peter with, Yondu wonders as they start the journey to the centre of town. It's been centuries since she lost her own children, and she probably wouldn't object to taking on a young apprentice who could carry on her business after she's gone. He could even take up her legacy of adventuring when he's older. It's a nice thought, but an unrealistic one; Yondu trusts the woman with many things but even he doubts she could protect both herself and a child from those seeking Ego's reward, and he's not sure how many years she has left in her. He's always liked the idea that she'll surprise him and live forever, but he's not willing to gamble with Peter's life on that assumption.
It looks like the kid's still his problem for now. Yondu's starting to wonder if there will ever come a time where he's not concerning himself over what to do with him.
The sky darkens quickly as they walk, the threatening grey clouds chasing the crowds into their homes or taverns for the night. The few people they encounter seem to be locals used to the planet's ever-changing weather, and Yondu pays them little heed as he passes. Now that he has a job to occupy him, all he wants to do is spend his remaining hours on this rock planning every step, and it's easy enough to throw rough ideas together in his head and ignore his silent companion. The boy hasn't been as infuriating as he expected, but his presence is still an unfamiliar one. Yondu has no intention of growing attached to Peter, especially as all his efforts up to this point have been focused on getting rid of him to ensure his safety.
They're only ten minutes away from the tavern when a rumble emerges from the clouds, and Yondu looks up just in time to catch sight of the first raindrops falling from the sky. The oppressive grey above threatens to unleash a torrent upon them at any moment, and his instinct is to hurry along the cobbled streets until he realises the tell-tale footfalls at his back are absent.
He turns quickly, not bothering to conceal his impatience, only to find Peter frozen on the spot with his hands outstretched. As more and more drops fall, it becomes clear that the boy's catching the water in his hands as though he were a man dying of thirst, and he lifts his head to the heavens with a small smile on his face as the rain becomes heavier.
Yondu's annoyance fades quickly enough thanks to the blissful coolness of the water on his skin, wiping away the sweat from the afternoon sun, and he's reminded that he hasn't seen rain in months. The patter of raindrops slamming against the ground starts to overwhelm the rumbling from the skies, but Peter doesn't seem to mind getting soaked; going so far as to open his mouth to catch the water on his tongue.
"I wouldn' do that if I were you," Yondu says with a smirk, breaking the child from his reverie. "It rains acid here."
It's a blatant lie at the kid's expense, and the way Peter's eyes widen in sudden terror has Yondu barking with laughter. "Relax, I'm messin' with ya. You're probably gonna make yerself sick if ya stay out in this too long, but the rain itself won' hurt ya."
It takes a moment or two for Peter to be reassured by that, his trust in Yondu limited after four months of their interactions amounting to threats of being eaten, but he draws closer soon enough and acts as a silent shadow for the rest of the journey. Yondu slows his pace a little, enough to let them bask in the cool rain a little while longer, and when he looks down at Peter, he has to convince himself that the boy's joyful smile doesn't have an unfamiliar warmth gripping his heart.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who has read up until this point - the next update should either be tomorrow or the day after :)
I hope you enjoyed this chapter!