Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

For a large and prosperous municipality, the capital of Xandar was a spectacularly dull city. The tedium of daily life in the closest thing the Andromeda galaxy had to a modern-day utopia was draining for anyone who longed for something more than a quiet life in the pristine metropolis. And for the Nova Corps — staunch defenders of both local and intergalactic society — routine was… well, just that. Routine.  

Patrols were boring. Any officer could tell you that, but most wouldn’t. As for one in particular — Kraglin was growing exhausted of mind-numbing repetition. Walk up and down the sprawling streets that resembled closer to an interior design student’s thesis project, chase teenage guttersnipes from abandoned buildings. Break up a fight. Arrest someone for petty theft. He’d just about seen and done it all, and frankly, Kraglin was starting to get sick of it. Nothing exciting. Nothing new. And he felt mortifyingly out of place.

Still, Kraglin had done it. He joined hundreds of other officers just looking for a steady job and decent pay, something about not disappointing his parents, blah, blah, blah . But now his parents were dead, so maybe it didn’t matter much either way what he did. Oh well. A few years too late to be changing careers anyway. 

You’re born, you grow up, you live a dull, crappy life, you die, and it’s over. That’s comforting. 

“Obfonteri! Go check out the markets, will you? Chief noticed something kinda sketchy down there. Take a look.” Kraglin sighed dramatically and swung his feet off his desk, boots hitting the ground with a loud thunk. 

“No rest for the weary,” he grumbled and practically dragged himself out of the building. The brightness of the planet’s natural light caused him to squint as he looked down the pathway in either direction before heading towards the open air markets. He knew these shops like the back of his hand. Traders, merchants, half of them criminals, always something illegal going on there. He’d busted hundreds of shifty deals before. Boring . 

As he neared, he heard raised voices in some sort of altercation. It seemed to be between a merchant and a man, arguing over the price of a sale. It could’ve been nothing. This wasn’t the first haggle gone sour, and it wouldn’t be the last. Still, something about it rubbed Kraglin the wrong way, or maybe it just piqued his curiosity, and he followed the noise to investigate. 

The man was blue. Stocky, blue-skinned, bald, with a tall, red, mechanical fin atop his head. He spoke to the merchant in a hoarse voice, leaning over him menacingly. His short stature did little to temper his intimidating presence. The merchant, a small older man, looked justifiably terrified, and Kraglin turned his focus to scanning for a weapon he couldn’t see from this angle. Unable to get a clear view, and unwilling to wait around to find out, he sprang into action. Spriting to the tent, he shouldered his way in between the two, slim frame sliding in with ease. The little merchant stumbled back in shock. The blue man looked surprised too, but he quickly recovered, expression darkening as he let out a sharp whistle. With barely any time to react, Kraglin went cross-eyed as an arrow was suddenly aimed between his eyes, hovering in the air centimeters from his face. A little too quickly, he threw his hands up in the air. 

“Hey, hey, okay, alright! Back off.” The arrow didn’t budge, unsurprisingly. “I’m with the Nova Corps. Threatening an officer is a crime.”

The blue man laughed. “I ain’t threatenin’ you, boy. Just showin’ who’s boss.” Still, another whistle and the arrow flew to his hand, and he slipped it into his jacket. Kraglin took a step back, feeling his heart pounding. He couldn’t just let this man get away with whatever he was doing. He wasn’t afraid of some magical flying arrow.

Well, he was, but he couldn’t let that bother him now. Some Nova Corps motto about nerves of steel.

By now, Blue Man had let down his guard again. Clearly, he didn’t see Kraglin as a threat. That was good. “Fine,” Kraglin grumbled, “I just don’t want any funny business, you got that?” He turned as if to leave.

“That’s right, walk away! You Nova folk ain’t shit, and you know it.” He’s right, Kraglin thought bitterly, the Nova Corps is pretty pathetic. With a grim smile on his face, he dug his heels into the ground. But I’m not. Spinning around, he landed a hard kick with his boot to the back of Blue Man’s knees, and a strong elbow to the small of his back. It probably did more damage to Kraglin’s bony joints than to the man himself, but it was enough of a surprise to distract him momentarily. Kraglin grabbed his arms, twisting them behind his back, and slapped a set of handcuffs on him. It should have been enough to incapacitate anyone, but he had a sinking feeling that the man didn’t need his hands. He held onto a grimy leather sleeve tightly with a wary look; sure enough there was a whistle, and the arrow was back. Well shit.

“You don’t learn, boy.” Blue Man laughed. 

“Maybe not,” Kraglin said breathlessly, eyes narrowing. “But if you kill me, you aren’t getting out of those cuffs.” 

“You think a weak lil’ pair o’ handcuffs can stop me?” 

“These are made from strong Xandarian metal and protected with bio-locks. And with the way your arms are twisted behind your back, good luck breaking them.” There was a huff, then silence. Kraglin exhaled, and smiled. “It seems we’ve reached an impasse.”

Blue Man grunted. “Whaddya want, Nova Rat?”

“You gotta leave,” Kraglin said calmly. “Walk away from this market, get off my planet. There’s no room for thieves and bullies here.” His eyes wandered to something on the man’s jacket. A golden patch in the shape of a flame. His breath hitched, recognition in his eyes. “...You’re a Ravager.”

That elicited a loud bellowing laugh from Blue Man. “Ah, you ain’t as dumb as I thought. Here I was figurin’ you was just looking for a head bashing, takin’ on a Ravager Captain. But ya didn’t even know. Ha! I almost feel sorry for ya, boy.”

Kraglin looked at him skeptically, hand on his hip. “Whether I knew or not, which one of us is in handcuffs now?” The Ravager glowered in response. Still a victory in Kraglin’s book. “So here’s what’s gonna happen. You’re gonna apologize to this man here for harassing him, hand over any stolen goods you have with you, and then I’ll uncuff you, you’ll put away your arrow, and we’ll go our separate ways. I don’t wanna see you around here anymore.”

Blue Man laughed. “Ya got hard terms, boy. Lucky fer you, I kinda like you. You’d make a good Ravager. Fine. Uncuff me.”

Kraglin shook his head. “Arrow first. How do I know you won’t kill me when I let you go?”

“You ain’t a threat to me, boy. Just a nuisance. How do I know ya won’t just arrest me?” 

“You have my word. As a Nova Corps officer, and in whatever way you Ravagers show honor and respect.” That earned raised eyebrows from the man. 

“Alright, then.” A sharp whistle and the arrow clattered to the ground. “Yer turn.”

Kraglin nodded and carefully unlocked the handcuffs with a click and pulled them off. “Now get lost.”

“Sure.” The man shrugged. He banged twice on his chest with a fist. “Ravager’s honor.” 

Kraglin watched him carefully and then mimicked the motion. “Ravager’s honor,” he repeated. “I’m Kraglin Obfonteri.”

Blue Man smirked at Kraglin with a glint in his eye. “Yondu Udonta.” He bent and picked up his arrow, then gave him a hearty pat on the shoulder, flashed a toothy grin, and walked off. Kraglin could only stare after him in bewilderment. 

What just happened?

It was only when he finally got back home and went to take a shower did he notice the small flame patch on the sleeve of his uniform. Now how did that get there? He remembered Blue Man— Yondu— patting his shoulder when he left. He must’ve stuck it on him. Why would he do that? Kraglin pulled out the little pin holding it to his shirt and held it over the garbage can. But something stopped him, and he set it down on the counter instead. He didn’t know why he held onto it, but he was too tired to think about it. He fell asleep passed out in his armchair, Ravagers forgotten as he succumbed to dreams.

Chapter Text

By the time Kraglin thought about the Ravager captain again, quite a few weeks had passed. He’d fallen back into his old routine, all hopes that maybe his job would get a little more exciting dashed. Or at least maybe he’d get a little recognition for what he’d accomplished. He’d managed to physically incapacitate Yondu Udonta, and manipulate him into doing what he wanted. That was more than post officers of his rank could say. Mostly, he just wished the superiors would stop thinking of him as the scrawny little patrol officer who couldn’t win an arm wrestling match, and promote him to the military division of the Corps. Sure, he wasn’t big and bulky like a lot of the other men, but he wasn’t nearly as weak as he’d been when he first joined. And what he lacked in muscle he made up for in speed and agility, quick wits and a good throwing hand. Not that knives were properly allowed in the force, but he could use them if he had to.  

So after a few days of holding his breath and waiting for one of his supervisors to say something or congratulate him, Kraglin just stopped hoping, and forgot about it. And life continued on.

And then one day, Kraglin was called into a meeting, and he found himself standing before five of the most senior officers, and Nova Prime herself. “Um…”

“Kraglin Obfonteri,” one of them called out, and he stood at attention, chest tight and eyes looking around nervously. He had no clue what they wanted. It was rare to be called upon by a senior council. Such meetings were reserved for punishment of the worst offenders, and also awarding the highest of honors. Neither seemed to fit Kraglin at all. Unless… 

“Yeah, that’s me,” he said, a smile starting to appear on his face. “To what do I owe the honor of this gathering, sirs?”

None of the other officers matched his grin, and Kraglin was starting to get a bad feeling. “Are you familiar with a man named Yondu Udonta, of the Yondu Ravager Clan?” Kraglin nodded, brow creasing. “Can you confirm for us that you were involved in an altercation with Udonta a few weeks ago?” He nodded again, throat dry. He couldn’t say for sure, but this didn’t sound like he was going to be awarded any medals or a promotion. “Would you like a chance to explain your actions to the council before you?”

“Ah…. yes? Yessir,” he amended. He was starting to feel a bit like a cornered animal now. “I was… doing my patrols, and another officer on duty asked me to go poke around in the markets, ‘cuz they caught wind of some potentially sketchy stuff going on down there. So I went to investigate and found Udonta threatening a merchant, probably into lowering his price, or he was just gonna steal the thing. I don’t know. He had a weapon.” Kraglin shrugged. “I interrupted the altercation, ensured that Udonta knew him and his business isn’t welcome in Xandar’s markets, and sent him on his way. That was it.”

The council members exchanged looks, privately sharing unspoken thoughts. Then one of them spoke up again. “Had you met Udonta before?”

Kraglin shook his head. “Never. Didn’t know his name until the end. Didn’t even realize he was a Ravager, ‘til I saw the patch on his jacket.”

“And you knew the patch is the symbol of the Ravager clans?" 

“Well of course I did. They’re at the center of the galaxy’s criminal web. Everyone knows that.”

“But you didn’t know who Udonta was?”

“No! I’d never heard the name before. He introduced himself to me before he left. That’s how I found out.” 

Nova Prime stepped forward, speaking for the first time. “He introduced himself to you? Why?”

Kraglin thought back, trying to remember. “I— I did first, I think. So uh. You know. Manners and all.” He looked around at the faces of the other officers, all hard and serious, and he felt himself getting defensive. “I’m sorry— I just— what exactly are you accusing me of?”

Another man shifted his weapon in its holster by his side just enough to draw Kraglin’s attention. “If you were so concerned about manners with the Ravager, I suggest you remember them now, Obfonteri.”

“Yes. Of course. Sir.” Kraglin paled. “I’m sorry, sir, council members, but I don’t understand what’s going on here.”

“Kraglin Obfonteri, you have been charged with betrayal of the Nova Corps, aiding a known criminal, and counterespionage. As you have been able to provide ample evidence at this time to support your innocence, your service and rank are suspended until a verdict is reached in court. Please disarm yourself and hand your weapons and badge to the officers here.” Nova Prime looked at Kraglin grimly. “If you do not comply, we will have to place you under arrest.”  

Kraglin couldn’t argue. He couldn’t do anything. His mind was spinning with so many questions, nothing made sense, and he just didn’t understand. But now wasn’t the time. He released his gun from its holster and handed it to an officer, then passed his badge to another. “Now what happens?” he pressed, needing more answers.

“You are restricted from duty,” the officer said, not looking at him. “You are not to wear the uniform out in public. Your officer benefits including meal access are suspended, and you will not be receiving pay. You can remain in your Corps-issued apartment until your trial. If you have questions about what you’re entitled to during this period of time, you can contact Employee Resources.” The officer folded his hands behind his back, giving Kraglin a stare-down that sent a shiver down his spine. “You are free to go.”

Kraglin, overwhelmed by confusion and shock but not knowing what else to do, just nodded and walked out as fast as he could.

He managed to get home without running into anyone he knew. But when he got to the apartment, he knew something was off. The door was still locked, but not the way he usually left it. Stepping inside, he looked around suspiciously. Someone had been in here— or still was. Carefully, he walked through the tiny space. No sign of anyone hiding anywhere. He looked in each room for evidence of a break-in. Nothing. The last place he checked was the bathroom. As usual, the counter was in disarray. But it wasn’t right. Normally, he knew where everything was, even in a mess, because it was his mess. Nothing was in the right place. And something was missing. He didn’t know what. But something felt entirely off. All his personal items were there. But—  

The flame patch. The one Yondu had stuck on his jacket without him realizing until he got him. The one he’d pulled off and discarded into a pile of other junk. The one he’d forgotten about until today. And now it was missing.

Oh, they are sly. Kraglin shook his head. He was starting to put the pieces together now. Asssholes.

Kraglin’s court day came within a week, which he was grateful for in some respects. The last few days had been nerve-wracking, as he tried to figure out exactly what the court was going to use against him, and how he was going to defend himself. He felt confident— after all, he wasn’t guilty of anything. He walked into the trial in his uniform— the one time he was allowed to wear it since he was suspended. He looked much neater than he usually did, even on duty. His hair was combed back with a clean side-part. He’d shaved. Still, looking in the mirror, he had a feeling the council wouldn’t be impressed. No matter how well he cleaned up, he was still the scrappy orphaned kid, barely scraping nineteen, who could rarely hold his own in a fight and barely survived on a Corps payroll. You’re pathetic, Kraglin.

Still, he walked into the courtroom with a spring in his step and as much confidence as he could muster. Today, they’ll see they were wrong about me.

“Kraglin Obfonteri, we shall review the charges held against you. First, betrayal of the Nova Corps by failing to make an arrest of a known criminal, and related actions. Second, counterespionage and suspicion of alliance with the Yondu Ravager Clan. We will now share the evidence for your crimes.”

Kraglin watched silently as they played video capture of him cuffing Yondu and then letting him go, and of them shaking hands. “As you can see from this footage obtained from the market that day, Obfonteri apprehended the criminal but allowed him to walk free. They then shake hands, suggesting a form of alliance. Then here…” another clip played. “They exchange what we understand to be a Ravager salute. This evidence leads us to believe Obfonteri has a prior relationship with the Ravagers, and that some sort of deal has been arranged, whether silently or prior to this day. Although you cannot see it in this video, witnesses report seeing Obfonteri wearing a Ravager flame patch throughout the work day. And we have obtained that patch from his apartment.” The man speaking held it up for all to see. There were muffled gasps and murmurs throughout the crowd. Kraglin had the urge to stab something.

“This is the evidence we bring before you today. You must find Kraglin Obfonteri guilty.”

“Thank you,” Nova Prime said, and turned to address Kraglin. “Does the defendant have anything to say?”

“I sure as hell do,” he grumbled, and stood. “I had never met Yondu Udonta before that day. I had no previous interactions with any Ravagers— I knew of them only from rumors. Captain Udonta has an sound-controlled arrow that he threatened me with. We reached a stalemate. I couldn’t arrest him or he would kill me. But he couldn’t kill me or he’d never get out of the handcuffs. I let him go on the agreement that he would leave. As for the the handshake and salute, I wanted to prove I was being honest and would uphold my end of the agreement.” Kraglin sighed. “People like the Ravagers don't work like us. We can't expect them to do or not do things just because it's the law. Sometimes you have to do things their way. This was a case of that. I had to bargain. It worked no one was harmed. I don't see where I was wrong there. And as for the flame patch, that was not mine. I believe Udonta planted it on me when he departed. I didn't notice it until I got home.”

“Why didn't you get rid of it?” Someone asked. Kraglin rolled his eyes.

“It didn't seem urgent. I threw it on the counter and forgot about it. I have no idea how you people even managed to find it. I haven't seen it in weeks.” Kraglin could feel the sweat on his brow, sticky and uncomfortable.

“Is that all you have for a defense?”

Kraglin nodded. “That's all I've got because that's the whole truth.”

Nova Prime cleared her throat. “Unless anyone else has questions for Mr. Obfonteri—”

“I do.” The same man spoke up. “You say you didn't know much about the Ravagers other than through other people. If that's the case, how can you say whether the Ravagers are… ‘like us’ or not?” Kraglin looked around at the council. A lot of them were nodding in agreement to the question.

“They're pirates. Criminals. They don't follow laws to begin with, obviously. That's not having an intimate knowledge of them, that's common sense.” Kraglin was starting to get exasperated. Were these people stupid?” Actually, they probably are.

“You parents were involved in some illegal stuff, weren't they?” A different man spoke up now, pointing at Kraglin. “Maybe he’s never worked with the Ravagers specifically, but if he's been tied up in criminal circles before, it wouldn’t surprise me if he formed an alliance with this Udonta.” 

Kraglin’s face darkened. “I don't see why this is relevant. But yes- my family was poor and my parents did what they had to do to get by. But I was never involved in that. They were killed in a street fight. I joined the Nova Corps to combat criminals like the ones who murdered them. I’m not my parents. That has nothing to do with this!” He didn't have to see the faces of the council to know they were unconvinced. “I have nothing else to say to that.”

Finally, there were no more questions. Kraglin sat down and waited for them to reach a verdict. He felt sick. They had to believe him. They had to. They had…

“The jury has made a decision. Please reassemble.” Kraglin closes his eyes. Please. Please. “The high council of the Nova Empire has found Kraglin Obfonteri guilty of the aforementioned crimes.” No . “Mr. Obfonteri will be subject to a dishonorable discharge from the Nova Corps.” No. “There will be no arrest, but he will lose all privileges and benefits granted to an officer of the Corps.” No no no no no. “Someone will meet with you privately to go over the details. This court is now dismissed.”

Kraglin’s mind was numb. He half expected officers to drag him away in handcuffs, but that's not what happened. Everyone just started… leaving. And they all ignored him completely. Kraglin couldn't make his legs work so he just sat there watching the room empty out. Finally, a man in a suit came up to him. “Mr. Obfonteri, if you’ll come with me, we shall sort out the paperwork and you can be on your way.” This isn't happening.

“Right. Okay.” He forced himself to stand and follow the man, not sure how he was even functioning. The man led him into a small room, and laid out papers.

“You need to sign this, agreeing to vacate your apartment by the end of today, and this one, saying that you forfeit a final paycheck.” The man held out a pen to Kraglin. He didn't take it.

“Today?” 

“That's the law.” I guess I don't have a choice. Kraglin signed his name on both documents. “You have to hand in your uniform. I have some civilian clothes here for you. You can have privacy while you change. Leave your uniform on the table here, and then you're free to go.”

“Thanks,” Kraglin muttered at the man’s retreating back. Once he was gone and door shut, he sank into a chair. “Dammit!” he yelled to the empty room. “ Dammit ….” He put his head down on the table. He wasn't a crier. But he hadn't felt this helpless since his parents were killed four years ago. By the end of today he was going to have no money, no house, no life. What do I do now?

Picking himself up, Kraglin eyed the outfit the man had left. It was a brown leather jumpsuit, very plain, definitely used. Oh well. No different than what he was used to. He didn't own a lot of decent civilian clothes- he wore his uniform every day for work and then changed into whatever ratty outfit he had lying around when he got home. This was better than most of what he had anyway. He changed, folded his uniform, placed it on the table, and left the room. A guard outside nodded at him, but other than that, he was ignored. He walked alone back home, dreading what was to come.

The apartment was no different than when he left it, but it felt foreign. He looked around the tiny living room. He didn't have much stuff, but he knew he wouldn't be able to keep any of it. Tonight, he’d be sleeping on the street. He could only take what he could fit in a bag. So Kraglin started to pack. He dug out a knapsack from under his bed, and dropped a few necessities in it. His wallet, a few toiletries, the little bit of food in the kitchen. His glasses. The leather knife roll that housed his collection of 10 sharp daggers (a gift from his father). That was it. There wasn't anything else worth dragging around. And nothing valuable he could sell either. The rest of it would stay, and the Corps could do with it what they wanted.

Kraglin pulled one knife from the sheath and slipped it in his boot, then slung his bag over his shoulder and walked out of the apartment for the last time.

Chapter Text

Kraglin should’ve known that living on the street was going to be difficult. He’d chased enough tramps out of public buildings and made quite a lot of arrests for stolen food and the like. But as poor as his family was, and as questionable as the source of their food had been, he’d never experienced what being homeless was like— until now.

To say he didn’t like it was an understatement.

Luckily, he had a little bit of money saved up. Not enough to get somewhere to stay, but he could eat, cheaply. It was good enough. He’d get back on his feet soon, or so he continued to tell himself. He just had to survive until then.

Xandar at night isn’t a nice place, and Kraglin was beginning to see that.

He made it through each day though, without too much trouble. It was easy enough for him to blend into the shadows and be ignored, as skinny as he was. And so a week passed uneventfully, and at the end of another long day (of doing nothing), Kraglin turned down a dimly lit alley and settled down next to pile of empty crates. He shut his eyes and listened to the sounds of the city.

He was just starting to drift off to sleep, slumped against the wall, when he heard the sound of heavy boots on the pavement. Kraglin cracked one eye open, and then the other one. His hand jumped to the knife in his boot and he pulled it out slowly, then looked up at the person approaching. Recognition flickered in his expression but he didn’t let down his guard. He stood stepping to the side so he wouldn’t be backed up against the wall, and held his knife out in defense. “What are you doing here?”

Yondu Udonta was… shorter than Kraglin had remembered. Still strong and stocky, but short. Shorter than he was. That was… only a little comforting, knowing that the Ravager’s weapon was much more powerful than his own. But actually, the Ravager hadn’t whistled. The arrow was still in its holster. He barked a laugh and held up his hands.

“Don’t worry, Kraglin Obfonteri. I ain’t gonna attack ya, so put the knife away.” Kraglin did not put the knife away. “I ain’t even here to cause no trouble.”

“Then… why are you here?” Kraglin’s voice cracked a bit but his hand was steady.

“Well ya see… I was passin’ through this side o’ the Galaxy, and… I figured… why not go pay my ol’ pal Obfonteri a visit!” Yondu smiled a yellow snaggle-toothed smile that made Kraglin want to throw up.

“What you mean is you were spying on me.” Kraglin let the knife slip into his boot again and crossed his arms. The guy might be crazy, but he wasn’t going to hurt him… he didn’t think.

“Call it whatever you want,” Yondu said with a smirk. “So how ya doing?”

Kraglin deadpanned at him as hard as he could. “I’m sleeping in an alley, figure it out for yourself.”

“How awful. You lost your job and your house. I’m sorry to hear that.” Yondu didn’t sound sorry at all. “Hope it weren’t because of anything I did.”

Ooh, you bastard. “Course not,” Kraglin snipped sarcastically. “It’s not like you gave me trouble and then stuck one of your patches on me like I was part of your gang or anything.”

Yondu looked affronted. “We ain’t a gang . We’s a clan. A crew. We’s, ah… pirates.” There was that disgusting smile again. Ick. Kraglin tried not to think about how he hadn’t brushed his teeth in a week. “And I was thinkin’, well… we needs some new recruits. Xandar must get boring after a while. Wouldn’tcha rather go on space adventures with me ‘n the boys?”

That's the last thing I want to do, he thinks but actually… He’s right. It's boring here, or it was. And now I'm out of work and homeless and I don't exactly want to live on the streets anymore. Not that the Ravagers lived much differently, but it was common knowledge that they had a lot of money and of course they had a ship to live on. It's a better deal than what I’ve got right now.

“As tempting as that sounds,” Kraglin said, “Going from working for the Nova Corps to being part of the Galaxy’s most infamous criminals is a little ah…. dramatic.”

Yondu rolled his eyes. “I ain't begging you. Come, or don't. But clearly you ain't getting much food out here. With my crew, at least you'd be eating right.”

Kraglin was vaguely afraid to ask what was usually on the menu that constituted “eating right”. “How thoughtful of you,” he grumbled. “You’ll have to excuse me if I'm not jumping at the chance to take your offer. I've had enough sudden change in the last week for a lifetime.”

Yondu’s eyes flashed. “Dontchu try to tell me you don't enjoy it, though. Don't say you ain't bored out of your mind every day, you’s doing the same damn thing over and over again. You carry a knife in your boot, you probably have ten more hidden on you somewhere. You knew how a Ravager’s mind works, you knew how to get me to bargain with you instead of just takin’ what I wanted and killin’ ya. You ain't afraid to bend the rules and take on a challenge. Hell, you even did the Ravager salute to seal an agreement. I ain't known no Nova Corps officer who’s done that. So don't you try to tell me you ain't cut out for it, boy, because I know that's a goddamned lie. And you ain't scared either. I saw you put that knife away. So if you don't wanna come with us, then fine. Don't. But I'm only gonna offer this once. It's the offer of a lifetime, Obfonteri. Take it or leave it.”

Kraglin put his head in his hands, leaning up against the wall. “Jeez... Give me a day, will you? Just to think it over.”

There was a pause as Yondu considered. “Sleep on it,” he said. “My ship’s leavin’ at oh-eight-hundred hours tomorrow. If you ain’t there, we’s goin’ without you. And we ain’t gonna be back on Xandar anytime soon either. Besides,” he added, throwing a grin over his shoulder as he started to walk away. “If you wasn’t gonna say yes, you wouldn’t even be considering it. I’ll give you this as a courtesy. Seeya tomorrow, kid.”

“Or maybe you won’t!” Kraglin yelled to Yondu’s retreating back as he rounded the corner. “...Flark.” He slid down the wall and leaned his head back as his butt hit pavement. Now what? Yondu was right. Kraglin’s mind was made up. Of course he was going. What was he supposed to do otherwise? Keep living on the street? No one would hire a dishonorably discharged Nova Corps officer. If he was going to have to live the rest of his life being seen as a low-life petty criminal, he might as well seal the deal if it meant having a place to live. Still, he couldn’t help but feel he was making the stupidest decision of his life.

Maybe I’ll come to my senses in the morning. Or maybe I’ll actually wake up from this fucking nightmare.

***

Suffice to say, neither of those things happened. Instead, Kraglin woke up with a massive headache (he must’ve hit his head on the wall in his sleep), a crick in his neck, and the sickening realization that it was five minutes to oh-eight-hundred and he had no clue where Yondu’s ship was. “Shit. Shiiiiiiiiitflark.” He leapt to his feet and slung his bag over his shoulder, sprinting off down the alley toward the center of town. There was no room for an M-ship to land anywhere near where he was which meant…

It’s too late. He’s gone. Kraglin stopped, standing in the middle of the street, doubled over and wheezing, trying to catch his breath. Dammit…

“Wow. You idiot. For a second there, I thought you actually wasn’t gonna show up.” A voice behind him said, and Kraglin felt a hand on his shoulder. He spun around to face Yondu, watching him in amusement. “I don’t tolerate lateness on my ship, Obfonteri.”

Kraglin let out the hugest sigh of relief anyone in Xandar had probably ever made. “...Sorry ‘bout that,” he said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. “Overslept.”

“I’m your Captain now. Yer gonna address me as such.” Yondu, despite his short and stocky stance, was still intimidating as hell. Even moreso now that he was in a direct position of power over Kraglin. He nodded.

“Sorry— Cap’n. Won’t happen again.”

Yondu grunted in approval. “Haven’t even started yer first day on the job and yer already causin’ trouble. I like it.” He pointed upward, and Kraglin tilted his head back to see an M-ship high above them. “I waited for you until the last minute. The boys wasn’t very happy with me. We got places to go. Thievin’ to do. Lucky fer you, it ain’t hard to pick someone up with a tractor beam.” He spoke into what must’ve been a hidden comm. “Alright, bring us up. I told ya he’d come.”

As Kraglin looked upward, the beam reached out and pulled him and Yondu up and into the ship. It was a rough landing, and although Yondu kept his footing with ease, Kraglin collapsed in an undignified heap on the ground of the airlock. “Get up,” Yondu said, sounding somewhat amused and annoyed at the same time. Kraglin scrambled to his feet and brushed himself off. “It’s just us and two of my crew here. We’re going to join the rest of the ship now.” Yondu walked off, and Kraglin trailed him to the cockpit. In the pilot’s seats were two other Ravagers— one who must’ve been about Kraglin’s age, and another who looked a bit older than Yondu.

“This is Tullk,” Yondu said, gesturing to the older man, “and this idiot here is Halfnut.” He slapped the back of Halfnut’s chair, and the younger man spit in annoyance.

“Flark, Cap’n…”

“Boys, this is Kraglin Obfonteri. The new recruit.” Yondu smiled his toothy grin. Halfnut, who was steering the ship, kept his eyes firmly on the sky. Tullk stood to greet Kraglin.

“Good to meet ya, lad. Welcome to the finest Ravager clan in the galaxy. It don’t get any better than this. Udonta’s a damn fine Captain. Yer lucky to get to work with him.” He beat his chest in the Ravager salute, and Kraglin repeated the gesture.

“Uh… great. Thanks.” He ran a hand through his hair which was getting long and floppy and entirely too greasy for his comfort. Tullk’s hair looked like it hadn’t been washed in months, though. What am I getting myself into? He wondered. Do these people not have showers? Yondu gestured to an empty chair, and Kraglin sat gratefully— the ship kept lurching and while it seemed that these men had long ago gotten their space legs, he had not. Actually, he more or less was tossed into the seat when the ship abruptly changed direction.

“Halfnut you flarking idiot, I thought you knew how to fly this thing!” Yondu snarled, turning on the younger man. “Try not to kill us all before we reach the Eclector, will you?” Halfnut grumbled something under his breath, and Yondu either didn’t hear or chose to ignore it. Kraglin just observed all this silently.

Finally though, they reached the main ship without being killed by Halfnut’s piloting, and Kraglin stood only once the M-ship was successfully docked in the hangar. The four of them descended together, Tullk walking by Yondu’s side, Halfnut just a step behind. Kraglin trailed at the rear, looking around at the large corridors as they passed through. They passed other Ravagers, who caught sight of Kraglin and stared as he walked by. He kept his head down and said nothing. There had to be some rules to ship life, but hell if he knew them. He made a mental note to ask Yondu— the Captain — when they got wherever they were going.

Tullk and Halfnut parted ways at one point though, leaving Kraglin alone with Yondu. “First place you’re going is the Tailor, boy. That jumpsuit ain’t attractive at all on you, boy, and it ain’t  the right colors anyway. We’ll get some proper leathers made for you, and then you can go and meet the crew.” Kraglin just nodded and followed Yondu through a dozen more twists and turns, and vaguely realized that he was probably never going to learn his way around the ship and would most likely get lost and die alone in some broom closet. That wasn’t a very comforting thought, and he was relieved when they reached what could only be the Tailor’s room.

Yondu pushed the door open. “Yo Iznen! You in here?” From the back of the room, clanking, and then cursing.

“Captain, I dare you to sneak up on me one more time, and I swear I will—” The source of the voice popped up from behind a table, and Kraglin stared. This Iznen, who he could only assume was the Tailor, was a short and stocky little woman, with wild hair flying in every direction, and a grumpy expression on her face.

“I ain’t tryin’ to bother you,” Yondu rolled his eyes. “We got a new recruit. Think you can whip him up a set of leathers real fast for me?” Iznen showed her teeth and Kraglin cringed. These people really had no concept of hygiene.

“I got better things to do than make clothes for the scrawny little strays you pick up, Captain.” Iznen’s hands were on her hips and Kraglin watched the exchange with mild amusement and fear.

“I’m pretty damn sure you ain’t got nothin’ better to do,” Yondu said. “But I brought you some Xandarian chocolate, just in case.”

Iznen’s eyes lit up and she stuck out her hand. “I always got time for you, Captain,” she purred. Yondu dropped the chocolate in her hand and she took a bite, then made a shooing motion with her hands. “Now off you go. Me n’ the new kid will be just fine.” Yondu nodded.

“Come to the bridge when you’re done,” he said, and left. Kraglin stared at the door after him.

“So. You gonna tell me your name or anything?” Kraglin jumped, turning to the little Ravager woman guiltily.

“Sorry. Uh, yeah. I’m Kraglin. Obfonteri.”

Iznen laughed. “Whatchu so jumpy for, Krags? I don’t bite— much! You ain’t gotta make conversation if you don’t wanna. I just figure it’s better to fill the silence than let it sit and get awkward, hm?”

“....Right.” Kraglin nodded. “How come the Cap’n lets you talk back to him?”

Iznen pulled out a measuring tape and started taking all sorts of measurements on him. “Boy, I’ve been the Captain’s Tailor since he was a newbie like yerself. You know someone that long, you get to sass them a little.”

Kraglin smiled nervously. He liked Iznen, even though her boldness terrified him just a little.

“Now it’s my turn to ask a question,” she said, finally pulling away from him and retreating behind a table, digging for something. “Where’d Yondu pick you up? Xandar?”

“Yeah,” he said, suddenly feeling very out of place. “I’m an ex-Nova Corps officer. We met a few weeks back. I think he’s been spying on me. Knew I’d get myself into a situation where I’d feel the need to join you all, and he was right, clearly.” He swallowed, throat dry. “Anyways. That’s what happened.”

Iznen hummed in acknowledgement, but gave no other response. “This won’t take too long,” she said. “I’m good with a needle and thread.” Kraglin caught a wicked gleam in her eye, and he briefly wondered if she used that needle for something other than making uniforms. He decided not to dwell on it.

And sure enough, less than an hour later, it was done. She held a jumpsuit of tough red leather out to him, and Kraglin took it gingerly. “There’s a little changin’ area over there,” she said, pointing. “Go on, then.” Kraglin stepped behind the freestanding screen and stripped off his (now pretty gross) suit from home. “You can leave your old clothes back there,” Iznen called. “I’ll burn it for you.” That was a good fate for the stinking leather, Kraglin agreed. He stepped into the new jumpsuit and pulled it up, feeling the way it fit his figure perfectly and had just the right amount of give around the joints. Catching his reflection in a broken piece of glass propped up against the wall, he examined his appearance critically. The deep red was much more flattering than the uniform he’d worn with the Corps, and he felt much more powerful in this. And on the left breast, over his heart, a golden flame patch like the one Yondu had planted on him weeks ago. He smirked at his reflection. This was something he could get used to.

Stepping out from around the screen, he held out his arms to let Iznen look at her handiwork. The Tailor clapped her hands together, pleased. “It looks perfect!” she said, delighted. “How does it feel?”

“...Really great, actually,” Kraglin said, still kind of surprised with himself. “You made this from scratch so fast. How?”

Iznen held a finger up to her lips. “Years of practice, boy. But a Tailor never reveals her secrets.” She clapped Kraglin on the back. “Best go meet the Captain again. Bridge is thataway.” She pointed to the left. “You ever need this fixed or somethin’, come on by. Just bring me some chocolate and you won’t hear a peep o’ complainin’.” Kraglin smiled nervously.

“Thanks,” he said, and beat his chest in the Ravager salute, because he didn’t know what else to do. Iznen grinned and saluted back.

“Good luck, boy!” she called as he left, and Kraglin sincerely hoped he wouldn’t need it.

Turns out, he did. It must’ve been some Ravager tradition or something for new recruits to go to the Tailor before anything else, because there was a crowd of people waiting outside the door when Kraglin stepped into the hall.

“So you’re the new guy,” one of them hissed in a low voice. They crowded around him as he walked, and he tried to ignore them as best he could, but their breath…

Suddenly, a weight hit Kraglin from behind. He slammed into the corridor wall and he heard jeers from the others as his attacker held him there, one arm twisted behind his back. “Welcome to the crew, Obfonteri,” a voice said, and Kraglin turned his head enough to see Halfnut grinning at him. The Ravager had one hand on the wall casually, and the other was holding Kraglin’s arm painfully. “We’ll call this your… initiation.”

Pressed up against the wall like this, Kraglin was basically helpless. But… he reached down for his boot with his free arm, and grasped the hilt of his knife. “Yeah?” he said through grit teeth. “Consider it initiated.” In a swift motion, he pulled the knife out and stabbed it down on the hand on the wall. Halfnut yelped in pain and immediately released him, reaching for the offensive weapon. Kraglin pulled the knife out and Halfnut sunk to his knees, cradling his damaged hand. He held it out in front of him, pointed threateningly at the others, and fished another out of his bag without looking. Standing with his back to the wall and a knife in either hand, he stared the Ravagers down. “Anyone else want to try something?”

No one moved. Kraglin started walking again. One guy made a move, and Kraglin slashed the sleeve of his jacket without looking. He twirled the knife in his hand with a grin and strode onto the bridge. Yondu was waiting for him, along with a few other Ravagers, and he looked very pleased. Kraglin dropped one knife back into his boot and the other held by his side. “Cap’n,” he said, saluting. “Reporting as ordered.”

Yondu laughed loudly, walking up to Kraglin and slapping him on the back. “I ain’t got a clue what happened on your way over here, but from what I can see, I made a good call inviting you here. Welcome to the Yondu Ravager Clan, Obfonteri. You’ll fit right in.”

The next hour or so was filled with introductions and a guided tour by at least five different people. By the end of it, it was evening and Kraglin was wiped out, but the night was just getting started. Ravagers party hard, Kraglin learned, and he found himself swept up in a whirlwind of drinking and singing along to old space shanties at the top of his lungs. He didn’t even know the words, but at this point he was too drunk to care.

“Scurry scurry on and on
Bare ya fangs and tear ‘em up!
We’s the Rats o’ th’ galaxy
Scurry scurry on and on
Bare ya fangs and tear ‘em up!
We’s the Rats o’ th’ galaxy
And flarkin’ proud we be!”

When it was many hours past midnight and they were all too wasted to stay awake, they all collapsed in a big pile on a floor, passed out in a jumble of limbs and sticky leather. And although he was pretty sure he was going to drown in sweat, and the stench of all these bodies had permanently damaged his sense of smell, Kraglin fell asleep feeling more content and at home than he had ever in his life.

Chapter Text

As each day that Kraglin spent with Yondu’s crew passed, he began get the hang of the way things worked on a Ravager ship. He’d had a lot of adjusting to do, since he’d been land-bound his entire life and had never spent any time on a ship, unlike the others. Other than finding his “space-legs”, as Yondu had called it, Kraglin had to find his place in the ranks of the crew. He had already seen that he was the bottom of the dogpile— Halfnut and the others had confirmed that his first day. It hadn’t taken long after that for Kraglin to figure out how they felt about him. But he had also made quite a reputation for himself that day. His competence with knives left an impression on the crew, especially those who had threatened him in the first place. Halfnut had tactfully avoided him ever since then, and Kraglin was grateful for it.

Yondu was a busy man, which could be expected as the Captain. He had mostly tasked other members of the crew with showing Kraglin around and teaching him what he needed to know. Most of his jobs had been the messy stuff no one else wanted to do. Cleaning the vents, scrubbing the floor, helping to repair broken machinery, that sort of thing. He ended most of his days sweaty and covered in slime, grease, or something worse, but he always ended with a smile and a cheerful wipe of his brow. The hard labor was better than anything he’d done while in the Nova Corps and well worth the effort. For every Ravager who gave him a dirty look, there were another two who patted him on the back and told him he was doing a good job.

On his fourth day, Tullk brought him to the M-ship hangar. “Today I’m gonna teach ya how to pilot a spaceship. I assume you ain’t never done anything like this where ye come from, laddie?”

Kraglin shook his head. “I don’t want to crash it or anything…” he said hesitantly. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

Tullk slapped his shoulder good-naturedly. “It ain’t actually that hard, kid. Don’t go tryin’ any tricks or nothin’ but I’m sure ye can handle the steering and all. Let’s get going!” As they prepped the M-ship, Kraglin felt his fears ease a bit. It had two control and steering consoles, which meant Tullk could take over should anything go terribly wrong. Once they were situated in the cockpit of the ship, Tullk maneuvered them out of the hangar, and then passed the controls to Kraglin.

Although he got off to a rough start, it didn’t take him long to ease into it. In no time, he was flying like a pro. And then just as Tullk opened his mouth to tell Kraglin how great he was doing and how safely he was flying, he plunged the ship down into a fast nosedive and pulled up sharply, whizzing through the air. Tullk yelled something incoherent, but Kraglin just laughed as they shot upward. When he finally leveled them out, Tullk was gasping and Kraglin was grinning wider than he probably ever had in his life.

“How was that?” he asked breathlessly, and Tullk shook his head.

“Well lad, what can I say? Yer a natural.”

Kraglin’s newfound skill earned him a place on the rotating schedule of bridge pilots. Of course, steering the giant flagship that was the Eclector was much different from flying a little M-ship, but the same principles applied, and Kraglin was good at it. Actually, he found he was good at a lot of things Ravagers have to do. He just hoped that Yondu knew about it, since Kraglin rarely saw him. For a while, he thought he’d done something wrong, something to make the Captain mad. But he tried to stay positive and convince himself he was just busy. And it seemed to work, because when he had been there for a week, Yondu announced to the crew that they were going on a raid. The whole ship was abuzz with excitement, wondering where they were going, what good treasure they might find, and most importantly— who would be going along.

Kraglin mainly ignored this commotion and focused on his duties: clearing out the air vents, cleaning the tables in the mess hall after meals, and the most coveted, piloting the Eclector . That job usually went to much more experienced pilots, but his knack for flying earned him that spot on the roster and he wasn’t about to throw it away because he was distracted by the prospect of a raid he wasn’t going to be included on. So no one on the bridge was prepared for the sudden jerk in the ship’s flight pattern when Yondu’s voice came crackling over the comm system, listing off names.

“...Wretch, Gef… and Kraglin.”

Several crew members who were standing about were thrown forward as the ship lurched. Kraglin had pulled a little too hard on the shifter, unable to contain his surprise. Too stunned to focus, he just sat there in his seat, a confused frown on his face. The others around him stared, as if waiting for him to do something.

“Fer the love of…” Lough, another pilot, shoved Kraglin ungracefully out of his seat and quickly recalibrated the ship back to its original flight pattern. “If ya ain’t gonna fly the flarkin’ ship, get outta the way so someone else can.” They turned their attention to the sky, and Kraglin was left ignored.

“You should probably go find the Captain, kid, and quit just standing there looking like a lost stray,” someone else quipped. Kraglin nodded and wiped his face with his sleeve, straightened his back, and marched off to track down Yondu.

Along the way, two other Ravagers appeared on either side of Kraglin, flanking him as they walked. “I’m Brahl,” one said. The other introduced herself as Jenlyn. “We’s part of the raid party too. Cap’n’s holdin’ a meeting in the Mess. You can go along with us.” Kraglin didn’t really have a choice, so he allowed his companion to walk with him the whole way there. Uncertain as to what their motives were, he was relieved that he’d stowed a dagger in each boot that morning— just in case. But nothing happened along the way, and sure enough, the entire group was gathering around a large table in the center of the Mess Hall. And at the head, surrounded by other Ravagers, sat Yondu. Kraglin wouldn’t have even noticed him if he hadn’t stood up to greet the arrivals.

“So glad you could join us,” he said dryly. “You’re late.”

“S-sorry, Cap’n… we was, uh… we was showin’ Obfonteri here the way, and…” Jenlyn stammered.

“Shut up.” Yondu didn’t look at her at all. His eyes were fixed on Kraglin, who squirmed a bit under the gaze but said nothing. They stared at each other for a moment, Yondu searching Kraglin’s face for something. He seemed to have found it, for he nodded and sat back down. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

There was talk of routes and maps and fighting and profit, most of which went over Kraglin’s head. He sat there, a little overwhelmed as listened to the crew converse. His eyes stayed locked on Yondu. The Captain practically glowed when he talked. His eyes lit up, his face set in passionate determination. Kraglin hadn’t realized how young the Centaurian was, as the set of his face made him look much older, paired with that long worn coat. But with the energy he was radiating, it was obvious. How had this man become a Captain at such an early age? He had to be very talented at what he did, and Kraglin was starting to see that he was.

Finally, by the end of the meeting, Kraglin had more or less gotten the gist of what was happening during the raid. But he still had some questions. He slid up next to Yondu as the crowd was dispersing and tapped his shoulder. “Uh… Captain?”

“What is it, Kraglin?” Yondu asked, turning to look at the young man.

“Can I ask… what exactly am I going to be doing during the raid, then?” He fiddled his hands a bit, a nervous tick he’d picked up working for the Nova Corps. For some reason, he just couldn’t make himself meet Yondu’s eyes. He was embarrassed, and a little overwhelmed. The sudden change of lifestyle was such a whirlwind and he was just barely keeping up. And as it turned out, it hadn’t even changed its full amount yet.

“Well I’ve seen yer flying,” Yondu said in approval. “That’s why I’m bringing you along, so you can pilot one of the ships in the fleet.”

“And then… that’s it?” Kraglin was secretly relieved as the prospect. Fly in, sit around out of danger, and fly out. Easy. “I’ll just wait for you all to return, then?”

Yondu laughed and Kraglin’s cheeks flushed, looking away abashedly. “No, boy! You’ll be comin’ to thieve with us too.”

Oh.

“...Why?” he asked, although he was fully aware he wasn’t going to get a good response to that. Or at least one he wanted.

“Because,” the Captain said with a snigger. “Everyone’s gotta help, who comes along. You ain’t a real Ravager ‘til you’ve pillaged some poor planet’s banks and markets and all that stuff.”

Kraglin could see where this was going. “So like… steal stuff.”

Yondu stared at him like he had sprouted a second head. “Yes? What did you think, boy?” Kraglin shrugged.

“I… I’ve never stolen anything before,” he muttered under his breath.

Yondu burst out laughing. “You were living on the streets until I picked you up! How in the hell did you manage not to steal anything ?”

Another shrug, but Kraglin was much more defensive now. “Listen. I grew up being taught that stealing was bad. I was a Nova Corps officer— it was my job tob to arrest the folks who steal stuff. So I’m sorry that I’m not… some expert thief or anything. I just don’t… feel comfortable… you know. Doing that.”

Yondu bared his teeth, crossing his arms and stared down Kraglin. Despite being taller than the Captain, it felt like Yondu was easily towering over him. That was the sort of effect Yondu had on people. Kraglin winced at the smell of his breath and the gross yellow smile. “You wanna be a Ravager, Kraglin? You wanna be like one of us?” Kraglin wanted to interject with no, actually, I didn’t, not really. But he didn’t. He just kept his mouth shut. “Then you gotta follow the code, and the code says ‘steal from everybody’. So do it. Or else you ain’t got a place with us, no matter how well you fly this ship, or how many knives you can fit inside your leathers. You got that?”

Kraglin didn’t like it one bit, but what could he do? So he nodded stiffly, and saluted. “Aye, Cap’n. When do we leave?”

“In a few hours. Go ready a ship.”

“Yessir.”

When Yondu walked into the hangar, Kraglin was lounging in the pilot’s seat of an M-ship, feet propped up on the dash. He quickly scrambled into a proper sitting position and flashed a grin. “All ready, Cap’n.” Yondu nodded and climbed in, sitting in the chair beside him. “Where to?”

Yondu smirked, mimicking Kraglin’s prior position and kicking his feet up. “K’ai.” Kraglin nodded and programmed the location into the console. He’d never been there (he’d never been anywhere except Xandar, and the Ravager ship) but the technology on the M-ship was advanced enough that he didn’t have to do much of the navigating himself. He just had to steer. Along the way, he couldn’t help but wonder why Yondu had decided to go with Kraglin. There were three other M-ships he could’ve picked, but he was here, with the newbie. Kraglin didn’t know whether to be terrified or honored— so he decided to go with both.

They spent most of the flight in silence, mainly because Kraglin couldn’t think of a single thing to say to Yondu that wouldn’t be weird or awkward or out of line. And Yondu wasn’t one for small talk either, so they were just quiet. But somehow, it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. Kraglin enjoyed the company of the Captain, and Yondu seemed to be content as well, so he didn’t question it too much.

“This is it, down there,” Kraglin said, pointing out the window. “K’ai. Shall we go on down?” Yondu nodded, and Kraglin pulled the ship into a steep nose dive, plunging through the atmosphere and toward the surface.

The planet was barren, and although there was life there, Kraglin could see it wasn’t populated in the way Xandar was. It was different from his home in every way, but as he and the other Ravagers started to trek across the wasteland, he could see the similarities as well. Not so much of the fancy part of Xandar, where he’d lived and worked with the Nova Corps, but the bad part, where his parents had grown up… where he’d been living until Yondu picked him up. The memories it brought back were too much for Kraglin to take in, so he stifled them in favor of concentrating on the task at hand. “What are we looking for?” he asked, glancing around. “I don’t see anything… valuable.”

Yondu laughed, a harsh scratchy sound. “You gotta do a little digging, boy. We’ll take whatever shinies we can get our hands on. The planet’s full of ‘em, ever since the genocide they had, couple o’ years back. Bunch a shit got destroyed, decimated the population, and we reap the benefits. Not a bad deal, eh?”

Kraglin felt vaguely like he was going to throw up, so he clamped his jaw and said nothing. He followed the others, and when Yondu ordered them to split up and search, he still stuck close to the Captain. He still wasn’t quite sure what they were supposed to be stealing, and Yondu seemed to be able to tell.

“Little trinkets,” he said, casting his eyes around. “Money. Weapons—”

“People?” Kraglin interjected. “Like, slaves? Do we do that?”

Yondu stopped walking so quickly that Kraglin almost smacked into him from behind. The Centaurian whipped around and glared up at him, red eyes narrowed. His lips were pursed to whistle, and Kraglin could see the gleaming arrow tip in the hostler at his waist. He took a step back. They looked at each other for a moment, Kraglin fearful and Yondu angry. Then just as quickly as he’d snapped, the Captain seemed to deflate, turned around, and continued to walk again.

“No,” he said, something in his voice Kraglin couldn’t interpret. “No slaves. We ain’t in that business.”

Kraglin nodded, a little bemused. “Right… No slaves. Got it.” Yondu ignored him. Probably should go be useful. Get this over with. He split off from the Captain and walked down a dirt road on his own. Yondu didn’t seem to notice his absence, and Kraglin felt guilty. He didn’t know why, but he did. Feeling guilty wasn’t going to get him very far though— if there was one thing he had learned in the last week, it was that the Ravagers didn’t take well to any sort of sentiment. It just didn’t serve them well. He figured guilt fell under that category, so he pushed it aside and focused on finding something to bring back so there wasn’t another reason for Yondu to be mad at him.

Kraglin kicked through a pile of junk sitting at the side of the road. Scrap metal, rags, lots of dirt and grime. And… at the bottom, a long rusted dagger. He bent over and picked it up, holding it up in the murky light. It wasn’t particularly shiny, but it was a weapon, and would probably be a good one when it was cleaned up. He slid it into a loop on his pant leg so it was hidden inside his boot and continued walking. It was a good start, but one old knife wasn’t going to win Yondu’s favor. Further in the distance, he spotted some vendor’s stands. Maybe he’d have better luck down there. As he paced through the crowd, he could feel eyes on him, but he ignored them. Better to not draw any more attention to himself than necessary.

Then, closer to the village center, gunfire. Loud yells erupted in the market, and Kraglin stood stock still, watching the K’ai people scatter every which way. Then, Yondu’s voice over the comm in his ear, chuckling. “Alright everyone! Get to the ships! Go! Go!”

So one of us did this. The terror on these people’s faces… like they expected the shots to be from their own government or something. But it was just the Ravagers. A distraction, so they could get away with whatever booty they’d collected. Kraglin quickly looked around for anything else of value he could grab. Spotting a basket of gold coins, he vaulted over a stand, stuffed as many as he could in his pockets, and sprinted back to the ship. The rest of the crew fell in beside him, and they each flung themselves into their respective ships. When Kraglin clambered into the pilot’s seat, he found Yondu already there across from him, grinning to himself. Kraglin grit his teeth and concentrated on getting them in the air. It was only once they had cleared the planet’s atmosphere with the other M-ships that he allowed himself to glance over at the Captain. Yondu was already looking in his direction.

“Here.” Kraglin reached into his pockets and dumped out the coins. They scattered and rolled across the floor. Yondu followed them with his eyes, then looked back up at him. “Grabbed these from a vendor’s stand. Hope it suits you.” He didn’t reveal the dagger. That, he was keeping for himself.

Yondu gave Kraglin a long look. Eyes still on him, he bent over and picked up what he could reach from his seat, tucking it away safely in his jacket. “Not too bad,” he said gruffly. “For yer first raid n’ all.”

Kraglin said nothing, and the rest of the flight back to the Eclector was in silence. When they were docked, he hopped out of the ship and brushed past the congratulatory shoulder pats of the rest of the crew, heading for his bunk. The cabin was empty, so he pulled the weapon from his boot and started to scrub at it with his sleeve. Not much of the grime came off, but he could start to see a shine to it. Over time, he could probably clean it up properly. Placing it on the floor, Kraglin stretched out on the bed, closing his eyes.

What a day.

Chapter Text

There was never a boring day in the life of a Ravager. That was something Kraglin was learning quickly. When he worked for the Nova Corps, he could always expect to work regular hours doing nothing of interest, and then come home just to sit around doing nothing at all. He’d been with Yondu’s crew for a month, and it seemed like he just hadn’t stopped going . He was tired, and there were times when he regretted every complaining about how dull the Nova Corps could be. But even so, every so often Kraglin was able to escape the hustle and bustle and steal a few quiet moments for himself.

Most of those moments came when he had the night shift on the bridge. While the rest of the crew slept, one pilot had to stay awake and keep the ship on course. It was one of the hardest jobs, but also the most coveted. Whoever was on that shift got to take the entire day off after, simply to catch up on sleep. But staying awake and alert all night when nothing happened and there was no one to keep you company wasn’t an easy feat, and if you were caught snoozing on the job, you’d suffer a pay cut, or worse. Still, Kraglin treasured those quiet hours where he could catch his breath and just take time for himself. He never had issues staying awake either, which made this the ideal job for him. And once he’d woken up from his morning snooze after a long night, he usually spent the rest of the day in the weapons room doing target practice, or on an upper deck looking at a star chart. Whatever he did to entertain himself in his free time, he did it alone.

That had resulted in him gaining a reputation as the mysterious and somewhat aloof recruit. Even though he wasn’t that new anymore, he was young, a loner, and (at least to some crewmen) dangerous and highly skilled with a knife. And Kraglin didn’t really mind, since it meant they generally left him alone and he rarely had to watch his back. He knew he still got some glares and evil looks when he passed Halfnut in the corridor, but even he wasn’t stupid enough to try attacking Kraglin again. It was a comforting knowledge— and Kraglin was smiling to himself at the thought when he heard footsteps behind him on the bridge.

Son of a—

It would be just his luck for Halfnut to take this opportunity to sneak up on him, just while he was thinking about it. Trying not to show he could hear, he moved very slowly for the knife in his boot. He drew it carefully and sat stock still. The footsteps had stopped. Kraglin held his breath. Then—

“Obfonteri.”

Kraglin was on his feet, facing the newcomer, weapon in front of him. And then he let it drop to his side the moment he saw who it was.

“...Cap’n. You startled me. What’re you sneakin’ up on me for? No offense,” he added breathlessly.

Yondu blinked at him, amusement on his face. “Yer so jumpy, no wonder you’re always armed to the teeth. Think there’s enemies hiding behind every corner, do you?”

Kraglin sighed and sat back down, shaking his head. “Something like that,” he muttered, spinning the chair to face the dashboard again. He was embarrassed and didn’t want to look at Yondu right now. To his chagrin, the Captain walked around and sat in the chair beside him. Kraglin felt his face getting hot. “Do you usually go walkin’ around the ship at night? Have I missed something?”

Yondu laughed. “Nah. But I couldn’t sleep. Figured I’d enjoy the silence while I can get it.” Kraglin frowned, finally looking at the Captain in surprise.

“I thought you enjoyed all the commotion. It’s your ship, after all.” Nothing about Yondu gave the impression that he was the sort of guy who liked peace and quiet, and Kraglin was fairly convinced he was being sarcastic, even if he didn’t sound it. “If you want silence, then don’t worry. I won’t talk to you. Not much for chatter, anyway.” He stared out the window again.

After a few minutes of not talking, Yondu stood. “Well then. Guess I’ll be going. Have a good night, Obfonteri.”

Kraglin blinked, startled out of his concentration. “Wha— why—” He swiveled around to watch the Captain leave, but Yondu stopped, hands on his hips.

“Well if ya ain’t gonna talk ta me, I might as well not stay here.”

“But you said—”

“Don’t backtalk me, boy.”

“...Okay.” Kraglin chewed his lip in thought. “I don’t mind, though. We can talk. It’ll help me stay awake.” Yondu paused again, and Kraglin could feel his eyes boring into the back of his skull. He could practically see the wheels turning in his head as he assessed the situation. Finally, Yondu gave in with a huff, flinging himself into the seat opposite.

“Yer settling in, then?” Kraglin looked over at Yondu.

“Uh. Yeah, guess I am. Already been a month,” Kraglin said, scratching the back of his neck.

“So it has.” Yondu seemed to mull that fact over, and Kraglin wondered why the Captain was even interested in conversing with him. Must be bored out of his skull. “These boys o’ mine sure do have strong opinions of ya. Ye’ve got quite the reputation.”

Kraglin hid a smile. “A good one, or a bad one?” The last thing he wanted was for Yondu to be getting an impression of him from the crew of an image he didn’t particularly want to project, but on the other hand, there was something exciting about the prospect of the Captain knowing that the other Ravagers found him intimidating in some way, or dangerous, or powerful.

Yondu seemed to consider that. For a long while. Long enough that Kraglin wasn’t sure if he was ignoring him or if he just hadn’t heard him. Finally though, he broke, snickering. Kraglin looked at him uncertainly, and Yondu just shook his head with a smile. “Good one if yer a Ravager, bad one if ya ain’t.”

“Well then.” Kraglin crossed his arms. “Glad to know I’m appreciated.”

There was still something strange about just accepting the fact that he was a Ravager now. Strange and thrilling— and isn’t that what he’d wanted? Xandar and the Nova Corps seemed so far away now. Out here, there was only the open sky, a lack of order, and a hundred rowdy space pirates. And Kraglin couldn’t remember the last time he brushed his teeth. The thought didn’t make him sick to his stomach anymore, either. Cultural assimilation at its best .

“I’m glad yer a good pilot,” Yondu said. “Means ya got somethin’ productive ta do since y’ain’t very good at stealin’ shit.” Kraglin looked affronted, but Yondu just threw him back a playful grin. “Well, it’s true. But that’s alright. You’ll learn. We got guys here who’ve been stealin’ their whole lives, and then some. For now, you can fly, and scare people.”

“Well that sounds acceptable.” A pause. “Flyin’ is fine. It’s good.” Another, longer pause. “It’s free, ya know? Whether it’s in one of the M-ships, or even here. It’s just me, ‘n the sky, with nothin’ in between. And,” he added with a shrug. “If folks are scared o’ me, they’ll leave me alone.”

Yondu was silent again, but this time Kraglin could tell he was thinking— about what , he didn’t know. When he did speak, it was quieter, and there was something in his voice that seemed unsteady, like the words were hard to say. “Ya sure got a strange way of thinking, boy. All whimsical-like. Been a long time since I was ever that optimistic about life, or anything for that matter.” Kraglin looked over at him, and his expression immediately hardened. “You’ll grow out of it,” he mumbled.

“I’m not that much younger than you are!” Kraglin said. “Unless Centaurians age differently than we do. I don’t actually think I’m that optimistic. I’ve seen some shit.”

At that, Yondu snorted, shaking his head. “You ain’t seen nothin’ compared to me, Obfonteri.” Kraglin figured it was better to just not ask what that meant. “Yer still hopefully. Ya still see some good in the world. I mean, look at the way you hold onto your polished accent and speech pattern. You ain’t so given over to this way o’ life that you forget the life you had before. A good life, a better, more sheltered one than this. And whether you’ve left it behind or not, it makes you soft. The Ravager life ain’t soft, and there ain’t room for softness in it. But I wish I could experience the galaxy through your eyes.”

Well, damn. Kraglin didn’t know what to say to that. He stared ahead out the window, much more concentrated than he needed to be, because he couldn’t look at Yondu. How could he, after a statement like that. He chalked it up to it being the middle of the night and them both being tired. He yawned. Yep. Definitely tired. Yondu must’ve noticed, because he finally spoke up, and Kraglin was grateful for the change of subject.

“If we’s gonna be here all night, might as well eat something. Go grab us some grub from the kitchen. I can hold things down here ‘til yer back.” Kraglin nodded and stood, cracking his back, and walked around to the exit. Looking back over his shoulder, he saw Yondu switch the controls to the console in front of his seat, so he nodded and wandered off to the kitchen.

Kraglin knew if the chef was around, he’d probably get an earful about stealing food, so he just hoped saying that the Captain asked for it would be a good enough excuse. But as it turned out, he was nowhere in sight. (Not that Kraglin was surprised. It was late.) He rummaged through the fridge and cupboard and dug out a giant tub of soup and a dusty bottle of… something. That would do. He sniffed the soup. A little old, but edible. Probably. He poured it into two bowls, and carried it all back to the bridge.

“I come bearing soup!” he called out, announcing his presence. “And alcohol.”

“Good. Bring it here.” Yondu craned his neck to look over his shoulder at Kraglin approaching. He handed a bowl to the Captain and sat back down in his chair. Immediately, he started shoveling soup into his mouth, only to gag, nearly choking.

“This is awful. What’s in here?” He peered closer at the bowl, warily.

“Flark if I know,” Yondu said. “Pass me the booze.” Kraglin popped the cork off the bottle and took a long swig, hoping it would wash away the putrid taste. It burned, but it helped. He handed it over to Yondu who drank like it was nothing. They passed the bottle back and forth, Kraglin alternating that with bites of the rancid soup. This went on long enough that eventually he couldn’t smell or taste anything at all, and the soup became a lot more appetizing after that. Yondu hadn’t touched his, and when he saw Kraglin eyeing it greedily, he passed it over to him. And when the soup ran out, the alcohol was there to replace it.

“We should go flyin’ sometime,” Kraglin said, words slurring. “Jus’ you an’ me. Then I can show ya what the galaxy is like from my point o’ view.”

It was obvious that Kraglin was much drunker than Yondu was, but still the Captain humored him. “Yeah, alright. Some time, we’ll do tha’ okay? Concentrate on keepin’ this ship in the air first, okay?”

“Mhm.” Kraglin’s head started to droop shut, and Yondu smacked his arm.

“No snoozing. Wait ‘til it’s lighter. Then ya can go ta bed.”

“Fine, fine.” Kraglin forced himself to keep his eyes open. As the light from several surrounding planets warmed the sky, he turned to smile lazily at Yondu. A loud beeping from the console signaled the end of the shift, and he stood unsteadily. “I’ll take this back to the kitchen,” he said.

Yondu nodded. “Do that. Then go sleep.”

“Are you gonna sleep too?” Kraglin asked, balancing the empty bowls and bottle in his arms. Yondu didn’t reply. “Right, okay.” He staggered away to drop off the dishes, then hurried as fast as his shaky legs would let him through the winding halls. He collapsed in his bunk as the others in the cabin were just starting to wake up. Their morning chatter sounded like screaming with the growing ache in his head, so he covered his ears with a pillow and shoved his face into the hard mattress.

Still, despite how tired he was, he couldn’t seem to fall asleep. Everything Yondu had said to him was playing back in his mind. You ain’t so given over to this way o’ life that you forget the life you had before.

Whatever the others thought about him, he wasn’t a Ravager. Not really, not yet. He had to let go. There ain’t room for softness in this life.

“Probably why the beds are so hard,” he mumbled, and rolled over, drifting off to sleep.  

Chapter Text

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

One, two, three knives hit the center of the target. That’ll have to get replaced, Kraglin thought absently, looking at the ruined dartboard. It probably wasn’t meant for daggers. He walked over to retrieve his weapons, dragging his feet across the scuffed floor of the training room. It was spacious, taking up nearly an entire deck of the second quadrant. There were areas for nearly every type of weapon and battle training one could imagine. A gun range, arrow targets, dartboards. There were sparring rings intended for sword fights, hand to hand, and everything in between. Equipment for personal training was scattered throughout, and a separate room for storing any weaponry that wasn’t personal. Most of the Ravagers owned at least a few pieces that were exclusively their own, but for big battles, they mainly used the equipment on the ship (most of which had been picked up and collected over various raids). Of course, any of it was available for use at any time as long as it was returned.

Kraglin personally had little interest in guns and anything automated in any way. He was good with his knives, so that’s what he stuck to. But on a day like today, when he had a rare few hours off in the coolest part of the evening, he had much more ample time to train in. So when the knives were done, he carefully wiped down each one, put them away, and retrieved a small blaster gun from the rack. He carried it over his shoulder to the range, and took a few practice shots. They weren’t awful. But not capable of holding up in battle. The practice couldn’t hurt.

He landed a few more shots on the target until there was less of it left than there were holes. He was ready to finish it off when he heard footsteps and a voice behind him.

“What’d the target do to you?”

Kraglin whipped around, arm falling to his side. Halfnut’s yellow smile greeted him, with his head tipped to the side and long tangled black hair falling across his shoulder. The slightly crazed look in his eyes paired with the cocky smirk was enough to let Kraglin know this wasn’t going to be a brief interaction. He sighed and put his free hand on his hip. “Halfnut.” He nodded cordially in greeting. “It was looking at me funny. Like you are now, so maybe you oughtta move before I shoot you too.”

Halfnut’s eyes widened a fraction and he held up his hands defensively. “I ain’t said nothing, Obfonteri, jeez. Flarkin’ weirdo.”

Kraglin pushed his floppy hair out of his eyes and glowered at Halfnut’s pompous expression. The bastard looked so pleased with himself and Kraglin wanted nothing more than to throw something at him, or punch him, or shoot him, as he’d said. “What is your problem with me?”

“You’re the one who just threatened to shoot me!”

“This goes way beyond that.” Kraglin stalked up to the other Ravager, poking a finger at his chest. Halfnut didn’t budge, but Kraglin didn’t expect him to. “You’ve hated me since the moment you met me. You… you flarking cornered me in the corridor my first day here, you picked the fight, you were the one with the problem. I don’t quite understand what I’ve done wrong, but maybe you can either fill me in, or leave me alone, okay?”

Kraglin’s outburst seemed to surprise Halfnut, and it surprised him too. They stared at each other defiantly for a moment, Kraglin breathing heavily and Halfnut with a bemused expression on his face. The last thing Kraglin wanted was to pick a fight, but he had a feeling Halfnut would like nothing better, so either way, it wasn’t going to end well.

“You really don’t get it, do you?” Halfnut shook his head, taking one step toward Kraglin, then another. He didn’t move, and they stood nose to nose, Kraglin nearly choking on the stench of bad breath. “I ain’t gonna sit here and have a heart-ta-heart with you. It ain’t worth it.”

Kraglin disagreed. “Well I think it is! We can’t work together if we’re gonna be at each other’s throats all the time! And this is a big ship but we can’t avoid each other forever either. I’d like to what I did to make you hate me.”

“Listen, kid. No one likes anyone around here. Hatred is common, indifference is the default. We don’t talk about feelings, or makes friends. No one is soft . We’re warriors. The sooner you get that through yer head, the better.”

You’re losers, Kraglin thought. You’re so ridiculously constipated it’s a wonder you don’t combust. “Well if you’re warriors, and you hate talking so much, why don’t we settle this your way?”

Halfnut squinted at him, as if he was trying to decipher some hidden message. “ My way?”

Kraglin nodded and pulled out the dagger he’d picked up on Kai, freshly sharpened and mostly clean. “By sparring. Like men .”

Halfnut scoffed. “A knife to a gunfight? Didn’t they train you better than that in the Nova Corps?”

Kraglin rolled his eyes. “Not using the gun.” He turned and walked it over to the rack and instead picked up another blade. He crossed back over and held it out to Halfnut, who took it by the hilt suspiciously. “Just a little hand-to-hand.”

“Uh-huh…” Halfnut looked down at the knife in his grasp, thinking, and then nodded. “Fine. Whatever you want.” Kraglin nodded and held his own dagger in front of him in a ready position.

“Parrying only. Either one of us gets more than a scratch, we end it. No one needs to end up in the medbay with a stab wound.”

“Whatever,” Halfnut repeated, and mirrored Kraglin’s stance.

The two began to circle each other, slowly closing the distance between them. Neither made a move at first. Their eyes stayed locked on each other though, and Kraglin could feel uneasiness radiating off of Halfnut.” He’s still scared of me. Good.

“So, I’m still curious why you—”

Halfnut lunged at him, slashing downward at Kraglin’s arm. He sidestepped the attack easily, swinging his arm out of the way and instead brought it down inches from Halfnut’s side.

“Less talking, more fighting,” he growled. Kraglin said nothing. Halfnut’s move was a rookie mistake. He clearly didn’t have much experience in close combat. That was good.

“Sorry,” Kraglin said finally, shrugging and jutting the point of the blade forward. Halfnut barely blocked it with his own and the chink of metal on metal seemed to echo throughout the chamber. “But what exactly makes me so different from the rest of you? That’s what I don’t get.”

Halfnut made a snarling sound that could have been words but probably wasn’t and lunged at Kraglin. He avoided easily, countering with a lazy move of his own. There was no need to try hard at all. Halfnut didn’t have a clue what he was doing. Kraglin smiled.

“You don’t talk like us. You don’t steal like us. You don’t fight like us. You don’t even look like us. You ain’t got the disposition for this life.” Each sentence was punctuated with a downward slash or forward stab, each of which Kraglin blocked with ease. “Whatchu smilin’ for?”

“You’re right, I don’t fight like you. I’m much better at it.”

“Fuck you!” Halfnut’s attacks became a lot more forceful— and a lot more reckless. “You come outta nowhere and grab the Captain’s attention because yer some cushioned Nova prettyboy who somehow managed to outsmart him in a fight and suddenly all he wants is to get you on the crew, and then he gives you special attention and lets you fly the ship, but you know what? Yer just a prize to him. You ain’t got any real value, and soon he’ll see that, and you’ll be thrown out the airlock faster than you can blink. Because once the novelty of your cute little ‘outsider’ act has worn off, he’s gonna see right through you and know that you ain’t a Ravager like us, and you’ll be nothing. Nothing!” He was flinging his knife around wildly, and Kraglin struggled to keep up, simply because of how unpredictable they were.

“Halfnut, calm d—” the other’s knife flew past Kraglin’s face and he jerked back as the blade swiped down, slicing the front of his jacket. The golden flame patch over his breast fell to the ground, and Kraglin stared first at it, then at Halfnut whose dagger was pointing at his face.

“What the h…” Kraglin put his hands in the air. “Okay. Okay. You win. I get it. I’m not a real Ravager.” Halfnut’s eyes narrowed, and he finally lowered the knife. They both took a step back.

“Guess you ain’t as good as ya thought, huh? Just stay out of my way from now on.” He stalked off, leaving Kraglin standing there alone, shaking his head, baffled. Slowly, he bent over and picked up the patch, turning it over in his head. He’d have to take it to Iznen so she could put it back on for him. Replacing his dagger in his boot, Kraglin turned and left the training deck. The sound of blasts behind him was enough to know Halfnut was still there, probably letting out the rest of his anger. Kraglin didn’t look back.

After swinging by the kitchen, Kraglin followed the long corridor to the tailory. “Iznen?” he called out hesitantly from the doorway. “You in here?”

From behind tall stacks of fabric and boxes, a loud voice called out. “Depends on who it is!”

“It’s Kraglin,” he said. “I got a little problem.”

“Well I’m busy!” Kraglin could just see the little woman’s wild hair piled atop her head, bobbing up and down behind the piles and worktables.

“I brought chocolate,” he added, sounding hopeful.

“Well why didn’t you say so! Come in, come in!” Iznen basically zoomed to meet Kraglin as he stepped inside the shop. “It’s been awhile since you’ve come to visit me, boy! You gotta stop being a stranger!”

Kraglin shuffled his feet, holding out the chocolate to the woman who snatched it from his hand greedily. “Sorry,” he said guiltily. “Got busy.”

“That’s alright. I know busy.” Iznen beamed, shoveling a piece of chocolate in her mouth. “So,” she said, licking her fingers. “What can I do for you?”

“My uh, my patch came off. I was hoping you could sew it back or something.” Kraglin pointed to the bare spot on his leathers. Iznen stepped closer and peered at it thoughtfully.

“Hm. Okay. Take off your top, give it to me.” Kraglin obeyed, standing in his his trousers and a tank top. Iznen took the patch and jacket and set them down on the table, Kraglin hovered over her shoulder, watching as she laid out supplies. “These don’t just fall off, Krags. What happened?”

“Got cut off in a sparring match,” he mumbled.

“Well, flark. Didn’t know you was makin’ enemies already.” Iznen didn’t look up from her work, but Kraglin could imagine the skeptical look on her face just from her voice. “They must really have it out for you, going after yer patch. These things are sacred, everyone knows that.”

“Yeah, he uh… really hated the idea of me being a Ravager. So I guess I’m not surprised.” Kraglin sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Can I have a piece of that chocolate?”

“No.” Kraglin nodded and muttered an apology. “Who don’t like havin’ ya here? I fer one love ya. I think yer great, kid.”

He shrugged. “Well, thanks I guess. It’s Halfnut. Doesn’t think I fit in enough. Thinks I’m not gonna last.”

Iznen paused mid-stitch and turned around to face Kraglin. She crossed her arms, leaning against the table and looking up at him seriously. “You want my opinion?” He shrugged, and started to answer, but Iznen was already speaking. “Yer a fine Ravager. You can fly, you can fight, ya got spirit. They see you as an outsider because you are one. We got Xandarians on this ship, but they’re from the bad part. They ain’t from the Corps. You came here lookin’ all fancy— a little worse for wear, but still nice, and they found ya suspicious. We ain’t people who trust easy, so anyone who’s a little different is a threat. I believe that yer trying to find yer place, and that’s great, but yer missing some stuff.”

“Oh yeah?” Kraglin knew Iznen wasn’t saying anything different from what Halfnut had said, but at least she was saying it nicer. “Like what?”

“The way you speak, for one thing. I would’ve thought that after a month your speech pattern would’ve broken down a bit but I guess they drill that formal shit into yer head early.” Iznen rolled her eyes, and Kraglin resisted the urge to defend the Corps’ formality. That wasn’t going to earn him any points. “What was that thing you said a moment ago, about Halfnut?”

He blinked. “What? That I’m not gonna last long around here because he doesn’t think I fit in?”

Iznen jabbed a finger at his chest, shaking her head. “ Ain’t . Don’t. ”

“What?”

“You ain’t gonna last long around here because he don’t think you fit in. You speak like a bloody monarch, Krags. We’re pirates, not interplanetary diplomats. Ain’t nothin’ that sets a man more apart from his peers than the way he speaks.” Iznen turned back to the table.

“What’s that? Some scholar say that?”

“Nope. That’s a unique quote by Iznen the Ravager Tailor. Just for you, kid.” She smiled and put the final stitch in the jacket, handing it back to Kraglin seriously. “It ain’t gonna change everything for you instantly, but it’s gonna help. Loosen up a little bit. You need to let go of your old life. You can’t live with a foot in two worlds. They’ll never accept you, but more importantly you’ll never be able to accept yerself.” Iznen smiled, and he smiled back hesitantly. “Now. Put that on. I wanna see you standing all tall and proud, like the Ravager you are.”

Kraglin smiled and nodded. “Okay. Thanks, Iznen. It was really good of you to say all that.” She waved off his words. “Can I use the privacy screen for a sec? I don’t— ain’t— gotta change, but there’s something I need to do.”

Iznen nodded, gesturing to it. “Good boy. Be my guest.”

Kraglin stepped behind the screen and sat down on the little stool. Looking at himself in the mirror, he pulled the knife from his boot and raised it to his head. I ain’t cut my hair since before I left Xandar. If I’m gonna give into this life, I need to do it fully. Besides. It’s time for a change anyway. With quick strokes, he sliced off the hair on either side of his head until there was only a hint of fuzz. All he left was a row starting at the top of his head and going midway down the back, cut short enough that it stood up on its own, light enough to not flop over. The back was patchy and messy, since it was impossible to see what he was doing, but it was gone , and he felt so much better. He examined himself in the mirror critically. He had stubble on his chin and sideburns, but no real facial hair yet. Still, he figured it wasn’t worth shaving that off too. He looked so much different now— the angles in his face much sharper and his features more prominent. He stood and pulled the jacket back on, running his fingers over the patch. It felt right, like this.

Taking a breath, he stepped out from behind the screen. Iznen stared, gasping in delight. “Kraglin! That looks lovely! So much more like you!”

He smiled, relieved that she approved. “Really?”

“Yes! C’mere. Lemme take a closer look!” He walked over to her, and she paced around him, stopping behind him. “Flark. Kid, it looks like a baby went at your hair with scissors. Siddown, lemme clean it up fer ya.” She dragged a stool over with her foot and shoved Kraglin onto it. “Give me your knife.” He handed it to her, then crossed his arms and sat patiently as she trimmed the mess in the back. When she stepped back, he ran a cautious hand over his head. It was smooth and clean. He smiled and stood, taking the knife back and stowing it away.

“Thank you, Iznen. So much.”

“I just trimmed yer hair, Krags.”

“No. Not that just. In general. Fer what ya said, I…” He shrugged. “I appreciate yer honesty. And yer tact. Ya know… Halfnut said to me that folks around here don’t make friends, don’t like each other. He wanted me to believe that no one’s nice. But he’s wrong, because… because yer nice, and I like you, and no one questions you bein’ a Ravager.” Kraglin shook his head. “So thanks.”

“I’m just the tailor,” Iznen said with a laugh. “I ain’t that important. Ah, no.” She held up a hand as Kraglin tried to interrupt. “I’m different. Trust me. But listen. He’s right that mos’ people on this ship ain’t soft. You ain’t gonna find a whole lotta sentiment here. But it ain’t unheard of. You just gotta have the skills to outweigh it, and the right people to be sentimental with. You’ll figure it out in time. I believe in ya, kid. Yer gonna be fine.”

Kraglin grinned, unable to hide it. “Why Miss Iznen, I do believe that sounded like sentiment.”

“What can I say? I like you. But don’tchu ‘Miss Iznen’ me, boy, or I won’t fer much longer. Makes me feel old. Now shoo! Don’t ya have a shift or somethin’ soon?” She gave Kraglin a gentle shove toward the door, and he complied without much fuss.

“I’ll see ya around, yeah?” he called back from the doorway.

“Long as you bring more o’ that chocolate!” Iznen had already disappeared behind more boxes. Kraglin just shook his head with a smile and walked back toward his cabin. A new haircut and grammatically incorrect vocabulary weren’t going to solve all his problems, but for the first time since he’d arrived on Yondu’s ship, leaving his old life behind didn’t feel so scary.

Chapter Text

Kraglin spent the next few weeks attempting to be the textbook definition of a perfect Ravager, if there was such a thing. He ate his food sloppier. He only bathed once a week. During a routine stop on Nowhere, he took everything of value he could get his hands on, and didn’t get caught once. And of course, he was very careful to speak in the raunchiest way possible. All of that, paired with his haircut and his newfound confidence, he seemed to be an entirely different person. For the most part, he figured that was a good thing.

The others had noticed, for sure. He walked a little taller, and even some of the older crewmen shied away when he passed them in the corridor, a dagger hanging at his belt. The one he’d picked up on K’ai had quickly become Kraglin’s prized possession— it was clean and shiny, incredibly sharp, and cold to the touch. He carried it with him everywhere, and it drew attention to him that he chose to read as positive, even if it wasn’t.

A week after his encounter with Halfnut, the crew had taken some much needed shore leave on Contraxia. They danced and ate and drank and got good use out of the Love Bots on the planet, and Kraglin sought out a run down little tattoo parlor that was far from sterile. The man gave him two small markings on his neck— runes that in Xandarian translated to “home” and “freedom”. One to remember the place he left, and one to remember why. For the first few days he kept his collar tight around his neck for fear that the others would see, but eventually he didn’t care. They wouldn’t be able to read them anyway.

Nearly every other day, Kraglin was on the training deck, teaching himself how to use every type of weapon on the ship. He sparred with whoever happened to wander in— usually Tullk or Oblo, occasionally Gef or Wretch. Even Iznen showed up one afternoon and showed him how to perfect his aim with a slingshot. Halfnut never made an appearance when Kraglin was around, and he wondered if the other was purposely avoiding him, or if he had just gotten lucky. It didn’t matter either way, but the nagging feeling that there was more he needed to know about why Halfnut hated him so much wouldn’t leave him alone. If he ever found himself face to face with him again, he decided he’d ask. In the meantime, he wasn’t going to question the good fortune.

As he approached two months on the ship, he was assigned to a plethora of different jobs he didn’t normally do. Kitchen duty, scrubbing duty, weapon cleaning, M-ship maintenance,  storage management, defenses, and of course piloting (usually on the night shift, because he was willing). And he really didn’t mind the variation. It was good to learn new skills. But all his life, Kraglin was used to routine, and the constant change in duty broke that routine. Still, he tried to stay positive about it. The last thing Kraglin needed was to be written up by Yondu’s first mate Natzan, for not doing the job she’d assigned him. Besides, it was good to learn all these other skills. He figured they’d come in handy, at one point or another.

He knew of course that two months wasn’t a lot of time when it came to having the respect of the crew, even as the ship’s resident jack of all trades. But when he sat down in the mess hall and found that his crewmates both newer and older were too intimidated to sit with him, he figured he was doing something right. Still, it got a little lonely.

There were some who didn’t mind spending time with him. Tullk was always there to offer a friendly smile, and of course Iznen was great company when Kraglin was facing a particularly difficult shift and just needed to complain. Lough was often his co-pilot on the bridge, and they were fun as well, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that no one really liked him all that much, and it was times like those where he wondered if what Halfnut had told him was true. Maybe no one liked each other after all, and they were all just pretending, for personal gain or something. There were some things about the Ravager life Kraglin would never be able to wrap his mind around, and that was one of them.

Yondu wasn’t the type of Captain who liked to hang out with his crew; Kraglin saw him in the mess hall occasionally, and every so often he’d appear on the bridge at night and just stand there in silence, looking out the window. The most interaction Kraglin had with him was if Yondu happened to walk by while he was working. Then, he’d stop for a moment to observe, nod, and carry on. Kraglin really didn’t know if the Captain thought he was doing a good job or not, but he figured that if he hadn’t been demoted to floor scrubbing duty, or ejected out of the airlock, he was probably doing something right.

And then one day, a posting for a hit job circulated through the callboards that all the Ravager factions had access to. Yondu must’ve decided it would be a good mission for his crew, because it disappeared a day later and signups opened via the Eclector ’s comm system. Kraglin didn’t pay it much attention. The job was to raid a Skrull ship and destroy their inner computer systems. Not particularly his area of expertise, and he much preferred to stay on the ship and do his actual job. Bounties just didn’t interest him. He had no need for the extra cash. So he ignored the job, mainly forgetting it was there at all. So he was fairly surprised when Yondu paged him on his comm during one particularly slow shift and inquired about the raid.

“You know about this job, with the Skrull crew?” Kraglin nearly jumped out of his skin at the voice breaking the silence, and he responded in confusion.

“Aye, Cap’n. I saw it. Why?”

“You going?” Yondu sounded almost accusatory. Kraglin shook his head, forgetting he couldn’t see him.

“No, I wasn’t plannin’ on it.” Why was Yondu so interested in his involvement or lack thereof in this job?

“Well, ya should. They could use you.” There was something very pointed in Yondu’s voice and not knowing what it meant made Kraglin anxious.

“Do they not have a pilot already? Because I’m not— I ain’t that good at fighting with guns, and a dagger won’t hold up against a Skrull crew.” Kraglin scratched the back of his neck, only half focusing on Yondu’s proposition. He had a ship to fly, after all.

“Well, yeah. I ain’t talking about having you in the cockpit. Natzan ain’t involved in this raid— she came down with a nasty flu and she’s stuck in the medbay. That means there ain’t no one to organize ever’thing and keep the crew in line.”

“Well gee,” Kraglin said, not really paying attention. “Hope she feels better soon. Ain’t good to have the first mate down.”

“She’ll be fine,” Yondu snapped. “Point is, I need someone to do that instead, and I think you can handle it.”

Kraglin made a face, grateful that the Captain wasn’t able to see his expression. “...Why?”

“Were you not a Nova Corps bitch? You tellin’ me you don’t know how to take charge o’ people?” Yondu scoffed, and Kraglin flinched at the insult, and also the insinuation that he couldn’t do something. He puffed out his chest.

“Wasn’t usually my department, but I ain’t incompetent.” If he acted unwilling to learn or just to do things, that would give him a reputation as lazy on top of everything else. “Whatever ya need I’m sure I can handle, Cap’n.”

Kraglin could only imagine Yondu’s satisfied smirk from his response. “Good. That’s what I expected from ya, Kraglin.” Well he wasn’t gonna let that go to his head. Too much.

“Sure,” he said with a shrug. “When do we go?”

“As soon as you get everything in line.”

Well, there was really no way to argue with that. “Alright Cap’n. I’ll get on it right away.”  

“Roster… map… weapons list.” Kraglin put his head down on the table in the mess hall, data pad temporarily abandoned in front of him. “Flark. Why is this so complicated?”

“What’s got ye all worked up, lad?” Tullk spoke from behind Kraglin and he jumped slightly, looking over his shoulder at the older man looking over his shoulder. There was nothing but genuine concern on his face, and something about his presence just made Kraglin feel relaxed. He sighed and shook his head, picking up the data pad again.

“I’m apparently organizing this raid on that Skrull ship. Cap’n’s orders.” He handed the pad to Tullk so he could see. “And I ain’t never organized somethin’ ever in my life. At least not like this.” Tullk said nothing as he looked through the information Kraglin had laid out.

“Is there a reason yer missing an actual plan o’ action?” Tullk looked at Kraglin seriously, and he stared intently at his own hands resting on the table instead of back at him.

“Yeah, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.” Tullk let out a hearty chuckle and Kraglin crossed his arms, pouting. “You ain’t gotta laugh at me…”

“No… sorry, Kraglin. I ain’t laughin’ at ye. I’m surprised ye dinna think ye can do it, but honestly I’d be very surprised if ye canna do it. Yer a bright lad. Ye’d hafta be, in the Nova Corps, and Cap’n wouldn’t’ve picked ye if he dinna think ye were capable.” Tullk pulled up a stool next to Kraglin and swung his leg over, sitting down heavily. “I’ll help ye a bit, if I can.”

Kraglin frowned in concentration. For the sake of his pride, he didn’t want to accept Tullk’s help advice. But he knew he needed it. The silence stretched out almost uncomfortably but he finally shrugged, throwing his hands up. “Oh, what the hell. Sure. Thanks.”

Tullk walked through the lists Kraglin already made with him, pairing up crew with weapons, and signing off on Lough’s proposed flight pattern. Then they pulled up the map of the Skrull ship they’d received from the people who had posted the bounty. “Here’s where ye’ve gotta target,” he said, pointing to the ship’s mainframe deck. “And here’s the hangar airlock. Yer gonna hafta figure out how ye can get inside without notifying them. Probably by disabling their security first, somehow. Then… once yer in… if ye maybe follow this path…”

Kraglin sighed as he listened to Tullk explain. He was barely doing any of it. He shouldn’t be expecting the senior officer to do his job for him. Tullk seemed to sense his fear. “Dinna worry lad. It’s no trouble at all, me helpin’ ye. And Cap’n ain’t gotta know that you dinna do it all yerself.”

He was skeptical. “What’s the catch here? What d’ya want in return for me takin’ all the credit?”

Tullk just shook his head. “Nothing, Kraglin. Just get the job done. The Skrull are nasty. Come back in one piece, aye?”

Kraglin didn’t like the ominous undertones in Tullk’s voice, but he pushed his doubts aside. “...Aye.”

“We’re approachin’ fast!” Lough’s voice boomed over the comm, echoing through the M-ship. “Ya gotta tell me where I’m taking us, Obfonteri!” They were closing in on the Skrull ship. Kraglin ran to the front, stopping behind the pilot’s seat and gripping the back of it tightly. He stared straight ahead out the window, every memory of a detailed attack plan vanished. In the tension and drive of the moment, he was completely frozen. He opened his mouth to say something, but no sound came out. “Obfonteri! Where are we going?!”

“I—” Too late Kraglin slid into the co-pilot seat and reached for the controls on the console, but because he could switch command, Lough veered them out of their flight path, narrowly missing the side of the Skrull ship. “Well if they didn’t know we was here before, they sure do now!”

“And whose fault is that?” Lough sneered back. “Flarkin’ idiot. You got ten seconds to tell me what you want or I’m taking us in blind. We ain’t gonna sit here and wait for ya to make up yer mind.”

“The… the hangar…” he stuttered out. “We have to get inside the…”

Five big blasts from the Skrull ship sent the M-ship reeling backward. Lough and Kraglin both reached for the controls, but the pilot got there first and locked them in their console. “Now they’re attacking us. D’ya see this? They’re— flarkin’ attacking us now, that’s just great …” they grit their teeth and leaned forward, speaking into their comm in a low voice. “Alright everyone. Hang on.”

The ship shot forward as more blasts erupted, and they tilted and spun to avoid them. Their movements were light and easy as a bird’s, but the Skrulls were faster. Kraglin scrambled out of his seat and ran to the back, shouting for the others to ready the ship’s weapons and fire back. “We’re still going in,” he said. “We just have to get through this.”

That was easier said than done. As Lough weaved and dodged, and Kraglin desperately shouted orders, one large blast hit the side of the M-ship, shaking it and throwing them violently off-course. Kraglin rounded the corner in time to see the blast rip through the airlock. The crewman standing nearest— Loome —was immediately sucked out into the open air. She grabbed for something to hold on to, but her fingers slipped against the slick metal. Kraglin ran towards her, but knowing he wouldn’t be able to get there in time, he pulled the knife from his belt and flung it at the emergency airlock door button. The temporary force field materialized, closing off  the gaping hole, and the Loome dropped hard to the ground. Kraglin skidded to a stop at her side and dropped down to make sure she was okay. “Lough!” he called through his comm. “Take us out of here. We gotta leave!”

“Aye,” they said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. The M-ship changed directions and pulled into a steep nose dive as they fled from the Skrull ship as fast as possible. Kraglin helped the Loome to her feet and walked back silently to the bridge. He slid into the co-pilot’s seat without a word and fastened his seatbelt. No one else said anything either, but he could see the barely controlled anger on Lough’s face for the rest of the flight back, and he knew there was going to be trouble when they arrived.

Trouble was, perhaps, an understatement. Lough darted off the moment they docked, but Kraglin dragged his feet. He knew he needed to find Yondu immediately and tell him what had happened, but the fear in the pit of his stomach at what the outcome of that would be made it really really hard. He was making his way slowly toward the bridge where he hoped to find the Captain when he was intercepted by Horuz and Tullk.

“Cap’n wants to see you,” Horuz grunted, and grabbed Kraglin by the arm, dragging him down the corridor. Kraglin looked up at Tullk, eyes wide, but the other just shook his head solemnly.

“He winna be unfair to ye,” he said quietly, “but I canna guarantee ye’ll get off the hook. It’s serious business, what ye did.”

Kraglin nodded, feeling completely defeated. “Yeah.”

Yondu’s back was to Kraglin when they entered the bridge, and Horuz and Tullk turned and left quickly, Tullk throwing him an apologetic look as he walked off. Kraglin cleared his throat as he stepped up next to Yondu. “Cap’n—”

“I ain’t looking for explanations or excuses, Obfonteri.” Yondu’s voice was cold and he didn’t look at the young officer. “I don’t tolerate breaking orders on my ship, and I don’t accept mediocre work. You managed to do both of those things. I took a chance with you. I pulled you outta the slums of yer planet, I gave you self-reliance again, I let you find your place and regain some damn power in yer life! I gave you so many opportunities, and then I let you take on this job that’s usually for the most senior officers, and I expected so much better from you! Them boys of mine didn’t think you were capable of nothin’ but I did. I didn’t expect ya to prove me wrong!”

Kraglin sunk slowly onto a stool. “I don’t. I.”

Yondu turned to him and Kraglin averted his eyes. “Go. I ain’t in the mood to deal with you. Get outta my sight before I toss you outta the airlock.”

Kraglin nodded and scrambled to his feet. He hurried off the bridge as fast as he could, and paused just outside, leaning against the wall. He couldn’t breathe. He closed his eyes and inhaled slowly a few times, trying to just calm down.

“Ya almost got Loome spaced.” Kraglin’s eyes snapped open as Lough walked by him. “You can’t even handle a simple mission. You ain’t s’posed ta be here.” They spit at his feet and stomped onto the bridge. Kraglin sighed and let his head drop, then turned and trudged back to his cabin.  

Chapter Text

When Kraglin checked the job assignment roster for the week the next morning, he thought for a minute that there must’ve been a mistake. He wasn’t listed under any pilot slots. Nor was he listed for any away missions. His name had just been left off. But as he scanned to the bottom, he saw it, scrawled next to “vent cleaning”. His face contorted in disgust. The vents were the worst possible job. There wasn’t a single Ravager on the ship who could crawl in those vents without complaining except for the vent gremlins, as they were called, and Kraglin wasn’t even sure they weren’t brainwashed into saying they enjoyed it more than they did. Scrubbing the floors of the Eclector might be undesirable, but everyone did it at some point, mostly the new recruits. But the vents were dusty and grimy and cramped— basically impossible to navigate. The only ones who ever went in there besides the gremlins were crewmen who’d gotten in trouble and were paying their dues to avoid getting spaced. And well— Kraglin figured it was finally his turn.

Guess I deserve it, he thought. Cap’n really has it out for me. Or whoever made the roster. Usually the first mate did that, but as far as he knew, Natzan was still in the medbay. It was probably Yondu. For a minute, Kraglin felt bad for him, even though he should probably be bitter. Couldn’t be easy for the Captain to do things without a close consultant. He would’ve thought Tullk would help, but perhaps not. Not like he knew how higher command worked. Nor did he care.

Right?

Not wanting to dwell on his unfortunate fate any longer, he trudged off toward the vents on the lower decks. Crouching down, he tugged on the grate. It didn’t budge. Clearly, no one had been down there to clean in a while. When he finally managed to pry it open, he tumbled backward from the force with which it swung out, and he was engulfed in a cloud of dust and whatever other gross stuff had collected there. When it settled, he crawled into the narrow tunnel, trying to muffle his coughing and hacking. The sound echoed off the small chamber, bouncing down ahead of him. Oh, he really hated this.

It was quiet though, and he was glad at least that there was no on really around to bother him, or make fun of him, or worse. Kraglin resigned himself to cleaning, blinking dust out of his eyes and wiping grime off his fingers. He was lost in his own world, letting his mind drift to everything else— his months on the ship, his life on Xandar… But the sound of voices through the other end of the vent pulled him back to the present quickly.

“...Skrull are mad. And our commissioner is mad. Job didna get done, they think we ain’t capable.”

“And we’re an easy target now, ain’t we? Flarkin… idiocracy. The whole thing.”

Kraglin couldn’t make out who the voices belonged to, but he knew what they were talking about.

“And that stupid bastard, couldna even fly the ship properly… why’d the Cap’n let him command such a dangerous mission?”

“What’s he doing, letting a rookie near a Skrull ship anyhow?”

...And who they were talking about.

“He’s either looking his mind or he’s letting the glory go to his head. Not everyone becomes a Captain that young. Lucky bastard. Probably only got the job because Stakar favored him.”

“More like because Stakar was fucking him.”

The two erupted into laughter, and it took all of Kraglin’s willpower and the constraints of being in a small vent to keep himself from lashing out and yelling at them to shut up. Yondu didn’t deserve to be talked about like this. Especially in retribution for Kraglin’s own mistakes. He’s fucked up, and he was willing to take the blame for it (he was in the vents for a reason), but he hated listening to the two Ravagers talk this way. He wished he could see, just so he knew who was saying these things. He may still have a lot to learn about the Ravager life, but he was certain disrespecting the Captain was frowned upon. Trying to block out the voices and the laughter as the pair walked off down the corridor, Kraglin once again turned his focus to his task. He scrubbed out the vents until they were practically shining, and he stabbed a few rats and that threatened to bite at his fingers, and even a stray orloni that was unfortunate to cross his path. He flung the tiny rodent bodies down the chute toward the entrance, and once he heard them hit the ground with a thud, he began crawling out too.

As dim as it was, the lighting on the ship was blinding compared to the darkness inside the vents once Kraglin emerged. His leathers were grimy and sticky, and he was covered head to toe in grease. He longed for a shower, but the washroom utilities on the Eclector were limited, moldy, and only exuded liquid that was suspiciously brown. Unless they were cleaned and fixed, he’d rather never be clean again than try to go in there. No wonder these people didn’t bathe. Instead, he picked his way back to his cabin, ignoring the stares and the muffled laughs by crewmen who knew what he had been up to. He’d hoped to escape back into solitude without being stopped, but he was intercepted by Tullk as he rounded the corner on the dorm corridor.

Dammit. He forced a polite smile, aware of how disgusting he must look. Luckily, the older man didn’t seem to judge.

“How did the cleaning go, laddie?”  Tullk asked. His voice was sympathetic, and Kraglin wondered if he was even capable of mocking someone.

Kraglin gestured to his appearance in response. “The grim has successfully been transferred from the vents to my body,” he said jokingly. Tullk nodded gravely, with something like understanding in his expression. Maybe he’d been forced to clean vents when he was a young Ravager too, though Kraglin couldn’t imagine Tullk breaking any rules badly enough to warrant that sort of punishment.

“Anyone bother ye about it?”

“No,” Kraglin replied. “Well— not directly. I overheard a couple o’ guys talkin’ about my disastrous mission. No clue who they were. I don’t think they even knew I was there.”

“What did they say?” Tullk asked, concern in his voice. “Ye canna quell gossip, but it’s worth knowing if they’re talkin’ shit.”

Kraglin wasn’t sure he should tell Tullk. He didn’t want to stir up any more trouble, and in his experience, telling your superiors about the stupid but really harmless things the other rookies were saying just made things worse in the end. But usually in those cases, everyone involved was looking for some excitement, and petty drama was what excited. But he was pretty sure that Tullk meant well— he’d always looked out for Kraglin, and he trusted the older Ravager enough to tell him what he’d heard. Maybe he’d know what to do.

“They weren’t just blaming me. They were blaming the Cap’n for making a mistake in picking me. They said he ain’t doing his job right. Said he’s…” he tried to remember what all they said. “Letting glory go to his head?” And there was something else. “Who’s Stakar?”

A dark look came over Tullk’s face and he shook his head. “It ain’t important, Kraglin,” he said. “Whatever you heard, forget it.”

“But— they shouldn’t be saying that stuff!” Why he cared so much, he didn’t know. It just felt wrong. Yondu was such a good Captain, and didn’t deserve the slander. But Tullk didn’t look interested in discussing it.

“There is  long history behind what they’re saying,” is all he offered up. “It ain’t new. So drop it, and go get cleaned up.”

“But…”

“I’m serious. Whatever you heard, it don’t matter.” Tullk turned away, and Kraglin sighed, watching him walk off. Whatever the crew’s problem with Yondu was, Kraglin wasn’t going to be able to solve it or figure it out right now. But he would. Eventually.

Chapter Text

When Kraglin checked the roster for the next rotation, he fully expected to see his name next to the vents again. So when instead he was listed on the clean-up crew in the kitchen, there was a strange sense of both relief and disappointment. He didn’t want to be in the vents again, but there was a part of him that felt like he deserved it. Still, he figured he should be grateful and count his blessings that the worst punishment was over. And he had a feeling that Tullk had something to do with it, although he would never say so. When Kraglin tried to confront him about it in the mess hall, he had given an unconvincing shrug and walked away.

Working in the kitchen wasn’t too bad. Cleaning up the food scraps wasn’t any more disgusting than eating some of the stuff on the menu. And he was working alongside the sous-chef Frias, an energetic and rather charming young man, which kept the shifts behind the counter washing plates entertaining if nothing else. Frias would chatter on and on, and Kraglin would listen silently, with nothing more than a nod or grunt of acknowledgement when appropriate. It wasn’t the same as piloting the Eclector or heading an M-ship fleet, but he at least wasn’t miserable.

All the same, there was something constantly eating at him, a nagging guilt that he couldn’t shake, residual from the overheard conversation in the vents. He hated that he messed up, and he was angry and embarrassed at the fallout he was experiencing, but the worst part was the blame Yondu was getting. It wasn’t right. And maybe he was naive about Ravager ship dynamics, but he couldn’t imagine anyone speaking so ill of the Captain. Unless of course there was some movement to overthrow him, but he hadn’t gotten a sense of anything like that until the other day. It was all such a mystery to him, and he had so many unanswered questions. Especially where Tullk was concerned. The older man was so clearly hiding something, and Kraglin didn’t want to invade anyone’s privacy, but he was worried. For some reason.

And then another thought occurred to him. What if some of this gossip got back to Yondu? What if he managed to connect Kraglin with it? What if he thought Kraglin was part of it? What would he think then? Kraglin would probably be banished from the clan or even worse, tossed out of the airlock. He shivered at the thought. But mostly, he didn’t want the Captain thinking any worse of him than he already did. Kraglin was loyal, and he wanted Yondu to know that. But there was no way to get that across, because even if he could manage to get an audience with the Captain, he doubted he would listen to anything he had to say anyway.

“Somethin’ on yer mind, Krags?” Frias’ voice jolted Kraglin out of his thoughts.

“What? No. Of course not. Why would you think that?” He was defensive, not wanting to come across as weak to anyone else, stars forbid. Frias laughed a little bit, and pointed to the plate in Kraglin’s hands.

“You’ve been washing that same platter for five minutes,” he chuckled. Kraglin flushed and placed it down, reaching for another, not making eye contact with his companion.

“Sorry,” he mumbled. “Jus’ a little distracted, I guess.” He sighed and tried to push all thoughts of the Captain away. Dishes. That’s all that mattered.

“Do you wanna talk?” Damn. Frias was really too nice for his own good. Kraglin wondered sometimes if he was even a proper Ravager, with that sort of personality. Still, it was a sort of breath of fresh air and a chance from the other characters on the ship. Even if he wasn’t really interested in making conversation, he figured he could at least be polite. The little pink-haired man deserved at least that.

“Not really,” he said with a shrug. “I ain’t much of a talker. You probably figured that out already.”

“Up to you!” Frias smiled. Really, nothing fazed this man. Kraglin was honestly impressed. And then: “Is it about your mission?”

Well now what was he supposed to say to that? Deny it? Or launch into a conversation he didn’t want to have? “Sort of,” he said. “And sort of not.” That wasn’t going to be enough of an answer for the chef, he knew that much. “How much of the ship’s gossip do you follow?”

Frias looked puzzled. “I’m friends with basically everyone on the crew, I hear a lot. That’s all I’ll say to that.” He paused. “You don’t strike me as the type to care about gossip, though.”

Kraglin shook his head, wiping his hands on a rag. “Only when I’m the subject of it. Has anyone been talking about… I dunno. The Cap’n making a mistake by assigning me to that mission? Or somethin’ to that nature?”

Frias considered. “A bit, here and there. Nothin’ really to do with you as much, other than what you just said, but more saying that he’s been making bad decisions a lot recently, and this was one of them. Longer than you’ve been on the ship.”

That’s what Kraglin wanted to hear. Confirmation that he wasn’t crazy, at least. Now if he could just get names…

“Who’s been saying this stuff? Anyone I would know?” Worth a try anyway.

“I have a policy that if I’m going to spread gossip, to never attach the names I heard it from along. And if yer smart, you’ll do the same.” The little chef shrugged. “Sorry. Wish I could help more.”

“That’s fine.” Rumors with no concrete proof weren’t gonna cut it, but at least Kraglin knew he wasn’t imaging it. “Thanks, though.” He stacked the last of the plates. “Are we done?”

“Yeah.” Frias nodded, looking a little puzzled. “You can go, if you want.”  Kraglin was out the door before he could even fully wave a goodbye.

Yondu was where Kraglin expected to find him. He remembered seeing the Captain walking the lower decks alone, standing in the empty and rarely-used conference room on the ship. Yondu seemed to enjoy the solitude, not being the most social of the Ravagers. Kraglin understood that. And that made it easy to find where he was.

“Uh… Cap’n?” Kraglin stood in the doorway, a hand on either wall. Yondu turned, glancing over his shoulder. He scowled when he saw Kraglin, turning away again. Kraglin’s eyes were drawn to the red fin atop his head. It was tall, and gave the illusion of extra height that Yondu otherwise didn’t have. It was probably why he’d initially thought the Captain was taller than he actually was. Now, it just felt intimidating. But Kraglin had already come down here and made his presence known. If he left, he would just look even weaker. So despite the very unwelcoming greeting, he stood his ground. “Captain. I need to talk to you.”

Yondu didn’t turn again, nor did he give any sign he’d even heard Kraglin, at least at first. But Kraglin didn’t move. He just stood there, staring the the Centaurian’s back. And Yondu must’ve been able to feel his stare boring into him, and it must’ve made him uncomfortable, for a very visible shiver went down his spine and he sighed loudly. No one could say the man wasn’t dramatic.

“Say what you have to say, then leave,” the Captain grunted. “I’m not interested in… in talking to you.” From the way he faltered and trailed off, Kraglin had a feeling Yondu had already said more than he initially planned.

Kraglin shook his head and sighed. This was going to be a long process. Not that he didn’t deserve the trouble, but he wasn’t looking forward to this either. “Listen,” he said awkwardly, shifting from foot to foot. “I messed up a lot on that mission. I had no clue what I was doing and I didn’t know any better. But- but that’s my fault! It ain’t yours, Captain!”

Silence. Then Yondu lifted his head— he didn’t turn around but he was responding. “I know that. It ain’t no one’s fault but yours, boy. Why would you even suggest otherwise?”

“I— I didn’t— wasn’t…” Kraglin fumbled over his words, then took a deep breath. Had the gossip not reached Yondu? Kraglin somehow doubted it. So the Captain was hiding his knowledge. Why? “I know that when things go wrong, blame always ends up falling on the person on top, even when it ain’t right. It was always like that in the Nova Corps, I figure it’s the same around here. And since you had me lead that mission, it only makes sense that someone would blame you. There’s always shit people like that. But I just… wanted you to know that I don’t believe it. I know what happened, I know what I did wrong, and I know you didn’t do anything wrong.”

Yondu didn’t respond to that. But he also didn’t argue with Kraglin either, and he figured that had to be something at least. “You ain’t telling me anything I don’t already know, Obfonteri. You got anything worthwhile to say or are you done running your mouth?”

Well that could’ve gone better.

“I’ll take your silence as an answer. Go away.”

“Wait.”

Yondu turned around finally, crossing his arms and staring Kraglin down. He swallowed nervously.

“I’m sorry, Cap’n, sir. For sayin’ what I just said. And for messing up the mission, and letting you down. I wanna fix it. I don’t know how, but I do. I’m a Ravager now, and I’m loyal to you.” Kraglin cast his eyes down. “You saw something in me when we met that made you want me on your crew. I hope I can redeem myself.” He lifted his head and thumped his chest twice, looking Yondu in the eyes. And for once, the Captain didn’t look away. He held his gaze uncomfortably, stony and cold, until Kraglin was forced to break it. “That’s all. I’ll go now.” He turned and walked off, down the hall and away from Yondu, but he could feel the other’s eyes on his back the entire time.

Chapter Text

Yondu ran a tight ship. His ship, his rules, his hand picked crew. Over the two months that Kraglin had been there, he’d heard stories of how some of his crewmates had come to be on what (in his mind) was the grandest ship in the fleet, serving under the most (again, in his mind) revered Ravager Captain. (But then again, he hadn’t met any of the other Captains, so he wouldn’t really know.)

Tullk, for example, had served on the same ship Yondu had been on before he became a Captain himself. So had Iznen. They’d both come over with him when he went out on his own. He’d picked up Horuz on a space station because he’d managed to take out an entire band of mercenaries on his own. Oblo deserted from the army on his home planet and fled, taking an entire stash of weapons with him. Yondu found him and let him tag along because he could was good with all the big guns and blasters.

Any of these Ravagers could tell a heroic tale of how they became bandits and came to serve under Yondu, and frankly it left Kraglin feeling a little less than qualified. He had… what? Sort of out-smarted Yondu while doing his job as an upstanding law-abiding law- enforcing citizen of Xandar? Not very impressive. Still… if everyone else was here for a reason, he must be too. That’s what he tried to tell himself, because Yondu was still ignoring him, and he knew the Captain had better things to do than converse with the lower-ranking crewmen but it still hurt. Especially since he’d never acknowledged Kraglin’s apology either. And maybe everything was fine since he hadn’t been thrown out of the airlock yet, but he really just didn’t know. And Kraglin didn’t like not knowing.

Kraglin wasn’t quite sure what he would do if he had to leave the Ravagers. He certainly couldn’t go back to Xandar, and he had a pretty crappy track record of living alone. All his life he’d relied on others for stability, and just thinking about not having that made him sick. Maybe that’s why he liked the Ravagers so much. Despite all the violence and the criminal activity, they were a pretty close and codependent group. He had thought he fit right in. And maybe Yondu wasn’t even ignoring him at all— perhaps he’d just gotten more attention when he joined than most people did, and now he was experiencing what it was like to just have a normal relationship with the Captain.

Aw, hell. All these justification didn’t do shit. He was gonna be anxious about this no matter what, it seemed.

Still, Kraglin decided to lie low, keep his head down, and stay out of the way. Better to just blend into the background and do his job quietly without any fuss. Right?

Of course not.

Down the corridor Kraglin heard a man speaking in a loud and obnoxious tone.

“...Really just unacceptable. A Captain shouldn’t be so inexperienced. You can’t just get your own ship because Stakar spoils you and just expect to have the respect of the entire galaxy, let alone your crew. Pathetic!”

It was a different voice from the ones he’d heard in the air vents, but Kraglin knew right away who he was talking about. He’d kept quiet last time, mostly out of necessity, but this time he couldn’t. Drawing his knife slowly from his belt, he backed up against the wall, poking his head around the corner just enough to get a peek of the person talking.

It was Brad, one of the rookies who had joined shortly after Kraglin. He was a few years older, very tall, and very buff. Kraglin hadn't had much experience with him, but from what he knew, he was all brawn and no brain. Kraglin was infuriated. The idiot had to right to speak about the Captain this way. He couldn't see who Brad was talking to, but he readied himself to take on both of them if fists stared flying- which he imagined would be the case with Brad. At least he could try to reason with words first.

“I wouldn't say things like about the Cap’n,” Kraglin said, stepping around the corner holding his knife at his side. “He's damn good, and you talkin’ smack sounds dangerously like mutiny.”

At the same time, Brad’s companion replied too, barking a laugh that was eerily familiar. “Oh, don't talk about things ya don't understand, ya idjit. You ain't got a clue how I run this ship.”

Brad turned around to find the source of the new voice, but as he fully stepped into view, Kraglin could only stare at the person who had talked over him.

“Uh… Cap’n, I didn't see you were there. I uh…”

“Quit yer jabbering.” Yondu waved him off with a hand and grabbed Brad by the shoulder, narrowing his eyes. “You barely been on my ship as long as Kraglin here has. You don't know shit. Now scram.”

Brad glared at Yondu for a moment before turning with a grunt and stomping off down the hall. Kraglin started to go as well, but Yondu caught his arm.  “Not you. You stay here.”

Well. Now he was in for it. Kraglin sighed, dejected. He’d done it. He hadn’t been able to just keep his head down like he’d said he would. No, he’d had to go run his mouth, and now he was going to pay the consequences.

“Cap’n, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to—”

“Stop talking, Obfonteri, before you say somethin’ stupid.”

“Aye, sir.”

Silently Yondu started walking away and beckoned Kraglin to follow, which he did. He didn’t dare say a word, although his mind was racing with a thousand questions. He figured he’d learn soon enough what the Captain was up to. They stopped outside the conference room, which gave Kraglin a sense of déjà vu. He looked at Yondu questioningly, but the Captain just passed his hand over the bio-lock and entered, Kraglin on his heels. Once the door had shut behind them, Yondu turned to Kraglin with his hands on his hips and just stared. It felt to Kraglin like the Centaurian was looking into his soul. And for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why. So he just stared back, a puzzled expression as plain as Yondu’s intense one.

“So is uh… is this a staring contest or somethin’ because I can go for hours without blinking…” Kraglin was clearly digging himself deeper and deeper, but his discomfort was so evident, and why was Yondu just looking at him and not saying anything? To his credit, the Captain didn’t even acknowledge the comment.

Finally though, he did speak, and Kraglin nearly jumped out of his skin when he did. “I am a competent Captain. You know this.” Confused, Kraglin nodded mutely. Where was this going? “This ain’t something I normally do, so after we leave this room you ain’t gonna talk about it to me or anyone else. It never happened, got it?”

“Uh— yeah, okay, um. Sir? What’s—”

“Shut up. What I’m tryin’ to say is, what you said to me the other day was fully justified and I know you wasn’t insulting me. There are some snakes on this ship and I intend to weed them out because I ain’t got room for idiots who think they can talk behind my back. It always gets around to me. I heard what some o’ these men have been sayin’ about me and about you. So.” He crossed his arms, looking at Kraglin like he was expecting something. Kraglin frowned. He had no clue what Yondu was getting at whatsoever. The Captain must’ve seen the confusion on his face, for he let out a dramatic sigh. “I’msorryokay?”

What?

“I shouldn’t have yelled at you, and— and it’s good to know that there are people on this ship who know how to stick up for their superiors.” Yondu huffed. “Yer a good kid, Obfonteri. You ain’t got a lick o’ sense in you when it comes to leading missions, but yer good. It ain’t every day you see a guy willing to charge into battle defending his Captain, ‘specially when he clearly ain;t got a clue he can be heard.” Yondy gestured to the knife still held loosely in Kraglin’s hand, a nasty yellow smile spreading over his face. By stars, it almost looked sincere. And well, Kraglin really didn’t know what to say to that. Yondu had just apologized to him— at least, he thought that’s what he’d said, although the words were so rushed it was hard to tell. The rest of what he’d said seemed to make the apology clear, though. Yondu’s smile faltered a bit as the silence between them stretched on. “Well? You gonna say anything?”

Oh. Right. “Well, I… gee, Cap’n.” Kraglin rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, tucking the knife back into his belt. “Thanks, I guess? Just, uh, just doin’ my job.” He offered a tentative smile, and Yondu rolled his eyes.

“Right. Well. Like I said, don’t go talkin’ about this little conversation here to anyone, hear me boy?”

“Yep. Right. I got it, Cap’n.” Kraglin thumped his chest twice, and after a moment of Yondu giving him a suspicious look, he did it back. Then without a word, he turned and walked out of the room. Kraglin stared after him, baffled. The whole thing had happened so fast he wasn’t sure it had even happened at all.

Once he was sure though that Yondu had cleared some distance, Kraglin walked hesitantly into the hallway, and was met by Tullk, leaning against the wall. And suddenly, everything made sense.

“Did you make him do that?” Kraglin asked, falling into step with the older officer.

Tullk laughed a little. “I gently suggested that he have a civil conversation with ye. But if he said anything in reference to what happened out here a little while ago, I had nothing to do with it. That was all him.”

“Huh,” Kraglin said, shaking his head. “I didn’t think I’d ever hear the word ‘sorry’ come out of his mouth.”

“It’s rare,” Tullk agreed, “but not unheard of. But when he says it, he means it. So consider yerself honored.”

“I am,” he said. “Just surprised, I guess.”

“Dinna be too unnerved by it, laddie. Captain’s got all sorts of surprises. Ye’ll learn them soon enough.” Tullk clapped Kraglin on the back, and he couldn’t help but smile. “Come have a drink, and celebrate getting out of a head-butt with Brad without a bloody nose on either of ye!”

Kraglin laughed loudly at that and nodded, walking alongside him toward the mess hall.

“So Tullk, if I can ask, why ain’t you Yondu’s first mate? I woulda thought he’d want you assisting him, seeing as you’ve know each other the longest.”

“Ah, laddie, there’s somethin’ ye gotta understand about how Ravagers pick their first mates. It’s gotta be someone they trust, aye, but it’s also good to have someone who can do everything they canna do themselves. Someone young and brawny and just stupid enough to pull crazy stunts to get their Captain outta trouble if need be. That’s why he picked Natzan. She was fresh-faced and eager to serve. Fer what it’s worth though,” Tullk added seriously, “He did ask me. But I told him he needed someone a wee bit younger.” He laughed. “Let me put it to ye this way. Captain needs someone to consult about important stuff, he comes to me. Captain needs someone to back him up in battle, stand up for him in a conflict, do the dirty work he ain’t interested in doing, etcetera etcetera, he goes to the first mate. It’s a lot of show, and it helps to have two different people to confide in, fer different things.”

Well that made sense, Kraglin figured. He understood that, sort of. And he noticed that Tullk never did anything Natzan handled, like the shift rosters and raid teams. But she’d never seemed like she talked with Yondu nearly as much as Tullk did.

“Alright, fair,” Kraglin said, nodding along with Tullk’s explanation. “I wonder if Yondu’s ever apologized to her ,” he added with a grin.

He didn’t get a smile back. “Mm,” was all Tullk said. “I wonder.”

Chapter Text

As an officer in the Nova Corps, despite how short lived it had been, Kraglin had seen a lot of shit. Crimes of just about every variety; violence and abuse, thievery and jailbreaks, suicides and murders. But there was something very particular about the stench of sickness— not just a common cold, but the type that infects and infiltrates and completely ruins the body until it fails and shuts down completely— that always gave him a foreboding sense of dread. “Accidental” deaths, as the the crew called them, were second nature. Ravagers were expected to die in battle, give their lives for their crew and their job. They were honored and celebrated rather than mourned. Their life would be missed yes, but the ceremony would be followed by drinking and partying until it was easy to forget just how difficult it was to lose someone. And it had been that way in the Corps too— there was no time for the officers to mourn their lost comrades, so the sorrow was left to the family.

It often used to make Kraglin wonder if anyone would mourn him if he died in the line of duty.

On the Eclector , the entire second quadrant reeked of infection. Natzan’s so-called flu that she picked up from a raid on Knowhere had turned into something much nastier. That entire section of the ship had been evacuated except for the first mate and the medics. All other patients had been relocated so as to make a quarantine out of the medical wing. Kraglin wasn’t entirely sure what the doctors determined she had, but it wasn’t the flu. The rumors that rippled through the corridors of the ship and leaked into conversations in the mess hall said that she’d been infected with an unknown disease that was beginning to crop up in the slums of the planet. The gist of it, so Kraglin seemed to understand, was that it was a deadly and contagious form of food poisoning. Eating spoiled food would make the consumer sick, putting anyone who came in close contact with them at risk. He’d overheard the chief doctor talking to one of his assistant medics about it in the hallway; they’d fallen silent when they realized Kraglin was listening, but what he’d heard was that contact with bodily fluids of an infected person seemed to be the most likely cause of spreading. He never shared that information with anyone, but it seemed it managed to get out anyway. The whole ship was buzzing, but there was a somber edge to it. It was looking like this wasn’t something Natzan could recover from. There was no known cure. The entire crew was just watching as she got worse and worse. And through it all, Kraglin felt helpless. He didn’t know the first mate well like the others did. They all seemed to know what to do in cases like this, how to prepare for the inevitable. Kraglin did not. People on Xandar died, of course, but it was usually in the line of duty or of old age. To watch someone not much older than himself wither away like this was sickening.

In the past week or so, no one had seen Yondu. The rumors said he was spending his waking hours either in the medbay, or locked up in his cabin making preparations. That’s why Kraglin was surprised to hear the Captain’s voice behind him one night as he sat at the console on the bridge. His position as a pilot had mysteriously been restored following his and Yondu’s… strange conversation, and he was once again back on the night shift.

“It ain’t looking good,” Yondu said, causing Kraglin to nearly jump out of his skin. He just nodded morosely, saying nothing. “Medics are saying she’s got days left, if that. Ain’t nothing they can do for her.” A sigh. “I shouldn’t’ve sent her out on that raid. Probably contracted this stupid disease when she sliced open those scumbags what tried to jump her. Came back on board covered in their blood and grinning like an idiot. Not a scratch on her, but it didn’t matter in the end. Always was too stupid and brave for her own good.” Kraglin looked up at the Captain, who shook his head and continued staring out the window.

“I’m sorry, Cap’n.” Kraglin didn’t know what else to say, but it felt wrong to just sit there and not say anything. “It’s awful.” But Yondu either ignored him, or didn’t even hear him. He didn’t look down at the seated pilot, didn’t acknowledge what Kraglin had said at all. He was starting to get the feeling Yondu didn’t even know he was there. And somehow, that was comforting in a way. He was happy to sit there and listen to the Captain’s thoughts he was voicing. Yondu probably was aware he had an audience on some level, but if it was helping him to pretend otherwise, then Kraglin wasn’t going to complain.

“I ain’t been to see her since they emptied out the quadrant. Don’t know what I’d say. She ain’t even awake I don’t think. I’m gonna go later. Gotta wear a spacesuit like the medics just to protect myself from the damn infection.” He was rambling now; Kraglin could see him starting to relax as he said all the things he probably was used to keeping inside. Can’t talk to yourself or you’ll be deemed as crazy, but can’t talk to the crew or you’ll seem weak. For a moment, Kraglin wondered why he wasn’t talking to Tullk about this, but with no first mate and currently no Captain, the older Ravager was the only one keeping the crew together at this point. “Don’t know how to run a ship without her,” he mumbled. “She’s been there from the day Stakar sent me out on my own. Best first mate in the whole damn fleet, I think. An’ I failed her.” Yondu turned to face away from the window now, and started to walk out. “I’d best go now while I can. Somethin’ tells me she won’t see the morning.”

She didn’t.

Although no one told them, the rest of the crew awoke seeming to somehow already know. They gave the medbay a wider berth than usual, knowing that the doctors would be cleaning up. There was an intense focus during the morning rotation, but everyone was still on edge. Kraglin normally would’ve gone to bed after being on the night shift, but he found he couldn’t sleep, so after an hour or so of lying on his back staring at the ceiling, he dragged himself to the mess hall for breakfast. He didn’t speak to anyone as he dished up a plate of food, and he settled on a bench in the corner. The hall was quiet, like no one particularly knew what to say, and the little bit of chatter there was sounded forced and half-hearted.

At twelve-hundred hours, a low noise sounding suspiciously like an air horn echoed through the comm system. Slowly, but all at once, the Ravagers in the hall got up and left, leaving Kraglin sitting alone, dumbfounded. He quickly jumped to his feet and followed the crowd. They seemed to fan out, some going to the M-ship hangar and others to the windows and airlocks. Kraglin jogged to the bridge in time to see a dozen M-ships circle the Eclector. He hovered in the doorway, and a few others walked over next to him, but his eyes didn’t leave the window, just staring out at the fleet. “What… what is this?” he asked, turning to Dee who was standing behind his shoulder. She’d pulled her goggles up to rest on her forehead, and he could’ve sworn he saw her blinking back tears.

The Quartermaster smiled slightly up at him. “It’s how we do funerals here,” she said, pointing. “Look.”

Kraglin followed her gesture out in time to see fireworks explode from the ships outside, lighting up the sky. His jaw dropped, and he watched as colorful ashes swirled up into the sky. They must’ve burned the body. Makes sense, they were in space, couldn’t really bury her… Kraglin frowned a bit as he found his face getting hot. He blinked rapidly. There seemed to be something about the ceremony that was getting to him… emotionally. It was a nice ceremony, and the bright colors lighting up the otherwise dark sky. He looked back at Dee. “I uh… I’ll be back,” he said, and slipped past her, walking up to the front.

Yondu was sitting in his chair, watching the sky as well. Kraglin put his hand on the back of it, and the Captain turned around, looking at him with a sort of empty look. Kraglin wanted to say something, but he figured Yondu probably wasn’t in the mood for conversation.

“I couldn’t even tell her I was sorry for sending her there alone.”

Okay. So he did want to talk.

“I mean, I did. But she weren’t conscious, so she couldn’t hear me.” Yondu just sounded so dejected, and it was kind of scary, if Kraglin was being honest. The Captain always seemed so stoic, and this was different. But hey, who was he to judge? Death affects everyone in different ways.

“Ya know, Cap’n, apparently when people are unconscious, they can still hear. Ya know, until they’re actually dead. So she probably did hear you.” He paused, waiting to see if Yondu was going to yell at him for talking. He didn’t, so Kraglin continued. “And she’s probably really glad to know.” If Natzan hadn’t ever heard Yondu apologize, that would’ve been a good first time to hear it.

Yondu didn’t respond directly to that, but he did sort of incline his head and close his eyes for a second. Kraglin decided to assume that meant his words had at least been acknowledged. “I was with her when she died,” Yondu said in a low scratchy voice. “I ain’t never actually seen someone pass like that. We don’t often live long, but usually when we go, it’s in battle. Not like that. Never like that.” He turned away from Kraglin. “I shouldn’t be sitting here. I have work to do.”

Kraglin looked at the colorful explosions still going strong outside. “You ain’t gonna stay for the rest of the funeral at least?”

Yondu shook his head. “I can see it from my cabin,” he said gruffly. “Too loud here. Too many people crowding. I can’t breathe, let alone think.” He stood, and held Kraglin’s gaze for a moment before nodding and walking off the bridge. The crowd parted for his exit, only to fill back in. Once Yondu left, the spell of silence seemed to be broken. There was loud chatter and booze being passed around. Someone started up a song. Kraglin was beginning to understand why Yondu wanted to leave. Ravagers dealt with death in very strange ways, usually in a loud and boisterous manner in order to lift spirits. But if you needed to really mourn, then the bridge in the center of what was basically a Ravager party wasn’t the place to be. He looked around for Tullk, wondering if the older officer would attempt to lull the crowd a bit, but he found him leaning against Oblo and drinking heavily. Not wanting to join in the festivities but also not really wanting to leave just yet, he slipped into Yondu’s chair and sunk down a bit so as to not be noticed by anyone passing behind. As the fireworks died down and the ships returned to their dock, Kraglin let his eyes close, taking in the sounds behind him. The voices blurred together with the music, and the hum of the engines. Something told him that the crew was going to have a lot of work ahead of them in the coming days. Let them have their fun now , he figured. It won’t last long.

Chapter Text

Kraglin had been right. After a few days of moving around the ship numbly, the Ravagers seemed to jump back into action. There wasn’t any time for mourning. There were, of course, raids to plan, enemies to fight, shit to steal. So life went on. Natzan’s death had left Kraglin with a bad taste in his mouth. It was weird. He tried to throw himself into routine again too. It was easier to stay busy all the time than to sit around. When he sat around, he started thinking too much, and Ravagers didn’t really do thinking. So he picked up double rotations, and spent his free time in the training room. He figured he needed to learn how to use a blaster properly eventually.

Blaster training went fine, but after accidentally blowing one too many holes in the wall instead of the designated targets, he decided to put it away before anyone else walked in and pinned the damage on him. Wiping down his weapon, he replaced it on the rack, then went over to sit on a bench. He laid out his knives in front of him and one by one picked them up and began sharpening the blades. There was something soothing about the sound of metal scraping on metal, and something almost beautiful about seeing the shine when it wiped them down with a rag after. His dagger from K’ai had really had cleaned up nicely. When he was done, and had replaced each one in it’s hidden place, he headed out down the corridor to see if he could find something else to do in the few hours he had left before his next shift.

Kraglin paused outside the entrance to the medbay. The sound of raised voices and loud footsteps carried out to the hall. For a moment he worried someone else was dying, but it didn’t really sound like an emergency. It just sounded like bickering. “Hey uh… everything okay in there?” He rapped on the door with the back of his knuckles, poking his head inside.

One of the med-techs ran out of the room past him so fast Kraglin almost didn’t see who it was. “Hey! Ned! Buddy. What’re you doing?” Skidding around, the med-tech looked at Kraglin sheepishly.

“Yeah um… I was going to get some coffee, or booze, or something,” he said, shrugging. “Everyone’s really tense right now. I’m trying to calm things down.”

“Why? What’s happening? Because I don’t think caffeine or alcohol is going to relax anyone , Ned.” Kraglin grabbed his arm, hanging onto his sleeve to keep him from going any further. “Just hang on a sec, pal.” Kraglin didn’t know the med-tech well, but he seemed pretty flighty. If he didn’t physically hold him back, he’d never get any answers out of him because he’d be halfway across the ship by the time he finished a sentence. Ned seemed to sag in his grip. “What is this fight about?”

“Cause of death,” Ned muttered. “And other things.”

“Natzan’s death?” Kraglin frowned, confused. “I thought we… knew that? Ya know. The infection?”

“Yeah well.” The med-tech shrugged again. “Like I said… and other things. Look, if you want to know more, just come see for yourself.” He pushed past the curtain and into the medbay, and Kraglin followed on his heels.

The inside of the medbay was quite a sight. Not only was the entire area still in complete disarray from the makeshift quarantine, but the Ravager medics were throwing things at each other and shouting. Ned stood in the doorway with his eyes wide, frozen. Kraglin, on the other hand, shoved his way into the middle of the room, holding his hands out to keep the others at bay.

“Hey hey hey! Stop for just a minute.” Kraglin had to practically scream to be heard over the rest of the voices. A scalpel flew past him, just narrowly missing his face. That’s it. “Stop!” Kraglin pulled two knives from his belt, holding them out to their side, emphasizing his command. “Put the incision tools and syringes down!” There was some annoyed muttering from both sides, but they slowly did. Kraglin, for what it was worth, was kind of surprised. He hadn’t expected them all to listen to him. But for some reason they did, and he wasn’t going to question it too much. “Flark. Okay. Now will someone tell me what’s going on here?”

“ They think the Captain… I dunno, killed Natzan or something.” Well. That was the last thing Kraglin was expecting to hear. He turned to the person who had said it, a medic girl who he thought was named Evelyn. She was pointing to the group on Kraglin’s other side. Looking over his shoulder, he saw the others glaring back. This was getting ridiculous.

“Why… you know she died from an infection. How could the Cap’n get in here and murder her?” Kraglin rolled his eyes. This was the most ridiculous thing he’d heard in ages. Stars, these people could be so dense sometimes. He just never really expected the medical staff to be this bad, considering they were the one responsible for lives. Maybe that’s why Natzan died .

“We ain’t saying he came in here, guns blazing.” The new voice came from the gruff looking head Doctor in the back. Zurnik, his name was. “She caught an infection on Knowhere. But that don’t mean she weren’t set up.” At Kraglin’s skeptical look, he continued with a sigh as if he was reluctantly explaining something to a dumb child. “Listen, kid. You ain’t been around here as long as some o’ us. You ain’t seen it all yet. If Udonta wanted Natzan gone, he could make that happen. And I just don’t particularly trust a man responsible for his first mate’s death to lead our crew. I don’t expect you to understand.”

“Yeah, I must not understand.” Kraglin slowly sheathed his knives and crossed his arms. “Because what I’m hearing is you’re doubting the Captain’s loyalty to Natzan and the entire crew. It sounds like you’re suggesting he ain’t doing his job right. The way I seem to be understanding , the way you’re talking sounds like mutiny. And I know you ain’t thinking about that, are ya Zurnik?”

There was a long pause. The Doctor and Kraglin had a stare-off that lasted just a little too long for comfort. Then Zurnik turned away abruptly, gesturing to the rest of his staff. “Clean up this mess,” he grumbled. They began to disperse, and Kraglin headed for the door, satisfied. He paused just inside, turning back to survey the mess once more.

“There ain’t gonna be even a whisper of this talk from now on. Is that clear?” Murmured agreements rippled through the medbay, and Kraglin grabbed the med-tech’s arm again as he passed. “Step outside with me.”

Once outside, with the door shut so no one inside could eavesdrop, Kraglin raised his eyebrows and looked at Ned expectantly. “That was quite the little show in there.”

“Yeah, uh… Zurnik can be intense.” The med-tech said apologetically.

“It ain’t just him.” Kraglin sighed, shaking his head. “It’s all of them in there, and everyone on the ship. There’s so much gossip about the Captain, and folks sayin’ stuff about him not being fit for the job, or engaging in… in espionage… or…” he huffed. “I just don’t know where it’s all coming from. They’re all so out of line. I hate hearing them all talk about him like that.” Kraglin looked around over his shoulder as if to make sure no one was around to listen in. “Why is everyone acting so weird? And why now? I mean, it’s been a week, and everyone’s worse now than they were when she died! What happened?”

The med-tech gave Kraglin a sympathetic look and patted his arm. “I don’t think you’re stupid, but Zurnik was right, there is a lot you don’t understand.”

“And what does that mean?” Kraglin looked affronted, insulted by the very idea of not knowing stuff.

“Captain ain’t chosen a new first mate yet. So everyone’s a little jumpy, on edge waiting.” Ned gave Kraglin a pointed look that said you should know this! And for what it was worth, Kraglin played his role as the clueless fool well.

“What?!”

“Yep. Natzan’s been dead a week, and we ain’t got a first mate.” The med-tech spoke as if it was the simplest fact in the world. It made Kraglin wonder what sort of rock he was living under. “How did you not know that?”

“Well I…” It was a good question. What had he assumed had happened? “I figured there was someone else, next in line, second in command or something. Ya know. A natural successor.”

“You really do have a lot to learn about Ravager customs, Obfonteri.” Quiet laughter accompanied the comment, and under most circumstances, Kraglin would’ve been happy to lighten the mood. But right now, he just didn’t feel like getting insulted. “Natzan was the second in command on the ship. She would be next in line if something happened to the Captain. No one expects the first mate to go… well, first.”

Kraglin really didn’t know what he had expected. Maybe for Tullk to take over, but since their conversation a few weeks ago, that theory seemed to be debunked. In all honesty, he’d just gotten used to the routine of not having a first mate to do the first mate duties, he barely noticed theirs was missing. And okay, that sounded a little harsh now that he thought about it. But it was true.

“So you all are just real messed up because y’ain’t got a first mate to tell you what to do? Because I woulda thought that out of everyone on the ship, you medics need that sort of direction least. Don’t you just take orders from Zurnik?” Kraglin just didn’t get it. Maybe he was stupid, but there had to be something he was missing.

“No.” Ned still sounded cheerful as always, but there was an impatient edge to his voice now. “It just isn’t right for the Captain to put off this decision. It’s important. It’s not like he’s doing anything else right now.”

“Hang on, now that ain’t fair. He’s doing stuff, he’s just—” Kraglin stopped abruptly. Who was he to say what Yondu had been up to this past week? He didn’t know. But he knew it had to be something more than the med-tech was suggesting. “Got other things on his mind.”

“Uh-huh.” Ned sounded unconvinced, and Kraglin just didn’t have the energy to argue with him anymore.

“Listen, just… stop fighting? Okay? The last thing we need on this ship is more problems to deal with, or— stars forbid— death by flying scalpel.” Kraglin rolled his eyes and started walking off down the hallway.

No first mate meant the status of the rotation schedule was dependent on if Tullk was available to make it. And since he was currently off on a scouting mission, there was no roster. That was enough to put a good portion of the crew in disarray, although Kraglin never really had any issue with not being assigned duties. He flew the ship if they needed a pilot and went to the training room if they didn’t. But since he’d been on night shift with nothing to do during the day now, he was feeling awake and a little lost. So he found himself making his way down the cabin hallway until he was outside Yondu’s door. He didn’t have a good explanation as to why, although he figured he’d need one. He’d never gone to the Captain’s cabin before. He didn’t know anyone who’d gone to the Captain’s cabin. But he knocked anyway.

“Who is it?” came the gruff voice from inside? “What do you want?”

“It’s uh— it’s Kraglin, sir.” Jeez. “I have a question about, um, about duties.”

There was a clattering sound from inside, some not very well muffled cursing, and then the door slid open. Kraglin stood outside the doorway, with Yondu on the other side, facing each other. “Well come in, don’t just stand there,” he grumbled. Kraglin obeyed and the door shut behind him. “Make it brief, I’ve got things to do.”

Kraglin leaned against the door and rubbed his face. “I uh. Okay. Cap’n, there’s no roster for this rotation because Tullk is away. I ain’t got anything to do because I was on the night shift, and I’m bored out of my mind. Please, is there anything you want done, because I’ll gladly take any job. I just need something to do.” Except maybe the vents. “Even the vents.”

“No vents.” Yondu turned away and paced further into his room. “Go down to the medbay and make sure everything is quiet and they ain’t killing each other. They was gettin’ a little punchy when I was by there earlier. In both senses of the word.”

Yondu had been down there already? Well no wonder the med crew had been worked up. Not that he would say that, of course. “I actually just came from there,” he said sheepishly.

“And?” The Captain turned back to Kraglin.

“And… what?”

“What’s the verdict?” Yondu was already growing impatient, Kraglin could tell.

“No one’s dead yet.” He smiled slightly, just trying to ease the tension that had begun to settle. “The jury’s still out on the quiet part.”

“Mm.” Yondu sighed. “So I suppose ya’d still like something to do, then?”

“Yeah. I mean— yes, sir.” Kraglin just barely caught himself. Maybe he was a little tired, but he was so far from sleep he couldn’t even consider that an option.

“One day, yer gonna learn that yer supposed ta take yer free time and treasure it. Drink booze and sit around and just be a pirate. Yer still green.” Yondu seemed amused, and although Kraglin knew he was probably trying to be nice, he still felt a little twinge of resentment.

“Cap’n, with respect, I ain’t the kind of guy to just sit around doin’ nothing when there’s stuff that can be done. I always earned my keep, I put in my time, and I work. If you really ain’t got nothin’ for me to do, then I’ll gladly go stick myself in a corner with some whiskey and drink ‘til I’m sick. But—” he took a breath, worried he’d crossed a line somewhere. But too late now. “If there’s anything you need done. Please just tell me. I’ll do it.”

“So much to do.” Yondu sounded distant, and Kraglin had a feeling he wasn’t really talking to him anymore. But then he snapped back into it, looking at Kraglin with his bright red eyes that sent a shiver down his spine. “Go make sure we have enough folks sober to make a full bridge crew for the next two rotations. I trust you can handle that without almost killing someone?”

Kraglin sucked in a breath. The jab— while warranted— hurt. But the Captain was testing him. This was his second chance at doing something big and important, and the fact that the Centaurian was even giving him the opportunity at all was a big deal. For a moment, he considered thanking Yondu. But if the Captain was looking for acknowledgement of the generous deal, he would’ve said it outright. They both knew what was going on here, and that was enough. “Aye, Cap’n,” Kraglin simply said. “I can. I’ll get right on it.”

He turned out the door, letting himself out so Yondu didn’t have to. There was no thank you from the Captain, but there didn’t have to be. Kraglin had meant it when he said he was happy to do anything, vents excluded. But this was better than he had ever expected. With a spring in his step and a flash of his rapidly yellowing teeth, he strutted down the hall toward the bridge.

Chapter Text

When Kraglin cracked open his eyes, he was greeted by a flashing message on his datapad comm. Groaning, he rolled over on his bunk and picked it up. He wasn’t even fully awake, for flark’s sake. His vision was still blurry and his grip was weak. Losing his hold on the datapad, it dropped from where he was holding it above him onto his face unceremoniously. Letting out a howl of pain followed by a string of curses, Kraglin rubbed his sore nose and pushed himself upright by his elbows. If he wasn’t awake before, he certainly was now.

First shift clearly hadn’t even begun, judging by the cabin of completely zonked-out Ravagers surrounding him. And for that matter, he’d been assigned to first shift too. He was awake earlier than he’d wanted to be, and that alone was infuriating enough. Those precious few minutes were worth more than this “urgent message” as the screen said. Still, now that he was awake, he might as well make sure everything was okay. Hopefully no one’s dying. Hopefully I ain’t dying. He had no reason to believe he was dying other than the fact that it was abominably early and he didn’t want to be up and he didn’t have any coffee or booze at this very moment. And honestly that was a good enough reason. But since he could feel the bump forming on his nose and the pain that accompanied, something told Kraglin he was unfortunately still alive and kicking.

Swiping open the message, he was even more disappointed to find only a cryptic “see me” from Yondu. Well that’s ominous . What in the name of the stars the Captain could want this early in the day was beyond him. It would only be later, when Kraglin was a little more awake, that he would question why Yondu was even calling on him privately like this in the first place.

Still trying to wake himself up fully, Kraglin placed the datapad down and swung his legs out of bed, rubbing at his eyes. If he went to see Yondu now, he might miss his shift. He couldn’t get in trouble for that if he was meeting with the Captain, right? But he also really did need coffee. Badly. And of course before he could even consider seeing Yondu, unless the Centaurian welcomed sleepy Xandarians passing out on his floor. Maybe he’s into that, he thought mindlessly. Ugh. What am I even doing?

He considered making enough racket to wake everyone else in the cabin. If he had to get up, so did everyone else. But he knew how angry he’d be if it happened to him, and the last thing he wanted was roommates out for blood. So he pulled on his jumpsuit and boots and hooked the datapad on his belt, but not before writing out a short reply:

“Be there soon.”

Then, making his way to the door (with feet still half asleep and numb in the thick leather boots), Kraglin shuffled his way out of the cabin.

First stop: mess hall. There had to be coffee in the autoserve. Dragging his feet the whole way, Kraglin grabbed the first clean mug he could get his hands on and punched the fill button. A few drops dripped into the mug, and then nothing. Kraglin kicked the table the machine was precariously perched on, causing it to rattle dangerously. “Stupid flarkin’ good fer nothin’ tech.” He scowled and raised his hand to throw the mug at the wall— and then stopped. Picking up a second mug, he made his way to the barrels of whiskey further down the way. Filling both mugs, he carefully walked back into the corridor. Whiskey wasn’t exactly a morning drink, but it sure as hell would wake him up, and he wasn’t about to pay Yondu a visit without bringing something for him.

He passed some of the night shift security crewmembers along his way, and he acknowledged their curious glances with a shrug that said I ain’t got a clue either. And then, before he even realized it, he was in front of Yondu’s cabin door. He wasn’t even sure the Captain would be there, but it was as good a guess as any. Just as he raised his hand to knock, the door swung open. Startled, Kraglin jumped a bit, nearly spilling the contents of the mugs. A harsh familiar laugh echoed from inside.

“What, ya didn’t know I got cameras out there?” Yondu called. Kraglin peered through the doorway. It was dimly lit, and he couldn’t even see the Captain. “Well, don’t just stand there, boy, come on in before someone sees!” Kraglin obeyed, pulling the door shut behind him before he had a chance to wonder why Yondu was so concerned about people seeing Kraglin there.What would they assume, anyway?

Oh. Oh, flarkin’ hell…

“You wanted to see me, Cap’n?” Kraglin asked, trying to shake the images from his head.

“Well, o’ course.” Yondu chuckled, and as Kraglin stepped forward, he could make out the silhouette of Yondu’s form in the dark. He materialized more as he got closer. “Why else would ya be here?”

Kraglin sighed. Great way to sound stupid from the minute he walked in. That’s real great, Kraglin. Good fuckin’ job. “I brought whiskey,” Kraglin blurted out instead, shoving a mug out in front of him. Yondu laughed and took it.

“Ain’t really a mornin’ drink, is it?”

Kraglin was glad for the dim lighting so Yondu wouldn’t see him flush with embarrassment. “The coffee autoserve is broken.”

Yondu laughed again in response. He eased into a sitting position on the edge of his bed. Kraglin examined it with interest. He didn’t have a normal bunk like most of the crew did— not that he really expected the Captain to sleep on a crappy wooden frame like everyone else. But it was large, and rounder. It looked more like a nest than a bed, and indeed it was piled with blankets and assorted tattered pillows. It was almost like Yondu had been collecting bedding and adding to it over the years.

He must’ve caught Kraglin staring, because he patted the spot next to him. “Well siddown, boy. We ain’t gonna talk with ya standing there. Ya tower over me enough when we’s both standing.” Well this was true at least. Kraglin was long and lanky, and he’d shot up a few more inches since arriving on the ship, so he was significantly taller than Yondu. It was strange, but what Yondu lacked in height, he made up in muscle and stocky build— two things Kraglin did not have. He hopped up on the bed next to Yondu, keeping distance between them. This was already weird enough as it was. He didn’t want to be sitting any closer to the Captain than he had to be.

Yondu grinned his yellow-toothed grin and clinked his mug against Kraglin’s. “To new beginnings!” he said cheerfully. Kraglin’s brow crinkled in confusion and he raised the mug slightly, echoing Yondu’s toast. What new beginnings?

“Anyways, I s’pose yer wonderin’ what I called ya here for.” Yondu was still smiling at Kraglin, but now unease was sinking in. Something just didn’t feel quite right.

“Uh… yeah. Sorry, aye Cap’n, I was uh, wonderin’ that. But I figured you was gonna tell me so I weren’t gonna ask.” Kraglin shifted the mug from one hand to the other nervously.

And then Yondu didn’t say anything for a few minutes. If Kraglin hadn’t been paying attention to the Captain’s recent behavior, he might assume he was doing it to mess with his mind. But Kraglin could tell Yondu was just deep in thought. So he waited patiently, although the anxiety was still gnawing at his chest. Finally, Yondu cleared his throat and Kraglin felt his whole body sag in relief.

“Yer aware I ain’t picked a new first mate.” It was phrased as a statement, and though Kraglin felt the urge to answer it, Yondu continued before he had a chance to. “The fact is, of all my senior officers, there really ain’t anyone who I think can do the job.”

Kraglin was a little baffled as to why Yondu was telling him this. Maybe it was like the time on the bridge where he’d just been talking out loud while Kraglin was there? But no. This was deliberate.

“Because yer too close to them?” Kraglin asked, recalling his conversation with Tullk. Yondu looked at him curiously, like he was wondering how he knew about that. But he simply nodded.

“Somethin’ like that.” Yondu looked thoughtful. “So I’ve been puttin’ it off, hoping that a brilliant idea would come to me about who I should pick. And then it did. Quite a brilliant idea, if I do say so myself.” That grin was becoming sickening. And Kraglin still didn’t understand why Yondu was telling him this.

“Sorry, Cap’n but…” he looked at his datapad. He was going to be late for his shift if he waited much longer. “Is there a reason y’ain’t telling me this when ya announce it to the rest of the crew? Do ya need me to go talk to them about the roster or somethin’ because I’ll go do it, but I’ve got a shift to get to, and…” Kraglin trailed off. Yondu was laughing, a full body laugh, and he just sighed, crossing his arms. “What?”

“God, yer dumb. All the better, I guess. Can’t have ya questioning me at every turn now can I?”

“Cap’n..?” Kraglin’s frown deepened.

“You! Yer my new first mate! Flark, Kraglin. Hope y’ain’t this slow in battle. Oh wait—” Yondu barked another laugh, but Kraglin could only stare at him, dumbfounded.

“I’m… you… Cap’n, you want… me to be yer first mate?” This was the absolute last thing Kraglin expected. He never would’ve thought… what? First mate? Him? Really? “But… I ain’t been here but shy of three months. Is this… are ya sure?”

“Would I have said it if I wasn’t?” Yondu gave Kraglin a pointed look that very clearly said “ don’t question me”. Mutely, he shook his head. “So it’s settled then. Yer gonna be my second in command.” Another pause, in which Kraglin nodded. He didn’t trust himself to actually speak again yet. “What’s that? I can’t hear ya, boy!”

“...Aye, Cap’n,” Kraglin managed to choke out. “T-thank you, I… this is a great opportunity, and I’m grateful that you considered me for this job.”

Yondu snorted. “Watch it, yer starting to sound like a Nova bitch again. I can’t have my first mate talkin’ all proper like. It don’t set a good example.”

Kraglin covered his mouth to keep himself from saying anything else. Had he really just slipped back into that old dialect? “So… is there anything I gotta do now?” Now that he’d gotten over the initial shock, panic was starting to set in. He didn’t know how to be first mate!

Yondu slapped him on the back reassuringly. “Nothin’ y’ain’t done before. Keep the unruly in line, make the rotation schedule. And organize and lead raids— I do expect you to be a little better at that this time around.”

“Of course…” Kraglin didn’t even want to think about that disastrous day right now.

“And don’t go worryin’ bout yer shift. Someone else can cover it.” Yondu smiled, and Kraglin wasn’t sure if he should be horrified or relieved that he had finally forgotten about that. “Listen, boy. A lot of this job is for show. Back me up, repeat the stuff I say for the dumbasses who can’t follow simple orders, that sort of thing You’ve been doing that shit for weeks already.”

Kraglin really didn’t know what to say to that. Yondu really believed in him. That was a fact hard to conceive. But it made everything worth it. Leaving Xandar. The fights. The vents. And now… this. For some reason, he felt himself starting to get choked up. Ohhh no. No crying, what the fuck? And now Yondu was staring at him again, waiting for him to say something, acknowledge what was happening, so… “To new beginnings!” Kraglin said again, raising his mug again and taking a long drink to cover for himself.  

Now it was Yondu’s turn to look skeptical, but only for a minute. “To new beginnings,” he agreed, raising the mug to his lips. “Flark. Whiskey really ain’t a morning drink.”

Chapter Text

To the crew’s credit, Kraglin figured as he paraded up and down the corridor flashing the new shinier flame patch he’d obtained, there hadn’t been that much uproar when Yondu announced the news. When he’d walked into the mess hall in a desperate attempt to find coffee after meeting with the Captain, there had been a group of crewmen placing bets on who the new first mate would be. And the guesses were getting more and more ridiculous by the second, naming inanimate objects and monarchs from far away planets. The whole thing had become so much of a joke onboard the Eclector that it seemed nothing would surprise them anymore.

Still, Kraglin wished he’d been somewhere a little more private when Yondu’s voice crackled over the comms and declared he had chosen a new first mate, and that first mate was Kraglin so the guessing games could stop. Every head in the room seemed to snap toward him at once, even from the folks who probably hadn’t realized he was even in there. Each face read something a little different. Confusion and skepticism from some. Bafflement from the group of gamblers. He managed to catch Tullk’s eye and earned a warm smile and subtle nod. And then across the hall, the smoldering glare of a furious Halfnut. Kraglin just stared into his soup uncomfortably. No one approached him, and he waited for the hall to clear out before leaving himself, just to avoid whatever words or rotten fruit the crew might throw at him.

But the new accommodations were nice. He’d been given Natzan’s old cabin— roomy, with a more comfortable bed, and it was all his. He had near unlimited access to the kitchen and special autoserves reserved only for the Captain and first mate. Plus, he got to make the rotation schedule which meant if he didn’t want to do a shift, he didn’t have it. And by the next day, it seemed like everyone had already forgotten about their issues with him. Kraglin still got some stares and whispers, but either the crew had accepted it, or they were doing a really good job of ignoring it, or (and this was the option Kraglin found to be the most likely one) they’d all forgotten. But either way, it seemed to be fine. He’s gone to visit Iznen, and the tailor gave him a new patch that was bigger to signify his higher rank. He wore it proudly on his chest rather than shoulder as he had before. Iznen, bless her heart, hadn’t had a word to say about Kraglin’s new appointment. She’d just given him a snaggle-toothed grin and a friendly slap on the back, and sent him on his way.  

Something told Kraglin he was in the eye of the storm.

Yondu and Kraglin walked along the corridor side by side, discussing the plans for their next raid. Or rather, Yondu was discussing, and Kraglin was nodding along and giving the occasional “yeah, uh-huh, good idea Cap’n” as necessary to appease his ego. It wasn’t too hard of a job in retrospect. And even if Kraglin could have disagreed with Yondu without getting ejected from an airlock or simply taking an arrow through the chest, he wouldn’t have. Yondu was smart, and clever. He had good ideas. He knew how to make a plan. And he was a terrifying and brilliant leader. Or at least Kraglin thought so. Perhaps the entire crew didn’t, but their opinions didn’t really matter. Follow, or leave. That’s how things were around here.

“After a pit stop on Knowhere, whaddya say we head over to Myndai? Heard they got some expensive-ass weaponry there. Old as balls too. Very valuable.” Yondu gestured with his hands as he spoke, approximating the length of the swords with a sadistic grin that made Kraglin’s stomach churn. “And they’s so wrapped up in their military coup or whatever the fuck they’re doing, I highly doubt they’d notice if we swooped in and took a few things off their hands.”

Kraglin nodded, imagining the feel of a Myndain longsword in his hands, the power he would have with it. Those blades were nice. He’d never used one, but Lough owned one and he’d seen them use it. Deadly and dangerous. He wanted one. Since his promotion, he’d taken the liberty of researching various planets in the nearby systems and finding out what sort of expensive shinies and weapons they had. Yondu didn’t know about this of course, because Kraglin was pretty sure the Centaurian would laugh in his face at the idea of research. But Kraglin had to make up for years of being stuck planetside in a rather sheltered environment, meaning he didn’t have as much hands-on knowledge of the galaxy’s treasures as some others. He just wanted to make himself useful, prove himself to Yondu and the crew as a way to show this position wasn’t a mistake.

“Sounds good to me, Cap’n,” Kraglin said, bobbing his head up and down as he walked. “And how long will we spend on Knowhere, do ya think?”

“Just a day,” Yondu said, mostly waving off the question. “Maybe a night, depending on what time we arrive. Just long enough to restock supplies, maybe hook up with some girls, pick up a new rookie to send to the engine rooms.” He shrugged. “And then we’ll be off.”

“Are ya gonna want me to… I dunno, organize the raid team or something” Kraglin peered at Yondu hesitantly. He knew he didn’t exactly have the best track record. But he’d promised he’d be better, and he had to start somewhere, right?

“As if.” Both the Captain and first mate turned their heads at the voice. Wretch was leaning against the wall. Kraglin hadn’t even seen him there. The crewman pushed off with his foot and came to stand in front of the pair, his arms crossed. Kraglin exchanged a look with Yondu as the two of them stopped as well. Yondu looked entirely unimpressed, and Kraglin tried to mimic that expression as best he could. Wretch just scoffed. “That’s an awful idea,” he said, rolling his eyes. “I’m the best strategist ya’ve got on this ship, Captain. After Natzan, but she’s dead so now ya’ve got me. Why would ya even consider asking this…” he pulled a face and made a vague gesture toward Kraglin, “to do it when he clearly is incapable of running anything without nearly gettin’ the whole crew killed?”

There were a handful of things Kraglin could’ve said to that. And he opened his mouth, fully prepared to lay out each one. But Yondu beat him to it. And while Kraglin would’ve spoke slowly with an eerie calm, Yondu didn’t work like that. When he was in, he was all in.

“Whaddya think yer doin’ sayin’ stuff like that about Kraglin here?” One hand on Kraglin’s shoulder, Yondu jabbed a blue finger at Wretch’s chest. “Sounds like yer doubtin’ his abilities, but I ain’t gotta clue why, because I got perfect confidence in him. I know he ain’t the brightest, and he’s made plenty of mistakes in the past. But he’s fully capable of doing this, or whatever else I tell him to do, and it ain’t up to you to decide any of that!” Yondu whistled, his arrow jumping out of his holster and advancing on Wretch. Yondu stepped forward too, moving with the arrow, and his grasp moved to Kraglin’s arm, almost pulling him along behind him. “Unless of course yer doubting my judgement. But you wouldn’t do that, because you’re loyal to me, right?”

Wretch didn’t give any sign of acknowledgement, other than a wide eyed terrified expression. Yondu rightfully took that as enough of an answer. “And bein’ loyal to me means bein’ loyal to Kraglin. Got that?” This time the other Ravager offered up a shaky nod. Yondu looked satisfied, but he didn’t retract the arrow yet. “Whaddya say, Kraglin? Should I kill him anyway?” Kraglin’s eyes widened.

Oh, the possibilities are endless when yer the Captain’s right hand man. He looked contemplative for a moment, then shook his head. “Nah. No need. He’s too pathetic anyway. Besides, I want him to see the great raid I organize that will not involve him.”

Yondu laughed heartily. “A merciful first mate! I think yer still a little soft, boy, but perhaps ya made the right decision.” He turned to Wretch who was looking between the two, absolutely terrified. “Seems ya get to live another day, scumbag. Oh, and one more thing.” He flashed his teeth. “Natzan weren’t the raid organizer because she was first mate. She did it because you were trash. And still are, apparently. Dontchu ever disrespect her legacy like that.” He whistled the arrow closer so it was touching the tip of Wretch’s nose. The man leaned back to try and get away from it, tilting his whole weight backwards. When Yondu finally called the arrow back, the sudden release of tension sent Wretch crashing backwards to the ground. He looked up at Yondu and Kraglin pitifully, and the two of them just shrugged and stepped over him as they continued on. Or rather, Yondu walked over him and Kraglin calmly stepped on and then off his chest, not bothering to make the extra effort. His little “oof” as the wind got knocked out of him was faint as they stalked off down the corridor, once again shoulder to shoulder.

“Ya didn’t have to do that, Cap’n,” Kraglin said, once he was certain they were out of earshot. “Ya know, defending me and all that.”

“I weren’t doin’ it fer you,” Yondu assured him, already sounding bored and disinterested. Such was the way with him. “I didn’t want that little jackass questioning’ my authority like that.”

“Oh.” Kraglin was quiet for a moment, thinking. “Well. Thanks anyway.”

“Don’t say that.” Yondu sighed, rubbing his temples.

Kraglin blinked, but nodded. “...Okay.” They came to a stop outside Yondu’s cabin. “Was there anything else? Otherwise I’m gonna turn in fer the night. I assume you are too,” he said, gesturing to the door.

Yondu just grunted. “Get some sleep, then.” Well, if he really didn’t want to talk about whatever had just happened, Kraglin wasn’t going to push it. “Get the team figured out tomorrow.”

Kraglin nodded silently, and saluted. Yondu mirrored him, then turned abruptly into their cabin, shutting the door forcefully behind him. Kraglin stood outside, feeling a little shaken, but otherwise fairly decent. Shaking his head in confusion, he walked back slowly in the direction of his new quarters.

Chapter Text

Yondu and Kraglin’s interactions in the following days were much like the one the morning he asked Kraglin to be his first mate. Yondu would send a cryptic message to Kraglin asking him to meet him somewhere (usually the bridge, or the conference room, but never again in his cabin), and Kraglin would go. That was just how it was, to the point where Kraglin wondered if this was just how Captains and first mates communicated. He wouldn’t have had anything else to go off of anyway. He hadn’t ever really witnessed Yondu and Natzan together, so he didn’t even know about this. But it just… seemed weird.

Mid-afternoon, as he was just getting off his bridge shift, the comm beeped. Not a message this time— a call. That was new. Frowning slightly, Kraglin ducked into a side hallway to avoid the sound of chatter.

“Aye, Cap’n?” This was so strange. He spoke quietly into the comm, for some reason afraid of being overheard. “What’s up?”

“Come to the mess hall. All the way in the back.” Yondu’s voice was mysterious, and he offered no further explanation. If I thought vocal communication would be any more explicit, I was damn wrong.

“I… okay. Now?” Yondu didn’t reply. Kraglin sighed and released his lapel. He was tired and he really needed a nap. Food would be great too, but he was pretty sure there was some mess he was being called to clean up, and eating was the last thing on anyone’s mind. Grudgingly, he turned back and hurried to meet Yondu.

He was sitting at the farthest table by the wall when Kraglin walked in. The hall was fairly crowded, but the rest of the crew seemed to be giving the Captain a wide berth, favoring crowding the tables closest to the door rather than getting in his personal space. Feeling a little foolish and slightly out of place, Kraglin hurried over. “Cap’n, is everything alright? I hurried over soon as I could, I—”

Yondu cut him off with a bark of laughter, and the first mate’s eyes dropped to the table between them where a tray sloppily filled with food sat. “Kraglin, what did ya think this was about? Get yerself some food and come eat, ya dumbass.”

“Eat?” Kraglin repeated, sounding out the wood like it was a foreign concept to him. “You want to… eat with me?”

Yondu gave him the blandest look, and he could feel his face getting hot with embarrassment. “I ain’t gonna even bother answering that,” the Captain scowled.

“Aye, Cap’n, yes, of course, sorry.” Kraglin walked backward quickly, afraid to turn around while Yondu was holding eye contact. He rammed into a broad chest and whipped around quickly o see Brad scowling down at him. “Sorry!” he said again, and ran off toward the serving line. He could hear Brad’s grunt of disapproval, and Yondu bellowing with laughter behind him.

Once he’d filled a tray with an unidentifiable slab of meat and a questionable sloppy goop, Kraglin managed to walk back to the table without running into anyone else, and slid onto the bench across from Yondu, still on edge. They sat in silence for a few minutes as Yondu finished eating, Kraglin picking slowly at his food. “Y’ain’t eating. Why?” If Kraglin didn’t know better, he would’ve thought Yondu was concerned about him.

“The food is disgusting,” he said, which was true, if not the entire reason. Yondu saw through it, though. Just from the look he gave Kraglin, it was obvious he knew. Kraglin sighed. “Why are we doing this?”

The Captain looked surprised. “I wanna have dinner with my first mate, that a problem for ya?”

“No,” Kraglin frowned. “But— I mean… why here?” He lowered his voice. “Is there somethin’ ya need to discuss? Something about the mission? Because I woulda thought ya’d want to do that in private and not where everyone can hear…”

Yondu sighed dramatically, pushing his now empty tray to the side. “Dear gods, yer oblivious. I want them to see us. In their eyes, it’s reassurance that we have a good working relationship if they see that we can be social and shit.”

Kraglin was impressed, though he’d never saw that. Yondu’s skill as a Captain went beyond his ability to kill people and strike a bargain. It wasn’t exactly Nova Corps diplomacy, but he knew how to govern, in his own way. It wasn’t that Kraglin was surprised, but it was reassurance for him that he wasn’t way in over his head. He’d always been comforted while he was in the Corps knowing that his superiors had a strong handle on things beyond their defensive capabilities, and this was really no different. Still, he’d never say that out loud. “You ain’t worried they’d they’ll think this socializing is anything more than a Captain and first mate relationship, are ya?” That, he regretted the moment the words left his mouth. But Yondu didn’t seem to bothered by it either way. Kraglin could’ve sworn he even heard him chuckle a little.

“Eat yer goop,” the Captain said simply, flashing Kraglin the snaggle-toothed smile that was a little less disgusting than usual. It almost seemed natural and dare he say friendly. Kraglin nodded quickly and spooned the soupy meal into his mouth quickly. Once his plate was mostly empty, he shoved it aside too, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.

“I ain’t very good at dinner conversation,” he said sheepishly, a roundabout apology for his silence. Yondu just shrugged, waving him off.

“It don’t matter,” he said. “Weren’t nothing on the agenda in particular.”

Kraglin mulled that over for a few minutes. “Did ya ever do this with Natzan?” he asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

He could’ve sworn Yondu’s face turned a darker blue, expression suddenly hard and cold. “I ain’t in the mood to talk about her.” Kraglin felt bad. Of course the previous first mate was still a touchy subject. He shouldn’t have asked. But Yondu continued, Kraglin listening in silence. “Of course we ate together, sometimes. But I’d known her since I joined the Ravagers. I’d known most of my crew when I became Captain. She knew them too. They weren’t any need for showiness, nor for us to get to know each other better.” He fell silent for a moment, looking like he’s said more than he meant to. Kraglin waited patiently, not wanting to interrupt, and not knowing what to to say anyway. “I suppose this is also for us to get to know each other, though,” he said finally, almost like an afterthought. Ah. So that’s it. Something about Yondu wanting to get to know him better made Kraglin feel good.

“Oh. Well in that case… what do ya want to know?” In the Nova Corps, he’d been interviewed during recruitment, to make sure his personality was a good match for the force. Stars knows how he had passed that test. With the Ravagers, it had just been Yondu thinking he had the skills. And even that had been questionable. Clearly, Yondu thought he would make a good space pirate and first mate but now that he thought about it, he really couldn’t believe it.

Yondu seemed to consider for a minute. “What drives ya? I mean, what made ya want to be part of the Nova Corps? And what made ya leave?” Kraglin frowned and opened his mouth to explain, but Yondu held up a hand. “And before ya say anything, I ain’t interested in yer tragic backstory. I know ya’ve got one. Everyone does. I don’t care about that. I want to know what made it the right thing to do.”

“I…” how was Kraglin supposed to even go about starting to answer that. He didn’t really consider his childhood and parental situation a tragic backstory, but it had been a big part of the reason he’d joined the Corps, and something told him Yondu would think of it that way. Maybe it was superficial. “I had a point to prove,” he said slowly, careful to not go into too much detail. “To the people of Xandar. And— to myself, I guess.” Yondu crossed his arms, but appeared to be listening. “I knew that I was capable of defending the force, and of being honorable. That I was better than I’d been conditioned to believe.” This was very different from the sob story he’d told the Corps in his interview. The premise was the same, but this felt at the same time much more sincere. It seemed to satisfy Yondu anyway, who nodded.

“And why ya left?”

“You know that.” Kraglin frowned. “I was fired. Because of you.” But there was nothing malicious in his voice when he said it.

“And you was relieved,” Yondu said. It wasn’t a question, though he looked to his first mate for confirmation.

“...Yeah, I was.” He sighed. “I was ready to leave. I guess I… I realized I’d done everything I could there. It weren’t exciting anymore, I had no reason to stay.” Yondu watched him, unblinking. It would’ve been unnerving if he wasn't used to it by now. “That day in the market make me realize I could be doing more than I was. It was the same reason I joined, I guess.”

“Mhm.” Yondu seemed to mull that over. “And ya think this will keep ya on yer toes for longer?”

Kraglin didn’t hesitate to answer that. “Of course.” A beat. “What about—?”

“I’ll go find some booze for us,” Yondu interrupted, standing. Kraglin had considered asking him why he became a Ravager, but the Captain clearly wasn’t interested in talking about himself. Well, that was fine. Some other time. He had a feeling these dinners might become regularities.

Chapter Text

Much to Kraglin’s surprise, the planning of the raid over the next few weeks went smoothly. He’d stalled a bit on their departure, making sure everything was ready to go. He knew he couldn’t let this time fail. He had added responsibility now. He was first mate, and if the crew’s eyes hadn’t already been on him, well they would be now. He still felt like everyone was scrutinizing his every move, not unlike how it had been on Xandar for a while. The difference, he realized, was that in the Corps he had felt a bit like a bug under a microscope. He didn’t know what his superiors were looking for, what they wanted outside of his job description, or what they were thinking. On a Ravager ship, at least the intentions were clear. If you fucked up, you paid. Very few people like you, so you’ve got to watch your back. But punching out anyone who threatened you was also perfectly acceptable, so Kraglin always felt like he had the upper hand. And in this new position, he could do just about anything he wanted with zero backlash. So he carried himself a little taller, held his head a little higher, and made it very clear that he was in charge.

When the raid crew departed, Kraglin finally felt content. He’d only picked crew members who he knew he could trust, or who ultimately would have his back in a fight. There was no Lough to challenge him, no Brad or Halfnut to goad him, . Just Tullk, Horuz, Oblo, a few others. And of course Yondu. All in a single M-ship. Kraglin flew— putting them on the shortest route to Myndai with a pit stop on Knowhere first. He knew they could probably use some time to relax, since he’d been pushing pretty hard the past few days, and they did the flight in a single shot. Yondu had left the direction of the trip almost entirely up to Kraglin, but when it came time to dock, Yondu took over the helm and the giving of directions. Kraglin hadn’t been there before, so he observed Yondu’s maneuvering around the dead celestial’s head until they had secured their ship in the lofty hangars far above the main surface.

Once they had all unloaded their gear for the night, they hiked along the winding passageways with Yondu in the lead until they reached what Kraglin figured must’ve been the central hub of activity. It was… unlike anything he’d ever experienced. It had the busy flurry of movement and excitement that the inner city of Xandar had, but the feeling of poverty of the slums. Frankly, he wasn’t sure how to feel about it, but he knew he had better figure out how to enjoy it.

“Yer responsible fer yer own lodging, ‘less ya wanna spend the night in the ship,” Kraglin explained to the small group. “We’ll meet back right here at nine hundred hours. That clear?”

A chorus of “aye”s echoed in response. “Don’t forget to use the buddy system!” Yondu chortled after them as they split up and wandered off. The two of them looked at each other. “Ya got plans, or…?”

Kraglin looked confused for a moment, then shrugged. “Me? Oh. No, not really. I mean, I ain’t really sure what exactly there is to do here, so… I was just gonna explore, I guess.”

Yondu grinned. “Well, let’s explore, then!” Kraglin hesitated, wanting to make sure Yondu wasn’t playing a joke on him. But the Captain was already walking away, so he pushed down his nerves and hurried after him.

The unease Kraglin felt walking through the streets of Knowhere was probably coming from unfounded concern, but it just didn't feel right. Yondu however looked to be in his element. The difference between them- cheerful Captain strutting around like he owned the place, and timid first mate trailing behind- would probably have been humorous if Kraglin didn't feel like he was going to be jumped at every turn. This is truly a Ravager’s paradise, Kraglin thought, somewhat bitterly. And I feel completely out of place. What does that say about me?

Luckily, Yondu didn't leave too much time for him to dwell on his own insecurities. He almost seemed excited to give Kraglin the whole tour. “So down that-a-way are the betting pools and the fighting arenas. There’s some of everything here- ranging from Orloni fights to Skrull wrestling matches. Folk of all sort come here, and they all participate.”

Kraglin wondered briefly why he hadn't heard of anyone from the Corps busting this place. “Is any of this legal? I mean, I don't care- it don't matter to me. I was just wondering. We never came here to bust anything so I weren't sure…”

Yondu just laughed. “Ha, ya had me worried for a sec that ya were asking if we was gonna be caught. Listen,” he said, lowering his voice. “On the surface, nothing breaks any codes of the universe or whatever, except probably some moral ones. Ain't no one able to come and tell these folks they’s gotta stop or else they’ll be arrested. That is ta say, the mining colony- because that's what this is- don't sponsor nothing questionable. But the things folks do on their own is a whole other story.” He shrugged. “Mostly though, no one comes because no one cares. This is a safe place, of sorts. Ya know ya can come and get yer business done and ain't no one gonna bother ya about it.”

“Oh,” was Kraglin’s only response to that. They lapsed back into silence. There was clearly little interest in the Orloni races- to the apparent relief of both him and Yondu. So on they walked.

“If there's anything you've ever wanted to do though, you can probably do it here.” Yondu continued after a few minutes. “Try weird food, beat up a kid…” he shrugged. “Sex bots.”

Kraglin blanched. “Sex bots?”

“Just what it sounds like,” Yondu said. “I ain't recommending it. Just giving ya options.”

Kraglin really had nothing to say to that. Nothing except to turn it down. “Well ya’ll be glad to know then that I ain't got a use for sex bots ,” he mumbled. Yondu frowned, only grunting in response. Kraglin tried to think of other things to say or do. He felt bad now. They passed various shops, glancing in the windows and at the badly scrawled signs. Most of them he couldn't make out, and he had a feeling the activities that went on inside were just as suspicious as the outside appearance. But one in particular did catch his eye- the sign on the outside reading “TATTOOS” in shaky Xandarian scrawl.

“Do ya think that's safe?” he asked, pausing and touching Yondu’s arm lightly to get his attention. The Captain glanced in the direction Kraglin was looking, raising his eyebrows.

“Ya want a tattoo?” he asked, clearly taken aback.

Kraglin shrugged. “I always thought they were great, but I couldn't have one when I was in the Corps. Now seems like the right time.”

“Well, it's written in your language, ain't it? Can't be too bad.” Yondu still seemed slightly put-off, although Kraglin couldn't pin down why.

“This is standard Xandarian. More widely used across the galaxy so it's easier to read. It's actually very crude by our standards. It's common enough in colloquial speech, but it ain't exactly our cultural language.”

“Well, we’s crude too so it ain't so bad. Let's go, if we’s going.” Yondu grabbed Kraglin by the arm and dragged him inside.

The smell of the place surprisingly wasn’t what made Kraglin almost turn around and walk out the moment he set foot inside. It just looked run-down, and there was no one inside, from what he could tell. “Maybe we should leave,” he said starting to back toward the door. “Ain’t no one here.”

“Now don’t ya go chickening out on me,” Yondu chided, barring the door. “There’s probably someone in the back. Either yer in, or yer out. But every Ravager’s got tattoos, it’s like a rite of passage. I thought ya wanted to do this.”

“I did. I do.” Kraglin sighed, moving away from the door to get a better look around. “Hello? Anyone here?” There was no answer, so he turned back to his companion. “You’ve got tattoos?” They if he did, they certainly weren’t any place Kraglin had ever seen.

“Yes,” Yondu said curtly, and that was it. “If someone don’t get their ass out here in five seconds yer gonna regret it!”

A short little man ran out into the main room, looking flustered. He balked slightly when he saw Yondu, and a flicker of recognition crossed his face. Kraglin filed that little tidbit away for later.
“I’m so sorry,” the man babbled. “I was in the back with a client, I didn’t hear you come in, you’re gonna have to wait until I finish up—”

“That’s fine,” Kraglin started to say, but Yondu held up a hand and took a few steps forward, menacingly.

“No. You know who I am, right?”

“Y-yes. You’re— you’re Yondu Udonta, the Ravager Captain,” He stammered.

“That’s right. And my first mate Kraglin here would like a tattoo. We ain’t got all night, so we’d appreciate priority service.” Kraglin watched the little man quiver, and he almost felt bad, but he just mimicked Yondu’s intimidating stance and crossed his arms.

“Of course, sir, right away…” he motioned for Kraglin to follow, which he did semi-reluctantly. He glanced over his shoulder at Yondu who was still standing there, looking around.

“Y’ain’t coming?” he called. Yondu looked surprised he had even asked.

“Ya don’t need me to hold yer hand, do ya?” the Captain quipped.

“No, just…” Kraglin wasn’t really sure why he wanted Yondu there, honestly. “I don’t know anything about tattoos, I figured you could stop him if he tried to stab me to death or something.” It was a bad lie, and he was sure Yondu saw through it, but he just chortled and nodded, following the pair into the back room.

It was dimly lit, with a few candles flickering in the corners. Kraglin decided it was better not to ask how the man would be able to see. He sat down in the large chair (very uncomfortable) and watched him go about his work.

“What are you looking for as a design?” he asked Kraglin, not even looking at him as he gathered his tools.

“I want Xandarian runes,” he said without hesitating. Yondu made a quiet surprised sound, which Kraglin ignored. Contrary to what Yondu seemed to believe, he’d been thinking about this for a while. The next part, he addressed to the Captain. “The cultural language of Xandar don’t got an alphabet. The runes have evolved some over the years, but that’s how we make words and sentences in a written form.” The tattoo artist walked over to Kraglin, setting out the needles and ink on a table beside him.

“I don’t know traditional Xandarian,” he explained. “You’ll have to draw what you want for me.” Kraglin nodded, and took the paper and pen the man passed to him. He carefully traced three distinct symbols, narrating them to Yondu as he went.

“This is the symbol for the Nova Corps,” he said as he finished the first. “It’s so I don’t forget where I came from.” Yondu nodded silently as Kraglin drew the second one. “This is the word we would use for Ravagers.”

“Ya ain’t telling me ancient Xandarian’s got a word for that.” Yondu scoffed. “You made that up.”

“Nah.” Kraglin shook his head as he started to draw a third rune. “We don’t, but it’s what we would say. It roughly means ‘roamer of the stars.’” He thought he caught a smile from Yondu at that.

“And what about that one?” the Captain asked, pointing to the last drawing as Kraglin handed the paper back to the artist. “What does that mean?”

“Loyalty,” he said shortly. “I want them here,” he told the man, pointing to just above his collarbone. “That way they’s just visible enough to be seen with my uniform.” He leaned back in the chair as the man started to prepare him. He closed his eyes so he wouldn’t see the needle or anything. That was the scary part. Still, he could feel Yondu’s intense gaze on him.

The whole thing hurt like hell, but he managed to zone out, focusing on the buzz of sound outside the walls of the parlor. At one point when it got really bad and he couldn’t stop his face from contorting in pain, he thought he felt a warm hand on his arm— but maybe he imagined it. But then it was all over, and he opened his eyes to the little man holding a cracked mirror in his face.

“Take a look,” he said. Kraglin examined the runes on his skin, tracing a finger over each one. When he spoke, there was quiet awe in his voice.

“They’re perfect,” he murmured. “Thank you.” He reached to transfer units for the work, but Yondu stood up and intercepted, paying off the man before Kraglin could stop him.

“Consider it a late promotion gift,” he grunted, and walked out. Baffled, Kraglin nodded to the man and hurried out after Yondu. The Captain was already walking off down the street by the time he caught up. “That third one. What does it really mean?”

Kraglin blinked. “I told ya. I means loyalty.”

“No it don’t.” Yondu sounded completely unconvinced. “I paid for it, tell me what it means.”

Kraglin sighed and stopped walking. “Cap’n. Listen. There’s a lot more depth to the word in traditional Xandarian than can be interpreted in any way.” He shrugged. “Loyalty is what it translates to, but ya’d have to grow up in Xandarian culture to really understand it’s meaning.”

Yondu stopped too, crossing his arms. “Well I can’t go back and decide to relive my life in yer big fancy city, so you’s gonna have to try to explain it.”

Kraglin rubbed his temples. “Fine. Okay. Look, there’s two words for loyalty. One refers to… obligatory loyalty. Family, culture, all that crap. This one,” he said, pointing to the one on his neck, “is more like… pledging yerself to something, forever. It don’t matter if that ain’t how ya grew up, if the people ain’t yer blood. It’s not tied to yer past, but it’s there for life.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “This is just a reminder.”

Yondu hesitated, looking at Kraglin like he was trying to work something out. “A reminder of what?”

“Of you.” Kraglin started walking again, not waiting to see if Yondu was following. The Captain didn’t reply to that, but he heard the sound of boots on the gravel behind him, and that was enough reassurance.

Chapter Text

Myndai was not what Kraglin was expecting. When he’d learned the planet was at war, he’d imagined a desolate wasteland, with crumbling structures and long stretches of electric fencing. Soldiers patrolling the area with their gleaming swords Kraglin admired. Perhaps had he spent more time listening to Lough talk about their home, he would’ve been more prepared. But he had no interest in socializing with the pilot, and he was sure Lough felt the same about him. It didn’t particularly matter anyway though. The setting was more reputable, although he knew it was a facade. The buildings stood tall and strong, with shiny royal blue walls and silver trim. Guards in formal uniform waited outside, still as rocks. And that was when Kraglin realized why this felt wrong. The city they were in was the image of perfection— but there were no people about. The streets were just as empty as they would’ve been had it been a battlefield. And here they were, gang of Ravagers on streets of silver. The contrast made him feel sick.

“You got a plan?” Yondu murmured, hovering behind his shoulder. Kraglin turned his head slightly to look at him, a ghost of a smile flickering over his face.

“Half of one,” he replied, quietly enough that the others wouldn’t hear him. “This weren’t what I was expecting, though. I imagined it… more, ah… messy?”

“Well sure,” Yondu shrugged. “Y’ain’t never been here before. I know you can figure something out.”

Kraglin was a little surprised he wasn’t getting a lecture, but he wasn’t going to question it too much. Yondu trusted him. Completely. That wasn’t something he could just take for granted.

“My original plan was to get into their weapons storage and steal everything we can.” Kraglin stopped walking, stepping off to the side of the road, and beckoning the group around him. He spoke in a hushed voice so as to not alert the guards. “But it’s so heavily guarded…” he gestured vaguely to the nearest building. “I think we’s gonna be better off haggling. We’s probably gonna end up paying a little, but it’ll be a bargain no matter what. These folks don’t like their stuff getting out.”

“Ya think we oughtta have brought Lough?” Oblo questioned. “They know the planet and the people better than anyone.”

“Lough don’t know we’s here,” Kraglin grunted, a little uncomfortable.

Tullk cleared his throat, shooting Oblo a warning look. “Lough wouldna be welcome here anyway, laddie. Dinna ya remember they was on the run from this place when they joined us?” Oblo gave a small nod of remembrance and kicked at the ground awkwardly.

Kraglin sighed. “We don’t need Lough.” He narrowed his eyes, looking around at each one of them with a steady confident gaze. “What we’s gonna do is march up to one of them guards, tell them we want to purchase some weapons, and if they give us trouble, we shoot ‘em and just take theirs. Good?” There were nods all around, and Kraglin let out a breath. It ain’t exactly the most bombproof plan, but we’re Ravagers. We can take out any of these guys. Their swords are great, but they don’t hold up against blasters. This was how they did things, and he was finally starting to get that. Sometimes the best plans in these situations weren’t the most thought-out ones. The plans that worked were in and out with as much shooting and stabbing as possible in the middle. “Right then,” he said, walking off down the road again with a wave over his shoulder. “Let’s go.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Kraglin could see Yondu fall into step beside him. “Very nice,” the Captain said. Face reddening a bit at the praise, Kraglin grunted but said nothing. They walked in silence, climbing up a set of large silver steps. Their weapons were away, but as they approached, the guards drew their swords, taking on a defensive stance.

“Who are you?” the one in the center said, taking a step toward the group. He held them at a distance with the tip of his sword. Kraglin wasn’t impressed by what he saw. Long silvery hair framed a blue skinned face set in what seemed to be a permanent scowl as the man examined them. “Ravagers?”

“Yeah.” Whistling softly, Yondu stepped up to the step above Kraglin and pushed back the flaps of his coat enough to show the arrow gleaming at his belt. “Captain Udonta. My first mate, Obfonteri.” He looked the guard up and down, seemingly as unimpressed as Kraglin had been. “We’s here to take some of those fine weapons ya got off yer hands.”

“Lorav.” the guard inclined his head slightly. “I’m sorry Udonta, but ya canna have our weapons. These blades are exclusively Myndain. They remain on this planet and with our soldiers at all times.”

Yondu pursed his lips, prepared to whistle, but Kraglin held up a hand and stepped up too, addressing Lorav directly. “Do ya count escapees to still be soldiers?”

The man frowned, as if he didn’t quite understand what Kraglin was asking, or why. But after a moment, his face paled, the color draining out so his skin was almost clearly translucent. Still, he made an effort to hide his surprise. “I dinna have a clue what you’re talking about,” he muttered. “Our swords will never be in Ravager hands.”

Yondu pressed Kraglin’s arm in warning, but he only smiled and crossed his arms. “But I think ya do, actually, and I know that one of yer swords is in fact in Ravager hands as we speak.”

Lorav stiffened. “They are with you,” he said in a low voice, too quiet for anyone except Kraglin and Yondu to hear.

Kraglin shrugged. “I dinna have a clue what yer talking about,” he parroted back innocently. There was just enough mockery in his voice to show he knew perfectly well what Lorav was talking about. But he wasn’t going to let the Myndain off the hook so easily.

Sniffing, Lorav straightened up, jutting his chin out proudly. “I will speak to you privately, Obfonteri. Perhaps we can reach an agreement.”

Kraglin glanced at Yondu, seeking silent permission. The Captain shrugged. Smirking, Kraglin nodded to Lorav. “Lead the way.” The other two guards parted to the side and opened the doors, and Kraglin followed Lorav into the building. As the doors shut behind them, he couldn’t help but feel like he was walking into a trap. But he stayed silent as Lorav led him through silver-plated corridors. If he had to get out of here on his own, he was fairly sure he would get lost. But hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.

Lorav directed him into a smaller room and shut the door. He slid into a chair behind a desk, gesturing for Kraglin to sit as well. He just shook his head and crossed his arms, standing firmly in front of the Myndain. He wasn’t going to speak first. Lorav was the one who initiated this meeting, and although Kraglin was fairly sure he knew where it was going, he was planning to wait it out and see.

“So Lough is on your ship.” Lorav spoke at last, a sigh escaping his lips as he leaned back in his chair. “They’re a Ravager now. Of course they are.”

Well, that was the first suspicion confirmed. Kraglin nodded. He didn’t like his crewmate, but if this bargain was going to work, he couldn’t make it sound like he was too eager to have them out of his life. “And a damn good one,” he boasted. “Best pilot we got, and exceptionally good with a sword. A sword that belongs to your people.”

“Yes.” Lorav’s voice was distant, something in it that Kraglin couldn’t understand. “That sounds like them. And now you come seeking more of those swords. I should’ve expected this.” He laughed darkly, though Kraglin couldn’t see what was funny about it. “They helped you plan this, I assume, although they wouldna be stupid enough to come themself.”

“Actually, they don’t know we’s here at all,” Kraglin sneered. “But yer right, they wouldn’t come here for anything.” He cracked his knuckles, anxious to get this moving along. “Now I ain’t sure exactly why they left here, but if ya want them back— in exchange for compensation in the form of some of your blades— I think that can be arranged.”

Lorav seemed pensive as he considered that, and Kraglin waited as patiently as he could for his answer. But when he did speak again, it caught him off guard. “You are the first mate on your ship?”

“Uh.” Kraglin furrowed his brow. “Yes?”

“That is an awful lot of responsibility your Captain is giving you, sending you in here to barter with me.” Lorav didn’t look at him, his eyes trained on a spot on the floor instead. Kraglin just scoffed.

“My responsibilities ain’t none of yer business,” he snipped. “If ya want us to bring Lough to you in exchange for these swords, now that is yer business. But if yer just gonna interrogate me about my role here, then I’m gonna go find my way back through these shiny corridors on my own, thank ya very much.” He turned to walk to the door.

“Wait.” Kraglin stopped. Lorav stood. “My apologies, first mate Obfonteri. I didna mean to insult you. Please, come sit. We will talk about a deal.” Kraglin hesitated, then nodded and sat in the chair Lorav had offered earlier. Satisfied, the Myndain sat again as well.

“Tell me what you want us to do, and we will— for twenty blades like Lough has.” Kraglin folded his arms over his chest.

Lorav nodded thoughtfully. “The blade Lough carries is not the finest we make. If you would prefer something better, that is doable.”

That puzzled Kraglin. “If it ain’t yer best blade, why did they take it as their only weapon when they left?”

“That sword is very well built, dinna mistake my words,” Lorav said. “It is sturdier than anything else, but our technology has come a long way since it was made. It has been passed down in our family for generations, but I am afraid that will end with Lough.”

Wait— what? “Did you say— our family? As in, yours and Lough’s?” Kraglin’s nose crinkled in confusion. His response seemed to amuse Lorav, who laughed quietly.

“Aye.” He inclined his head, silver hair falling over his shoulders. “I am Lough’s father.”

Kraglin took a few moments to process that new information. He was not expecting this to take that sort of turn. “What do you want from us?” he asked gruffly. “However you want Lough, dead or alive, we will be taking those swords.”

Lorav pressed his fingers to his temple, sighing. “I dinna want them to come back here. They will be killed if they do. We— my brother and I— sent Lough away as a child because once the people figured out they are not pure-blooded Myndain, they would be killed. But if they return now, they will be doubly charged as a deserter and a war criminal.” He shook his head, pushing the hair away from his face. “All I want is information. To know they are alright. Happy. That’s all. Tell me that, and you can have your swords.”

Baffled, Kraglin nodded slowly. “Yes— yes, of course. They’re fine. They’re great. Got a high-ranking position on the ship. They’ve won every single sparring match far as I know. And they serve under the best Captain in the fleet.” He smiled slightly. “Everything is fine.”

Lorav nodded, seemingly satisfied. “Good. I am glad. Now, I will walk you back to your friends, and your swords will be brought out shortly. But promise me one thing.” He met Kraglin’s eyes, only going on when he nodded in agreement. “Do not tell Lough we spoke. If they ask where the blades came from, you make something up. This never happened.”

“Aye. Of course.” That wouldn’t be hard. Kraglin had no intention of Lough finding out about any of this.

“Thank you.” Lorav stood, and there was a smile on his face as he walked with Kraglin back to the main entrance. “Oh, and Obfonteri?” he asked, pausing just inside the doorway. “Dinna let them come back here, ever.”

If it were up to Kraglin, he would’ve been happy to let Lough return, facing death. But maybe the pilot wasn’t so bad. And Lorav seemed so earnest, he couldn’t do argue. “Got it,” he said, and thumped his chest in a Ravager salute. Awkwardly, Lorav mimicked it, then turned to walk away. Kraglin stepped back outside where the rest of his team was waiting. “We’ve got the swords,” he said, grinning. The little group erupted into rowdy cheers and applause as he walked back down the steps toward Yondu, who was waiting at the bottom for him.

“So. Ya did it,” Yondu said. “And I don’t see any blood on you. How’d you manage that?”

“It’s a long story, Cap’n” Kraglin murmured. “I’ll explain it to you later.” Yondu looked like he wanted to pry further, but he was interrupted by a group of guards carrying swords. They passed them to the crew and as Lorav handed one to Kraglin, they exchanged a slight nod. Then with a spring in their steps and only a small wave of farewell, they strutted off back toward the ship. Kraglin turned his new blade over in his hands, listening to the others chattering on about the gleaming silver. Part of the appeal of Myndain swords was their light weight despite the density of the material, but his felt far heavier in his hands. It carried the weight of the truth of how they were obtained, the truth he wasn’t going to be sharing with anyone.

Maybe not even Yondu.

Chapter Text

It seemed to Kraglin that Yondu’s trust of him had soared after the success of the Myndai mission. He hadn’t told his Captain the whole truth about the arrangement he made with Lough’s father, but Yondu also hadn’t pried. All he said was that the two of them reached an agreement, and that seemed to satisfy him. No one seemed bothered by the questionable way in which the team had gotten the swords. They were all just have to happy replenished weapon racks. As the crew praised the mission, Yondu praised Kraglin. Not in so many words of course, but Kraglin had felt the glow of pride radiating from the Captain.

One day a few weeks later, Yondu called Kraglin to his cabin. When he arrived, Yondu’s back was to Kraglin and he was hunched over what appeared to be a data pad.

“You wanted to see me, Cap’n?” Kraglin asked hesitantly. He felt like he was walking on eggshells around Yondu quite often these days.

“Yes,” snapped Yondu. He turned around, defensive, but seemed to relax when he saw Kraglin. “I am going away for a few days.”

“Oh.” Kraglin nodded. “Okay then. When do we leave?”

Yondu shook his head. “No. You ain’t coming with me.”

“Oh,” Kraglin said said. “Um. Okay.” Honestly, he didn’t know what to think of that. “So I’m staying here?”

“Well ya ain’t much use to me off the ship somewhere.” Yondu’ eyes bored into him. “I need ya here to keep order.”

“Like… ya want me to be in charge?” Kraglin was baffled. Being in charge of the ship was much different from leading a raid or an away team. He’d have the entirety of the crew under his command, and there would be no barrier between him and anyone who wanted to challenge him.

“Well yes, you are my first mate.” Yondu was clearly getting impatient, and Kraglin cringed at the scorn in his voice.

“Aye Cap’n,” he mumbled, ducking his head. “I can do it. Don’t you worry about me. Everything will be fine here.” He hesitated. “Where exactly are ya going? If I can ask.:

“A solo mission,” Yondu grunted, and Kraglin was fairly certain now that he wasn’t going to get any more information out of him. “Now leave. I have to get ready to go.” Yondu was scowling, and so was Kraglin as he walked out of the cabin to go to the bridge.

Yondu left a few hours later, with little fanfare. There was no need to inform the entire crew that the Captain wasn’t on the ship, but most of the officers already knew.  Kraglin was relieved that he wouldn’t have the entirety of the deckhands on his back, but most of his enemies were high ranking enough to be aware of Yondu’s absence. He wondered what it had been like when he, Yondu, and Tullk had been away at the same time. He was beginning to think it was a wonder the crew hadn’t mutinied. He had a few moments of panic as he considered how much trouble the crew could potentially give him, and Yondu wouldn’t be around to stop it. If Kraglin couldn’t control them, it was all over. But clearly Yondu wasn’t worried about that. Yondu was a good leader, if he thought it would be a problem, he would’ve said something.

Most likely he thinks they won’t give me trouble, because their issues are more with him than me, he realized. But he’s wrong. There are still crewmen who don’t like me.

As if on cue, a familiar voice bounced down the hallway. “Hiya Kraggles! Captain’s got ya in charge o’ us now, has he?”

Kraglin took a deep breath and looked up, meeting Halfnut’s eyes as the burgundy-clad Ravager sauntered toward him. He stopped walking, and let Halfnut come to him. The man stood far too close to the first mate for comfort, practically shoving his face in Kraglin’s challengingly. “Aye, so you heard,” he said nonchalantly. He wondered briefly if Halfnut could smell fear. Just because he was pretty sure he could shred the other Ravager if he wanted to didn’t mean he didn’t still feel a bit nervous around his first antagonizer.

“Ya think yer so special because the Captain trusts ya, well ya ain’t. I bet he don’t even trust ya at all. He probably just made ya first mate so he’d have a reason to keep a closer eye on ya. Make sure ya don’t betray us to the Nova Corps.”

Kralin scoffed. Was that what this was about? He didn’t think so. At least not entirely. “Yeah, that’s it,” he said sarcastically. “Cuz the Cap’n ain’t got anything better to do than babysit me.” He snorted and crossed his arms. “Besides, what would you know about having his trust? Ya’ve been on this ship longer than I have but I ain’t seeing him promoting you to anything except a defense fighter and errand boy.”

Letting out a screech of outrage, Halfnut flung himself at Kraglin, teeth bared. The first mate barely sidestepped out of the way in time, but something else held Halfnut back. His whole body was jerked unceremoniously to the side, and when Kraglin registered what had happened, a short woman with bushy hair was standing where Halfnut had been, puffing and out of breath, and was  holding the offending officer back with one arm.

“Iznen!” Kraglin had never been so glad to see the tailor in his life. The last thing he wanted was a fight on his first night in charge.

“Get lost,” she growled at Halfnut, and waited until he’d slunk off down the hall before smiling at Kraglin. “How ya doin’ kid? It’s been a while.”

“I know, sorry,” he said with an apologetic shrug. “Been super busy.”

“I get it,” Iznen laughed, slapping him on the back. “First mate is a busy job. And now I hear yer in charge for a few days. But I’d reckon ya have a few minutes for a drink and a chat, don’t ya?”

Kraglin smiled, feeling better already. “For you, anything.” He turned and walked alongside her back toward her workroom. “Thanks for that.”

“Oh, that was nothin, Krags. That Halfnut is a bully, and I’ve never liked him. Too big fer his britches, I say. Next time he comes here asking me to repair his leathers, I’m gonna take his crotch in a few sizes, see how tall he walks then.”

Kraglin chuckled and settled on a bench as Iznen busied herself pouring two glasses of scotch for them.

“So I last I heard, ya led a raid. Better than the last one, huh?”

Kraglin nodded. “Aye. To Myndai, to steal some swords. We restocked the weapons rack twice over.”

“Good fer you kid, I’m proud.” She looked it too, sitting across from him with a grin. “Those blue-skinned freaks give ya much trouble?”

“Nothing we couldn’t handle,” Kraglin said with a shrug. He didn’t want to go into it too much, not here. He trusted Iznen, but there were ears everywhere, especially now. He was still worried about Lough finding out what had happened.

“Well, as long as ya got them, that’s all that matters, right?” Iznen seemed to sense his discomfort, and tactfully moved away from the subject. Her eyes were trained on his neck now. “Tattoos?”

“Oh yeah!” Relieved, Kraglin pulled down the collar of his jumpsuit to give her a better look. “Got them on Knowhere. Three traditional Xandarian runes.”

Iznen nodded thoughtfully, and reached out. “May I?” She traced her fingers over the ink markings. “To remember where you came from,” she deduced, and for a moment Kraglin wondered if she was familiar with the old runes. But from the look in her eye, it was obvious that she could just tell.

“And to remind me where I’m going,” he added. The tailor gave a satisfied nod, and stood, taking both glasses, now empty.

“Well, I’ve got of work to do here, and I’m sure ya’ve got a lot on yer plate tonight. I won’t keep ya here all night. Just remember, don’t let the idiots on this ship tear ya down. Yer a damn good Ravager and ya wouldn’t be standing here if ya weren’t. You’ll be fine. Now go. Get to work.”

“Thanks, Iznen.” Kraglin walked to the door with a wave, and started back toward the bridge again. As he wound through the corridors, a flickering light down a side tunnel caught his attention. He stopped, glancing into the darkness. What looked like two narrow blue eyes stared back at him, and he did a double take. When he looked again, they were gone. That was weird , he thought, and walked a little faster until he was settled into the pilot’s seat. He was just stressed about Lough, that was all. The navigator wasn’t actually lurking in dim lit hallways watching him.

...Right?

The bridge was deserted except for the pilot Kraglin relieved, so when he heard footsteps behind him, he jumped slightly.

“Sorry, didna mean ta startle ye, laddie.” Tullk’s drawling voice soothed Kraglin’s nerves at once.

“Oh, hey Tullk. It’s fine.” He sighed and shook his head, staring out the window as he focused on the route.

“How’s the job?” The older Ravager’s voice was teasing slightly, but not unkind.

“It’s fine,” Kraglin shrugged, not wanting to bother Tullk with his issues. “Ain’t actually that much extra work yet. I’ll just stay here for my shifts until the Captain’s back, that way I can keep an eye on things.”

Tullk nodded in affirmation. “Good plan,” he rumbled, and sat beside him.

“Can I ask ya something?” Kraglin began hesitantly, not taking his eyes off the sky. “I can’t figure out why Yondu’s leavin’ me in charge. He wouldn’t tell me where he was going or why, and it just feels like he’s testing me or something. Why would he be so vague?”

Tullk was silent for a few minutes, deep in thought. Then he sighed. “Kraglin, there’s so much ye dinna know about what the Captain does. I shouldna really be sayin’ this, but if it’ll ease yer mind, I will. He’s gone to meet with the other Ravager Captains. I know that much. But that’s all he told me, I dinna know why.”

“I don’t get it,” Kraglin said in frustration. “I’m his first mate! I ain’t meaning no offense or anything, but why would he confide in you about something like that, but not me?”

Tullk reached over, putting a hand on Kraglin’s arm. “Why do you confide in me?” he asked seriously. “You may find the answer to your question in that.”

Because yer older, wiser, ya’ve got more experience, and yer one of the very few people on this skip who ain’t a flarking idiot. But it’s not the same, he wanted to argue. Except it was.

Tullk seemed to sense that Kraglin understood, even if he didn’t like it. “I’ve known the Captain for a very long time,” he said kindly. “And I suspect that as long as ye stick around, he’ll come to trust ye just as much. It’s already happening, I can tell.” Kraglin knew Tullk meant it, and it made him feel better. “He dinna trust easily. Just give it time, laddie. Ye’ll get there.”

At the end of the shift, as Kraglin was starting to get tired, he retreated to his cabin. Just as he was climbing into his bunk for the night, a call came in on his comm.

“Yeah?” he asked sleepily.

“Ah good, I caught ya.” Yondu’s voice answered him, sounding slightly weary but otherwise as strong as ever. “Everything going fine?” All trace of earlier irritation seemed to be gone at least, so that was good.

“Hm? Oh, aye Cap’n. Everything’s fine here. Quiet.” Kraglin stammered. He didn’t want Yondu to catch on to his anxieties.

“Quiet, huh? What, did ya give them all sedatives?” Yondu’s voice was teasing.

“N-no, I just mean—”

“Stop, I’m just fooling with ya, boy.” Yondu’s laugh over the comm was almost melodic, and Kraglin smiled a bit, closing his eyes. “Ya sound tired. Get some sleep, yer gonna need to be alert to handle those hooligans in the morning.”

“Alright.” Kraglin yawned. “Thanks. G’night Cap’n.”

The comm clicked on the other end, and Kraglin settled into sleep.

Chapter Text

The next time Yondu left the ship, Kraglin went with him. Just the two of them. And honestly, Kraglin was relieved. Tullk kept things running on the Eclector with far more ease than Kraglin had been able to, and he felt an edge of resentment— not at the older Ravager himself, but more at his own feeling of incompetence. Still, the fear that he wasn’t good enough dissipated once he was out with Yondu.

The Captain, with all his quirks and isms, was still the most grounding presence in Kraglin’s life. He found himself willing to blindly follow him anywhere, which is how he ended up where he was now. In a small M-ship in the pilot’s seat, Yondu next to him, chasing after a lone Kree shuttle.

“I’m going on a short mission,” Yondu had said. “I want ya to come with me, pilot my ship.”

“Right now?” He’d asked in surprised, but at Yondu’s cold look, he quickly corrected himself. “Sure Cap’n. But where are we going?”

“We’ve caught wind of Kree soldiers near the ship,” Yondu growled in a low voice. His eyes were burning red. “But one of the navigators finally spotted them. It’s a single shuttle, with probably enough space for only one.” He looked at Kraglin, and a chill went up the first mate’s spine. “We’s gonna take him out.”

Kraglin’s face drained of color. “Kill him, ya mean? In cold blood?”

“It’s part of the job description,” Yondu said shortly. “If ya don’t wanna do it, then don’t come.”

“No, no,” Kraglin said hurriedly. “I’ll come.”

“Good,” Yondu had replied, and that was the end of that.

Now here they were in the cockpit of the Captain’s M-ship, and Kraglin felt his nerves slipping away, despite his misgivings. It was almost peaceful with just the two of them, although peaceful wasn’t exactly a word he would use to refer to any Ravagers, especially not two who were out to commit murder.

“If it makes ya feel better,” Yondu’s voice was gruff. “I don’t need ya to kill anyone. Just fly the ship. I’d rather do it alone anyway.”

Oh. Well in that case…

“Uh… aye, Cap’n. Whatever ya want.” He sagged in the seat, mostly from relief, although there was a strange twinge of disappointment he didn’t quite understand. It didn’t matter now, though. Kraglin wanted to keep up the chatter, for nothing more than to avoid any more awkward silences, but whatever mood Yondu was in, he didn’t seem interested in talking.

It wasn’t long before the M-ship’s sensors picked up a signal for the Kree shuttle. Under Yondu’s direction, Kraglin maneuvered them into position, safely hidden under the ship’s cloaking. “When I tell ya Kraglin, pull outta here as fast as ya can. With any luck, that shuttle will be blown to bits, but if it has any communication with the rest of their empire, more won’t be far behind.”

Kraglin nodded numbly. It was almost as if Yondu was preparing for the possibility of war. Their whole crew was unlikely to be able to withstand a Kree army, let alone Captain and first mate in a little M-ship. He swallowed nervously. “Aye, Cap’n.”

Yondu stood, moving to the console behind the pilot seats. He readied the ship’s blasters, and Kraglin listened to the soft whirr of their engines as they rotated into place and locked onto the shuttle.

“Count me down, Kraglin,” the Captain commanded, and Kraglin did as he was asked. When he reached one, the whole ship shook with the force of all its weapons being fired at once. A cloud of dust and space junk erupted from where the shuttle had been with a loud crash. When the air cleared a bit, there was nothing of the ship left in one piece. It was destroyed, and Kraglin could only assume the Kree soldier was too. Faintly, he could hear Yondu saying something to him, but his ears were ringing so loudly from the explosion he couldn’t make out the words. Only when Yondu put his hand on his shoulder did Kraglin register what the Captain was saying.

“Go! Come on, get us outta here!” Yondu slid into the co-pilot’s seat and was reaching for the controls himself when Kraglin suddenly snapped out of his trance. He pulled on the throttle hard as he could and steered them away from the destruction site, rapidly weaving among the debris until they hit the clear sky again.

Once they’d been traveling calmly for a few minutes, Kraglin finally spoke. “They ain’t comin’ after us, are they Cap’n?”

“Nah,” Yondu said with a shake of his head, checking the sensors for the tenth time. “They ain’t. We’re safe to uncloak and dock.”

Kraglin did so. Yondu exited the ship immediately, leaving Kraglin to shut the controls down alone. Then he followed Yondu’s retreating back out of the hangar. He expected the Captain to want to talk to him after, but Yondu want into his cabin and shut the door loudly. Kraglin stood outside, slightly baffled.

“Right, okay,” he mumbled to himself. “I’ll be off, then.” And he turned and trudged down the hallway sullenly. He had a million questions that he had opened Yondu was going to answer upon their return, and now he felt unfulfilled, very confused, and more than slightly anxious. Why had Yondu been so dead set on hunting down and killing this Kree soldier? What threat did they pose to the revered Ravager Captain? And most importantly, why did Yondu need Kraglin to come with him on this mission? Wasn’t there someone else who would be a better ally, someone less likely to balk at death? All these things he would probably never know the answer to, because the Captain was so damn mysterious all the time. If he didn’t find out now, he probably never would. For a moment, he considered turning back and knocking on the door, but he decided against it.

After all, we both have secrets, don’t we?

Chapter Text

Honestly, Kraglin had lost track of how long he had been on the Eclector . The days had long since run together simply from the routine, not to mention the lack of clear time without the constant presence of a sun. And he’d gotten used to the way of life as well as he could. It had taken a long time, but he felt like a Ravager now.

It was as he was preparing the roster for the next rotation that Kraglin heard heavy bootfalls behind him, and the gruff voice of his Captain approaching. “What’re ya doin’ here?” Kraglin swiveled his chair around to face Yondu as he came towards him, and for a moment he felt a twinge of guilt, like he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t have been. It wasn’t grounded in anything reasonable, except for the fact that he was perhaps a little more relaxed than he should’ve been. Boots off, feet tucked under him as he sat cross-legged in the pilot’s seat. The tension he had started to carry in his shoulders over the last few months was very obviously beginning to take a toll on him, and in some ways it seemed that moments like these were one of the few times he was able to de-stress. Kraglin took his job seriously, and if that meant the first mate worked harder than even the Captain, then so be it… not that he would ever suggest that to Yondu.

“I’m just finishing this up, Cap’n,” he murmured, unfolding his legs and setting his feet down on the floor. He nonchalantly started to pull his boots back on, just in case Yondu was about to kick him off the bridge. But the Captain just hovered for a second and then sat down in the other chair.

“Ya’ve been on this ship for how long, Kraglin? Ten months?” Yondu leaned back and picked at something in his teeth with a fingernail. Once, Kraglin might’ve found that gross, but he barely noticed now.

“I ain’t sure exactly, something like that I think,” he replied with a shrug. “It’s been a while.”

“Yes.” Yondu sounded thoughtful. “Ya oughtta take a vacation.”

“I know, I know, I should know better than to— wait, what?” Kraglin spluttered, the words registering a little too late. “ Vacation?”

“Sure.” Yondu shrugged. “Ya work hard, ya’ve been busy non-stop for weeks. Ya deserve a break, time to go relax on some sleazy resort planet with all the women and sex bots ya could ask for.” Kraglin blinked. Was he teasing him? “That is, unless ya don’t want to, in which case I got a pile of work fer ya to do.”

“No! I mean— I would love to have some shore leave, I mean… if ya really don’t need me here.” Kraglin fumbled over his words, unable to hide his surprise. This was the last thing he had been expecting, and he couldn’t help but feel there was a catch to it, somewhere. But if there was, Yondu wasn’t making that clear just now.

“Nah. We’ll survive withoutcha fer a week, Krags. We did it before ya came.”

“Not as good,” Kraglin shot back, boldly. Yondu just quirked an eyebrow and snickered.

“Yer right,” he said with a shrug. “But I think we can handle it. Go. Take an M-ship and enjoy yerself.” He plucked the datapad from his first mate’s hands. “I’ll finish this off, or get Tullk to do it.”

“...Thank ya, Cap’n.” Kraglin still sounded a little baffled as he stood up and stretched. “I appreciate it.” He started to walk toward the door.

“I better not hear any complaining about work from ya after this!” Yondu called after him, and he couldn’t help but give an amused sigh. There was always something.

***

It didn’t take long for Kraglin to locate a tropical vacation planet to spend his week off. Not that he had any experience with such things, as he had gone straight from his Nova Corps duties to the busy life of a Ravager. Vacation was new for him, but he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to enjoy it.

Yondu had been right, too. There was plenty to keep him occupied. He didn’t even realize how badly he needed this break until he was there. He napped a lot, mostly, enjoying the sunlight on the beach. Maybe he even dipped his toes in the water a few times. And if this was the cleanest he’d been in ten months, well no one was going to know anyway.

Still, there was something to be said for the normalcy the routine of the Eclector brought, and Kraglin found himself on occasion uncomfortable with the lack of structure in his downtime. He sort of missed the hustle and bustle, the order (or lack thereof), and even the smell. Sometimes.

But that was it, really.

Or, maybe he missed the company of Tullk, or Iznen.

No one else.

***

So okay.

He missed Yondu a little bit.

When you start spending that much time with a person, separation can be unnerving, right?

***

It might’ve been more than a little bit.

No need to ruin the rest of his shore leave by thinking about work, though.

***

A tropical beach on a resort planet can be sort of lonely when you’re by yourself.

***

By the time his vacation was over, Kraglin was anxious and ready to go back. His M-ship met the Eclector at the designated rendezvous point and he headed straight to Yondu’s cabin so he could find out what all he missed.

“Ya get sunburnt or something?” Yondu grunted, giving Kraglin a withering look. He frowned and looked at his hands. They were a little pink. Ugh.

“Everything under control here?” Kraglin asked, changing the subject.

“O’ course, I told ya it would be.” Amusement laced the Captain’s tone. “Anxious to come home?”

Kraglin shuffled his feet. “Something like that.”

“Back to work tomorrow,” Yondu said. “Ya might want to go to medbay, get that burn checked on. Looks like it’s spreading to yer face too!”

Well, that wasn’t a sunburn.

Kraglin turned away and nodded, already moving toward the door. “I’ll be on call first thing, Cap’n.”

“I ain’t got a doubt about it.”

As Kraglin retreated down the hallway, he sighed. Being back felt right. Talking with the Captain also felt right, and he cursed himself on becoming dependent on another person for contentment. Was that really what it was? It seemed like it. With that unsettling thought, he reached his cabin and turned in for the night, still taking in everything he’d been feeling all week.

Chapter Text

“Dare you to grab one of those bugs and eat it!” Someone— the owner of the voice didn’t matter— called across the room, and Kraglin watched as Halfnut stood, cracked his knuckles, and sauntered over to the serving counter. He slammed his hand down on a gigantic fly that was picking its way toward a heap of untouched meat, smushing it under his fingers. The Ravager shoved it in his mouth without batting an eye, and the action was met with a chorus of jeers and disgusted shouts. The sound of someone vomiting in a corner carried over the crowd, and Kraglin couldn’t help but share sympathies with whoever it was. The crew ate all sorts of mysterious shit, but bugs… well, he had to draw the line somewhere.

“Alright Oblo, it’s your turn!” That was Horuz, sitting across from Kraglin and drinking heavily from a mug. “You can give Brad a foot massage for five minutes!” Oblo’s head shot up, blinking hazily and looking disgruntled.

“Wha? What ‘m I doing?” His long hair hung around his face, matted and damp from where it had fallen into his drink.

“Rubbin’ mah feet!” Brad, next to him, pulled his boots off with a flourish, revealing large dirty and sweaty feet, which he shoved toward Oblo’s face. The other coughed a few times, looking queasy, but took another long drink and set to work.

Kraglin stood. “If we’re gonna be sittin’ here watching this for the next five minutes, that’s my cue to fetch another round. Who’s in?” A chorus of voices rose with their mugs and glasses and Kraglin started to try to count, only to quickly lose track. “I’ll bring pitchers,” he said instead, and turned back toward the autoserve.

At the counter, someone came up beside him, and Kraglin didn’t have to look to recognize the gruff voice of Yondu. “How’s the party?”

“They’s certainly havin’ a good time, Cap’n.” Kraglin slowly filled the large containers to take back to the circle the group had formed on the floor of the mess hall.

“Well, they deserve it.” Yondu grinned, yellow teeth flashing. “That was a damn good raid. We’s gonna be rich for a while yet.”

“I’ll drink to that.” Kraglin filled his own mug directly, then one for Yondu, and clinked them together for effect. “Ya gonna celebrate with us?”

Yondu shook his head. “I don’t do crowds very often.”

“Awe, c’mon Cap’n. Have a little fun.” Kraglin nudged Yondu’s shoulder, sloshing the liquid in his cup dangerously. “Ya ain’t gotta stay long.”

Sighing heavily, Yondu took a long drink. “Aw, what the hell. Alright. But I ain’t playin’ whatever stupid game you all are at.”

Laughing but saying nothing, Kraglin returned to his seat, setting the pitchers down in the center. Yondu pulled up a chair behind him, just outside the circle. “Captain’s here, everyone!” There were more cheers, and he settled himself comfortably with a grin.

“You’re just in time to see Tullk do a strip tease,” Oblo said, looking far too excited. Kraglin raised his eyebrows but didn’t comment. Behind him, Yondu chuckled softly. Kraglin drank more during that round than he had all night. In a corner, someone struck up a song, and the crowd sang along, even those who didn’t know the words. He might’ve even caught Yondu humming quietly.

And then—

“Kraglin! Yer turn!” That was Lily-Lee, the chemist, and she looked delighted as she contemplated what the first mate’s dare would be. “Ooo, I’ve got one!” The apewoman pressed her hands together gleefully. “Why don’t you go on and kiss our fine Captain, sitting behind you!” She was echoed with cheers and laughter, and Kraglin looked mortified.

“What? I—” he looked at Tullk for help, but even the older Ravager looked amused as he pulled his pants back on. “He isn’t playing, that ain’t fair.”

“Well, he ain’t the one doing the kissing. You are. C’mon Kraglin, don’t be a quitter!” Halfnut jeered.

Kraglin turned to Yondu helplessly, seeking a reprieve. But the Captain looked just as entertained as Tullk did, waiting to see what his first mate would do. He squirmed, trying to decide.

“Oh, fine.” There really was no alternative, unless he wanted the rest of the crew laughing at him. This wasn’t really any worse than any other dare all night. Except, you know, it involved the Captain. And him. Kissing. “Get this over with.” He stood, turning to Yondu, who looked up at him expectantly from the chair. He couldn’t exactly reach him like that. “Um—”

Kraglin yelped as he was suddenly pulled onto Yondu’s lap. He squirmed for just a second, locking eyes with the Captain before Yondu tugged him closer and kissed him. His lips were rough, and his breath smelled of beer, but his mouth seemed to fit Kraglin’s perfectly, and the way his arms gripped Kraglin’s…

The assembled crowd laughed and cheered, and when Kraglin finally pulled away he was wide-eyed with shock. Yondu grinned, slapping him on the back. “I helped ya out there, but if I recall, yer the one what’s s’posed to kiss me. ” And it was probably just because he was drunk, but Kraglin just grinned back and went in for a second, to the delight of the other Ravagers.

Then all too soon, it was over, and Kraglin was standing up and stumbling back to the counter for more drinks as the game continued. But for the rest of the night, he felt Yondu’s eyes on him intently, his face unreadable. Or maybe he was just too drunk. That was probably it.

Chapter Text

Kraglin awoke to the sound of loud footsteps and hushed voices. He rolled over and looked at his comm. Fifteen hundred hours? That can’t be right, how the hell’d I oversleep? I’m flarking late for my shift—!

He threw himself out of bed and dressed quickly, hopping around on one foot and then the other as he desperately tried to pull his jumpsuit on. The legs twisted, the arms inside out, the belt cinched far too tight— but he managed. And after switching his boots to the correct feet, Kraglin threw the door open and stumbled out down the hall. He flipped through the schedule on his datapad. He was supposed to be having— some sort of briefing down in the engine room. He didn’t even remember making those plans. But if he could just make it down there without being seen along the way, it would be fine. He was first mate. No one could exactly do anything to him.

And then he smacked right into something very firm and very blue.

“Uh… hi Cap’n.”  Kraglin’s voice was hesitant and sheepish as he backed up a few steps so he could look at Yondu’s feet instead of his face. “I had the uh, night shift, and I musta— I mean, it ain’t an excuse, but the alarm didn’t go off on my comm and I overslept. M’sorry, going down to the engine room right now.”

Yondu studied him for a moment, red eyes piercing and face contemplative. Finally, he shook his head and grabbed Kraglin by the shoulders, spinning him around. “No ya ain’t.” He gave him a light shove, and Kraglin had no choice but to walk, head bowed sheepishly. He had no idea what Yondu was going to do to him; he hadn’t thought it was that big of a deal, but apparently the Captain disagreed. Kraglin’s chest felt tighten as he trudged along. If he was about to be demoted, or worse, kicked off the ship, he wasn’t sure what he would do. His mind raced through all the possibilities as Yondu steered him down the hall, but each one seemed more implausible than the last.

And then finally, they stopped. Kraglin looked up in confusion, and then at Yondu. They were just outside the conference room. “Cap’n, I said I was sorry, but if yer gonna punish me just tell me now. Don’t drag it out any longer. Please.”

Yondu scoffed, nose scrunching up like he had smelled something partially putrid. “Obfonteri, ya’ve been here a year, and ya really think I care if ya overslept for some dumb meeting?”

All at once, Kraglin felt the tension leave him, and he let out an internal sigh of relief. He reached up, rubbing a hand over his face. “Hell, Cap’n, ya had me worried. Jeez . What’s this about then?”

Yondu grinned, jagged teeth flashing as he laughed. “Like I said, ya been here a year.”

Kraglin blinked, the disbelief evident in his expression.

Had it?

“We picked ya up on Xandar a year ago today,” Yondu continued, clearly seeing the bafflement in his first mate’s face. Kraglin pulled up the ship’s logs on his datapad, tracking back to find the day he had finally left his old life behind.

Well. So it had.

Sure didn’t feel like it.

“It really flew by, huh?” Kraglin let out a low whistle. “I gotta admit, I’m kinda surprised I managed to stay alive.”

Yondu gave another chuckle. “So am I.”

Kraglin made a face somewhere between surprise and a disappointed pout. “Thanks,” he said dryly.

“Yer welcome. Anyway, because o’ that, I figured ya deserve a little celebration.” Yondu tossed an arm around Kraglin’s shoulder, pulling him in close to his side, and Kraglin could smell the scent of old leather and booze, but it wasn’t gross anymore. It was comforting and perfect and just so Yondu. And it was the smell of home .

What a difference a year makes.

Still, Ravager parties were scary , so Kraglin’s hesitation was reasonable. “Celebration?” he asked, eyeing the Captain skeptically. “What sorta celebration?”

“Oh, ya know. Nothing big. Just some food, some drink, the crew, bein’ happy that ya been here fer so long.”

Kraglin was fairly sure most of the crew wasn’t actually that happy, and he considered asking if Yondu threw anniversary parties for everyone on the ship, but thought better of it. It’s because I’m his first mate. That’s all.

“Well... okay… if yer sure I ain’t gotta go down to the—” Kraglin sighed as Yondu held up a hand and let go of him to push open the door of the conference room. Inside, Ravagers waved and shouted greetings, their heads popping up to look at the man of the hour as he stepped into the doorway. He smiled, despite his misgivings, and looked at Yondu as if seeking permission to join the festivities. The Captain just shrugged and gestured into the room with a smirk.

It didn’t take long for Kraglin to loosen up. He was relieved to see the the majority of the crew wasn’t there, and it was mainly the higher ranking officers who’d come to celebrate with him. He wondered briefly if these were the only ones who’d bothered to show up, or if Yondu had only invited Kraglin’s friends. Something told him it was the latter, because no Ravager that Kraglin knew would turn down free booze.

“Iznen!” Kraglin cracked a wide grin when he saw the tailor across the room, and sidled over to her. She turned, picking up a large mug and passing it to him. He took it gratefully.

“Well if it ain’t first mate Obfonteri,” Iznen announced cheerfully, clinking her own glass with his. “Hard to believe ya only been here a year, and yer already Udonta’s right hand.” From anyone else, Kraglin might’ve taken that as a challenge, but there was no malice in Iznen’s voice, and her smile offered nothing but warmth.

“I know,” Kraglin admitted. “I can hardly believe it myself.” He rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously.

“I also heard ya and the Captain got a little… physical a few weeks back.” There was a glint of humor in her eyes, but Kraglin just looked at her indignantly.

“We— we didn’t—- it wasn’t—” Honestly, he’d tried not to think about that night in the mess hall. And even if he was thinking about it, he was fairly sure Yondu had forgotten all about it, memories from one drunken night fading and running together with all the others. Yondu had most definitely kissed a hundred crewmen over the years. “It was just a dare, for a game. No big deal.” He sighed. “Who even told ya that anyway?”

Iznen just grinned wider. “Oblo,” she admitted. “Just a few minutes before ya got here.”

Kraglin scowled. “Well Oblo can get fucked,” he grumbled, looking around the room and raising his voice just enough so the other Ravager would hear his name over the crowd, but not loudly enough to fully get his attention. Then he shook his head, turning back to Iznen with a shrug of defeat.

She just smiled knowingly. “Ravagers, amirite?”

“Yer telling me.”

The fists holding their mugs thumped their chests in farewell, causing the liquid to slosh dangerously, and Kraglin wandered off toward the food spread. Yondu really did think of everything. He was intercepted by Tullk as he picked at a piece of mystery meat on a skewer, the older man drunkenly tossing an arm over his shoulder.

“I’m real proud o’ ye, laddie. Ye’ve came a long way from the scrawny kid we picked up on Xandar.” Tullk’s smile was kind, his voice filled with pride, even as he leaned on Kraglin so he wouldn’t just tip over and fall.

“Thanks Tullk,” Kraglin said, taking another sip of the beer Iznen had poured for him. “I really couldn’t’ve done it without ya.” And he meant it. Without the more experienced Ravager as a sort of pseudo-mentor, he was fairly certain he would’ve been eaten within a week.

“I kept tellin’ the Captain ye would do great things. He dinna take the advice o’ many folk, ye know. Likes to do his own thing, and usually that works out fer him just fine. But sometimes, I’m right, and when I am, he knows it. And when it comes to ye, he tends to take my word fer it.”

At the mention of Yondu, Kraglin looked over his shoulder for him, as if his name being spoken was enough for him to pop up out of knowhere. But he was standing in the corner, conversing with Horuz and Brahl, not looking in Kraglin’s direction at all.

“Well, I’m glad he did,” Kraglin said, raising his voice as the sound of music started to fill the room. Someone was banging on a drum, others clinking glasses together melodically. He cast his eyes around for the source.

“Me too laddie, me too,” Tullk called, the music getting louder. Almost out of nowhere, a swarm of Ravagers converged on the center of the room, sweeping the two of them up in their wake to start a dance with the shanty being played in the corner. Kraglin barely had time to down the rest of his beer and slam the mug down on the table before he was jostled to the center.

The dance— if it even was a formal dance— wasn’t one Kraglin was familiar with, but that didn’t stop him from joining in enthusiastically. He hopped around, unbalanced from the alcohol, clapping his hands only on-beat occasionally, and occasionally spinning around, raising his arms in the air with laughter. Then someone shoved Yondu into the center with him and over the music let out a rowdy cheer. “To the Captain, his first mate, and many more years!” The words were echoed by whoops and hollers, and Kraglin looked down at Yondu, relieved to see his own grin reflected in the Captain’s face. The eye contact only lasted for a minute though, before they were separated in the crowd as the dance picked back up again. The longer it went on, the less coordinated the Ravagers got, stumbling around and stepping on each others’ feet— but never losing their energetic vigor. And eventually they did end up back together, chests slamming into each other as they were pushed back to the center. Kraglin laughed breathlessly. He hadn’t felt this free in a long time, and he was pretty sure he’d never seen Yondu so at ease— even if it was just the booze.

And then Yondu’s face was right there. The group was packed so tight, Kraglin couldn’t have moved away if he wanted to. Their eyes met again, and without even really knowing what he was doing, his hands came up to cup the Captain’s face, and he kissed him. Almost immediately he pulled back, eyes wide with terror. “I— Cap’n, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”. But then Yondu was grabbing his waist with one strong arm, pulling him back in. With his other hand he reached around Kraglin’s head, tipping it down and crashing their lips together once again. By this point, the others had begun to notice, and the room was once again filled with laughter and cheers. The dance continued around them, but Kraglin didn’t seem to notice. The only thing that mattered was the taste of the booze on Yondu’s lips, the heat of his breath, and his crotch pressed firmly against Yondu’s. His hands clawed to latch onto the other’s jacket, holding onto him tightly, and they kissed until Kraglin thought he was going to pass out. Somewhere, they managed to breathe, and then they were back at it again.

It felt like the moment lasted for hours, but it could’ve been only a few minutes, or even seconds. Time wasn’t a concept registering in Kraglin’s mind right now, and if he actually thought about it, he probably would’ve been grateful. But as it was, the only thing his mind focused on was being close to that warm blue body. Even when the music faded and the group returned to their earlier places around the room— only slightly more off-kilter and dazed— Kraglin stuck close to Yondu like a clingy date, hanging off his arm even as the Captain made casual conversation with whoever was next to him. Kraglin didn’t even notice the others around him. And it didn’t help his focus when Yondu kept turning his head to pull the first mate back into short kisses. His breath was hot, and his sharp teeth dug into Kraglin’s lower lip, making him shiver.

Even as the party slowed and some Ravagers stumbled out of the room to return drunkenly to their cabins, others slumping in chairs with no intention of leaving until morning, Kraglin stuck by Yondu’s side. And to his credit, the Captain seemed to have no interest in letting his first mate go either. He kept one arm firmly around him at all times possessively, and Kraglin wasn’t going to complain about it. But finally, Yondu nudged Kraglin, dislodging him just a bit as he stumbled. “Obfonteri,” he purred in his ear, tugging Kraglin against him. “Let’s take the after-party somewhere else, yeah?”

Kraglin flushed, leaning against Yondu and straining to kiss him again. “Sounds good,” he murmured. Yondu was agreeing to this? Wait no— this was Yondu’s idea. Yondu initiated this. Right? Kraglin couldn’t remember, but there was no mistaking the eager look on the Captain’s face as he pulled Kraglin toward the door. He trailed after Yondu happily, struggling to keep his balance properly. How had he gotten so lucky?

Yondu pushed open the door to his cabin, and Kraglin looked around. He’d been in there countless times before— but never like this. Then Yondu pushed him up against the door, kissing him again, hands holding him steady. Kraglin’s own were free, and he reached desperately for the clasps on Yondu’s jacket. He didn’t complain as Kraglin tugged it down off his shoulders, and broke away long enough to relieve himself from the rest of his top layers. Pale faded scars wound around the Captain’s torso but Kraglin barely registered them. He let his head fall back as Yondu went for his neck, pulling down the zipper on his jumpsuit to free the upper half of his body. He sucked on Kraglin’s skin hard enough to leave marks, tongue tracing over the tattoos, teeth grazing his collarbone and biting down light enough to not draw blood. The noises that left Kraglin’s mouth might’ve been embarrassing if he was sober enough to worry about that sort of thing, but Yondu seemed to like them either way.

With Yondu pressed against him, Kraglin felt the strain in his pants, and he moaned wantingly. Yondu seemed to sense his need, and he backed up, turning so he could push Kraglin down on his bunk. Sprawled on his back, Kraglin reached up as Yondu crawled over him. He was already reaching for his belt buckle, and Kraglin did the best he could to shimmy out of the rest of his jumpsuit. Underwear were discarded not long after, and Kraglin gasped in relief at the freedom. Yondu leaned in to kiss him again, dragging his teeth down his neck and chest, lower and lower. Kraglin’s hands in turn roved over his Captain’s body, feeling the curve of his muscles and the roughness of the skin around the jagged scars. In his daze, he vaguely decided that Yondu looked beautiful like this. But the thought was forgotten with others as their bodies wound together further, shifting and grasping, moaning and gasping. All that mattered was Yondu’s hands on him, his hands on Yondu, their skin rubbing together, the friction, the rapid, frantic movement and the need and the want.

And then it was over, Yondu flopping back against the bed, Kraglin kneeling above him. Both were sweaty, panting, dazed. Yondu grabbed Kraglin’s shoulder and dragged him down for another kiss. This one was lighter and chaster, and lingered just a little longer, but it ended eventually, and Kraglin sat back up. He reached for his jumpsuit, half hoping that Yondu would notice and tell him to leave it. But he didn’t seem to be paying attention, his eyes nearly closed.

“I’ll… get going then,” Kraglin muttered, standing and pulling his clothes back on groggily. Yondu said nothing, and Kraglin was almost concerned. But when he got to the door, walking as quietly as he could in his unlaced boots, Yondu shifted, propping himself up on his elbows.

“Oh, Obfonteri,” he said with a grin. “I had Narblik turn yer alarm off. That’s why ya overslept.”

With everything that had just happened, Kraglin wasn’t exactly sure what to make of that. “Well, it all worked out in the end,” he said with a sigh and a longing look at the bed, which Yondu didn’t seem to notice. “G’night Cap’n.”

“Night, Krags.”

Kraglin hesitated in the entrance for a moment longer before retreating into the hallway, closing the door lightly behind him.

Chapter Text

After the party, Kraglin knew things between him and Yondu were going to change. And they did, though perhaps not as much as he would’ve thought. He’d half expected Yondu to wake up, realize what had happened, and kick him off the ship. To be humiliated by what had happened between them. But he didn’t. And he didn’t acknowledge it, at least not in words. But Kraglin was on the bridge the next afternoon giving navigational orders to the pilots, and Yondu came up behind him, put a hand on his shoulder possessively, and pressed his rough lips against his neck, somewhere between a kiss and a graze of teeth on skin. Kraglin shuddered, voice cracking as he somehow managed to croak out the end of a sentence- the pilots were miraculously all looking out ahead and not at him- and turned around to look at Yondu.

“Cap’n….” his voice was pitifully confused and hopeful even as he searched Yondu’s face for- something. He didn’t find it.

“Havin’ regrets about last night, Kraglin?” It was a challenge. Yondu did challenges well. There was a biting glint in his red eyes and Kraglin felt like he was being set on fire. If he said no, he’d seem too eager. If he said yes, he’d be backing down. And he’d be lying.

“...No,” he murmured honestly. His hands fumbled at his sides, not knowing what to do with them.

 “Good.” Even facing him now, Yondu’s lips brushed against his ear, voice barely above a whisper. “When yer done with yer shift, come find me.” He leaned back, pulled Kraglin into a quick and rough kiss, then released him, walking off as suddenly as he’d appeared. Kraglin stood, dumbfounded. When he turned, he saw the pilots watching him with wide eyes.

 “Get back to work, ya saw nothing here.” He drew a knife from his belt, pointing it with a threatening glare, and they got the message, returning to their screens hurriedly. Kraglin sank down into his chair, shaking his head. Just a few more hours.

 And that’s how it was for a while. Yondu, ambushing Kraglin in the hallway with a kiss or a fondle or the occasional ass-slap if Tullk or another of their friends was around. And then at night, he’d go to his Captain’s cabin to continue what they could only do behind closed doors. Sometimes they talked around work first, and sometimes the urgency was too great. On those days, which always seemed to be mutual, Kraglin’s jumpsuit would be unzipped by the time he got there, and Yondu would be waiting just inside to pull him in. If it was early enough, they might sit around, have a meal together, some booze, and sometimes even go for another round. And then at the end, Kraglin would leave.

 Wash, rinse, repeat.

On this particular evening, the two of them were lounging in Yondu’s bed, lazy and relaxed. They exchanged scathing comments about other crew members, made a few dirty jokes about how Halfnut might’ve gotten his name (it seemed Yondu knew, but he wouldn’t confirm or deny any of Kraglin’s guesses), and threw around ideas about their next possible mission.

“Obfonteri, I gotta ask something.” Yondu changed the subject suddenly. He spoke in a drawl, with a hint of playfulness in there, maybe. “Ya ever actually fucked a guy before me?” His gaze was piercing even despite the lazy look on his face. Kraglin couldn’t have hid his surprise if he tried. He scrunched up his nose, trying to figure out why Yondu suddenly cared about that.

“Why?” he asked, feeling both puzzled and slightly offended. “Am I that bad?”

Yondu laughed heartily, shaking his head and flopping backwards on the bed. He reached for his pants. Kraglin did the same, as he normally would’ve taken this as a cue to leave, but the Captain kept talking. “No,” he said, grinning. “Just curious.”

Kraglin had learned that nothing with Yondu was just about curiosity. But playing along was key. “Well. Since ya asked, yes.”

Yondu just nodded, seeming satisfied as if he had guessed correctly. And then after a moment— “Ya ever fucked a girl?”

Kraglin’s face went red. What is he insinuating? He couldn’t get worked up now. This was probably a test. “Yes,” he muttered. “When I was in school. But I didn’t… I didn’t have a lot of time. Ya know. For relationships.”

“Ah, yes, the duties of a Nova bastard. But no one said nothing about relationships. Ya saying there wasn’t time for a little fun?” Yondu looked unimpressed by the excuse.

Something about the scorn in Yondu’s voice when he said “relationships” made Kraglin’s stomach churn. “Well. Not just serious stuff.” He tried to backtrack. “The Nova Corps wants its officers to be focused.”

“Uh-huh.” If the Captain believed that, Kraglin would’ve been surprised. “Ya really tellin’ me no one in that force has a family?” His eyes glinted. “Or fucks their way to the top?”

Kraglin shook his head. “No, I…” How was he supposed to explain that he had to work harder than most of the other officers, or that he had been constantly under scrutiny by his superiors? “They didn’t trust me,” he said finally. “For a number of reasons, all generally summed up by the fact that I was a gutter rat who never shoulda been on the force in the first place.”

There might’ve been a glimmer of something in Yondu’s expression— surprise, maybe; curiosity, possibly; sympathy, unlikely— but whatever it was settled back into a blank and apathetic gaze. Kraglin knew Yondu wasn’t going to press, ask questions, but it was obvious that he wanted to know more. And honestly, talking about it didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

“My parents were good people, okay? They were.” Kraglin sighed, pressing his face into his hands briefly. Yondu raised an eyebrow but stayed quiet, listening. “But they wasn’t rich like the folks livin’ in the city. We lived on the outskirts. They had to steal to survive, to feed me an’ my brother. But they refused to let us turn out bad. I was the oldest. They thought if I went to school, did something... productive, then I’d turn out okay. Of course, the other officers couldn’t really trust someone like me. When ya showed up… it only made sense to them that I was a traitor.” He laughed dryly. “My ma and dad would be so disappointed.”

“Guess ya bein’ a Ravager wasn’t exactly in their plan.” Yondu’s voice was gruff, with a hint of something Kraglin couldn’t place.

“No,” Kraglin said. “But the day I went into the city was the last time we spoke.”

There was a long silence after that. Kraglin looked at Yondu, trying to read his expression in the dim light. There was nothing.

“Did they ever try to contact ya?”

“No.” Kraglin’s voice was quiet. “And I didn’t either. They said— if I made it, there’d be no reason for me to come back, or associate with them anymore. Said it was for my own good. That’s what they wanted. They... died, six months later.”

Yondu made an unimpressed noise. “Must be nice to have parents who cared so much.”

“What?” Kraglin frowned. “Cap’n—”

“Ya miss ‘em?”

“Every day.”

“They loved ya?”

“Far as I know.”

“Then ya ain’t got room to complain.” Yondu turned away from Kraglin abruptly.

“Cap’n, I don’t understand—”

“Nothin’ to understand.”

“But ya just—”

“Drop it, Obfonteri—”

“ Yondu , I’m just—”

“Don’tchu ‘Yondu’ me, boy! I am yer Captain, an’ ya better start acting like it! Just because we’re fucking don’t mean this is a relationship, it don’t mean I owe ya nothing, and just because ya told me all about yer wonderful parents and how it’s such a sob story don’t mean I need to tell ya about my parents who sold me to the Kree when I was a—”

Yondu suddenly stopped, realizing he’d said too much. Kraglin’s eyes went wide, and he could see the Captain visibly stiffen.

“...baby,” he finished, in a deathly quiet voice.

“Captain.” Kraglin didn’t know what to do. He reached out slowly, hand hovering inches away from Yondu’s shoulder. If the Captain sensed this, he didn’t say so. “...I’m sorry.”

“Don’t need yer sympathy.”

“No. Not about— that. Obviously. You don’t. I mean. I’m sorry fer being insensitive. Ya didn’t need to hear me talk about my parents like that.” Kraglin held his breath, not sure if Yondu would accept the apology or not. The moment seemed to last forever. And then Yondu spoke.

“No. I didn’t. But apology accepted.” And that was that. Yondu turned back around and met Kraglin’s eyes. His gaze softened a little bit. “It was Stakar who freed me. He’s the Admiral of the Ravager fleet.” Kraglin nodded slowly. Finally, an identification to the name he’d heard thrown around so much. “I was yer age. He taught me everything I know, not just about being a Ravager, or a Captain, but how to live. All I learned from the Kree was how to fight.”

That seemed to be more than enough talking for Yondu, and he fell quiet again. Kraglin didn’t know what to say, or what to do with all the information he’d just learned.

“Thank you,” he said finally.

“For what?”

“...For trusting me enough to tell me that.” Kraglin’s words were sincere. He just hoped Yondu could see that.

“Yer my first mate. I gotta trust someone,” was his response.

“Doesn’t Tullk know?” Kraglin frowned slightly.

“As much as you do. But he was on Stakar’s ship at the time. It wasn’t something I had to tell him.” Yondu closed his eyes, leaning back against the pillows to get more comfortable. Kraglin nodded distantly, and stood, finishing getting dressed so he could leave Yondu to his rest. There was a lot Kraglin still needed to think over and process, but not here.

“Well. I’m honored, Cap’n. I am.” He smiled, although he knew Yondu wouldn’t see it. The smile he got in unknowing return was even sweeter for it.

Chapter Text

As the weeks went on, Kraglin spent more time in Yondu’s cabin than his own. He was getting better at keeping his work and sex lives separate, and although it was difficult, he was able to not be distracted by Yondu every time he saw the Captain during the day. But when he retreated back into his cabin at the end of a long shift, that was the only thing between them that mattered.

The night ended like all their nights did. The two of them, sticky with sweat, trembling from physical exhaustion, rolling off each other onto their backs. They looked at each other and made eye contact, Yondu offering a lazy smile that Kraglin returned probably too excitedly. He thought Yondu would say something, maybe, but he just grunted something unintelligible and let his eyes drift shut.

They were silent for a long while. Kraglin didn’t really mind the quiet. Conversation with Yondu — real, deep, thoughtful conversation — was rare, and difficult. Yondu rarely opened up after the night he’d told Kraglin about his childhood. And, Kraglin realized, Yondu hadn’t even told him that much. And he’d been secretive even about the little he’d shared. Kraglin wouldn’t pry, but there was a part of him that wished Yondu would be more open. Maybe eventually, he told himself. For now, he’d just be respectful of his silence.

And then he heard a noise.

“Cap’n?” Kraglin leaned over and prodded Yondu with a finger. “Ya okay?”

Yondu’s eyes were closed. He was breathing lightly. He was — asleep? Already? Kraglin let out a little breath, turning into a laugh as the Captain snored again. He’d noticed that Yondu had been tired recently, it didn’t really surprise him that he’d fallen asleep quickly. Once again, Kraglin found himself worrying, if only slightly, about the other’s well-being. He made a mental note to talk to Tullk or Iznen about it later.

He watched his sleeping Captain for a few minutes. He could get up and leave now, but something told him to stay. Maybe it was the unexplainable longing to be close to Yondu, or maybe it was his own loneliness. Maybe those were the same things. The reason didn’t matter. Kraglin was probably going to regret this in the morning, but he pulled the blanket up over himself and let his head rest on the pillow. He didn’t touch Yondu, not even a little, and he kept his back to him. They weren’t sleeping together. They were sharing a bed, because Kraglin was lazy and didn’t want to go back to his cabin, and Yondu wasn’t going to tell him to leave. But in the morning, he would need this justification. And even the threat of the Captain literally killing him when he woke up wasn’t enough to make him get up now.

If Kraglin was awake enough to think about it deeper, he would’ve questioned why he wanted to be there so badly. But he was exhausted too, and before he knew it, he was asleep as well.

Chapter Text

Kraglin would be the first to admit that he wasn’t the brightest person. He was far from an intellectual, school had been difficult, he was sometimes slow to pick things up. That’s not to say he was stupid, by any means. But in the Nova Corps he’d been surrounded by the well-educated, born leaders and strategists. Xandar’s best and brightest. He had never been like that. Always scraping by, barely being good enough. With the Ravagers, he had been given a little bit of a confidence boost. It was nothing against them, but most of them were just…. not smart. Tullk was. Iznen was. Yondu was, of course. But Halfnut? Gef? Even Oblo, as much as Kraglin liked him, was pretty thick-headed. But that was the life they lived. If you can shoot a gun and raid a ship, you had what it takes.

What that meant for Kraglin was he rarely had moments of sudden brilliant understanding, where realization came to him in a dramatic wave. When he did, it was usually something like “oh shit I’m really fucking hungry!”

As luck had it, the night Kraglin stayed with Yondu, he woke up before the Captain. He left early, and Yondu was none the wiser. But the exhilaration was also terrifying, and he didn’t stay again. Instead, he would sit with Yondu for as long as he could, and then leave before he too fell asleep. Even those fleeting minutes held intense meaning for Kraglin, even if he was the only one awake for it. There was just something so contradictory about the peacefulness of his sleeping Captain, and he loved it.

Still, Kraglin was smart enough to trust what he knew. So when he woke up one morning, in his own bed, with an ache in his chest, he wrote it off as a stomachache. And when he saw Yondu later that day and his heart started beating faster, he assumed it was anxiety about the mission Yondu was about to send him on. And when the Captain waved him off in the hangar as he flew his M-ship out into the open sky, and he found himself smiling stupidly, he figured it was just the adrenaline and excitement of being about to blow up a Kree battle station all on his own.

Never once did it cross his mind that Yondu himself was the reason for all his current emotions.

The mission itself was simple. An outpost on the eastern border between Xandarian battle space and Kree territory, currently occupied by Kree mercenaries, was to be destroyed. That was the bounty. Yondu had snatched that up quickly and assigned it to Kraglin. At least the first mate understood why now. Yondu had his complicated history with the Kree, and it only made sense he would want to kill as many of them as physically possible in his lifetime. And Kraglin, in his own humble opinion, had grown into quite the fighter pilot. He’d taken up one of the best ships in the clan’s fleet, and had developed a skill for getting in and out fast, leaving nothing but floating shards in his wake. Nevermind the casualties and the deaths. That had been the hardest thing to unlearn from his Nova Corps morals and training. But it hadn’t taken long.

The M-ship was new, and flashy, and agile. It could turn on a dime and accelerate faster than any model before it. Kraglin wove in and out of the forcefields surrounding the outpost until he ha breached the protective shielding. Then he open fired on the floating station. In a matter of seconds, the entire outpost shuddered and then exploded, debris flying in all directions. The force of the blast itself sent his ship skidding backwards, but he pulled sharply up and spiraled away, avoiding any large chunks that could damage the ship. Heavy dust clouded the air around him and as he peered through the smog to examine his work, he wondered if Yondu would be proud of him. He just wished the Captain had been here to see him in action. And to crack a joke, laugh as the outpost exploded along with a dozen Kree, and share a drink and lighthearted conversation on their way back to the Eclector .

Stop! Kraglin scolded himself as he turned and flew back in the direction he’d come. Why are you so concerned about that? Idiot. It was one thing to be in a sexual relationship with someone, to be intimate and physical. But that sort of thing was never supposed to go further. Not when it involved the Captain— especially when that Captain was Yondu. Yondu had power, Kraglin as horny. They worked. But it couldn’t go past that. It wouldn’t. Whatever Kraglin was feeling wasn’t…

Oh, but it was.

That realization hit him like a ton of bricks. He felt himself literally jolt upright in his seat like he’d been hit by a bolt of lightning. It was terrifying. Because—

Because.

Because Kraglin had feelings for Yondu. Real feelings. All those times fucking in the Captain’s quarters that he’d written off as nothing but a power move for both of them, all those night’s Kraglin had sat there watching Yondu sleep and wishing for something that he hadn’t been able to put a name too.

Well now he could.

Flark it all.

Kraglin was in love.

Now what?

He returned to the Eclector distracted, brushing off the greetings from his crewmates as he left the hangar bay. He’d been so focused on his new dilemma that he hadn’t noticed the star-pointed ship trailing him back from the destroyed outpost.

***

Kraglin laid in his own bed that evening, contemplating what to do. Yondu had approached him for a briefing — and more, he figured — but Kraglin just grunted that he was too tired and was going to sleep. Of course he longed to be near Yondu, but that was a horrible idea right now. The last thing he needed was to say or do something stupid. And that’s exactly what would’ve happened. No, he needed to be alone.

Feelings were complicated and not something Kraglin had a lot of experience with. It wasn’t that he didn’t want them. Did he? There hadn’t been anyone on Xandar he’d been interested in, and certainly no one who seemed to like him. Why would they? But here, things were different. The Ravagers didn’t seem like the warm and fuzzy romantic types, but for the first time in his life Kraglin felt like he had found people he connected with. People who understood him, and who he genuinely enjoyed being around. Yondu was at the top of that list.

But feelings?

That was a whole other mess.

Obviously Yondu didn’t return them, so what was the point? He could just ignore it. Or even if he couldn’t , he would have to. Otherwise he’d ruin everything. Anyway, maybe he’d wake up in the morning and everything would go back to normal. If he put a little distance between the two of them, maybe the feelings would go away. It was probably just because they’d been so close . All the time. When two people spent a long time together, surely it would be easy to get emotions muddled.

It was really just like him. Always reasoning the feelings away. That’s how he’d put off this realization for so long. But now it was here and real and if he didn’t go to sleep now he might never sleep again. He looked at his datapad, bleary-eyed. It was late. He was tired. He was hungry, he probably just didn’t feel well—

He was doing it again.

Fuck.

Groaning, Kraglin rolled over and shoved his pillow over his head.

Hopefully this will all be over in the morning.

Chapter Text

Everything was not over the next morning.

Kraglin woke up, and everything from the day before came rushing back to him. The ship, the explosion... and his unwelcome realization.

He promptly rolled over and went back to sleep.

When he woke up a second time, and nothing had changed, he dragged himself out of bed, down the hall to the washroom, and to the bridge to check in with the navigation team. Luckily, Yondu was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s we off to?” he asked Razar, sitting in front of the navigation panel. She looked over her shoulder and shot him a crooked grin.

“Sakaar,” the pilot said. “For a rendevouz. We’re picking up some materials and weaponry.”

That was exciting. Kraglin had never been to Sakaar. He nodded, looking out the window over her shoulder. “Good. We need it. Carry on.”

His sweep of the ship took him down the corridor and over the pathway that connected the first and second quadrant. That was one of his favorite places to stand and overlook the ship, as he could see all the action above and below him as the crew scampered about the ship and did their work. But today he breezed over it and kept walking without pause. He followed the hallway down to the tailor’s shop, very much in need of a familiar friendly face. Iznen was there to greet him, a little too promptly, to the point where Kraglin wondered briefly if she had been expected him. If she had, she didn’t let on though, and just bustled around her shop while Kraglin sat on a stool and watched her. After a few silent moments of that, she stopped, tying on a leather apron, and looked down at him expectantly.

“Well?”

Kraglin blinked. Everything that was in his head seemed to disappear and he stared blankly for her at a moment, then looked down. Iznen gave a tut of disapproval.

“Ya ain’t here for a fitting, unless being first mate has made ya too big for yer britches.” She laughed, and Kraglin tried to feign offense, but he failed, unable to hide a grin. “So spill. What’s the gossip yer bringing me today? It must be good, or ya wouldn’t’ve come. Let me guess. Someone finally came and took Lough? Oh, or Halfnut choked on his own spit and is lying dead in the corridor and ya need a body bag? Because ya can just throw it out the airlock and no one will know.”

Kraglin smiled to himself, shaking his head. “No. No, though your ideas would be much more welcome.” He sighed. “It’s actually just about me.”

“Ooooo personal drama!” she clasped her hands together in delight and went back to work, listening intently. “Let’s hear it, then.”

“Has anyone ever been in love with you, Iznen?” The tailor looked surprised, glancing over her shoulder at him.

“Well that’s a funny question to ask. Yes, I suppose someone has. Why, ya got a girl fawning over ya and ya need to get her off yer back? I’ve been there, it ain’t easy, but I can help.” It was obvious that Iznen wasn’t taking this seriously, and Kraglin didn’t really blame her. This talk of love on a Ravager ship was likely not a common topic. Still, her shook his head and pressed on. It was too late to turn back now.

“No. It’s… I’m in love. With someone.” He exhaled loudly after saying it, like he’d finally revealed a well-kept secret.

“Ah.” Iznen stopped, leaning against her work table and wiping her hands on her pants. “Well, that’s different then.” She seemed to have sobered up now, hearing the seriousness in his voice.

“...Yeah.” He shifted awkwardly on his stool, suddenly feeling like he was being scrutinized. “I… don’t know what to do about it.”

Iznen nodded slowly, contemplating. “Well. That depends on if ya want to tell them or not.”

“What do ya think I should do?” Kraglin was right to come to Iznen. It was easy to talk to her.

“I dunno, Krags.” The tailor put a hand on his shoulder, looking at him seriously. “In my experience, it’s safer to only tell them if yer sure they feel the same way ya do. That’s how ya avoid any heartbreak or the messy end of a friendship.” Her voice was contemplative. “But on the other hand, sometimes ya just can’t tell. Ya might never know if ya don’t say something, and ya end up living yer whole life regretting it because of what coulda possibly been.” Kraglin looked up at her, and she shrugged. “It’s complicated and difficult, and that’s why ya don’t often see Ravagers being romantic. Most of us ain’t good at that sort of thing.”

He pondered for a moment. “But yer good at it,” he said. “Ya said someone was in love with ya.”

Iznen shook her head. “No. I ain’t. She loved me, I didn’t love her back.”

“Oh…” Kraglin chewed his lip. “So then—”

“I learned a lot about love from that. I saw the way she acted around me. It was so obvious how she felt. But I didn’t return those feelings. I don’t know if she thought I did or not, but I wasn’t trying to lead her on. I tried to make it clear. But she was a good friend, and I was afraid to hurt her. I hoped she would never bring it up so I wouldn’t have to let her down. But she did, and I had to, and she transferred off the ship a week later. I ain’t seen her since.” When Kraglin looked back up at Iznen, her eyes were bright, but sad. “It was painful. But I think she really felt like she had to tell me. Otherwise it woulda consumed her. Knowing the truth allowed her to move on.”

Kraglin tried to imagine what would happen if telling Yondu his feelings ruined their relationship. Yondu might kick him off the ship. If he was angry enough, he might even kill him. Kraglin might be so mortified he would have to leave, and then where would he go? If he left, what would Yondu do? He had been in such a bad place after Natzan died, what would happen if he lost another first mate? Who would help him?

Stop it! Yer getting way ahead of yourself.

If he did tell Yondu, and the Captain miraculously returned those feelings, he could imagine all too easily their lives after that. Living comfortably, fighting side by side, running the ship together. The passionate kissing and sex infused with something more precious and intimate. And at the end of the night, laying down in Yondu’s bed and actually spending the night in each other’s arms, close together. That was irresistible. He wanted it. He wanted it so badly.

“Ya don’t hate her for it, do ya?” Kraglin’s voice was tentative.

“For loving me? Of course not. For telling me?” Iznen hesitated. “No. I wish she hadn’t left, and sometimes I think if she hadn’t said anything, she might still be around. But realistically, we would’ve drifted apart. It would’ve eaten at her, not saying anything, not knowing. I wouldn’t wish that on her, or anyone.”

“So if it was you—”

“I’d tell them.” She nodded. “If ya want them that badly, if ya think ya have even a small chance. Just say something. Ya’d regret it otherwise.”

Kraglin nodded, standing. “...Thanks.” He intertwined his fingers nervously. “Really. Thank ya.”

Iznen smiled kindly. “So ya gonna tell me who it is, or…?”

Kraglin tensed, then relaxed. “It’s Yondu.”

The tailor blinked. “Oh, Kraglin… Well. I wish ya luck.”

If it had been anyone else, Kraglin might’ve wondered why he needed luck. But the answer was obvious. He nodded, and walked out the door, the Iznen watching him intently as he left.

***

Kraglin found Yondu in the control room, staring at the monitors with an expression on his face Kraglin couldn’t read. The Captain turned when his first mate came in— whether he’d heard his footsteps or just knew, Kraglin wasn’t sure. They locked eyes for a moment, and Kraglin sank into a chair with a heavy sigh. Yondu, after a beat, did the same. Still, they watched each other. And then Yondu spoke:

“Ya’ve been avoiding me”.

Kraglin twitched nervously. “Have I?”

“It sure as hell seems like it, but if I’m wrong then by all means, correct me.” His voice was impatient, but Yondu didn’t look angry. That was good, at least.

“I’ve just been resting.” It was a lame excuse and they both knew it.

“Uh-huh…” Yondu looked like he was going to press further, but instead he just sighed and leaned back, eyes closing. “I feel old, Kraglin.”

That… was not what he had been expecting at all. Frantically, he scrambled for an adequate response for a bombshell like that.

“What? Cap’n, ya ain’t old! I mean, if yer old then that means I’m old too, cuz I ain’t that much younger than ya, and we’s both way too young to be old— oh, flark, that doesn’t make sense but ya know what I mean…” he shook his head, giving up. “What can I do to help?”

Yondu shrugged. “I dunno, Kraglin. Ya’ve been helpful, and supportive, and done everything I asked. I don’t think there’s anything else ya can do. I can’t ask for anything else from ya.”

Kraglin’s brow furrowed. He didn’t know where this was coming from, but Yondu was obviously distressed about something. That, or he was just feeling the pressure of being Captain. It wouldn’t be a surprise. But Kraglin still wished he could do something for him. “Ya know I’d do anything for ya if ya asked.”

Yondu shook his head, eyes still closed. “That’s gonna get ya killed one day, idiot.” He chuckled to himself, and Kraglin joined in.

“I don’t care.” His voice was barely a whisper, so soft he wasn’t sure Yondu could hear him. I’d be grateful to die for ya. “It’s my job,” he said.

“Ya heard we’s headed to Sakaar next?” Yondu changed the subject abruptly.

“Yeah.” Kraglin nodded, happy to think about something else. “What’s it like there?”

“Their people are scrappers and junkers, a lot like us, but not as organized. Most of the time the stuff they pick up is shit, but every once and a while they end up with something valuable. We buy and trade from them, keep some for ourselves and resell the rest. The city itself is really nice. Not exactly a tropical vacation spot, but it ain’t grimy like Knowhere or sleazy like Contraxia.” Yondu stood and went back over to a monitor. “We’ll take a few days just to get some rest and relaxation before heading out again.”

“That’ll be good, right?” Kraglin looked up at him. “We could all use some time. Maybe ya will feel a little better after…”

Yondu grunted something Kraglin couldn’t hear, and moved back over to him swiftly. “Get up.”

“Cap’n…?” Kraglin stood hesitantly. “I—”

Yondu grabbed him by the collar and dragged him in close, kissing him possessively. Once he pulled away and Kraglin was gasping for breath, he grinned. “I ain’t been able to do that recently. That don’t make me very happy.”

Kraglin’s face went red and he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. He kissed me! He missed me! “I, uh, sorry, Cap’n.”

Yondu nodded and stepped back. “Well, I’ll let ya get back to work.”

Now. Now!

“Um, actually—” Yondu paused and looked at Kraglin as he fiddled nervously with the hem of his jacket. “I gotta, uh, tell ya something.”

Yondu crossed his arms. “Okay.”

“I, um.” Fuck . “All this time I’ve been spending with you— and all of this, ya know, the kissing, the fucking— it’s been really good? Really nice, I mean, and it’s, I guess I’m trying to say it’s meant a lot, and…” he took a deep breath, looking anywhere but at Yondu. “I don’t wanna step out of line when I say this, but yer more important to me than anyone I ever knew back on Xandar, and yer the closest friend I have on this ship, and I think… I think that the sentiments I have for ya go beyond whatever this —” a flailing gesture between the both of them aimed vaguely toward both their crotches — “is. I think I have real, feelings for ya Captain, and I don’t know why or how, but I needed to tell ya because I don’t think I could handle it if I didn’t.” He took a deep breath. “There.”

Yondu was very quiet, and when Kraglin looked at him, his expression was blank and unreadable. He stared at the floor, and squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for his Captain to say something, or do something. Anything. He heard Yondu’s footsteps on the ground approaching him and held his breath. Whether he rejected him, or hit him, or grabbed him and kissed him again, Kraglin didn’t care. He just needed a response.

He kept waiting.

And after what felt like an eternity, he opened his eyes again and slowly lifted his head. Looked around, turning in confusion.

Yondu was gone.

A low sound of desperation catching in his throat, Kraglin let himself fall back into the chair, his head in his hands. He’d screwed up, he’d pushed Yondu away, and now...

What have I done?

Chapter Text

By the time they got to Sakaar, Kraglin had gotten up out of the chair in the control room. There was no use sitting there moping and feeling sorry for himself when there was work to be done. He headed to the bridge, either to give or receive orders from what he should do once they landed. He had hoped Yondu wouldn’t be there, stupidly, because he wanted to avoid potential conflict and discomfort. But maybe, he figured, they could put the awkward encounter behind them long enough to get through this. The Captain was in his usual seat, and Kraglin walked up hesitantly behind him.

“Cap’n?” Kraglin spoke slowly. “What do ya want me to do?”

Yondu didn’t reply, and for a moment Kraglin thought he just didn’t hear him. “Cap’n…?”

When Yondu didn’t reply again, Kraglin started to see what was happening.

“He told me to send ye down with a team. Ye’ll be met with escorts on the surface.” There was Tullk behind him, a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry laddie,” he murmured. “I dinna know why he ain’t speaking to ye, he just said to let ye know that. He gets like this sometimes, but he’ll come around. Try not to worry.”

Kraglin gave Tullk a grateful nod, but he knew the older Ravager had no idea how bad this really was. This ain’t something he can just come around to.

Kraglin gathered up a small team, and they headed to his M-ship. In the hangar, Yondu was there with a group as well. Figures . Yondu wouldn’t meet Kraglin’s eyes as they shuffled around, and Kraglin only relaxed once they were both in their ships and out in the sky.

The flight down was quick and uneventful. The Eclector stayed in orbit around the planet as the pair of ships descended. Kraglin looked at the surface as they neared it, the bright colored city surrounded by fields of trash, equally as brightly colored. It was an odd contrast, but somehow a comfortable one. Kraglin landed, the breeze from the engines blowing dust around, and Yondu’s ship was beside him. Kraglin wasn’t looking though, of course.

A group of Sakaarans greeted them when they stepped out of their M-ships. Kraglin shot a glance over at Yondu, but the Captain was holding his head high and looking straight ahead. Kraglin sighed and turned his attention to the task as well.

“Welcome to Sakaar, maybe you’ve been here before maybe not. We’re scrappers, we collect the trash and the treasures, and you buy it from us.” The scrapper grinned, and Kraglin watched her and her friends with a curious look.

They’re similar to Ravagers, he thought. I can see why we do business with them .

“Take a look around,” Yondu said to the teams, and Kraglin was jolted out of his thoughts by the sound of his voice. “Bargain and barter as you like.” The Ravagers nodded and split off into smaller groups and pairs, walking along the paths together and looking at the junk with mild interest. Kraglin looked over his shoulder at Yondu, who immediately averted his eyes.

Sheesh, dramatic much?

But oh, he loved him still.

They moved along at the same pace, but not together, each one looking opposite sides of the road and not acknowledging the other’s presence. At one point Kraglin lifted a rusted sword from a pile of junk, just as Yondu picked up a busted up blaster. They turned around to test the leverage of their weapons and found themself facing each other, aiming roughly in the other’s direction. They held eye contact for a moment and then quickly turned away.

“Captain, are we really doing this?” Kraglin broke the silence after a while. “I’m sorry for what I said. I wish I hadn’t, but ya gotta say something. I’m going crazy here.We need to work together, and we can’t if yer ignoring me. Forget about what happened. It doesn’t matter. I was out of line. But Captain— Yondu— please…”

Yondu turned and walked away down the path, hoisting the blaster over his shoulder.

“It’s broken!” Kraglin called after him. “It ain’t even worth fixing!”

He was already gone.

“He’s gone.”

***

After transferring the credits for their findings, the Ravagers followed the Sakaarans to their quarters for the night. To Kraglin’s dismay, he and Yondu were given bunks in the same cabin, separate from the rest of the crew. Priorities for the Captain and first mate obviously, an amenity they both would’ve appreciated a few days ago. Now, the room was tension filled and eerily quiet. Though the bunks faced each other across the room, Kraglin kept his back to Yondu’s, and a glance over his shoulder told him the Captain was doing the same thing. It wasn’t that either one of them would’ve wanted to be chatty anyway, but it was just so uncomfortable.

At some point during the night, Kraglin woke up and had to use the bathroom. He slipped quickly out of the room, and when he returned he could feel Yondu’s eyes on him through the dark, watching and judging but not saying a word. It made him want to tear his hair out. But hey. Two could play this game, right? With a grimace he rolled over and went back to sleep.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Kraglin woke up before Yondu and ate breakfast with the rest of the team. When it came time to go off “scrapping” again— or digging for buried treasure, as Kraglin thought of it— he made a point of partnering up with someone else so he wasn’t left alone with Yondu again. Turning around, the first person he found himself face to face with was Halfnut. From the other’s scowl, he was clearly just as displeased at the obvious arrangement as Kraglin was. The two of them, working together, would be a near-impossible feat, if they didn’t tear each other apart first. But somehow, it felt easier than working with Yondu right now. So he drew in a breath, put on his best “suck it up” face — for both their sakes — and gave a very forced smile.

“Let’s go,” Kraglin said tightly. “The sooner we get out there, the sooner we’ll be done.”

It was sound logic. Halfnut looked like he had been been planning on making a snide comment, but his eye seemed to catch something behind Kraglin, a frown flickered over his face, and he shook his head, turning away with a displeased mutter that Kraglin couldn’t understand.

They worked in silence, and though it was tense, it wasn’t as horrible as Yondu’s blatant ignorance. Kraglin really just didn’t know what to say to Halfnut, and it seemed like the other man didn’t know either. That’s why it was so strange when Halfnut started trying to make small talk.

“The weather is nice here, ain’t it?”

Kraglin could’ve laughed, and he barely stopped himself. Halfnut, talking about the weather. What a concept. Instead, he answered seriously. If the other was making an effort to be amiable, Kraglin wouldn’t discourage it. “Yeah, seems like there’s always sun. Even the night sky is clear.” He had to admit, it was nice to be planetside. They so rarely saw sun for any length of time, or anything except the artificial light in the Eclector. Even just having a few days of constant solar rotation seemed to help his sleep schedule and mood significantly.

“Did ya find any good junk yesterday?” Halfnut sounded bored when he asked, like he was forcing himself to be social.

Kraglin shrugged. “A little. I guess I see why we come here. These people seem to have the sort of shit we like. But it makes me wonder though why we just keep collecting trash instead of investing in nicer weapons.” As if to punctuate his point, Kraglin lifted up a bent rifle with a scowl, and shoved it in his bag. They could fix it.

“Because it’s cheaper. Better to have lots of stored up money. Just in case.” That was one thing Kraglin really didn’t understand, and he couldn’t tell if Halfnut was being sarcastic in his support of it or not. “Is there a reason ya ain’t speaking to the Captain, or…?”

The sudden change of subject caught Kraglin off guard, as did the question itself. He sighed. “Ya ain’t gotta do this, Halfnut, make conversation for the sake of it.”

Halfnut glared at Kraglin, a very clear “shut the fuck up while I’m talking” gesture. Kraglin did.

“He’s mad at me, I guess.” Kraglin shrugged. He didn’t really want to talk about it, especially not with Halfnut who would probably use his weakness against him at some point. But he found himself answering anyway.

“Why?”

“I told him something he didn’t want to hear.” That was about as specific as Kraglin could get without just spilling everything. But it wasn’t enough for Halfnut.

“What could ya have possibly said to him that upset him that badly?” His eyes were bright with curiosity.

Kraglin shook his head. “If I tell ya, ya gotta promise not to use it as blackmail.” Not that any Ravager would honor that sort of promise, but he said to ask. The other just shrugged and nodded, as if he was agreeing. Taken aback slightly, Kraglin stumbled over his words. “Um— well, he— I…” He took a breath to compose himself, and squeezed his eyes shut as he forced the words out so he wouldn’t have to look at Halfnut. “I told him I loved him.”

When Kraglin opened his eyes, Halfnut was looking at him curiously, but not in a judgemental way. If Kraglin didn’t know better, he would’ve said he saw concern, or confusion, in the other’s face. “He yelled at ya?”

“Nah.” Kraglin made a face. “He just walked out, and now he’s ignoring me.”

Halfnut nodded slowly. “Uh-huh. And so ya think he’s mad at ya.”

Kraglin rolled his eyes. “Well, yeah. Softness, and all that. He trusted me to be his ally, his first mate, and I ruined everything by saying I had feelings for him. I’m so stupid.” A deeper scowl set in as he kicked around in a pile of cloth. “I don’t know what to do. I’m humiliated. I can’t even bear to be here, on the ship I guess, but it’s not like I have anywhere else to go! And I don’t know, I really thought— I mean, I wouldn’t’ve said anything, probably, if I had expected him to take it badly— I don’t know what I thought.” In his frustration, Kraglin ripped a buckle off of his jacket, and he flung the little scrap of metal across the field before continuing. “We was close, I think, maybe. Or we was getting there. I considered him a friend. I think he considered me one? I mean— flark it all, we had a relationship. Just a sexual one, no romance or tenderness or anything else I wanted, but that connection was there. I felt it. I assumed, stupidly, he did too. But I guess it didn’t mean to him what it meant to me. And that’s fine, I guess, I can’t be mad at him for that. But how am I supposed to work with him now? How can you have a professional working relationship with someone, let alone a friendship, when one person is just pining endlessly over the other?”

Halfnut was silent for  a moment, and Kraglin almost began to wonder if he’d been listening to a word he’d say. But then he spoke, voice flat. “Jeez Obfonteri. I’m sorry yer whole life is basically over.”

Kraglin sighed. “I’m sorry too.”

“I guess ya have nuthin’ to look forward to.”

Kraglin frowned, making a face and put down the bag he was carrying. “What?”

Halfnut shrugged, not looking at Kraglin as he continued picking through a pile. “Ya fell in love and got yer heart broken. That has never happened before and won’t ever happen again in the rest of history.” His voice dripped with sarcasm, and Kraglin stared at him. “And unfortunately, no one else could ever understand what yer feeling since this singular event happened to ya only so now yer carrying the burden of it fer the whole galaxy.”

Kraglin blinked a few times, then looked away. “I’m sorry, yer right.”

“What are ya sorry for?” Halfnut crossed his arms.

“I’m being self-absorbed. Ya didn’t ask to hear all this.”

Halfnut shook his head and shrugged. “Ya didn’t do nuthin’ to be sorry for.”

They both picked up their bags and slung them over their shoulders, starting to head down the path back to the cabin. Kraglin’s mind was still churning with questions as they fell into step side by side.

“Halfnut…?” he spoke hesitantly, and the other man looked over at him with a look of surprise, as if he’d forgotten Kraglin was there.

“Yeah?” His voice was wary.

“Have ya ever been in love?”

Halfnut stopped short for a moment, and then started walking again just as quickly. Kraglin almost didn’t notice. Blink-and-ya-miss-it.

“Yeah,” he repeated.

“Was it someone on this ship?” Kraglin knew he shouldn’t be prying, but he found he couldn’t help himself. He wasn’t even expecting an answer really. But Halfnut replied, seeming almost as surprised at himself as Kraglin was.

“Mhm. I thought we we close. I was gonna do what ya did, but then I didn’t. He loves someone else, he loves him, and so I’ll never ever have that with him, those things ya talk about wanting.”

“I’m sorry.” Kraglin didn’t even know way he was sorry. Or why Halfnut’s words tugged on his heartstrings. The man was a bully, he’d tried to kill him once. But still.

“It’s okay.” Halfnut let out a breath, he almost sounded defeated. “I guess I didn’t like him that much anyway.”

“I’m sorry.” There it was again.

“Stop saying that.” Halfnut didn’t look annoyed; his voice betrayed more confusion than anything else.

Kraglin nodded, taking the hint. No apologies. He chewed his lip. “Then ya know how I feel…”

Halfnut’s eyes flickered away to stare straight ahead, and he shook his head. “I can say with complete certainty I do not.”

Chapter Text

Kraglin woke up to a raging headache and the sound of commotion outside the cabin. He cracked one eye open, then two, and looked around. Yondu wasn’t there. He frowned and sat up, rubbing his temple, then made his way to the door, pulling his jumpsuit on as he went. Outside, the Sakaaran scrappers and the Ravager teams were crowding and bustling around, passing around money and weapons and booze. Kraglin’s brow knit as he walked up behind Yondu, and without even thinking, murmured quietly to him. “We leaving already?”

He realized after that Yondu was unlikely to respond. So he was surprised when the Captain turned to him and nodded stiffly. “Our business here is done. Get yer stuff, we’s going back to the ship.”

Yondu was at least speaking to him again, and for the time being that was good enough for Kraglin. But that was the extent of their conversation, and Kraglin once again wondered if the Captain hated him. The trip had been so uncomfortable, and if things didn’t return back to normal once they were settled back on the ship, Kraglin wasn’t sure he would be able to cope. If anything, Sakaar should’ve given them distance enough to both get over it. Instead, Kraglin was just as miserable, and Yondu was just as flighty. Great.

The flight back was uneventful, and upon returning to the Eclector , he stashed his new possessions in his cabin and went down to the washroom for a shower. He allowed him mind to wander, to think about anything and everything and nothing at all as the not quite clear water trickled over his body. Only once he was shivering from the cold did he step out of the shower, and wrap himself in a towel to walk back to his room. He dressed slowly, and was sitting on his bed aimlessly sharpening a knife when his datapad chirped with a call. He glanced down. The contact was blocked, but the location marker showed it coming from Xandar. That could only mean one thing. He answered the call, the video feed appearing as a holoscreen in the air a few feet away.

“Obfonteri.” Kraglin knew that voice. And the face on the screen—

“Denarian Gaard.” Kraglin’s words caught in his throat. “What, um—?”

“It seems you’ve been busy since leaving us.” The Nova officer stared back at Kraglin with a haughty expression.

“Since ya fired me, ya mean. Kicked me outta yer secret special club onto the streets. Unfounded, by the way. Not that I’m bitter or anything.” He shrugged and flashed a yellow-toothed smile, which the officer cringed away from, much to Kraglin’s pleasure.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t be so snappy on your insults.” Gaard sniffed. “We know you recently destroyed an station with a dozen Kree soldiers on it.”

Kraglin made a face. “And since when does the Nova Corps care about Kree trash? Yer at war! If anything, we did ya a favor.”

Gaard shrugged elegantly. “I don’t know what you were told by your Ravager friends, but that was no battle station. It was an outpost where a handful of Kree diplomats and a dozen Nova officers were working together on a peace treaty. We were working to reach an agreement between our people, and you blew it up along with a lot of good men.” He sucked in a breath. “Only a few managed to escape.”

Kraglin took a moment to process that. He sucked in a breath, swallowing hard. “...So now what? Yer gonna come after us? Arrest us? How’d you even find this channel to contact me?”

Gaard shook his head and held up a hand to silence him. “I would like to avoid that. Instead, we’d like to offer you a deal.”

“Wow!” Kraglin’s eyes went wide, an exaggerated expression of fake shock. “The Corps, striking a deal with a band of criminals! How forward-thinking of ya.”

If he thought about it long enough, Kraglin might’ve been baffled at his brashness. But it seemed Gaard was surprised enough for the both of them. “You’ve got nerve, something I never saw in you when you worked with us. Maybe these pirates have done you some good after all.” He pressed his fingers to his lips in thought. “Here is the deal. Return to Xandar. We are willing to reinstate your position, salary, and all benefits, and expunge your record.”

“In exchange for what?” Kraglin scoffed. “What could ya possibly want that yer willing to rehire the guy ya fired fer negligence of duty or whatever ya charged me with?”

Gaard looked for a moment like he was asking himself the same question, but the look was fleeting and his face quickly returned to its neutral expression. “Information,” he said plainly. “On your Ravagers.”

“They ain’t my Ravagers! And no!” Kraglin looked scandalized. “Why the fuck would I do that?” He narrowed his eyes dangerously. “What if I say no?”

Gaard shrugged. “You are free to decline our offer. But you, and your crew, will remain enemies of the Nova Corps, and will be subject to arrest just like any criminal. We’re giving you a chance to get out.”

“No!” Kraglin repeated. “Get the information yerself if yer so damn desperate. Ya don’t need me for that. If ya really thought I was so valuable ya shoulda thoughtta that before ya fired me! Goodbye.” He ended the call on his datapad abruptly and waved the holoscreen away with one hand. “Fucking bastard.”

Kraglin sat there for a few moments in silence, fuming. Who do they think they are, anyway? But still, there was something, a little tug in the back of his mind…

If I left, if I went back to Xandar, I wouldn’t have to stay here and face Yondu. I’d have somewhere to go, all the discomfort would go away. I could start over…

It wasn’t exactly the most ideal option. But somehow, having the offer available to him was… comforting? Reassuring?

He wouldn’t take it. The Nova Corps could go fuck themselves, that’s what he told himself.

He just had to convince himself.

Chapter Text

A week later, and Yondu still refused to acknowledge what Kraglin had said. At this point, he didn’t care at all if the Captain accepted it or not. He just wanted him to say something, and not just pretend it hadn’t happened. But he didn’t. He communicated with Kraglin enough to give orders and discuss the operation of the ship, but that was it. Lower crewmen, anyone who didn’t know the Captain or first mate well, probably wouldn’t have noticed anything. But for Tullk, Oblo, Iznen, and a few others, it was obvious. Halfnut too. He knew too much, Kraglin realized, cursing himself for telling the other anything at all. So far he hadn’t found a way to use it against him, but Kraglin didn’t doubt that it would happen when he was least prepared for it. He’d expect nothing less from the weasely asshole. He caught the looks Halfnut gave him when the other didn’t think he was looking. It was obvious he was keeping an eye on Kraglin. He just didn’t know why. And it was the least of his worries at the moment.

Kraglin had tried to forget about the Nova Corps’ offer. He wanted to push it away and curse the people who had cast him out. But there was a tug, a combination of an urge to be back on the ground, living on a planet again, as well as the need to prove that he could be a competent well-serving officer. Ravager ship or military organization, the principle was the same.

Maybe Yondu would write me a recommendation . He laughed out loud at the thought.

Kraglin didn’t want to leave. He’d found a home and a family here that he had never had on Xandar— not with his own relatives and certainly not with the Corps. He was freer, he’d expanded his skills, and he knew much more about the galaxy than he’d ever realized he could.

And yet. He’d made a mistake. He’d fucked up his relationship with the Captain, and he was really beginning to believe he’d never be able to fix it again. It was eating him up inside, and what was worse, he was still so desperately in love. The ache he felt was just dialed up to eleven now, with the emotional distance between them. Being apart physically would hurt for a while, but maybe— hopefully— after a some time, he would be able to move on. Maybe he could even forget about his time here. Go back to living his boring old life and being nothing more than a pawn in a bigger system where he didn’t matter. If he was lucky, he could get a few promotions and move behind a desk and keep giving orders. Gain another rank pip on his uniform.

It would never be the same feeling as the day he got his new flame patch, though. He traced his finger around it, holding its position on his jacket over his heart. He couldn’t imagine letting that go.

Flark. He really didn’t know what to do.

He could’ve gone to Tullk or Iznen for advice, but there was something about the thought of having to tell them he was leaving (even if it was just a possibility) that was too difficult. He couldn’t. But maybe... maybe Yondu could help. And then Kraglin could gauge how badly the Captain needed— or wanted— him to stay. It was worth a try.

Not finding him on the bridge, or the control room, or any of the more public places, Kraglin went to Yondu’s cabin. He’d hoped the Captain wouldn’t be there; he hadn’t been to the cabin in weeks. But he was, and he called for Kraglin to come in when he announced himself outside. Kraglin shut the door behind him and hovered awkwardly by the wall. Yondu just looked at him coolly, waiting for Kraglin to start. Oh. He was the one who had come here first, after all. Kraglin sighed and ran a hand over his face.

“Um.” He paused. “I got a call from the Nova Corps. I guess, about a week ago?” He glanced at Yondu’s face. The Captain clearly was trying to not look bothered by this, but Kraglin could see the wariness in his eyes.

“What those bastards want from ya?” Yondu crossed his arms. “They got some nerve.”

Well, this was a good sign, maybe. Still, Kraglin hesitated. “They, uh, want me to come back. Rejoin the force. They’d give me my position back, all records clear.”

“Uh-huh.” If Yondu wasn’t convinced, Kraglin couldn’t blame him. “And what they want in return?”

“Intel.” Flark. It sounded so bad even saying it. “On the Ravagers.”

Yondu twitched nervously. “Ya ain’t gonna— ya wouldn’t—”

“No, of course not, Cap’n.” Kraglin sighed. “I’d never betray ya like that. But.” And this was a huge but. “I’m considering going down there, to Xandar, anyway. Just to talk.”

Yondu fell quiet after that. He didn’t look reassured by Kraglin’s words. When he spoke again, his voice was huskier than usual, and shaky. If Kraglin didn’t know better, he’d say the Captain was nervous. “Yer gonna leave. The ship. The crew.” He hesitated. “Me.”

Kraglin drew in a breath. “I don’t wanna. But recently I ain’t really felt that welcome around here. Or comfortable. I think— it’s worth looking at my options.”

A dozen emotions seemed to flicker across Yondu’s face at once, and Kraglin wished he could’ve read them all, but just as quickly, they were gone. But in his voice— “It’s because I didn’t answer ya. Before. When ya.” He took a breath. “When ya said ya loved me.”

Kraglin blinked, taken aback. He hadn’t actually expected Yondu to acknowledge it at this point. “Partly, yes.” There was no use in lying about it.

“No one’s ever said that to me before,” Yondu said slowly. “I weren’t sure how to react. I didn’t want to say something wrong.”

“There’s no wrong thing to say!” Kraglin said, voice growing angry. “Ya just had to say something! Flarking hell, that’s all I wanted! Some acknowledgement that ya heard me, that I hadn’t ruined things, or that I had, it doesn’t matter! Instead ya ignored me and I can’t bear not knowing where I stand with ya!”

Yondu huffed quietly. “Kraglin.” His voice wavered. “I know yer angry. But I am being as honest as I can be with ya when I say I don’t want ya to leave. I need ya. I do. I’m no good at this. Ya put me in a corner, Kraglin. I don’t know how I’m supposed to respond. But I know yer place is here. Ya got that tattoo, ya said it means loyalty. To us. And ya said ya love me. Well— I still don’t know what the hell to do with that and yes I wish ya hadn’t told me because it made everything so much harder and I don’t want to do this right now because I don’t know what to say, but ya can’t go. Ya can’t. Because I— I love ya too. I can’t show it or express it like ya can but I do love ya.”

Kraglin stared in speechless silence for only a moment before shaking his head and turning his back. “No. Yer only saying that to get me to stay so I don’t give away all yer secrets. It ain’t gonna work, Captain. It ain’t fair to me. I only told ya because I thought we could be something more, but ya made it painfully clear that ain’t the case. I ain’t interested in yer excuses and lies.”

“Kraglin.” Yondu’s voice cracked, and he looked like he’d been punched in the gur. “No. No, that ain’t— ya gotta believe me—”

Kraglin shook his head, expressionless. “I will honor my promise to the code. I won’t tell anyone anything about you or your clan.” He pulled the flame patch from his chest and held it out to Yondu. The Captain reached for it, but didn’t touch it. “But I can’t stay here. I’m leaving for Xandar first thing in the morning. Goodbye.”

Kraglin let go of the patch and it fell to the ground. He turned away and walked out of the room, As he closed the door behind him, he left Yondu standing there, stricken.

Chapter Text

It wasn’t until Kraglin was only a few clicks shy of the Xandarian atmosphere that he realized he was maybe a little afraid to go back. He’d packed quickly and told no one— not Tullk, not Iznen — that he was leaving home to return to his origins.

...When had he started thinking of the Eclector as home?

The silence in his M-ship was deafening, and he found himself longing for the chatter in the corridors he had grown used to. The noise on Xandar would be familiar, but not the same. He’d… get used to it. Eventually.

Still, there was something undeniably thrilling about bursting through the jump point, the atmosphere shattering into hundreds of pentagonal fragments, and soaring across the sky high above the city. Kraglin’s M-ship, new as it was, couldn’t compare in class and style to the star-pointed ships of the Nova Corps. Those ships circled the sky not, and for a moment Kraglin felt like he’d never felt. The city was beautiful to a visitor. It reminded him of the wonder he’d felt as a child, looking at the skyline from the slums. But even then, he’d never been able to see it like this. It was a view to fall in love with. The sun, just beginning to reflect off the buildings in a warm morning glow... Kraglin hadn’t realized it would be sunrise when he arrived, and for a moment he lost himself in the beauty.

His ship landed and he took a moment to make himself presentable. He was still wearing Ravager leathers, minus the flame. He smoothed them down, re-laced his boots, and ran a hand through his hair. He didn’t look fit to be a Nova Corps officer anymore. But surely they’d expected that. He stepped out of the ship and onto the clean stone road.

“Kraglin Obfonteri.” He turned, seeing Denarian Gaard striding toward him, with Nova Prime behind him.

“Gaard,” Kraglin replied, beating his chest in a Ravager salute, Gaard’s outstretched hand coming a moment too late for him to realize his mistake. He quickly dropped his hand to his side, greeting the Xandarian leader with a nod instead. “Nova Prime.”

“Welcome home,” she said, and Kraglin resisted the urge to say this ain’t my home. “You have been away for quite some time.”

Kraglin bit back a scowl. “I’ve been busy.”

“So I’ve heard.” Nova Prime’s voice was mil, but Kraglin could hear the underlying scorn. “Denarian Gaard told me you wouldn’t be joining us.”

“Changed my mind,” he mumbled, scuffing his boot on the ground. “Thought it was worth a trip down here. No promises. Just to talk.”

The other two exchanged a look, and Kraglin could tell they were wary. Good. Let them be. But to their credit they didn’t question him further. Nova Prime nodded and turned, leaving no choice but for Kraglin and Gaard to follow. Kraglin trailed behind, taking in his surroundings. It hadn’t changed all that much. They walked up the marble steps of Nova Tower, the headquarters of the Corps. Xandar was so clean and perfect— perhaps too much— and so different from a Ravager ship. Kraglin’s dirty clothes and jagged haircut just felt out of place. Clearly his companions thought so too, because there was a set of clean clothes sitting on the table inside the office he was led to. A basic Corps uniform given to rookies for their first day on the job.

“I thought ya was giving me a promotion,” he quipped. Gaard gave him a scathing look, cringing at the language.

“You have to accept the deal first.” The officer crossed his arms.

Kraglin grinned, and was pleased to see Gaard cringe at the sight of his yellow teeth. He flipped him a middle finger and Gaard’s face contorted in disgust before he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Now alone, Kraglin looked around the office. He was reminded of the day he’d been sentenced, except this wasn’t a tiny waiting room for criminals. This was the luxurious penthouse office of Nova Prime, and he was alone in it. He had the urge to touch all the fragile decorative pieces, and shove the valuable ones in his pockets. But he didn’t. Instead, he discarded his jumpsuit and dressed in the uniform. It was clean and crisp and smelled like fresh laundry. A temptation? The collar was neatly pressed and folded down, exposing the tattoos on Kraglin’s neck. He could only imagine what the others would have to say about those.

There was a knock on the door and Kraglin jumped, expecting Gaard returning. But instead, only Nova Prime stood there. “May I come in?” she asked.

Kraglin shrugged. “It’s yer office.” The Corps general laughed lightly and stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She strode to her desk and sat down.

“You may sit, Mr. Obfonteri.” Kraglin didn’t even try to argue. He sank into the chair, comfortable and clean, and wondered if he could ever get used to this again. “You’ve returned, despite telling us you would not. Why?”

“Seemed smart to consider my options,” he lied easily. No need to tell her the real story. He shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, unable to read her expression.

“You don’t need to be so anxious,” she said after a moment. “You are here as a guest, there will be no action taken against you while our offer is on the table, despite your criminal record.”

Kraglin raised his eyebrows. “And if I say no?”

There was a pause as Nova Prime just looked at him without answering, and he wasn’t sure if she was thinking about the answer or just trying to intimidate him. Probably both. Finally, she leaned forward folded her hands, staring intently at him while she spoke. “The fact that you’re here now leads me to believe you won’t.”

That sent a shiver up Kraglin’s spine and he found himself unwillingly shrinking back into the seat. “Whaddaya expect in return if I take yer generous offer?”

Nova Prime gave Kraglin a look that made it very clear she knew that he knew the answer to that. Still, she answered him. “There are certain members of the Udonta Ravager Clan who we have escaped our hands numerous times. Their crimes are notable. As I am sure you know, we tend to leave the Ravagers as an entity alone, but these particular persons are on our watchlist and we would like to bring them in.” She tipped her head slightly, looking at Kraglin curiously. It took a moment before he realized she was staring at his tattoos. He tried to pull his collar up, but it was too late. “Xandarian runes,” she said quietly. “The Nova Corps crest.” There was surprise in her voice as she noticed it. “And star roamers. For the Ravagers?”

Kraglin shrugged and nodded, realizing she couldn’t see the third one from where she was sitting. He didn’t know what else to say.

“This may be difficult for you to accept,” Nova Prime said, a slight sigh escaping her. “But it is for the best that these men are brought in. All we need is whatever you can tell us about them. Weaknesses, strengths, and the next place they’ll be, so we can bring them in.”

Kraglin was quiet, leaning back in his chair. For good measure, he pulled one foot up onto the seat with him, the other leg swinging onto the table. He watched Nova Prime for some reaction, but she gave him none. Great . “Who are they?” he asked.

Nova Prime stood, and brought up a holoscreen with mugshots and files. “These three. Andreiz, Razar, and Elan. Can you tell us anything about them?”

Kraglin stared at the faces. No one he was particularly close to. But he knew them. All of them. They were his crewmates, his family by extension. He could almost feel the third tattoo burning on his skin. It means pledging yerself to something, forever. It don’t matter if that ain’t how ya grew up, if the people ain’t yer blood. It’s not tied to yer past, but it’s there for life.

“No.” Kraglin pushed back the chair and got up. “Not until I’ve decided. And I haven’t. Not yet. Thanks fer the clothes and the hospitality. I’ll let ya know when I have an answer. Just know it might not be one ya like.” Nova Prime looked like she wanted to say something but she just huffed and watched him leave the room.

Kraglin ran down the hallway and back out into the street, hurrying through crowds of people and through the familiar city until he had returned to his M-ship. His chest was heaving, breath coming in short gasps, but not from exertion. He collapsed on the small cot in the back, covering his face with his hands, trying to calm down. He didn’t know what to do. Being on the Eclector seemed impossible now, and he was so angry with Yondu. But the alternative? Turning on the crew he had pledged himself to? If he had been with the Ravagers for longer, he could’ve been one of those people on the Corps’ wanted list. He probably was, having blown up an Nova outpost. This was probably the only thing keeping him from being arrested, he realized with horror. He didn’t know what would happen if he said no now. Nova Prime hadn’t given him a real answer. He was stuck here now. There was only one answer they’d accept, and he’d fallen into their trap. I’m so flarking stupid .

He stared up at the ceiling, squinting his eyes at the lights and tried to pull himself together.

What would Yondu do?

Kraglin could’ve laughed. Yondu would talk his way out of it, because he was good at that. And if he couldn’t do that, he’d fight his way out. Either way, he would never let some fascists back him into a corner. He was angry now. The whole thing was so unfair. Almost worthy of a Ravager, he thought humorlessly. But this was much more twisted. Still, the thought of having to go back to his Captain and tell him he wanted to come back… even if Yondu didn’t kill him on the spot, he’d lose his rank, he’d be scrubbing vents for the rest of his days probably. It wasn’t worth it.

Probably.

Chapter Text

Kraglin didn’t remember falling asleep, but when he woke up, it was to the buzzing of his comm. He rolled over and glanced at it— a call from Tullk. Of course. Yondu probably told him what had happened, or at least that he left. Kraglin contemplated dismissing it, but with a sigh he sat up and picked up.

“Ye’re on Xandar,” Tullk said before Kraglin could speak. “Right?”

Kraglin nodded, then realized Tullk couldn’t see him. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “Cap’n told ya?”

“Not everything, though I suspect I know what’s going on.” And Kraglin didn’t doubt he did. “We was all worried about ya, laddie. He winna say so, but he is. And so am I. If ye decide to stay there, I canna blame ya. Yer Captain’s a real ass sometimes. But I gotta make sure ye’re there because ye wanna be, an’ not because they’s keepin’ ye there. Ye wanna come back home, we’ll get ye back. Ye just gotta give the word. Ye’re our first mate, we all need ye. And sure, I can do it, or someone else can. But we like havin’ ye around. Twould be a shame ta lose ye so soon, kid. Ye tell me if ye need us. We’ll be there.” He hung up, and Kraglin set the comm down, staring at it. He hadn’t been able to get a word in edgewise, but he had a feeling that’s exactly what Tullk was intending.

What was he to do? The decision seemed so overwhelming now.

They would come for him, if he asked. That’s what Tullk had said. That didn’t necessarily apply to Yondu. But he could leave, and the crew would help him.

He needed coffee before he could make any decisions.

Stumbling out of his M-ship, Kraglin squinted in the bright sun and headed off to find breakfast somewhere. There, a little ways down the street, was a cafe he sometimes would eat at before work. A little overpriced, and the toast was always burnt, but the coffee was good and that’s all that really mattered in the mornings.

“Obfonteri?” a voice greeted him in surprise as he pushed the door open, the bell jangling. Behind the counter stood a girl in a neat uniform and apron. She waved to him, looking surprised. “I thought we’d never see you again in here.”

Kraglin recognized her, though he couldn’t recall her name. Nor did he particularly care. “Uh… yeah, well. I’m here now, so. Coffee?” The girl gave him an affronted look that she probably thought Kraglin couldn’t see and went back to work. He slid into a chair at a table by the window and stared out at the street. There were parts of Xandar he really did love. But it was nothing compared to being out traveling the stars. Even if he didn’t go back to the ship, he could survive out on his own. Stealing for a living, taking bounties. He’d learned well enough. He didn’t need the Ravagers to get by. Kraglin drank the coffee quickly, unbothered by the scalding liquid, and got up to head toward the Nova headquarters.

“I’m leaving,” he said when a group of officers walked up to him just outside the building. “I ain’t gonna stay here and play yer games and fall back into yer system.” He bared his teeth. “Tell Nova Prime that she’ll never get information from me. I’m out.” Kraglin turned to go, but two men each clasped a hand on his shoulders, pulling his arms behind his back. He reached for a knife, but he was too slow.

“You aren’t going anywhere, Ravager. We can’t let you leave. Orders, and all.” Kraglin snarled, spitting at the one who spoke. The officer made a face. “And you can tell her yourself.” They turned Kraglin around to see Nova Prime walking across the sidewalk towards them.

“You came to tell me your decision, Mr. Obfonteri?” Her voice was cool, and gave away nothing.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t stay here.” Kraglin said, wincing at the tight grip on his arms. “I won’t betray my crew.”

Nova Prime shook her head. “Let him go,” she said to the officers. They scowled and released him. “Leave us.” As they walked away, she walked up to Kraglin until they were only a few feet apart. “You know you will not be protected from us,” she said. “If you leave, and we cross paths with your Ravagers again…”

Kraglin just laughed, and shrugged. “I ain’t goin’ back to the Ravagers. Probably. I’ll go out on my own or something.” He still wasn’t going to say the real reason why. “I won’t put them in any danger by being around me, if I’m on yer bad side now.”

“I am still trying to understand you, Obfonteri.” She didn’t look angry. Just contemplative. “You do not wish to rejoin them, but you will protect them. I always believed Ravagers valued their own well-being over anyone else’s.”

“No offense, Nova Prime, but yer wrong about that.” Kraglin shrugged. “I’ve got another tattoo.” He turned, pulling down his collar so she could see. “I’m loyal to them above all else. And I always will be.”

Nova Prime smiled. “Go. The Corps will be missing out on a great officer. But you should be where your loyalties lie.” She reaches out to shake his hand. Kraglin, this time purposely, beat his chest in a Ravager salute instead. After a moment, Nova Prime did the same. As she turned to walk away, something seemed to catch her eye behind Kraglin, and something in her expression faltered. He started to ask what she had seen, but she was gone. He let out a sigh of relief, ready for a moment to catch his breath. But then—

“Did ya miss us, Krags?” Kraglin whirled around, startled, to face none other than Yondu. The Captain was flanked by Tullk and Halfnut— the former of which looked concerned and the latter who looked smug. Kraglin decided to ignore that question for now.

“I didn’t call you,” he hissed, stalking up to Tullk and grabbing him by the collar. The older Ravager looked startled; it was unlike Kraglin to lash out in a physical way without being provoked.

“I know,” Tullk said, looking at Kraglin evenly. “He wanted to come.” Kraglin didn’t have to ask to know who Tullk was talking about.

“Why?” His confidence was wavering. “I…”

“Go ask him yerself, laddie.” Tullk crossed his arms, and Kraglin sighed, nodding.

“Cap’n?” his voice shook. “Ya didn’t hafta come… I coulda handled all of this.” He wouldn’t look at Yondu’s face, eyes glancing everywhere else. “I’m sorry I left. I weren’t gonna betray ya. They asked me for things I wouldn’t tell them. I couldn’t. Yer my family, but… when ya mocked me I had to leave…” He ran a hand over his face. “I ain’t asking ya to take me back on the crew. I can’t live like that. But forgive me, Cap’n.”

Yondu frowned, staring at Kraglin for a moment. He found himself flinching away from the gaze of those red eyes, yet at the same time he was drawn back to them. Even now, Yondu was able to draw him in. “Kraglin,” he said carefully. “No. I should be the one apologizing.” Kraglin froze, finally looking at him in disbelief. What? “I know the timing of what I said when ya left was bad. I didn’t want ya leaving. I was afraid of what would happen if the Nova Corps got information, yeah, but I can’t run this ship without ya. And—” he chewed on his lip, clearly not knowing how to say whatever it was he was trying to get out. “I pushed ya away. There ain’t no excuse for that. Everything ya said about me is true. Except one thing.” Kraglin didn’t dare to breathe, he was deathly silent as Yondu continued. “I didn’t just say it to get ya to stay. I meant it. But I didn’t know how to tell ya. There ain’t room for softness from a Ravager Captain. I don’t even know what it means for us. But I was bein’ honest. I swear.” He saluted, and Kraglin just stared.

This ain’t happening. This ain’t real, he ain’t doing this. “Say it.” Kraglin’s voice was hoarse. “If ya mean it, if ya really mean it, then say it .” He drew in a breath. “And if ya don’t mean it, turn around right now and get back on yer M-ship and leave and don’t ever contact me again because I can’t deal with this anymore.”

Yondu looked conflicted, but only for a moment. “The only one who ever cared for me was Stakar. On his ship I worked hard, I earned my keep, I was a good Ravager, and I was rewarded with my own crew. I had allies. A loyal first mate. A consultant, others looking out for me. Some might call them friends. But I never saw them that way. Most people in this business, this life, are in it for the money or the glory. The rest just want the security of a crew to protect them. Everyone always has an ulterior motive. But ya never did. And time after time ya’ve stood by me and defended me, and ya didn’t ask for nothin’ in return. Ya were kind to me, ya seemed to enjoy spending time with me. We slept together, and of course that meant somethin’ to ya… it meant somethin’ to me too, but I didn’t see it. When ya told me ya loved me, I didn’t expect it, because I ain’t someone who’s supposed to be loved . I can’t promise ya a cushy relationship. I can’t give ya, I don’t think, what yer looking for. But love— as a feeling, nothing else— I can. If I understand it the same way ya do… I want ya here, with me, I want to be close to ya, I want ya to be my friend, my consultant, my lover. And I want ya to be happy. If ya can’t be happy on my ship anymore, if this is too late, I understand. I’ll help go get anywhere ya want to go. If that is what love is… then I love ya, Obfonteri.”

The seconds ticked by, and Kraglin didn’t move. He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t think, or see, or hear. His surroundings seemed to disappear and it was just Yondu standing in front of him, waiting. The silence stretched out a moment too long, and Kraglin could see the Captain start to wilt in defeat. The slightest falter in his expression was all Kraglin needed to break whatever spell he was under and he felt himself flinging himself at Yondu. The Captain caught him with a surprised grunt, and Kraglin’s fingers dug into his burgundy leathers as their lips met and he kissed him for the first time in what seemed like so long. Kraglin felt Yondu’s arms tighten, holding him against him, and it felt right.

When he eventually pulled back, he was smiling, and so was Yondu. Behind the Captain, he could see Tullk trying to hide a grin of his own. Halfnut had disappeared, back to the ship presumably.

“Let’s go, Kraglin!” Yondu immediately started off toward Kraglin’s own M-ship. Kraglin followed.

“Aye, Cap’n.”

By this point, a crowd had started to gather. Nova Prime, with Denarian Gaard beside her, pushed her way to the front, and watched as the pair climbed through the hatch of the ship. “Oh yeah,” Yondu said, and reached into his jacket pocket. “Yer gonna need this back.” He pulled out Kraglin’s flame patch, and pinned it to the front of his first mate’s shirt. Kraglin grinned.

“You better stay away from us!” he hollered, still standing on the edge as Yondu went to the cockpit to get them in the air. “Don’t mess with the Ravagers!” He could hear the Captain’s laughter from within and as the ship rose up in the air, he stuck up both middle fingers at the people assembled below. Then without a second glance, he turned and strolled all the way into the ship to join Yondu at his side.

***

The next morning, Kraglin woke up in his Captain’s bed. Yondu’s back was to him, his blue skin cool to the touch. Kraglin couldn’t help but snuggle closer. Yondu grunted quietly and rolled over, opening his eyes slowly.

“Mornin’ Kraglin.” He sounded groggy.

“Good morning, Cap’n,” Kraglin smiled at him.

“Yondu,” was the response. “Ya can call me Yondu. Just, not in front of the crew, or during missions, or—”

“Got it.” Kraglin laughed and started to sit up. “Ya want coffee, Yondu?”

“Yes, but…” Yondu gripped Kraglin’s arm. “Stay.”

Well, Kraglin couldn’t argue with that. He flopped back down, tucked under the other’s arm. He could really get used to this. Even if it wore off after a while… he was happy. And it seemed like Yondu was too. He deserved that much.

After a minute, Yondu’s datapad started buzzing, and they both groaned.

“Leave it,” Kraglin sighed. “It’s probably just Oblo, complaining about last night’s shift.” Yondu nodded in agreement and didn’t move. But the buzzing persisted. It would be impossible to fall asleep like that, and they both knew it. Yondu sat up and reached over to pick up the pad.

“It ain’t Oblo.”

“Who is it then?” Kraglin frowned, tipping his head back to look at him.

“I don’t know.” The Captain sounded puzzled. “Unknown location too.”

“What?” Kraglin asked, but was interrupted as Yondu answered the call. He couldn’t see the screen, but a strong voice filled the cabin as soon as he’d picked up.

“Captain Yondu Udonta? I have a job for you.”

Chapter Text

The next morning, Kraglin woke up in his Captain’s bed. Yondu’s back was to him, his blue skin cool to the touch. Kraglin couldn’t help but snuggle closer. Yondu grunted quietly and rolled over, opening his eyes slowly.

“Mornin’ Kraglin.” He sounded groggy.

“Good morning, Cap’n,” Kraglin smiled at him.

“Yondu,” was the response. “Ya can call me Yondu. Just, not in front of the crew, or during missions, or—”

“Got it.” Kraglin laughed and started to sit up. “Ya want coffee, Yondu ?”

“Yes, but…” Yondu gripped Kraglin’s arm. “Stay.”

Well, Kraglin couldn’t argue with that. He flopped back down, tucked under the other’s arm. He could really get used to this. Even if it wore off after a while… he was happy. And it seemed like Yondu was too. He deserved that much.

After a minute, Yondu’s datapad started buzzing, and they both groaned.

“Leave it,” Kraglin sighed. “It’s probably just Oblo, complaining about last night’s shift.” Yondu nodded in agreement and didn’t move. But the buzzing persisted. It would be impossible to fall asleep like that, and they both knew it. Yondu sat up and reached over to pick up the pad.

“It ain’t Oblo.”

“Who is it then?” Kraglin frowned, tipping his head back to look at him.

“I don’t know.” The Captain sounded puzzled. “Unknown location too.”

“What?” Kraglin asked, but was interrupted as Yondu answered the call. He couldn’t see the screen, but a strong voice filled the cabin as soon as he’d picked up.

“Captain Yondu Udonta? I have a job for you.”

A job? That was promising. But Kraglin stayed down, out of view of the screen so this person wouldn’t see that Yondu had company.

“And who do I have the pleasure of speakin’ to?” Yondu still sounded tired, though he was clearly trying to hide it and look alert.

The person on the other end of the line laughed. “Of course, how rude of me. You can call me Ego.”

“Okay.” If he was expecting a reaction from Yondu, perhaps some sort of recognition, he wasn’t going to get it. Kraglin knew that. “And what’s this job?” The Captain stood, still holding the datapad, and started to get dressed. Kraglin craned his neck to try and get a glimpse of the stranger. Yondu’s nonchalance was a power move, but to the man’s credit, he didn’t look fazed. Kraglin sat up in the bed, drawing the blankets up around him and watched in mild amusement.

“Getting right to it, I see.” The man laughed again, and Kraglin couldn’t help but feel like he was making fun of Yondu. He didn’t like it, and it looked like Yondu didn’t either. “Very well, allow me to explain. My family has been scattered throughout the galaxy, and many of my children’s mothers have passed away. I have been trying to gather them back to me so they can have a somewhat stable family life, but I don’t have the ability to travel constantly and take care of the kids at the same time.”

Yondu let out a little impatient huff, like he was waiting for Ego to get on with it. “I don’t care about yer family drama. It ain’t interesting to me. Is there a point to this?”

“Of course.” Flark, the man seemed to have abundant patience. “I need someone to retrieve these children, and deliver them to me. And I think you would be the right guy for the job.”

Yondu snorted. “Me and children don’t mix. Why me?”

“Because I was there on Xandar yesterday.” Kraglin felt his blood run cold. “I was retrieving one of my daughters, and I saw you there. I saw the way you got your man to come back with you. Is he here?” Kraglin frowned, and raised a confused hand in greeting in the background, to which the man beamed and nodded in return. “Yes, hello! And I figured, if this guy can convince a stubborn Nova Corps officer to go with him, then he could easily do this job. I asked around, found out how to contact you, and here we are.” He sounded proud, like he had just made an impressive declaration.

Kraglin and Yondu both crossed their arms. “Why are your children so scattered?” Kraglin asked. Yondu frowned and glanced back at Kraglin like he was trying to figure out what he was getting at. “I mean, you said their mothers are dead.”

Ego sighed. “I didn’t know most of these children existed at first. I am a traveler by nature, and a lone man. What else could you expect? But when I found out about them, I wanted to be involved in their lives.” Kraglin and Yondu exchanged a look, and Kraglin wondered how this story was affecting Yondu. But the Captain remained expressionless. “So…?” Ego sounded hopeful. “Will you help me?”

Yondu considered for only a moment. “Trafficking children is against the Ravager code,” he said firmly. “No.” He moved to hang up.

“No no no no, wait!” Ego waved his hands. “How stupid of me, I haven’t even brought up payment yet.”

Yondu paused. “Go on.” Kraglin raised his eyebrows. The guy didn’t look like he had that much money. Certainly not enough to entice the Captain.

“How does half a million units sound—”

“No.” Yondu shook his head.

“—Per delivery.”

“Oh.”

The two Ravagers sat in contemplation for a minute. They looked at each other, and Kraglin swore he could read his Captain’s thoughts, feeling his doubts.

“Is that a yes?” Ego asked, breaking the silence.

“How do we know—” Yondu started to say, but the man cut him off.

“I care deeply about these children, I would never hurt them. They will live a happy life with me.” He smiled kindly. “And I will only ask for the ones who have lost their mothers.”

“...Okay.” Yondu grunted in agreement. “How does this work?”

“Wonderful!” Ego clasped his hands together. “I will send you the coordinates of my planet, as well as the locations of the children. All you have to do is pick them up, and deliver them to me. I will pay you when you arrive.”

“Alright,” Yondu said. He sounded bored, but Kraglin could see the barely contained excitement at the job. “Send the info. We’ll get right on it.” Ego nodded, and hung up.

They looked at each other again. “We’s gonna be rich, Kraglin,” Yondu said. “Half a mil per kid? We’s a pair of lucky bastards, ain’t we?”

Kraglin stood up, pulling on his pants and shirt. “Seems like a reason to celebrate.”

Yondu grinned, and as Kraglin moved around the bed toward the door, grabbed his arm and tugged him close so they were face to face. “That ain’t the only reason.”

Chapter Text

Kraglin had somehow been expecting Ego to send coordinates immediately. But a day passed, then two, then three, then a week, and after another week Kraglin was starting to wonder if he had imagined the whole thing. But then one evening, when he was sitting in the pilot’s seat on the bridge, Yondu in the chair beside him, their comms simultaneously buzzed. Kraglin looked down at his screen. Ego . He looked at Yondu, watching the Captain as he opened the message, and sent it to the viewscreen. Coordinates. They exchanged a look.

“Ya ready fer this, darlin’?” Yondu asked, sending the coordinates to the nav.

“As ever, love,” Kraglin replied. As soon as the words left his lips he knew he’d made a mistake. His eyes widened and he looked at Yondu in fear. Yondu stared back at him entirely unamused. “...Too much?” he asked, rhetorical but necessary.

“Yeah, too much,” Yondu agreed drly.

“Right.”

“Okay.”

There was a long awkward minute of silence between them as Kraglin shifted the ship into gear to head toward the destination they’d been provided. Then Kraglin started snickering, quietly, to himself. He clapped a hand over his mouth, but Yondu was laughing as well. “That was so stupid,” Kraglin mumbled around his fist. “Sorry Yondu.”

The Captain’s smirk softened into an easy smile, something rarely seen by anyone who wasn’t the first mate. “S’alright, Krags.”

The lack of conversation that followed was much more comfortable after that.

The planet they were heading to was called Easik. Kraglin had never been, but one of their crewmates, Vineik was from there. That’s all he knew about it. And he figured, if they were gonna be going to someone’s home planet, they’d probably have to tell him why.

Which brought up another question, one Kraglin knew Yondu was avoiding.

What were they supposed to tell the rest of their crew?

This was a pretty big job. And the fact they they were breaking the code, well… it didn’t matter so much, with the money they were making. But the others might not see it that way.

Still…

“Yondu, I think they gotta know what we’s doing. Don’tcha think?” Kraglin broke the quiet, and the Captain looked over at him with a slight frown as if he’d been awoken out of some trance.

“Yeah,” Yondu murmured. “If they ask. We’ll tell ‘em.”

Kraglin knit his eyebrows together. “Uh, ya don’t think we should just be upfront about it?”

Yondu shook his head. “Nah. I ain’t gotta tell them everything about what I do. If it makes ya feel better though, ya can tell Vineik.”

Ah, so at least he had the same thing in mind as Kraglin did.

“Yeah, uh, I’ll do that.” He paused. “Do ya want me to come down and get the kid with ya, or…?”

Yondu nodded almost instantly. “O’ course I do. I need ya with me, Kraglin.”

Okay, there was definitely something weird going on here. Kraglin just had to figure out what it was. He stood, and as he made his way to the door, Yondu caught his arm and pulled him back. Kraglin smiled, pushing away his misgivings for a moment, and kissed his Captain. Yondu’s hand gripped the back of his neck and held him in place before releasing him. Kraglin left the bridge, and he could feel Yondu’s eyes on him the whole way out.

Kraglin didn’t look for Vineik immediately. He slipped into a small storage room and sat down on a crate, just to think for a few minutes. He was still reeling from everything that had happened over the last month or so. Realizing his feelings for Yondu, the trip to Sakaar, his and Yondu’s fight, going back to Xandar, Yondu finally saying he loved him… and now Ego. Kraglin had felt uneasy about the whole thing from the minute he’d contacted them, but his misgivings had been buried under everything else he’d felt during the last few weeks. He hadn’t felt this happy since… well, maybe when he’d first joined the Ravagers, but this… this was a whole other level.

If he actually mentioned something about it to Yondu, the Captain would scoff at him and call him soft. So he didn’t. But Kraglin knew Yondu felt the same way, it was clear every time they settled down to sleep at night. So what if they couldn’t talk about how happy they were? So what if they had some issues? It worked. And really, Yondu’s walls were part of what Kraglin loved about him.

Still, despite all that, he was beginning to question if Yondu was making the right decision here. If Kraglin was the one making the decisions, he might’ve turned down the job altogether. Too risky. But he could understand why the Captain might have a bias towards that. Someone who grew up with no parents, unloved, would want to help reunite abandoned children with their father. It made sense, he figured.

Of course, it could also be solely for the money, and Kraglin couldn’t really blame him for that either. It was a lot.

Ugh.

It was times like these Kraglin wondered if even nearly a year and a half later there was something about Ravager life he still just didn’t get.  

As it turned out, he never got a chance to tell Vineik beforehand. As they neared the planet, a message appeared on his comm. There a reason we’s approaching Easik? Y’all planning to get rid of me or something?

Kraglin shook his head, laughing to himself somewhat bitterly. Nah Cap’n’s got some business down there, won’t take more than an hour or so.

The reply came almost instantly. Business? Anything I can help with?

Kraglin hissed out a breath, not sure how to respond. Will let ya know, he typed back finally. Then he got up and and made his way to the hangar to get his M-ship ready. Once the Eclector was orbiting the planet, Yondu joined his first mate, and they slipped into their seats silently. They didn’t speak at all until they’d burst through the jump point, the atmosphere splintering around them, and they’d reached the coordinates Ego provided them.

“Ya have the DNA tracker?” Kraglin asked Yondu, referring to the device they’d gotten from Zurnik. Ego had given them a DNA pattern that he claimed would be present in any of his offspring. If it was true, the tracker would locate a living being on the planet who possessed that pattern. Or something. Kraglin hadn’t been paying that much attention; medical lingo mostly went right over his head. They descended toward the surface, and Yondu pulled out the machine, plugging in the information. It beeped a little, and then produced a little dot on a grid with more coordinates.

“Here,” the Captain said, and expanded the device’s grid onto Kraglin’s nav. He nodded and changed course slightly, moving toward the location displayed on his screen. They landed, touching down onto the ground just outside a village. “Put this on,” Yondu said, throwing a plain brown cloak at Kraglin. “We can’t be identified here as Ravagers.” Kraglin nodded and pulled the loose fabric over his leathers, watching Yondu do the same. As he went to pop open the hatch, Yondu caught his arm and turned him around. Kraglin, startled at first, relaxed and grinned down at his Captain. Yondu met his gaze with a spark of humor in his eyes and pulled him down into a short kiss. But just as quickly as it happened, it was over, and Kraglin was left shaking his head to clear it. Yondu had already hopped down to the ground, and was looking up at Kraglin in amusement, his hand shielding his eyes from the sun. “Coming?” he laughed, calling up to him. Kraglin rolled his eyes and dropped down, landing next to Yondu with a soft thud.

Kraglin recognized the child when he saw her, though he wasn’t sure entirely how. He just knew. She was young, couldn’t have been more than five for six. She sat in the dirt alone, playing with a pile of twigs. Though there were a number of Easiks milling about the village, none of them seemed to be paying much attention to the little girl. Kraglin exchanged a look with Yondu, and the Captain held up a hand to him, moving forward slowly. Let me handle this , the glance said. Kraglin hung back and watched.

Yondu crouched down in the dirt in front of the girl, and Kraglin watched her big brown eyes look at the blue face in wonder. “Where’s yer mama?” Kraglin heard him ask, and he couldn’t help but stifle a laugh at the absurdity of him saying that word. The girl shook her head, and squeaked out a reply Kraglin didn’t catch. Yondu nodded and stood up, offering his hand. “We’s gonna go see yer daddy now. Let’s go.” The girl grasped onto a blue finger tightly and followed the Centaurian.

Kraglin furrowed his eyebrows. “Shit, Cap’n, I ne’er expected ya to be good with children.”

“I ain’t,” Yondu grunted. “I just know what they like.” He uncurled his other hand to show Kraglin a small shiny trinket.

“Uh-huh,” he grunted, unconvinced. Yondu shrugged, walking a little faster now, tugging the girl along behind him.

“We gotta get going now,” he said. “Before they notice she’s gone, or that we’s here.” The pair boarded the ship, the Easik child in tow.  “What we ain’t gonna do is let the rest of the crew see this child. In fact, we ain’t even gonna go back to the Eclector with her. We’ll take her straight to Ego.”

Kraglin wasn’t sure leaving the crew alone for that long was a good idea, but Yondu was right. They couldn’t let the others see what they were up to, and it would be impossible to hide a child. The plan was simple enough, then. Yondu called Tullk and told him to make sure the crew didn’t burn the ship down in their absence. Then Kraglin put Ego’s own coordinates into the nav, and off they went. It was a day’s travel, more or less, and Kraglin spent most of that time flying alone. He didn’t know where Yondu was, but he had his suspicions. He’d put the girl on the cot in the belly of the ship, and Kraglin was fairly sure he was down there keeping her company.

Not good with children my ass , he thought. He knows what it’s like to be taken away from home. She must be terrified now, he’s trying to help .

Didn’t matter that when Yondu finally did resurface, and Kraglin questioned him about it, Yondu brushed off the theory with a scoff. “No, I was just taking a nap,” he grumbled. “Quit accusing me of being soft.”

“Ain’t accusing ya of nothing...” Kraglin rolled his eyes. “I never even said that!” He knew a Yondu Lie when he heard one. But he let it drop, and neither mentioned the girl until they’d reached the planet.

Ego was there to greet them when they touched down. He was shorter than Kraglin had been expecting for some reason (still taller than Yondu, though), but what he lacked in height he made up for in composure. Confident and charismatic, he walked toward the two Ravagers and their Easik companion with a wide smile.

“Welcome, my friends.” Kraglin glanced at Yondu, and the pair nodded silently in response. “Ah, here she is.” Ego knelt down and reached out to the girl. She clung tightly to the hem of Yondu’s jacket, but the Captain dislodged her quickly and nudged her toward her father. “What’s your name, sweetie?”

“Roseik,” she whispered, almost too quietly for either Ravager to hear.

“Hi Roseik,” he said. “My name is Ego, and I’m your father. Now tell me, what happened to your mother?”

The little girl’s lip trembled. “G-got sick…”

Ego nodded gravely, though there was a hint of something in his eye, that if Kraglin didn’t know better he might’ve called satisfaction. “I’m going to take care of you now. You never have to worry again.” Then, he glanced up at Yondu. “You will find the units due transferred into your account.” He stood, taking Roseik’s hand. “Come now, let’s go.”

Yondu stepped forward suddenly, startling both Ego and Kraglin. “Wait,” he said. “Ya ain’t got other children here, right? Ya know how to take care of her right? Children are fragile an’ shit.”

Ego laughed jovially, and Kraglin got a chill up his spine. “We’ll be fine, Yondu, but thank you for your concern. I would never hurt her. I’d never hurt any of them. Now say goodbye, sweetie.” Roseik waved slightly at Yondu, then ran off with Ego happily. Neither of them looked back.

Yondu looked like he wanted to say something else, but thought better of it. He shrugged and turned away, starting to walk back to the ship. Kraglin followed.

“I know yer worried…” he murmured to Yondu once they were back in the air. “But Ego seemed more than capable.”

“I ain’t worried!” the Captain snapped. “They’ll both be fine. I don’t care anyway. We got the money, right? That’s all that matters.”

Well, if Yondu said so, who was Kraglin to argue?

Chapter Text

Months passed, and Yondu and Kraglin continued to take jobs from Ego. He would call them every week or so— sometimes more often, sometimes less. They would get a new set of coordinates and off they would go. The crew new by now, of course. It was impossible to hide the fact that they were travelling across the galaxy back and forth from the celestial planet. And each time, they would drop the child off and be on their way. Once they were gone, the units would appear in Yondu’s account. And if anyone from the crew complained, it would only take a small fraction of that to shut them up.

Kraglin actually felt like his nerves were starting to dissipate. It seemed like Yondu had been right, it was a pretty bombproof plan. The money was rolling in, and their clan was on top of the world. With their newfound riches, they were able to repair the Eclector , have a whole new fleet of M-ships built, and vacation and party whenever and wherever they wanted to. Kraglin couldn’t complain, not when he and Yondu took off for a week to go bar-hopping across the sector. They stayed at all the nicest hotels in the sleaziest tourist districts in the most expensive cities and had the time of their lives. And all they had to do was deliver a child from one planet to another every once and awhile.

In short, life was good.

They were lounging on the bridge, coming off of the late-night shift they liked to take together once a month or so. Those were some of Kraglin’s favorite times; keeping each other awake with booze and stories, and watching the glow from passing suns as morning came. They reminded him of his early days on the ship.

This morning started out no different. The early shift hadn’t arrived yet, so Kraglin was taking the time to draw up the roster for the day’s rotation. Yondu was napping next to him, or just resting with his eyes closed— not quite peaceful, but more at ease than he ever looked awake. That is, until his comm chirped loudly, jolting him awake.

“Is it Ego?” Kraglin asked, leaning over to see if he could catch a glimpse of the other’s datapad. “Cap’n…?”

“I gotta take this,” Yondu muttered, standing. “I’ll be right back.” Before Kraglin could protest, Yondu stood and hurried out into the hallway. Kraglin just sighed and leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes. Whatever was going on, it wasn’t his problem.

But a few minutes passed, and Yondu was still gone. When he finally returned, Kraglin could tell something was wrong. “Yondu, who was that?” He stood as the Captain walked back onto the bridge. He looked uneasy, put off, and Kraglin didn’t like it one bit. He reached out to Yondu, resting a hand on his arm, but Yondu shrugged it off and sank down heavily in his chair.

“Stakar,” was his only response. Kraglin’s brow furrowed.

“The Admiral?” Yondu nodded. “Why?” Even as he asked, Kraglin had a feeling he knew the answer already.

“Seems someone tipped him off about our little gig here.” Yondu put his head in his hands, and Kraglin stiffened, suddenly not knowing what to do. He looked so defeated, and Kraglin didn’t understand.

“Someone— from our crew?” That was it, schmoozing time was definitely over. “Sir, I’m sorry but I can’t think o’ anyone who would tell him. Everyone’s benefitting from the money, ain’t no one that’s complained in over a month.”

Yondu shook his head slightly. “Nah. None o’ ours, I’d know. Stakar has eyes and ears all over. All his own men, the other factions’ Captains, all sortsa informants and shit. Coulda been anyone.”

A shiver went up Kraglin’s spine. “So we’s in trouble? Cuz we broke the code, bringing the kids…”

“He wants to meet with me. To… talk .” Yondu’s voice was scornful. “I already know what he’s gonna say. Don’t wanna hear it in front of his whole crew, but better them than my own.” Kraglin sighed and walked behind Yondu’s chair, letting his fingers curl into his Captain’s shoulders. Yondu stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, letting Kraglin massage his tight muscles.

“I’m comin’ with ya.” It wasn’t a question. Yondu looked like he wanted to argue, but thought better of it. He just leaned back into his first mate’s hands more. “I get that ya don’t wanna get chewed out in front o’ the crew, but I’m different.”

“I ain’t arguing with ya, Kraglin.” Yondu just shook his head and closed his eyes.

Finally, Kraglin crossed back over to his own seat and flopped down into it. “When do we leave?”

Yondu stood abruptly, grimacing. “Right now.”

Kraglin blinked, and stood up as well. “Oh. Well.” He moved in front of Yondu and straightened the lapels of his jacket. The Captain looked at him with a bemused expression, and Kraglin leaned down to kiss him. Yondu made a surprised noise but kissed him back, for just a moment.

Then they pulled apart and Yondu marched off the bridge without a word. Back to business. Kraglin shook his head fondly and followed him to the hangar.

The flight itself was uneventful, but Kraglin could tell Yondu was anxious. He kept adjusting his flame patch, and he would only stay seated for a minute or two at a time before he would get up and do a lap of the small M-ship.

“So we’s really just going to his ship? No rendezvous or anything?” Kraglin glanced back at Yondu as he entered the cockpit again.

“Nope. Stakar likes to do things on his own turf.” Yondu gestured to the large ship as it loomed into view. “There’s your entrance point.”

As if on cue, the door to the Admiral’s ship slid open and Kraglin steered into the hangar. Once they were docked, Kraglin and Yondu stepped out and were greeted by a pair of Ravagers dressed in all blue. They were… well, more put-together than most of Yondu’s crew, but he figured that was to be expected of the flagship crew of the Ravager fleet.

Yondu stared at the taller of the two, a man whose skin seemed to be made of crystals. But if the other noticed, he didn’t acknowledge it. The pair simply led Yondu and Kraglin down a hallway to a large room. Seated at the desk (this was a real office!) was an older man dressed in the same color leathers as the two other Ravagers, except his uniform was adorned with gold arches on the shoulders.

This, evidently, was Stakar.

“Martinex, stay.” The Admiral spoke in a gravelly voice. Yondu’s head snapped around and stared at the crystal Ravager again. Kraglin’s eyes darted back and forth between the two. And then to the other, “Leave us.” And just like that, it was just the four of them: Kraglin, Yondu, Starkar, and Martinex.

“Stakar.” Yondu was the first to break the silence, and he saluted respectfully. Kraglin hurried to follow.

“Admiral,” he murmured awkwardly.

Stakar stood, and for some reason Kraglin was relieved to find that he wasn’t the tallest one in the room. It made him feel at least a little more secure.

“Yondu, it is good to see you.” Stakar saluted back, then stood and walked over to them. The two stared at each other for a moment, then Stakar pulled Yondu into a tight hug.

Kraglin didn’t understand what was going on.

Yondu had made it seem like they were in trouble, but Stakar was greeting Yondu warmly. Maybe he had been wrong? After a minute, though, the two pulled away, and Kraglin could see the frown settling on his Captain’s face. This was a formality.

“You must be Yondu’s new first mate.” It took Kraglin a moment to realize Stakar was speaking to him now.

“Oh, uh, yeah. I’m Kraglin. Obfonteri. Nice, uh, nice to meet ya, sir.” He swallowed nervously.

Stakar seemed to give him a once-over. “I was curious to see who Yondu would pick after Natzan’s death.”

Kraglin didn’t know what to say to that. Behind Stakar, he met Yondu’s eyes. The Captain was watching him carefully to see what he would do. “It was a tragedy, sir,” he said carefully. “But I’m honored to serve.” Yondu’s lips turned up into the slightest smile, and Kraglin felt a little more at ease.

Stakar just nodded. “This is my first mate, Martinex.” He gestured to the crystal-faced man standing by the door.

“...Hey,” Kraglin mumbled awkwardly.

“Hello, Obfonteri,” came the reply.

“ Well , if we’s all done with the formalities, can we get down to business?” Yondu’s voice broke through the silence like a blunt knife. “I know ya didn’t call me just to introduce my first mate to yer crew, so why don’t ya tell us the real reason we’s here on the Starhawk , hm?”

Kraglin winced at the cold tension that seemed to fill the room. After what seemed like an impossibly long time, Stakar returned to his desk, and gestured for Yondu and Kraglin to sit on the other side. They sank uncomfortably into two chairs, and Kraglin watched as Martinex moved to hover behind Stakar like a bodyguard.

“So.” Stakar said, crossing his arms. “I heard you and your crew found yourselves pretty good little job.”

Kraglin’s breath hitched. This was it.

“What me and my crew do under my roof ain’t none of yer concern,” Yondu growled.

“And who was it that put that roof over your head, boy?” Stakar’s gaze darkened. But Yondu wasn’t backing down so easily.

“Me! I worked my fucking ass off for my position, my ship, my crew. I earned it! Ya oughtta know that.”

“Yeah, and for what? Just so you could turn around and spit it back in my face? All our faces? We believed in you, Yondu. I can’t believe you would let us down like that.” Kraglin couldn’t help but wince at the harshness of Stakar’s words.

“Ya wanna tell me exactly what the fuck ya think it is I did?” Yondu slammed his hands on the table. “Because I think yer full o’ crap.”

Starkar’s face contorted in rage, and he spoke in a barely-controlled tone. “I would think that trafficking children would be a very obvious violation of the code, especially to you, Yondu.”

“How dare you accuse me of— of—” Yondu jumped up, shouting furiously now. “Do you really think I would ever put kids at risk? Who the fuck do ya think I am?”

“I don’t know, you tell me that!” Stakar was standing now too, and Kraglin felt much smaller as he sunk lower into his seat. “Or are you saying you don’t consider what you and your men are doing to be a crime? You’re stealing children from their planets and selling them for money! Ain’t that exactly what—”

“ Shut up! ” Yondu gnashed his teeth together. “We’s criminals, what do we do that isn’t a crime?”

“That is beside the point.”

“No! I don’t fucking think it is!” Yondu paced the room now. “If ya actually had a damn clue what we’s doing, ya’d know that these kids ain’t got mothers! We’s taking them to their father! It ain’t even stealing, and all we do is steal!”

Stakar heaved a sigh, and shook his head, sinking back into his chair. “If you’re doing such an altruistic deed, then why’d you accept money?” His voice was misleadingly patient, and Kraglin wasn’t fooled. Neither, it seemed, was Yondu.

“We gotta make a living somehow.” The Captain sat back down too, but he was literally on the edge of his seat, ready to spring back up at any second. And if he did, Kraglin had a feeling he was likely to strangle the Admiral. Unseen by the others, he placed a hand lightly on Yondu’s leg to steady him.

“You were making a living just fine without this job. No, you’d do anything to get rich, and this was it. You don’t give a damn who you gotta go through.” Stakar sounded disgusted.

“Stakar—”

“I don’t want to hear any excuses, Yondu. I expected better from you. You of all people, I thought, would hate to see children put in danger.”

Yondu faltered. “But they ain’t in danger.”

“Are you so sure about that?” Stakar asked.

Yondu drew in a breath, and Kraglin’s grip on his leg tightened. “So now what? Ya happy now that ya yelled at me? Can’t send me to my room with a slap on my wrist like a child anymore. I’m a goddamn Ravager Captain.”

Stakar stood, looking down at Yondu in disdain. “You may be a Captain, but you ain’t no Ravager. You gave up the right to that name when you broke the code.”

And for a minute, everything was silent.

And then.

“What’re ya saying, sir?”

Kraglin didn’t even realize he was the one who had spoken until he felt three pairs of eyes on him. He met Stakar’s with an apologetic look. Then, Yondu cleared his throat. “What he asked.”

Stakar didn’t reply right away. Kraglin shifted uncomfortably, and shifted his hand to Yondu’s. He laced their fingers together, but Yondu didn’t seem to notice.

“The Ravager fleet no longer recognizes your clan’s membership,” Stakar said coolly. “That is all.”

“Stakar…” Yondu’s voice seemed to catch in his throat. “No. No, you can’t.”

“I can,” the Admiral said. “And I did.”

Yondu stood quickly, and Kraglin followed. “Then… we’s leaving.”

“That would be best, yes.” The cold look softened, just a bit. “Safe travels, Yondu.”

Yondu did not respond. He just turned and stormed out of the room. Kraglin froze, looking between the other two with wide eyes. “Yeah, uh… I’m gonna just… go.” He backed toward the door. Martinex followed.

In the doorway, the other Ravager caught Kraglin’s arm. “Obfonteri,” he said in a low voice. “Keep an eye on him.”

Kraglin frowned. “Why does the Admiral think them kids are in danger?”

Martinex shook his head. “Pay attention to your surroundings, kid.” He stepped back inside, shutting Kraglin out in the hallway.

“That ain’t an answer!” he yelled at the steel door. “Hey!”

A hand on his arm made Kraglin jump. “What’d he say to ya just then?” Yondu asked in a low voice.

“Nothin’ useful,” Kraglin muttered. He snuck a glance at the other’s face, but it betrayed nothing. “Cap’n... ya alright?”

Yondu refused look at him. “Let’s just get back home.”

Chapter Text

Back on the ship, Yondu decided it was best to tell the crew about the exile sooner rather than later. Kraglin was starting to wonder if the hardest part was still to come.

“I, uh… I know I don’t make big announcements like this that often. But I feel… I feel like y’all deserve to hear this formally.”

Kraglin looked over at Yondu, who was gripping his comm tightly in shaking hands.

“Stakar found out about the jobs we’s been taking, and the money. We’s been exiled from the fleet.” Kraglin frowned. Yondu wasn’t exactly going about this in the best way. But, he figured, this was the Captain’s style. He was never one for speeches. Say what you need to say, and move on.

“But we don’t need them,” Yondu continued. “We have money, we have power, we’s got everything we need right here. And fuck anyone who gets in our way. If y’all have grievances, bring ‘em to Kraglin.”

Kraglin made a face and shoved into Yondu’s shoulder. “Hey,” he protested, loud enough it could probably be heard over the PA.

“Can it,” Yondu growled back, but his words were playful, and Kraglin flopped over onto his back, staring up at the ceiling. “Yondu out.” The comm clicked and he set it down, leaning over Kraglin with a smirk. “If any o’ them actually give ya shit, ya have permission to kick ‘em out the airlock.”

Kraglin grinned. “Honestly, I woulda done it without yer permission, sir.”

“Attaboy.” Yondu leaned down and kissed him, and Kraglin made a muffled sound of surprise as he wound his arms around his Captain’s neck and kissed him back.

“Hey… Yondu… I gotta ask… are ya actually, ya know, doin’ okay? I know this was, uh, a lot to process.” As Kraglin searched Yondu’s face, he wondered if he shouldn’t have asked. But whatever he was expecting— anger, anxiety, flippancy— wasn’t there. Yondu just shrugged.

“I’m fine.”

But Kraglin was prepared for that answer. “...Are ya, really?” There was a time when he never would’ve considered questioning his Captain. The scathing look Yondu gave in return was a reminder of that. But he held his ground, staring Yondu down, and eventually he relented.

“I will be,” he mumbled. “Issa shock, is all.”

Kraglin’s expression softened, and he squeezed Yondu’s shoulder. “O’ course. But I got yer back.”

Yondu looked at him seriously. “I know. Thanks.” Kraglin smiled.

“Let’s go make some money, yeah?” Yondu forced a grin in return, even if it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Hell yeah.”

While Yondu worked on obtaining their new coordinates, Kraglin decided it was best to make the rounds of the ship and see how the crew was feeling. Better to keep them off the Captain’s back for as long as possible.

What he wasn’t expecting was the utter nonchalance— it seemed like no one cared . And well, he figured, that was probably a good thing. He had been expecting outrage, anger at Yondu for breaking the code, fear and frustration at the exile. But most people he passed said nothing. And that’s when he started to get suspicious. He poked his head into the mess hall, and found a group of young crewmen laughing and drinking. Kraglin didn’t know them; they were young, probably no older than he was. New recruits. He walked over in their direction, and as one of them saw him, they raised their hand in greeting.

“What’s goin’ on here?” Kraglin asked, stopping next to their table.

“Celebration!” one of the recruits said cheerily.

Kraglin raised his eyebrows. “And what’re we celebratin’?”

Another one raised their bottle in the air. “Freedom!”

They all cheered, but Kraglin didn’t like where this was going. “Yer talkin’ about the exile?”

“Well yeah.” The one who had waved at Kraglin spoke now. “Now that we ain’t gotta answer to the whole fleet, things are gonna get a lot more loose around here.” He looked up at Kraglin, and the first mate could see how earnest the kid was. But his excitement was misplaced. Kraglin felt strange having to be an authority figure to folks his own age— it was somehow easier to when he was significantly younger, but now… Well, he had to do something .

“That… ain’t quite how it works.” Kraglin crossed his arms and took a seat. “The exile ain’t a good thing. Yer right, we ain’t answerin’ to Stakar anymore, but the Cap’n ain’t gonna be any easier on y’all because of it. There’s…” Well, how was he really supposed to explain it? “There’a a certain pride we take in bein’ Ravagers. If we’s lucky, we’ll be taken back into the fleet, but that means no funny business. If ya ain’t happy bein’ here, followin’ the rules an’ obeyin’ the Cap’n, then ya ain’t got any business bein’ on this ship. Got it?”

The group fell quiet. “Got it,” the taller one muttered. “Sorry, sir.”

Kraglin smiled grimly. “S’okay. Just keep yer heads on straight. We got our work cut out fer us, but we’s gonna be okay.” He stood up, patting the kid on the shoulder, and then saluting to the group. They returned the gesture, and Kraglin waved and walked off.

As he was getting lunch from the autoserve, his comm chirped. “Kraglin,” came Yondu’s voice, gravelly and set as ever. “We got it.”

“Yeah?” he asked, his voice low as others moved past him. “Where we going next?”

There was a low chuckle on the other end of the line. “Terra.”

“Terra?” Kraglin couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice as he hissed the reply.

“Uh-huh. ‘Bout didn’t believe it myself, but that’s where these coordinates put us. Get yerself to the hangar, we got a delivery to make.” The call disconnected and Kraglin slapped a lid over his tray as he ran out of the mess hall. Yondu was already waiting inside the M-ship when he arrived, and he strapped himself in and jetted out of the hangar bay. Terra was pretty far away, so he set them on course at a quick pace, then settled back to eat.

“Weird that Ego knocked up some Terran chick, dontcha think?” Kraglin asked. “I mean, I don’t know that much about them, but they ain’t even got space travel, right? Think she even knew he weren’t a Terran too?”

Yondu shrugged. “Ya know more than I do. Strange fuckin’ planet as far as I’m concerned. Gotta just get in and get out. Probably can’t even leave the fuckin’ ship, and gonna have to cloak it too.”

Kraglin groaned. “Cloaking drains a fuckton o’ power though.”

“Yeah well.” Yondu rolled his eyes. “I ain’t interested in setting off the locals that something’s wrong.” He frowned, looking at Kraglin with scrutiny. “How come ya know so much about Terrans anyway?”

Kraglin made a face. “Don’t know that much. Just that they ain’t involved in general market trade, don’t use units for currency, and are generally unaware of live outside their own planet. It’s just, in the Corps we would keep tabs on the other worlds that could pose a threat to us in the future.”

“And Terra was one of them?” Yondu sounded skeptical, and Kraglin laughed.

“No,” he said. “They’s about the least threatening planet in any system I’ve ever heard of.” The pair laughed, and Kraglin was glad to see that Yondu was feeling better, even if just a little. The conversation stayed light and irrelevant— something they both usually hated. But given everything, it was just mundane enough to calm their nerves. And it was nice, really. Nice that they could just talk comfortably about anything and everything. Whatever the rest of the crew thought— what the rest of the fleet thought— when it was just the two of them, Kraglin knew they would be happy.

Eventually, they entered orbit around the planet below. It was big and blue mostly. “Lotta water down there,” Yondu noted. “Ya sure these people don’t live underwater?”

“Far as I know, sir, they walk on the land same as us.” Kraglin sat up and activated the ship’s cloaking. “Probably best to do this now,” he thought out loud. “Don’t know when they might be able to sense us.”

Yondu nodded. “Do it.” He leaned over the console and input the DNA tracker, zooming in on the map. “There’s our Terran.” He prodded the screen with a finger. “Let’s go.” Kraglin set the controls and the brust out of orbit, hurtling through the atmosphere. With the ship successfully cloaked, they remained unseen by any Terrans below them on the surface, in their buildings or streets. Kraglin watched as they passed by cities and entered a much more barren area.

“Ya sure we’s in the right area?” he asked as the nav beeped, alerting them that they were near their target. “There ain’t nothing here.”

“Yeah,” Yondu said. “And there is. Look.” He pointed, and Kraglin could see faint lights clustered below, isolated in the otherwise empty terrain. They dipped lower, and Kraglin magnified their sweep of the area on the screen. Their little dot was moving across the ground rapidly.

“Down there,” Kraglin pointed. “It’s a field. Look, we can go down there.” He steered downward, and as the ground rushed towards them, he could see the small figure from the map running toward them.

“Get him in.” Yondu was looking nervous, and Kraglin couldn’t blame him. “Activate the tractor beam, pull him in, and get us outta here.”

The console’s warning light flashed and Kraglin sucked in a breath. “Can’t use the tractor beam while we’s cloaked,” he said. “Gonna have to do this quickly.”

“Do it!” Yondu stood, moving to the glass and watching. Kraglin slammed the decloaking button and the ship materialized over the field.

“Locking on,” he muttered, gritting his teeth and turning on the tractor beam. The yellow light swirled around the body standing below them— looking up in wonder at the spaceship that appeared out of nowhere in the sky— and pulled him up.

Target Acquired. The words flashed across the screen and Kraglin and Yondu exchanged a look.

“Punch it.” Kraglin nodded and they took off, recloaking as they disappeared into the sky once again.

Chapter Text

Terra was far from most places Ravager crews frequented, but its proximity to Ego’s planet was particularly vast. Kraglin might not have realized, had he not been in the pilot’s seat for the majority of the flight. Because of the distance, they decided to return to the Eclector rather than just taking the M-ship straight there. It was at least two days travel at a reasonable pace. And there was no rush. But ever since they’d gotten back, Kraglin hadn’t seen Yondu at all. It wasn’t really a big deal. His job was just to fly the ship and keep the rest of the crew off their backs. Especially now that they were carting around a small Terran. And that’s where Kraglin assumed Yondu was: still in the hangar bay, babysitting. He hadn’t wanted to leave the kid alone, which was probably a good idea. And taking him out into the rest of the ship would mean a whole host of other issues. So they kept him on the M-ship, as per Kraglin’s suggestion. He only got a peek of the kid when they pulled him aboard— short, kinda ugly, with a shock of light colored hair. Terran skin was weird too, Kraglin decided. It was pink, but not bright like a Krylorian’s. And he didn’t have a translator it seemed like, which was fucking stupid, in Kraglin’s opinion. So in all the kid’s loud whining, he couldn’t understand a damn word of it. All in all, Kraglin wanted nothing to do with him.

It was only once they about an hour away that Yondu reappeared. Kraglin had been catching some sleep in the cabin, and was awoken by the Captain’s less than quiet entrance. The door swung open with a crash against the wall, and heavy bootfalls echoed off the floor. Kraglin sat up groggily as Yondu sat down with a huff.

“Kid is exhausting,” he grumbled. “Won’t stop fuckin’ crying, and yelling. Can’t be bothered to reprogram my damn translator, thank flark we’s gettin’ rid of him soon.”

Kraglin couldn’t agree more. But there was something in Yondu’s eyes, a little glint of— humor? Whatever it was, Kraglin could tell Yondu wasn’t as annoyed as he was letting on.

“Well, it’s about time to go down to the surface.” Kraglin swung his legs off the side of the bed, pulling his boots on. “Ain’t got long to wait now.”

Walking onto the M-ship, Kraglin cringed at the sound of the Terran banging on the side of the ship and wailing at the top of his lungs. “Has this been happening the whole fuckin’ time?” he growled at Yondu. “Ya’d think he woulda lost his damn voice by now.”

Yondu shrugged, moving to where the kid was sitting, and Kraglin watched him with a slight frown. “He wasn’t screaming when I was back there with him,” Yondu said. “Kept tryin’ to punch me, but didn’t do shit. He ain’t as strong as he thinks he is. I’ll try to make him shut up again.”

Kraglin laughed and slid into the pilot’s seat. “Ya threaten him with the arrow?”

Yondu’s reply was curt as he disappeared into the back. “No.”

The rest of the flight was quiet. It was only once they were ready to breach the atmosphere that Kraglin called Yondu’s name loudly, summoning him to the front. “Did ya tell Ego we’s on our way?”

Yondu swore. “I forgot. It’s fine, I’m sure it ain’t a problem.”

Shrugging, Kraglin steered toward the jump. “Hope he’s home.”

They cruised over the surface, and Kraglin looked down at the sandy stretch of land and the large palace in the distance. The M-ship touched down on a landing dock, and Yondu went back to get the kid. Kraglin hopped out and looked around. It was quiet, and still. And it sent a shiver down his spine.

Pay attention to your surroundings, kid.

Martinex, that stupid asshole. What did that even mean, anyway?

There was nothing to pay attention to. Nothing was happening. “Hey, uh, Mister… um, Ego? You around?” Kraglin raised his voice, but there was no response. “Yondu? I’ll be right back.” Without waiting for an answer, Kraglin walked up the steps and pulled open the heavy door. The hall seemed to be empty. “Hello?” His voice echoed off the walls of the chamber. “Anyone here?”

It’s deserted.

“Yondu!” Kraglin ran outside, back toward the ship. “Cap’n, ya gotta see this. There’s no one here. At all.”

Yondu poked his head out from around a corner. “What?”

“Ain’t no one here! No Ego, and no kids.” Kraglin’s voice was rising with growing worry.

“Whaddya mean ain’t no kids?” Yondu stepped into full view. His hand was on the Terran’s shoulder, gripping it tightly. The kid looked terrified and confused, peering at Kraglin with wide eyes. Yondu seemed equally confused, and Kraglin shifted uncomfortably.

“I mean.” He cleared his throat. “I don’t think there’s anyone else on this planet right now.”

Yondu took a moment to process that. “So what, ya think Ego took all them kids somewhere?”

Shaking his head, Kraglin lowered his voice, though he wasn’t quite sure why if there was no one around to hear him. “No. I don’t— I ain’t got a reason, I just. Something don’t feel right, Cap’n. I can’t explain it.”

Yondu gave him a long hard stare, and Kraglin felt like he was going to burst into flames under the gaze of his burning red eyes. But then finally, he gave the kid a shove backward, causing him to fall on his behind. “Stay there,” he grunted, even though the kid wouldn’t be able to understand him. Then he sighed and turned back to Kraglin. “Let’s take a look.”

They walked back outside, and Kraglin showed him the empty hall. Yondu was looking more and more agitated by the minute. “Kids don’t just disappear. They’ve gotta be here. Pull up the DNA tracker.”

Right. Of course. Wherever these kids were, the tracker would reveal it. Kraglin tapped at his datapad, pulling up the patterning for the little Easik girl, from their first assignment. “She’s on the planet.” He zeroed in on the location on the map. “Let’s go.”

The walk was eerily silent until the pad started beeping. They stopped, looking at each other and then at their surroundings: a looming cave, dark and ominous.  

It felt… well, it felt like if they were to tell anyone about this, they’d be accused of making it up. It was almost too perfectly creepy.

But what he couldn’t make up was the sight inside that nearly made him throw up. A pile of bodies in the cavern, skin greyed and bruised, hollow eyes staring at nothing. Some of them faces Kraglin recognized. He felt sick, and a quick glance at Yondu told him the Captain felt the same way.  

“...Why?” Yondu’s voice was quiet and hoarse, his expression a mix of horror and distress. Kraglin had never seen him like this before. “Why would… how...”

Kraglin backed up, gripping Yondu’s arm tightly. “Come on. Let’s go.” Yondu nodded slowly and turned quickly, striding out of the cave quickly. Kraglin hurried along beside him.

“Did Ego kill them?” Kraglin asked out loud. Yondu just shook his head. He didn’t know. He wouldn’t know. He didn’t understand, Kraglin didn’t either. It didn’t make sense, any of it. Kraglin’s head was spinning, he was still having time processing what they’d found, and he couldn’t get the sight of the children’s bodies out of his mind. The whole time they walked, Kraglin kept looking at Yondu for some sort of direction, some indication of what they were going to do. But the Captain offered none. He still looked spooked.

“We can’t— we can’t leave the kid here, can we?” Kraglin bit his lip. “I mean. That’s a little far, ain’t it? He’ll end up dead too.”

Yondu stopped, turning on Kraglin with something feral in his eyes. “No. We ain’t leaving him. We’s taking him back with us.”

Kraglin visibly exhaled. “Good. Then let’s get off this fucking planet and head back to Terra.” He was already reaching for the hatch on the ship, relieved that Ego still hadn’t returned. But Yondu didn’t move. He looked contemplative, like he was about to say something Kraglin wasn’t going to like.

“Ohhhhh no.” Kraglin shook his head rapidly. “No, Cap’n, we have to take him back, now. Right now , Yondu.”

But it was clear the Captain had already made up his mind.

“No!” Kraglin repeated, following Yondu inside as he pushed ahead and started walking toward the cockpit. “What are we gonna do with a baby Terran? If he ain’t gonna be here, then we gotta return him, there’s gotta be someone there that’ll take care of him, or whatever. He ain’t our problem!”

Yondu frowned. “He was our problem the minute we picked him up. Ego’s gonna start wondering why we ain’t delivered him, and then he’s gonna go looking. I ain’t got a clue why he’s off killing children, but no one on Terra is gonna protect him from that creep.”

Kraglin flung himself down into the pilot’s seat, crossing his arms. “Look Cap’n, I ain’t saying we oughtta send the kid to his death or whatever. I’m just sayin’ I think it’s stupid to think we can protect him any better than his own people can. What if Ego comes after us next? How’s the crew gonna feel about that, huh?”

“Are ya callin’ me stupid, boy?” Yondu was angry now, and Kraglin knew he’s gone too far. He hunched over and turned his chair away, programming the coordinates of the Eclector back into the nav.

“Sorry, Cap’n. I just… I just think that—”

“I don’t wanna hear what ya think right now, Kraglin. I just wanna get out of here.” And with that, he huffed and stomped away to the back of the ship. Kraglin slumped in his seat, staring out the window as they took off back for ship.

Chapter Text

Kraglin hoped that when he woke up the next morning on the Eclector , the events of the last few days were going to be nothing more than a really bad dream.

That was not the case.

Yondu wasn’t beside him when he finally forced his eyes open and everything came flooding back. He dressed quickly and started searching for the Captain. He found him in the equipment room, fussing over something with Dee.

“There’s only so much I can do with this, Captain,” the Quartermaster grumbled. “Tell me again why ya need this Terran language?”

Yondu was saved from having to answer by Kraglin’s entrance. “Ah, there you are. I thought you was gonna sleep the day away.” Kraglin just shrugged and stood next to him. As Dee scoffed and turned away, Kraglin could see a translator chip in her hands. Yondu lowered his voice. “We’s gonna have to communicate with our Terran,” he said. “Dee’s programming a translator for me.”

“That’s gotta be hard, ain’t it?” Kraglin asked. “Without knowing the language.”

“Dee’s good with linguistics,” he replied. “If anyone can figure it out, she can.”

As if on cue, the Quartermaster turned back around, holding out the chip to Yondu. “It should give ya at least rough communication. Might be patchy. But it’ll adjust in time the more use it gets. Assuming ya get use out of it. I still ain’t got a clue what ya want it for.” She directed that toward Kraglin with an expectant look. But he offered nothing. That was for Yondu to tell. The Captain took the chip, saluted and left the room, Kraglin trailing behind him.

“ Our Terran?” He asked, once they were out of earshot. “If anything, he’s yer Terran. Certainly ain’t mine. Yer Terran, yer problem. Ya even figured out how to tell the crew we’s keeping him? Or why?”

Yondu grumbled under his breath. “We can use him. He’s little. Can probably fit into the places we can’t. Good fer cleaning vents, if nothing else. And who knows, maybe he’ll be Ravager material, one day.”

Kraglin didn’t think so. He scowled, walking into the hangar bay toward the Captain’s M-ship. “I ain’t cleaning’ up yer mess, Yondu,” he said.

“Half yer job is cleaning up my messes!” Yondu called back. Kraglin flipped him off, only earning him a laugh as they walked onto the ship into the back area where they’d left the Terran.

Kraglin watched as Yondu approached the boy slowly. He was tense and defensive, though Kraglin could’ve laughed at the idea of the small Terran even managing to land a punch on Yondu, let alone hurt him. Still, his size didn’t seem to stop him from swinging a fist at the Captain as soon as he crouched down in front of him.

“Quit it,” Yondu grumbled. “I’m tryin’ to help ya. Here…” he dodged another blow and slipped the newly programmed translator clip behind the kid’s ear. “Now how’s that? Can ya understand what I’m sayin, boy?”

The Terran’s eyes widened and his mouth gaped.

“Ya sure he can talk, Cap’n?” Yondu stood up, and Kraglin sidled up next to him. “Ain’t nothing coming out.”

“How…” The boy managed to choke out words, barely. “ You can understand me ?”

Yondu chuckled. “Universal translator chip, boy.” He grinned. “Just had to get one calibrated for ya.”

The kid didn’t look so scared anymore. He tried to stand taller, jutting out his chin defiantly. But Kraglin could see he was still one edge. “Who are you?” he demanded, voice wavering. “Where am I? Why did you take me away from Earth?”

Yondu rolled his eyes. “So yer the question-asking type.” He glanced at Kraglin, who just shrugged.

This is your problem, he mouthed. Yondu scowled and turned back to the Terran.

“What’s yer name, boy?”

“Peter Quill,” he muttered in reply. “Why—”

Yondu held up a hand, cutting him off. “Yondu Udonta. I’m the Captain of this Ravager ship, which means while yer under my roof, ya follow my orders. Now I know ya’ve got a lot of questions, so my first mate Kraglin here is gonna answer them for ya. That way we can get that over with and get right to work.”

Startled, Kraglin glanced at Yondu. He hadn’t agreed to any babysitting. “Wait, Cap’n—”

But Yondu was already gone.  “Fuck.” Kraglin sighed, running a hand over his face.

“Mom said that’s a bad word.” That was the kid again. Kraglin turned to him with a scowl on his face.

“Yeah well, yer mom’s dead, so it don’t really matter does it?” He crossed his arms, glaring down. “What’d ya say yer name was, again?”

The kid jutted his lip out, pouting. “Peter.”

That expression may have won over Yondu, but it wasn’t going to work on Kraglin. “Nope. We ain’t in the habit of using first names on this ship if ya have more than one. Not unless yer friends, and don’t think for a second that we’s friends. We ain’t.”

Fuck, the kid had a frown that could rival his own. “...Peter Quill.”

“Well Quill, welcome to the Eclector . This is a Ravager ship. There’s certain rules ya gotta follow. I don’t know why the Cap’n wants ya here, but he’s gotta have a good reason, so I’ll trust him. But put a toe outta line and ya get spaced, ya hear?”

Quill nodded. Kraglin was fairly sure he didn’t understand at all, but agreeing with him was a good start. “Good. Now—”

“I wanna go home.”

Oh jeez. “Look, kid.” I wanna flarkin’ go home too sometimes, but I ain’t running around here screaming about it. “This is home now. Ya ain’t goin’ back to Terra, so get over it.”

“Why not?” Quill glared up at Kraglin, and Kraglin glared right back. Still, he hesitated. How much was he actually supposed to tell the kid?

“Cap’n thinks yer gonna be useful to us,” he said finally. “Yer little. Can fit into places we can’t.”

To the kid’s credit, it seemed like he was starting to look less scared. But not-scared Terran equaled angry Terran, and even though Kraglin was certain Quill was no match for him, he didn’t particularly like being under his scrutiny. “What do you even do here? How can I be useful ?”

Kraglin grinned, showing his teeth, and the kid made a face. “We’re Ravagers. Pirates. Ya know what pirates are?”

Quill wrinkled his nose. “Yes, I know what pirates are,” he grumbled. “Space pirates?” He looked skeptical, but Kraglin could hear tell his interest was piqued, just a little.

“Yeah.” Kraglin sighed and sat down on the ground, and gesturing to the kid to do the same. After a moment of hesitation, he followed. “So ya get that yer in space.”

Quill shrugged. “Ain’t any weird blue people on Earth, so.”

Kraglin laughed, genuinely. “No,” he agreed. “No there ain’t. At least I don’t think so.”

Quill offered a tiny smile. “There ain’t,” he confirmed. “So this is a spaceship. I always thought they’d be bigger.”

Kraglin tipped his head curiously. “Well, this ain’t the full ship. Yer still in the Cap’n’s M-ship. The Eclector is a lot bigger.” He paused for a moment. “This ain’t shocking to ya? Just cuz, I was pretty sure Terrans didn’t know about other life and stuff. But ya seem… not surprised.”

Quill tucked his knees up to his chest, hugging them tightly. “My mom always told me my dad wasn’t from Earth. She believed in aliens. She was sick though, so everyone thought she was crazy or whatever.” Kraglin was startled to see the boy’s eyes were wet. But he just sniffled and kept talking. “But I believed her. She was right, I guess.” He frowned. “You guys don’t know him, do you? My dad?”

Kraglin stiffened, suddenly nervous. “Uh… No. Nope. I mean, unless ya know his name, maybe we do, but—”

“I don’t know.” Quill’s face fell. “Mom never told me. Maybe she didn’t know. Or she forgot.” He looked sad, and Kraglin didn’t know how to deal with it. “She... she told me he would come back to get me, one day. When she died. So I thought… but I guess not.”

Kraglin felt bad for the kid, he really did. But what was he supposed to tell him? Not the truth, surely. This was why he didn’t want to keep the Terran, but noooo , Yondu just had to be altruistic. “Look. Did ya have someone to look after ya when yer mom died?”

Quill nodded. “My grandpa…”

Ah. Kraglin winced. So it wasn’t like they were providing care the kid wouldn’t be getting otherwise. “Well, this’ll be more fun than staying with him, I bet.” It was a lame excuse, and he knew it. Still…

“Probably.” Quill shrugged. Kraglin crossed his arms. Really? That worked? Well, shit. I might like this kid after all . “But is there a reason I’m still in this, uh… what did you call it? M-ship?”

Kraglin hesitated. “Rest of the crew don’t know yer here yet. I’m guessing the Cap’n went to go tell them.”

Quill pushed himself back to his feet. “Can I see space?”

Kraglin stood too. “From the window,” he said. “Ya can’t go out there, unless ya wanna be dead in seconds.”

“I know that!” The kid sounded affronted, and Kraglin held up his hands defensively.

“Well okay, jeez, how’m I s’posed to know what they teach ya Terrans about the rest of the galaxy beyond yer own planet?” He let Quill to the hatch of the M-ship and hopped down to the floor of the hangar with ease, without lowering the ramp. The kid was still standing up there, peering at him from above. “What, scared to jump down?” Kraglin taunted.

Immediately, Quill swung his backpack off and tossed it to the floor, his face twisted in concentration. “I ain’t scared of anything!” And with that, he jumped. In reality, it wasn’t that far down. But for someone that small, Kraglin wasn’t surprised it was daunting. Still, he took the bait— something he wasn’t expecting. Quill landed on his hands and knees, hard. It had to have been painful, and the kid immediately cradled his leg. But he’d made it all the same.

Kraglin grinned. “Well shit. We might make a Ravager of ya yet. C’mon.” He stuck out his hand to Quill, and caught sight of blood and grime on the kid’s palms. But Quill grit his teeth and stood with Kraglin’s help. And when he looked up ahead, there was the hangar door, open and protected only by a forcefield. And beyond it— space.

The kid’s eyes widened and he ran towards it, stopping just a few inches from the invisible barrier. “Wow,” he said, mouth gaping. “It’s so big.”

Kraglin nodded, coming to stand behind him. “Ya know, I lived planetside my whole life until I joined the Ravager. I had the same reaction when I first saw it. Pictures ain’t got nothin’ on the real thing.”

Quill turned and smiled hesitantly at him. “So I live here now.”

“Yeah.” Kraglin looked out. “Ya do.”

Chapter Text

By the time Yondu returned to the hangar, Quill had fallen asleep. Kraglin hadn’t known what to do with that, but he’d shifted him to lay on his side, head propped up on his backpack.

“What, did ya kill the Terran?” Yondu laughed, walking over from the doorway.

“Fell asleep,” Kraglin corrected. “Probably ain’t slept since we got him.”

Yondu scowled. “Sounds about right. Wake him up. Time to introduce him to the crew.” Kraglin nodded and nudged Quill with a foot.

“Huh?” Quill grunted and sat up, confused. “Where am I— oh.” He locked eyes with the first mate standing over him. “Hi, Kraglin.” Yondu gave Kraglin a look, and he just shrugged.

“Rise and shine, kiddo.” Yondu’s voice was gruff, though not unkind as he looked down at Quill.

The kid stood up, putting his backpack on, and blinked at Yondu. “You’re the Captain, right?”

“Uh-huh.” Yondu crossed his arms. “Ya ready to go meet the crew?” That, at least, seemed to be exciting to the kid, who smiled and bounced on his toes.

“Let’s go!” He started running toward the door.

Yondu and Kraglin exchanged a look, and Yondu shrugged. “Let’s go,” he repeated, and followed. Kraglin fell into step beside him. They caught up with the boy, staring up at the panel on the wall. “It’s locked for a reason,” the Captain growled, “So little gremlins like you ain’t wandering in and out.” He punched in the code and the airtight door slid open, revealing the Eclector ’s corridor. Quill’s gasp of excitement was almost comical, but to his credit he didn’t take off running again. He stepped out of the hangar carefully and looked up and down the hallway. A few crewmen were passing by— some seemed to ignore the trio, some only caught sight of the Terran as they saluted their Captain, and others stopped and stared. Kraglin could see them whispering a little ways away, eyes locked on the boy. Yondu must’ve picked up on it too, because a sharp whistle cut through the quiet and his arrow darted toward the faces of the group. They stopped talking abruptly, expressions dropping.

“Quill, why don’tcha come say hi to some of yer new crewmates!” Yondu placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder and guided him toward the cluster. Kraglin winced and followed from a safe distance. This wasn’t going to go well. “This here is Horuz, Brad, and Norrik.” The three large Ravagers towered over not only the Terran, but the Captain as well. Yondu of course wasn’t fazed, and to Quill’s credit, he didn’t seem to be either. “Boys, this is Peter Quill, our newest recruit.”

The three exchanged a look. “He is Terran?” Brad grunted, gesturing down at the boy.

“Yes.” Kraglin shuffled up beside Yondu. “That a problem?”

“Nah,” Norrik said. “Always wanted to taste Terran.” He grinned, forked tongue flicking out hungrily from between sharp teeth.

“Ain’t no one eating Mr. Quill!” Yondu whistled again and the arrow, which had retreated, jumped back up to Norrik’s throat. “He ain’t food, he’s gonna be working’ on this ship same as you. Better, probably, because he’s gonna be a hell of a lot more useful. What is it ya do, again? Vent maintenance?” He grinned as Norrik stood down, ducking his head.

“Yes, Captain,” he mumbled.

“That’s what I thought.” Yondu called the arrow back to him and strode off down the hallway. Kraglin and Quill followed.

“That was so cool! That weapon! You control that with your voice? You’re so awesome! You threatened that guy and he totally backed down! Yeah!” The Terran chattered away as they walked, and Kraglin rolled his eyes. But when he glanced at Yondu, the Captain was smiling slightly to himself. Still, as soon as he caught Kraglin’s gaze, it turned to a scowl.

“That’s how I keep my crew in line,” Yondu explained coolly. “That arrow can cut through anything, it’s deadly, and very precise.” Quill nodded solemnly. “Norrik was oughtta line, and I made sure he knew that. But—” his voice dropped. “Ya better not prove me wrong. If ya ain’t as useful as I said, I may just let them eat ya after all.”

“What?” Quill stopped short, voice jumping up in panic. “Captain—” But Yondu just laughed and walked on ahead. Kraglin grinned and nudged his shoulder, urging him to keep up. It didn’t take long for Quill’s scowl to fade, and he was once again laughing and smiling. Kraglin didn’t understand the mood swings, but he figured he couldn’t complain. Maybe it was a Terran thing. Or just a kid thing. Either way.

Their next stop was the mess hall. That was good, plenty of crewmates there for Quill to meet. Yondu beckoned Quill to walk up beside him, which he did eagerly, leaving Kraglin to trail behind. There was Tullk, and the older Ravager turned to the three of them with a warm smile. Kraglin was relieved. He could always count on Tullk to ease the worries of anyone— Captain, crew, perhaps even small Terrans. He walked over to Yondu and Quill, squatting down so he was on the boy’s level. “Hey there, kiddo. Heard a lot about ye. M’name’s Tullk, what’s yer’s?”

Kraglin watched as he looked up at Tullk shyly. “Peter Quill.”

“Good to meet ye, Pete.” Tullk reached out to the boy — stars bless him — and shook his hand. “Now listen, the Captain and Kraglin can be real knuckleheads sometimes, but they know what’s best around here. Ye listen to them, and yer good. But if they start gettin’ too annoying, ye come find me, got it?” Quill nodded, smiling just a bit, and Kraglin breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe Tullk would be able to handle the babysitting so he wouldn’t have to.

Kraglin stood beside Yondu, leaning against him just the slightest bit. He could tell the Captain was stressed, but Tullk’s warm welcome had to be a reassurance. Yondu reacted to the contact, turning his head to look at Kraglin questioningly, but all he got was a smile in return. The Captain just rolled his eyes. “Alright, well. Ain’t everyone gonna be as nice as Tullk, so don’t go getting comfortable. Let’s keep going.”

They said goodbye to Tullk and left the mess hall. “Should we get him quarters?” Kraglin asked.

Quill bounced on his toes. “Money? You’re giving me money?”

Kraglin’s face scrunched up in confusion. “What? No. Quarters. Living quarters.”

“Oh.” His face fell slightly, and Kraglin couldn’t help but laugh. If the kid was already this interested in money, he’d fit in fine. “You could’ve just said a bedroom.” Kraglin just shook his head.

“We ain’t putting him with anyone else on the crew, at least not now,” Yondu said quietly so only Kraglin would hear.

“Why not?”

“He’s so little, and ya know as well as I do that we can only trust a few of them. I wouldn’t put it past most of these idiots to not kill him in his sleep, just for fun.” Yondu looked on edge, and Kraglin wondered if he was remembering something from his own past, from when he first joined Stakar’s crew, perhaps. “There’s an empty storage closet next to my cabin. He’ll sleep there, and we’ll put a locking mechanism on it. He’s small enough, it should be enough space. Least until he’s old enough to room with someone properly. Or he outgrows it. I dunno how fast Terrans grow.”

Kraglin ran a hand through his hair. “So yer serious, then, about keeping him? I mean, long-term? Really?”

Yondu didn’t look at him. “Where else does he have to go? Ego will find him, if he really wants to. He’s safer with us.”

“What are you whispering about?” The boy’s voice was loud as he cut through the quiet.

“Nothin’ relevant to ya,” Yondu shot back. “Here.” He stopped in front of the closet. “This is yer cabin.” He pulled open the door, revealing cobwebs and junk. “Start cleaning it out.”

Quill’s eyes widened. “Eww why?”

“Ya can sleep in the mess if ya’d rather,” Kraglin snorted and pulled open the door to Yondu’s cabin, ignoring the protests from the boy. Yondu laughed and followed him inside.

Once the door was shut behind them, Kraglin sat down on the bed. “He’s a lot, ain’t he?”

Yondu nodded. “But we gotta do this.”

Kraglin shook his head. “No, you need to do this. And I don’t fully get why, but I trust ya.” Yondu looked uncertain for a moment, and Kraglin reached out his hands to him. “Cap’n.”

“Stop it.” Yondu smiled, just a little, and took Kraglin’s hands, moving closer. “I need yer help on this. I can’t take care of a kid.” He sat next to him slowly.

Kraglin reached over and rubbed Yondu’s back. “I’ll do anything ya need me to, with only mild complaining.”

“I don’t deserve you.” Yondu stared at the floor.

“Hey, now.” Kraglin frowned. “No talkin’ like that.” Yondu just grunted. “C’mere.” He slid his hand around the back of his Captain’s neck and pulled him close into a kiss. Yondu’s hands gripped in Kraglin’s jacket, and relaxed in his embrace. When Kraglin finally pulled back, he pressed their foreheads together. “Think he’ll be able to hear us fuckin’ through that wall, or…?”

Yondu groaned and slapped his arm. “Ya just had to ruin it, didn’t ya?”

Kraglin grinned. “Ya love me.”

“Oh, shuddup and just kiss me again, asshole.”

Chapter Text

Kraglin woke up and was relieved to feel Yondu on the bed beside him. The past few days he had been up early before the rest of the crew, doing… whatever. Kraglin tried not to micro analyze everything Yondu did, because he knew he was busy, being the Captain and all. Plus, the kid was taking up a lot of his attention, which Kraglin wasn’t happy about. Yondu had seemed more tired than usual. Still, it was a nice rarity to have him there. He rolled over and slipped his arms around Yondu’s torso. Yondu grunted, a small sound of complaint, and sat up, dislodging Kraglin.

“...Sorry for wakin’ ya, Cap’n.” He looked up at him sheepishly. “Ya looked like ya haven’t gotten good sleep in a while.”

Yondu shook his head and stood up, stretching as he reached for his pants. “Needed to get up anyway,” he mumbled. “Got work to do.”

Kraglin sighed, watching him regretfully. “Ya been working so hard, Yondu. Too hard, I think.” Yondu’s snort of disagreement told Kraglin exactly how he felt about that. “I mean… what do ya even have to do this early?”

Yondu didn’t answer. He tugged a shirt over his head from a pile of laundry on the floor, and grabbed his jacket as he headed to the door. Kraglin sat on the edge of the bed and just watched him lumber out of the room. Once the door was shut and he was alone, he flopped over on his back and cursed at the ceiling.

It wasn’t that things were bad. They weren't. They were good, actually, They were good when Yondu was there.

It’s just, he wasn't. At least not that often. Not often enough for Kraglin anyway. He stood up and got dressed, and headed out into the hallway. The door to Quill’s closet-cabin was slightly ajar, which meant he was already awake too. Kraglin walked through the corridors toward the mess hall. If he was going to be up this early along with Yondu and the kid, he was going to need caffeine.

The mess hall was busy. It was shift change, which meant it was filled with the night crew just coming off duty who were looking for breakfast, and the stragglers just rolling out of bed trying to grab coffee and not be too late to their post. Kraglin watched the hustle and bustle in amusement, glad that he operated on his own time table. Perks, he figured, of being both first mate and the Captain’s… whatever he was. Partner. In every way that mattered, really.

Kraglin was so caught up in watching the crew that he didn’t notice Quill until the Terran boy’s voice pierced through the otherwise low buzz in the room. “Hey Kraglin!” he called out, and the first mate turned around in surprise to see him sitting at a nearby table… across from Yondu. They both had plates in front of them…Kraglin frowned. Were they… eating together?

“Uh… hiya Quill. Hey, Cap’n…. What’s going on?” He made a face. “Meeting I wasn’t invited to?”

Yondu looked at him in such a strange way, Kraglin was sure he had forgotten something important. Or maybe he’d spilled coffee down the front of his jumpsuit. He glanced down slowly. Nope. No spills. Yondu must have realized Kraglin’s confusion because he broke the silence with a heaving dramatic sigh. “Just having breakfast, Kraglin,” the Captain said like it was the most normal thing in the world. Except it wasn’t normal. Was it?

“Come eat with us!” Quill said, patting the seat next to him, and Kraglin glanced at Yondu as if seeking permission, or something. Yondu just shrugged, so Kraglin grudgingly obliged, sliding onto the bench beside the kid.

“So……….” he said after a long moment of drinking coffee. “Special occasion? Or…?”

“We’ve been doing this every day, Krags.” Yondu was looking at him with concern. “That a problem?”

And well, now it made sense at least. Kraglin didn’t understand why, but now he knew where Yondu was going so early in the morning. Breakfast with Quill.

If there was one thing Kraglin never would’ve expected, it was that.

“....Noooope,” he said, dragging it out. “Just surprised, is all.” He glanced at Quill skeptically as the kid looked at him innocently.

“Me and my mom had breakfast together every single day,” Quill said, shoving eggs from questionable origin in his mouth. As if that was an explanation.

“So, what, the Captain’s supposed to be your ma, now?” Kraglin laughed, shaking his head. “He’s your Captain , kid. That’s all.” Yondu met his eyes across the table and slowly shook his head, looking far more serious than Kraglin would’ve expected. He gave him a look of confusion, then glanced down at Quill. The boy had put his fork down and was staring sullenly at his plate. “Aww, hey, come on. Don’t pout, I didn’t say nothing that ain’t true, don’t be like that.”

But Quill was sniffling, and Kraglin didn’t know what to do about it, so he just took another sip of coffee to hide his face. He watched in silence as Yondu pushed his plate back— a gesture that usually preceded a stern lecture or telling off. But instead, he spoke in a voice Kraglin had never heard before. It was quiet, just as scratchy as usual, but much more deliberate. “I ain’t yer mother,” the Captain said, “But if breakfast every morning helps ya adjust, then I won’t complain.”

As Kraglin listened, it sort of made sense. Yondu would know how hard it is to adjust to a whole new life at a young age, to lose everything you knew, and to have to find your way on a Ravager ship that you didn’t really want to be on, even if it was better than the alternative.

Still, he was being… sympathetic?

“You wanna talk about it?”

Kraglin almost choked.

“It was just me and her,” Quill said. “But then she got sick. And she… she tried, but she was always tired, and sometimes she wasn’t home, because she had to be at the hospital before I left for school… then she was there all the time, and I had to stay with my grandpa, and when I went to see her it was always late…” he trailed off, and Kraglin felt trapped. He’d lost parents, both of them, but it hadn’t affected him like this.

Then again, he’d been surrounded by death a long time. The kid probably hadn’t.

Yondu was talking again.

“It sucks.” Ah yeah, that sounded like Yondu. “Sorry, kid. It sucks ass.” That… less so.

After that, none of them spoke.

When they’d all finished eating, Quill stood abruptly and left the mess hall, presumably to go crawl in a vent, or something. Yondu watched him go with an unreadable expression on his face, and only once he was fully out of view did Kraglin dare talk again. Just in case the little bastard had super hearing, or something.

“I don’t get it, Cap’n,” he muttered. “Ya taking the time to eat with the kid? Talk to him? And— why didn’t ya tell me that’s what ya was doing, getting up so early?”

Yondu wouldn’t look at Kraglin. “It ain’t none of yer business, what I do.” He sighed and put his head in his hands. “I felt— I felt bad fer him, okay?” He lowered his voice, like it was some terrible secret he was keeping, and Kraglin would’ve found it funny if he wasn’t so deathly serious. “I get it. Losing everything you know. Needing something familiar.” He glanced up at Kraglin, and he looked… lost? Regretful? “Maybe we shoulda left him on Terra.”

Obviously , is what Kraglin wanted to say. But he didn’t, because that wasn’t going to help Yondu now. Instead, he just sighed. “Nah. He’s better off here, safer, all that.” He reached across the table and cupped Yondu’s cheek. Yondu flinched, but settled and looked Kraglin in the eyes reluctantly. “Ya did the right thing. I know ya don’t think so, but ya did. Trust me.”

Yondu ran a hand over his face and carefully moved Kraglin’s hand, setting it on the table and covering it lightly. “I trust ya.”

Chapter Text

Kraglin was exhausted.

For the last week or so, there was a plague of some sort sweeping through the clan. Tainted meat or something— Frias in the kitchen was wildly trying to uncover what went wrong, but in the meantime, nearly a third of the crew was out of commission for at least a day. With officers dropping shifts left and right, Kraglin was overwhelmed just trying to even out the roster and keep things staffed. Operating with a skeleton crew for an extended amount of time wasn’t something he would’ve imagined could be a nightmare, but it was. It was moments like these that he regretted his position. He’d been lucky to not get sick, but he had a feeling that even if he did, he wouldn’t be pardoned from work. He’d have to be on his deathbed, and even then Yondu would probably expect him to be doing his job.

And then on top of that, he was also working a double shift. A solid eight hours of administrative stuff (“flarking hell, Cap’n, ain’t ravagers not supposed to do this shit?”), followed by another eight on the bridge. Almost all the pilots were out of commission, so he had reluctantly volunteered himself to fill in.

He regretted it after the first 20 minutes.

At the end of the shift, he was greeted by a message from Yondu blinking on his comm.

Udonta: How was the shift?

Kraglin couldn’t help but smile, despite the fact that he was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open.

Obfonteri: Shit
Udonta: Sorry to hear it. I need ya to do me a favor
Obfonteri: ...What?
Udonta: Take the kid to the tailor for leathers, those clothes of his are starting to smell
Obfonteri: Ya couldna done this all flarking day????
Udonta: I didna see him all flarking day, smartass
Obfonteri: Fuck off Yondu, I’m wiped
Udonta: Sooner ya get there, sooner ya can sleep
Obfonteri: I hate ya so much
Udonta: Don’t go talking that way to yer Captain boy
Obfonteri: Where’s the kid?
Udonta: In the kitchens
Obfonteri: On my way. Yer welcome

Kraglin put the comm away before he had to read another damn message from Yondu. Sometimes he wondered why he even put up with him anymore. Still, as he walked into the kitchen, he felt his annoyance dissipate. It was just impossible to stay angry at him. It didn’t do anything for the exhaustion, though. If anything, he felt even more tired when he saw Quill bouncing around the kitchen. Frias caught his eye and gave a tired smile that Kraglin returned half-heartedly.

“I’m here to get the kid,” Kraglin said. “C’mon Quill, let’s go.” The kid reluctantly put down… was that a hot frying pan? Kraglin just rolled his eyes and ushered him out into the hall.

“Gee, Kraglin, you look tired.” Well, the kid had a knack for stating the obvious.

“Well yeah, a little,” he grumbled, shoving Quill in front of him. “I’d really like to go to bed, so can ya walk a little faster?”

Quill pouted but shuffled ahead at a slightly faster pace. “Where are we going?”

“Cap’n says ya need a uniform, so I’m s’posed to take ya to get fitted for one.” At least he’d get to see Iznen. He’d been so busy, he hadn’t had time to visit her since the whole mess began. Actually… not since they’d brought Quill on board. The thought of seeing his friend put a bit more of a spring in his step, and he strode alongside the boy all the way there.

He didn’t knock when they arrived, just stuck his head through the doorway and called out the tailor’s name before entering. Quill followed more timidly, clinging to Kraglin’s pant leg. “The fuck ya hanging onto me for?” he asked, trying to shake him off while he glanced around for Iznen.

Quill was saved from having to answer that by Iznen appearing from behind a large pile of fabrics. “Kraglin!” she said, her face lighting up when she saw him. “You shoulda told me you were coming by!”

She pulled him into an embrace that he returned. “I didn’t know until a few minutes ago,” he admitted. “Cap’n sent me down to get him fitted.” He stepped aside to reveal Quill, who glanced up and waved shyly.

Iznen grinned. “Ohhhh, so you’re the kid I’ve been hearing so much about.”

“Good things, hopefully,” Kraglin said.

Iznen rolled her eyes. “Kraglin, you know there ain’t a soul on this ship who has only good things said about them.” She frowned, looking him over. “Stars, you look terrible. Go sit down.” Kraglin nodded, relieved, and sank down onto a stool.

Meanwhile, Iznen was already chattering away at the Terran. “I’m Iznen,” she said cheerfully. “What’s your name?”

“Peter Quill,” he mumbled.

“Alright, Peter Quill, let’s get your measurements, then.” Iznen pulled out a measuring tape.

“Oh, uh… I wear a small,” he said.

Iznen just laughed. “Custom sizes here, kiddo. Make everything myself by hand.”

Kraglin watched as the boy’s eyes widened almost comically. “Really?” he asked, sounding delighted. “My mom made a lot of her own clothes. Some of mine too.”

Iznen smiled as she worked, and Kraglin watched her with admiration. She was the only person he’d ever met who could work so calmly and precisely while still being engaged in conversation, especially with someone she’d just met. That was part of her charm.

“That’s sweet,” she said. “You ever wear leather before?”

Quill shook his head. “No. Well— She gave me her leather jacket one time at the carnival because I was cold,” he said. “She didn’t make it herself, though.” He glanced at Iznen’s clothes, and then Kraglin’s. “My uniform is gonna be leather too?” he asked.

“Yup.” Iznen pulled the measuring tape away and trotted over to a workbench to pull some fabric. She carried it back over to him, deep burgundy like the rest, and held it out for him to feel. “This good?” He touched it hesitantly, and smiled in response. “Good. I’ll get to work, then. You can leave, and I’ll let Kraglin know when it’s done, or you can stay and keep me company.”

“I’ll stay!” he said, and Kraglin barely contained a groan. He just wanted to sleep. “...Sorry, Kraglin. I guess I’ll come back later,” he said regretfully.

“Nonsense!” Iznen walked over to Kraglin and swatted him. “You stay here, and the old man can go take a nap.” Kraglin made a face at her, which she seemed to ignore. “I’m more than capable of watching a kid,” she told him. “Go. I’ll send him to you when I’m done.”

Kraglin didn’t need to be asked twice. He stood, stretching until his back popped loudly, and strode toward the door. Iznen had already turned back to her work, and Quill stood on his toes beside her, watching earnestly. Kraglin shook his head and left them to their own devices. Maybe he was getting too old for this.

Yondu wasn’t in the cabin when he got there, so he flopped down on the bed without bothering to take off his clothes or boots. He stayed sprawled out like that until some time later, Yondu walked in and shoved him to one side.

“Outta the way, ya idjit,” the Captain grumbled, but there was a fondness to his voice that brought a sleepy smile to Kraglin’s face. The bed shifted under him and Yondu laid down beside him.

“Wha’ time is it?” He murmured.

“O’ two hundred,” Yondu said quietly. Kraglin buried his face in the pillow. Half the night gone already.

“I went by the tailor,” Yondu said. “Quill’s uniform looks good.”

“It’s finished?” Kraglin said in surprise. “Damn, she’s fast.” Yondu laughed and draped an arm over Kraglin, who took that as an invitation to kiss him. And Yondu didn’t complain. “I guess I’ll see it tomorrow.”

“Sleep in,” Yondu said. “Ya worked long enough today.”

Kraglin nodded sleepily. “Love ya.”

If Yondu was awake, he was pretending to not be, or at least pretending not to hear. But he didn’t move away when Kraglin curled up around him, so he’d count that as a victory. He fell back asleep in a matter of minutes, happily snuggled up with his Captain, and feeling like the luckiest person alive.

Chapter Text

Kraglin was pretty sure Quill was dead. He hadn’t seen the boy in days, and Yondu didn’t really seem worried about it, but Yondu didn’t worry about a lot of things. He was sure, realistically, that their paths just hadn’t crossed, but he didn’t mind pretending that the kid had gotten stuck in a maintenance pipe and was slowly starving to death.

Not that he’d ever say that out loud or anything.

But just when he was beginning to remember what quiet sounded like, he heard a strange sound coming from a vent above his head down in the engine room. The other crewmen working down there had stopped and were listening to it too. It sounded like… music? But not any music Kraglin had ever heard before. And the way it was coming through the translator made him pretty sure it wasn’t a familiar language either.

“Someone’s in the vents,” he said. An obvious statement, but necessary nonetheless. And he had a feeling he knew who it was. “Get him out.”

Kraglin pulled out his comm and sent a message to Yondu. Get down to engineering. We’ve got a Quill situation.

By the time Yondu arrived, they’d just about finished getting the vent unscrewed. The panel came loose, and… a scruffy Terran in ravager reds came crashing to the ground. He made a small oof on impact, and immediately started crying. Kraglin rolled his eyes and reached out to pull him to his feet. “Get up, quit sniffling.” The other Ravagers looked on in curiosity, and Yondu clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“Let’s go.” He gestured for Kraglin and Quill to follow. Kraglin watched as Quill stuffed whatever he was holding into his bag and reluctantly followed them out.

“Alright, someone wanna explain to me what’s going on?” Yondu asked when they’d gotten back to Quill’s closet-room. He looked annoyed, and Kraglin was starting to feel like some of that annoyance was directed at him. For some reason. So, naturally, he needed to redirect.

“There was music coming from the vents,” he explained quickly, “It was disturbing the crew, and someone was up there hiding instead of doing work.”

Yondu turned toward Quill, who was being very quiet and not looking at either of them. “You avoiding yer chores, boy?”

Quill shrugged, and Kraglin cursed inwardly. That fucking kid needed to learn, he needed to respect them. But Yondu didn’t look as angry. He just crouched down so he was eye-level with the boy and poked him with a blue finger. “Where’d that music come from, huh?” Quill said nothing, and Kraglin bent down to grab him by the jacket.

“Where’s the music?” He repeated, shaking him a little. Quill winced and tried to dislodge him.

“Kraglin, back off,” Yondu muttered, and he released the kid with a scowl.

“It’s my Walkman,” Quill said quietly, reaching into his bag. He pulled out an odd looking blue box with a pair of headphones plugged into it— no tech like Kraglin was used to, much more primitive. “It plays tapes— please don’t take…” he trailed off as Yondu plucked the device from his hands. “...it.”

Yondu looked it over and then shoved it in his own bag. “You can have this back when ya start taking yer responsibilities around here more serious.” Kraglin hadn’t seen the kid look this distressed since they’d nabbed him from Terra, but he was obviously doing his best to hide it.

“Or we could just toss it out the airlock,” Kraglin muttered. “Teach ‘im a lesson.” Tears started to well up in Quill’s eyes, much to Kraglin’s annoyance. “Look, kid—”

“Take that as a warning,” Yondu interjected. “Now get back to work.” Quill glared daggers at them before huffing and running off down the hall. Yondu sighed and stood up, and the pair looked at each other. “So it plays music, huh?” He took the so-called Walkman out of his bag and held it out to examine it. “Wonder how it works.” He turned it over and pressed some of the buttons on it experimentally.

In a little cafe…

Kraglin glanced at Yondu and grinned a little. “Terran music,” he said with a shake of his head. “And weird Terran tech.”

Yondu was nodding along to the music, just a little, though he stopped when he seemed to notice Kraglin looking at him. “I’ll keep it until he gets some work done around here,” he said.

So big and so strong.

Kraglin flushed and glanced down, waiting for Yondu to turn off the song, but it was only when it had faded out that he put the box away.

“So.” Kraglin fiddled his hands. “Back to work, then.”

“Yep.” And that was that.

For the time being.

Later that night, Kraglin flopped down on the bed beside Yondu and closed his eyes contently. They were both exhausted, and Kraglin was already falling asleep when a loud unpleasant sound started coming from the the other side of the wall. He sat up, looking at Yondu whose eyes at shot open and were glaring angrily out in the dark room. “What the fuck—” he muttered.

“If you like piña coladaaaaaaasssssss and getting caught in the raaaain!”

“It’s Quill,” Kraglin said in slow realization. “He’s… singing?”

Yondu sat up too, rubbing his temple. “ That’s singing?” He snorted. “Kid can’t carry a tune to save his life.” He pounded his fist on the wall. “Shut it, Quill, before I make ya.” He whistled and the arrow glowed from its place on the table in warning.

There was a pause.

“Yeah well if you hadn’t taken my Walkman I wouldn’t need to sing!” His voice was cheerful, utterly oblivious to the threat.

“Don’t backtalk me, boy,” Yondu growled. “Now shut up and sleep or the music box is going out the airlock.” He didn’t argue again after that, and he was silent just long enough for the pair to settle back down. But a short while later, Kraglin could hear a low hum from the other room and he cracked an eye open, ready to get up and strangle the kid himself.

“Ignore it, Kraglin,” Yondu said without moving or even looking at him. “Just go to sleep.”  So he did, and the humming really wasn’t as painful as the vocalization.

Still, he wasn’t surprised to see Quill with the box clipped to his belt and the headphones over his ears by the end of the next day. And that night, there was no singing from his room.

Chapter Text

It wasn’t often that Kraglin and Yondu had the chance to have a meal together in the middle of the day, alone. But for the first time in what seemed like months, their schedules aligned and they’d been able to steal an hour or so in a corner of the mess hall. It was just the way they liked it, little conversation, just enjoying the quiet presence of the other while eating decent food. Kraglin had even made sure there was something prepared special for them, not from the autoserve.

The hour break was over too quickly though, and the pair walked together as they headed off to their next destinations— Kraglin to the bridge, Yondu off to make some call with a potential trade partner that he had been dreading for days. As they passed by the training room, Kraglin heard shouts from within. He couldn’t quite make out the words, but the voices were clearly coming from a crewman and— someone with a high pitched wail.

“Stars-damned flarking Quill,” Kraglin grumbled. “The fuck he’s gotten himself into?” Yondu seemed more concerned than annoyed, though.

“There’s a fight,” he said, and as if on cue, they heard the sound of blaster fire. “Whatever this is needs to end.”

The shouts stopped abruptly as a sharp whistle cut through the noise. All was silent for a moment. And then:

“What the hell’s going on in here?” Yondu threw the door open and stalked in, Kraglin following. The arrow, proceeding him, had stopped, floating between Wretch’s eyes only centimeters from the skin. He held a blaster level in his hands. Across from him was Quill, who had also frozen in place, eyes darting between the Ravager with the gun and the pair that had just entered the room. “Put down the blaster,” he said.

Wretch scowled but slowly lowered his arms, still not taking his eyes off the Terran. “The fuck is yer problem, Captain?” He spit in Yondu’s direction, which earned him another whistle. He rapidly took a few steps backward, the arrow following him. His back hit the wall and only then did he stop. “We was just doing a little target practice!” Kraglin glanced over at Quill, who was starting to relax, just a bit. “It was just on stun…”

Yondu did not look impressed. “No using the Terran for shit like that! I thought I made that clear.” He called the arrow back to him and Wretch caught his breath. “The stupid kid’s too fragile, even a stun beam’ll kill him.” He marched over to Quill and put a hand on his shoulder, whispering something under his breath to him. Kraglin took that as his cue to deal with Wretch himself. Fine. The other man was walking in his direction, and Kraglin just crossed his arms as he approached.

“Ya think ya can git away with disrespecting the Cap’n like that?” he muttered, catching Wretch’s arm as he tried to stalk past him out of the room. Wretch growled and tried to shoulder past him; Kraglin kept a firm grip. “I saw ya spit at him. If I were him, I woulda run ya through with that arrow. But that ain’t my place. Just know if this shit happens again, I won’t hesitate to put yer ass in the airlock myself.”

Wretch grinned, showing chipped blackened teeth. “Respect? But ain’t ya the Captain’s little bitch, Obfonteri? Come on. Well all know it.”

Kraglin’s expression hardened. “I ain’t nobody’s bitch,” he said. “Quit speaking before ya know what yer speaking about. Ya don’t know shit.”

“Uh-huh.” They locked eyes, Wretch leering at Kraglin until he had to look away. The man just smirked, and Kraglin saw Yondu glance over his shoulder at the two of them. “I’m gonna go. Hope the happy family has fun.” Kraglin’s hand dropped to his side and Wretch left, laughing. Once he was out of sight, Kraglin walked slowly over to Yondu and Quill, shaking his head.

“...Everything good, Krags?” Yondu asked mildly.

“Yeah, yeah, fine.” He glanced over his shoulder at the door. “Just yer crew being stupid.”

“I’m used to it,” Yondu shrugged. “You oughtta be too.”

Kraglin frowned. “I am. It’s just…” he looked at Quill, standing behind Yondu and listening intently. “Whatever. Not important. What’s happening now?”

“Pete here needs to learn some self-defense.” Yondu turned back to the boy. “You said you ain’t ever punched a guy before?”

Quill shook his head. “Kid at school punched me, though.” he said.

“Why the hell you didn’t hit him back?” Kraglin stared at him. “If someone hits ya, ya hit back.”

“That’s mean…” he muttered.

Kraglin scoffed. “That’s survival, kid.” He turned to Yondu. “So, self-defense?”

“Yeah.” Yondu nodded at Quill. “I’m gonna attack you, and you fight me off.”

Quill’s eyes widened comically. “But… but… you’re so big!”

Yondu crossed his arms. “Ya calling me fat?” Kraglin snickered, and Yondu flicked his arm. He winced and shut up. Quill meanwhile was shaking his head rapidly.

“No no no, I mean— I’m little. And you’re tall.”

Yondu shrugged. “Gonna be plenty o’ folks who wanna hurt ya or kill ya or eat ya who’s a lot bigger an you are. Consider this practice.”

Quill hesitated. “But you won’t eat me, right?” Yondu just grinned. “Alright, here we go.” He lunged at the boy and grabbed him by the arm, lifting him off the ground. He dangled in the air, crying out.

“Ow, my arm! Ow, put me down—!” He thrashed wildly, but no no avail. Finally, Yondu let him go, and the boy dropped to the ground like a stone. He whimpered in pain, clutching his shoulder. “You broke it…”

Kraglin crouched down, rolling his eyes. “Nah, it ain’t broke.” He felt Quill’s arm. “Ain’t even dislocated, yer just whiny. Get up.” He grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to his feet. Finding his footing, Quill took on a laughable defensive pose, like the one he’d tried on Yondu when they first approached him.

“Be ready for me this time,” Yondu growled, and swung his fist at Quill’s head. The boy ducked, but lost his footing in the process. This time though, he hopped right back up on his own. “Better,” he said, and kicked out his leg, knocking Quill off his feet again. “But yer distracted. You gotta be ready for everything.”

Yondu attacked him over and over, and each time Quill ended up on his butt in the dust. He was a trooper, but after the fifteenth time or so, he crossed his arms and refused to move. “You ain’t learning, boy,” Yondu laughed.

“Well you ain’t teaching me!” Quill shouted back. Kraglin and Yondu exchanged a look, and Yondu stood over him, glaring downward coldly.

“Yer enemies ain’t gonna wait around fer ya to figure out what yer doing,” he said. “If this was a real fight, yer ass would be dead right now.”

Tears stared to well up in Quill’s eyes. “Then show me,” he begged. “Please.”

Yondu hesitated, and for a second Kraglin thought he was going to give in. But instead he spit on the ground and shook his head. “You think there’s some special formula? There ain’t rules, boy, there ain’t no fucking choreography. This ain’t dancing. This is life or death. No one taught me how to fight, how to kill. I just wanted to live bad enough that I did what I had to do to stop them fuckers from killing me first.” Kraglin could hear the emotion creeping into Yondu’s voice, as much as he clearly wanted to keep it out. “It ain’t pretty. It ain’t fair. It’s dirty and cheap and vicious and—” he stopped. “Did ya even hear a word I said?” Quill was staring down at the dust, his bright hair falling in his face, covering his eyes. “Quill!”

Yondu reached down and grabbed his head, jerking it up to look at him. And as he let go, and as he was retracting his arm, Quill grabbed Yondu’s hand and bit down, hard. Yondu let out a yelp of surprise and pain. He jerked his hand back, but Quill held on, the momentum propelling him to his feet. Once up, he launched himself at Yondu, grabbing onto his jacket, or whatever he could, and clinging tight. Kraglin watched in amusement as Yondu tried to shake him free, but failed. He stomped down hard on Yondu’s foot, and with an angry shout, the Captain finally managed to dislodge him. As soon as he was loose, Yondu gave him a swift kick in the ribs, which sent him flying backwards onto the ground. He landed hard and curled in on himself, obviously in pain. But Yondu only smiled. “So ya did listen.” He laughed, walking over to Quill slowly. “Good job boy, ya did alright. Come on, get up.” Quill didn’t move. Kraglin started to wonder if Yondu had hit him a little too hard. Yondu’s expression faltered for a moment. “...Quill?”

He started to crouch down, and as he did so, the Terran sat up fast. “Boo!” Yondu reeled backward, standing up quickly and attempting to hide his surprise. Quill laughed, and so did Kraglin. Yondu looked less amused, but the annoyed look on his face was only for Kraglin, who just tried to hide his smile behind a hand.

“Very funny,” he said to Quill. “Get up. That’s enough for today.” Quill stood. There were bruises on his face, and the way he held his side made Kraglin pretty sure the Captain had done at least a little damage. Still, the boy was smiling proudly, if only a little. “We’ll pick back up tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” He seemed less enthusiastic about that. “My side really hurts…”

Kraglin glanced at Yondu, then back at Quill. “Go to medbay, make sure ya ain’t gonna die,” he said. “Yer back in here as soon as they clear ya. Got it?”

Quill nodded reluctantly. “Yessir.” He pounded his chest twice and limped out the door.

Kraglin watched him go. “Ya sure this was a good idea?” he asked once he was out of earshot.

Yondu frowned, glancing at him. “Why, ya think it ain’t? Kid needs to learn how to hold his own. I ain’t always gonna be around to protect him.” He sighed.

Kraglin hesitated. “Cap’n, why d’ya care so much? I mean, I know why , but… he ain’t you. No matter what ya think, this is different. It’s always gonna be different. He ain’t gonna be living yer life.” When he met his eyes, Yondu’s had a sad look in them, and Kraglin immediately wished he hadn’t said anything.

“I know,” Yondu said. “It’s gonna be better. He deserves that.”

No, you deserve that. Kraglin bit his tongue and held back the words. Instead, he reached for Yondu’s hand. “Here, lemme see that.”

“What?” Yondu asked, but he didn’t pull it away.

“Quill bit ya,” Kraglin reminded him. “Looked like it hurt.”

“Oh. Yeah.” Yondu blinked, like he had forgotten. “A little.”

Kraglin examined it. “No blood,” he said, running a finger over the faint bite marks. He lifted the hand to his mouth, pressing a quick kiss to his knuckles.

This time, Yondu did jerk his hand back. “The fuck ya doing, Kraglin?”

Kraglin grinned. “Kissing it all better,” he teased. Yondu grumbled and shoved him backward, which only made him laugh more. “Ya love it. And ya looooove me.” Yondu rolled his eyes and turned to make for the door. Kraglin butted up against his side. “C’mon. Say it. Saaaaay it….”

Yondu stopped short and turned around. “Will ya quit running yer mouth for two seconds?”

Kraglin’s smile faltered. “What—”

Yondu sighed dramatically and wrapped two strong arms around him, pulling Kraglin into a kiss. It was hard and possessive, and Kraglin nearly melted in the Captain’s grip. Yondu held him like that, not releasing him until they were both gasping for air.

“Ain’t ya got a bridge shift?” Yondu asked, a smirk on his face. Kraglin deadpanned.

“I think it can wait,” he muttered.

“Oh can it?” Yondu asked. “Seems irresponsible fer the first mate to skip out on his job.”

Kraglin leaned in close to his ear. “Yer the Captain, that’s yer call to make. So what’s it gonna be? Am I going, or staying?”

Yondu’s breath was hot on his cheek as he let out a huff of laughter. “Fuck the shift,” he said. “Stay.”

That was all the encouragement Kraglin needed.

Chapter Text

Kraglin had been having the most wonderful dream. He was lounging on a sunny planet without a care in the world. It was paradise, at least for a Ravager. And then he heard a tap. From where, he wasn’t sure. It didn’t matter. No one was going to come and interrupt his dream vacation with aggressive knocking.

He closed his eyes in an attempt to block it out. But it persisted. When he opened his eyes again, he was in the dark of his cabin, limbs tangled up with Yondu’s. Not exactly a bad situation to be in, but not as nice as the beach.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Flark it all. A pause. Then:

“Yondu…..?”

Yondu groaned and rolled over, shoving a pillow over his head. “I’m gonna kill that kid,” he grumbled. “What time is it?”

Kraglin leaned over to check his holopad, wincing at the brightness on his eyes. “0300,” he said. “I say we let him stand out there and cry until he wears himself out.”

Yondu kicked Kraglin’s leg. “Go take care of it,” he mumbled. “Just make him shut up.”

Kraglin kicked back. “He’s yer Terran,” he pointed out sourly. “You handle it.”

Yondu propped himself up enough to give Kraglin a shove toward the edge of the bed. “I’m yer Captain, you do what I say.” Kraglin glared at him and sat up, rubbing his eyes. He shuffled to the door and and opened it swiftly. Quill, who had no doubt been leaning against it, nearly tumbled inside.

“What’s wrong?” Kraglin asked, looking down at him. “Ya better be dying.”

Quill stared up at him with red eyes. Even in the dim light, it was clear he had been crying. “I had a… a nightmare,” he mumbled, kicking the ground with a bare foot. He seemed to sense the annoyance in the room. “...Sorry.”

Yondu was saying nothing, and Kraglin had a feeling he was pretending to be asleep again. So he sighed and sat down on the floor in front of Quill. “Flark… okay. Um, what do you want? Need. I dunno. Do you wanna… talk about it?” Kraglin grimaced. Not that he’d never had a nightmare, but he didn’t particularly remember how to deal with a kid having one. “Or… get a drink and go back to sleep, I don’t know how to help ya, kid.” He noticed that Quill had his music player on his waistband, the headphones around his neck. “Right, why don’t ya listen to yer music and go back to sleep.” He stood back up and gave Quill a light shove back out the door toward his closet. “Come on.”

Once he was sure the kid was settled again, Kraglin ducked back out and returned to bed. He looked at Yondu, who was watching him with an unreadable expression. “Cap’n, ya know ya don’t have to do all this work, taking care of him, right? Ya did yer duty, or whatever, keeping him alive. Ya did enough. Yer coddling him, giving him way too much attention. He’s just a recruit, crew like anyone else.”

Yondu shook his head and looked back up at the ceiling. “But he ain’t. Ya don’t see it, I know. But he’s too young to look after himself like any of these other Ravagers. But he’s stuck here. We gotta do something.”

Kraglin reached over and touched Yondu’s shoulder lightly. “Too young… like you was too young?”

Yondu didn’t have a reply to that, other than a grunt as he rolled over, putting his back to Kraglin. “Just go back to sleep, Kraglin. Can’t have you being all tired and cranky in the morning.”

“Ain’t you always tired and cranky, though?” He couldn’t help grinning slightly as he laid back down, draping an arm over Yondu’s torso.

“Shuddup,” Yondu grumbled, before letting out a loud and obviously fake snore. Kraglin shook his head fondly and pushed his face against Yondu’s shoulder blades, taking in his scent and the warmth from his body as he drifted back off to sleep.

Chapter Text

There was only one thing Kraglin hated more than starting the day with a comm about something Quill-related, and that was ending a shift with a comm about something Quill-related. Usually they were from Yondu, occasionally Tullk. Iznen had been the source of one, and so had Halfnut, much to Kraglin’s annoyance.

Today, though, it was from the medbay. Which was strange, considering Quill had refused to go see a medic or doctor any of the times he got banged up in the vents, or Brad took a swipe at him, or Yondu kicked his ass in training. So Kraglin figured the boy was just in there messing around with the equipment, and they needed someone to drag him out of there. He wasn't in any rush to do that. He wasn’t the kid’s babysitter after all!

So Kraglin took his time making his way down to the medbay, and was already calling for Quill when he walked through the doorway. “Alright, ya better get outta here—”

And he stopped.

Yondu was already inside, standing beside a cot and talking in a low and urgent voice to the medic beside him. Something wasn’t right. Kraglin approached slowly, coming to stand beside Yondu. He looked down at the cot, and there was Quill, lying there. His eyes widened a bit and he glanced first at Yondu, then the medic, to gauge how serious this was. “Is he—”

“Food poisoning,” Zurnik announced, coming from behind a curtain with a datapad in hand. “Not life-threatening, but whatever he ate did not agree with him.” The doctor glanced down at the small Terran. “When he wakes up, as long as he doesn’t feel sick, he can leave. But Captain…” He gave Yondu a serious look that Kraglin didn’t miss. “I can’t say this won’t happen again, and the more often it does, the harder it’s gonna be for him to fight it off.” He scowled, shaking his head. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, a space ain’t no place for Terrans, especially not a kid on a Ravager ship.”

For the first time since he came in, Yondu looked at Kraglin, and the first mate could tell they were both thinking the same thing. He isn’t fully Terran. And as strangely worried as Yondu appeared, this recollection seemed to be enough to quell his nerves for the time being. He put on a very fake Captain smile and shooed Zurnik away. “He’ll be fine. He’s a tough little bugger. Now leave, I wanna sit with my boy and tell him how stupid he is while he can’t put his headphones on and ignore me.”

Kraglin laughed. “He’s sleeping, he can’t hear ya anyway.”

“Oh, he’s gonna hear me.” Yondu pulled up a chair and stared the boy down. Kraglin rolled his eyes and hovered behind him, one hand on his Captain’s shoulder.

“You was worried about him?”

“Of course not.” Yondu scoffed, a little too quickly and defensively. “Just, he’s been an investment of time money and literally everything I’ve got, so it’s gonna be a serious blow if he dies because he ate something funny.”

“Right,” Kraglin said, not convinced at all. “So what, ya planning on staying here until he’s awake?”

Yondu nodded without looking back at him. “Obviously yes. I don’t trust some of these guys to not slip him the wrong injection and kill him off because they think he’s a liability.”

“ Right ,” Kraglin repeated, not even trying to hide his sarcasm this time. “ I think he’s a liability, but I ain’t gonna murder him because of it. Don’t ya trust yer crew? Especially the medics, come on Cap’n…”

Yondu shook his head. “I don’t. I never have. I fully expect that each and every one of them would stab me in the back if the opportunity came and they could get away with it.” He sounded depressed even saying it. “And there ain’t no such thing as an honorable doctor on a Ravager ship. They’re all in it for something else, that’s the way we are.”

Kraglin shook his head. “Money, of course they’re in it for money, we all are, but—”

Yondu’s red eyes pierced him as he turned around in his chair, looking up at Kraglin intently. “Can I trust you, Kraglin?”

Kraglin spluttered as he tried to answer as quickly as he could. “What? Yes! Obviously, Cap’n, how— how could ya even ask me that, after everything ?”

Just as fast as Yondu had come alive with intensity, he seemed to shrink back down as he returned his gaze to Quill, and his voice dropped. “Just checking,” he said. “It pays to keep tabs.” He heaved a sigh. “But I’ve always known I could trust you, Kraglin. Yer the only one here. Who would never betray me, or talk crap about me behind my back, the only one who never questioned standing by me after the exile.”

Kraglin didn’t know what to say. He didn’t understand where these ideas were coming from, why Yondu was suddenly so distrustful of his crew. “What about Tullk? Iznen? Oblo? They’re all yer friends, Cap’n, and as loyal as I am.”

“No,” Yondu said, shaking his head. “They all have other agendas, they’re all Ravagers before anything else.”

Kraglin’s face scrunched up in confusion. “And you ain’t? Yer saying I ain’t?”

“Nope,” Yondu said in agreement. “Yer Kraglin before all else.”

Kraglin really didn’t know what to make of that. “I don’t think I understand, sir.”

Yondu shrugged. “I don’t expect ya to. Maybe one day.” He turned again, and there was actually a smile on his face, if a faint one. “But ya know me. And ya know what’s best for me, and this ship, and how to balance that. That is what makes ya a good first mate. That’s why I know I can trust ya.”

Kraglin stood in stunned silence for a minute. “Cap’n, I don’t know what to s—”

He was interrupted by Quill stirring, and sitting up, pushing floppy hair from his eyes and looking around in confusion. “Where am I? What happened?”

Yondu was on his feet immediately, fussing over him. “Medbay, because yer an idiot who doesn’t know what food is good fer ya and what ain’t. Come on, yer fine now. Get up, let’s go.”

Kraglin watched with a faint smile. Whatever was bothering Yondu, whatever was behind all the suspicion, seemed to evaporate as soon as Quill woke up. He didn’t understand why the boy made his Captain so happy, but he also wasn’t going to question it. He watched as Yondu dragged Quill from the room, before following them out.

Chapter Text

In the months that Quill had spent with the Ravagers, Kraglin would admit that the boy had managed to develop some sort of work ethic. Not that Ravagers in general were the best at any sort of ethics, but most of the crew knew how to work with others as a team on a ship. It had taken the Terran longer than most of their recruits to figure that out. Yondu said it was because Quill never had to earn his keep, fight to stay alive, until now. He might’ve been right, had Kraglin not had a sneaking suspicion that the Captain would take care of the boy no matter what he did. Which was fine, it was just… well, he’d grow out of that eventually.

Still, they’d figured out what worked as punishment if Quill didn’t finish his chores, or sassed a senior officer, or got into too much mischief. Yondu refused to hurt him in any way, which Kraglin understood, even though he knew the Captain wouldn’t hesitate to punch the living daylights out of anyone else, or even send his arrow through a non-vital organ. So instead, the pair resorted to taking away the music box player — the Walkman. That seemed to be enough to make the boy think twice about disobeying orders. But when it did happen, Yondu or Kraglin would confiscate it until Quill fixed his shit.

Usually, it lived in a drawer by the bed. But when Kraglin walked into the room to change clothes after his shift, Yondu’s back was to the door and the headphones were over his ears. Kraglin froze in the doorway as he heard a whistle, and he tensed, wondering if Yondu realized his first mate had caught him listening to music, and was about to make sure he never told anyone.

But there was no arrow to be seen, yet the whistling continued. It was more melodic and less sharp and piercing than the sounds Yondu made when hostile. Kraglin put a hand to his mouth to stifle the laugh that threatened to escape as he realized Yondu was whistling along to whatever song he was listening to. He really shouldn’t be laughing, it wasn’t funny. It was just… not something he ever expected to see Yondu doing. He walked into the room, letting his boots hit the ground loudly to make his presence known. Immediately the whistling stopped and Yondu pulled the headphones off, whipping his head around. Kraglin could hear the faint sound of music still coming from the discarded box. He almost felt bad for interrupting. Yondu had seemed content, and now he just looked sheepish. Kraglin sat on the edge of the bed and pulled his boots off, greeting Yondu with a faint smile. “Sorry, Cap’n,” he said. “Just got off my shift.”

Yondu shook his head and stood in turn. “It’s fine.” His voice was clipped. “Was just, uh—”

Kraglin gave him a knowing look. “Ya don’t gotta explain yerself to me,” he said. “It’s music. It’s nice.”

Yondu shrugged, slowly sitting back down again. “I don’t know much about my home planet,” he said. “I was too young to remember anything. Didn’t learn none of the culture or anything. But I had to learn a common language, meaning the only time I whistled was in battle. But if my people’s language was all sounds like that — whistles, clicks, whathaveya, I reckon there was a fair amount of music in the culture. It’s all very melodic.” He shifted uncomfortably on the bed. “I guess I thought I’d… I dunno… tap into that or something.” He held the Walkman in his hand for a moment before putting it back down. “It’s stupid.”

Kraglin’s gaze softened and he scooted a little closer, reaching out to pick up the device with one hand, and entwine his fingers on the other with Yondu’s. “No. It ain’t.” He pressed the play button and the song Yondu was listening to continued. “How d’ya do that— whistling to the music without activating the arrow?”

Yondu shook his head. “I don’t really know. Different sounds have different meanings, ya know? In, inflection or whatever. And the intention. This—” he tapped his headpiece. “Is wired to pick up a certain, uh, frequency of whistle, tones and shit. If it ain’t that, then it won’t do anything.”

“Can I hear it again?” Kraglin asked curiously. “The non-arrow moving kind, I mean.”

Yondu looked skeptical but pursed his lips, and let out a shaky whistle. It wasn’t as confident as when he was threatening someone, and it wavered as he tried to match the pitch of the song. It took a moment, but he found it, and followed the tune of the song with at least some accuracy. His eyes closed as he concentrated, as if he and the music were the only things to exist. He trailed off as it faded out, looking sheepish. “It ain’t pretty or nothing,” he said.

But Kraglin disagreed. It sounded like the most beautiful thing in the world. Not that he would say that. “I liked it,” he replied instead. “It sounds… right, I guess. Coming from you.”

Yondu smiled at that. “It feels right.” He looked down at their intertwined fingers, then back up. “Maybe I’ll just keep this,” he said.

Kraglin laughed. “But then we’d have no leverage against Quill!”

“Are ya kidding? It’d be perfect? He’d have to be on his best behavior, and we say we’ll only give it back if he’s perfect, but he’s never gonna be.”

Kraglin raised his eyebrows. “This don’t sound like ya at all, Cap’n.”

“I guess I’m just in a good mood,” Yondu said.

“Well, that’s a good change.” Kraglin ran a hand through his hair. “I like seeing ya this way, Cap’n. I really really do.”

“Shut up with that soft crap, Kraglin. Yer gonna give me cavities with that sweet talk.”

Kraglin wrinkled his nose. “Ya already have cavities, sir.” Yondu gave him a look , and he glanced away, embarrassed but still hiding a laugh nonetheless. “Anyways. Even if we gotta give it back to Quill, ya wanna listen to one more?” He picked up the Walkman and queued up the next song.

I’m not in love,
So don’t forget it.
It’s just a silly phase I’m going through.

Kraglin an Yondu exchanged a look. “Not a very good song to whistle to,” Yondu said after a minute. Kraglin shook his head and reached for the button again.

“Want me to change it, or—?”

Yondu quickly pulled the device away and shook his head. “No. Leave it.” He closed his eyes, just nodding along. Kraglin couldn’t help but watch him with a smile.

I’m not in love, no no,
It’s because
Ooh, you’ll wait a long time for me.

Chapter Text

Kraglin and Yondu had never exactly tried to hide their relationship from the crew. It certainly wasn’t something they were ashamed of. And relationships between men were far from unheard of. If anything, Yondu was always careful to never be too affectionate toward Kraglin in public — in the same way he wasn’t affectionate with anyone else. He didn’t want to be seen as soft, and Kraglin respected that. It’s why he always called him by his title in front of the crew. Did they know? Probably. Certainly those who Kraglin and Yondu had told, and though Tullk and Iznen would never out them to anyone, rumors spread regardless. But the crew knew better than to talk about it, at least within earshot of the Captain or his first mate.

Still, there was one person they were pretty sure didn’t know. And Kraglin really wanted it to stay that way. Quill just talked so much, and what the pair was doing behind closed doors would be the hot topic of conversation on the Eclector , even if it was old news. Plus, Yondu seemed to have a strange desire to shelter the kid from… everything. Including, apparently, sex and romance.

“How old is he, again?” Kraglin asked Yondu one day as they finished up a strategy meeting on the bridge during a shift.

“Eight, I think,” Yondu said. “I think that’s young in Terran years.”

Kraglin squinted, calculating. “If they’re anything like Xandarians, then yeah. But he ain’t a baby neither. I’m pretty sure he gets the concept of… relationships and sex.”

Yondu shrugged. “Probably. But I dunno if his mama ever taught him, or what he learned from them other Terran kids.”

“And what, ya don’t think he oughta know if he don’t already?”

“Not my job,” was Yondu’s only reply.

Kraglin just rolled his eyes. “I’m just saying, I’m happy fer him to not know about this, but it shouldn’t be because ya think the kid’s too young.” Yondu looked like he was going to protest, so Kraglin kept talking. “I mean, all these kids that grew up spacers, they’ve all been fucking their way across the galaxy since they was teenagers. I’d think ya would know that.”

Yondu scowled, but he had no argument. “Yeah well,” he spluttered. “He ain’t a teenager.”

“Cap’n, come on. Ya want him to be a Ravager? I thought we ain’t supposed to shy away from shit like this,” Kraglin said.

“He’s a kid!”

“So were you!”

They both fell silent, Yondu glaring at Kraglin, and Kraglin wincing in preparation to be hit or whistled at as he realized what he said. But no blow came, and Yondu just slumped in his chair, clearly not wanting to argue anymore.

“Fine,” he said, staring at the ground. “If ya want him to know that badly, send him to medbay, they’ll explain it to him. Or just tell him yerself, that’s even easier.” He drummed his fingers on the armrest and stood. “Happy?”

“Cap’n—”

“Kraglin.”

“Captain, Kraglin.” That was Oblo, coming onto the bridge for his shift. He greeted them with a grin, but Yondu just stood abruptly and walked off. Oblo’s eyes followed him out as he took a seat next to Kraglin. “What was—?”

“I’m gonna go. Later, Oblo.” Kraglin stood and left too, not missing the bewildered look on his friend’s face.

The best part about Yondu and Kraglin’s relationship was there was almost no fight or petty argument that a good roll around the bed couldn’t fix. And this wasn’t even a fight exactly. Just a disagreement that they’d both walked away from in a huff. But the pair disagreed about a lot of things, and agreeing to stay that way was more or less second nature by now. Presently, they were both buried under the blankets, so when Kraglin heard the door squeak he figured it was just the creaky hinges in the ship. But then —

“Uh, Yond— Captain? You in here?” Kraglin’s whole body tensed at the sound of Quill’s voice.

“Shit,” he said quietly, but started to laugh quietly, despite the lack of humor in the situation. “So, um…”

Yondu let out a growl and planted a hand on Kraglin’s shoulder, pushing him down against the mattress with a grunt. Then he stuck his head up to look at the doorway and the intruder. “Whaddya ya want Quill?”

There was confusion in the boy’s voice as he replied. “Um……… you have my Walkman.” He hesitated. “Someone down the hall is being really loud so I kinda just wanted to block it out and go to sleep….”

Kraglin covered his mouth to stifle the bark of laughter that threatened to escape him. But it obviously wasn’t enough because there was a pause, and then Quill said, “What was that?”

“What was what?” Yondu’s attempt to sound innocent really wasn’t going to work.

“Is there someone else… in your bed?”

Yondu sighed dramatically and prepared himself for what was coming. “For fuck’s sake,” the Captain said, and pulled back the blanket to reveal Kraglin. Kraglin immediately scrambled to cover himself, face going bright red as he met Quill’s mortified gaze.

“Oh my god… I didn’t… you two?” His little face contorted in horror. “No, it was you guys! Eww!!”

Kraglin’s expression settled into a glare. “You want yer music box?” He leaned across Yondu and grabbed it off the table beside the bed. “Here.” He tossed it to Quill, who caught it while carefully averting his eyes. He immediately backed out of the room, and Yondu and Kraglin stayed frozen in place until the door had shut again.

“So he knows,” Kraglin said after a moment.

“Yeah, I can fucking see that, thank ya for yer observation.”

It was silent for a moment before they both started laughing quietly. “He looked so embarrassed, his face was bright red!”

“That’ll teach him not to go barging into my cabin without knocking first. Little shit.” Yondu sighed and flopped back against the pillows. “If he runs his mouth, I’ll kill him.”

“To be fair,” Kraglin pointed out, “If he could hear, so could everyone else on this hallway.”

Yondu made a face. “Yeah, but they have the good sense to not say anything about it.”

Kraglin’s smile softened and he laid back down next to Yondu. “Well. We was in the middle of something?”

Yondu nodded, and grabbed the blanket to pull back over them. “We sure was.”

Chapter Text

Kraglin liked to think he was good at his job. He liked to think that relations with the Captain aside, he was calm, cool, collected, and a damn good Ravager. That’s what had gotten him the job, wasn’t it?

And he would never, ever let his personal life interfere with work. Right?

Except sometimes it was just so fucking hard, because despite the fact that Quill was getting more and more used to life on the Eclector and his job, Yondu continued to go easy on him, let him off the hook, make excuses for him, and protect him against the threats from the rest of the crew. There was no other Ravager Yondu would do that for. Not even Kraglin himself. If anyone else talked back to Yondu the way Quill did, or constantly ditched his shift to listen to his music or play a prank, they’d be tossed out the airlock. He knew, because he’d seen it happen.

But Kraglin didn’t want special treatment. He’d never needed it before, he didn’t need it now. He just didn’t want Quill getting it either.

Also, there was another little issue.

Yondu spent a lot of time with Quill. Training with him, chasing him down when he went missing, eating meals with him, and one time Kraglin even caught them listening to the music box thing together.

(He knew it was called a Walkman. He just didn’t care.)

And all the time Yondu spent with Quill was time he wasn’t spending with Kraglin. It felt like he rarely saw Yondu anymore except at night, or when they were working together.

He was… jealous?

That’s what Iznen had implied anyway, when he went to her for advice. She’d said he was jealous of Quill, and the attention to kid got from the Captain. Kraglin wasn’t one to be jealous. He never caused a fuss, he followed orders, he was laid back and compliant. Which, honestly now that he thought about it, made it hard to understand why Yondu even liked him. Sure, there had to be something nice about someone who you know won’t question your leadership. But even if part of being a Ravager is cheating your way to the top, Yondu didn’t like to do things halfway. He liked a challenge. He liked earning the respect of his crewmates. Quill was just his newest task. No wonder he was so focused on the kid.

So it made sense. But there was still a feeling in Kraglin’s stomach that he couldn’t shake, one that made him hate himself more than Yondu. Selfishly, he wanted that attention. Yondu was his— his…. Something. Partner. That had to count for more.

Kraglin had been avoiding meals in the mess hall for this very reason. He didn’t want to spend time with Quill, nor did he particularly want to see the pair of them spending time together. But one afternoon he slipped in, planning to grab coffee and go, and spotted Yondu sitting at a table — alone. Kraglin wasted no time in marching right over and sitting down across from him. Yondu looked up from his plate, meeting Kraglin’s eyes.

“I was just gonna comm ya, seems like ya read my mind,” he said.

Kraglin crossed his arms. “So ya needed me for something? Lucky timing.”

“I just wanted to talk,” Yondu muttered through gritted teeth. “Why are ya avoiding me?”

“I’m avoiding ya?” Kraglin spluttered. “No. No. Yer the one not putting in any effort to spend time with me, Cap’n. ”

Yondu looked startled. “Kraglin, what the hell are ya on about?”

Not wanting to start a scene, Kraglin lowered his voice and leaned in, though the hostility in his voice didn’t change. “Ya spend all yer time with Quill, I never see ya because I don’t like him. That’s why, I guess.”

Yondu narrowed his eyes. “It ain’t my fault ya don’t like Quill.”

“Yeah well… ya could try to actually care about my feelings a little? Ya know. Typical stuff people do in relationships.” Kraglin shook his head and stood up. “But I ain’t surprised.”

“Kraglin, for fuck’s sake, sit back down.” Yondu glared up at him. Kraglin didn’t, but he also didn’t walk away like he had been planning. “Look. We both know this ain’t a typical relationship. I don’t know how things worked for ya on Xandar, but if ya ain’t figured out that I’m different, then I don’t know what to tell ya.”

Kraglin sighed. “Look Cap’n— Yondu— I ain’t asking ya to be someone yer not. This ain’t about… it ain’t about whatever personal shit ya got going on, the ghosts of yer past, none of that. It’s simple. Ya spend too much of yer time with the kid. Ya give him special treatment. Ya baby him. Just — ya ain’t his father, and it ain’t yer job to watch his every move.” He finally sat back down, and reached across the table for one of Yondu’s hands. The Captain let him take it, watching with an unreadable expression. “The ship and the crew is yer priority, and after that, it’s yer friends and the folks ya care the most about.” He smiled a little. “I hope I’m one of those people.”

Yondu’s face softened just a little. “Ya are. Of course ya are, ya idiot. I wish ya liked Quill. But I’m trying not to neglect ya.”

Kraglin rolled his eyes. “I don’t like him because he gets too much of yer attention.” He laughed. “That’s an easy fix. Everything else, well, he’s a dumb kid. He’ll grow out of it. If he lasts that long.”

“He will,” Yondu said. “I ain’t letting nothing happen to him.” Kraglin gave him a look. “Unless he’s doing something stupid and deserves it, of course.” Kraglin covered his mouth with his hand to hide a laugh. “In which case I’ll kill him myself.” Yondu smiled. “Good?”

“I’ll take it,” Kraglin agreed. And then determined to have the last word, he left.

Chapter Text

For a few weeks, things were fairly quiet on the Eclector . Yondu organized a raid— it wasn’t exactly going to pull in a lot of money, but it was a good way to keep the crew busy in what was otherwise a lull. And more important than that, the target was a bounty hunter network that had been targeting other crews in the Ravager fleet for a few months. So they’d get in, blow up a few ships, and get out. Yondu hadn’t said it, but Kraglin could tell it was nothing more than an attempt to get the attention of Stakar and hopefully win back his respect.

It hadn’t worked, though. Despite the success of the raid and the elimination of the threat, there was radio silence from Stakar’s crew, and all the others as well. Yondu tried to hide his disappointment, but Kraglin saw right through it. Still, the Captain clearly didn’t want to talk about it, so he didn’t bring it up.

After that, everything was mostly back to normal. But one day, Halfnut pulled Kraglin aside after their shift and said he needed to talk to him.

“Is this about the raid?” Kraglin asked impatiently. “I really ain’t got time to talk about that.”

“No.” Halfnut shuffled his feet awkwardly. “It’s um… about the kid.”

Kraglin made a face. “Quill? What the hell d’ya want with him? No one’s eating him, no matter how much Cap’n threatens.” His tone was defensive, which was a bit of a surprise even to him.

Halfnut looked embarrassed, but shook his head. “Nah, I don’t— no, just, listen.” He took a breath. “Him bein’ here— it’s putting a strain on yer relationship with the Captain, ain’t it?”

Kraglin stiffened, and took two rapid steps toward Halfnut, backing him up against the wall and out of earshot from the crowd in the corridor. “Lower yer fuckin’ voice,” he hissed, his face close to the other’s threateningly. “Ya don’t know what yer talking about.”

Halfnut’s eyes widened almost comically, and he held up his hands in defense. “Sorry, sorry, jeez. But I do know.” A grin crept back over his face. “First of all, if yer trying to hide the fact that ya ain’t just fucking, it ain’t working.”

Kraglin had figured as much, so he just shook his head. “I don’t care ‘bout that. What’d ya say about the kid?”

Halfnut shrugged, pushing hair out of his face. “Captain’s been spending an awful lotta time babying him. That can’t be healthy for the two of ya.”

A few weeks ago, Kraglin might’ve agreed. But this was different. “That ain’t none of yer business.”

“Maybe not,” Halfnut admitted. “But ya might be interested in knowing that it ain’t just you he’s neglecting.”

Kraglin scoffed. “What the hell ya talking about?”

“The whole crew feels the same way,” Halfnut said smugly. “Captain’s giving the kid special treatment and more attention than any of us. No one’s happy.”

Kraglin rolled his eyes. “What, so ya speak for the whole crew now?”

“Someone has to.” Halfnut jabbed a finger at Kraglin. “I thought that was the first mate’s job, but I guess not when he’s so far up the Captain’s ass he can’t be objective. Literally.”

Kraglin grabbed Halfnut by both shoulders, holding him back and looking him in the eye. “I swear if ya say another fuckin’ word about my relationship with Yondu I’m gonna stab ya in the throat.”

Halfnut just laughed. “Bold words, Kraglin. One day I’d love to see if ya live up to them.”

Kraglin let out a breath and forced himself to redirect instead of taking the bait. “Why ain’t ya just talking to the Cap’n about this? Why go through me?”

“The Captain ain’t my problem,” he said. “Yer my problem. First mate’s job is supposed to help the Captain see reason, make decisions that are best for the crew. So I’m trying to figure out why yer just letting him favor this kid.”

“Funny that I ain’t heard this complaint from anyone else,” Kraglin said dryly. “Care to explain that?”

Halfnut smiled. “No one else had the nerve to tell ya the cold hard truth.”

“Sure.” Kraglin wasn’t convinced. “Complaint noted. I’ll pass on the message to the Cap’n. That what ya want?”

Halfnut didn’t answer the question. Instead he sidestepped out of Kraglin’s grasp so he was no longer trapped between the first mate and the wall. “Ya want some advice, Kraglin?”

“Not really, no.”

“Keep yer ear to the ground. Listen to what’s going on around here. Or yer gonna end up in trouble.”

Kraglin sucked in a breath. “Is that a threat?”

“It could be.” Halfnut’s tone was light, but there was malice in his words. “Just remember, Kraglin. Yer replaceable. In yer job, and… whatever else. Nothing holds the Captain’s attention for very long.”

Kraglin bared his teeth and reached for the knife at his belt, but the man had already turned and walked away. He turned the blade over in his hand for a moment, wondering how good his aim would be if he threw it at Halfnut’s retreating back. But he finally just sighed and replaced it in its sheath. It wasn’t worth it.

In the cabin later that night Kraglin and Yondu were sitting in a comfortable silence, each doing something on their datapads, when Kraglin decided to tell him about his encounter from earlier.

“So… I talked to Halfnut today,” he began hesitantly.

Yondu didn’t look up. “About the raid?”

“No.” Kraglin cracked his knuckles nervously. “About… Quill. And how yer treating him.”

Yondu put down the datapad and turned to look at Kraglin skeptically. “He had a complaint?” Kraglin nodded. “He always does.”

“Yeah but… it was different.” Kraglin bit his lip. “His problem was more with me. He thinks I should be giving ya better advice or something. I dunno. It’s stupid.”

Yondu huffed. “It is stupid. Ya shouldn’t be listening to his horseshit.”

“He confronted me after a shift, what was I supposed to do?” Kraglin asked.

“Not engage.”

“Would ya have… not engaged ?” Yondu didn’t offer a reply to that. “I don’t know what his problem is with me.”

Yondu stared down at his lap. “I do.”

Kraglin shrugged. “I mean, he kinda implied that he would be a better first mate than me, which is ridiculous, so—”

“It ain’t that.” Kraglin frowned and looked at Yondu, confused.

“Then… what…”

Yondu rubbed his face with a hand. “Halfnut has always been… jealous of our closeness.”

“Oh, c’mon Cap’n, ya don’t mean—” he trailed off as he thought back to the conversation they’d had on Sakaar. Halfnut had been civil then, even amicable. Which is what had made this confrontation so strange. But the one thing that had been puzzling him ever since then... suddenly a lot of things were starting to make sense. “Oh. Yeah. That’s it.” He laughed quietly. “Ya’ve known?”

Yondu nodded. “He’s never been one for subtlety. Until ya came, anyway. He was angry that I was giving someone else my attention. I guess we used to be close. Friends, or whatever, but. He wanted more. And I guess he never got over it.”

“No,” Kraglin agreed, shaking his head. “He didn’t.” He wasn’t interested in telling Yondu about Sakaar, and the Captain didn’t ask how Kraglin knew. “That does explain a lot.” He hesitated. “I’m sorry.”

Yondu snorted. “What for?”

“Getting in between the two of ya.”

Yondu gave Kraglin a look of bewilderment and skepticism. Kraglin held the innocent, apologetic look for a few moments until he couldn’t anymore, and the pair both burst into laughter.

“Holy hell, Kraglin, ya almost had me convinced there for a second!”

Kraglin grinned and leaned against Yondu’s shoulder, hiding his face. “Can ya imagine? You, with that asshole?”

“Trust me, I’ve had to imagine it. And it ain’t pretty.” Yondu tossed an arm around Kraglin lazily. “That woulda ended in him with an arrow through his chest.” He paused, considering. “Honestly, it might anyway.”

They fell back into silence for a few minutes, until Kraglin sat up and glanced over at Yondu with a questioning look on his face.

“What?” Yondu asked.

“Ya still love me, right?”

This time, Yondu didn’t miss a beat in answering. “Of course I do.”

Kraglin just smiled, and flicked the light off.

Chapter Text

When Kraglin was summoned to the conference room by Yondu for an “urgent meeting”, he was expecting an emergency, or maybe an update on the exile. But the assembled group was a strange one, though not unwelcome. Iznen was lounging in a chair, Tullk was leaning against the wall, Frias was sitting at the table looking at something on his datapad. Kraglin walked over to Iznen, pulling up a chair beside her. “So uh… where’s Yondu?”

The tailor shrugged. “No clue. What’s this about, anyway? He said there were new crew members who needed fittings…?”

Kraglin frowned. “He just said it’s urgent. That don’t sound urgent. Hey Frias!” he called over to the chef. “Why are ya here?”

Frias looked up and shrugged. “Captain just said he wanted to talk about the autoserve. Not sure why we couldn’t do that in the kitchen, or why you guys are here though…”

Tullk walked over and put a hand on the back of Kraglin’s chair. “Somethin’ strange is going on here,” he said. “I was told this was gonna be senior officers only. No offense laddie,” he said, nodding to Frias.

At that point, the door opened and Yondu walked in briskly. “Ya wanted to see me, Kraglin—” He cut off, seeing the small group assembled, and stopped just inside the doorway. “What the hell?”

Iznen swung her legs over the arm of the chair and put her feet back down on the ground, leaning in to look at him skeptically. “So you didn’t call us here?”

“Of course not!” Yondu scowled. “Kraglin commed me saying he needed to talk…” he trailed off as Kraglin shook his head. “Someone wanted to get us all in here.” His lips pursed, ready to whistle, and Kraglin tensed.

Then suddenly, there was a rattling sound from a cluster of crates and barrels in the corner, and one of them tipped over, crashing to the ground. Five heads snapped toward the sound, and Kraglin watched as a small redheaded figure crawled out and stood up with a sheepish smile.

“Surprise!” Quill said, clearly not as proudly as he’d planned.

“What the hell, Quill?” Kraglin stood and stormed over to the boy, grabbing him by the collar. “What is all this about?”

“I…” he trailed off, looking at the five Ravagers. A smile spread over his face. “Thank you all for coming,” he said with mock-authority, as if he was running a meeting. “As you probably don’t know because you’re all losers, but are about to learn, tomorrow is my birthday.”

Yondu scoffed. “Birthday? Ya think we care about shit like that? The most anyone gets for their birthday if it even comes up is an extra helping at dinner and a bottle of booze after their shift. You don’t need either of those things, so I dunno what ya want from me.”

Quill pouted, and walked over to the table, climbing up onto a chair so he stood more or less even with the others. “You kidnapped me and brought me here. If I were home, I’d be getting a party, and gifts, and a cake. All my friends from school would be there. You owe me!”

“We don’t owe ya anything, Quill.” Kraglin rolled his eyes. “If anything, ya owe us. Saving yer life—”

Tullk cut him off quickly with a hand raised. “Hang on. A cake, ya said?” Quill nodded, and Tullk glanced at Frias. “That why he’s here?” Another nod. “Can ya do that?”

The chef shrugged. “Make a cake? Of course.”

Tullk smiled. “Do it, then.” Frias stood and left quickly. Yondu was sitting with his arms crossed, and Iznen was leaning in excitedly.

“Ooh, so we’re doing a party then?” She looked at Quill eagerly. “How can I help?”

“Decorations!” Quill replied instantly. “Can we do it in here?”

“We ain’t giving ya a whole party, Quill,” Kraglin snapped.

“Oh, come on, Kraglin,” Iznen said. “Why not?”

“It’s not… it ain’t good. For the crew to see all this. The special treatment.” Kraglin shifted uncomfortably, lowering his voice.

“Who said anything about the crew?” Iznen patted him on the back. “Quill, who all did ya want at yer party?”

Quill gave a satisfied smile. “Just you guys,” he said. “You’re my friends.”

Yondu stood abruptly and walked away to a corner of the room, rubbing his temple. Kraglin watched him, concerned.

“Tell ye what.” Tullk went over to Quill and knelt down next to him. “I’ll go see if Frias canna make ye a nice birthday dinner too, okay? We winna have a big party, but we’ll all be here, ye can eat whatever ya want, and we’ll all listen to yer music. Sound good?”

Quill nodded. “Okay, Tullk.”

“There’s a good laddie.” He ruffled Quill’s hair. “Come with me, ye gotta get through a shift first.” Quill hopped down from the chair and followed obediently.

“I’ll go check in on Frias,” Iznen volunteered. The three of them left the room, leaving Kraglin and Yondu alone.

“Ya ain’t said much,” Kraglin said, hesitantly breaking the silence. “What’s on yer mind?”

Yondu sighed and turned around to look back at him. “I’m losing control over my crew,” he said quietly, walking back to the table. “They don’t listen to me. They don’t respect me.” He sat down heavily. “Going over my head to do this stupid party for Quill… How did he even get us all here anyway?”

Kraglin patted Yondu’s arm sympathetically. “I think I know.” He opened up his datapad, and there in the comms was a message to Yondu that he hadn’t written. Come to the conference room, need to talk.

Yondu frowned but complied, narrowing his eyes as he read. “All these messages… ‘ Urgent meeting, conference room ’. ‘ Need to talk about menu and the autoserve. In the conference room ’. ‘ New recruits in the conference room, come for fittings ’. ‘ Senior officers meeting in the conference room ’.... Smart kid,” he admitted grudgingly. “Managed to steal our datapads to send all those messages.”

Kraglin grinned. “So ya ain’t mad at him?”

Yondu shook his head. “Oh, I am. But he can have his party, whatever. But if he thinks he’s getting gifts from me, he’s wrong. I don’t give gifts to no one.” Kraglin nodded. That much was true.

“So… he thinks of us as his friends,” Kraglin said. “All five of us.”

“Seems like it,” Yondu muttered. “Don’t know why.”

Kraglin shrugged. “Kid’s got a lot of love to give, I think.” He laughed. “It ain’t exactly warranted, but I wouldn’t complain about it, Cap’n.”

“I guess yer right.” Yondu sighed. “C’mon, we still got work to do before this dumb party.” Kraglin laughed and followed him to the bridge.

***

“I still can’t believe we’s doing this,” Yondu grumbled as he stood in the conference room hours later, Kraglin and Tullk at his sides. Frias was arranging food on the table, and Iznen was hooking up the speakers to Quill’s Walkman, which she’d stolen from him in all the commotion. Kraglin glanced at the time on his datapad. The shift was over. Quill should be there any minute.

“Everything’s ready, Captain,” Iznen said, joining the trio. “Where’s the kid?”

“Late,” Kraglin said.

“Fer his own party?” Yondu scoffed. “Typical.”

At that moment, the door creaked open and Quill burst into the room, red-faced and out of breath. “I can’t find my Walkman!” he shouted angrily.

Kraglin glanced over his shoulder at Iznen, who grinned and started up the music. The room was filled with a painfully familiar Ooga-Chaka, and Quill’s face lit up in surprise. His expression turned to delight as he glanced around the room, taking it in. His “friends”, the food, the music. Kraglin didn’t really get it, but he could tell the boy was happy. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yondu usher Quill over to the table, and a little smile crossed his face. It was nice to see him relaxing.

They all sat at the table, Yondu and Kraglin on Quill’s right, Iznen and Tullk on the left, as Frias began to serve the food. “Well, here’s to ya, Quill,” Yondu said. “Ya made it ‘til yer first birthday on a Ravager ship. Not many do. So, congrats. This will never happen again,” he added, gesturing around the room. “So enjoy it while ya can. Yer—” he paused, frowning. “How old are ya now?”

“Nine!” he said.

“Nine? Flark, kid.” Yondu laughed and shook his head. “Alright, then!” He raised his glass. “Happy birthday, Pete!”

Quill broke into a big smile as everyone toasted him. “Can I drink too?” he asked, eyeing Kraglin’s glass.

“Not a chance,” Kraglin snorted. “Yer too little, one bit of this would probably kill ya.”

“Would not!”

“Kraglin’s right,” Yondu chided. “No booze for you.”

Quill pouted and went back to eating, the music still blasting in the background. Once he was done, Frias carried over the cake. Kraglin blinked as he set it down, and looked at Quill who was staring wide-eyed. It was round, blue and green, and as far as Kraglin could tell, resembled Terra.

“Frias…” Quill said, voice shaking. “Thank you…” Frias smiled and ruffled his hair. Kraglin looked at Yondu and nudged him.

“Look, he’s crying,” he whispered. “Can’t cry on his birthday.”

Yondu nodded, and turned to Quill. “Hey. Don’t go getting all soft and sentimental,” he said. “Eat yer cake like a man.”

Quill giggled. “Okay, okay! But wait— you guys need to sing happy birthday!”

“There’s a birthday song?” Iznen asked. “That’s something Terrans do?”

Quill looked at her incredulously. “You guys don’t have that?” He shrugged. “I’ll teach you!”

Yondu frowned. “No, no singing. Not me.”

“All of you have to, or it’s not fair!” Quill insisted. Tullk gave Yondu a look, and he shrugged.

“Fine. Sing it for us.”

Quill beamed and launched into a shaky but confident warble. To their credit, the assembled Ravagers listened attentively, and when he went through it a second time, they all did their best to sing along.  Song complete, they cut the cake and watched in amusement as Quill got up and danced to his music. Iznen held his hand and helped him climb up on the table, where he bounced around to the beat.

Yondu meanwhile had stepped away from the table, standing against the wall with his arms crossed. Kraglin slipped over next to him and just watched Quill. “He looks happy,” he said quietly.

“Yeah,” Yondu agreed. “So young, and innocent.”

“I wouldn’t say innocent,” Kraglin began, then stopped. “I guess you would. But Yondu, ya can’t always compare his life to yers.” He squeezed Yondu’s arm. “He’s gonna be okay. I mean, look at him.” He pointed to the table. “He’s got three Ravagers singing and dancing with him.”

“He’s soft.”

“No,” Kraglin said. “He’s strong. Smart.” He smiled at Yondu. “Like someone else I know.”

Yondu finally turned to him and nodded, smiling back reluctantly. “Thanks, Kraglin.”

Quill’s voice cut Kraglin off before he could say any more. “Yondu! Kraglin! Come dance!”

“Yeah, get over here Udonta,” Iznen called. “And Kraglin too! Idjits.”

Kraglin shrugged, laughing. “Duty calls,” he said to Yondu. “Let’s go.”

Yondu scoffed but walked back to the table with a slight spring in his step, and Kraglin trailed behind, watching him as he rejoined the festivities that lasted well into the night.

Chapter Text

Over the next few weeks, despite his efforts to keep talk of Quill’s little celebration to a minimum, Kraglin found that the party had become a hot topic on the ship. He’d tried (oh, he’d really tried) to keep it under wraps. The last thing Yondu wanted was for it to seem like he was favoring the kid, or allowing ridiculous celebrations. Of course, both these things were true, but he had a reputation to uphold, and so the burden of protecting it fell on Kraglin.

But he wasn’t particularly surprised to find rumors spreading, whispers in the hallways and the mess hall. It was ridiculous, Kraglin thought, for these Ravagers (most of them well into adulthood) to be so jealous of a human child who was nothing more than a permanent passenger. Yondu might have disagreed — Was Peter a Ravager? He’d probably say yes — but Kraglin held the opinion that you had to want to be a Ravager. And so far, Quill hadn’t shown any interest. He seemed to like the ship well enough, and he did like Yondu for some reason, but he slacked on work, he couldn’t do any real jobs except cleaning and occasionally helping in the kitchen. At least he was good at getting into fights, even if he sucked at self defense. That was a Ravager trait — getting into dumb arguments that led to fist fights and bloody noses or minor broken bones. Folks tended to not pull their punches around here.

All that being said, someone had to try to keep a little order, and since Yondu wasn’t going to do it, Kraglin would. He knew it made him a hardass and unlikeable at times, but he didn’t need to be liked. He just needed to be taken seriously. Which, for the most part, he was. He’d lost track of the weeks and months he’d been on the Eclector — at least two years, probably going on three — but he’d commanded the respect of most of the crew, even the older Ravagers. In fact, it wasn’t the older ones he usually had trouble with. It was the younger ones.

He wasn’t surprised to find they were the ones stirring up trouble now.

As Kraglin walked from the bridge to his quarters, he passed a small group gathered in the corridor. They had paused in the middle of their work to chat, it seemed, in the middle of a shift. Normally, Kraglin wouldn’t have minded. He might’ve shot them a look and continued on his way, or given a quick pointed reminder that they were working , but it was hardly a big deal. Normally.

The words caught his attention now though, and he let himself walk past them a few feet before stopping in the middle of the hallway

“—Don’t even seem to have proper control over the ship. I don’t ever see him, do you?”

“Ain’t even met the guy.”

“Cuz he’s off partying with some fucking terran kid. Hell, if I’d known that’s what he favored, I’d’ve gotten surgery—”

“Ya wasn’t here before the exile but ya know we ain’t even really Ravagers anymore. That’s what that means. Some Captain he is—”

They seemed to have noticed Kraglin’s presence, because they fell quiet. He hadn’t even turned around yet, but he did now, expression stony.

“Sorry, Kraglin,” one of them said, and Kraglin recognized him as one of the rookies from before. His scowl deepened.

“Stryker.” The man had a good service record so far, but this wasn’t the first time he’d proven himself to be trouble. Kraglin believed in second chances, but not third ones. “Ya don’t know when to keep yer mouth shut, do ya?” Stryker took that moment to not say a word, eyes cast to the ground, shuffling his feet. But Kraglin wasn’t having that. “No, really. Come on. Ya clearly have very strong opinions. I’m the crew’s liaison to the Cap’n. Why dontcha say what’s on yer mind and I’ll pass it along ?”

Stryker shook his head. “Nevermind.”

“Oh?” Kraglin crossed his arms. “Well, okay. Ya don’t wanna talk? Then I’ll tell ya what I’m gonna say to him. I’m gonna say ‘Gee Yondu, ya know that kid Stryker? He was talkin’ about how ya ain’t a good Cap’n no more, how yer incapable of leading, bein’ a proper Ravager, and someone else oughtta take over.’ That what ya want?”

He looked horrified, frozen in place. “B-but that ain’t what I said!”

Unimpressed, Kraglin’s expression didn’t change. “Ain’t it?”

“No! That makes it sound like I’m talkin’ about… about like… mutiny, or something!”

Kraglin shoved his hands in his pockets, and shrugged, turning away. “Ya said it, not me.” He stalked off down the hallway, ignoring the distressed shouts of the group behind him. He knew it wasn’t a big deal — probably not worth bothering Yondu over. These kids weren’t a threat. But he was tired of the sneaking around, the disrespect, the whispers and rumors circling around his Captain. They needed to learn there were consequences. Mind made up, he pushed open the door to his and Yondu’s shared quarters and flopped onto the bed. Yondu looked up from the chair he was settled in, polishing his arrow.

“Damn, Kraglin, what’s got ya in such a huff?” his voice was light, a little playful. He was… in a good mood. Kraglin almost felt bad he was about to ruin it.

“Some o’ them rookie fighters got complaints about the way yer leading this crew,” he said, shedding the knives from his belt onto the table beside the bed. He could see Yondu’s gaze following him, slow and curious.

“Is this about the fucking party? I swear—”

Kraglin shook his head. “No. Not really.” Not worth getting Yondu mad at Quill over this. “It’s residual discontent from the... exile.”

Yondu was quiet for a moment, then he sighed and replaced his arrow, standing up. “I knew this would happen.”

“What’re ya gonna do?” Kraglin asked, looking up at him from the bed with intrigue.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?!” Kraglin hopped up. “Yondu, ya gotta do something. Ya can’t let them get away with that!”

“Kid, ya still got a lot to learn,” Yondu said. “It just ain’t worth it. Bunch of rookies? They can’t do shit. Won’t do shit.”

Kraglin closed his eyes. He hated doing this, still felt wrong doing this, but he had to. “Cap’n, I… respectfully disagree.”

That got Yondu’s attention. “Oh?” Arms crossed, he leaned against the wall, watching his first mate carefully.

“Yeah… yes. Yes. This ain’t the first time Stryker has run his mouth.” He swallowed, pushing his nerves away. “I’ve caught him twice now, and I think we can assume he’s not just saying this shit when I can hear him. He won’t do anything on his own, but his friends listen to him. And the more he talks without going unchecked, the more likely others are to hear him. He’s confident, and most of the idiots on this ship flock to confidence. It don’t matter what nonsense he’s spewing. He could be saying Stakar is a giant sea monster with ten eyes floating through the sky on comet, and they’d eventually believe him.” Yondu snorted in amusement, and Kraglin relaxed a little more, glad Yondu was at least listening to him enough to laugh at his stupid jokes. “Look, right now, they don’t see ya as a confident leader. Ya hole yerself up in yer cabin, ya dinna talk to anyone except me, Quill, and Tullk, and ya rarely make any big moves.” He sighed. “I think ya need to make a big move. Show them yer still here. Still their leader. Not afraid to do what needs to be done. Be their Cap’n.”

Kraglin fell silent, staring at the ground. He’d probably overstepped. Yondu was in charge, not him, he didn’t have the authority to tell him what to do, and now—

“Okay.”

A moment. Kraglin blinked. Looked up.

“What?”

“I said okay. I’ll do something. Ya deaf, Krags?” Yondu grabbed his coat, shrugging it on his shoulders.

“But—”

Grabbing his arm, Yondu looked Kraglin in the eye seriously. “Yer my damn first mate, Obfonteri. That ain’t fer nothing. I know ya want what’s best fer me. Ya know what’s best. Sometimes better than I do. If ya really think I need to punish the guy, I will. I trust yer judgement.”

Kraglin grinned. “Thanks, Cap’n.”

Yondu slung an arm around his shoulder, guiding him out the door at his side. “Let’s go kick some rookie ass.”

When this was all over, Kraglin would drink to that.

The group had cleared the hallway by the time the pair passed through, but it didn’t take long to find them in the mess hall, sharing a drink and laughing loudly. It wasn’t hard to pick out Stryker, his voice carrying loudly over the others.

“And then he said he was gonna tell the Captain I was talkin’ mutiny. Ha! As if. That wimp.”

A sharp whistle pierced the air, and Yondu’s arrow swerved across the room, parting the crowd and coming to a stop in between Stryker’s eyes. “Why dontcha tell me yerself, then?” Yondu asked, striding up to him in the wake. He walked with a swagger, hands in his pockets calmly. Kraglin stood at his shoulder, arms crossed.

“Ah… it’s nothing, Captain.” Stryker fumbled for words, clearly shocked at Yondu’s appearance.

“It’s…?”

“Nothing, yes!” Stryker had started to back up, going nearly cross-eyed as he watched the arrow follow him.

“It’s. Nothing.” Yondu whistled again, and flames lapped at the base of the arrow as it heated up, ready to pierce the traitor it was pursuing. But he didn’t release it. He looked around at the small crowd that had assembled, some watching in fear, others in delight at the potential of a showdown. “Whaddya’ll think?” he asked loudly. “Anyone else think talkin’ mutiny and treachery is nothing ?” No one said a word. Smart decision, Kraglin noted. “That’s what I thought. So, Stryker, whaddya think happens to traitors, hm? Or rather, whaddya think should happen? Seems we ain’t set a precedent for that.”

Stryker shook his head, mouth hanging open, too afraid to speak. His eyes darted side to side, looking for a way out.

“Ya wanna flee from me?” Yondu laughed, and called the arrow back to his hand with a sharp whistle. “Go ahead. Try and run.” Stryker didn’t need to be asked twice. Petrified, he took off, sprinting out of the mess hall as fast as he could.

Kraglin was about to complain, say something about Yondu letting him off with a warning — and then he realized the arrow was in pursuit. Yondu followed him out at a slower walk. Oh, I see. Kraglin grinned and fell into step beside him, the rest of the crowd watching with bloodthirsty curiosity.

Everywhere Stryker ran, the arrow followed, but never quite catching him. Anyone else might’ve thought Yondu couldn’t keep up, but Kraglin saw what was happening. Yondu was playing a game. Herding him toward — something.

And then he saw what.

Stryker had reached a dead end, a hallway corridor that had been blocked off, the only exit an airlock at the very end. He was cornered. Back pressed against the thick glass, arrow trapping him without escape, Stryker looked at the pair with terrified and pleading eyes. “Kraglin! Please! Tell him I didn’t mean it! You know I ain’t doing no mutiny! It’s just talk!”

Kraglin shook his head at him grimly. “Every mutiny starts that way,” he said. “I can’t let ya take this any further.” He glanced at Yondu. “Can I do the honors?”

Yondu nodded. “By all means.” The encasement closed him in, and now that he was separated from the arrow, Stryker pounded on the glass with both fists. Kraglin watched for just a moment before slamming the release button. The outer wall opened up, and they watched as Stryker was sucked out into open space. It only took a few seconds for his skin to crystallize in the cold, and moments later, his body floated away, just dead weight and nothing more.

Kraglin felt sick. Yondu’s expression was unreadable, and as they turned to leave, he felt the eyes of the assembled group watching as they walked back down the hall. He could sense the nervous energy from them, the excitement in some of their eyes, and the fear in others. Yondu seemed to ignore it all though, head held high as he passed them. Kraglin maintained that same air of confidence as he followed, but he still couldn’t help but wonder if they’d made the right decision. Only time would tell.

Chapter Text

“Normal” was not a word Kraglin would ever use to refer to life on Yondu’s ship. Sure, there was routine, and sure, he could expect what was to come day to day.

But normal?

Even after years of the Ravager life, he was pretty sure that none of this would ever be normal .

But, he supposed, that didn’t really matter. It was life — no, his life. And it had been for a long time. He wasn’t complaining, either. He liked this life. Loved it, even.

But stars above, it was anything but normal.

For example.

He and Yondu had been in bed, when suddenly the alarms went off all across the ship. They had gotten up, flinging clothes on as fast as possible, and joined the rest of the crew at the hangar for evacuation… only to get an all clear from the Quartermaster, saying that Quill had started a small fire in the kitchens, trying to make a midnight snack.

And then there was the time everyone’s left boots had gone missing. Every single one. Inexplicably, at random times throughout the week, until everyone was hobbling around unevenly, or had forgotten shoes altogether and was going barefoot. Kraglin was pretty sure he’d never regain his sense of smell. The boots had turned up a few days later…. Stacked to the ceiling in Quill’s quarters. After that, Yondu decided it was time for him to move into a shared cabin. He put the kid with Oblo and Vorker — he and Kraglin trusted both of them enough to know they wouldn’t try anything.

Still, the pranks didn’t stop. More belongings went missing, schedules were rearranged, sugar was replaced with salt at the autoserve… the list went on and on. And somehow, this always became Kraglin’s headache to deal with. Yondu’s patience was thin these days. Or maybe he didn’t want the shenanigans to taint his soft spot for the boy. It was something like that, Kraglin suspected.

He was pretty sure Quill was just getting stir crazy. He had been living on the ship for well over a year and a half now, nearly two, and hadn’t gotten shore leave once. It was for safety, Yondu had said, and Kraglin didn’t disagree. But the Eclector was a small place when it was the only place.

But, he also wasn’t going to complain too much. The pranks were what got him moved out of his little closet (which really had been getting too small for him; the kid grew fast), which meant the pair no longer had to endure the incessant humming and singing. That was a nice bonus. Let it be someone else’s headache, literally. In fact, it had now been close to a month since Quill had moved, and Kraglin almost felt like he never saw him anymore.

“That silence? That’s what heaven must be like,” Kraglin remarked to Yondu one evening, his arm draped lazily over the other’s chest. He closed his eyes, taking in the quiet, and Yondu gave a grunt of acknowledgement as he rolled onto one side. It sounded like he was almost asleep. “Don’t ya think, Cap’n?” Kraglin, for once, was wide awake. He didn’t sleep as heavily as Yondu did, but he was usually the one to pass out first. But there was no more sound from Yondu, so he just grumbled to himself and curled up against his back, trying to will himself into a slumber.

And then there was a pounding on the door.

“You did this.” Now Yondu was awake, shoving Kraglin off of him unceremoniously and sitting up. “You jinxed it. Bastard.”

Kraglin let out a strangled whine of dismay and pouted. “This ain’t my fault, I didn’t do shit, you asshole.”

Yondu scoffed, and flung the first thing he could find — his left boot, ironically — at the door. “Go away! Do you even know what time it is?”

Kraglin hadn’t been expecting an answer, and it looked like Yondu hadn’t been either, by the way he sat back in surprise at the answer from the hallway.

“It’s like… nine o’clock. Were you guys seriously asleep?”

Kraglin groaned, and threw the other shoe at the door as well. “Quill? Get the fuck outta here.”

“You guys are such old men. It’s not even that late. Can I come in?” A pause. “Wait, unless you were fucking, then I really don’t wanna be anywhere near you.”

Kraglin’s face went bright red, and Yondu howled with laughter. “You’re a shithead, Quill. Whaddya want?” The Captain stood up, walking to the door and opening it, staring down at the kid.

Quill blinked up innocently at him. “I can’t sleep.”

Now it was Kraglin’s turn to choke back a laugh as Yondu turned around abruptly and stalked back to the bed. “Yer terrible, boy. Just the worst. The hell do you think we’re supposed to do? I thought you said it’s early.” Quill followed him into the room, leaning against the wall by the bed.

“It is,” he said, not dropping the innocent facade. “For me. I’m a kid, we’re supposed to get more sleep than adults.”

“Whoever told ya that is a liar,” Yondu grumbled.

“So what I’m hearing,” Kraglin interjected with a skeptical look. “Is that you had an evening shift that you managed to get out of by saying you were tired, but now ya can’t actually sleep. Right?”

The Terran’s eyes widened a fraction and he actually took a step back. Then he was grinning again — Kraglin could see now that he was missing one of his front teeth. Was that normal for Terrans? “You’re so smart, Kraglin,” Quill said, but the flattery was not going to work on him. “Anyway, can you tell me a bedtime story?” His expression drooped, actually looking a little… sad? “I really don’t like living with Oblo and Vorker. Oblo snores, and Vorker always puts his eye right where I can see it. It’s like… staring at me. It’s creepy, man.”

Kraglin scoffed. “A bedtime story? Seriously, kid? No. No way.”

Yondu, to his credit, looked just as suspicious. “The hell kinda game you playing, boy? Why would ya think I’d want to do that?”

Quill shook his head at Yondu vigorously, little orange curls flopping in his face. His hair was getting long too — the wild and ungroomed thing was not a good look on him. Was this puberty or something? “I wasn’t asking you,” he clarified, and then turned to Kraglin. “I was asking you. Please, Kraglin? Pleeeeeease?”

Well, that certainly got his attention. Both of their attentions, actually. Yondu smirked, and flopped back down, pulling the blanket up over him. “Go on, Kraglin. Tell us a story.”

Seething, Kraglin gave them both a hellish look. “Both of you. I hate both of you.”

“No you doooon’t!” came the sing-song reply. They were truly two of a kind. The worst kind.

“Fine, whatever. I don’t know any bedtime stories, though, so it’s your own fault if this sucks.” Kraglin rolled his eyes and leaned back, folding his hand behind his head as he wracked his brain for anything that would make a good story. Quill beamed and climbed up onto the foot of the bed, sitting cross-legged and watching him intently. “Uh, okay. Once upon a time there was a little boy.” Great, real great start. He thought back to his childhood. There had been a movie he’d watched… at least, he thought it was a movie? Maybe not. Maybe he had actually dreamed up the whole thing. He wouldn’t be surprised.

“Real original, Kraglin,” the kid quipped.

“Do ya want this story or not?” Quill clamped his mouth shut and Kraglin closed his eyes, continuing. “Once upon a time, there was a little boy, and every night when he went to sleep, he dreamed of a magical world. His life at home was really shitty - his father was too busy to play with him, and his mama was always yelling at him about something or other. But in this dream world, the little boy was a hero. Everyone loved him, he had a million friends, and he was the coolest and the strongest and the smartest. The best part was that he got to visit the Princess, at the invitation of the King. He and the Princess became best friends, and they would go on lots of adventures together.”

“And there were also pirates!” That was Yondu — his eyes were closed too, Kraglin had thought he was asleep, but apparently not.

“Well, no, they weren’t exactly — wait, do you know this story?”

“Of course not,” Yondu said, though he didn’t sound very convincing. “But every good story has pirates. Let me tell it.” Kraglin and Quill exchanged a look, and he shrugged. No complaints there. “The pirates kept trying to get the boy to play with them instead,” Yondu continued. It seemed like he was just making things up, but it was… closer to the original story that Kraglin would’ve anticipated. “They dragged him along on their rowdy escapades, pillaging, and playing jokes on the villagers. The little boy knew he shouldn’t go with them, but it was just so much more fun than playing with a stuffy Princess all day.”

“I feel like this isn’t how the story goes,” Quill remarked. That earned him a loud SHHHHHH! from them both.

“Then one day, the kingdom was in trouble.” Kraglin decided he was taking back the reins on this story. “The pirates raiding the town without him, stealing their gold and killing villagers. The boy didn’t know what to do. Everyone in the kingdom had been nice to him, but the pirates were his friends. His pleasant dream had become a nightmare.”

“So what happened?” Quill listened with wide eyes. Kraglin looked over at Yondu, who shook his head, letting him continue.

“The little boy knew he had to grow up and face the realities of the world. He couldn’t keep living in the comfort of his perfect dreamland. So he left the kingdom behind, and never visited the town or the Princess again. From that night on, he only dreamt of pirates, and the harshness of being an adult. And although there was still a part of him that felt like it was wrong, he was happier with the pirates. They were fun. They were exciting. And no stuck up bureaucrat ever told him what to do ever again. The end.”

The room was silent. Finally, Quill whistled, long and low. “Wow. You guys really know how to bring down the mood.” He snorted. “What’s a bureaucrat?”

“It don’t matter,” Yondu said, and kicked at him from under the blankets. “You got your story, now go to bed or I’m telling Tullk to put ya on the night shift since ya don’t wanna sleep.”

Quill yelped and jumped up, giggling. “Okay! I’m going, I’m going!” He waved as he bolted for the door. “G’night, Yondu! Night, Kraglin!” And then he was gone, the door shut behind him. Kraglin waited until the patter of his feet had faded down the hall before turning to Yondu.

“You sure you didn’t hear that story before?”

“Well, considering I’m pretty certain ya just made it up, yes.” Yondu scoffed and once more rolled onto his side with his back to Kraglin.

“Why d’ya say that?” he asked, laying down next to him.

“Because it sounded an awful lot like you.”

Kraglin frowned. “Oh yeah? Well, it kinda sounds like you too.”

“No it ain’t.” Yondu’s voice was firm. “That’s nothing like me.”

“Uh-huh.”

They lapsed into silence after that.

“Hey Yondu?” The only answer was a snore. Kraglin sighed, and draped his arm over his sleeping Captain’s form, finding sleep even harder than it had been before. “...Goodnight.”

Chapter Text

Despite their small Terran’s insistence that he wasn’t a kid anymore, it took Yondu a very long time to even begin to consider letting Quill do anything besides cleaning vents and helping in the kitchen. But finally, shortly after the boy’s tenth birthday, Yondu walked onto the bridge where Kraglin was helming, Quill beside him, and barked a simple order.

“Kraglin! I want you to teach Quill to fly!”

Kraglin almost choked on his coffee, turning to give the pair an incredulous look. “What? Quill? Fly? Why… why me?”

Yondu grinned at him, baring sharp yellow teeth. It was almost intimidating. “Because, yer the best pilot I’ve got.” Kraglin scowled, not so charmed by the compliment.

“That’s just not true,” he said, turning back to watch the sky. “Vorker’s got better technical skill than me. He’d be a better teacher on all accounts.” But something told him, even as he made his case, that Yondu wasn’t interested in that. He wanted Kraglin to do it. Why?

“I’m not putting the kid in an M-ship with that one-eyed buffoon,” Yondu said flippantly. Kraglin bristled.

“Hey, that ain’t fair, Cap’n. Don’t ya trust anyone ? Vorker’s my friend, I’d trust him to to shuttle me around any day. Plus he’s a friendly sort, Quill’s better off with him than me, anyway.” It wasn’t that Kraglin cared one way or another if Vorker was the one to teach Quill. But he didn’t like Yondu insulting him. Kraglin had bought the other Ravager into the clan himself, training him, giving up a proper place among their ranks. They’d gotten very close over the last year or so, and Kraglin didn’t want his name being slandered.

Yondu just shrugged it off, though. “Kay, whatever, Kraglin. I’m still not budging. Yer teaching the kid.”

Seriously? Kraglin resisted the urge to bash his forehead against the dashboard console. “Why don’t you just do it? Yer a fine pilot.”

“ Just a fine pilot? Is that any way to talk to your Captain?” Yondu’s voice was edged with humor, but Kraglin was far from amused.

“For fuck’s sake, Yondu! What the hell you doing?”

The bridge went quiet for a moment. Yondu’s expression shifted into a hardened frown. “Jeez, lighten up, Kraglin. I just thought it’d be fun.”

Kraglin let out a long, drawn-out sigh. “Stars. Yer so damn roundabout, it’s a wonder anyone can understand you.” He shook his head. “Fine, whatever. It’ll be fun .” He didn’t sound convinced. “Quill, go down to the docking bay and see what rigs are open.” 

The kid, who had been quiet thus far, beamed, his whole face lighting up. “Thanks Kraglin!!! Thanks so much!!!” He made as if to hug the first mate, and was met with a kick in the shin to ward him off. To his credit, he didn’t even flinch, simply turning to sprint off, waving and calling out his thanks as he left. 

“Don’t even think about touching my ship!” Kraglin hollered after him. Once he was gone, he swiveled his seat to give Yondu a hard stare. “Okay, seriously? You think this’ll be fun? ”

Yondu laughed and sat down in the seat beside him, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world. “Oh sure,” he said. “He’s gonna suck. It’ll be hilarious.”

Well, at least Yondu knew Kraglin’s sense of humor. His shoulders sagged, relaxing a bit, and he rolled his eyes. “Alright, you win. It is gonna be fun having to save his ass when he puts the damn thing into a nosedive.”

***

Quill didn’t suck.

He actually seemed to have a natural talent for all of it. The navigation, the steering, even the multitasking. It was a lot for a kid to handle, but for some reason it all seemed to make sense in his brain. Kraglin, for all his concerns, stopped worrying that they were both going to die… despite the fact that he was gripping the edge of his seat the entire time. No doubt, Quill was a daredevil. He was already testing his luck with some stunts, and some of them he actually pulled off quite impressively.

After a third round of spirals, Quill pulled up short, and Kraglin transferred the controls back to himself, gasping for breath. He shouldn’t have eaten so much this morning. “Flark, kid.” He shook his head, glancing at Quill with a somewhat bewildered expression. “You sure you didn’t grow up around spaceships? That was some impressive stuff.” Kraglin had been a fast learner too, but he’d been an adult. The kid was… what, ten now? Insane.

“I mean, my mom……….” He trailed off. Whoops. That had been a mistake. But to his credit, Quill swallowed whatever emotions were threatening to build up, and pushed forward. “She taught me how to drive, a little. Only on our street, because it was really quiet, and you can’t learn to drive until you’re 16 technically. But no one ever found out that we were doing it, so it was fine.” He hesitated. “Then she got sick, and couldn’t teach me anymore.” 

They were both silent a moment. “Anyway, it’s not that different. Plus I can see a little better now, haha.”

Huh. Kraglin didn’t know how to respond to that, not really. “Well, you’ve got gifts, Quill. When yer a little older, you’ll be piloting with the best of ‘em.”

That did seem to be the right thing to say. A huge smile spread across his face, and he leaned over the armrest closer to Kraglin. “Really??? Thanks, Kraglin!”

“Yeah, don’t get cocky. It ain’t a good look on ya.”

Yondu was eagerly awaiting the pair’s return, a somewhat smug look on his face as they approached him. Quill’s beaming expression and Kraglin’s grudgingly proud one told him all he needed to know.

“Went well?”

“It was so awesome, Yondu! Holy crap those things go so much faster than cars!” Quill was already running out of the hangarbay, veering in every direction as if he were still piloting an out of control ship.

“I hope that ain’t a representation of your steering!” the Captain shouted after his disappearing form. Kraglin let out a small huff of laughter.

“He was good, really. I was impressed.”

“Wow. Kraglin Obfonteri, impressed?” Yondu grinned, tossing an arm around Kraglin’s shoulder and pulling him in roughly.

“Mmmpf, Cap’n, please don’t noogie your first officer.” 

Yondu scoffed, but released him with a chuckle. “So, the kid’s a natural pilot. Who woulda thought.” 

“Definitely not you.” Kraglin grinned at him, elbow to his side. “It’s a good thing, I reckon. We can start sending him out to do stuff. He might even enjoy it. Seemed like he was having fun.”

Yondu grunted in acknowledgement. “I know what I’m doing sometimes, believe it or not.”

“But ya just wanted to get him off yer back for a few hours, didntcha?”

Yondu’s glare might’ve silenced anyone else as he turned and stalked out of the bay, but Kraglin only laughed and trotted after him.

Chapter Text

“Can I come? Pleeeeeeeease can I come? Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease?” 

Kraglin had never seen someone so eager to get themselves killed.

“No, kid.” Yondu’s voice, stern and definitive, cut through the begging and pleading of the young Terran, and Quill shut his jaw firmly, resentment in his eyes. “You wanna die? ‘Cuz that’s what gonna happen if I sent ya out there.”

At least we’re on the same page , Kraglin thought bitterly.

Things had been… tense.

In the last year, Quill had grown into quite the skilled pilot. He wasn’t allowed to fly alone, but he’d graduated from Kraglin’s supervision to Vorker’s, who tended to let him get away with a lot more. And just like that, the boy’s bond with the crew had started to deepen. They didn’t resent him nearly as much; in fact, they’d almost started to accept him. And so he made friends. Kraglin was honestly impressed by his bottomless well of charisma and almost uncanny ability to charm his way into anyone’s heart. He couldn’t remember any kids on Xandar who weren’t annoying little brats, even when he himself was young. He’d felt that way about Quill back then, but now…

Quill’s newfound friendships had put Yondu in a sour mood, and for once, Kraglin couldn’t get to the bottom of it. “He’s always been soft, and now these pushovers ain’t just enabling them — he’s made ‘em soft, too!”

Kraglin hadn’t had the heart to point out that no one was softer on Quill than Yondu himself.

“But I can fly now,” Quill protested. I don’t have to go down to the planet. I can pilot the ship! I can be your getaway driver !” He turned those wide, pleading eyes from Yondu, and Kraglin winced as they settled on him instead. “Like David Hasselhoff!” 

“I don’t know who that is,” Kraglin muttered.

Quill pouted. “You do, too, Kraglin. I’ve told you about him!” 

Kraglin sighed, and was rewarded for his dwindling patience with Yondu’s hand on his shoulder. “Alright, you two,” he interrupted, “knock it off. Quill, scram. Kraglin, lets see those maps.”

“...” Kraglin grimaced. “You know I ain’t got the best sense o’direction, Cap’n.” 

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Yondu’s other arm dropped back to his side. “So, ya didn’t do the maps.”

“N-no, but!” he protested, feeling strangely vulnerable under Yondu’s professional scrutiny, “Oblo said he’d do it.” Embarrassed, he scuffed his feet. “...Sorry.”

Yondu shook his head. “And people say I’m soft on the kid. Guess yer lucky they don’t say that stuff about you anymore.”

“Yeah, ‘cuz they know neither of us ain’t gonna let ‘em get away with it.”

“Right.”

Neither noticed Quill slip out of the room with a grin on his face. 

***

“Well, this is a sorry lot if I’ve ever seen one.” As Yondu surveyed the roster for the upcoming raid, Kraglin felt his gaze settle on him, and he turned to see a complicated expression on his face. “Where is everybody?”

“Not excited ‘bout trapsing through a frozen tundra, I’d reckon,” Kraglin murmured, arms folded across his chest. “Not even for crystals.”

Yondu scowled. “Nonsense. We’ll be underground. It won’t be that bad.”

“We gotta get there first.”

“Hence the maps.”

Kraglin’s face went red. “I told ya, the directions we got from that broker were shit. I can’t draw a straight line on a good day, you think I can make sense o’ that orloni-scratch?” Yondu only grunted in response, and Kraglin took that as his cue to continue. “Anyways, since we’s understaffed, I think maybe we reconsider taking Quill with us. I know you don’t want him down on the asteroid, but if we leave ‘im in the ship, then we can take an extra pair of hands down on the surface with us. It’d be good t’ have Mex with us, don’tcha think?” 

Yondu seemed to be considering it for a moment. Then he shook his head. “He ain’t thinking about the good of the mission. He just wants some time alone in an M-ship. He’ll probably put it in overdrive and go reeling out’a the system, leaving us all stranded, if we leave him unsupervised.”

“I guess you’re right,” Kraglin muttered, raking a hand through his hair.

Yondu’s stare turned accusatory. “Why you suddenly gunning for him to go scavenging with us, anyway, huh? Usually, yer the one what ain’t thinking he can do it.”

Kraglin shrugged. “Dunno. Just think that he’s getting older, and can probably do more than just clean the latrines.”

“Whatchu talkin’ about?” Yondu asked, a hint of humor creeping back into his voice; Kraglin even caught a sliver of a grin on his face. “Latrines are a big-boy job. It’s a step up from the vents, anyways.”

“ Is it, though?”

“Least you can stand upright in ‘em!”

Chuckling under his breath, Kraglin sat perched on the edge of the table, raking his eyes over the mission roster again. “It’s okay if you wanna protect him,” he said quietly, after a minute. “I understand.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Yondu snapped, his defensiveness speaking far greater volumes. “That ain’t why. Besides, if he was ready for a raid, I’d take him down to the planet. Scrawny little thing like him could probably wiggle under a locked door if we needed ‘im too. That boy’s gonna be a damn natural thief one day.”

“Aww, ain’t you proud.”

“Can it, Kraglin.”

“Yes, s—!.”

As if on cue, the screen to the air duct above them popped off, plummetting to the ground with a clatter. The pair jumped back in perfect syncronization, looking up to see a small head poking out with a nervous smile. 

“God dammit , Quill—”

“Sssssorry,” the Terran hissed, and carefully wiggled out until he was dangling by his hands before dropping down from the ceiling, landing in a crouch. “But I wanted to bring you these.”

Yondu snatched the delivery from his hands, and Kraglin crept around to peer over his shoulder as Quill watched them with trepidation. With one eyebrow raised skeptically, Yondu unrolled two large pieces of paper, eyes scanning over their contents critically. After a moment, he looked up, meeting Quill’s eyes warily.

“What is this?”

“Your maps!”

Kraglin wouldn’t exactly call what he was looking at maps. They were more like childish scribbles done in colorful markers, with poorly spelled labels. The words for ‘cave’, ‘cliff’, and ‘treasure’ notably stood out, even if they were written in three different amalgamated languages. 

Still, it made… sense. Sort of. Pulling out his data pad, Kraglin scanned the written guide the broker sent them. It was starting to make more sense as he looked at Quill’s visual guide. Catching Yondu looking at him, Kraglin gave the subtlest nod.

Quill must have noticed, because his grin widened, and he tugged on the other end of the paper. “Look at the next one!” 

Warily, Yondu passed the top page to Kraglin and examined the one below it. This one was a sort of.. zoomed-out astral map, showing the asteroid and the surrounding elements in the system, with something like a flight path drawn in dotted red pen. And in the corner, a crude illustration of an M-ship, with the word “me!!!” scrawled beside it, with arrows pointing to the cockpit. 

Kraglin and Yondu glanced at each other again. This time, Yondu was the one who nodded slowly. He rolled up the paper and shoved it into Kraglin’s hands. “Get these scanned and uploaded.” He turned to Quill, hands on his hips. “You really want to go?”

Peter’s eyes sparkled. “More than anything!”

Sighing incredulously, Yondu looked at Kraglin and shrugged. “...Okay. Let’s go.”

***

And so that’s how they found themselves on the bridge of Kraglin’s personal ship, Peter in the co-pilot seat and Yondu standing behind him. Mexie, Oblo, and Cryie prepped supply packs in the back. Kraglin gave Quill a sideways glance. “How’d you learn to do that, anyway?”

Quill shrugged. “My friends at school used to play Dungeons & Dragons. This is how we’d plan dungeon crawls.”

Kraglin scoffed. “None’a those words mean anything to me.” Scathing tone aside, his voice was cheerful. Quill cranked the volume up on his Walkman, and Kraglin heard the tell-tale sound of Yondu’s foot tapping along softly to the muffled music.

“We’re here,” Quill announced a while later, slipping the headphones off his ears as Kraglin slowed to impulse power. “You guys gonna be okay?”

Kraglin didn’t have to look at Yondu to know he was rolling his eyes. “Just remember what we talked about,” he grumbled from behind. “You don’t leave orbit. You keep comms open at all times, and answer if I call you. And most importantly, if things go south and you encounter trouble, you get the hell out of here. Okay? And only then. No adventures. But if you get yourself and the ship blown up, no one’s gonna be able to pull us out. You run, get backup, and come back for us in a day. Copy?”

“Yes, Yondu,” Quill echoed, already sounding bored. Kraglin recognized the sentiment. That anxiety for the first taste of freedom after being left in charge of a shift, finally not having watchful eyes on you every second. “I remember.”

“Alright.” Beckoning to Kraglin, Yondu gathered the crew on the pad. “Send us down, Pete.”

Kraglin barely had time to catch the surprised look on Quill’s face as he swiveled his head back at the sound of his name before the five of them were transported down to the asteroid’s surface. 

***

All things considered, things could have gone worse. And when Kraglin would later look back on this particular mission, it would feel like one of their tamer escapades.

And yet.

Things started relatively well. Quill’s maps proved accurate, the praise for which probably belonged more to the broker who sent the directions, indecipherable as they had been, but as Kraglin glanced between his screen and the dark tunnel ahead, he was… impressed. It was a strange feeling.

Mexie led the way, with a darkvision camera device rigged to his helmet. Supposedly, it was supposed to channel an infrared feed of their live position back to Quill, who could monitor it. The boy’s voice crackled through the comm. “Hm… this split isn’t on the map. It looks like a dead end to the left. Go right.”

And so it went. Kraglin stayed in the back, with Yondu just ahead of him, the path only wide enough to walk single file as it narrowed. The darkness was unsettling, and their torches only shed light a few feet ahead of them, as if something in the caverns themselves was muting the brightness. Increasing his pace slightly, Kraglin clipped Yondu’s heels in his haste, and he felt the Captain’s breath on his face as he looked back over his shoulder. “Careful,” he murmured. “Yer jumpy.”

“Don’t like not being able to see past my own nose, Cap,” Kraglin murmured in response. 

“Hm,” Yondu said in response, and then, “and I don’t like not bein’ able to see you.” Kraglin felt a hand firmly clasp his, still warm despite the chill from the rocks. He let out a shaky breath, and Yondu’s squeezed his palm once, tightly. “Don’t get lost.”

Holding Yondu’s hand like this, Kraglin was quite certain he’d never stray far from his side.

It was about half an hour later when Quill piped up again. Kraglin had zoned out somewhat, content to follow behind Yondu. He didn’t even notice the chill anymore; in fact, he was almost pleasantly warm. Through the comms’s static, Kraglin could hear faint music in the background. It sounded like he’d wired the damn thing into the ship’s system. Idiot. “Hey, uh, Yondu?”

“Yeah, Quill?”

“Um… you guys should, uh, stop for a sec.” 

Yondu halted abruptly, sending Kraglin crashing into his back, and he whistled sharply — not calling for his arrow, but to get the attention of the three in front. One by one, they all stopped in their places as well. “What’s the hold up, boy?”

“So, uh. There’s something else ahead that’s not on the map.”

“Really?” That was Mexie speaking up over his own comm. “It looks like a…” he paused like he was squinting into the darkness, holding his torch out as far as he could reach. “Another wall?” Jogging up ahead a little further, he pressed his hand to it. “No door… huh? It’s…”

Alarm bells started going off in Kraglin’s head. “Mex, don’t—!”

“...Hot?”

It seemed to hit Yondu at the same time. “Everyone, get back, now!” He and Kraglin turned, kicking up dirt under their feet as they ran, the others hot on their heels.

Cryie’s voice rang loud and clear as they fled. “ ...Volcano—!”

“How is there an active volcano here?” Kraglin called out, panting as he ran.

“You’re asking questions at a time like this?” Yondu said.

“Well, if we’re about to get killed? I’d like to at least know why!”

Yondu’s grip on his hand tightened. “Quill, get the ship out, now.”

“What?” That blasted music was still playing, despite the urgency in his voice. Ain’t no mountain high enough…

Kraglin decided that the irony might just kill him, even if the volcano didn’t.

“I’m not leaving you guys!” Quill sounded more determined than Kraglin had ever heard him. “But I can’t get a lock on you underground! I’m gonna land, you guys need to get to the surface!”

“Quill!” Yondu’s voice, despite it’s urgency, was remarkably calm. “No! Are you crazy? If this asteroid blows, you’re going with it unless you get outta here! Remember what I said? Do you hear me? Quill? QUILL!”

The connection cut off. “Fuck!” Yondu wrenched Kraglin’s arm forward, causing him to stumble along helplessly as their speed increased. 

Even if we make it to the surface, if Quill leaves, we’ll be trapped… Kraglin thought absently. We’re gonna die no matter what. Yondu… really does care for the kid… An almost tranquil smile crossed his face as he allowed acceptance to settle in his mind. At least we’ll die holding hands.

Yondu’s voice pulled him firmly from his haziness. “Come on Kraglin. Don’t you go passing out on me! I can’t carry no dead weight!”

Huh? His head felt fuzzy, and as he squinted against the haze, he realized it wasn’t just in his mind. There was a layer of smoke surrounding them, growing thicker by the second. Kraglin coughed a few times. 

“Oh fuck!” Startled out of his stupor by the constricting feeling in his chest, he lunged forward to match pace with Yondu as the path widened again.

And then he stopped.

Their path was blocked by rock that had caved in from the tremors. “That was our exit,” Yondu said breathlessly, and Kraglin looked at him, eyes wide. “We’re trapped.” 

“No!” Oblo ran up and started slamming into the rubble with his shoulder armor. “No! Fuck!” 

“Quit it, boy!” Yondu snapped. “You’ll send the rest of it caving down around us.” He looked back the way they came, another loud rumbling sound signaling the volatile mount behind them. “Hold on. That’s an idea, right there.”

Kraglin’s expression shifted. “No — Cap’n, no, that’s a bad idea—”

“And it’s the only one we got left.”

His whistle was pure and true, arrow flying straight up into the ceiling above them. Its force dislodged the rock, and it crumbled down to the floor, blocking the path, and cutting them off in both directions now. “It won’t hold it back for long,” he murmured, “but it’ll buy us time.” 

“You can’t use the arrow to dig us out,” Kraglin said urgently. “You’ll collapse everything! We’ll be crushed.”

Yondu fixed him with a level stare. “I know,” he said. “It’s up to Quill now.”

They sat in the dark. It was impossible to tell how much time had passed. Seconds, minutes… 

“Cryie, what are ya doing?” Kraglin’s voice was impossibly tired and hoarse from the smoke as he watched the shadow of his crewmate dig around in the rocks that had crumbled from the ceiling.

Kraglin felt Yondu’s arm snake around his shoulders, and he leaned into his side instinctively. “Leave him be,” he murmured. “Everyone uses their last minutes in their own way.”

The sentiment left a hollow feeling in Kraglin’s chest, but he still felt oddly calm. “What about you? Nothin’ you’d rather be doing?”

“Ain’t got a lotta options, do I?” Yondu muttered. “Nah. That’s what a first mate is for, right? Someone you’d want to be with at the end?”

“Hm.” Kraglin sighed. “I’d follow you anywhere,” he said softly. “Even if it meant making the same choice again, I’d happily end up right back here.” He breath caught in his throat. “I love you, okay? Please just remember that.”

Yondu was quiet for a moment. “...I love you t—”

“Captain!” Cryie’s voice cut through this time. “You gotta see this! The crystals, they was in the ceiling!”

Kraglin and Yondu scrambled to their feet, and sure enough, Cryie pulled a silvery rock free, holding it in the palm of his hand. 

“Quick!” Mexie shouted. “Shine a torch on it.”

Kraglin pointed the beam of light at Cyrie, and as it reflected off the crystal, bright fractals of light spiraled in all directions, illuminating their little cavern. Kraglin squinted, half-blinded by the suddenness of it. 

“Look at this…” Yondu’s voice directed his attention upward, where the light seemed to be escaping the cave altogether, piercing through the rock above as if it was a dozen solid silver daggers. 

The ground above them shook, pebbled starting to clatter to the ground.

“It’s Quill!” Kraglin’s voice cracked in wonder and amazement. “Look—” He grabbed onto Yondu’s arm as the nose of the ship broke through the ceiling. The tractor hatch opened, and Yondu sprang into action.

“Grab all a’those crystals you can, and let’s go! Go, go, go!”

“Pete!” Kraglin surprised himself with his own exclamation as the comm crackled back to life. “Pull us out, now!”

The five all raced to the cylindrical beam coming down from the opening above them, and with a desperate relief, they were pulled to safety.

***

Needless to say, Quill was rather smug about the whole thing, once everyone was back safe and sound on the Eclector. Fortunately, Yondu didn’t seem much like complaining. Sure, they’d almost died, but they hadn’t , and they’d gotten the treasure they came for. The kid’s bragging would cease eventually, and even Kraglin didn’t have the heart to tell him to knock it off. 

“Come here, boy.” Quill peered around the bridge with cautious, curious eyes as Yondu beckoned him closer. “Got somethin’ fer ya.”

Kraglin stood at his shoulder, a rare proud smile on his face, and around them were Oblo, Cryie, Mexie, Tullk, Iznen, and Vorker. “You disobeyed orders back there,” Yondu began, clearing his throat. “You came damn close to getting yourself killed. It was reckless, what you did, and foolish.” Quill came to a stop in front of him, shuffling his feet nervously. “But you didn’t leave your crew behind. You were brave. You kept us from walking deeper into trouble, and most importantly—” he caught Cyrie’s eye across the room, “you made sure we were able to bring home our loot. I’d say that’s the marker of a good Ravager, wouldn’t you boys?”

There were loud agreements from the gathered crowd, and Quill’s eyes went wide. “You’re saying…”

“That’s right,” Kraglin spoke up, “you’re one’a us now.” Yondu passed Iznen a flame patch, and she stepped up to Quill’s side, stitching it onto the shoulder of his leathers carefully. “Congratulations, Pete.”

“Wow…” Eyes wide and shining with the threat of tears, Quill looked between them all. “Thanks, Kraglin.” His gaze settled on Yondu. “Thanks… Captain.”

Yondu almost smiled.

Kraglin did smile, and squeezed his hand.