A small talk

My eyes snap open as I awake from another nightmare. Out of ten it was a seven. Bad, but not the worst, as out of ten I've had all the way up to freaking eleven. I groan and get up. I'm not willing to go back to sleep as I don't want another nightmare, but I also know there is no point lying in bed for the next few hours doing nothing. I think about waking Groot and talking to him but think better of it as he needs all the sleep he can get. I sigh and look over at his pot.

"Two days, buddy," I whisper. " Two days since I let you die. I'm sorry Groot I...I should have talked you out of sacrificing youself..I'm...I'm sorry I killed you."

I stop talking and wipe my eyes which are beginning to get watery.

I sigh and get out of bed. I can't sleep and talking to Groot is making me start the waterworks too. I decide to go to the bridge and stare at the stars.

Leaving my room, I make my way to the bridge, get ready for a long and boring night...and stop in my tracks as I hear the sound of sobbing. I enter to see Drax sitting in one of the chairs. He's looking at something and is sobbing to himself. I roll my eyes at first thinking he's a idiot but then I hear him speak.

"I still love you both, my wife, my child. I will always love you and I wish you could be here with me. I'm sorry, I should have protected you."

As he speaks I feel something in my chest. I think it's regret and maybe even a bit of guilt. Drax begins to sob again and I'm remined of what happened between us.

I stand there looking livid. Drax is there with Groot and then I start yelling at him about how everything is his fault.

"You're right," Drax says sadly , " I was a fool. All my anger was just to distract me from my loss".

Oh, boo-hoo-hoo," I mock him cruelly."my wife and child are dead. Boo-hoo-hoo."

Groot gasps and covers his mouth, shocked at how callous I'm being.

"I don't care if it's mean," I yell..."I don't care if it's mean."

Those last few words stay in my head and I feel a bit of shame. Now I'm thinking about the moment when I was crying over Groot's remains and how it was Drax of all people that tried to comfort me even after the things I said to him. I sigh, knowing that I have to make things right with Drax and now is the time to do it.

"Drax" I say, making the big man jump.

"Rocket? Did you want something?" Drax asks as he looks down at me.

I hate people looking down at me becuase it reminds me of just how stinking short I am but I swallow my pride and go on.

"Look Drax," I continue, " I was err.. kind of wondering whether you needed any err.. help with night duty...you know what I mean."

"Yes I know what you mean," Drax replies, " and no, I do not need help with night duty. I can detect an enemy perfectly well on my own if one should approach the ship".

I sigh and run a paw through the fur on my head. I really wish I wasn't doing this.

"Drax," I say calmly, " what I mean is, I need to talk with you."

"Then you may do so."

"Good" I say then hop into a chair befor turning to face The Destroyer.

"Okay, let's get the ball rolling," I say.

Drax looks confused and his eyes dart about the cockpit looking for the ball in question.

"It's a metaphor," I explain to Drax.

Drax looks confused again but then waits for me to speak my mind.

"Look Drax, I got to talk to you about what happened on Knowhere."

I see Drax stiffen up and he looks angry.

"If you mean to mock me again..." he begins but I cut him off.

"No that's just it," I answer. "I...I came to apologise to you. What I said back there about your family...I had no right to. I mean you were a freaking jerk for trying to take on a freaking army by yourself, but I went too far."

I swallow, knowing what I say next will require me to fight down a hell of a lot of pride.

"I don't ask to be forgiven very much," I go on, "and maybe that's because I'm not one to forgive, but I'm asking for it now. So what do you say? Will you forgive this idiot or not?"

"Yes," Drax said after a long pause. "Yes, I will forgive you, and thank you for saying that you were wrong."

I curl my toes uneasily then mutter, "Sure, no sweat."

"Indeed not," Drax replies. "I believe it is not hot enough for either of us to sweat."

I laugh then explain that's it's another metaphor. The Destroyer just nods then we sit there silently until I speak up.

"Thanks as well, Drax. You know...for being there for me on Xandar." I say in a small voice. "See, before Groot died, I never knew what it was like to lose someone you loved. I had no idea you could feel so lost, so alone and empty. I was hurting real bad but then you came to comfort me. I mocked your family and hit you when you were down but you were still there for me when I was hurting so...thanks."

Drax smiles and says, "I am happy to have been there for you and to have comforted you in your time of need. What I mean is...no sweat."

I laugh loudly and tell him there is still hope for him yet.

After that we are both silent for a while, lost in thought until I look at the image Drax is holding then reach out for it. Drax seems reluctant at first but then he gives it to me.

I look down at the image of Drax with his wife and daughter. Drax is holding the girl in his arms, his wife by his side and they look happy and at peace with life. It's a family and for just a moment I feel a stab of jealousy, envying him for having the thing I never could, but the moment passes.

"They are very beautiful," I say as I hand the picture back. "You must have been very happy with them."

"Yes I was," the Destroyer says with a nod then adds, "I must return to my night duty."

"Okay," I say then stick out my paw. "So no hard feelings between us then?"

Drax takes my tiny paw in his huge hand and shakes it as he's been told what this means.

"No bad feelings at all, friend Rocket," he answers.

I grin.

"Glad to hear it friend Drax, glad to hear it."