A/N: Hey, y'all! I'm back! I was really in a bit of a block. I was going to write, but I wasn't having any ideas. And then I went to see Guardians of the Galaxy. Twice in the same weekend! I'm in love, guys! It is an amazing movie! And you know how I have so much love for unconventional characters, so the ideas started flowing through my brain of course all centered around my chosen lover, Groot. Because he is just amazing. Just like my previous fanfictions, this is going to be semi-cannon. In some senses I'm including the story as it was and just kind of changing some of it to what it could be. So, I'll start us off with a disclaimer followed by a quick note. I do not own Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel totally does and that's awesome 'cause I'm a Marvel fan. On that note, I do own my character, Kaiya. As for Kaiya, her species is pronounced "seer-ehn-uh" and yes, it's kinda hard not to notice. I totally based the type of character she is around two legends, a siren and la llarona, or a woman in white so to say. Also, I'm not a song writer, so I don't claim any ownership to the songs that Kaiya sings throughout the fanfiction. This chapter's credit goes to Boa for the lyrics of the song 'Duvet'. Anyway, I'm not going to chat too much because I'm sure you want to actually enjoy the story and not me prattling on! So please, enjoy and review! :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ooooooooooooooooooooo~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the guardians entered the room that the pink skinned girl led them to, they all felt the tension. Gamora strode forward with purpose as the servant offered some vague explanation of the tanks that surrounded them. Peter stayed close to the green skinned woman while Groot stopped in front of one of the tanks. Inside was a practically normal looking young woman who could pass for Terran or possibly a colder planet alien. She had pale skin with bright grey eyes and snow white hair that almost reached her ankles. The dress that she wore ended just above the middle of her thighs and had a large v-cut neck that showed off the considerable amount of cleavage she had. Her waist hour glassed into perfectly round hips. She pressed her hands against the glass and stared at Groot curiously.
"I am Groot," he alerted the others in a slightly concerned tone.
"Woah, Groot, what did you find over here?" Rocket asked, walking over and also looking at the woman in the tank.
"Man, she's hot," Peter noted bluntly as he reached the tank too. Gamora rolled her eyes at Peter's remark. The woman inside finally took her attention off of the tree creature. She opened her mouth and they could visibly see her chest heaving with the effort. It looked like she was screaming directly at Peter, but they couldn't hear anything through the thick panes of glass. Her eyes began to glow red and her teeth grew sharp. The effects were gruesome in comparison to the beauty she was just a moment ago.
"Please refrain from agitating the collectibles!" the servant girl squeaked as she took Peter by the arm and tugged him away. "Especially Kaiya! Sirenae are very violent creatures and their favorite meal happens to be the hearts of men. Usually unfaithful or womanizing men, but the Sirenae are endangered so they're not known to be selective at this point in time."
"Eeesh," Rocket shuddered slightly as he looked at the Sirenae's teeth and imagined what it would be like. She slowly returned to normal now that Peter wasn't near her, looking like a regular beautiful young woman again. The strange tree creature hadn't moved from his spot. He lightly put a gnarled bark hand up to the tank glass so their fingertips lined up. Kaiya kept her eyes on the gentle giant, making strange shapes with her mouth.
"I am Groot," he said to Rocket.
"That's not a great idea, buddy," Rocket said. "Come on let's move it." Groot looked back at Kaiya before reluctantly following his partner. The raccoon-like creature was focused on the money they were getting for the orb that had been giving them so much trouble this far. He was honestly kind of relieved that they didn't have to hold onto the strange item anymore, since it had only meant trouble from the beginning. Gamora was already exchanging formalities with the Collector. Rocket didn't pay too much attention although he was ready to sock the guy in the face when he called Groot a pet. He tuned out again once the Collector started explaining the Infinity Stone.
Rocket only started paying attention once the Collector was getting ready to hand over their units. Though his excitement would turn out to be short lived as the pink skinned servant girl decided to have an outburst right then and there. She wrapped her hand around the Infinity Stone, and purple energy began flying around everywhere. Rocket cursed under his breath as he began to run for it. Groot took after his furry little friend, scooping the cyborg raccoon into his arms to protect him from as much of the resulting explosion as he could. By the time Rocket realized what was going on and could lift his head, Groot had vanished. He growled softly but waited outside of the opening of the building patiently. Groot returned with the injured Sirenae curled up, unconscious, in his gnarled bark arms.
"Groot, are you fucking crazy!?" Rocket shouted. "You must be insane to think this is a good idea of any kind! Groot, that's a killer in your arms and you're ready to set her loose on the rest of us!"
"I am Groot!" the giant protested with urgency. He opened his arms just a little to show her thick black-as-ink blood was dripping from a fresh wound in her side and all over the bark covering his chest and stomach. Rocket winced and sighed, knowing eventually he'd regret it.
"Alright, fine," Rocket gave in. "But just remember if she kills the majority of this crew, it'll be on your hands. If you want us to help her, she is entirely your responsibility."
"I am Groot," he agreed before turning to see Peter and Gamora emerging from the casino as well. Rocket started going off as soon as he saw that Gamora had the orb clutched in her hand. That ended up sparking a debate between Peter and the green skinned woman as to what they should do with the Infinity Stone. Gamora lost her temper and made to storm off. The arrival of Ronan and Yandu made for a great distraction. Everyone's attention was now focused elsewhere, and Groot was relieved no one was yelling at him.
Groot looked down at the creature cradled in his arms. She made a good distraction for him and he could sense that she was different. She was unique just like him and Rocket. She simpered softly in her sleep, sensing the pain and danger she was in, yet completely unable to do anything about it. Her wounds were already slowly starting to fuse shut. Groot coddled her, wrapping tendrils over her wounds and applying pressure to try to stop her bleeding.
It was all too easy to obey Rocket's order to stay and wait for him to return as the raccoon cyborg got into a pod and took off. When he noticed Drax was picking a fight with Ronan, Groot carried Kaiya to safety. He crouched down, keeping the Sirenae cradled in his arms, lap, and tendrils. Kaiya settled, making a soft whistling noise in her sleep. She relaxed completely and her wounds began healing a little quicker. He watched Drax and Ronan from a safe distance. But then the Accuser struck his final blow before promptly throwing the Destroyer into a vat of spinal fluid.
Groot reluctantly released the Sirenae and lowered her to the ground. Once Ronan was gone, he retrieved Drax from inside the horribly bright yellow fluid. He made a prod that extended from his finger and promptly pierced the man's chest. He jolted, coughing up the spinal fluid that he had unintentionally inhaled into his lungs. Rocket's landing had perfect timing, as he scrambled out ranting about idiots.
"Quill just got himself captured!" Rocket shouted, turning on Drax. "None of this ever would have happened if you didn't try to single-handedly take on a fucking army!"
"You're right," Drax admitted. "I was full... Full of anger... Full of rage!" Groot gently placed his hand on Drax's shoulder, sympathizing with the powerful emotions that seemed to be radiating from him.
"Oh, boo hoo hoo, my wife and child are dead!" Rocket faux cried mocklingly, and Groot gasped softly. "I don't care if it's me! Everyone's got dead people! It's no excuse to get everyone else dead along the way! Come on, Groot. Ronan has the stone. The only chance we got is to get to the other side of the universe as fast as we can. And maybe – just MAYBE – we'll be able to live full lives before that WHACKJOB even gets there!"
"I am Groot!" the giant protested as he stood up tall.
"Save him!?" the cyborg raccoon spat. "Why!?"
"I am Groot."
"I know they're the only friends we've ever had! But there's an army of Ravagers around them! And there's only two of us!"
"Three," Drax corrected as he got to his feet and put his hand on Groot's shoulder. Rocket growled, but Groot knew he had given in once he started ranting and kicking the grass by his feet. The gentle giant went to go retrieve the young woman he had left in safety, picking her up into his arms once more.
"Who is this?" Drax wondered, seeing the Sirenae in his arms. "She is very pretty."
"I am Groot," he said as he held the young woman a little closer to his chest.
"That's Kaiya and she's a Sirenae," Rocket said. "I don't think it's a good idea, but Groot is set on bringing her. Just don't do anything to piss her off. When she wakes up, she's going to be very cranky and hungry. Groot's not going to give her up either, so don't argue." Drax looked plenty surprised as he followed the tree and the raccoon to Peter's ship. They boarded and Groot took Kaiya down to the living space on the lower deck under Rocket's suggestion.
A soft chirp alerted Groot to the Sirenae who was now starting to wake up in his arms. She looked up at Groot with her bright grey eyes. The corners of her mouth tugged upward slightly, and she whistled and chirped at him happily. Groot smiled too, lightly setting her down on her feet. She checked herself over to make sure all of her wounds were closed, then after a quick exploration, she tugged off her dress and slid into the shower. She shrieked at the sudden blast of warm water.
"I am Groot." The gentle giant took a step toward the shower. In the water, Kaiya opened her eyes and responded the only way she knew how. Her inhale was deep and the resulting music was paralyzing.
And you don't seem to understand, a shame you seemed an honest man. Her voice was utterly piercing and astonishing. And all the fears you hold so dear, will turn to whisper in your ear. And you know what they say might hurt you, and you know that it means so much, and you don't even feel a thing. I am fallen. I am faded. I have lost it all. And you don't seem the lying kind, a shame that I can read your mind. And all the things that I read there, candle-lit smile that we both share. And you know I don't mean to hurt you., and you know that it means so much, and you don't even feel a thing. I am fallen. I am faded. I am drowning, help me to breathe. I am hurting. I have lost it all. I am losing, help me to breathe. There was a break in her song as she simply vocalized.
I am fallen. I am faded. I am drowning, help me to breathe. I am hurting. I have lost it all. I am losing, help me to breathe. There was another small break as she vocalized a little more enthusiastically this time. I am fallen. I am faded. I am drowning, help me to breathe. I am hurting. I have lost it all. I am losing, help me to breathe.