Surrender

Chapter 3: Everybody Smiles at You

"Rocket…I can't hear myself. I can't hear myself. Rocket…"

Rocket is freaking out.

Rocket is freaking out because Quill is freaking out and blood is pouring out of the man's ears, and aside from that being incredibly gross, it is also a sign that they are damaged, perhaps beyond repair. The raccoon is no expert on Terran anatomy, but he knows that blood pouring out of any orifice is not a good sign.

Quill's eyes have gone all wide and panicky, staring blankly at the smoke behind the raccoon, and Rocket puts his paws on the human's shoulder to steady him because it's obvious he hasn't heard anything the thief has just said to him in the past couple minutes.

"Groot—whadda we do?" Rocket says. He risks taking his eyes off the injured humie for a second as he looks up at the gangly brown and green creature.

The teenager's voice cracks and then goes deeper, all of the leafy being's attention focused on Peter. "I am Groot."

"Okay. Okay—yeah. Get him back to the ship. Good thinkin'." Rocket wills his breathing to slow down. He's about to contact the others when Peter pushes him to the ground. The raccoon's snout smashes painfully into the sandy earth, and he can feel his fur bristle with anger.

"Quill—what the hell?!"

And that's when Peter leans forward and pulls out his two beloved Kree sub-machine guns and aims for the patch of sky that Rocket had been blocking seconds before.

The smoke clears, and Rocket sees the golden Sovereign ship like a beacon hovering over them, ready to attack.

Groot is kneeling beside Rocket, steadying the furry creature as he gets on his hind legs.

"You got my weapon?!" he cries to Groot.

Groot doesn't have time to reply before Peter launches himself into a sudden standing position.

"Peter—don't be an idiot!" Rocket cries and immediately curses himself for trying to get the man's attention verbally when Quill clearly can't hear.

Star-Lord sways on his feet but remains standing and lets loose a volley of gunfire on the remote-controlled Drone. Bursts of blue lasers fly from his Kree weapons like a light show, and, despite his unsteadiness, every shot he takes aims true.

"Never…mind," Rocket whispers. Beside him, Groot stands slack-jawed, staring in awe as the Terran goes completely bad-ass on the small ship.

It explodes like fireworks in the sky. Star-Lord whoops.

"Take that, evil C-3POs!" Quill hollers at the remains of the Golden Drone as it crashes down in a burning pile of rubble. Then he pivots around and promptly falls on his face.

"Quill!" Rocket dashes forward, but Groot gets to the fallen human first, taking giant steps compared to his hairy companion. He rolls the man over and props him into a sitting position, the captain's back against his enormous shins. The man's eyes are closed, and this frightens Rocket more than he cares to admit.

"I am Groot," says the tree-like humanoid mournfully.

"No, he ain't dead!" The raccoon hops into the man's lap and gently slaps his face. "Peter! C'mon, Peter! Wake up!"

Quill's green eyes gradually flutter open, and a dopey grin spreads across his face. "You gotta admit… That was awesome."

Rocket rolls his eyes. "All right, Star-Munch. You're the real thing. We get it. Now will you sit still for a minute while I contact—"

"I can't hear anything you're saying," Peter interrupts, his words growing louder and more slurred. He covers his ears with his blood-stained hands. "Wait! Wait…" He removes his hands then puts them back. "Nope. Still can't hear anything."

Rocket sighs loudly and drags a paw vertically down his snout. "I don't get paid enough."

He presses a button on his communications link and is beyond relieved to hear Drax's voice on the other end. It's a first.

"Rocket. Is everything all right? The ship told us there was an explosion near the vault."

"Yeah," Rocket says and forces himself not to roll his eyes this time. "That was the vault. Exploding. Listen—Peter's hurt and we need to have the medical equipment ready by the time we get—"

"Are you contacting the ship?" Peter yells even though the human is right next to him, causing Rocket to jump half a foot in the air.

"You're sick, so I'm not going to smack the shit out of you," says Rocket with a sarcastic smile. Quill smiles back and gives the raccoon a thumbs up.

"Is that Quill?" comes Drax's serious baritone. "I think I hear Star-Lord. He sounds healthy."

"Well, there's nothin' wrong with his lungs," mutters Rocket and turns his back on the human. "But he needs help…"

"Hey Groot," Peter continues blabbing behind him.

"I am Groot," the larger being says kindly.

"At least I know what you're saying," Peter slurs.

The sun is going down and Rocket is done with this catastrophe of a day. "Ya still there, Drax?"

"We will have the medical bay prepared," says the warrior. "Gamora wants to know if you got the data."

"Yeah," Rocket says bitterly. But at what cost? "I got it. Rocket out."

The communicator flicks off and Rocket turns back to the pair behind him. Peter is leaning against Groot with his eyes closed, another hand on his head, and humming a tune without a melody. Rocket's paws go to his hips again, his stance for getting things done and showing who's boss.

"All right, kiddies, we need to get out of here as fast as possible before any other Drones come back."

"I am Groot?" asks the Flora colossus.

"We can't risk the ship's hiding spot." Just in case we have to use it in the future, Rocket thinks grimly. He sighs again when he sees Peter's pale face, dotted with red where he had brushed his bloody hands against it.

"You gotta napkin or anythin'?" Rocket says, baring his teeth squeamishly. "We should clean him up."

With his eyes still closed, Peter says loudly: "Groot—you got a napkin for my ears?"

Groot thinks about it and pulls from the depths of his own backpack a dainty white handkerchief with flowers on it and edged with lace.

Rocket steps over and snatches the item out of Groot's grasp. "That is a handkerchief! You can't use a handkerchief to wipe up blood! It'll stain! Besides, that was made by a very nice old lady who gave us cookies…"

"I am Groot."

"Guys?" Peter says.

"That's beside the point! It's the thought that counts. And she didn't know you weren't a houseplant at the time. Remember, that was when you were still in your pot! It was an easy mistake."

"Guys?"

"I am Groot!"

"Rocket!"

"What?!" Rocket yells.

Peter's eyes are wide with fright. He simply points towards the still-burning vault behind them and the setting sun. On the horizon are a dozen or more golden dots zooming closer towards them. Reinforcements.

Oh great.

TBC

A/N: I kinda feel like the "handkerchief" moment was unnecessary. But I love it, so I left it in. Anyways, what is fanfiction if not completely self-indulgent? Haha. Thanks so much for all the reviews and favorites and follows! Special thanks to my Guest reviewers and iDragonSpyro (that would be a great moment between Peter and Gamora)! Please continue to let me know how I'm doing. Hope you enjoy!