Chapter Eighteen

However, any jovial mood evaporated when Proctom returned to the mess hall to find the Ravagers of two clans, sitting there still seething at each other. Proctom was quickly filled in on what he had missed, knowing that he didn't want to get involved, in case it led to a brawl.

Proctom stood back and watched it all unfold, and it was Horuz, who occasionally called Peter cargo, who appeared most irate about it.

"It's not that difficult you know taking care of a child, not sure how you fucked it up so badly", to which to everyone's surprise Martinex, agreed with them.

"You're right, your right. Had no idea how to take care of a kid, and he run everyone ragged for a few days, but why don't you consider that it's a kick in the face to find that you guys have it so easy compared to us". There were startled looks on the Udonta Ravagers' faces whilst Martinex continued.

"Yeah, not wrong with that, holiday pay, religious holidays, you're an independent clan, everyone thinks you're a bunch of reckless bastards, not that you have a captain that gives a shit. We even ate well, good stuff too"

"Well, Actveia went to markets for good foods and it was the best we had in ages, everything is boring and crap, you guys have it so good. You can even get married, Pete was telling us, one of you got a first anniversary coming up and a special dinner, we can't do any of that". Started Martinex.

whilst everyone on the Udonta's side just groaned aside from the Vonspiers who looked bewildered, "A special dinner for us?", to which Yarovesky rolled his eyes and exhaled slowly.

"Yes, you idiots, first anniversary, few days before Day of Thanks, big deal. We were organising something nice, and don't ask me what Kraglin's arranging it and pretend you don't know…it was his idea".

The married couple of the Elector was both touched and curious and wondered if they would get a nice present, but this was not the time to ask.

But they were not finished, and there was more to add, as Charlie-27, who had worked alongside the Ravagers leaned back, "Right you get all of this, no wonder the rest of the Clans are so pissed off" Charlie-27 explained.

And the rest of the crews finally become aware that across the lightyears Ravagers were refusing to work until they got what an independent Clan took for granted, and dissent was still building admits the galaxy.

At the same time all of this was unfolding, four individuals, came to a desolate area of the ship.

"This is a quiet place, very few people come here" stated Aleta.

"Great, that means no one will find your bodies then". Drawled Kraglin sarcastically, but this time it was Yondu who took control of the situation, in a demanding tone which only came from being a father, let alone to an oblivious demi-god.

"What the hell happened, that the pair of you couldn't take better care of him? Abandoning Peter, him in a dark room, letting him get hurt, it's not that hard taking care of a child".

"But you never told us how his powers activated, when he's like this". Stated Aleta which caused Kraglin to snap.

"Because that's never happened with us, oh trust me, were not going to be hypocrites about this, shit has happened under our watch, but I guess it is true "he who knows" knows shit in the end.

No one could protest at this true statement, and Stakar to his credit exhaled. "you're right, we underestimated this, thought it would be easy, but what do we know. We fucked this us, both of us".

To this Kraglin's lips twisted into a sneer, yeah you did, about a lot of things, and you told him both Regellen and Hoag, no wonder he doesn't like you anymore, wondered if you were about to spin it.

We've never told him, because…well he's a child, had no desire to give him nightmares, he's had enough of that shit in the real world". Kraglin shook his head trying not to let the memories that had previously engulfed him return, whilst the ones in charge of the ship tried to find the words.

He found a photo, of their wedding and it all came out, had no idea, until…I just kept talking, telling him. He hates me, the same way you do, and I can't blame him for that".

Kraglin just turned and looked at Aleta, hearing all of this, what he had waited years to hear, and now…this had to be bullshit; however, it was Yondu who found his voice.

"Peter does that, no malicious or mean, it just happens, we adapt". The Centiraian said bluntly, which caused Staker to look uncomfortable when Yondu added, "Thank god, your cooks got some common sense and took over" whilst Kraglin just shook his head, some more.

"Sod it, Aleta, I need to talk to you alone, I know my husband is itching to do you same with your husband, his body language is so transparent sometimes, let's you and I go somewhere. And no, I'm not going to deck her again". Kraglin added quickly seeing that both Yondu and Staker were about to say it.

To this Aleta nodded, and the pair disappeared round the corner to a small enclosure overlooking the stars, Aleta looking uncomfortable whilst Kraglin looking a combination of tense, yet resigned which showed in his heavy footsteps.

Whilst the two men Captain's just looked at each other and Yondu sighed slowly, "They say that now, Kraglin got a lot of pent-up rage about this, and you can't blame him for that after what you both did".

Staker nodded finally the man known as "He Who Knows" finally managed to formulate a sentence. "I don't know what to say Yondu, I know we messed up".

"What about Peter, Regellen and Hoag or what you both did to Kraglin and me? Seem to leave a lot of death in your wake, don't you? "Messed up", understatement of the fucking year there.

What think a weak ass apology now is going to do anything, because I really don't care, not gonna change anything. Maybe once I would have asked for anything from you, but I'm a Captain now, have my Clan, family, and you're not that important to me aside from a figure of hatred, ain't that something".

Yondu was saying all of this, but now it seemed the floodgates were open and he had more to say, and it rushed out of him like a dam finally breaking.

"I used to wonder what type of man, or bitch of a wife would have done that to Kraglin, sent him off to a Captain who would abuse him like that, and others, many others, seem to spend so much time sorting out others people s mistakes, no wonder they choose me to be their Captain.

Never asked for that by the way, they choose me. Could have had anyone, anyone better, and I would have followed them, but in hindsight, that type of shit makes you proud".

Stakar was silent, and just mulled over his next words "We didn't know what type of man Riddhi was, we thought he was good, an independent…"

"With a hell of a turnover rate…ripped us off you know, was made Captain and found that out, must be millions on the Elector, and we've never found it. Was obsessed with it when I was put in charge because we started with nothing, and could barely afford to keep the lights on for months".

Then Yondu shook his head, "If I find it or not who knows, but that means that everything that happened next, was because of me, my crew my Clan, yet you think the worst of me, us".

Stakar could only respond with "If we knew now, what we knew back then…I'm sorry, what happened to Kraglin, should never have happened".

"Are we talking about Riddhi or Regellen and Hoag, besides I'm not the one you need to grovel to about that, but you actually think I'm a bad parent. Well, trust me, I know bad parents, I even went back to my planet, to see what was there. To see if they were there to see if you had lied to me about that since you did about everything else".

"And did you", Staker asked genuinely curious, since he had checked and it was only a bare settlement. The fact he could have got this wrong and Yondu did have a Clan of his own species living and he didn't realise was horrific, but to his relief, Yondu shook his head.

"All dead went back for closure, found it, came back and got married to Kraglin, he fell in love with me for some stupid reason. I was too stupid to realise it for ages, we were a hell of a slow burn, but can't blame for that.

What did I know of love after what my parents did to me", bitterness was laced into every word, but Yondu refused to elaborate with Staker since he never had with Kraglin, and this asshole didn't deserve Yondu's words.

"But I understand shitty parents, which is why I do everything in my power to make sure that never happens with Peter, and I've fucked up way too many times.

Even last year I was stupid enough to let a stowaway intruder on the Elector and almost got Peter and one of my best Ravagers killed".

Yondu had no desire to revisit that moment even in his head of the time when Peter and Yarovesky were hurt, even if it did end with a child finding a decent home, and that was something Yondu was never going to share with anyone.

"But Peter was OK", Stakar asked, to which Yondu looked away, "Yeah, killed the bastard, no thanks to me for letting it happen, but that's the galaxy for you, a cold hard bitch that reminds you of it, constantly.

Keeping Peter safe, from people who know what he is, more people do than I even want to think about or suspect, pretending he's Kraglin's by blood. Being the Captain, of those well-performance assholes, shit no wonder I'm a stressed-out fucker and can you blame me for that".

Yondu shook his head, "But nothing is more important to me than him maybe not even Kraglin, God knows why he loves me, and why that kid does, but nothing is more important to me than him, and after we went through, you still doubt me as a parent?

Well, you're just a massive asshole ain't ya, not that your opinion of me matters anyway, and maybe that's something. Because once your approval meant something to me, made me feel good and less, of a slave. But I've got Kraglin, I've got Peter and I've got my own Clan, so you know what, I really don't give a flying fuck what you think of me, and ain't that something".

There was a moment where Stakar who was finally seeing the man he used to know, and the defiant words in this voice, was just stunned by all of this, but Yondu wasn't finished.

"You have no idea Stakar what my family means to me, every single day I have to wake up and tell myself that no matter what I have to keep my son safe, make sure he's happy, I have to sit there whilst he tells me the most mundane stuff, and I have to stay in the moment and listen to him.

Peter tells me things and then remembers I was there, but it's important to him to tell me, and it's important as a parent I listen, because I loved my parents, and they never loved me. I'll be fucked if I ever allow my child to feel the same, so whatever you have to say to me…I don't care".

There was a note of triumph in Yondu's voice since he didn't since Kraglin was entitled to his feelings, but for Yondu, the man who had saved him, and by chance had put them on equal footing in the Ravagers, now realised that he owed him nothing. And all Staker could do was nod, slowly, trying to reconcile the man he once knew to the one before him.

"I understand that, I do, what happened I am sorry…If there is anything I can do".

This was interrupted by the sounds of Kraglin's coming into the room, with a look of fury on his pale face, his boots pounding on the deck followed by Aleta, who was trying to explain.

"You are not going to bloody believe this" Kraglin told his husband and all eyes turned towards the pair.

To be continued

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