ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴇɴ | ᴀ ᴘʀᴏᴘᴇʀ ғᴀʀᴇᴡᴇʟʟ

————

AS ROCKET, LEXI, AND GROOT TOOK OFF TOWARDS THE SKY, PETER WAS SLAMMED INTO THE WALL OF THE CAVERN BY HIS FATHER. Peter groaned in pain, squeezing out of the rock that was formed around him. Staring at Ego from across the cavern, he launched at him, with Ego rushing towards him as well.

As the two neared each other, they built up a protective shell of rock. While Ego was formed into a larger man, Peter decided to shape himself as Pac-Man. Ego's fist collided with Peter's Pac-Man and the rock around them both exploded.

They spiralled downwards in a smoking mess, crashing through a pillar before roughly landing on the ground side by side.

Back on the Quadrant, Lexi flew into the ship, setting down Rocket and Groot. She looked around, instantly noticing one team member absent. "Where's Peter?"

She glanced around at everyone, Rocket hanging his head. "Where is he?!"

When Lexi turned to fly out, Rocket jumped up, pulling the aero-rig off of her back. Lexi spun around on her heel. "Rocket, what the hell?! I have to go after Peter!"

Lexi yelled in frustration, moving towards the door without her jetpack. Just as she was about to step out, a searing pain ran through her, and she dropped to the ground.

Behind her, Rocket stood with sorrow in his eyes, holding an electric gun in his hands. "Sorry...I can only afford to lose one friend today..."

Rocket looked up, towards the second floor. "Kraglin, go!"

Drax, who stood beside Kraglin held out his head. "Wait, is Quill back?"

Kraglin ignored Drax's question, starting up the thrusters on the ship. Drax gasped, hitting the buttons controlling the speakers to the ship. "Rocket, where's Quill? ROCKET!"

Rocket watched as the doors to the ship slowly closed, his shoulders sagging in defeat.

Back in the cavern, Peter uneasily rose to his knees, striking Ego across the face before falling back down. Ego ignored Peter, trying to get to his core. Peter clutched his torso, holding Ego back with all his strength. Ego reached out towards the core. "Wait! No! We need to stop it!"

Peter yelled, slamming Ego down to the ground. Ego rolled away, standing on knees again. Peter grunted, trying to pin him down. Ego protested loudly. "Stop, stop! Listen, listen to me!"

Ego yelled at him, gripping Peter by the collar of his red jacket. "You are a god! If you kill me, you'll be just like everybody else."

Peter's expression turned grim. "What's so wrong with that?"

Ego's eyes widened. "NO!"

The core of Ego exploded behind Peter, and Ego watched in horror. Ego decayed in Peter's hands, disintegrating like sand through his fingers. Peter looked down at his hands, watching as the blue hue flickered before disappearing.

Peter looked up, realizing he was going to die here, within Ego's planet as it turned into rubble. Suddenly, Peter was swept off his feet and carried into the air.

Looking up with wide eyes, Yondu held Peter with one arm. "He may have been your father, boy, but he wasn't your daddy."

Peter's eyes changed, gazing at Yondu as if he was like a father to him.

"I'm sorry I didn't do none of it right, but I'm damn luck you was my boy." Yondu smiled sincerely. He reached out and stuck a space suit to Peter's chest, and the near-invisible film covered Peter's entire body.

Peter's eyes widened, realizing Yondu's intentions as they reached outer space. "Yondu, what are you doing?! You can't. Yondu!"

Tears filled Yondu's eyes as his aero-rig started to dysfunction in the vacuum of space. The two stopped, as the jetpack broke. Peter scratched at the space suit pod, trying to tear it off. "No! No! Aww, no! No!"

As Yondu's hands slowly cupped Peter's face, he grunted and cried out in protest, not being able to get the suit off. Yondu looked at Peter with love and fondness.

Peter watched as Yondu's skin and eyes clouded over with white, and Yondu's hands limply released Peter. Tears lined Peter's eyes as he searched Yondu, trying to find another suit on him. When he found nothing, Peter cried, placing his hand on Yondu's chest and holding him close.

————

Together, the Guardians gathered around Yondu, who laid on a table surrounded by candles, and his favourite figurines.

"I told Lexi on how when I was a kid, I used to pretend David Hasselhoff was my dad," Peter said in a gravelly voice, standing at the head on Yondu.

He paused, noticing the confused look Rocket and Drax exchanged out of the corner of his eye. "he's a singer and actor from Earth, a really famous guy."

Drax nodded, bowing his head. Lexi, who stood to Peter's left, looked at him with fondness, admiring how strong he was in this time of sorrow. "Earlier, it struck me; Yondu didn't have a talking car, but he did have a flying arrow. He didn't have a beautiful voice of an angel, but he did have the whistle of one."

Mantis smiled at Peter's words.

"Both Yondu, and David Hasselhoff went on kick-ass adventures, and hooked up with hot women, and fought robots...I guess David Hasselhoff did end up being my dad after all," he stuck in a shaky breath. "and it was you, Yondu."

Lexi reached up, placing a gentle hand on Peter's shoulder.

Peter nodded, a tear rolling down his cheek. "I guess I did have a pretty cool dad," he glanced up at Lexi, a sad smile forming on his chapped lips. "we both did."

Lexi chortled, her lips curving into a crooked smile.

He sniffled, looking back down at Yondu. "What I'm trying to say here, is sometimes that thing you're searching for your whole life, is right there by your side all along. You don't even know it."

Gamora's eyes shifted from Peter, to Nebula; who stood at the doorway to the room. Nebula looked to the ground, uncrossing her arms before walking away. Gamora blinked away the tears that formed before stepping off silently.

"I am Groot." Groot said in a soft voice, standing on the table close to Rocket.

Rocket nodded in agreement, his own voice in a gentle tone. "He did call you twig."

————

"Nebula." Gamora called after her sister as she entered the room Nebula went into. Nebula stopped by her words, when she proceeding towards the door. She slowly turned, looking at her sister.

"I was child like you. I was concerned with staying alive, until the next day, every day. And I never considered what Thanos was doing to you." Gamora said, approaching Nebula. "I'm trying to make it right. There are little girls, like you, across the universe who are in danger. You can stay with us and help them."

Nebula's expression was hard, and mostly unreadable. She tilted her head back. "I will help them by killing Thanos."

Gamora shook her head. "I don't know if that's possible."

Nebula sucked in a shaky breath through her nose, turning to walk away. Gamora reached out, grabbing her by her bionic bicep. Nebula sharply turned, her fist raising to punch her, out of reflex. Nebula stopped her actions, slowly lowering her hand.

Gamora outstretched her arms, pulling Nebula in for a hug. "You will always be my sister."

Nebula awkwardly, and hesitantly returned the hug, snaking her arms around Gamora's shoulders and waist. It only lasted a few seconds before Nebula sharply pulled away, walking off without another word.

————

Everyone watched in silence as Yondu's body was slowly rolled out of the ship in into the furnace. Peter watched for a moment, before turning and walking away.

"Pete!"

He turned, looking at Kraglin. Kraglin approached him, holding out a small device with earbuds wrapped around it. "Cap'n found this for you in a junker shop; said you'd come back to the fold someday."

"What is it?" Peter asked, taking it and examining the small, thin boxy electronic. The electronic had a small square screen near the top of it, with a round button below it. The screen flashed the word 'ZUNE', with a shape above the word.

"It's called a Zune. It's what everyone's listenin' to nowadays on Earth." Kraglin replied, nodding his head. "It's got three hundred songs on it."

Peter's eyes widened. "Three h-hundred songs on it?"

Kraglin nodded, turning away.

"Wait." Peter said, pulling out Yondu's arrow from his boot and holding it out to him. Kraglin hesitantly took it, swallowing dryly.

"Rocket grabbed the pieces and reassembled it. I think Yondu would want you to have it."

Kraglin looked at Peter, his voice was hoarse. "Thanks...Cap'n."

Peter smiled warmly.

————

Peter sat in his bed, his earbuds in his ears. Scrolling through his playlist, his eye caught a familiar song, clicking play.

Father And Son by Cat Stevens filled his ears and Peter's expression dropped sadly. Beside him, Groot climbed onto the bed and onto his knee. Groot reached up with both hands, and Peter pulled out one of his earbuds, handing it to Groot.

Groot held it up to his ear, listening to the song as Peter's hand supported his tiny back. Peter stared at Groot, suddenly feeling like Groot was a child to him, and it was his responsibility to look after him, along with the rest of the team.

Around the ship, Gamora watched Nebula leave by the spare pod. Drax and Rocket sat in the pilot chairs. Lexi stood close to the glass, watching as Yondu's ashes floated away. Her eyes wandered around, spotting more ships draw in near the Quadrant.

"Guys! Come look!" Lexi called out, her voice carrying around the entire ship. Rocket and Drax looked up, seeing Ravager ships outside. Rocket smiled. "They came."

"What is it?" Drax asked, walking closer to the glass.

"I sent word to Yondu's old Ravager buddies, and told them what he did." Rocket replied, standing near Lexi.

Peter's eyes widened. "It's a Ravager funeral."

Lexi smiled happily, tears falling down her rosy cheeks. She clutched her hands to her chest, unable to stop the tears.

Bursts of colour sprouted from the many ships, as they all released strings of fireworks in Yondu's honour.

Kraglin, standing in another part of the ship, watched them, yelling out. "Yes!" his fist raised, thumping his chest twice proudly.

"He didn't chase them away." Rocket muttered. Peter stepped forward.

"No,"

"Even though he yelled at them." Rocket continued, his voice cracking. "And was always mean. And he stole batteries he didn't need."

Peter looked down, seeing Rocket's head bowed shamefully. "Well, of course not."

Groot reached towards Drax, who stood beside Gamora. Gamora handed Groot to Drax, and Drax cradled Groot close. Groot yawned tiredly, resting his head on Drax's shoulder and closing his eyes.

Lexi managed to subside her tears, wiping them away before looking up at Peter. Peter looked back at her, a lazy smile slowly forming on his lips. "What?"

"It's just," she shook her head. "you're the thing I've been looking for my entire life, but you were right beside me this entire time."

Peter nodded, his smile still present. His arm looped around her waist, pulling her into his side and giving her a gentle squeeze. Lexi leaned into him, her own arms weaving around his torso. Her left hand rubbed his back gently.

Mantis stared up at the fireworks, her black eyes round. "It's beautiful."

Drax looked at her from behind, still holding Groot. "It is...and so are you. On the inside."

In silence, the Guardians admired Yondu's funeral, basking in the positive memories of him.

Rocket looked up and smiled, a single tear rolling down his furry cheek.

✶ ✶ ✶

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