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“Oh
I think he did. Got upset you weren’t there. But he’s ok now. Sometimes
comes and searches the ship but yeah. There wonderful lovely
creatures.”

“They are,” Carlos agreed. He’d never seen anything like them. “Gosh… I hope his parents are somehow able to let him know that it’s okay. Or… I dunno, Yondu… You, um… your species seems to have some minor telepathic abilities. I… I dunno if this is presuming too much, but… are you able to just…let him know I’m okay? I’m just asking – I don’t know what I’m talking about, so I’m just asking…”

“Don’t worry his parents took care of him and… Hmm I guess they can understand me in a way… I whistle and they understand that way I guess. Don’t worry it’s ok. Maybe someday you’ll see him again. But always remember he’ll be you soul traveler…. he’s a baby so that means you will have a long life. You’ll both be old before he carries you to Valhalla…”

What…? Carlos had wondered about what aliens believed regarding the afterlife, but the subject had just… never come up. Did they think space whales were basically boats to the afterlife? That… well, he could see that making sense as a belief.

“You believe in Valhalla?” he asked. That was a term that Carlos had thought was exclusive to Earth… well, until it was revealed that one of Earth’s heroes was actually an alien – a Norse alien, if there was such a thing.

“We all are a bit different but it all comes down to Valhalla for those called warriors. I’m a ravager… we believe in a form of Valhalla. We’re like space warriors…. we have a code. We’re honor bound… we fight great battles at times… kinda like…. uhhhh As petey says… uhh Vikings or pirates I guess. And we belive were guided to Valhalla’s gates by those space critters out there.

“Huh,” Carlos said as he pondered. “That… sounds pretty nice, actually. Valhalla, um.. what is it to you? Is it a paradise?”

“In a way yes…. it’s the absolute… the final…. we stand in the halls of great warriors….. we drink, and eat with honor…. and we watch the world around us…… time is nothing…. but everything is perfect…. the food and drink unending…. and the companionship of our fellows eternal…….”

“Huh,” Carlos said softly. “On Earth, um… Valhalla is all that… but the legend says that there’s going to be a big fight between the realms and the warriors who died and resided in Valhalla would rise again to fight for the good of everyone. Or… something like that… I’m honestly not well versed in the Norse belief system…”

“Norse? That’s what all warriors of space belive too. Thatcwe are honored in breath and will rise to life when it was time to be summoned.”

“That’s… just what it’s called here on Earth,” Carlos explained. “There’s probably thousands of religions here on Earth – Norse is just one of them. Honestly, for a while I thought it was a dead religion. But that was before we had an actual Asgardian appear to help save the world.” He chuckled softly.

“Wait! One of the warrior gods actually came and saved terra! I …. wow… I hope someday to be honored with a drink with one in the halls of asguard….”

Carlos smiled slightly at Yondu’s apparent excitement. “Yeah, he… he did,” he said. “It was, um… It was Thor, the God of Thunder, if that means anything to you space-faring people. From tabloids and rumors, it sounds like Stark has great Avengers parties, especially when Thor’s in town.”

“And he dines and parties with mortal terrans?! I may have to get into one of those. Damn… that’s….. do those terrans even know how big of a honor that is?!”

Carlos’ smile grew wider. “Well, I think the Avengers might have some idea… I mean, he’s their friend and all. Others probably think he’s just taken up the title of Thor… I mean, I did until I did the whole space adventure thing.

“One of his friends here is the guy I mentioned earlier… um, Iron Man. One of Earth’s heroes.”

“Friends! With a literal god!! Oh dear Odin!! Shit Odins legitly real! Forgive me Odin for saying your name without honor!! Fuck!!!” Jumps up knocking the tablet over and starts doing the ravager prayer of forgiveness.

Carlos stared at the communicator in shock and in some concern. “Uh, Yondu? Yondu, are you okay? Yondu!”

Picks it up and nods to him. “Fine. I’m fine… was just sending a forgiveness prayer to Odin father of Thor god of thunder..”

“Uh, yeah, I … I saw that,” Carlos said. “You just dropped the comm though, and… I didn’t really know what I was looking at.”

Yondu smilesand sighs. “Love you carlos. I miss you and … can’t wait to get to terra to see you again…”

Carlos blinked. He smiled shyly at Yondu. “I miss you too,” he said. “I… I look forward to seeing you too. And the boys, of course. Just… It’ll be great all around, I think.”

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“Oh
I think he did. Got upset you weren’t there. But he’s ok now. Sometimes
comes and searches the ship but yeah. There wonderful lovely
creatures.”

“They are,” Carlos agreed. He’d never seen anything like them. “Gosh… I hope his parents are somehow able to let him know that it’s okay. Or… I dunno, Yondu… You, um… your species seems to have some minor telepathic abilities. I… I dunno if this is presuming too much, but… are you able to just…let him know I’m okay? I’m just asking – I don’t know what I’m talking about, so I’m just asking…”

“Don’t worry his parents took care of him and… Hmm I guess they can understand me in a way… I whistle and they understand that way I guess. Don’t worry it’s ok. Maybe someday you’ll see him again. But always remember he’ll be you soul traveler…. he’s a baby so that means you will have a long life. You’ll both be old before he carries you to Valhalla…”

What…? Carlos had wondered about what aliens believed regarding the afterlife, but the subject had just… never come up. Did they think space whales were basically boats to the afterlife? That… well, he could see that making sense as a belief.

“You believe in Valhalla?” he asked. That was a term that Carlos had thought was exclusive to Earth… well, until it was revealed that one of Earth’s heroes was actually an alien – a Norse alien, if there was such a thing.

“We all are a bit different but it all comes down to Valhalla for those called warriors. I’m a ravager… we believe in a form of Valhalla. We’re like space warriors…. we have a code. We’re honor bound… we fight great battles at times… kinda like…. uhhhh As petey says… uhh Vikings or pirates I guess. And we belive were guided to Valhalla’s gates by those space critters out there.

“Huh,” Carlos said as he pondered. “That… sounds pretty nice, actually. Valhalla, um.. what is it to you? Is it a paradise?”

“In a way yes…. it’s the absolute… the final…. we stand in the halls of great warriors….. we drink, and eat with honor…. and we watch the world around us…… time is nothing…. but everything is perfect…. the food and drink unending…. and the companionship of our fellows eternal…….”

“Huh,” Carlos said softly. “On Earth, um… Valhalla is all that… but the legend says that there’s going to be a big fight between the realms and the warriors who died and resided in Valhalla would rise again to fight for the good of everyone. Or… something like that… I’m honestly not well versed in the Norse belief system…”

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“Sits
not dumb…. it’s the best little trinket I’ve gotten. Gonna take front
seat in front of the others.” Smiles pulling the little horse out and
rubs its little plastic head like it was real. “thank you carlos…… for
everything you’ve done these last few months……”

Carlos nodded to him. “And thank you for keeping your promise,” he said softly. “And for showing me the stars. Take care of yourself… and I’ll keep in touch with Peter while you’re going through your hibernation… and whenever he needs me. I hope to talk to you soon too.”

“I do as well carlos.” Goes to turn to head to his ship but stops ears flicking before grabbing him and pulling him into a searing kiss. It was hot nerdy intense and sad all in one. After a moment or two he pulls back and heads into his ship.

The kiss surprised him quite a bit. He hadn’t expected it at all, and before his mind could catch up to what was happening Yondu had broken away. Carlos stood there, a bit dazed, as the other man disappeared into the ship. It took him a moment to realize that he should go stand by the car to watch the ship go, and so Carlos quickly went to the car and stood there. He turned back to look at the M-ship, still clutching the chunk of Yaka Wood in his hands.

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“Sits
not dumb…. it’s the best little trinket I’ve gotten. Gonna take front
seat in front of the others.” Smiles pulling the little horse out and
rubs its little plastic head like it was real. “thank you carlos…… for
everything you’ve done these last few months……”

Carlos nodded to him. “And thank you for keeping your promise,” he said softly. “And for showing me the stars. Take care of yourself… and I’ll keep in touch with Peter while you’re going through your hibernation… and whenever he needs me. I hope to talk to you soon too.”

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Yondu
smirks and goes back to his own cone going quiet after a bit and
finishes his cone. “I hate you……. I hate you for making me feel like
this………damnit…..”

Carlos’ smile dropped almost immediately, and guilt crept up and started to curl around his heart. He looked down at his own cone – just down to the cone now with a small pool of ice cream inside. “I… I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I… I shouldn’t have let us get… that much closer. Then this would be a lot easier for both of us…”

“Story of my life……. I should have just…… dumped ya back on some settlement like I was planning…. but…. this damn thing I didn’t know I had called a heart betrayed me…….. and now…. I have to let go of something I don’t want to let go of……. I’m trying so hard to not say fuck all and take you with me……. to hell if you hate me…. but……” shoves the last bit of his cone in his mouth and then fiddles with the napkin.

Carlos frowned, nibbling on the edge of his cone. “But… you care too much about what I think of you to do that, huh?” he asked softly. “Just… you don’t want more people you care about being mad at you… huh?”

“Because I love you enough to let you go even if it hurts so much that I feel like dying……. Yeah….” sighs looking at his clawed fingers and the scars around his wrists from the slave cuffs when he was younger.

Carlos had the edge of his cone in his mouth again whiile Yondu talked. After a bit he brought it down and reached out to gently touch one of Yondu’s hands. “Do me a favor,” he said softly. “I know you’re going to be sad, not having me around, but… do me a favor and take that energy… and put it into being the best damn dad your boys could ever ask for. Do that for me, because there’s only so much I can do over an interstellar communicator.”

Yondu blinks and looks to him and nods. “Best damn dad in the galaxy. And do me a favor Ok. You ever.. and I mean ever need me. Call and I’ll warp here as fast as I can. You hear me. Anyone messes with you let me know. Got it nerd.” Smiles and kisses his head and leans against him holding his hand.

Carlos’ face grew warm under Yondu’s lips. He chuckled and nodded. “Yeah… I got it,” he said softly. He smiled at Yondu before offering his cone. “Want another bite before I finish it off? Even though you didn’t let me have a bite of yours~”

Chuckles and takes a small bite that was offered. “Sorry. This is delicious. Never had something this good in space.” Swallows then goes back to nuzzling at him and sighs happily. “We best go soon….. my boys will be waiting and you know they dont sleep unless I’m there and they need it.” Nuzzles his head trying to commit to memory his scent.

Carlos chuckled, letting Yondu nuzzle him, and he pressed a kiss to the other’s nose without thinking about it. “Come on, then,” he said and took Yondu’s hand. He stood up, munching on the rest of his cone and was finished by the time they got to the car. Carlos unlocked it for YOndu to get in.

Yondu hops in buckling up as he waits to be driven off. Almost felt like he was being driven to his own funeral. He reaches over and takes Carlos’s free hand holding it.

Carlos glanced over at Yondu and gave him a smile. He squeezed his hand as he continued to drive on the long, lonely road toward the ship.

Carlos wasn’t happy about this either. But… it had to be done. He had to stay – it’s what he’d been working towards for months. He had his family here and people took his work seriously here. He wasn’t a Ravager. He wasn’t built for that life.

It wasn’t like they weren’t going to see each other ever again. Carlos still had his communicator back at home. They would still be in contact and they could still be friends. Carlos hoped that, eventually, that would be enough.

Once they were at his ship Yondu got out of the car and slipped deeper into the woods towards his ship then turns to carlos. “See you around….. like I said…you need me…. you get in trouble…. call me. I’ll be here before you can blink…. I’ll whistle any ass hole that messes with you.” Whistles and smiles as he lets the arrow spin around carlos then float infront of his face.

Carlos flinched – he did every time he saw that arrow – but he smiled at Yondu and held his hands out under the arrow, as if to catch it if he suddenly dropped it. “I know… C’mere for a second, will you?”

Yondu blinks his ears wiggling a bit as he lets his arrow fall into Carlos’s palm. He walks over to him curious. “Hmm?”

Carlos rolled the arrow in his fingers, fascinated by the heat that still clung to it. But he looked at Yondu and smiled, stepping forward into his space. He gently put the arrow into its holster before wrapping his arms around Yondu and pulling him into a tight, meaningful hug.

Yondu blinks then returns the hug holding him tightly. “Love you carlos. You be good Ok. Keep being a nerd.” Kisses his head and holds on as long as Carlos let him.

Carlos just hummed, still holding him as he just… let himself have this. He was going to miss getting such big, warm hugs from the other man.

It was a little while before Carlos pulled away and he pressed a kiss to Yondu’s stubbly jaw. “Say hi to John Wayne for me,” he said, smiling very slightly at him. “And don’t get into too much trouble… okay?”

Purrs and absolutely melts at the kiss carlos gives him and lets out almost a light whimper for more. He makes a confused look. “John Wayne? And you telling a ravager to not get into to much trouble…. no promises.” Kisses his lips lightly then pulls away pulling out the little pony. Thinks and motions for him to wait as he gets on his ship then comes back out and hands him a gleaming red stone that seemed to have some kind of glow of its own. He whistles and the stone flashes with warmth and red light. “Yaka Wood. Rare…. I want you to have it…same strip I forged my arrow from…. maybe you can use it…. and… to remember me by…”

“The space whale baby, you dope,” Carlos explained teasingly, gently smacking Yondu.

Carlos was curious about what Yondu wanted him to wait for. But seeing the strange stone (or wood, actually? He had no idea) really intrigued him. It also really concerned him. “Oh – Oh my goodness, are you sure?” he asked, holding the stone in his two palms. “Yondu this – you just said it’s rare and you forge your arrow from this. Are you absolutely sure you want to… leave this with someone like me? I haven’t even had a look at your fin or your arrow so I have no idea what the first thing I’d do with it is…”

Smiles at him and nods. “I want you to have it. My arrows never broken….. I only need one arrow and I want this to be yours. My fin doesn’t make the arrow fly it’s my heart… you can make it glow with your heart. It’s connected to my arrow since it’s forged from the same tree of Yaka as what your holding. You can call on me with it and I’ll feel you.”

Carlos still wasn’t sure about it. But he closed his fingers around the material and held it close. “I’m… honestly not sure if I’ll ever be able to light it,” he admitted to Yondu. “But I will absolutely treasure this, Yondu. I’ll keep it safe and with me always.” He smiled back at the alien, nervous and sad, but touched. “And all I got you was a dumb ol’ horse toy,” he joked.

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Yondu
smirks and goes back to his own cone going quiet after a bit and
finishes his cone. “I hate you……. I hate you for making me feel like
this………damnit…..”

Carlos’ smile dropped almost immediately, and guilt crept up and started to curl around his heart. He looked down at his own cone – just down to the cone now with a small pool of ice cream inside. “I… I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I… I shouldn’t have let us get… that much closer. Then this would be a lot easier for both of us…”

“Story of my life……. I should have just…… dumped ya back on some settlement like I was planning…. but…. this damn thing I didn’t know I had called a heart betrayed me…….. and now…. I have to let go of something I don’t want to let go of……. I’m trying so hard to not say fuck all and take you with me……. to hell if you hate me…. but……” shoves the last bit of his cone in his mouth and then fiddles with the napkin.

Carlos frowned, nibbling on the edge of his cone. “But… you care too much about what I think of you to do that, huh?” he asked softly. “Just… you don’t want more people you care about being mad at you… huh?”

“Because I love you enough to let you go even if it hurts so much that I feel like dying……. Yeah….” sighs looking at his clawed fingers and the scars around his wrists from the slave cuffs when he was younger.

Carlos had the edge of his cone in his mouth again whiile Yondu talked. After a bit he brought it down and reached out to gently touch one of Yondu’s hands. “Do me a favor,” he said softly. “I know you’re going to be sad, not having me around, but… do me a favor and take that energy… and put it into being the best damn dad your boys could ever ask for. Do that for me, because there’s only so much I can do over an interstellar communicator.”

Yondu blinks and looks to him and nods. “Best damn dad in the galaxy. And do me a favor Ok. You ever.. and I mean ever need me. Call and I’ll warp here as fast as I can. You hear me. Anyone messes with you let me know. Got it nerd.” Smiles and kisses his head and leans against him holding his hand.

Carlos’ face grew warm under Yondu’s lips. He chuckled and nodded. “Yeah… I got it,” he said softly. He smiled at Yondu before offering his cone. “Want another bite before I finish it off? Even though you didn’t let me have a bite of yours~”

Chuckles and takes a small bite that was offered. “Sorry. This is delicious. Never had something this good in space.” Swallows then goes back to nuzzling at him and sighs happily. “We best go soon….. my boys will be waiting and you know they dont sleep unless I’m there and they need it.” Nuzzles his head trying to commit to memory his scent.

Carlos chuckled, letting Yondu nuzzle him, and he pressed a kiss to the other’s nose without thinking about it. “Come on, then,” he said and took Yondu’s hand. He stood up, munching on the rest of his cone and was finished by the time they got to the car. Carlos unlocked it for YOndu to get in.

Yondu hops in buckling up as he waits to be driven off. Almost felt like he was being driven to his own funeral. He reaches over and takes Carlos’s free hand holding it.

Carlos glanced over at Yondu and gave him a smile. He squeezed his hand as he continued to drive on the long, lonely road toward the ship.

Carlos wasn’t happy about this either. But… it had to be done. He had to stay – it’s what he’d been working towards for months. He had his family here and people took his work seriously here. He wasn’t a Ravager. He wasn’t built for that life.

It wasn’t like they weren’t going to see each other ever again. Carlos still had his communicator back at home. They would still be in contact and they could still be friends. Carlos hoped that, eventually, that would be enough.

Once they were at his ship Yondu got out of the car and slipped deeper into the woods towards his ship then turns to carlos. “See you around….. like I said…you need me…. you get in trouble…. call me. I’ll be here before you can blink…. I’ll whistle any ass hole that messes with you.” Whistles and smiles as he lets the arrow spin around carlos then float infront of his face.

Carlos flinched – he did every time he saw that arrow – but he smiled at Yondu and held his hands out under the arrow, as if to catch it if he suddenly dropped it. “I know… C’mere for a second, will you?”

Yondu blinks his ears wiggling a bit as he lets his arrow fall into Carlos’s palm. He walks over to him curious. “Hmm?”

Carlos rolled the arrow in his fingers, fascinated by the heat that still clung to it. But he looked at Yondu and smiled, stepping forward into his space. He gently put the arrow into its holster before wrapping his arms around Yondu and pulling him into a tight, meaningful hug.

Yondu blinks then returns the hug holding him tightly. “Love you carlos. You be good Ok. Keep being a nerd.” Kisses his head and holds on as long as Carlos let him.

Carlos just hummed, still holding him as he just… let himself have this. He was going to miss getting such big, warm hugs from the other man.

It was a little while before Carlos pulled away and he pressed a kiss to Yondu’s stubbly jaw. “Say hi to John Wayne for me,” he said, smiling very slightly at him. “And don’t get into too much trouble… okay?”

Purrs and absolutely melts at the kiss carlos gives him and lets out almost a light whimper for more. He makes a confused look. “John Wayne? And you telling a ravager to not get into to much trouble…. no promises.” Kisses his lips lightly then pulls away pulling out the little pony. Thinks and motions for him to wait as he gets on his ship then comes back out and hands him a gleaming red stone that seemed to have some kind of glow of its own. He whistles and the stone flashes with warmth and red light. “Yaka Wood. Rare…. I want you to have it…same strip I forged my arrow from…. maybe you can use it…. and… to remember me by…”

“The space whale baby, you dope,” Carlos explained teasingly, gently smacking Yondu.

Carlos was curious about what Yondu wanted him to wait for. But seeing the strange stone (or wood, actually? He had no idea) really intrigued him. It also really concerned him. “Oh – Oh my goodness, are you sure?” he asked, holding the stone in his two palms. “Yondu this – you just said it’s rare and you forge your arrow from this. Are you absolutely sure you want to… leave this with someone like me? I haven’t even had a look at your fin or your arrow so I have no idea what the first thing I’d do with it is…”

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Yondu
smirks and goes back to his own cone going quiet after a bit and
finishes his cone. “I hate you……. I hate you for making me feel like
this………damnit…..”

Carlos’ smile dropped almost immediately, and guilt crept up and started to curl around his heart. He looked down at his own cone – just down to the cone now with a small pool of ice cream inside. “I… I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I… I shouldn’t have let us get… that much closer. Then this would be a lot easier for both of us…”

“Story of my life……. I should have just…… dumped ya back on some settlement like I was planning…. but…. this damn thing I didn’t know I had called a heart betrayed me…….. and now…. I have to let go of something I don’t want to let go of……. I’m trying so hard to not say fuck all and take you with me……. to hell if you hate me…. but……” shoves the last bit of his cone in his mouth and then fiddles with the napkin.

Carlos frowned, nibbling on the edge of his cone. “But… you care too much about what I think of you to do that, huh?” he asked softly. “Just… you don’t want more people you care about being mad at you… huh?”

“Because I love you enough to let you go even if it hurts so much that I feel like dying……. Yeah….” sighs looking at his clawed fingers and the scars around his wrists from the slave cuffs when he was younger.

Carlos had the edge of his cone in his mouth again whiile Yondu talked. After a bit he brought it down and reached out to gently touch one of Yondu’s hands. “Do me a favor,” he said softly. “I know you’re going to be sad, not having me around, but… do me a favor and take that energy… and put it into being the best damn dad your boys could ever ask for. Do that for me, because there’s only so much I can do over an interstellar communicator.”

Yondu blinks and looks to him and nods. “Best damn dad in the galaxy. And do me a favor Ok. You ever.. and I mean ever need me. Call and I’ll warp here as fast as I can. You hear me. Anyone messes with you let me know. Got it nerd.” Smiles and kisses his head and leans against him holding his hand.

Carlos’ face grew warm under Yondu’s lips. He chuckled and nodded. “Yeah… I got it,” he said softly. He smiled at Yondu before offering his cone. “Want another bite before I finish it off? Even though you didn’t let me have a bite of yours~”

Chuckles and takes a small bite that was offered. “Sorry. This is delicious. Never had something this good in space.” Swallows then goes back to nuzzling at him and sighs happily. “We best go soon….. my boys will be waiting and you know they dont sleep unless I’m there and they need it.” Nuzzles his head trying to commit to memory his scent.

Carlos chuckled, letting Yondu nuzzle him, and he pressed a kiss to the other’s nose without thinking about it. “Come on, then,” he said and took Yondu’s hand. He stood up, munching on the rest of his cone and was finished by the time they got to the car. Carlos unlocked it for YOndu to get in.

Yondu hops in buckling up as he waits to be driven off. Almost felt like he was being driven to his own funeral. He reaches over and takes Carlos’s free hand holding it.

Carlos glanced over at Yondu and gave him a smile. He squeezed his hand as he continued to drive on the long, lonely road toward the ship.

Carlos wasn’t happy about this either. But… it had to be done. He had to stay – it’s what he’d been working towards for months. He had his family here and people took his work seriously here. He wasn’t a Ravager. He wasn’t built for that life.

It wasn’t like they weren’t going to see each other ever again. Carlos still had his communicator back at home. They would still be in contact and they could still be friends. Carlos hoped that, eventually, that would be enough.

Once they were at his ship Yondu got out of the car and slipped deeper into the woods towards his ship then turns to carlos. “See you around….. like I said…you need me…. you get in trouble…. call me. I’ll be here before you can blink…. I’ll whistle any ass hole that messes with you.” Whistles and smiles as he lets the arrow spin around carlos then float infront of his face.

Carlos flinched – he did every time he saw that arrow – but he smiled at Yondu and held his hands out under the arrow, as if to catch it if he suddenly dropped it. “I know… C’mere for a second, will you?”

Yondu blinks his ears wiggling a bit as he lets his arrow fall into Carlos’s palm. He walks over to him curious. “Hmm?”

Carlos rolled the arrow in his fingers, fascinated by the heat that still clung to it. But he looked at Yondu and smiled, stepping forward into his space. He gently put the arrow into its holster before wrapping his arms around Yondu and pulling him into a tight, meaningful hug.

Yondu blinks then returns the hug holding him tightly. “Love you carlos. You be good Ok. Keep being a nerd.” Kisses his head and holds on as long as Carlos let him.

Carlos just hummed, still holding him as he just… let himself have this. He was going to miss getting such big, warm hugs from the other man.

It was a little while before Carlos pulled away and he pressed a kiss to Yondu’s stubbly jaw. “Say hi to John Wayne for me,” he said, smiling very slightly at him. “And don’t get into too much trouble… okay?”