#spacelily

Yondu Udonta, meanwhile, was meticulously cleaning the air filter array near the secondary navigation console, a tedious task usually reserved for Rocket. He hated mundane maintenance almost as much as he hated Terran music, but Meredith Quill had, just yesterday, commented that the Milano smelled “like stale tobacco and desperate bachelorhood.” He’d been scrubbing ever since.

“She’s right, you know,” Peter mumbled, adjusting the volume on his headphones, though he still heard the scraping of Yondu’s tools. “The ship smells like the inside of a trucker’s cab after a chili cook-off.”

Yondu stopped scraping. “Pipe down, boy. I’m doing this fer you. So your high-and-mighty mama stops lookin’ at me like I’m gonna steal the silverware.”

Peter pulled the headphones off one ear. “She was looking at you like that because you are a wanted criminal who tried to sell me to my biological father before you decided to actually save my life—allegedly.”

“It was a sound business decision at the time!” Yondu snapped, then sighed, returning to the filter. “Point is, she’s back, ain’t she? And the only reason she’s tolerating me is ‘cause of you, and those little green and blue pests ya picked up outta the backyard—”

“Gamora and Nebula are not pests!” Peter protested, then paused. “Wait, you said she was high-and-mighty. But when she was talking to Stakar on the comms earlier, you were just sitting there, not even calling her a self-righteous mud-grubber, which is your favorite nickname for her.”

Yondu stiffened, his blue skin turning a shade paler, a reaction Peter had seen only when Yondu was about to be fined by Nova Corps or forced to eat a vegetable.

“She was talkin’ about supply routes,” Yondu grunted, avoiding eye contact. “Not worth the energy.”

“No,” Peter said, his own brain clicking through months of subtle data points: the time Yondu fixed the generator Meredith broke; the way Yondu ‘accidentally’ stopped by Meredith’s sector just to ensure she wasn't having 'trouble'; the time Yondu actually complimented Meredith’s aim—before immediately saying it was 'beginner's luck.'

Peter’s jaw went slack. The realization hit him with the force of an oncoming asteroid. It was a truth so fundamentally wrong, so revolting, so against the natural order of the universe, that his body reacted before his complex 12-year-old brain could process the magnitude of the horror.

He didn't just gasp. He didn't just shout. He released a sound that was a combination of utter disgust, moral panic, and physical pain.

He screamed.

A long, high-pitched, absolutely ear-shattering sound that could shatter glass and curdle milk across three star systems.

Yondu clapped his hands over his massive, fin-covered ears, dropping the filter wrench with a clang.

“GAH!” Yondu bellowed, reeling back. "Geez, boy, wake the dead, why don’t you? What in the blue blazes was that for?”

Peter was still screaming, but now it was devolving into panicked, stuttering speech, his face flushed magenta with revulsion. He grabbed his Walkman and flung it onto the dashboard, where it bounced harmlessly.

“It’s SICK! It’s GROSS! It’s just fundamentally—WRONG!” Peter jabbed a finger at Yondu's chest. “You! You and—you and her! It’s unholy! It’s like watching two different strands of nasty space mold try to fuse! It’s just… NO!”

Yondu stared at him, genuinely bewildered. His confusion was real. He was currently experiencing a low-level panic attack trying to figure out if Peter had just seen a cosmic horror or just realized he was out of mixtape batteries.

“What in the actual hell are you talking about, Quill?” Yondu demanded, removing his hands from his ears, the piercing whine still echoing in the tight cabin.

“You know what I’m talking about!” Peter shrieked, bounding off the panel and taking a defensive stance. “Meredith! My mom! Why you CAN’T like Meredith! She’s too good for you! She just got back! She’s my MOTHER! It’s illegal! It has to be illegal! It violates the Guardian Code!”

Yondu blinked slowly. “The… the what now?”

“The Guardian Code!” Peter insisted, stamping his foot. “The one we all follow! The one I made up! The one where we don’t steal from allies and we try not to blow up the main engines! And the first rule, the most important rule, is ‘Don’t Fall In Love With Star-Lord’s Mother!’”

Yondu threw his hands up, exasperated. “Quit it with your Terran delusions already, kid! There ain’t no code! And I don’t ‘love’ your mama, and she doesn’t like me! She wants to skin me every time I’m within ten feet!”

Peter recoiled as if struck by a lightning bolt of realization. His eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Oh, so she’s a challenge? You sicko!”

Yondu’s patience snapped. He was used to Peter being annoying, but this was venturing into high treason territory. “Oh, now what?! What fever dream are you concocting now, boy?”

“You like a challenge! You like a fight! You like danger!” Peter was practically vibrating with teenage righteous fury. “You see her as all of the above! She hates you, she insults you, she keeps you guessing! You see her as the ultimate thrill! You see her as the ultimate heist! Your disgusting, gross, code-betraying… sociopath!”

Yondu clenched his fists, the blue veins standing out on his arms. “That’s not what a sociopath is, Quill. And I’m about three seconds from spacing your whole little collection of 1980s garbage right now.”

He took a deep breath, trying to regain control. “Listen to me, boy. I tolerate your whole mess of a family—Meredith, Jason, Darlene—and that whole gaggle of miscreants you call a crew, only because of you. That’s it. End of story.”

Yondu leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, spitting growl, listing his grievances. He needed to prove, for Peter and himself, that the revulsion was mutual and deserved.

“I hate your mother,” Yondu stated firmly. “She’s self-righteous. She’s Stakar’s blasted ‘pet project’ these days, thinkin’ she’s better than the rest of us just ‘cause she can shoot a laser. She calls my arrow a toothpick! A toothpick, Quill! She called it 'a pathetic little whistling stick' and then she froze it mid-flight with one of her blasters! She calls me every ugly name in the Clans—traitor, weakling, blue-painted garden gnome! She constantly believes I’m ‘grooming’ you to be a criminal! And worst of all? She’s as soft of a Terran as you are.”

Yondu paused, needing to catch his breath after the tirade. He was angry, genuinely furious. The fact that the list of complaints was so detailed, so specific, and so easily recalled didn't register as a red flag yet.

Unfortunately, he thought, his chest cavity suddenly feeling heavy and squishy like a thawed swamp slug, that’s the whole damned problem, ain’t it?

She was soft, yes, but she was also tough as iron. She never backed down. And the way she handled herself, the way she managed to run with Stakar’s crew despite having been born on that mudball—that was what caused these intrusive, weak thoughts in his head. That’s what caused the horrible, squishy feeling in his chest.

Peter stared at him. The fire had left his face, replaced by a cold, dawning realization. His jaw went slack, his eyes wide as dinner plates.

“Oh my God.” The whispered words were quieter than the hum of the engine. “You do like her.”

Yondu groaned, squeezing the bridge of his nose. “That ain’t what I—”

“YOU BROUGHT UP SPECIFICS!” Peter erupted again, the sound bouncing off the walls. He was pointing now, a frantic, accusing finger. “THAT’S LOVE LANGUAGE!”

“I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!” Yondu roared back, utterly defeated. “It’s a list of reasons why I hate her! You think I keep a ledger of how many times a target calls my weapon insulting? This is just normal communication, you lunatic!”

“No, it’s not!” Peter insisted triumphantly. “Normal communication is you grunting! Specific communication is what she said, when she said it, and how she looked doing it! You remember exactly how she insulted your arrow! You’re obsessed!”

Peter clapped his hands over his mouth, suppressing a fresh wave of horrified screaming. “Wait till I tell Gamora! She’s going to think this is even sicker than that time Rocket tried to date a vending machine!”

Yondu felt his metaphorical blue heart sink into his boots. He took one look at the sheer, unadulterated disgust radiating from his foster son, and the crushing realization that he was caught—caught by a twelve-year-old child using Terran relationship jargon—was too much.

“Get out,” Yondu muttered, gesturing vaguely toward the cargo bay.

Peter didn’t move. “Are we going to talk about this? About your feelings? Maybe buy her flowers?”

“We are never talking about this again,” Yondu hissed, picking up his plasma pistol. “And if you mention ‘love language’ one more time, I’m jettisoning your tape deck into the void. Now scram, Quill. Before I invent a new rule for your little code.”

Peter, momentarily silenced by the threat to his music, finally backed away, giving Yondu one last, horrified, scrutinizing look. "You know, Gamora says denial is the first step to acceptance. Which means—”

Guardians of the Galaxy AU

Yondu Udonta + Meredith Quill

Star-Queen - Chapter 1 - TheBetterAngelsOfOurNature - Guardians of the Galaxy (Movies) [Archive of Our Own]

A lovely fic that looks at what might happen if Meredith was alive and well and ended up on Yondu's ship with Peter.

I’d totally probably buy it and wear it to WSC to show off to Rooker!! (Also save me they’re on the brain again lately asdfghjkl)

I have always wanted to see a Meredith-Yondu pairing ‘cause I thought it would be so awesome to pair them up. Imagine them parenting Peter together! And imagine the cocky and swell Yondu falling for a fragile but brave Earthling woman, heh. So here, a li’l fanfiction of when Meredith had been aboard Yondu’s ship for a while now and they decided to land in a planet. By this time, Yondu was already falling for the Terran and y’know….. LOL. Just a bit of a scene, really. It’s a bit rushed and all, and maybe a little crappy, but who cares? Haha.

Here goes:

Yondu had finally let Meredith out of his ship when they landed on another planet to load some fresh stocks. He brought Meredith on the exit ramp with him and they were about to disembark when Kraglin’s voice rang over the speaker, saying, “Cap, we’ve got a li’l bit of problem. Come up on bridge.”

Yondu looked over his shoulder and grunted angrily. “Blasted sh*t!” He snarled. He looked at Meredith, who’s not paying attention to him and is already looking out the ramp over the city that laid before them.

“Hey, woman, wait here for me. I’ll be back.”

Meredith gave him a small nod, and so Yondu took off and left her.

A few minutes later, Yondu was back. He sucked on breath when he saw the ramp was empty. He instantly knew Meredith had left. “Fvcking hell! I told that woman to wait up!” He said in doubled anger, his strides wide and fast and urgent as he charged into the city. His mind was filled with thoughts of misfits and rowdy men the planet was quite known for. It’s not impossible for anyone to take notice of small and graceful and pretty Meredith walking in the street. Men would take certain notice of her as they’d notice a walking 1-billion-unit worth of weapon or some same sh*t.

Yondu reached the city proper in no time. He tried to think of the place Meredith would likely visit, and he immediately thought of the market. Women like to shop, he reckons. Meredith would want to buy something after being confined in the ship for all those months. So he went to the market. But she was not there. Yondu was becoming more irritated, mainly because even if he won’t admit it, he was worried for her.

Almost an hour later - and after much consideration if Yondu should send out a search party for her - he finally spotted Meredith, and the scene he saw made his vision go all red.

Meredith was in an alleyway, her back pressed against the wall, while a man - same color as her, probably a foreigner as well and had come from a planet that has some similarities with Terra - was holding her arm and looking down at her with that malice in his eyes, a smirk on his lips. And what ticked Yondu so much more was that Meredith was trying to push him away, but the fvcker took hold of her wrist. Yondu heard a soft whimper escaped Meredith’s lips, and it was all it took for Yondu to give a sharp whistle, sending his yaka arrow flying through the air and going through the flesh of the man’s hand that was holding Meredith’s delicate wrist.

The man screamed in pain and staggered back, releasing Meredith, who turned and saw him. Yondu felt his heart swell when he saw Meredith’s eyes lit up when she saw him, and she immediately run to his side. Yondu wanted to scream at her, but when she got near and he saw the tears on her eyes he held back and instead turned to the man.

“The fvck you touchin’ this woman for, boy?” He wasn’t a boy, Yondu knew. But it was an insult and the man glared up to him. He tried to attack him but Yondu’s arrow poised right against his forehead, and the man was stayed.

“Ya best keep ‘em hands to yourself, ya hear? I would love a kill yah right now, but lady here don’t wanna see no violence, and I ain’t too keen wastin’ my time on yah. But you try that ‘gain, and you go’n suffer so much you gonna regret meetin’ me.” Yondu said in a low but dark, dangerous tone. He turned to Meredith and growled, “let’s go.”

Meredith and Yondu walked out of there. They were silent on their way back, and Yondu was fuming. At last, when he could no longer stand it, Yondu turned to Meredith and snapped, “the hell you thinkin’, woman?”

Meredith turned to him, and Yondu felt as though something punched him in the gut. Meredith’s face; the broken and hurt look in her eyes…. Well, he had lost the ability to scream at her. How could he?

Forcing to calm down, he quietly rasped, “mind telling me why you wandered off all by yourself?”

Meredith looked down, and then she said, “I…I’m sorry. I guess I was just being my usual stupid self.”

Yondu grunted, and Meredith looked at him again. He cocked his head at her. 

“You do realize I almost killed a man for you, right? ‘cause with you wandering around all by yourself ‘round this part of the galaxy, you’d be leaving a trail of dead bodies behind yah. Y’know that?”

Meredith appeared confused. “But why is that?”

Yondu breathed deeply, exasperated. Meredith can be stubborn a lotta times, but she could also be completely innocent and clueless, specially in the ways of men. And that’s a piece of fact he can never forget. He’s been having the hots for her these past months and woman ain’t got a single damn clue.

“’cause you a woman!” He answered. “And women don’t fare nice ‘round these cities. You got a taste o’ that back in that alley!” He hissed.

“Oh.” Meredith answered. “Yeah, you’re right. I was… I was just trying to look for a gift, and that man said he had some really great items to show me. I followed him and I was a bit surprised when he led me to that alley and then he started to be a little rough and….and….I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Yondu.” And here Meredith’s eyes started to well up again.

Yondu groaned in mixed anger and frustration. And then slowly he pulled Meredith into his arms and wrapped his huge arms around her small, delicate, sweet body, whispering. “Ain’t gotta be sorry for that, darlin’. He’s a fvcked up man, but he ain’t touching yah again. Not in a million years. I’d kill him now, if yah want me to. ‘find him later and let him be laid to rest eternally.” Yondu said in a light tone, but he wasn’t kidding. If Meredith would say so - if it’d make her feel better - he’d gladly finish the job on that fvcker.

Meredith buried her head in his chest and he felt her shake her head. “No, please, don’t. He’s not worth to get your hands dirty.”

“I ain’t be touching that son of a b*tch, baby. Just me arrow,” he joked. Meredith lightly tapped his chest.

“Yondu.”

He chuckled. He chuckled ‘cause he wanted to make her feel better. “Alright, alright. Just don’t wander off again, yah hear?” Ah, why can’t he stay angry and grumpy with her being pressed against him like that?

“Yes.” She answered. “Thank you for saving me. Again. I’m sorry you had to keep doin’ it.”

“It ain’t a bother, baby. Just let me go with you next time so we could avoid these incidents.”

“Ok.”

“Ok,” he said. “Let’s go back now.”

“Hm”

“What?” He asked, noticing how Meredith was not budging in his arms.

“Later.”

“Why?”

“I, uh, I like it here.” Meredith said in a small voice.

“Wha-?” He repeated, unable to believe his ears. Is she playing him right now? But she’s not the type. Yondu began to feel his heart race. The fvck’s wrong with him?

“I like it. Here. In your arms. It’s warm and safe.” Meredith cooed.

“Meredith….the hell?” It was all he could say. What the hell is he supposed to say, really? His mind ain’t working right.

“Yondu….can we stay like this for a few moment more?”

“Sh*t, Meredith. The hell you doin’? I’m a Ravager captain. We don’t do hugs.”

“Oh. Right.” And here she began to pull away. But Yondu’s arms - despite his sane mind screaming at him to just let her go - took a life of their own and tightened their hold around her. And as they did, Yondu could feel the heat on his face turn up more than a notch.

“Fvckin’ hell! Alright, if it’s gonna make you feel better!”

Meredith gladly pressed her cheek against his solid chest, a smile curving at her lips, and he felt it. And he fvcking liked it. A lot. Oh, he’s fvcked, that’s what he is. To think he’d hug her in the middle of the fvcking street just a few distance away from his ship. If his crew sees him, he’s dead. And yet…. that ain’t even enough to push her away. And his crew be damned!