Rocket Racoon sat in front of his computer, waiting for the Zoom call to connect. He couldn't wait to speak to his son, Jake, whom he hadn't seen in quite a while. After leaving college to go to Earth on Wakanda, Jake had been busy with his new life, and Rocket wanted to see how he was doing.
As soon as the call connected, Jake's face appeared on the screen. Rocket grinned, feeling a lump form in his throat. "Hey there, kiddo. How's it going?"
"It's going good, Dad," Jake said, his face breaking into a smile. "How about you?"
Rocket shrugged. "Same old, same old. Just trying to keep busy and out of trouble." He paused for a moment, looking at his son more closely. "You look good, Jake. Healthy and happy."
Jake's smile grew even wider. "I am happy, Dad. I'm happy to be on Earth and to have found someone special."
Rocket raised an eyebrow. "Someone special? Who's that?"
Jake's face turned pink as he leaned forward. "Her name is Shuri, and she's a princess in Wakanda. We met through some friends, and we just clicked. She's amazing, Dad."
Rocket couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, but he quickly suppressed it. "I'm happy for you, Jake. Really. Have you two been dating long?"
Shuri's face suddenly appeared on the screen, startling Rocket. She smiled at him, and Rocket felt his heart skip a beat. "Yes, we have," she said, her voice ringing with amusement. "And honestly, it feels like we've known each other forever. We just fit together."
Rocket nodded, smiling despite himself. "That's great to hear. Just...don't go making any grandbabies yet, all right? I'm not ready for that kind of responsibility."
Jake and Shuri laughed, nodding their agreement. "Don't worry, Dad," Jake said. "We're not ready either. We're enjoying just being together for now."
Rocket relaxed, grateful to hear that. "Good. Keep it that way for a while, all right? I want you both to be happy."
Jake and Shuri nodded, smiling contentedly. Rocket watched them for a moment longer, feeling a sense of pride and joy rise in his chest. He may have been a raccoon from outer space, but he was also a father who loved his son. And seeing him happy and in love was the best feeling in the world.