The Avengers Marvel Everybody One Shots

The Girl I Left Behind - Peter Quill

"Your mom's music is so cool" You and Peter are lying in the grass sharing his headphones and listening to music.

It was how you helped Peter stay calm, his poor mom was in the hospital again. More tests, but it wasn't looking good. His grandpa had called your mom and asked if he could come over for a while. He said you always managed to cheer him up a bit.

"Yeah, it's all her favourite stuff" He sniffles and wipes his nose with the back of his sleeve.

"I can see why" You smile at him, and he smiles back but not as brightly.

Not anymore. You both knew it wasn't looking good for his mom. She had been ill for a while now and in the beginning it looked like she would pull through, but after her last set of tests. Meredith was a super happy person, always singing and dancing. She could light up a room and you could see how much Peter loved her. Seeing her so ill had broken Peter, he hardly smiled at all now and when he did it was more of a grimace. And his grandpa looked so sad all the time.

At eight and six years old you both knew what death was. Or you thought you did. You both had pets die and older relatives. It was all painful, but seeing Meredith waste away. That was awful. You weren't sure what cancer was exactly, you and Peter had heard his grandpa discussing it. As an illness, it was the worst thing ever. It was so different from finding out someone had died. Seeing them change and become something else entirely different from who they were. You had decided right then if you could help someone, you would.

"Peter, we have to go" His grandpa calls across the fence, Peter smiles and hands you his Walkman.

"I'll get it when I come back" He tries to push it into your hands but you shake your head.

"We can share it when you come back" You hook the headphones around his neck and nervously kiss his cheek.

"Bye mouse" Peter flushes a bright pink and smiles. He runs for the broken fence post between the gardens and pushes through. When he gets to his feet he waves and his grandpa takes him to the car.

Poor Peter, his whole world was changing around him. But you would always be here for him, you would make sure to take care of your best friend with everything you had.

Little did you know back then.

Peter had disappeared that night after the death of his mom. Jason, his grandpa had been devastated by the loss of his daughter and missing grandson. You made a point of visiting him whenever you could. He was a good man and his guilt ate at him. He blamed himself for Peter's disappearance. You didn't know what to think apart from that things get messed up sometimes and nobody is to blame.

                                 ***

You growl frustratedly, you were gonna be late again and your stupid car would not start. A tap on the window makes you jump, Jason is there smiling at you.

"Come on, I'll give you a lift" He opens the door and helps you out.

"Thanks, my car won't start" He opens the door for you and gets in. Jason was always willing to help you out.

He had been there for you when your mom died. You had been away at school, in the middle of your nursing program. He had helped plan the funeral when you were too broken to operate, called what was left of your family and fed you. Jason took care of you, he was all heart and smiles when you needed someone.

"I told you you needed a new car" He huffs a laugh when you roll your eyes. "Yeah and when I win the lottery, I'll get one" You smile back.

"Ain't that the truth" Jason knew you had no money. Your mother's illness had eaten up all your savings and your school money.