A/N: Sorry for the late updates, I've been in the process of moving. I've been trying to get into the groove of things, and it's been hard to find time to write as well as I'd like. This chapter's going to be four to five chapters long. It'll be more like a mini series for GOTG. I'm not sure if I'll be any good at a long term story for this movie. If you like this mini series/story thing, let me know!
"Okay," Gamora muttered into her communications device, holding her hand to her ear piece to hear better over the crowd's chatter around her, "Rocket," she continued. "I have all the knife cleaning supplies and sharpening tools Drax and I needed." She moved a some of the items in her leather tote bag around, confirming she had everything Rocket asked her to get. She smirked at the protein plant soil at the bottom of the bag. "I also have Groot's new dietary supplements."
"I am Groot!" Groot protested in the background of the call.
"No Groot, you can't keep living on candy. You're getting bigger now and fat trees sound disgustingly huge." Rocket shot back. Gamora bit back a chuckle. Rocket seemed very rude and disrespectful in character, but he was incredibly caring of Groot. That fact always made her smile, especially when she saw Rocket's compassionate side come out for the tiny plant. "How are things are your end?" She asked as she closed the bag once more, looking over the shorter people in the crowd to see if she could spot Rocket at any kiosk stands.
"Uh, I can't find the transmitting converters I need to repair the mainframe of the Milano. I need some more time." Rocket mumbled after a moment. Gamora didn't have to be with him to know he was rifling through a bin of random ship materials and tools, hoping to find a makeshift solution for the Milano's problem.
She nodded to herself before answering, "Let me know when you're done. I'm going to look around to see if there's anything we could've forgotten."
"Yeah," Rocket chuckled, "Get some cleaning stuff while you're at it. Drax put some kinda Kree cake in the oven the other day and now it's all green and smells like someone lit shit on fire."
Gamora scoffed, "I'm not cleaning the oven for you idiots."
"I am Groot?" She heard the now-toddler-sized Flora Colossus asked, with hints of uncertainty and potential hurt in his youthful tone.
She rolled her eyes to herself, despite cracking a smirk. "No, Groot. You're not an idiot."
She heard his soft, suddenly happy grunt in the background of the communication device, indicating he wasn't hurt by her statement.
Her smirk evaporated when Rocket started mumbling about how she was going to end up cleaning the oven anyways, like she always does.
"Rocket." Her tone was a halfhearted warning, not enough to cause anymore of a ryft in the group, but enough to show Rocket she wasn't going to clean up after him this time.
"Fine, fine." Rocket gave in quickly. "But get the supplies anyway, someone'll clean it."
"Okay, let me know when you're done, or if you need any help."
"Will do." the line clicked, leaving Gamora alone with her thoughts.
She felt herself release a sigh, running a hand through her hair. If Peter was here with them, he'd know exactly where to find what Rocket needed, and he'd be able to negotiate without a weapon, unlike Rocket and Gamora herself. Sure, they had gotten better about communicating their feelings on the unfairness of vendor's prices with words and not tasers, guns, or knives. She found herself biting her lip to hide a small smile at the thought of Peter telling her he was proud that she didn't have to threaten anyone to get the supplies Rocket asked her to pick up. She willed away any negative feelings entering her mind as she pulled out her communications device once more, taping the transparent screen impatiently before it lit up, allowing her to access Knowhere's marketplace directory. She began looking for the spaceship cleaning supplies. She scrolled through the directory absentmindedly, stopping short and scrolling back up to reread a vendor's name she must've gotten wrong.
She'd never seen anything like what she thought she just saw. She moved through the pages quickly, looking for the name that stuck out so much to her.
Terran Entertainment.
Terra? As in Earth? Peter's home? Gamora clicked on the vendor's page, finding the map that'll direct her to the stand. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious as to what other kinds of cultural paraphernalia Peter's planet has to offer. He left it so long ago, with no intention of going back, but he often spoke out the entertainment aspects of his planet. Gamora decided to head over to the vendor's stand, maybe she'll be able to find something to get Peter out of his rutt.
The man at the stand was a Watcher, much to Gamora's both fascination and mild disappointment. She's never met a Watcher before, but she's heard much about their infinite wisdom and knowledge. She was sure they knew enough about Terra to answer all the questions she could possibly have. However, part of her wanted to meet someone else from Terra.
The Watcher tilted his head at her as she dug through bins, often leaning back with a puzzled look at random, obsolete electronic objects being sold.
"Looking for anything in particular?" He asked after a couple minutes of watching her loot through his various bins.
Gamora looked up sharply, half expecting the man to be impatient with her lack of purchases, but his eyes were just curious.
She scratched the back of her head as she laid down something called a 'Universal Remote.' "I'm not sure actually." She mumbled reluctantly. She didn't like being unsure. It also bothered her that she didn't know what to get Peter to make him feel better. She was so unfamiliar with Terran customs, and it's not like Peter's in the emotional state to answer any of her complex questions about it.
He tilted his head at her, "Do you have an idea of what you'd like?"
She nodded after a second, "I have a-" she took a deep breath, unsure of what to call Peter exactly. "-A companion," she continued, "who's been distressed lately. He's from Terra, and I thought there'd be something here to lift his spirits."
The Watcher raised both his eyes as he crossed his arms over his chest, eventually giving an understanding nod. "I didn't know the daughter of Thanos was keeping close companions." She felt herself tense up despite the fact that his tone wasn't hostile at all, much to Gamora's surprise. He seemed a little curious, but no negative emotions were shown through his speech or expression.
"I'm not that person anymore," She muttered, attempting to relaxing her stance to prove the point.
He uncrossed his arms, nodding once more. He seemed to be attempting to mirror her stance as well. She kept her body seemingly relaxed, but she still felt her jaw tensing and relaxing every few seconds, unsure of the situation despite the tension already being mostly diffused.
"Well, new-and-improved Gamora, what does your companion like?"
She felt herself smirk, she could recite the things Peter loves in her sleep. "Older music. Catchy, delightful tunes mostly." She rubbed her chin for a moment, trying to remember if there was anything else. "Some famous woman named Alyssa Milano, magic boats and David Hasselhoff-" she snapped her fingers after a moment, "A talking car! David Hasselhoff had a talking car." She nodded at the Watcher, whose eyebrow was raised at her, an impressed smirk forming over his expressions.
"Well I have some cassettes of pop music from Terra's late twentieth century."
He uncrossed his arms and gestured to a large metal bin beside him. Gamora looked around him, eyes widening at the overflowing tub of cassettes she seemed to have missed completely.
She took a step forward, but stopped short when she remembered that Ego broke Peter's walkman. "Do you have a walkman cassette player?"
The Watcher rubbed the top of his bald head for a moment, before turning on his heel and opening a metal drawer that was full of small devices that almost look like communicators sold on Knowhere, but about twenty years ago. She raised an eyebrow while he was rifling, but looked back down at the various cassettes. If he finds a Walkman, she might as well pick up some new cassettes for Peter.
Gamora pulled out some that seemed interesting, but none of the music groups rang any bells for her, which was stressful considering how much she listened to Peter talk about all kinds of music he and his mother used to listen to. She leaned forward, looking deeper into that bin, determined to find the perfect cassette to match the Walkman. She found one with a familiar name towards the bottom, Kenny Loggins.
"Footloose?" She asked out loud after a moment, that name was very familiar.
"That's that movie with the breakfast food hero guy Quill told us all about awhile back." Rocket muttered as he strolled up behind her, eyeing her curiously. Groot's arms were extended into vines that held a medium sized wire basket full of metal parts with frayed wires sticking out of certain ones.
"I am Groot!" Groot chimed.
Rocket pointed at Groot on his shoulder, moving his head quickly to show Gamora Groot's face. "He's right, I think."
She pointed at Groot as well, "Kevin Bacon." She and Rocket repeated in unison.
"Well," the Watcher started as he returned to Gamora's full line of sight, "I don't have any Walkman players left up front. I'll check the back to see if I kept any in storage for you all though. But I see you're interested in Footloose. It's a classic on Terra."
Rocket tilted his head at Gamora, unsure of the exact reason she was heckling with a Watcher over classic cliche movies from Terra. His small paw gripped Gamora's wrist, pulling her lightly aside to speak in a semi private manner.
She rolled her eyes ay Rocket's weak, but certain grip. She used her free hand to hold up a finger to the Watcher, giving him a polite, apologetic smile. "Just give us a minute, please." She even used the proper speaking etiquette Peter had been bugging her about when it came to vendors. Yeah, he'd be proud.
"What is it, Rocket?" She whispered as she bent down slightly, meeting his eyes.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.
She rolled her eyes at him, but didn't want to admit to avidly seeking out things to make Peter smile. "Our family is in tatters because of Peter's emotional state. I thought something from his home would remind him of the goodness of his childhood before his mother's death and the Ravagers."
Rocket nodded slowly, "It's okay if you're into Quil, you know?"
She rolled her eyes once more. "I'm not into-" she let out a deep breath, shaking her head at her teammate, "I just want things back to normal, same as you two."
Groot nodded quickly, a sad smile on his little face. He leaned forward off of Rocket's shoulder, extending his twig arms towards Gamora. "I am Groot?"
Gamora flashed a small smile at the miniature Flora Colossus. "Yes Groot, you can help me pick out a gift for Peter."
Rocket nodded quickly, taking a step toward her, letting Groot climb into her arms. She placed him on her shoulder.
Rocket took a deep breath after a moment, "All I'm saying is that if you have the hots for Quill, that's okay." He crossed his arms and tilted his head, "It's gross as shit, but it's okay."
She rolled her eyes, "I'm just trying to help us all get back to normal."
Rocket rolled his eyes, "Uh huh, okay." He eyed the large bag full of supplies in her arms. "Did you get the cleaning supplies?"
She shook her head, "I was on the way, but I found this booth."
Rocket nodded, "Give me the bag. I'll carry it and get the cleaning supplies."
She smiled gratefully at Rocket, handing him the bag. "Thank you."
He rolled his eyes, but nodded slowly regardless. "Yeah, yeah." He turned and began to walk away, "You're cleaning up the kitchen then!" He yelled over his shoulder as he marched back into the crowd, heading towards the ship cleaning supplies.
She smirked at the raccoon walking away. She turned around quickly, careful not to let Groot lose his balance and fall off her shoulder.
"I am Groot." He muttered as she walked back towards the Terran Entertainment booth.
She turned her head slowly, raising an eyebrow at him. "Who says I love Peter?"
"I am Groot." He said as he pointed behind them.
"You shouldn't listen to Rocket all the time." She murmured as she walked picked up the Footloose cassette and looked around the display table for anything else.
"I am Groot." He pointed towards a bigger electronic device in the corner.
She tilted her head at the table, unsure of what the device was. Peter never had anything like that. "Digital Video Disc?"
"It's a portable DVD player." The Watcher answered as he walked back up to the front of his booth.
"I am Groot?" Groot asked from Gamora's shoulder, grabbed a lock of her hair as he leaned forward, eyeing the devices curiously.
The Watcher shook his head, "No, it's not like a cassette. It was actually created years after the debut of the cassette and the walkman."
Gamora nodded slowly, "So what does it do?"
"It plays movies that are embedded into the DVD's you own."
"We don't have any." She replied.
He tilted his head at her, "Your Terran companion doesn't have any?"
She rubbed the back of her head, "My Terran companion left Terra long before these existed."
He nodded slowly before pulling the DVD player out of the display case, placing it in front of Gamora and Groot.
"You want that Footloose tape?" He asked, eyeing the Kenny Loggins cassette between her fingers.
She nodded quickly, scolding herself inwardly for coming off really excited about getting Peter a present. Groot was naive, obviously. He was the tree equivalent of a toddler after all, but he was starting to notice how Peter's depression affects her. All the other guardians were starting to notice, besides Peter.
He pulled out a bigger, bright yellow and grey device, a "Walkman Sport," and placed it next to the DVD portable player.
Gamora tilted her head at it, nodding quickly as a smile began to play against her lips. "We'll take that."
"I am Groot?" He asked as he tugged on her hair lightly, pointing at the portable DVD player.
Gamora tilted her head at the device, looking back up at the Watcher. "This plays images if you have the disc for it?"
The Watcher nodded quickly, "I have Footloose, if that's what you both are wondering."
She bit back a smile, "We'll take it."
He smirked at her and Groot, turning on his heel and grabbing it out of a bin.
"I'm sure your Terran companion will love all this." He offered as he grabbed a bag, placing the devices inside gently.
She smiled at him, handing him the money that matched the prices.
He stuck his hand out, waving the money away. "No, no. This time's on the house."
She tilted her head at him, shaking her head. "No, I should pay."
He shook his head, "I don't need it. But I will accept favors."
She tilted her head as she grabbed the bag from his hands, "Such as?"
He scratched the back of his head as he spoke, "The Gamora I heard stories about three years ago wouldn't ever be here, purchasing outdated trinkets for anyone. You said you were new and improved, and I believe you. I know your Terran companion does as well. Keep doing this, and the Guardians of the Galaxy won't have to pay for cassettes, DVDs, or anything else you can think of."
She wanted to fight it, but she couldn't help but smile. No one had ever put her development into words in that way before. It made her happy to know some people have noted and accept her changing for the better.
"I'll keep that in mind." She gave him a smile as she collected her items and walked back towards Rocket and the Milano.
A/N: I'm sorry for the long wait for an update, but I hope I did this portion of the story justice. Let me know what you think! There will be more Peter in the next chapters. Thank you!