*Peter Does Something Incredibly Stupid And Gets Himself And Others In Mortal Danger*

*Peter does something incredibly stupid and gets himself and others in mortal danger*

Yondu:

We all know that Yondu cares more about Peter than he’d admit and he may be mean and gruff and an a-hole but deep inside he's just a big softie and doesn't know how to show it and/or can't because he fears for his crew finding out about this. So there were just these little gestures from time to time; small trinkets he’d swiped for Peter or little gifts he brought him from his raids, without ever anyone noticing and Yondu in fact never mentioned it, nor did Peter himself or Kraglin, Oblo and the others. These nice little things and some bad dad jokes, along with discreet smiles and few taunts and snarls, yeah, Peter's childhood on the Eclector wasn't the best but it was good in its own odd way.

I was talking with a friend and she’s had a rough year, so I wanted to give her a small gift.

I hope you like it @ssirius-blackk <3 

Word count: 747

Fandom: Gardians of the Galaxy

Rated: T

Peter’s First Christmas with Yondu

Yondu wasn’t sure what had gotten into him, but here he found himself raiding some clothing store trying to figure out what he could grab that would fit Peter.  

There was nothing to this beyond he knew the boy needed new clothing. Terrans grew fast at his age and he was already shooting out of the clothing Yondu had picked up a couple of months ago.

It had nothing to do with how the boy was counting down to a number circled on his calendar. Or that the day circled had Yondu curious enough to look into what it was.  

He was going to eat the boy. He wasn’t being nice, he was being smart. You can’t eat a Terran that small, they have to grow, get some meat on them. They can’t grow if they’re not taken care of properly.  

Grabbing what he thought would fit, he tossed it in a bag, slung the bag over his shoulder and made his way towards the waiting ship. Something caught his eye as he was leaving the store and he reached out to grab it, shoving it in one of the inner pockets of his duster in one smooth motion.  

***

The closer it got to the day circled on his calendar, the more depressed Peter got. He missed his mom terribly and the sudden loss of the rest of his life on Earth had made the loss of his mom so much harder to bear.  

Looking at the calendar he had made himself, he forced the tears that threated away. It was almost Christmas on Earth. I would have been his first Christmas without his mom, and now it was his first Christmas away from anything even remotely familiar. But he refused to show the Ravagers that had kidnapped him any hint of sadness. Anger, sure. Sadness? That was asking for a whole lot of trouble.

Rubbing the tears from his face he rolled over and went to sleep.

***

Yondu was sure tomorrow would be the right day. From the small amount of information he’d gathered about Terra and their traditions, all he had to do was put the stuff in Peter’s room and leave a note that said, “From Santa”. The tradition confused him, why the fuck would an old fat man take presents to random people.  

Not that he cared.

The ship was quiet when he gathered the clothes in a small bundle and made his way to the room he’d put Peter in. Slipping in quietly he saw the boy sprawled out on his bed, snoring lightly. Placing the bundle on a table across the room where he was sure Peter would see it when he woke. Turning to leave he looked at Peter sleeping soundly, and noticed the boy’s face was wet. Stepping closer and crouching down beside him he touched his face gently, wiping the tears from his face.  

Shaking his head gently Yondu stood up, ruffled Peter’s hair and walked to the door. Turning back once more he called out softly, “Merry Christmas boy.”

***

A loud bang woke Peter suddenly the next morning, and he jerked up right breathing hard. Looking around the room his eyes fell on the stack of clothes he could swear were not there the night before. Crawling out of bed towards the pile he saw something round sitting on top of a crinkled piece of paper. Picking up the note and what looked to be a stone from on top of it he read the note:

“To Peter, From Santa”  

Confused he looked at the stone ball and the pile of clothes, and back to the ball. Looking closer he could see that it was a mixture of green and blue with patches of white. It looked like earth. Holding it close he cried, thinking about his mom.

***

Hours later, new clothes on, though distinctly too big, he ran in to Yondu in the mess hall.

“What is it boy?” Yondu asked, mouth full of food.

Peter just stared at him until Yondu turned to face him.

“What?” He barked, with a scowl.

“Thank you,” Peter answered quietly, before turning tail and running back to his room.

Yondu sat there staring after the boy before shaking his head, and turning back to his meal.  

No one saw the small smile that softened his face for a split second. Though even if they did, they sure as hell knew better than to mention it.

a quick little comic I wanted to make for peter’s unofficial birthday ;u; i have a lot of emotions about him as a kid

TINY PETER TINY PETER TINY PETER

I'm just gonna hop on this train of thought :D

The thing about Yondu's character is that he's so... complex. Say, the audience believes he's the bad guy at first, we see him kill, we see him lie, threaten Peter, before, after the Morag scene and later on the Eclector. Especially in Gotg vol. 1 everyone's like 'man, this guy's an a-hole' (and I think that's exactly what Gunn and the writers were aiming for), only to show another side of his character, a much more vulnerable and emotional one later in the second movie.

But I'd say even in the first movie we see this little moments shining through, like in the scene where the Ravagers capture Peter on their ship and Yondu really has no other option than pulling out his 'bad pirate captain move' to show his crew what happens when someone of them messes with him. Sure, he did this mainly to shield himself, because we know how ruthless Ravagers can be, who think of love as a sign of weakness. And if he just would've let Peter go, he'd risk his own life and that of Quill too.

If you look closely, you can see that hollow expression in Yondu's eyes, he actually turns away when the arrow's close to Peter's neck because he can't bear the sight of killing him, the boy he raised like his own son. He really didn't want to do this. But I think he also knew that Peter would act soon, he knew the boy, knew he'd came up with a cheeky answer and an offer Yondu just can't reject.

So, back to the question, what would've happened if Peter hadn't intervene?

That's really interesting actually, because I can't think of a single reason for him not to do it. Because it's Peter Quill we're talking about, the guy who can always talk his way out of situations like this. After all, he's an outlaw from childhood and practically used to deal with bad guys who want to kill him all the time, he's not that good with fists and kicks but with words. And let me just claim it'd be pretty out of character for him not to say anything, letting Yondu just kill him in front of everyone.

And Yondu?

Well, that's harder to say, because in theory I'd say he simply could've killed Peter, because if he'd back down, that would make him look like a coward in front of his crew. But apart from this, there actually is that inner conflict in him during that scene and he has to choose between Peter and his crew (in the end of gotg 2, he chose Peter, of course, and turned his back to his crew, killed all who betrayed him and went away with Rocket and Kraglin to save Peter...)

Yet in this moment, he's struggling and probably was silently praying to any gods that the kid opens his mouth. Maybe he would've said something like 'any last words, boy?' or something snarky like that just to give Peter a hint that he has to do something about this situation, something that gets both of them out safely.

I think that whole scene was so very important for Yondu's and Peter's relationship because before I get the feeling that Peter was constantly running away from his past and he still did (until he opened his mother's present at the end of vol. 1 though) and he was also, quite literally, running away from Yondu, didn't want to accept the thought that they were his only family before he met the Guardians. But there he was confronted with Yondu again and with his past, that he was kidnapped by him right after he lost his mother, and Peter still saw him as a bad guy, only "the guy who tore him away from his home and family" as said by himself in that scene and the beginning of vol. 2 at the campfire scene with Ego.

And though, at the end of the first movie, after the battle with Ronan, Peter actually admits to Gamora, that Yondu was the "only family he ever had", after he and the other Ravagers had helped him during the fight on Xandar. And Yondu kinda does that too, replying to Kraglin's "Pete's not that bad after all" with a humorless comment about what a jackass Ego was and that it was actually a good thing he kept Peter with him. And later, when he opens the orb with the troll doll in it, we see his big cheeky grin that's not angry or enraged but amused that Peter dared to fool around with him, like he probably used to when he was a little boy. Like it's the same expression a parent gets when their kid pranks them, thinking affectionately to themselves "oh that little shit :D".

I just love rewatching this scene, it's so amusing but also heart-warming and that's a feeling I personally got even before watching the second movie at all. (i also believe the writers did that on purpose to tease us for vol. 2 :))

Thoughts on Yondu from Guardians of the Galaxy:

He is Sold as a baby by his parents. Lived as a slave for first Twenty years. Then had a hard life as a ‘pirate’ captain. Did some really bad stuff. Got cast out by Ravager leader who had saved him & who he respected. First shot we see of him in Vol 2 he looks very unhappy, 😦 Then in the cell, after been beaten & mutiny upon (having had to watch all his loyal crew killed right before him!) he says he deserves all of this. 😢 He did ‘unintentionaly’ take those kids to their deaths, (heard theory his trinkets on console represents each child he dropped off) He seems ready to be done, until Rocket mentions that Peter is in trouble….. Peter, the one (after he learned what was happening to the kids) had decided to save from Ego, take on himself and raise. He’d obviously wanted Peter to stay with him and the Ravagers & probably be his successor) but Peter had left him to be with a different family. 😟 Yondu probably didn’t know how to be affectionate with Peter, with the way he himself had been brought up. And he just couldn’t be like that anyway in front of his crew. He wanted this little Terran to be able to survive out in the harshness of the galaxy, so he was tough with him. In the end, Yondu did good by saving this man he’d grown to love as his son. He probably regretted not being closer to him or things he never told him, but he was proud by how amazing Peter turned out, 😭

(Peter got none of this until after it was too late.) 😢

And how he connected with Rocket! Telling him not to end up like himself, pushing away the ones you care about. What Rocket did for him, calling all the Ravagers. It was terrible for Rocket to lose Yondu too! I mean the last shot of the film is freakin Rocket looking up and crying!

I will Never get over how tragic and soul crushing Guardians is at times.

Okay, Idea: You know that scenario when a parent gets mad at their child so the kid plans to run away and leaves to live on their own, only to return back home after few hours.

Now imagine this with Peter & Yondu.

The Ravager captain once again scolds the little boy for messing up one of their raids, so Peter angrily runs to his room and throws his old backpack on his bed, stuffing his (few) belongings inside. Eventually, Yondu notices that he hasn't seen the boy for a while now and then Peter swaggers into the cockpit, catching few confused looks from the Centaurian.

"Hey, what'chu doin', boy?"

Peter doesn't even cast a look, stuffing some ration into his bag. Then he turns, smoldering his chest.

"I'm running away!"

Yondu stares at him for a second, wordlessly, and then throws back his head, a loud guffaw filling the room. Peter, in the meantime, just looks at the laughing captain and raises an eyebrow in confusion.

"Ohh, so that's how it's goin', huh?", Yondu mocks, "Go 'head, my boy, go 'head. Jus' ya run away. But I won't go lookin' for ya if ye get lost."

"I don't need you anyway! I don't need any of you!" The child said defiantly, crossing his arms.

The Ravager laughs once again, amusing himself about Peter's stubborn demeanor. He knows how soft and weak the boy is. The kid wouldn't even survive an hour out there.

"Ye really think so? Ye thinkin' a lil' humie like ya can wander 'round in space all by yerself? As soon as any of those guys see ya out there, they'll eat ya! Yer nothin' more than a snack to 'em!"

The boy screws up his face, replying to Yondu's taunts scornfully.

"You're the only ones here who wanna eat me!"

Peter picks up his bag, making his way to the entrance of the spaceship.

"If ye go through that door, ye'll never set a foot on 's ship 'gain, ye hear me, boy?", Yondu shouts after him but the boy already wants to leave, ignoring the captain's orders.

"I won't anyway!"

Peter walks through the forest nearby, just where the Ravagers' spaceship landed, and mumbles something under his breath.

"Stupid spaceship and stupid Ravagers... Pah, I don't need anyone of them! I can look after my self on my own!", The little Terran says to himself.

After all, he's almost 10 already. Practically an adult.

He doesn't need them. And he certainly doesn't need Yondu. This mean blue turd blossom, who always threatens to eat him. Peter will find a shelter, make a fire and care about food, easy as pie.

But as soon as the sun goes down and the boy still aimlessly strays through the thicket, with no shelter in sight, he begins to feel more and more uneasy. Soon, he gives up looking for a place to sleep and instead searches for some firewood.

But making a fire isn't that easy how he imagined and so the child sits all alone in the dark cold forest, freezing and shivering. And now that he ate all of his ration before, thinking he'll find something to eat out here, the boy begins to regret running away.

At the Eclector he had a warm bed, weird but acceptable food and he wasn't all alone in the dark without a source of light...

At least he had his walkman, right?

Peter zips up his bag, rummaging in it but falters, when he doesn't feel the device in it.

He couldn't have lost it, now could he?!

The boy starts panicking, searching for his walkman in vain but it had no use.

It was gone. And he feels so miserable. He is so cold, hungry and tired.

Just as he feels tears rising into his eyes, it hits him like a stroke. Peter runs as fast as he can back to the ship, hoping that it still stood there and then sees it in the distance in all relief. The boy comes to halt and his lungs are burning when he knocks on the metal hatch, yelling to let him in.

Suddenly, it slowly opens and Peter sees Yondu with a bright grin on his face as if the Centaurian would've known that he comes back.

"Lookie who's 'ere. Ya forgot what I told ya, boy?", The Ravager grins but Peter ignores his comment, knowing exactly where his recorder was.

"Give me back my walkman! Now!"

"Dunno what ya mean, kid", Yondu shrugs.

The boy peeks out and sees something light blue and orange sticking out of the Ravager's pocket.

"Give it back!", The child protests, his face turned crimson.

"Not before ye learned yer lesson. Ya wanted t' run away an' I told'chu there's no goin' back."

"No! Let me in! Please!"

But the hatch already closes and Peter is left there, standing in the cold and the hunger is still tormenting him.

Additionally, he hears some scary noises in the distant forest and the boy's heart drops in fear. Peter starts hammering his little fists against the hard metal, crying.

After a while, Yondu stands up from his seat and opens the hatch, only to find Peter pressed against the wall, shivering and teeth chattering from the cold, hopelessly buried in his way too thin leather jacket.

"P-please, let me in... I'm s-so cold and I'm hungry...", The poor child whines, teary green eyes meeting Yondu's.

The Centaurian leans down to him, putting on a mock pitying look on his face.

"Ohhh, that ain't my problem, ain't it?"

"P-please. I'm... I'm sorry", Peter mumbles.

"What was that?"

"I'm lost without you, I-I can't deal with it on my own", the boy confesses with an ashamed voice.

Yondu grins satisfied and Peter stands up, entering the spaceship with his head downcast.

Looks like the Terran brat's learned his lesson.

"Good boy. Guess ya ain't as stupid as ye look, boy", a blue hand roughly ruffles the child's hair and the hatch closes.

"Tullk!"

"Capt'n?"

"The boy 'ere 's hungry and cold. Take care of it an' make sure he doesn't do anythin' else stupid", Yondu shoves the boy to Tullk, who casts a surprised look at both of them.

"Aye, Capt'n."

Tullk lays a hand on Peter's shoulders, leading him to the ship's canteen.

"C'mon, Pete. Yer lucky, we've still got sum leftovers."

"Thanks, Tullk..."

With that, the Ravager takes off his own leather coat, throwing it over the shivering boy's shoulders and Yondu pretends he hasn't seen that, turns and makes his way to his private quarters.

He knows exactly that they like the boy more than they'd admit and if Yondu was honest to himself, even he couldn't imagine a life on board without the little Terran anymore. A thought, that makes the corners of his mouth twitch secretly.