Peter yelps and then yelps again as Jamie swats his head. “owe! Jamie!”
He frowns at him. “Your being rude… behave…” turns to Mikey. “Sorry for his childishness. He knows better…..”
Yondu blinks at carlos and grins. “Good to see you again…”
Carlos cracked a slight smile. “Uh, good to see you too,” he said. He gently pushed on Yondu to help him stand up. “You okay?”
Mikey just shrugged at Half-nut and smiled. “He’s a kid – they do that.”
“Watch yourself,” Kraglin growled at Peter. “When Half-nut tells you to behave, then you outta know you’re out of line.”
Peter nods swallowing and actually presses against Kraglin. He knew the rules. Halfnut was a bit unstable but everyone knew when he says stop you stop or he’ll make you stop… and someone ends up dead.
Jamie blinks and goes back to Tullk then looks to Mikey tilting his head in a way that said he was thinking morbid thoughts ten he shakes his head the look in his eyes changingvto the innocent look.
Yondu motions for Tullk to settle Jamie’s mind. He was in halfnut mode and that wasn’t a good mode to be in right now.
Tullk nodded and gently, but firmly, turned to take Jamie back outside. “C’mon… it’s a nice night out. Let’s lookit the trees…”
Mikey was confused, but chalked it up to alien stuff so he didn’t ask.
“Dad’s out doing some last-minute shopping,” Carlos told Yondu with a smile. “C’mon in and sit down, okay? Any of you thirsty?”
Jamie looks to Tullk. He was a bit stiff and his eyes were hard and distant a clear sign that it was halfnut right now not the calm gentle Jamie.
Yondu nods. “Peter behave…. you got halfnut going…. Krags…. relax…. do something fun.” Follows carlos to the couches then hugs him. “Missed you.”
“Let’s go to the kitchen,” Mikey suggested to Kraglin and Peter with a smile. “Tell me what kind of stuff you guys have been up to.” He turned and motioned for them to follow him.
Carlos hugged Yondu back without hesitation. Last time they touched Yondu had just about kissed the life out of him. But any awkwardness that Carlos felt from that wasn’t present as he was just happy to see the other man again. “Missed you too,” he said. “How have you been?”
Peter followed him to the kitchen dragging Kraglin with him.
Yondu smiles nuzzling into Carlos’s warmth. “Been good… well not lawfully… hehe. Just got done with my hybernation… Krags will be soon… peter hates that…. he’ll end up snuggled next to him for a majority of it like he does with me… you know how it is.”
Carlos hummed. “Might be why he’s sounding so grumpy already,” he mused. “Kraglin, I mean. It’s like when a toddler gets cranky when they need a nap.” He leaned back against the back of the couch. “So… how are the space whales? You already talked about them a couple hours ago… I’m just wondering if anything changed, I guess.”
“I was noticing they were protecting a young female…. she’s looking a bit rotund… I have no doubt big daddy will be parent to another child. I’ll keep taking pictures…. I’ll send them to you Of the new baby. And yes… kraglins patience ya running thin. But to be honest… I’ve never seen my boys so close. They always sleep in the same bunk…”
“Ooh – a new baby would be fun,” Carlos said with a smile. But he then tilted his head in a bit of concern. “Is Pete still having trouble being alone? Is he still… sad?”
Yondu grins. “The pod of them just keep growing. It’s a good sign.” Smiles and pulls out some pictures for carlos. “He’s a lot better…. we got a new doc on board…. she’s been helping him…. few weeks ago peter just suddenly climbed into the bunk with Kraglin and just cried. Admitting to both of us that seeing us hybernation and not wake up reminded him of his mom going to sleep and not waking up. Took three days before my hybernation to show him that even though I’m asleep I’ll still be alive…”
“Still, after nearly ten years, he’s having trouble, huh?” Carlos asked. “I’m sorry… kids just have a habit of clinging to things that they shouldn’t, I guess. But it’s very good that he’s getting some help… I”m very happy to hear that. And thank goodness that Kraglin is understanding.”
“He’s a great brother…. even though I know he want to choke him sometimes…. hehe… but yeah… he’s never liked us hybernating… never… I don’t think he’ll grow from that any time soon either…”
“Eventually he will,” Carlos assured Yondu. “He’s got someone to talk to now who can help him… so I’m sure he’ll get better. He’s very lucky to have you guys, you know?”
“I think we’re lucky to have him honestly…” Jumps when he hears the sound of a laser shot gun out back. “Shit. Tullk! Nut!” Looks out at them but nut was laying in his back in the grass.
Carlos was next to Yondu in an instant, peering out the back door.
Tullk’s shadow waved at them. “It’s okay! He got hit by the kickback! He’s fine!”
“What are you guys doing shooting lasers in my backyard?” Carlos asked incredulously. “I have neighbors – what if one of them calls the police??”
Yondu whistles and knocks the shot gun from halfnut a hands. “Jamie…. down… now…..Tullk… work your magic…. can have halfnut… we need Jamie…”
Peter grins. “Do What Mom always did… just say it was bottle rockets… no joke.. works every time.”
“Not in September in the middle of a forest!” Carlos hissed. “Somebody’s going to get arrested for sure! Guys, seriously – do not draw your weapons while you’re here!”
Tullk went to lie down with Half-nut, covering the other’s body completely so that he couldn’t move. “Hey lad… who’s here? Who’s here with ya?” he crooned softly.
Yondu nods pulling carlos back inside. “Sorry… you know halfnut and Jamie…. dunno what spurred halfnut to the surface but we won’t have anymore weapon shots promise.”
Halfnut groans and grabs at his head rubbing near the scar on his head. “Tullk… Tullk s with me….. always with me…. nuts here… he’s here too…. he’s mean…. hurts people…… hurts Tullk…… don’t like nut … don’t like him at all…. he likes blood….. Jamie’s likes …nature….”
“Tullk’s here with ya, lad,” Tullk murmured, petting the other’s hair. “Keep talking… keep thinking about Jamie.”
“Why did you guys bring weapons? Did you think you were gonna get shot at?” Carlos asked, a little bit exasperated and concerned.
The Perfect Scientist 