I dreamed this so it's weird.

A parasite takes over Peter Quill/Star-Lord's body. It uses hatred to try and turn Peter and Gamora against each other. It's up to the rest of the Guardians to save him. Starmora. It may now even really make any sense but dreams never really do, haha.

Peter's body was dripping with sweat yet he was cold to the touch and shivering uncontrollably. He could no longer hold himself up, so Gamora and Drax had to carry him back to their ship. His feet were reluctant to hold him up, his body felt like a ton weight rested on his shoulders, his hands quivered as he gripped onto Gamora and Drax.

He wanted to talk to Gamora, tell her that if this was how he was going to go that he was sorry and he loved her, but he couldn't physically get the words out. Something was holding back what he truly wanted to say. It felt like he was being eaten from the inside out, like his own thoughts were being swallowed and replaced by another's. He felt like there was something wriggling through his brain and slowly extracting him from his own body.

His happiness was being sucked away. He'd went from laughing with his friend in a bar to vomiting down himself, crying and screaming as his body felt like it was gradually shutting down

"I can't believe this is happening," said Gamora, her voice shaky.

"We must lay him down," said Drax, and he and Gamora placed Peter gently on the bed. His body sank into the mattress, his head pressing back into the pillow as he screamed and began to convulse.

Gamora pulled the sheets from under him then lay them over him, trying to ease his movements as she did so and wiping his sweaty hair from his forehead.

"How did it happen?" she asked, turning to Drax.

"We were eating food at that ungodly establishment and he collapsed."

Gamora huffed, turning back to Peter and stroking his hair. "Why didn't it happen to you?"

"We ordered different meals, and his body is weak."

Gamora rolled her eyes but didn't disagree.

"What the hell's going on?" said Rocket from the doorway, Mantis behind him and Groot on her shoulder.

"Peter's body has been contaminated," replied Drax.

"What? With what?"

"I think it might be an Abhorrence parasite," said Gamora, her voice unusually small.

"What is that?" asked Mantis.

"A hate parasite. It plays with its hosts emotions and makes them feel only negative ones… mainly hate, hence the name."

"How d'ya know that's what he's got?" asked Rocket, moving closer to look at Peter and grimacing at the froth foaming at his mouth.

Gamora continued stroking Peter's hair. He had his eyes closed but his face still showed pain; his jaw was clenched and his nostrils flared as he struggled to breathe.

"He was saying out of character things on the journey home," said Drax, "I too believe he is harbouring a hatred worm."

Rocket's hands ran down his face in frustration, then he kicked the bed pole and growled, "This is all we needed!"

The Raccoon stomped out of the room, the other Guardians not far behind apart from Gamora who remained seated by Peter. She sat by his head, his face nuzzled against her outer thigh as he screamed in agony and she stroked his hair.

"It's okay, Peter. We are going to make you better… I promise."

Peter continued to scream and buried his head more between Gamora's thigh and the mattress. She could feel her pants becoming wet from his tears and sweat but didn't move. She felt nauseous, sad, and, above all, scared.

Once Peter's screams had stopped and Gamora was certain he was asleep, she left the room and moved to the kitchen where the Guardians stood discussing what was wrong with Peter.

Gamora paced the room, Mantis and Groot watching her with frowns, as Rocket tapped at a screen.

"I read more on it," said Rocket, "I think you're right about that parasite thing."

"What the hell are we going to do?" said Gamora, continuing to pace. "There's got to be something to extract it from his body."

"There is," said Rocket, hopping from where he sat on his toolbox, "I think I know where I can find it but it's gonna take a couple days max."

"Rocket and I shall find this antidote and bring Peter comfort," said Drax.

"I shall stay and see if I can try to ease Peter's emotions," said Mantis.

"I want to stay, too."

"Gamora, you do know what this parasite does, right?" said Rocket.

"Yes."

"Y'know it's gonna hurt you."

"I can handle it."

Mantis stepped closer to Gamora, a sympathetic look on her face, "Would it not be best for you to travel with Rocket and Drax to find the antidote? This parasite will change Peter, make him say things that-"

"I'm not leaving Peter," Gamora said, sharply, "He's still in there somewhere… trapped in his own body… I'm not leaving him."

Rocket and Mantis exchanged a concerned look and Mantis stepped back.

"Right," sighed Rocket, "I'll get my stuff together, then we'll head off, Drax."

"Don't forget your transmitter," said Gamora, handing Rocket the device. Rocket took notice of how unsteady her hands were and looked up at her sadly.

"He'll be okay."

Gamora smiled faintly, and Mantis and Groot waved goodbye to Rocket and Drax as their pod flew away.

Groot took small steps to Gamora, tugging on her bootstrap and she kneeled down to him. His face was sad and his shoulders drooped.

"Peter will be okay, Groot. You have my word," she smiled, stroking his cheek with her knuckle. Groot nodded but continued to frown as he walked away, his head hanging low.

"Do you really think he will get better?" asked Mantis.

"… I hope."

"Did Rocket explain to you what happens if he doesn't get this antidote?"

"... Peter continues to be slowly tortured from the inside until there's nothing of himself left. The Abhorrence parasite lives on in him, using him as it's host, turning him into a loathing monster… yes, he explained."

Gamora and Mantis walked to the kitchen, and Gamora started pulling out pots and pans.

"For now, all we can do is feed him hot fluids. The parasite is going to continue making his body heat decrease until it reaches the temperature ideal for itself, we need to make sure that does not happen."

Mantis nodded, taking a pot and filling it with water to heat. She watched as Gamora fumbled in the cupboards, her hands shaking.

"Gamora-"

"Could you put this pot on the heat, too?"

Gamora and Mantis stood outside of the room listening to Peter shouting, fear written all over both of their faces.

"Should I go in there?" Mantis gestured to the room.

"It is worth a try."