daryls-crossbow-carols-boots:

*Requested – Reader tells Rocket that he is their hero because of everything he has been through. Sorry for the lack of posts lately!! 💚*

“What is your goal here?” Peter’s asks in frustration. “To get everybody to hate you?”
You flinch at his words from your seat on the floor next to Rocket. You feel Rocket tense up beside you before stopping his work on the broken ship and fixing his gaze onto Quill.
“Because it’s working…” With his parting words to Rocket, and a thankful nod to you, he turns and heads towards his father’s ship.
You study Rocket’s face and notice his brows furrow as he returns to his repairing duties. You’ve known him long enough to see the sadness he is trying to hide at Peter’s words. You had to admit, Rocket could be an a pain in the arse but Quill went too far this time. Everyone on the Milano (no one more than you) knew Rocket didn’t have the best self image. You all knew he had a hard time letting people close and to tell him that the only people in the world he considered friends hated him was just plain viciousness. Peter really had to learn to hold his tounge when talking to Rocket; especially around you. For a while you sat there in silence watching him.

“Rocket…” You place your hand on his shoulder. With a growl he shrugs it off and keeps his eyes fixed on the crumpled wall of the Milano. You fiddle with the tools in your hand. “Rocket he doesn’t mean what he said. He’s just met his dad for the first time in his life, he has a lot going through his head right now… You can’t take what he said to heart.” You try placing your hand back on his shoulder. He snaps his teeth at your hand with another threatening growl.
“You know what Rocket, that tough guy crap may work on the other but it sure as shit doesn’t work on me; so you can drop it right now.”
Rocket looks you in the eyes for the first time since Peter left.
“You think I freaking care what he thinks?! You think I care what anyone freaking thinks of me on this crappy ship?! Pft, I don’t even want to be here – I’m only here for the units! So you and everyone else can leave me alone! You understand what I’m saying to you?! Leave! Me! Alone!” He’s out of breath by the time he is finished shouting at you. His ears were glat to his head and his fur was on edge. You sat there maintaining eye contact. He didn’t scare you.

“I am Groot…” Baby Groot said with a quivering lip from across the room. This captures your’s and Rocket’s attention. Groot looks like he wants to cry. He hated seeing his friends fighting, especially when the two friends were Rocket and yourself. Immediate regret clouds Rocket’s expression and he shakes his head focusing, yet again, on the task at hand.

“He’s right…” You hear Rocket mumble under his breath. “I make everyone hate me.”

“Rocket, no one hates you.” You say trying yet again to place your hand on his shoulder. He let’s you this time, in fact he seems to lean into the touch. “I’m pretty sure Groot thinks you’re his dad.” You whisper so Groot can’t hear. Rocket’s ears perk up at the statement and you see the beginning of a smile tugging at the edges of his lips. He loved that little tree, more than he cared to admit.
“And the stuff you’ve gone through Rocket – you’re a survivor. A hero… My hero.” He looks up at you.

“I ain’t no hero (f/n). Why’re you lying?” His ears droop again and the smile fades.
“You are to me. What they did to you,” You fingers gently graze over the cold metal sticking out from his collarbone. You feel Rocket tense up again. “I could never have survived that.” You continue. “I know you hate it, what they made you into. I know you struggle to see yourself the way I see you but without all of the cybernetics we wouldn’t have known each other and we would be having this conversation right now. I love that part of you Rocket because it makes you who you are and I love every part of you. It’s selfish, I know, and I’m in no way saying I’m glad you had to go through all of the experiments but I can’t imagine my life without you in it. For surviving all of that you really are my hero Rocket. I can’t help but admire your strength…”

Rocket sniffs to try and control the flood of tears threatening to fall. No one had ever said something like that to him. You loved him? He was your hero? He can’t believe it yet when he looks in your eyes he sees nothing but truth.
Slowly you lean in and place a kiss to his cheek. Rocket drops the tool he is using as his hands go limp by his side. When you pull away Rocket closes his eyes and holds his hands to the fur on his cheek. You smile at him and run hand over his head and scratch behind his ear gently. He leans into it and smirks.

“Come here.” You laugh removing your hand from his head and opening your arms. He quickly runs into them and wraps his around your neck. He sighs and rests his head on your shoulder.
Groot jumps down from his seat and runs towards the pair of you. He grows vines up your arm and join in with the hug with a happy “I am Groot!”. Both you and Rocket laugh and pull apart a little bit to let Groot in. Rocket looks down at the little tree with a smirk.
“Cover your eyes kid.” Rocket chuckles looking down at Groot.
Groot does as he’s told, lifting his little hands to cover his large brown eyes.

Rocket leans in quickly and steals a kiss from you. You close your eyes and sigh quietly against his lips. Rocket’s hand comes up to stroke your cheek gently. He is extra careful not to scratch your face. Time seems to slow down and it is as if you and Rocket are the only two people in the galaxy. Rocket can’t remember a time he has felt as happy and as loved as he does now. Screw what Quill says, what does that stupid Star Munch know anyway? Only people Rocket ever needed was you and Groot. It had always been the three of you.

The pair of you are snapped out of your little moment by a giggling baby Groot who is looking between his parted fingers with a cheeky smile.
“I am Groot!” He giggles and hugs Rocket’s fur on his neck.
“I know buddy…” Rocket mumbles with a small smile. “We love you too kid.”