A/N: I think I got a little overzealous in posting the first chapter, as I forgot to put the scene I wrote in context with anything else. In case it wasn't clear, I wrote chapter 1 as a missing scene in Guardians just after Yondu pulled Peter and Gamora onto the Ravager ship from space. Hope that makes more sense now. As for this chapter, it starts off canon-ish after Yondu kills all the Sakaarans but takes a sharp left into AU-ville that I just couldn't pass up the chance in writing. Gruff-caring Yondu is the best Yondu.
Having dispatched the group of Sakaaran soldiers that attempted to kill him, Yondu turned his full attention back to the battle happening above him. Or rather, it was above the city now and quickly making its way closer to the surface as the Dark Aster fell from the sky. For a brief moment, he was proud of Peter for taking it down, before reality set in and he realized that his Terran wasn't likely to survive a crash like that.
Cursing his wrecked M-ship for the millionth time, Yondu sprinted towards the city and the site of the crashing ship.
Quill, I don't know what kinda DNA you got from your dad, but it best keep you alive. Least that jackass could do somethin' for ya.
He talked to Peter the whole way there, threatening, begging, and threatening some more; kid better be alive when I get there, or so help me…
Finally, he made it to the edge of the crater, the Dark Aster a sprawling mess in the center of it. His Ravagers, the ones still capable of doing so, were standing around, watching the show below them. And what a show it was: purple and black smoke and light weaving and twisting in a massive cloud that obscured everything within. Yondu spotted his first mate Kraglin and nudged him, asking for an explanation.
"Quill in there?" He knew, Odin help him, he knew.
"Yeah," he chuckled a little, recalling what he'd just witnessed. "Quill initiated a dance off to keep Ronan distracted while the rat fixed that big gun o' his. Drax blasted apart Ronan's hammer, the stone flew out of it and Quill and Ronan went for it. Pete got there first and all hell broke loose. Ain't nobody knows what's goin' on in that cloud now though."
Years of being Ravager captain kept Yondu from completely reeling at the thought that his boy had just grabbed hold of one of the most dangerous and powerful objects in the universe. But oh how he wanted to let his weak knees take him down. His boy. Would he lose him for good today?
No, he decided. He raised him. That boy is strong, no matter that Yondu himself accused him of being soft. Quill may have a soft heart like his Terran mother, but real strength, Yondu firmly believed he gave him that.
"Come on boy. Come on," Yondu muttered to himself.
Kraglin glanced to his captain and back to the cloud, what would happen if Quill didn't survive this? He briefly remembered a time when the boy's life had almost been taken. Still quite young on the Ravager ship when an alien sickness took hold of his little Terran body. Kraglin became temporary captain as Yondu watched over the boy. Young Peter seemed to fair better with the blue hand of his captain touching him somewhere: running through his hair, grasping his arm — he somehow kept him tethered to life and Peter eventually recovered.
The medic neglected to inform Peter how close to death he really was. But Kraglin knew, Yondu too. Kraglin had never seen his captain look so lost, never seen him so quiet or still than when he kept vigil next to a dying Terran boy. He hoped to never see what further reaction would occur should Peter ever go where the Centaurian could not follow and drag him back.
Suddenly, the smoky cloud dissipated and there stood the guardians with no Ronan in sight. Yondu allowed himself a quick exhale of relief before he made his way over to them. His practiced leisurely stroll turned into an all out sprint however when Peter abruptly crumpled to the ground, his friends all calling out to him at once.
Despite the rest of them standing literally within arm's reach, Yondu reached Peter first, crouching down next to his unnervingly still body. His hand still clutching the sphere containing the stone but he remains essentially lifeless. Yondu checks his neck for a pulse and visibly relaxes when he finds one, however weak it may be it means he hasn't left yet.
He ran his hands over Peter's forehead and over his hair, a motion to sooth them both. "Don't you die on me now kid, not now. You gotta stick around, I still gotta couple things to teach ya and you got a whole lot'a livin' left to do yet.
"Kraglin, see what you and the boys can do 'bout puttin' together a stretcher to carry him on. Hopefully there's a medical center 'round here that didn't get blown to smithereens."
"Is he okay?" Gamora asked, somewhat tentatively for an assassin.
"Don't know much just yet girl. Just that his heart's still beatin' and he's still breathin'. You was in that cloud with 'im. Care to fill me in?"
She shifted on her feet before deciding to sit on the other side of Peter, taking the orb from his limp hand as she spoke.
"He had the stone in his hand for so long. Which isn't possible, he's Terran. It should have destroyed him in seconds. But he accepted that, or didn't even think about it, in order to keep Ronan away from it. The rest of us eventually joined him and took on some of the power of the stone, enough for Peter to control it and put an absolute end to Ronan.
"I don't know how he did it. The second I took Peter's hand I felt like I was being torn apart from the inside out, slowly and quickly, burning and freezing, I could feel every piece of me falling away, though it lessened once Drax and Rocket joined us. Even now, I am very weary. And that is unusual for someone with my modifications. I cannot imagine how it was for Peter," she finished, her voice soft and cracking, and ran her fingers through his hair.
"Cap'n, stretcher's all ready to go. Locals say there's a medical center still standing not far from here, they're already taking people in. I imagine they'll be givin' special treatment for the great Star-Lord," Kraglin said with a smirk.
Yondu nodded but didn't acknowledge the joke. " 'Ey, muscles, can you help me lift 'im?" Drax nodded and moved to gently lift Peter's legs as Yondu wrapped his arms around Peter's torso, they placed him on the stretcher and Kraglin and three other Ravagers moved without question to pick up the four corners and carry their favorite son. Yondu walked right beside them the entire way with the rest of the Guardians and Ravagers following close behind.
They took Peter to examine immediately, the rest gotten to one at a time for assessment; amongst the assorted injuries, a myriad of bruises and scrapes, a few broken bones here and there, already beginning to heal in some, and bone-deep exhaustion running rampant. Yondu, having escaped any major injury, stayed in the waiting room trying to keep himself from fidgeting or pacing. A lifetime later, the others suitably bandaged, drugged, and released, the head medic entered with news for the family of one Peter Jason Quill.
"Are you family?" The medic asked.
Yondu glanced around at the conglomeration of beings packed into the room, Ravagers and Guardians alike, and responded with a shrug, "Close enough. We're all he's got. Now what can you tell me 'bout my boy?"
The medic cleared his throat and flipped through the chart in his hands.
"Mr. Quill has been through quite a lot in the past few hours it would seem. Several cracked ribs, fortunately none splintered to puncture his lungs, deep tissue bruising all over his back and torso, a mild concussion, it seems the helmet he wore protected him from the worst there. The most distressing issue is that his body has literally been exhausted to the point of near death. Almost as if it has had no rest in over a week. His organs were near shutdown mode, his brain and heart barely functioning."
The medic took a breath to settle himself. "Fortunately, he was brought in and treated fairly quickly, everything is mending as it should be, but he will remain unconscious for another few days to aid in the recovery process. You are welcome to sit with him and keep him company, but do not expect him to wake any time soon. The room is small and filled with much machinery, so please, no more than 2 or 3 at a time. I will give you a few moments to discuss it then lead whomever to his room." He stepped away finally to the desk across the room, allowing them whatever semblance of privacy possible.
Yondu could feel his knees shaking again, whether from fear or relief it was unclear. Could be both. He looked around, daring any of them to challenge his right to be in there with Peter. Gamora stepped forward, silently staking her claim to join him.
Drax and Rocket looked at each other before Rocket solved the problem for them. "You go ahead man, I don't do so good with places like this." His tail has been puffed out since their arrival and had yet to settle.
Drax nodded and stepped to join Gamora and Yondu. They walked silently down the hall to the last room on the right. Yondu entered immediately, the other two hovered in the doorway. A chair sat ready at his bedside; Yondu claimed it and placed his hand across Peter's forehead.
"Hey there son. Heard tell you gave a pretty good shot at dyin' out there. Grabbin' 'hold'a that stone was awful stupid of ya boy. Good thing they said you was gonna survive this…cuz I'm gonna kill ya later for doin' that. Gotta wait 'til yer all better and backtalkin' me first though.
"Reckon you got a fair point 'bout that stone. Ain't nobody should have it. Think yer assassin girl nabbed it to hand over to Nova corps, so don't you go worryin' 'bout that. You just get better son. Yer other friends are fine, save that big walkin' tree. Wish I could give ya better news 'bout him. Yer gonna hafta tell me how that happened when ya wake up.
"Now you just rest Quill, I ain't goin' nowhere, ain't nobody gonna get atcha while I'm here. Couple'a yer friends are here too. S'pose I should let 'em in. You just come back soon son, we'll be waitin'."
Yondu stood up and pressed his forehead to Peter's. A gesture he hadn't initiated since Peter was just a scrawny kid full of absolute terror thinly veiled by showy bravery; when the boy needed reassurance and someone safe to turn to when his nightmares became too much; when it was just the two of them and Yondu could assume the role as father that young Peter desperately needed.
He sat back down again and turned to nod the other two into the room, knowing all the time that they'd watched the interaction. If these were to be Peter's new allies, they needed to understand that Yondu automatically came with him, like it or not.
Gamora cautiously took a seat on Peter's other side on a small open space on the bed, cradling his hand in both of hers. Drax leaned against the wall at the foot of the bed, his eyes taking in every machine hooked into his friend.
Many of the others took turns to come visit; some brought things to set around, little knick-knacks and the like. Someone had even managed to find Quill's Walkman and had the headphones wrapped carefully around his neck and the familiar sounds of "Awesome mix vol. I" playing softly. Yondu continued his vigil, leaving the chair just long enough for a quick break. No one dared to take his spot while it was empty, all knowing he would return to it soon enough.
Drax and Gamora eventually talked Rocket into visiting, but it was only after the pieces of Groot were gathered together and he had planted one of his twigs. Yondu suggested it, thinking maybe it would help in some way. Groot's species was one that few knew much of anything about. Rocket didn't say anything, just placed the paw not currently carrying around Groots pot on Quill's hand, squeezing momentarily and walking away to the far corner of the room.
Days passed, as they said they would, and very little visibly changed for Peter Quill. On the third morning of his stay in the medical center, Yondu was once again seated in the chair by the bed, his booted feet propped up alongside Peter, gently touching him so as to be more aware of any movements and dozing as comfortably as he could be. A hand clumsily landing on one of his boots broke him quickly from his light sleep. He sat up, eyes wide.
"Peter? You awake there boy?"
It took quite a bit longer than he would have liked, but eventually there was a response.
"Hey Yondu, m'I dead? Ain't called me Peter in a long time." Peter's voice was rough and slurred in spots.
Yondu quickly pressed a button on the side of Peter's bed to alert the staff he was awake.
"Nope, ya ain't dead yet. But you came dang close to it. I'd smack you upside the head if you weren't already lookin' so pathetic."
Peter chuckled and winced but wasn't able to retaliate before the arrival of the medic and his subsequent questions and examinations. Yondu took his cue and moved out of the way, allowing them all the room they needed but staying close enough to hear the update on Peter's physical condition.
"Well Mr. Quill, it seems the most serious issues have been taken care of. Your ribs are almost healed and your body has finally gotten enough rest, though I suspect you will likely be easily tired in the next week or so. You'll also experience quite a bit of soreness for a couple days yet. I see no reason why you can't be discharged tomorrow however, as long as nothing happens before then and as long as you have a place to stay and recover."
"Um about that, my ship kinda —"
"He's got a place doc, he'll be stayin' with me," Yondu spoke up for the first time since the medic's arrival.
Peter raised an eyebrow in question but decided to discuss it later.
"That's good then. You're all set. I'll have someone bring you some ice chips; I'd rather wait a few hours before giving you anything more substantial. Please don't hesitate to call if you need anything." With that, the medic left, nodding at Yondu on the way out.
Yondu moved back into his previous position, boots on the bed and all.
"So," Peter's voice captured his attention. "I'm staying with you huh?"
"And where else would ya go kid? Yer ship's in pieces right now and besides, yer gonna need someone to make sure you don't do nothin' stupid while you finish recoverin'. I don't trust yer new friends to do that just yet."
Peter huffed and tightly crossed his arms across his torso, regretting it instantly when the movement jarred his still sore ribs. He was too stubborn to loosen them after the fact and tried to just wait out the pain. He didn't expect the blue hand to grasp his wrist and move the arm back down to his side. Peter looked at Yondu but couldn't formulate the question bouncing around in his head. Yondu answered him anyway.
"See? You gotta have somebody more stubborn than you to take care of ya," Yondu wouldn't look him in the eye while he spoke. "You almost died on me boy, and I ain't lettin' you do that again. Not while I'm still breathin' anyway."
"Parents aren't supposed to bury their children," Peter's soft voice reached his ears and he snapped his head up to look at him. His eyes were shut, picturing memories long past. "I used to hear my grandparents talking to each other at night when my mom was in the hospital. They knew she wasn't going to make it, but I think I was still too young to get it. I heard my grandfather say that. I figure he had a good point," he finished, opening his eyes to look at the man beside him, his father for all intents and purposes.
Yondu cleared his throat, though his voice when he spoke was still raspier than usual. "Yeah, he had a good point son."
If Peter noticed that Yondu's red eyes were just a bit shinier, he didn't comment on it. Just closed his eyes again and drifted back off to sleep, a warm blue hand easing the hair back from his forehead.