"You were out of it," she said. "You didn't respond when I knocked, and you didn't even twitch when I entered the room." She waited a few moments, giving Rocket time to absorb her words. "Peter told me about his meeting with you last night."
Rocket turned on her, a strange sensation bubbling in his chest, one that was different than last night. "Of course, he did. I bet he just blabbed about me, didn't he? I don't need to be pitied. I hate pity!" Rocket grabbed his ears in frustration. "I should have never told him a damn thing," Rocket growled, angry words spewing from his lips.
"Rocket, please," she said. "He didn't tell me anything, I don't know what you two discussed last night. Peter only told me how you were feeling. And I get it Rocket. I know how it feels to have your life taken from you".
"How could you?!" Rocket exploded. "you're not some krutackin' monster! You had a mother and father and aren't some spawn from a tube in a lab! I'm not supposed to be this way. I'm supposed to be a dumb, instinct-driven animal, yet here I am, walking and talking like a freak." It looked like Rocket would continue, but Gamora was quicker.
"You have no idea how wrong you are," Gamora spoke. Her words though not shouted, carried around the room as if she had, and Rocket stilled. "You're right - I had parents once. I was taken from them, ripped from my world by a monster, a real monster. He slaughtered my people, kidnapped me, and used me as a weapon. I'm a murderer, Rocket, one that indiscriminately killed and destroyed the lives of thousands of people. I sat there and watched, as that monster tore my sister apart, as he punished her for not being perfect - for not being me. If there's anyone on this ship who doesn't deserve to live, it's me."
Rocket stared at her, his expression a mix of fear and shock. He tried to speak again, but for once his tongue failed him. He watched as she stood up and pulled out a small dagger, balancing it on her finger. "He told me that I was special, that I would be one of the few who would help him bring about a new universe, one that is perfectly balanced. Because of him, I spent my entire life believing I was irredeemable, that I deserved to die, that I was a monster. Until I met Peter. Until I met you and Drax, and Groot. You guys gave my life meaning again. So yes, I know damn well what you're going through".
Rocket was speechless. He didn't know what to think anymore. Gamora had told them about this before, that she was irredeemable, that she deserved to die for the sins of her past. That she was forced to be something she didn't want. To think that he had a part in making her happy, he didn't know what to say.
"Peter loves you. And no matter what you are to him, you're important. Don't forget, Peter lost his mother and father too. He was taken away from his home and forced to be a Ravager. He didn't have much of a say in his life either." She knelt down and gently grabbed Rocket's hands. "You deserve to live. Remember that all of us carry scars from our past. If someone like me deserves a chance, then so do you. Give yourself that chance."
Though the touch stunned him, Rocket couldn't muster the will to bite her. Just like with Quill, Gamora seemed to love him. She didn't even know his past, yet she still lowered herself to this. He tried to calm his racing heart. It hurt, and he didn't know what he was supposed to do. Love had always been a painful thing. All his life was spent trying to run away from it, because of how much it hurt. "What if I don't end up loving you the way I do Quill," he managed to croak out.
"That's fine. How you wish to love me is something only you can decide. Remember, Peter is my first love too, so I don't have any more experience with this than you do. If you find that you can share your heart with Peter and me, then I'll accept it. If not, then I'll be your friend, your sister, or your teammate. But no matter what choice you make, you will have my support".
Rocket felt exhausted again. It wasn't even noon, and he was already just as tired as he had been last night. It was wearing him thin, all the emotional talk breaking him down. He suddenly realized he was shaking like a leaf, as the whole situation finally seemed to dawn on him. And just as suddenly, he broke. All the years of loneliness and pain had worn him down, and he was unable to contain his tears. A warm feeling pooled in his belly as Gamora reached over and pulled him into a hug. Shivering, he threw his arms around her neck. A broken and choked cry tore from his muzzle as he buried it into Gamora's neck and sobbed.