A/N: I hope that this does not come as a surprise or pisses anyone off, but... *drumroll* ... this story has come to a close. Yes! I am ending it here, folks! We're at chapter thirteen (a nice number to end on!) and that is a few chapters past what I had originally intended, so consider yourselves lucky! It's had a good run and I believe it is ending on a good, clean note.
For those of you wondering if I will carry this storyline into the movie, yes, I am. I don't know when I will actually get it up, but keep an eye out!
I just wanted to thank you all once again from the absolute bottom of my heart for all of your support! It really encouraged me to keep going with it and now look where we are? Finished!
Anyway, on with the conclusion of Insane Minds Think Alike!
Disclaimer: I do not own 'Guardians of the Galaxy'. I only own Carlin and she's a handful!
"Oh, my head..."
Rocket had his paws placed on either side of his furry noggin, bowed low over the top of the table that he was seated at, moaning miserably. It was enough that he'd already downed four hard drinks, then add to that the insane environment he was in momentarily. The place he was drinking in was not exactly a bar, but rather a sort of club. It was the type of place that would have been banned on most planets, including Xandar, but here, on Marlo, it was a regular night-out to go get hammered, high, or laid in one of these joints. The locals affectionately called them 'rage parlours'. This particular rage parlour that the raccoon was sitting in was one of the more popular ones in the downtown district. It never shut down, day or night. People were always pouring in. The lights flashed spastically a round of bright colors as music pounded the walls and ceiling, and people were laughing, screaming, jumping and dancing around like maniacs.
"God, please hurry up." groaned Rocket, rubbing at his dark eyes.
Through the wild crowd he could see a tall figure making its way towards his table. It was Groot, and he was holding two large glasses filled with what could only be more alcohol in his hands. As he lumbered along, he was wary of the smaller beings bouncing around him, trying his best not to knock into anyone or spill the drinks.
"Where the hell is she?" questioned Rocket sharply when Groot had finally reached the table.
Groot sighed, nodding his head over his shoulder. "I am Groot."
"Are you fucking serious?" Rocket yelled over the din, slamming his paws atop the table. "She's been here for over fucking fourteen hours!"
"I am Groot." was the tree giant's wearied reply.
He dropped into the seat opposite Rocket, slid one of the drinks over to the raccoon, then drained his own in two massive gulps.
"Groot, can't you just go break that dick's neck? One snap and he's outta the picture. No more of our humie slaving away for his scabby, cheap ass. Nobody would even notice-"
Groot spoke over him abruptly. "I am Groot."
Rocket rolled his eyes and leaned back. "Cripes, man, you are way too friggin' virtuous for your own good!"
Groot shook his head. "I am Groot."
"So freaking what?! At least she wouldn't have to deal with his shit anymore! You and I both know she's too good for a job like this, Groot." said Rocket.
"I am Groot." returned Groot dispiritedly, spinning his empty glass in circles with one of his vines.
Rocket took a slug of his drink, set it down, and licked his chops.
"I tell ya, we can't get off of this dumbass rock soon enough, Pal." said he in a uncharacteristically somber voice.
The two sat there without speaking for some time, waiting patiently for their friend to show up. Rocket eventually finished his fifth order, and by that point he was barely able to keep his eyes open, slurring nonsense to himself, swaying in his seat. Groot had only drank the one glass, so he was very much sober. He busied himself with watching the other patrons of the rage parlour, for they provided endless entertainment. One couple in particular caught the behemoth's attention among the sea of the severely intoxicated. They were of two different alien species that neither of which Groot recognized, and both were indulged in each other. It was strange the way they touched and moved against the other, tangled up and in another world entirely-
"Hey, Big Guy."
Groot started a bit, blinking and grinning when he saw Carlin was there. She was dressed in a dark purple jacket and black pants that fit in a snug fashion, with her usual working boots pulled over them. Her blond hair was tied back in a lazy ponytail, where it left random strands to fall about her face. Over her right arm she carried her job uniform.
"I am Groot?" inquired Groot, brushing one of the stray locks out of her eye and tucking it behind her ear.
"I'm fine, just really beat, Bud," said Carlin through a yawn, her eyes falling onto the snoring lump that was Rocket. "Christ, how many did he have?"
Groot showed her five of his branch-like fingers.
Carlin sighed exhaustedly, switching her clothes to her other arm. "Well, get him and we'll go. I'm about ready to pass out."
The three of them were out on the street a minute later, the pulsating music of the parlour growing dull and fading behind them as they walked away. Outside it was a little less crowded, though there was a fair share of weirdos prowling around now, for it was past midnight. Groot had set Rocket inside a hollow formed in his abdomen, so that he had free range of his arms to protect Carlin with if need be. Honestly though, no one was ever crazy enough to approach a chick that had a twelve foot tall tree man at her side.
They did not go very far, for their home was in a shabby little apartment complex a block away. It was here that they had resided for roughly a year now on Marlo. It was good fortune that Carlin knew the area pretty well beforehand, and had lived here once a long time ago.
Up Carlin led them six flights of stairs to their penthouse at the top of the building, her legs shaking beneath her. At the last step she tripped and was caught in time by Groot.
"Thanks, Hon." said Carlin breathlessly, patting his arm.
Groot did not reply, but rather swiped her up off of her feet with utter ease. Carlin did not object, and allowed him to carry her the rest of the way to their place, her eyelids drooping low. When they came upon the door, there was no lock, so Groot simply pushed right into the apartment, shutting the door behind him with one of his many tendrils. The penthouse was in reality just three rooms: bedroom, kitchen/dining room, and bathroom. The three all shared the one bedroom. Groot toted his friends across the kitchen, taking them to the bedroom, where he lay each of them in their appropriate beds. Rocket had a comfy lounge chair that he curled up in, while Carlin slept upon a rickety old twin-sized bed. Groot found rest up against the wall nearby. He first put Carlin down carefully, then plucked out Rocket from his hollow and set him on the chair, where he went on snoring soundly. Groot shook his head at the raccoon, smiling affectionately.
"I am Groot." he whispered, covering Rocket in a ragged sheet.
He met with Carlin next, who was just barely awake still, and knelt beside her bed. The human's bright blue eyes opened slightly for a brief moment, connecting with the big brown ones of her great companion, the corners of her mouth twitching upward into a faint smile.
"Get some rest, Cutie," she breathed, laying her hand over his. "The big day is coming soon... We'll be free again to go wherever we please."
Groot gave a nod, placing his other hand over hers, so that it was sandwiched between both of them. He leaned forward and kissed Carlin's forehead, earning a feeble giggle from the Terran. Within a matter of seconds she was sleeping deeply, her chest rising and falling rhythmically with each peaceful breath she took. Groot remained in the position next to her for a lengthy period, before he too became drowsy. With care he removed his hands so that hers was lying on the bed instead, and stood to his full height, gazing down at her lovingly before pivoting and situating himself on the far wall close to the bedroom's door.
The gentle giant kept watch over his friends for as long as he could keep his eyes open, his mind wandering from one thought to another, until he came to the memory of the day that they had been stranded here on Marlo. It was hard to believe that a year had passed since then. And what a year it had been for them. Often Carlin would cry and pine for what she had lost and cursed herself for being so stupid as to go up against the devious Keri Kamari. He had never had any real intention of letting them off so easily with such a huge prize as that Kree had been. He'd gone as far as to blow up The Oreo with the Kree inside, leaving all three of them broke and shipless on Marlo. Needless to say, Carlin and Rocket had been beyond beside themselves that fateful day.
Groot, however, was not so disheartened by the event. Secretly he thanked Keri for being so bitter towards Carlin. That's not to say he appreciated it, in fact he disliked Keri very much for the way he treated Carlin; but, if it had not been that he obliterated The Oreo, the three of them would never have stayed together. Groot could not imagine going the rest of his life without Carlin there with him as his friend. She was something special that he just could not let go of ever. Just like Rocket. He loved them both more than anything in the entire galaxy and even now, when they were in the dumpiest of the dumps, he could not have been any more content.
It was okay though, because their days here were numbered. In the year that they had made Marlo their home, the trio had gotten jobs and had worked many long hours to collect money for the repairs of The Oreo, which was basically taking all of the blown up bits and putting them together again. Only one guy would do it and he charged a hefty price, but Carlin refused to have it any other way. The Oreo was her love and life, and she would gladly give everything she had to see it fixed up once more. Now, after what felt like years of hanging around on this grimy planet, The Oreo was on the brink of completion. Just a few more days at most and they would be back in business...
As his eyes began to feel heavy, Groot let himself relax and drift away into the realm of dreams, a little smile planted on his wooden face as he thought about their future and the many adventures that it promised...
The End