Peter, don’t! He has the remote to detonate the bomb in his hand. He’s ready to do this. Even if it means he’ll perish along with the High Evolutionary and Warlock. God dammit, Quill! He’ll be able to save his crew. His family.
So many people he cared for had died leading up to this moment. His mom, Yondu, Groot, Tony, his dad, Gamora. Pete, stop! He’s ready, but still… he doesn’t want to die. Afterall, his life was just starting to work out for him. He got the love of his life, Gamora back and he had just recently found out that Mantis was his sister! Peter! Yet, he knows it’s the right thing to do. And he’ll take any chance he gets to protect his family. Please, I love you.
“Thank you.”
He pulls the trigger.
Everything explodes around him. He can hear the High Evolutionary screaming in agony as his whole life’s work has been destroyed just because of a bunch of a-holes who don’t know how to mind their business.
He begins to remember everyone he loves in his life both alive and deceased.
He remembers all the good times he had with his mom growing up before her cancer took over. Her trying to help him with his math homework, but failing miserably. Her cheering him on during soccer games. Her music.
He remembers Yondu and Kraglin teaching him how to shoot and be a true ravager. Yondu trying to parent him as best he can as Kraglin acts as sort of a big brother. The other ravagers playing games with him. Yondu giving him his iconic dual guns for Christmas. Yondu saving his life.
Even though he still has a deep hatred for the man, he remembers his father showing him how to harness his celestial magic and telling him stories about his mother.
He remembers the guardians.
He remembers Drax making the most undeniably hilarious jokes and being able to make anyone laugh no matter how much tension there is.
He remembers Groot’s kindness and heroicness. His sacrifice.
He remembers Rocket’s sarcasm and annoyingly tiring pranks and his softy self under the tough guy act.
He remembers his sister, Mantis, her bubbly and adorable personality. He hasn’t really known her that long, but he loves her so much.
Finally, Gamora. The love of his life. Both the new one and the old one. He remembers their smile and the sound of their laughter, their sassiness, compassion, courage and bravery. But overall, her love for their family, Her love for him.
He knows the Gamora he has now is technically the same one he had as before…but it’s still not the same. At least now, he’ll be able to be with the woman he actually fell in love with.
Mantis begins to cry and Drax watches as the ship explodes meanwhile Nebula and Gamora are staring into the floor in despair. Rocket along with Groot comes over and asks them all what had happened in the hopes that they would say that everything is alright. That he is alright. When no one responds he just says “we need to find him. Even if he isn’t- even if he’s not alive, we need to find him. That’s what he would do for any of us.”
After about 5 minutes of searching and calling his name they hear a scream “I got him! Over here!” Rocket yells. “Hang on, buddy, just hang on.”
Drax and Mantis are the first ones to arrive at the scene, Drax just stares in disbelief as Mantis begins to break down. He was her brother, really just a half brother, but she loved him anyways just as much as he loved her. But now he’s gone.
“I am groot?” Groot asks if he’s gonna be okay.
“He’s gonna be fine, man” replies Rocket. But deep down they all know that’s not true, not even a half celestial being like him could survive an explosion like this.
Nebula has been there as soon as Rocket and Groot found him, but as she was not as close to him as everyone else was, she stays in the background, so he can ultimately have his last moments be with the people cares for most.
He’s alive and awake, but just barely. He’s going to die and he knows it and accepts it. He just wants everyone to be safe and be able to be happy even if it means he had to die for it.
“Peter…” Mantis wails softly while still crying.
“Hey, sis” he says softly. “It’s okay. Don’t cry”
Gamora finally comes and kneels down to where Peter is laying down. “Listen to me, Peter.” She says “You’re going to be alright okay? Just hang on a little bit longer.”
“I’m…I’m sorry, G’mora”
“No, don’t say that, please. I swear to god, if you die, I'll kill you.”
He chuckles, “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Gamora says as her voice breaks.
Peter can feel his body weakening by the second. This isn’t fair. He has so much he wants to tell everyone, but doesn’t have enough time to.
“J-just tell me th- Just tell me that you’ll be okay… That a-all of you will be okay.”
“We will, Peter Quill, don’t worry.” Drax says.
A single tear falls out of Gamora’s eye and Mantis throws herself into Drax’s arms.
“Yeah.” Rocket says. “I may be small, but I'll take care of ‘em for you. I promise. And we’ll all fly away together, one last time, into the forever and beautiful sky. For one last ride.”