A/N: This isn't my first fanfiction, but it's my first for GOTG and for any Marvel movie at all. I really liked the first movie and when the second one came out, I fell in love with the movie and the characters. This is just a oneshot (or maybe a mini story, a couple chapters or something) about how I feel Gamora would attempt to handle Peter's grief after the events of Volume 2.
It was early Sunday morning when the Guardians landed on Knowhere for a supply run. It had been two weeks since Peter and the rest of the group encountered and defeated Ego, and he hadn't been the same. Everyone understood and had a silent agreement to let him alone unless he said he otherwise. He seemed content to be on his own, seldom leaving his room or even playing music at all. When weeks passed by without much words from Peter, the group became especially worried, but their lives and responsibilities still went on.
Rocket worked on the Milano, everyday offering to let Peter fly or help work on the remaining few repairs. Each day Peter declined, withdrawing more and more into himself, if that was even possible at this point. Rocket never pressed him for a helping hand or to explain their unspoken leader's prolonged mental absence, he just brushed it off with a sarcastic remark, which were getting less and less malicious each day Peter simply shrugged or bared an unconvincing smirk.
Groot was still too young to really offer much assistance, but seeing Peter, the head of their little family, so unhappy and emotionally vacant was scary and upsetting. He was used to people lightening up when he entered, since he was still so young and, let's face it, so damn adorable. He was like a toddler, the child of everyone else on the Milano. He still received more than enough attention from everyone else, still occasionally Peter as well. But it was always fleeting, and despite his blissful, childlike ignorance to most situations, Groot could tell clearly that something was off with Peter. Whenever he'd bring it up to Rocket, he'd tell Groot not to worry and put on the Zune, Yondu's parting gift to Peter, which he had given to Groot almost immediately after Yondu's funeral. Groot loved it, but he didn't love the way Peter would look at him when he padded around the Milano listening to it quietly.
Drax was even more oblivious than the young Flora Colossus, but he still noticed the sadness rippling off Peter. He often considered sitting down with him and talking over the grief he was feeling. He may not be as witty as Rocket or as adorable as the younger version of Groot, but he knew exactly how it feels to lose someone he loves. He wanted to be there for his dear friend. Ever since seeing Peter meet his father and the brief period of their bonding, Drax had felt as if he had an even deeper glimpse into Quill's life, a glimpse one couldn't gather just by living on the same, small ship for a year. Or even fighting in battle together. Peter let his guard down completely once they visited Ego's planet. His heart broke for Quill once they all figured out the truth behind Ego's motives. Now, Peter has lost his biological mother and biological father along with Yondu, a man Peter loved as if he was his real dad. Drax didn't like seeing his dear friend in pain, but he, like the rest of his friends, had no clue how to be there for Quill.
Gamora was another story. She worried nonstop about Peter ever since the battle against Ego. She didn't know what to do and how to be there for him, and the fact of that was killing her. He stayed cooped up in his room for days on end, she couldn't even remember the last time she'd seen him eat, let alone heard any music at all playing from his room. The only music throughout the ship came from Groot, who had been especially unsettled by Peter's absence.
She felt as if she was becoming sort of caring? No, that's not the word. Compassionate? Maybe. Maternal? Yeah, maternal. She took a special interest in Groot, holding him in her arms sweetly, wiping his tears when he was sad, letting him climb and play in her hair. Rocket called her mom sometimes, but it usually ended with her threatening his life and complete silence on everyone's part. Threats on Rocket's life aside, she felt as if the fight on Ego's planet changed her, and she wasn't sure whether or not it was for the better just yet. Sure, it's good to care for others and risk your life for them, but she would've risked her life for Drax, Rocket, Groot, and Peter long before meeting Ego, and she had. But now. Now, she felt as if he entire body hurt when she saw Peter's face. It was a rarity, ever since Yondu's funeral.
They had had a moment - she admitted her feelings for him and they subtly embraced, but that was all. Peter seemed distracted, and she didn't want to pressure him. Especially because she was never one to be that needy that she demanded an answer from anyone about their current situation, especially Peter Quill on their "Unspoken Thing," - whatever that even means. Something about a show called Cheers? Gamora wasn't entirely sure. She wasn't sure what Cheers even was, but she definitely knew what it was like to have some feelings she didn't exactly feel too comfortable sharing. She cared for Peter. She cared for Peter more so than she'd ever cared for anybody else. She'd follow him into battle on any given day, but that's the only kind of care and consideration she had ever been taught. The instinct of compassion and care was never one anyone had ever attempted to instill within her. She felt those instincts developing the more time she spent with her friends on the Milano, the more time she spent with Peter especially. That was why she felt as if she desperately needed to find a way to bring him back to a fraction of the man he was before encountering Ego and losing Yondu.
When the Guardians arrived on Knowhere, Rocket was itching to get some new supplies for the Milano. He kept rambling about how a stop here was long overdue, but no one really met his grumbles with much of a response besides some nodding and general, "You're right,"s. The only one who didn't really seem to agree or disagree was Peter, who stepped out of his room to grab a cup of coffee and simply shrugged when Rocket brought up the main thruster seeming to act weaker since the crash weeks ago, before Ego. No one really seemed to respond to Peter, but it was obvious Rocket had had enough.
"Quill, look. This has gone on long enough." He growled as Quill attempted to head back down the hall to his bunk.
He stopped short at that, turning on his heel to look back at Rocket in what Gamora could only describe as disbelief. "You're kidding, right?" He said, his voice seemed far away and strained. Gamora couldn't tell exactly what he was thinking or feeling. All she really knew was that she didn't like the way he sounded at all.
Rocket stood as tall as a racoon he could muster, folding his arms defensively over his chest and shaking his head steadily, "No, I'm really not."
Peter's eyes looked pained and he licked his lips several times, looking almost lost, as if there was nothing to say. Gamora stared at him, trying to will him to look at her, but it was almost as if he didn't move. He was eyeing Rocket intensely, his stance unwavering, as if he was a statue. It reminded her of the time Drax went on about how his late wife never danced or even moved to any sort of music at all. It caused a heavy feeling in her chest to see Peter that way, so out of touch. This wasn't him, that's why when he finally shifted his gaze to Gamora after a piercing silence between the two of them, she had to drop her eyes. She looked down at her black lace up boots before eyeing Drax in the corner standing behind Peter, looking as concerned as she'd ever seen him.
"Rocket," she started after a moment, locking eyes with the racoon, "I'll go down to the market with you." She looked back at Peter then, his face was unreadable, and she didn't know what to do for him. But she figured taking the potential conflict Rocket would cause away from him would provide Peter with a sense of peace, no matter how small. Still, the way Peter looked at her when she suggested she go made her feel something different. His face looked haunted. Something in her told her not to go, but she trusted Drax could keep an eye on him.
Rocket stared at Peter for another long, tense moment before looking back at Gamora. He nodded after a moment, "Yeah, okay." He said as he picked up his small leather jacket off the couch and stalked down the hall to the door of the Milano. Groot was standing on the counter of the kitchen, where Gamora was standing, looking everywhere but Peter's eyes.
"I am Groot?" He asked softly as he stuck his arms out to Gamora, his eyes pleading with her. She was thankful she had something else to preoccupy her now. An excuse not to really acknowledge Peter. She padded across the kitchen, "Come on, Groot." she said softly, sticking her hand out flat for him to step onto. She lifted him onto her shoulder where he grabbed ahold of her dark and pink locks and started playing with them as she attempted to follow Rocket out of the Milano.
"Gamora, wait." Peter started, his voice almost cracking as he took a step towards her.
She stopped, but didn't turn around.
She turned her head slowly, making sure Groot wouldn't lose his footing on her shoulder due to her swift movements. She eyed Peter up and down, but he didn't say anything else.
His eyes were asking her to stay, and she knew that. She knew that look, but she wasn't going to. Drax had gone on and on about how he thought he could get through to him, he just needed a chance. So, instead of saying anything to Peter, she shifted her gaze to the destroyer behind Peter, eyeing the two of them curiously. She raised an eyebrow at him and he simply nodded. She felt the curves of her lips twitch, a small feeling of relief washing through her mind. Maybe this will help.
Peter didn't say anything else, he just stared at her painfully, silently asking her to stay. She looked at him once more, taking a deep breath, willing her words to come out steadily. "I'm going to help Groot get supplies," she stated simply, turning on her heel, grabbing her leather messenger bag and knife holster and walking briskly out of the ship to meet Rocket.
A/N: I decided to make this a few chapters instead of just a super long oneshot. I'm not entirely sure how to write the characters, but I hope I'm doing them justice. Let me know what you think!