All characters besides Vixen, Ink, and their team belong to marvel.
"Quill, we got a call from Nova Corp!" Rocket called from the cockpit of the recently destroyed ravager's ship.
It had been several months since the death of Ego and Yondu, the guardians were still trying to get over the loss but Rocket, Peter, and Kraglin took it the hardest. Because of this the other guardians started noticing how busy the three had been keeping themselves, Kraglin trying to learn how to use Yondu's arrow and Peter and Rocket looking for more work, not to mention taking care of baby Groot.
"What do they want?" Quill questioned as he approached Rocket before hovering over his shoulder.
"Didn't say much, just pretty much said to come to Xandar because of some important shit," Rocket answered with a shrug.
Peter sighed, "Well it can't hurt to drop by to say hello," he paused and turned to Kraglin who was whistling, trying to control the recently repaired arrow, "Kraglin, set coordinates to Xandar."
Kraglin's head shot straight towards Quills, "Aye, aye, captain!"
Kraglin ran over to one of the ships main coordinate controls and entered the coordinates to Xandar, Peter looked away from Kraglin and focused his attention on the anger issued ball of fur he called a friend. Rocket leaned back in his chair as he scratched his neck, no matter how much Peter asked about his and Yondu's time together Rocket would remain silent with a saddened look on his face. As much as Peter wanted to know he didn't want to risk hurting the emotionally distraught raccoon even more then he already was.
"Hey Rocket," Peter spoke with a friendly grin, "How about you go ahead and take a break, I'll take care of things up here."
Rocket gave him a suspicious look before giving a small grunt as he hopped off the chair and headed towards his quarters. While walking there he pasted by Gamora who greeted him warmly which in return he greeted back before she walked into the cockpit, he then passed by Drax who was being bandaged up Mantis. Earlier that week Kraglin had whistled his arrow into Drax's side by accident, this had been the tenth time it happened within the past couple of months and while Rocket at first found it funny he now was just getting tired of Drax's complaining.
Mantis gave a big smile once she saw Rocket, "Hello grumpy puppy, how are you?"
"Uh, hey, I'm doing fine," Rocket responded, grimacing at the name she had given him, "Have you guys seen Groot?"
"Last time I saw him he was sleeping in your room," Mantis answered before placing Neosporin on Drax's wound and pulling out clean bandages from the first aid kit.
"Rocket, teach your child to mind his own space, he keeps getting into my things and it angers me very much," Drax growled.
Rocket smirked while trying to hold back a laugh, "Why, don't want him to show us your romance novels and teddy bear?"
Drax glared at him as Rocket couldn't hold back anymore and burst out into laughter, "That is what I want, so if you don't want me to turn your hide into a hat I suggest you talk to him."
Rocket slowly calmed down from his laughter before waving him off, "Fine, fine, I'll talk to him."
Rocket then thanked Mantis for the information on Groot and continued his journey to his room, once there he opened the door and found his best twig friend curled up into a ball on his pillow. Rocket closed the door behind him and smiled as he walked over to Groot, he carefully sat down onto his bed trying not to disturb the sleeping baby tree.
Groot slowly opened his brown eyes and smiled up at Rocket, "I am Groot," he said as he stretched out his limbs.
"Hey buddy, sorry I woke you," Rocket responded as he rubbed Groot's little head.
Groot just smiled tiredly before holding Rocket's finger in his arms and nuzzling the smooth part of his claw. Rocket returned his smile before carefully laying down next to Groot, as much as he loved baby Groot he couldn't wait till he grew up. The missions they went on were dangerous and if Groot got hurt Rocket wouldn't be able to forgive himself, the thought of Groot getting squished by a rock or stomped on by some oversized alien sent waves of terror throughout Rocket.
He looked down at the child and pulled his finger away from him only to wrap his arm around the little tree. Groot thrummed quietly before nuzzling Rocket's chest, Rocket sighed tiredly, he was tired of thinking of things like if something happened to Groot or the guardians, he wanted to stop thinking of those he lost like Sal, Yondu, and Lylla. Rocket's breath hitched as he thought of her, which was one of the reasons Yondu's death hurt so much. Lylla had done the same thing Yondu had, sacrificed themselves to save others but while Yondu had successfully saved Quill Lylla wasn't as lucky.
Rocket felt tears prick his eyes as he thought of her lying motionless in his arms, all of the remainder of his species, his friends, his family, were gone and if only Lylla hadn't gone back to try to save them then she would've been here with him. Rocket used his unoccupied arm to cover his eyes as tears slowly ran down them, "Idiot," he breath out brokenly, he would have given anything to go back in time to pull her away or go in instead of her. Now because of his mistake his species and his one true love were gone, he was the last of his kind.
"I am Groot?"
Rocket removed his arm from his eyes and looked down at the child who looked up at him with concern.
Rocket wiped away his tears and took a deep breathe, "I'm fine buddy, just tired is all."
Groot continued to look up at him with concern, Groot knew Rocket to well to know that what he was saying was a complete lie and that Rocket was hurting, "I am Groot."
"Seriously buddy, I'm fine."
Groot's brows knitted together in both sadness and annoyance before curling back into Rocket's arm. Rocket kept his gaze on Groot until he heard the little twig breath softly, he looked back up to the ceiling and breathed out deeply, they couldn't get to Xandar fast enough.