This is the story of how I died.

Captain hates it when I start the story like that, but it's not exactly a lie.

The beginning that he prefers, all starts over 18 years ago on a grubby little planet called Earth. The people aren't smart, the technology is way behind everyone else's and all they seemed to do was fight one another.

And on this planet, lived Meredith Quill. A simple girl, who fell into bed with the wrong man, and was kicked out because of it.

She called this man an angel, but he was something far worse than that.

It was probably the only reason she even survived…. Because her son wanted her to.

Peter Quill.

To everyone on Earth, there was nothing special about him. Just another brat being raised by a single mum. But anyone who knew him well, knew that there was something different about him.

Something special.

To put it bluntly, when he sang, he could heal people.

And it was those powers that drew his Father's attention.

Knowing that his son was exactly what he was looking for, Ego made his way back to Earth in the dead of night. Kissing his once lover on the forehead, knowing that she wouldn't live for much longer, he snuck into his son's room and grabbed him, vanishing into the night.

But he had made a terrible, terrible mistake.

Meredith survived.

No, she wasn't the same…. But she still had her determination, and that was enough to keep her going.

She didn't know that Peter wasn't even on Earth anymore…. How was she to know?

But he was, locked in a tower on the other side of the galaxy, where Ego kept Peter for his own. He could never die with his son by his side.

("You can't keep me here forever! Mommy will find me! Mommy will never stop looking!"

"You'd rather be on Earth? With those… savages? You are much safer here Peter… trust me."

"Trust you? When you've kidnapped me?!")

But the walls of that tower couldn't hide everything. Each year, on Peter's birthday, Meredith would send out, what she hoped was, a universal message to every corner of the galaxy, in the hope that her son could hear her, hoping that he would someday come home.

And every year, Peter heard it.

Loud and clear.

…

Ten years passed, and not much had changed in Peter's life.

"AAAAAAaaaaaAAAAAaaaa'm….. hooked on a feeling!" Peter skidded across the newly cleaned floor, voice rising above the early morning birds. They were probably used to it, after all, they'd heard the same songs over and over again for the last decade.

"When you hold me, in your arms so tight You let me know, everything's all right!"

Mantis clapped in excitement, even as Peter's voice trailed off and he started to make his way over to the window, growling when the chains prevented him from getting any closer. "One day, these things are going to break…" he hissed, "… and when they do, I'm making a run for it. I'll find a ship and get away from this place!"

He then glanced around the rest of the tower. Him and Mantis had already cleaned that morning… then again, they cleaned every morning, so it never took very long.

He's run out of books to read… they only had three mind you.

The wall had been completely covered in paint, leaving them no more room to brighten up the tower.

He'd learnt how to play the guitar… tried to learn how to knit and cook.

He hated puzzles.

But tomorrow night is the highlight of every year. His birthday, when the transmission reached even the rusty radio hidden under his breath. The call from his mother as she pleaded for him to return home.

And this year, he was going to do it.

Even if he had to gnaw his own foot off to do so.

"This year… this is going to be the year."

…

"Wow… I could used to a view like this."

"Kraglin, come on!" Yondu hissed from further up the roof.

"Give me a moment…. Okay, I've decided for our anniversary, I want a house like this."

"Knock it off, we have a mission! Now get your skinny ass over here!"

Kraglin sighed wearily and made his way over, allowing a rope to be tied around his waist as he was then lowered into the building.

"I still don't see why have to be the one to do this." He sighed, rolling his eyes at Yondu's whispered orders for him to shut up. As he was lowered down into the museum, one of the security guards sneezed, the sound echoing throughout the room.

"Bad cold?"

"Yeah…" The guard suddenly seemed to realise who he was talking to and yelped in alarm as he spotted the intruder grabbed the crown and was then pulled back up through the skylight.

"Back to the ship brat." Yondu grunted, "Let's get off this hellhole of a planet."

….

"Are trees meant to be blue?"

Peter glanced over at Mantis and winced, "They are… on Earth."

She just beamed at him, completely believing him.

"Good morning children."

Mantis flinched backwards at Ego's arrival.

"Aren't you going to come and say hello?"

Peter ignored him, the weight of the shackle seeming heavier than ever.

"Peter…" Ego's tone was slightly more warning now, "… do not make me come over there."

Ah yes, Peter was sure he still had the bruises from the last time the man had to come and get him.

"Alright!" He sighed, "I'm coming!"

Slowly, he shuffled over, glaring at a smirking Ego. He clenched his fist, knowing that lashing out would only result in tighter restrictions.

"Nothing?" Ego chuckled, "Someone certainly has been working on their self-control."

"Yeah, well that's what over 10 years of- "

"- Oh, don't start Peter." The warning tone appeared again, "For once, I'd just like to go through one day without having you complain about your life here."

"So, I should just sit here like a good little prisoner?"

Ego gave him a sympathetic smile… almost. "I was hoping that one day, you'd stop seeing this as a prison and more like a home."

"Never!"

There was brief moment of silence, before Ego suddenly darted forwards, grabbing Peter's arm, pinning it around his back and forcing him to the ground as Mantis curled up in the corner.

"You know what I want Peter." Ego sighed, tightening his grip and forcing the arm further up, making Peter yelp in pain, eyes squeezing shut as tears started to build up, "Just give me what I want!"

"Flower, gleam and glow…" Peter groaned, a slight sing-song tone to his voice "… let your power shine. Make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine!"

"That's my boy…" Ego murmured, pulling away and leaving Peter on the floor, "… that should keep me going for a day or two."

"Happy Birthday to me." Peter muttered sarcastically, pushing himself to his feet and rubbing the ache in his arms

"I'm sure your birthday is tomorrow Peter, that's why I decided to do this today… give you a day to yourself."

"Great."

Ego was unimpressed by this lack of gratitude, "I can always come back tomorrow… spend the day with you like any good Father?"

No.

Peter could still remember the last full day they had together. If his Father came back, then there was no chance of him escaping and finding his Mom again.

"Today is fine." He muttered.

"Good boy." Ego then frowned, "You're a grown man now Peter, don't you think all this fighting is a bit beneath you? After all, I am protecting you by keeping you in here."

"By keeping me prisoner?!"

"By keeping you away from scum!"

Peter opened his mouth to protest but was immediately cut off before he could say anything.

"This conversation is over Peter, and don't think I don't know what you're thinking of doing. This little set-up you have is a luxury. If you try to escape, I'll shorten that leash of yours."

"… I get it." Peter sighed wearily, "… I get it."