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agoldengalaxy · 2 years ago

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Dog Days Are Over

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{Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Spoiler alert!}

“It’s weird, dontcha think?” Rocket asked softly. “Can’t remember the last time it felt so good around here.”

“Yes.” Nebula paused, then looked down at her lap. “I hope…you are feeling it, too.”

Rocket was trying to process a lot all at once, and it sort of felt like his head was going to explode. Everything was the same and different all at once. He wasn’t quite sure what to do with it all.

While walking around aimlessly, he found Gamora waiting in the hangar for the Ravagers to arrive, lacing up her boots. He knew she’d probably prefer if he just kept walking and left her alone, but if he were being honest, he knew he’d regret saying nothing before she left. Huffing a sigh, he stopped, not too close to her but not too far.

“Hey. Cool shoes you got there.”

She looked up, her hair framing her face, the face that had once belonged to someone he called a friend, but not anymore. Much to his surprise, instead of ignoring him, she cleared her throat and finished tying her laces, then sat back to look at him. “Thanks. How are you feeling?”

“Me? Oh. I’m great. Yeah. Feels like things are settlin’, y’know?” He wasn’t sure if he really believed it himself, but he had to at least try. She nodded.

“That’s good.”

They regarded each other for a moment, and Rocket had to try really hard not to reminisce. God, he felt like Quill. He looked away, shaking his head. “Look, uh…I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. You didn’t have to help me and you did. So…thanks.”

Perhaps as surprised as he was that he had thanked her, she blinked and looked away, shrugging a shoulder. It seemed like she wasn’t going to respond until she looked down at her lap. “I’m…glad you made it,” she said softly, belatedly meeting his gaze. “You have a lot of people that care about you.”

He felt his eyes prick, and he had to avert his gaze to hide it. “Yeah, well. I ain’t done with the galaxy yet.” When he forced himself to look back at her, she was watching him curiously. “I know you found a place with the Ravagers, but you’ll always have a home here, too. Just, uh…just wanted to put that out there.”

Gamora seemed surprised by that. A slight smile pulled at her lips. “I’ll keep it in mind. Thank you.”

“All right. Safe travels, and all that. Don’t let any of ‘em kill each other.”

Through a chuckle, she shook her head. “No promises.”

That reminded him of the Gamora he knew. He gave her one more smile, turning to go as he watched Nebula and Peter approach. Before they could see him, he walked away, hoping that he’d see her again someday.

***

Not for the first time in his life, Rocket was relieved to hear quiet humming coming from down the hall. Attaching the Zune to his hip, he walked slowly and quietly toward the source, resisting the urge to hum along to the tune that was being sung in favor of keeping the quiet for a few moments longer.

Carefully, he moved to stand in the doorway, leaning against it, watching Peter pack up his things. His back was to the door as he crumpled up some shirts and threw them into a bag, his head bopping. His humming was quiet this time, under his breath like he didn’t want to disturb anyone.

Rocket detached the Zune from his hip, holding it up, and finally broke the quiet with a smile on his face. “Don’t ya think you’d like ‘Do You Realize’ better with the actual music?”

Peter jumped, whirling around with a hand over his heart. “Jesus! You scared me.”

“Obviously. Look at your face. You got that dumb expression on it again.” He stepped forward, holding the Zune out to him. Maybe not in the mood to debate it, or deciding it wasn’t worth it to get offended over that comment, Peter took the device, noticing that Rocket had already queued up the song he’d been humming. The corner of his mouth twitched upward as he pressed play, letting the song play quietly as he tossed it onto his bed.

“…You okay?”

The question caught Rocket off guard. He scoffed, looking away for a moment. Physically, he’d recovered completely. Everything else, he wasn’t quite sure - but it wasn’t like he was about to admit all that to Peter Quill of all people. “Yeah. I’m good. Never thought I’d be takin’ care of a dozen baby raccoons, though.”

Peter snorted, folding a shirt up against his chest. “I’m so glad you’ve finally realized what you are.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea, Star Munch. I still won’t answer to it when it comes from you.”

“And I won’t answer to Star Munch.”

Though there was usually some kind of hostility in this type of teasing, it wasn’t present right now. Rocket rubbed the back of his neck, deciding to voice the real reason he’d come to Peter’s room. A small grin pulled at his lips as he crossed his arms, leaning sideways against the doorframe, using his ability to be annoying as a cover for really wanting to know the answer. “So, I heard from Nebula that you called me your best friend.”

“What?” Peter’s brows knitted together, and he seemed to be trying to hide the embarrassment from his expression. Unfortunately for him, his face grew reddish and he waved his hand dismissively, the way he always did when he was lying. “Psh. You know how Nebula is. Always…joking around.”

Rocket raised a brow at him. Peter sighed, his shoulders sagging.

“Yeah. Okay, I did. I had no idea what to do with myself when I thought you…I mean, you probably would have been fine if I hadn’t been drinking again, and…” Peter turned away to face his bed, releasing a quiet, shaky sigh. “I’m sorry, Rocket.”

Suddenly, Rocket felt a lump form in his throat, and he swallowed it down. “Don’t beat yourself up about that, Quill. It ain’t your fault. Adam kicked all our asses. You coulda gotten hurt, too.”

Running a hand through his hair, Peter turned around slowly. “It’s why I gotta go,” he said softly, his eyes shining. “I need to move on.”

“I know.” He did, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt that he was leaving. “Your grandpa’s gonna be one lucky son of a bitch to have you home.”

Peter smiled slightly, releasing the tension that had been building up in his shoulders. He sat on the edge of his bed carefully, patting the place next to him. Rocket rolled his eyes but moved forward anyway, hopping up to sit beside him.

For a moment, they sat quietly, listening to the Zune. A sense of comfort and familiarity washed over them, but Rocket felt like he should break it.

“Hey, for the record,” he said, staring down at his lap, “you’re my best friend, too.”

Peter didn’t respond, and Rocket couldn’t bring himself to look up, but he slowly felt an arm come to rest around his shoulders. Rocket leaned his head against Peter’s arm gently, and they sat there for a while, listening.

And the next morning, when Rocket woke up in Peter’s bed by himself, he found the Zune had been left behind for him.

***

“So, I hear you’re an Abilisk whisperer now.”

Mantis whirled around, her eyes as wide as saucers. “Rocket!” She gave him a sheepish smile, looking between the three creatures she had just been talking to. “Not a whisperer. I just calmed their fears. I wanted them to know we would not hurt them.”

Chuckling a little, Rocket stepped closer, lifting a hand to shield his eyes as he stared upward. “Sounds like a whisperer to me.” His gaze slid from the Abilisk to Mantis, who was looking at him curiously. “You almost ready to go?”

“Yes. I am almost finished. I will find these three a proper home and see some of the galaxy with nobody telling me what to do. I think it will be fun.” She drew herself up, like she was trying to convince herself. “And someday, I will come back.”

“…I’m happy for ya. Really.”

What he didn’t say was how much he was going to miss her, her positivity and her kindness, her absolute unabashed love for others. He was learning that he really didn’t like change, but who was he to tell anyone what to do?

Mantis smiled, this time more genuinely, and knelt down on the dirt so they could be eye level. Usually that would piss him off, but he had something of a soft spot for her. She was just so innocent, he couldn’t possibly stay mad at her.

“Thank you. I know it will not be easy, but I have to go.” Her gaze drifted toward Drax for a moment, who was busy being surrounded by a group of children. Rocket followed her gaze, then looked back toward her, knowing that if anyone was going to take her departure really hard, it would be him. They were close, like how Rocket and Groot were close.

“This ain’t goodbye, y’know. We’ll see each other again. You just gotta make sure the big idiot knows that before you go.” He paused. “I hope you find what you’re lookin’ for, Mantis, and I hope you find it fast. You better come home as soon as you’re done.”

Mantis blinked, her eyes shining, then broke into a smile. She leaned forward, pulling him into a gentle embrace, light enough that he would be able to pull away if he wanted. And maybe any other day he would have, but today, he lifted his arms slowly to return the hug. As he did so, she tightened it a little.

“I am so glad you are okay,” she whispered in his ear. “I will be back before you know it.”

They held each other for just a moment before he pulled away, waving a hand dismissively. “All right, all right. Get on with it. Don’t wanna keep your dirty pets waiting.”

She gasped, standing up to look around at her Abelisks. “They are not dirty!”

“Oh, yeah? That one’s got a mud spot the size of one of Drax’s turds.”

Mantis looked over at the creature in question, then pulled a face. “Okay. Maybe they are a little dirty. I will find some place to bathe them.”

“Good.” Rocket chuckled, then stepped back, giving her a final wave. She returned it as Drax began approaching, and Rocket took that opportunity to excuse himself - but he still watched from a distance as they said goodbye, and watched her walk away until he couldn’t see her anymore.

Her return couldn’t come soon enough.

***

In the dead of night, when things should have been quiet and he couldn’t sleep, Rocket could hear soft crying. He almost wanted to ignore it, knowing that if it were him, he’d want to be left alone, but it wasn’t him. Maybe someone needed something. Maybe, as the captain, that was his job.

Pushing himself out of bed, he walked toward the source of the noise, finding it coming from Drax’s room. A soft light filtered into the hall from the room, and now that he was closer, Rocket could hear quiet murmuring over the crying. Curiously, he peeked his head inside.

Sitting on the bed was Drax, and in his lap was a small girl, one of the children that the High Evolutionary created. Tears streamed down her face but she stared, transfixed, at Drax, who was singing something quietly to her and rubbing her back. Even Rocket found himself somewhat relaxed listening to Drax’s uncharacteristically quiet and soothing voice, and eventually the child’s eyes closed, and she leaned against Drax’s chest. He held her there for a moment as he finished his song, and when she didn’t wake, he carefully stood up with her in his arms.

There, he noticed Rocket. He blinked, and Rocket blinked back, giving him a shrug. Drax smiled slightly and left the room, heading down the hall toward some of the children’s rooms. Rocket waited where he was, knowing that Drax was probably going to tuck the kid in.

A moment later, when he returned, Rocket followed him into his room. Drax seemed just a little sheepish as he sat on his bed. “You heard that?”

“Yeah. Sorry.”

Drax shook his head. Awkward silence filled the room for a moment before he continued. “She had a bad dream, and came to me.” There was a mix of emotion on his face, and Rocket couldn’t quite place any of them. “Sorry for waking you up.”

Frowning a little, Rocket shook his head. “Nah, I was up anyhow.” He wasn’t quite sure what to do now. Should he just leave? Perhaps he would have, but Drax’s expression resembled a kicked puppy. He shifted his weight. This was not the Drax he knew, and he didn’t like it. “You, uh, you okay? You’re kinda freakin’ me out with that look on your face.”

“I am fine.” He paused, then looked down. “I…I haven’t been a father in a very long time. It’s strange. I don’t know if I remember how to do it. They all remind me of my daughter.”

Rocket eyed him, then scoffed. “Well, you got nothin’ to worry about. Those kids love you. You’re doing a great job. Your dead kid’s proud of you somewhere.”

Leaning his elbows on his knees, Drax sighed softly. “Thank you.”

He didn’t seem convinced. Rocket frowned, moving closer. “Drax, that kid chose to come to you when she was upset. If that doesn’t prove you’re doing good, nothing will, you idiot.” Drax blinked, the words seemingly sinking in slowly. Rocket noticed the shadows beneath his eyes then, and he spoke before really thinking. “You don’t look good.”

“I have not been sleeping well,” Drax admitted. “The kids are great. I’m really happy, but…I miss Quill and Mantis.”

Rocket huffed a sigh, scratching the back of his head. “I do, too. But they had to go, and we had to stay. These kids need you more than anyone else. They never had a dad before, and you can be that for them.” He knew he would have liked something like that when he escaped, but he wouldn’t say that out loud.

“Wow…” Drax’s brows furrowed. “When you talk like that, you sound like a real captain.”

“That’s because I am, jackass.” Despite the comeback, his voice was gentle. “Now go to bed, will ya? You’ll be useless if you’re tired.”

Drax watched him, slowly laying down. “I will not be useless. Even tired, my mind is sharp and my body is strong. I would still be able to vanquish any…any living threat that…that…comes our…way…”

While he spoke, his eyes fluttered closed, the last word punctuated by quiet snores. Rocket rolled his eyes fondly, moving forward to pull the blanket up over his bare chest.

“Good night, you green moron.”

***

While an Earth, Wind, & Fire song played over the speakers, Rocket handed some food down to the baby raccoons from where he sat on the staircase. The babies let out excited squeaks as they bumbled all over each other to get to the food. Rocket couldn’t help but chuckle a little.

“Take it easy, ya furry idiots. There’s enough for all of ya.”

They didn’t ever seem to understand what he was saying, but that didn’t stop them from absolutely adoring him - and he’d be lying if he said he didn’t feel the same about them. This was the life he and his friends should have been given, and he was happy to provide them with it, albeit the feeling being somewhat bittersweet.

Each of the babies having some piece, they calmed down enough to eat their food and stop climbing all over each other. He wondered if he really had been this small before. He must have been.

“I have no idea how you haven’t lost any of them yet.”

A familiar voice appeared above him, so he looked up, finding Nebula standing there with her hand on her hip. He huffed a sigh, not bothering to hide his slight grin. “I’m the best frickin’ caretaker they got. The kids helped me name ‘em, and it surprisingly makes it easier to keep ‘em straight.”

Nebula exhaled in the way that Rocket knew was her version of a laugh, and stepped carefully over to sit beside him on the stairs. The raccoons’ happy chewing was the only sound for a moment as they looked out at Knowhere. Nearby, children giggled as they played one of their made up games. Groot and Adam were helping rebuild the destruction that had befell the planet, putting up some of the redone signs. Kraglin and Cosmo napped together against one of the nearby pillars. The music played softly, the air completely still and peaceful.

“It’s weird, dontcha think?” Rocket asked softly. “Can’t remember the last time it felt so good around here.”

“Yes.” Nebula paused, then looked down at her lap. “I hope…you are feeling it, too.”

That surprised him. Glancing toward her, he took in her expression - it was nearly blank, the way it often was, besides the way her jaw was clenched. He raised a brow. “What brought this on? Never pegged you to be the emotional type.”

“I’m not.” She huffed, meeting his eyes. “It’s just…I never knew how similar we were.” Nebula was not one to shy away from saying what had happened to her while Rocket was. Now that part of him that he had hidden was made very well known to his friends. Before he could even think of what to say, she continued. “I am the happiest I’ve ever been,” she admitted. “Taking care of the kids, being here with you and the others, it makes me feel like I have a purpose other than what Thanos wanted from me.”

Rocket thought about the crazed look in the High Evolutionary’s eyes, the one he noticed more often the older he got. He sighed softly as he glanced down at the baby raccoons, who were now running around and playing with each other, thinking about the long five years he’d spent with only Nebula as his company thanks to the Blip. Perhaps if it were anyone else, he wouldn’t entertain this type of conversation, but with her, he was comfortable. “Yeah. Me too.”

After another moment of quiet, Nebula glanced down in surprise, finding one of the babies had stepped its front paws onto her boot, looking up at her curiously. Its nose twitched, like it wanted to be closer. Rocket chuckled.

“Looks like Stripes likes ya.”

“Stripes?” she repeated, frowning. Perhaps she thought if she stared at the animal long enough it would give up, but it didn’t. Relenting with a heavy sigh, she bent down and scooped the raccoon into her arms, where it happily squeaked and nestled in close. “I don’t know how you tell them apart.”

Shrugging, Rocket’s gaze swept across all of the babies, each of them with slightly different personalities and ways of showing affection. He smiled. “Must be luck.”

She hesitated, then smiled, too. “Yeah. Sure.”

They sat shoulder to shoulder for a long while after that, just taking in the peace and enjoying each other’s company. The way Rocket saw it, two rejects finding comfort and family in the galaxy. He was more grateful for it that he could verbalize.

***

The gunshot rang through the metal halls, but the only sound he could hear after the fact was his own screaming. His vision blurred with tears, soon turning everything red. Tackling the High Evolutionary, he hit and scratched and didn’t relent, wanting to kill him, wanting him to feel the pain that he felt, wanting to stop him from hurting anyone ever again -

Rocket lurched up from his mattress, having to swallow the bile that threatened to rise up his throat. His claws were outstretched, stopped by a thick branch that kept his arms by his side. Through blurry eyes, he looked beside his bed and found Groot sitting there, eyes wide and full of concern.

“You were screaming,” Groot managed, looking upset. “I thought you were going to hurt yourself.” To anyone else, of course, it would just sound as if he were saying I Am Groot, but Rocket knew him better than anyone else.

He cleared his throat, trying to calm his racing heart. “I’m fine, you big lug, get your arm offa me.”

Somewhat hesitantly, Groot removed the branch from Rocket’s chest and instead moved to sit on the end of the bed, twiddling his thumbs. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.” He didn’t like how it made him feel, how the rage had almost caused him to take that life in cold blood, as terrible as that life had been. He didn’t like hearing the sound of the gun, the sound that Lylla had made when she hit the floor, the sound of his own screams. He didn’t like to remember that it was his fault that Floor and Teefs had died.

Awkward silence was the response for a moment before Groot spoke up again. “Rocket,” he murmured, “it’s okay to not be okay.”

Rocket’s heart lurched. Without realizing it, his voice broke. “Whaddya mean? Of course it’s okay. Why wouldn’t it be okay? Who said it wasn’t okay?” Gently, Groot’s arm extended, and with a thin finger, he wiped a tear from Rocket’s cheek, who hadn't even noticed he’d been crying. A shiver ran down his back and he closed his eyes, leaning into his friend’s touch. “I’m sorry, Groot. I’m a mess.”

“No.” He shook his head, retracting his hand. “You are strong. You are kind. You are our captain . You are…my hero. You always have been.” He seemed to hesitate for a moment before continuing. “What happened to you was not your fault.”

Something broke deep inside him. After all this time, after everything he’d ever done, Groot still thought so highly of him. Tears flowed freely, and Rocket squeezed his eyes shut, biting his tongue to keep from making some inhuman noise. Groot pulled him close, and Rocket leaned against him, feeling like Groot was trying to put him back together again with his embrace. They sat there until Rocket’s chest stopped heaving.

Quietly, he pulled away, utterly exhausted and trying to regain some kind of composure. “Thanks. Sorry I got your trunk wet.”

Groot chuckled a little, shaking his head dismissively. After a moment, he moved to stand. “I’ll let you go back to sleep.”

“Wait.” He almost cringed at the suddenness of the word, but sighed instead. “Wouldja stay here just a little longer?”

Smiling slightly, Groot nodded and sat back against the wall. Rocket moved to lean against his arm, stretching out his legs in front of him. The quiet whir of the lights outside and Groot’s steady breathing soothed him more than he would have liked to admit.

“Hey…I love you, you know.” The words were quietly mumbled, the way Groot often did, and Rocket glanced up, feeling his heart burst.

He hid his smile by curling into him further, closing his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I love you too, you big idiot. Now go to sleep.”

Both of them fell asleep with smiles on their faces.

#mcu #marvel #guardians of the galaxy #gotg 3 #rocket raccoon #gamora #peter quill #mantis #drax the destroyer #nebula #groot #I fucking love this raccoon so much #and they all do too <3 #my post #my writing #agoldengalaxy

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