#volume two

For a moment, Peter just watches her. The quiet strength she carries, the way she always seems so untouchable, it reminds him of something Drax said earlier.

"There are two types of beings in the universe: those who dance, and those who do not."

He takes a deep breath and approaches her cautiously, his usual swagger toned down. “Hey,” he says, his voice soft but teasing. “Staring at the stars and contemplating life again?”

Y/N doesn’t look at him, but he catches the faintest twitch of her lips. “What do you want, Quill?”

He shrugs, coming to stand beside her, leaning on the railing. “Just checking in. You’ve been quiet since we got here. More than usual, anyway.”

There’s a beat of silence before she responds. “What’s there to say? This place is...something.”

Peter chuckles, tilting his head to look at her. “That’s one way to put it. Most people would say it’s paradise.”

Y/N finally glances at him, her eyes narrowing. “Most people haven’t seen the shit we have.”

Peter’s smile falters for a moment, but he recovers quickly. “True. But maybe it’s time we take a break from all that ‘shit,’ you know? I mean, look at this place.” He gestures toward the sky, his voice filled with awe. “This is what I’ve been waiting for my whole life.”

Y/N follows his gaze, but her expression remains unreadable. “Yeah…” she mumbles, turning her attention back to the multiple moons above them. She bites her tongue, not wanting to voice her concerns.

Peter opens his mouth to respond but closes it again, unsure of what to say. The tension between them is thick, and he can’t figure out how it got here. Sure, Y/N’s always been a kind of hard nut to crack, but they’ve known each other since they were kids. They were abducted by Yondu at the same time. It took him a long time to learn a bit more about her story, and when he did her closed off behavior made sense. Her father abused her as a child, and that was the main reason Yondu saved her.

It’s just hard because all he was just trying to do was share his excitement with her about finding his father, but now it feels like they’re on the edge of an argument.

In an attempt to diffuse the tension, Peter leans back against the railing, his voice light. “You know, Drax said something funny earlier. He was talking about people who dance and people who don’t. He thinks you’re in the ‘don’t’ category.”

Y/N’s lips twitch into a small, humorless smile. “He’s not wrong.”

Peter’s eyes flicker with a mix of curiosity and mischief. “Actually, he is.”

She raises an eyebrow, finally turning to face him fully. “What are you talking about?”

Peter grins, tapping the side of his music player. “I remember a certain someone dancing down the halls of Yondu’s ship when she thought no one was watching.”

Y/N’s eyes widen slightly before narrowing in suspicion. “You were spying on me?”

Peter laughs, shaking his head. “Nah, just happened to be in the right place at the right time. You were really into it. Old Time Rock and Roll. Classic move.”

Y/N groans, turning back to the stars. “I was a kid. It doesn’t count.”

Peter shrugs, still grinning. “Once a dancer, always a dancer.”

She gives him a sideways glance, her expression softening just a little. “You’re ridiculous.”

Peter taps his music player, and the opening notes of Old Time Rock and Roll start to play. He holds his hand out to her, eyes twinkling with mischief. “Come on. One dance. For old times’ sake.”

Y/N stares at his outstretched hand, a mix of reluctance and something else in her eyes. She hesitates, her usual defenses kicking in. “I don’t dance anymore.”

Peter steps closer, his voice soft but insistent. “Why not?”

Y/N’s gaze flickers, and for a moment, Peter sees something vulnerable behind her tough exterior. She opens her mouth to say something but closes it again, shaking her head.

Peter doesn’t push her, but he doesn’t back down either. “You used to love it. What’s stopping you now?”

She doesn’t answer right away, her eyes focused on the stars again. After a long silence, she speaks, her voice quieter than before. “A lot has changed since then.”

Peter frowns, sensing the shift in her tone. “We’ve all changed. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun.”

Y/N exhales slowly, her grip on the railing tightening. “Fun isn’t exactly a priority right now, Quill.”

Peter watches her, his brow furrowing in concern. He’s known Y/N long enough to know when she’s trying to deflect, and right now, she’s building her walls even higher. But something in his gut tells him not to let her shut down, not this time.

He steps closer, his voice gentle. “What’s really going on, Y/N?”

She stiffens, her eyes darting away from his. “Nothing. I’m just...thinking.”

Peter raises an eyebrow. “About what?”

Y/N’s jaw clenches, and for a moment, Peter thinks she’s going to shut him out completely. But then she exhales sharply, her shoulders sagging in defeat. “About you. And Ego.”

Peter blinks, caught off guard by the sudden shift in the conversation. “What about him?”

Y/N turns to face him, her expression hard. “You’re so quick to trust him. To believe everything he says without question. Doesn’t that seem...dangerous to you?”

Peter’s frown deepens, his frustration starting to bubble up. “Dangerous? He’s my dad, Y/N. I’ve spent my whole life wondering who he was, and now I finally have the chance to know him. Why can’t you just be happy for me?”

Y/N’s eyes flash with hurt, but she doesn’t back down. “I am happy for you, but you’re not thinking straight. You don’t know him, Peter. You’ve known him for what? A couple of days? And you’re ready to drop everything and trust him just because he says he’s your father?”

Peter’s frustration boils over, and he throws his hands up in exasperation. “What do you want me to do, Y/N? Keep living my life wondering where I came from? Wondering why my own father never came looking for me?”

Y/N flinches at the raw emotion in his voice, but she doesn’t let it deter her. “I want you to be careful. I want you to see that maybe there’s more to this than just a happy reunion.”

Peter shakes his head, his voice rising. “Why do you always have to be so cynical? Can’t you just let me have this one thing? Just this one thing, Y/N?”

Y/N’s eyes soften slightly, but her voice remains steady. “I know how much you wanted this. But just because he says he’s your father doesn’t mean he’s telling the whole truth.”

Peter’s fists clench, his emotions running high. “Why can’t you just focus on being my support system? For once, I’ve found my real family. I’ve finally found where I belong.”

Y/N’s face hardens, her voice shaking with suppressed emotion. “I thought you already had.”

The words hang in the air, heavy and raw. Peter’s mouth opens to respond, but no words come out. He realizes what she’s saying, what she’s felt all this time.

Y/N turns away, her shoulders tense, the vulnerability she’d allowed him to see now hidden beneath her tough exterior once more. “Forget it,” she mutters. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Peter watches her retreating figure, his heart sinking. He wants to say something—anything—to make it right, but he’s too angry, too confused. “Yeah, go ahead. Just walk away like you always do when things get tough! Ever think maybe that’s why you’re so damn miserable all the time?”

Y/N stops, “I’ve never been miserable, Quill,” she replies, her voice icy. “Unlike you, I appreciate the life I have. The life I was given. Maybe you’re the one who’s miserable.”

With that she’s out the door. Her voice was completely stoic, but thankfully he couldn’t see her face. She bites the inside of her cheek as she fights back the tears that threaten to roll down her face. Her and Peter had always been thick as thieves and it broke her heart in every conceivable way to hear that she wasn’t considered ‘family’ to him.

She shakes her head, growling lowly at her rising emotions. One thing Yondu loved about her was that she was never one for sentiment. At least not often. There were only a few times where Y/N had shown her soft side. Perhaps it’s because she stuck closely to her pseudo father throughout her childhood. She didn’t realize it until she got older, but she definitely adapted more of Yondu’s traits than she’d like to admit. Not that she minded. He was a better parent to her than any other person in the galaxy could ever be.

Y/N storms out of Ego’s grand hall, the echo of Peter’s voice still ringing in her ears. The moment she stepped outside, the vibrant landscape of Ego’s planet surrounded her—lush grass, towering trees, and a sky painted with hues of pink and gold. But instead of feeling at peace, the beauty only intensified her anger. She found herself in a wide-open field, far from the grandeur of Ego’s abode, where she felt suffocated by expectations and revelations. Her fists are clenched tightly as she kicks at the earth with mounting frustration, sending dirt flying with each strike.

“What the hell is wrong with him?” she muttered to herself, her voice laced with anger. “Always making it seem like I’m the miserable one because I can see the bullshit he can’t,” she grumbles angrily, With every kick, she envisioned the things she wanted to break, the doubts that lingered in her mind, and the feeling of betrayal creeping closer with every passing moment.

The air was thick with tension, and her heart raced as she continued to unleash her anger on the unsuspecting ground. But as her kicks turned into a steady rhythm, the sound of her breath became the only thing she could focus on. Then, just as she started to regain her composure, she sensed a presence looming behind her.

“Why so angry, little one?” Ego’s voice was smooth, almost silky, as he stepped into view, a disarming smile on his face. His appearance was striking, handsome in a way that seemed otherworldly, his presence simultaneously captivating and unsettling.

Y/N turned to face him, her heart racing with a mix of apprehension and defiance. “I’m just enjoying the scenery,” she replied, forcing a casual tone. “Isn’t it beautiful here?”

“Indeed,” he said, stepping closer, the sunlight glinting off his golden skin. “But beauty can only be appreciated when one is at peace, don’t you think? There’s something deeply powerful about letting go of anger.”

Y/N remained silent, her mind racing as she processed his words. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she thinks to herself. "Who are you to lecture me about anger?" Instead, she opted for a more guarded approach. “I’m just… clearing my head.”

“Your head, or your heart?” Ego’s gaze pierced through her defenses, probing deeper. “You know, Peter is meant for much more than what he realizes. He just needs someone to help him see that.”

A shiver ran down her spine at his words. “What does that mean?” she wanted to ask, but she kept her expression neutral, unwilling to show her unease. “He’s got the Guardians to help him. We’re a team,” she replied, her voice steady despite the tension thickening the air.

“Teams are fragile things,” he continued, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. “One little crack, and they can shatter. You might not realize it yet, but your cynicism can be a double-edged sword. It can either protect you or isolate you.”

The chill in his voice sent a warning signal through her. “He’s trying to intimidate me,” she thought, anger simmering beneath the surface, but she refused to let it show. “I’m not afraid of you,” she asserted quietly, her jaw tightening. “I just want what’s best for him.”

Ego smiled knowingly, a glint of something unreadable flickering in his eyes. “And what if what’s best for him means letting go of those who doubt him? Sometimes, those we care about most can hold us back.” He paused, stepping back slightly, creating space between them. “Just remember, Y/N, in this vast universe, not all connections are meant to last.”

With those cryptic words hanging in the air, Ego turned and walked away, the shadows of the field swallowing his form as he disappeared into the vibrant landscape.

Y/N stood there for a moment, the weight of his words pressing down on her. “What the hell was that?” she thought, confusion and unease swirling within her. The anger that had fueled her kicks now felt misplaced, replaced by a gnawing worry for Peter.

Another angry growl escapes her lips as she feels the need to shoot a hole through the celestial’s skull. At least she knows where Peter gets his arrogance from. Must be a genetic thing.

Just then, she heard a rustling behind her. Peter emerged from the trees, his expression a mix of concern and confusion. “Y/N? There you are. I was looking for you.”

She turned away from him, her fists clenched at her sides. “What do you want, Peter?”

“I just wanted to talk. About earlier,” he said softly, stepping closer but still giving her space. “I didn’t mean it when I said you were miserable all the time. That’s not how I see you.”

“Really?” She scoffs, spinning to face him, the frustration bubbling back to the surface. “You think I’m just going to let that slide? You have no idea what I’ve done to keep you safe over the years Peter. You call me cynical, well everyone else thinks it’s observant. I know people, Quill. I don’t trust him. He’s dangerous.”

Peter ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. “I know! I just... I thought maybe you were being too hard on him, on me. Can’t you see he’s trying to be a father?”

Y/N’s expression hardened. “Trying to be a father? Where has he been the last thirty-four years?! He’s manipulating you! You can’t just ignore that.”

“I’m not ignoring anything! I’m trying to get you to understand what this means for me, for us. But you keep pushing me away!”

“Because I care about you!” She threw her hands up in exasperation. “I’m trying to protect you from making a huge mistake.”

Peter stepped back, the hurt evident in his eyes. “So, what? You think you know what’s best for me? That I can’t protect myself? You think you can just dictate what’s good for me?”

Y/N took a breath, trying to rein in her temper. “I’m not trying to dictate anything. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

The tension hung thick between them, both breathing heavily, anger slowly morphing into something more complex. Peter took a step closer, his gaze softening as he sighs, “I really don’t want you to think that I believe you’re miserable. I appreciate how much you look out for me Y/N/N, even if it doesn’t always seem like you are.”

Y/N felt her defenses waver, the fight leaving her as she looked into his eyes. “You don’t have to protect me from my own feelings, Peter.”

“Then let me in,” he pleaded softly, his voice almost a whisper.

For a moment, they stood in silence, the world around them fading away. Y/N could see the sincerity in his eyes, the warmth that she had always known was there beneath his charming facade.

“Peter...” she began, but he closed the gap between them, pulling her into a gentle embrace. She melted into his arms, the tension easing as she felt his heartbeat against hers.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured into her hair, his voice low and sincere. “I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. I just—” He pulled back slightly, his hands still resting on her shoulders, searching her face. “I care about you. Even though you act like a massive turd blossom ninety percent of the time… I don’t think you’re cynical, or miserable. You’re... you’re everything.”

Their gazes locked, and for a heartbeat, the air shimmered with unspoken possibilities. The moment felt suspended in time, both of them teetering on the edge of something profound.

Then, without thinking, Peter leaned in, capturing her lips with his. The kiss was soft at first, an exploration, a question lingering in the air. But it quickly deepened, a rush of heat and emotion that sent shivers down her spine. She kissed him back, her hands finding their way to his hair, pulling him closer as if trying to meld their bodies into one.

As they finally pulled away, both breathing heavily, Y/N searched his eyes. “So, what does this mean?” she asked, a teasing note creeping into her voice.

Peter smirked, a familiar glint of mischief returning to his expression. “Well, it means you’re not a complete grouch when I’m around,” he quipped, his grin widening.