Ain't Nothin' In The Universe Like Me
Written by mpkio2

A/N:

Sorry for the delay in updating; I've been working constantly at my job, and then due to said job, has made me too tired to write. Ugh :(

But thank goodness, I found some time (and energy) to finally write :)

Thank you for all the lovely comments, kudos and views that you guys continue to show this fic! It means the world to me :)

Anyway, enjoy the chapter.

Sorry for any bad spelling or grammar.


Chapter 7
Yer Becoming Me

"Rocket! Rocket, wait!"

But Rocket didn't want to wait. He didn't want to hear what Gamora had to say, didn't want to be dragged back to that office, forced to stand in front of that miserable expression that worn by the newly transformed raccoon, belonging to one Peter Jason Quill, and having to confront Rocket's own actions, having to acknowledge that it was he who had caused that expression to form in the first place, and then feel the guilt that was already eating away at him within his own stomach, strengthen in intensity….

No, he didn't want that….

Didn't want to face up to any of that….

Including his past, images still flashing within his own mind….

Halfworld….

His old friends….

No….

No..

No!

Rocket continued to walk down the corridor, lined marble pillars on either side, sunshine washing through the large arched windows hitting his fur as his claws clicked against the hard floor beath him. He just wanted to go now. To go anyway, back on the Milano and fly out of here. Heck, maybe he'll do that….

But before he could form any sense of an escape plan in his head, he felt a hand tug on his shoulder.

"Will you just listen to me?!" The owner of the hand asked, exasperated.

"Leave it, Gamora," Rocket retorted back in a not to pleasant voice, pulling his arm away forcefully, causing Gamora's hand to let go of him. He stopped in his pursuit of escape and stood looking ahead at the long corridor before him. "I told ya idiots already. I ain't gonna help him,"

"If you would stop and think for just one second,-" Gamora started, but Rocket had no time to listen to her, so he turned around and glared up at her.

"I have already actually for yer information," His ears pinned back against his neck, his tail swished slightly, paws clenched into fists. "Which is why I'm leaving, cause no matter how many scenarios I run in my head, the outcome is the same for me….."

"Which is what, exactly?" Gamora asked, hands out to her side opened, clearly not understanding why Rocket was reacting the way he was.

Rocket opened his muzzle and then closed it, looking down at the floor beneath his hind paws, suddenly oncome with bashfulness at being so exposed for the first time in a long while.

"Why should I tell yer anyway?" Rocket asked in a low voice. "Yer just gonna ignore me and drag me back there, force me to do something I really don't wanna do…"

There was a silence that lingered between both Guardian's and it filled the whole corridor, despite the other activities occurring around them; Nova Corp's soldiers walking pass the pair, an aircraft landing just outside, laser being fired nearby.

And then he felt a hand on his shoulder again, but this time, it felt completely different to the last; it was calmer, gentle and, in a strange way, comforting.

"We will never do that, Rocket," Gamora's voice came to him with much softness and care, so unlike how she usually is. "We're your friends and we will never force you to do anything you're not comfortable with,"

"Maybe," Rocket offered in reply, still not looking up at Gamora.

"Why won't you help him though?" Gamora asked, and Rocket could hear that her voice was closer to his face now. "You know you can help him, the only one who can, and yet you don't wanna help a friend? Rocket, Quill is desperate…."

"I flarkin' know that!" Rocket screamed, fists still clenched, finally looking up Gamora, finding her at eye level with him, crouching down before him. "I know that I can help him! I know that I'm most possibly the only one who can! I know tall that already! I don't need yer to remind me…."

He hears his voice falter, as if the energy was sucked out of him, like he was giving up on his anger and giving in to something else that was just as powerful and probable that had been simmer just beneath the surface of his heart…..

"Flark….I'm….."

"Rocket….?" Gamora's voice shocked him and made him feel more terrified than he had already been, hearing her voice speak to him in such a sympathetic and caring manner. "Just…tell me what's wrong…." A squeeze on the shoulder, a supportive hand, coaxing of words that encouraged him on…

"It….must be raining outside….." He croaked out. "Cause my eyes are misty….."

"Yeah…..must be a pretty bad storm out there, huh?" Gamora looked out the windows; there was not a cloud in sight. She looked back to him. "Rocket?"

"I'm….I'm….." But Rocket couldn't say it; couldn't admit to Gamora how he truly felt right there and then, couldn't let out a simple word that would explain everything to her; his reaction, the way he currently was….

So he used a different technique instead….

"You know when we were on The Dark Aether, on Ronan's ship, and we were crash landing and Groot protected us, like in a cocoon of sorts? And I talked to him and I didn't want him to die….?"

"Yeah, I remember it," Gamora said in voice that conveyed she understood the procyon's analogy, understanding what he truly felt….

Fear….

"Why?" she asked, quietly, as if she didn't want anyone else to hear, almost as if she was telling Rocket he could confide in her.

Rocket looked down at his clenched paws, feeling his tail still against the floor. "My past…." Is all he said in reply.

Gamora was silent for a moment or two, processing what Rocket had said to her, trying to interpret what he could mean. But finally, she sighed and spoke….

"I am too," she said in a flat voice. "We all are, Rocket. We're all running away from something that has happened to us. And it stops us from moving forward. But you know what we can do instead?"

Rocket said nothing, just stared down at his fists.

"We fight. Fight like there's no tomorrow, cause for people like us, there might not be, and I ain't in hell gonna let regret, guilt…." He felt his own stomach lurch, as if the very guilt grew in size, and Gamora lowered her voice even more, her voice but a whisper…. "Fear, won't stop me, Rocket. And it shouldn't stop you either…."

The cyber genetically engineered raccoon could hear Gamora moving in front of him and soon he could only see her legs, informing him that she had stood up. "Just think about it, Rocket. And maybe….the outcomes you envisioned, maybe your calculations were off a bit…."

And with that, he could hear the echoes of footsteps bouncing off the walls around him, back in the direction of Nova Prime's office.

Rocket stood by himself, with his own thought and emotions whirling around in his head, both battling for control. He knew it was a bad idea from the start, knew it was all pointless, knew that no matter what he tried, what he would try to do, would result in the same.

Right?

But then Peter's face flashed before him once more and he felt the guilt again and he felt something break, something hurt in his chest, a skipped beat, but at the same time, no it was breaking too….

And it was all because of him….

Because of his actions….

The consequences of his actions….

Of his past….

Of his fear…

He wouldn't help Peter because of fear was holding him, like a predator had its prey, and he was that prey. And he felt anger now bubbler inside him, cause he was tired of it, tired and upset and angry that fear was controlling like this…

Like they had controlled him….

And it was their fault!

He was like this because of them!

Flark them!

Rocket pulled his arms up before him, clenched in fists, head rising, eyes closed, facing the ceiling and screamed in anger.

"Aggggggghhhhhhh! Flark those assholes!"

He unclenched his paws and pulled his paws down over his face in exasperation and looked ahead along the corridor, finding a startled Gamora looking back at him not too far away. He walked towards her with purpose, his mind made up.

"Don't let it hold me back you said, yeah?" he asked in a gruff voice. "Think about it you said?"

Gamora nodded her head once in reply to both rhetorical questions.

"Well, I thought about it," Rocket started, looking up at her. "And I don't wanna let it control me. So yeah, maybe I made a miscalculation somewhere…"

Gamora smiled. "It happens to all of us…."

Rocket scoughed and rolled his eyes. "Only to you idiots. Me, I'm a genius,"

"Well Mr. Genius," Gamora said in a playful voice. "Wanna come with me and help your friend?"

"Sure, why not?" Rocket shrugged his shoulders as he followed Gamora down the corridor back to Nova Prime's office. "I need to see that big dork sooner or later,"

"Yeah," Rocket could hear the hesitance in Gamora's voice; she wanted to say something to him, Rocket could sense it.

"Okay, what is it?"

"Huh? What?"

"You wanna tell me something, don't ya?" Rocket stopped walking, signalling to Gamora that he wanted to concentrate on their conversation. "Call it intuition or whateva, but I can tell,"

Gamora stopped and looked at Rocket, letting a sigh escape through her lips. "It's Quill. There was a moment while we were on the Milano between me, Drax and him. And he said something and…." Gamora stopped, as if afraid of what she was going to say next.

"Go on," Rocket encouraged.

"Don't laugh at me," Gamora gave him a warning glare. "But…..he sounded….like you,"

Rocket tilted his head to one side. "He what?"

"He sounded like you," Gamora repeated. "Like how you talk, your accent and how you use certain words. At the time, it was funny. But now, I don't know. I feel like….something is off…."

Rocket needed a moment, reinforming in his mind if what Gamora said was actually interpreted by himself correctly or not.

"He…sounded like me, how?" he asked, still confused.

"Rocket, I don't know," Gamora said, sounding exasperated. "Gah, I shouldn't have said anything. Just forget what I said. Let's go,"

And with that, Gamora resumed her departure down the corridor, leaving a confused Rocket alone with his confused thoughts.

What is Gamora getting at?

He sounded like…me?

What….does that mean?

But whatever it was, Rocket wanted to investigate further, and with this new found information, with this new courage he felt, he continued down the corridor back to Peter Quill…


"Rocket! You came back!"

Peter felt his heart soar as the cyber genetically engineered raccoon entered the office along with Gamora. He scurried over to his friend on all fours, rose onto his hind legs and pulled his arms around Rocket, ignoring the voice in his head that warned him that he could get his eyes scratched out by the very person he was embracing within his arms. But he didn't care; he just felt all so happy that Rocket had returned to him and he just had to show him how much he appreciated him.

Cause he was back to help Peter, right?

He was back because he wanted to help him.

Because he cares…..right?

"I knew you wouldn't leave me like this," he could feel Rocket's cheek fur against his own, warm and soft, his heart lighter than it could possibly be, but with it, he felt it beating rapidly against his chest, feel his tail swish as it attempted to find something that was out of his reach.

"Quill, would you get yer das't paws off of me," Rocket retorted in an agitated voice, his arms by his side, making no attempt to escape from Peter's grasp.

Peter finally pulled back, releasing from his embrace and smiled at Rocket, holding onto him on the shoulders instead, his blue eyes shinning into Rocket's auburn ones. "Knew you would be back, buddy,"

Rocket looked back into Peter's and then quickly looking away. "Had no choice. Gamora practically dragged me back here,"

Peter smirked. "You can't get past me, bud," His whiskers twitched in amusement. "I think you came back on yer own, cause I'm your best friend and all…"

And Peter's tail had found something, something it had been searching for….

Another tail….

Rocket's eyes shone with shock, looking down. Peter followed his eye line and saw his own busy light brown ringed tail, entwined with Rocket's own darker brown ringed tail. Peter felt his heart exhilarate at the feeling that coursed through him; he didn't know why and how, but he knew that the feeling he was feeling right now was indescribable, something he had never felt before.

And for some reason, he could feel himself heating up under his fur. No-one had turned the thermostat up had they? No-one closed a window by accident? Cause he was getting warm, and his paws were getting clammy and his eyes were getting light and his heart just soared and raced and lighter and lighter and lighter…

He reached out a paw, wanting to touch Rocket's cheek. What was going on?!

But before he could do anything more, Rocket grabbed his tail and yanked it with all his might, sending Peter down on the floor, startled. Peter looked up with confusion written on his face, disappointment biting at his heart….

"The hell are you doing, Peter?!" Rocket growled, stroking his tail, his eyes holding a mixture of emotions; agitation, shock….desire?...fear? Was Peter seeing those in his eyes? Or was he seeing things he wanted to see himself? He didn't know. "That's ma tail yer holding on to, idiot,"

"I'm…." Peter started, looking at Rocket and then down at his paws. "I'm sorry," he mumbled. "It just….happened,"

Rocket said nothing in response; he merely glanced back at Peter and then turned and faced his back to him. "You should learn to control it better…."

Peter slowly stood up on his hind paws, dusting off his miniature Star-Lord outfit as he did so. "Maybe….you can teach me? Teach me a trick or two?"

Rocket looked over his shoulder, a small smirk gracing his furry face. "Thought you said you wanted to change back into a humie,"

"I do, just…" Peter stopped, his brain momentarily halting in its function, a conflict arising from nowhere. He wanted to change back, right? He wanted to be human gain, right? But then that feeling….something he had never felt before….even the feeling of the small crush he had towards Gamora didn't even compare fairly. "While we figure this thing out, I mean….we will have time, right?" And with this question, Peter looked back at Nova Prime.

"Its unsure how long these tests may take," She answered in her brisk voice. "However, there may be time for you both to have some quality bonding time together,"

"Quality bonding time?" Rocket repeated, tilting his head to one side, looking at Prime. "What do you mean?"

"Well," Nova Prime looked down before her, spectacles back on, writing down on a document before her. "If you will permit it, the Nova Corps will allow you and Peter Quill to take accommodation here at Nova HQ. We can have two rooms set up for you both with all facilities acquired for you. As I mentioned, the length of time for these tests is currently unknown, so it would be best if you stay here for the duration of time,"

"More than enough time to learn how to control my tail, right Rocky?" Peter asked with a cheeky smile, feeling his own tail swish from side to side. "See? I ain't doing that with my tail. I need you to teach me, bud,"

Rocket rolled his eyes. "Teach it yerself, Star-Munch," He let go of his tail and looked back at Nova prime, slowly approaching her desk and ignoring Peter's cocky smile. "So you want me to stay here while you do….um…these….tests…..or whatever…on me and Peter?"

Nova Prime looked up from her document and nodded her head. "I would recommend it, yes,"

"And what about these losers?" Rocket pointed a claw at Gamora and Drax. "Can they stay?"

"If they like to, yes," Nova Prime's eyes were back down at the document. "But they might find it quite boring here,"

"I don't think I and Drax should stay, Rocket," Gamora said standing by the red chair. "We have a few missions we still need to complete and the deadline is coming up. Me and the bafoon can handle them while you guys get this thing sorted out. We can come and pick you up when you're ready,"

"Your plan is as good as mine, Gams," Peter said standing with his arms folded, an impressed expression on his face.

"Its better," Gamora replied. "Seeing how your plans always fail, Captain…."

"This one was a success!"

"Yeah, a success of almost getting us thrown in prison yet again,"

"I concur with the green whore," Drax spoke from the couch. "This plan was a success of being utterly dreadful,"

"What are yer flarkin' talking about?! The success rate was-!"

"Peter…"

Rocket's voice scared Peter, for he used a shocked tone that was both frighten and worried. Peter looked to Rocket as he approached him with wide auburn eyes and stood in front of him.

"What did yer just say?"

Peter tilted his head to one side. "Why do you wanna-?"

"Just repeat what yer just said!"

"Um….I said 'What are you talking about?'," Peter was utterly confused; why did Rocket wanna know that? And what was he staring at Peter as if he had seen a ghost? "Are you…ok, Rocky?"

For himself, Rocket opened his mouth and then abruptly closed it. He looked at Gamora and then back to Peter before him and sighed deeply.

"I'm….gonna help ya, Pete," Rocket placed a paw on Peter's shoulder; Gentle, Peter thought, and he was surprised and flabbergasted at Rocket's altered demeanour. "I can't let this happen to ya, Cause I can't let fear control me anymore…" Rocket looked at Gamora again, who nodded her head back at him. He looked back at Peter and pulled away.

Peter was all kinds of confused. Why was Rocket being so kind now? Why had he asked him what he had said? Why did Rocket and Gamora exchange glances at each other? Why was his heart beating wildly, soaring and then falling and desiring and wanting more, his tail swishing, wanting that exhilarating feeling to course through him once more?

And as he thought all this within his mind, another question filled it….

Do….I wanna change back into a human?


- TO BE CONTINUED-

A/N:

Another chapter done!

This was insanely fun to write and I had a rather easy time writing it; the words just kept on flowing for me, which is always great :)

Yes, its time to reveal some stuff I had planned, years ago now. There was a moment back in Chapter 3 "You're Not Me" where Peter said in a very "Rocket" kinda manner:

"Drax, dude!" Peter snapped, his head turning to face the green man with a snarl and a not-too-friendly face. "Just shut it for a second, will ya? I'm trying to think here…"

And Gamora laughed because Peter sounded exactly like Rocket. And I have included in some parts of this chapter Peter mimicking subconsciously how Rocket speaks. You can go back and read this part to refresh your memory if you like.

So, what's going on? I think some of you can figure it out? And it relates back to the fic's title and this chapter's title of course ;)

Let the on-coming drama and budding bonding time between Peter and Rocket (And eventual romance) begin! :D

Also, I just wanna give a quick shout out to Lwitch and their Peter x Rocket fanfic "Star In The Sky". It has been a wonder to read and has encouraged me to continue writing, spurring on that Pocket enthusiasm I now have again. Go give the fic a read when you get a chance :)

Please leave a comment and kudos if you have enjoyed this chapter! As always, it means the world to me! Thank you so much! :D

Until next time guys!

~mkio2~