groot and rocket, together again at last
rocket, 5 years older and a hundred years wiser
groot, a child that was lost in a war and returned in another
rocket, a grieving father, disaffected, but doing good in spite of it all
groot, a friend twice lost, three times found
rocket, crass and closed off, angry at the world for putting him through the trauma of being made, for giving him the capacity to feel, and for breaking his heart again and again
rocket, whose nightmares have only multiplied in the interim
rocket, who is so smart and so clever, thought he knew what pain was, but what happened to him once he left the labs and was out from under the scalpel, hurt more than anything
rocket, who knew joy so briefly in finding a family, still found a way to be a Guardian despite the sorrow
groot, who is back now, who can see the age in his father's eyes that wasn't there a minute ago
groot, whose adolescent scowl has turned into a smile, wide and apple-cheeked, is it for his father's sake?
groot, who has given and given and given, gave his life for his family, gave his arm for a stranger, and returned, and grew back each time, is that fair?
groot, with his twiggy limbs and cracking voice
groot, with his gawky walk and moss-freckled cheeks
groot and rocket, son and dad reunited
rocket, every moment aching, yearning, wanting so badly to see his boy again, every moment since he disappeared in a cloud of ash
rocket, not daring to let himself hope, or believe it could be done
rocket, confronted with a family, almost complete again
rocket, can he accept that he just can't stop smiling?
rocket, can he let himself believe that now is when happily ever after starts?
rocket, can he allow his family to head back into danger after everything that has happened?