Things Never Left Unsaid
Chapter 7
The next day, as Peter left his quarters since Kraglin had packed his bag for a weeks' worth of clothes that morning while he still slept, and had taken more care helping him dress, even though he was a big boy and could do well almost all of it by himself. He could see the Elector hurtling through deep space through the window, going on the next mission.
Peter didn't say anything, but he felt unsettled by the flurry of activity, and the new Ravagers around him, most of them just gave him a look which he didn't understand, since all the Ravagers he knew were always more open and friendly.
Peter did notice Kraglin being more attentive, the Mess hall, it looked so strange without Iztel standing there, making breakfast with Proctom, who was just standing silently courtesy of his seizure the day before. Everyone was just giving him his own space, and to be honest, Proctom was missing Iztel desperately, though he would never admit that out loud.
Over breakfast, there were more stares by these new Ravagers, who just didn't know what to say. They had heard about this boy and been given a quick explanation using the fake story, that had always worked before, so why doubt that by Jamsean and Gunnsen.
Since they had the expertise, they reiterated Yondu's mission, to the point that everyone understood. It had been strange that the Captain wasn't there to receive them, but it had been explained that he "had more important shit to do".
This was their first impression with their temporary Captain, Charlie-27 who had known Yondu back then, and had already become reacquainted with Horuz, who seemed more authoritative and confident was struck by the difference, which was why he had volunteered to come over.
Back then Yondu was jaded, cynical and hurting, but now talking to his son over breakfast with his husband next to him, who had also changed so much form the junior Ravager he once was. Charlie-27 he saw someone so different it was like looking at a stranger.
After breakfast, since Yondu and Kraglin had decided not to make a big deal out of it, and that meant not saying goodbye to the rest of the that Ravagers since they knew Peter was unsettled already by the loss of Iztel, and the last thing they wanted was for Peter to started crying.
Instead, they took Peter down to the Hanger Bay. To Yondu's own white M-Ship, even though Peter was cautious, it was immediately overtaking by glee at being away with his daddies, so he rushed onto the M-Ship, while Yondu and Kraglin shared a look.
From this moment there was no going back, and with both heavy hearts, they followed their four-year-old onto the Ship, and deliberately took extra-long running the checks and going over everything. Peter just sat in the Captains hair and listened intently. However, in the end, they had to go, and Yondu adjusting Peter and held him in his lap, which wasn't exactly safe, but no one really cared at that point.
Peter was excited, at Yondu sent the signal, and they all took off from the stars after the shield was dropped, and the Udonta family left their home behind them.
Peter just laughed as his daddy, let him take the controls. Peter just indulged his dreams of having his own M-Ship, until after about an hour, when they were getting closer to the Galleon. Kraglin took Peter off Yondu's lap and say down with him, just to get some extra time with his son, just holding him, and slowly and carefully, they explained what was happening.
Peter seemed to understand, but the look of concern on his young face, was so disconcerting, and all could say was "But you don't like them, daddy".
Kraglin who was holding Peter, so his son couldn't seem him look away at how perceptive their son truly was, but Yondu cleared his throat.
"Peter, they very good friend of ours, we've had our differences, but they were good to both of us" Kraglin just gritted his teeth at this, but Yondu continued.
"We have such a dangerous mission, and we need all the Ravagers, and Stakar and Aleta and all his crew will take good care of you, I promise. Stakar took care of me when I was new. But he's never taking care of a little boy before. Imagine it like a really important mission of your own, so you have to be patient and be a good boy, and when we get back, we'll do something nice".
This seemed to placate Peter, and he just whispered "Ok" softly, but also held onto Kraglin, and to be honest, both of them were relieved that it wasn't a tantrum. Peter knew the mission was important, and just resigning himself to it, just gripped Kraglin trying to reconcile his four-year-old mind without his daddies for a few days.
Stakar's Gallon came into view, and both of the parents tried to hide the tension, as orders were received and they docked the Ship. There Stakar and Aleta were waiting for both of them, and Peter noticed the looks of the other Ravagers in the vicinity and held onto Yondu's hand tight and with the other clutched Fang tighter.
Yondu was holding Peter's bag, and he handed it over to Stalker, and Peter just looked up at this strange man, while Yondu begin to speak "There is a week's worth of clothes, which you'll need and his pad, for his lessons, and I've already sent all his information over that you will need, so I hope you've been reading it".
Stalker nodded in the affirmative, but it was Kraglin who took the bag and stepped over to Aleta since the bad blood between them was simmering, Kraglin whispered, not loud enough for Peter to hear, but Stakar caught it.
"Our son is the most important thing in our lives if you fuck this up if he gets hurt. There will not be a galaxy big enough for what I'm going to do to you, do you understand me?"
Aleta just nodded, as Yondu did everything he could to try to make the mood lighter, and hoped Stakar would take the hint.
"Ok Peter, we have to go now, but we'll be back in a few days, so you be a good boy", a sentiment that Kraglin also said, as both parents leant down to give their son a cuddle. Both of them know they could draw this out, if they did, Yondu was certain Kraglin would just snatch him back, as Peer released his grip on his parents and went over to Stakar, who could only say. "I will take care of him Yondu, Kraglin. I promise you."
Kraglin was tempted to point out that his word meant shit to him, but wisely kept his mouth shut, and with some reluctance stepped away from their son and back to the Ship, and in just a few more moments, the Udonta family minus the youngest member were on its way back to the Elector.
Little Peter just looked up at this couple who were taking care of him, and Stakar cleared his throat, "So Peter I guess we should show you around". With this Peter reached out his hand for Stakar to take, but he didn't, and Peter didn't ask them too, but he went with them as they showed his around his temporary home, but feeling so twisted inside.
Yondu and Kraglin went back, there was no fighting, there was no point in that, and Kraglin was too tired of the situation to make a big deal of it, they had a mission to deal with, and they had to focus on that.
With the Galleon still one its way to the mission, most of the Ravagers were adjusting to the Elector, especially how the Udonta's Ravagers worked, everything dropped was cleaned up, which was explained as a habit everyone had, people got drunk, but there was no stupidity or fighting.
In fact, everyone was focused on what they had to do, and they did it well. Charlie-27 and a few of the other Ravagers had discussed his different it felt, as the Ravager went up to the mess hall for something to eat, casually running into another one of Stakar's Ravagers, a junior called Zreada who had the same idea.
At that moment, a few Ravagers were milling around, just talking and trying to accumulate themselves with each other, and two men standing by the cooking pot and talking to each other.
"I don't need any help, I know what I'm doing, you do know Iztel's taught me don't you?"
"Look I know that, but we have extra crew, thought you might need a hand."
"Fine if it makes you feel better, just cut some vegetables, at least help me with that."
The younger Ravager sounded exhausted at this encroachment into his domain since he was more than capable of making a strew, as Charlie-27 and Zreada mentioned that they were hungry. Charlie-27 realised he was talking to Proctom since it had been said at the first briefing that they were forbidden from sneaking up on the cook, told them there was some food in the pantry, and they could help themselves.
As both men went into the pantry, both of their mouths dropped with surprise.
Rows and rows of fresh food, some in tins, but all clearly having been brought recently, well organised with marked shelves, which was something so different from what they were used too. In the end, they got what they wanted, but couldn't help remarking about this to the rest of the Ravagers, which caused surprise to dart over the Udonta's Ravagers faces, but it was Proctom since he was currently head of the kitchen, who spoke up when it was mentioned.
"Of course, we have fresh food, veg, fruit meat, Iztel knows every market and in the quadrants, always gives us a great deal", then he stopped, "Wait you mean you don't?".
Charlie-27 just shook his head, "Rarely, normally it just comes from tins, and whatever…as long as we're fed then it's ok".
The thought of Iztel, feeling his Crew things out of tins, which he did, but only when they were running low, the idea was just obscene, what type of cook didn't cook fresh!
Everyone digested this, as Zreada who was eating some sweet biscuits came over since he was getting fresh food and was curious until his eyes wandered to the top shelf, and he spoke up again. "What's that?", he said, causing Proctom to glace up again, as Zreada pointed to the glittery ornamental star, hanging down.
"Oh that, that was a leftover from Day of Thankfulness, after we put all the decorations away, we found one left out. We think Peter did it on purpose because he liked it. Made it himself though, and he made us put it up there".
This got the attention again of Charlie-27, and the rest of the Ravagers, not familiar with this, and he spoke up "You do Day of Thanks?"
this time it was Yarovesky who was coming in the room to grab a beer, just looked at them incredulously, "Of course we do, we only started last year, when Peter was old enough to appreciate it…what you mean you don't."
this was a bit of a piss-take on Yarovesky part, they had only done it the year before because Peter wanted it. Yondu finally agreed, and it had become one of the important days to the Udonta Ravagers who were already planning the next one.
"Well no, we don't. It's for children, and we don't have it". Zreada stated, causing Yarovesky to roll his eyes.
"Yeah, and we have one of those on board, and to be honest, it's the most sacred day in the Xandarian calendar, and the rest of you don't".
The word struck a chord with Charlie-27, as he went about his day, and ate the delicious food that was set in front of him, by Proctom, and was amazing by the different spices and tastes, and wondered why they were denied all of this on the Starhawk!
Yondu and Kraglin, since they had new Crew on board were welcoming, but authoritative. Yet, all the other Ravagers were aware of the empty space, that typically occupied them, and the small table, that still had some toys and models all over it.
In the end, Charlie-27, was taking his plate over, when he noticed the two small sketchbooks lying on the table, and curiosity overrode him, and the begun to flick through them.
One, of course, was done by the mysterious Peter, and had typical childish drawing but done by a little boy who clearly loved art.
The other was more detailed, with more intricate lines, some were rudimentary, but there was no denying that this was done with someone with serious talent.
Charlie-27 took it over to the table and begun to pass it to the other Ravagers, who were stunned, they were tough Ravagers, they never had the time to do anything creative.
Charlie-27 was studying one, which had two familiar crew members locked in a tender embrace when it was suddenly plucked from his hands. "Yeah, I'll take that, should have put it away". Jamsean said, putting the sketch pad under his arm, while Zreada just turned in his seat and looked at Jamsean, "You did all those?"
"Yeah, so what?" Jamsean went to crack open a beer, all the other Ravagers didn't really mock that he was an artist, but he had no idea of the reaction of the Stakar Ravagers, who instead of taking the piss, in fact just seemed amazed.
"Well in our place, no one does stuff like that, as in be creative, we've never got the time".
"So, you don't have rota's and work like balances, actual shifts, a decision on the missions and time off, like we do? We didn't have them before, but it's been more structured for the past few years. So, all you do is work?" Spoke up Gunnsen, who was looking over the mission for the next day, and noticed the murmur that went across he crew, while Yondu, just leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms and gave himself a smirk.
"Well of course, what else is there to do", stated Charlie-27, since, in their line of work, it was always working on a mission, or learning something they could use for the next. Of course, they had downtime, but that usually, meant getting pissed and gambling and whenever they could do with lives of living on the edge.
"Well I don't know, I'm not bloody you, relationships, marriages, holidays, hobbies, all the usual shit. We're career criminals, we're aloud all of that". Gunnsen said as Jamsean passed him a beer, as Zreada just laughed openly "Marriage, of course, we're not allowed to get married, we're not senior Ravagers, only they can do that".
This comment, caused everyone to turn, while Gunnsen just looked confused, and spoke up "What the hell are you talking about? We got married last year, ok we just changed some paperwork, but we made each other our heirs, have our own quarters, all of that shit."
Yondu kept a respectable distance for a lot these new Ravagers it wouldn't be good for them to get to know him that well.
End of the end, Yondu had a fearsome reputation, and he tried so hard to maintain it, even if occasionally he was anything but.
After going over the mission one more time making sure everyone knew their place in this, the rest of the new Crew were left to their own devices.
Yondu and Kraglin looked at each other, and Yondu took a long drink of his beer before turning his head and addressing the new Ravagers.
"Because I decided when I was chosen to be Captain, I decided that I would ever do anything that my Crew be allowed to do, I got married, so they can get married. Because everyone would agree that those two assholes are better married than not. Besides, it's a stupid rule that never made sense, get married, and then have to leave each other. It's a bullshit rule, and we're independent, so they don't apply to us. Does that answer your question?"
Yondu went back to his drink, as Kraglin just whispered in his ear, "That and married sex is so much better anyway", to which Yondu agreed to this.
Looked at the pair, and almost every Stakar Ravager just looked at each other, before Zreada, slipping out his pad, and typing a message to three other close friends who he had joined with the Ravagers, and knowing how the gossip channels worked, it wouldn't take long.
All it said was the following.
"Yondu Udonta's Independent Ravager Clan, have fresh food, time off, a work-life balance. They celebrate Day of Thanks, and they can get married are stay together.
Why can't we?"
For the rest of the Crew, however, what they had heard, left them a bit disconcerting, and knowing what they now knew, all wondered if Peter was alright.
At the same time, or roughly since time and space was always a lose concept, little Peter Jason Udonta, was sitting in the mess hall, and had never felt more miserable in his short life.
To be continued
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