(Woooo more prompts! Aaawww Rocket :3 Hope it is as requested and you all like it :3 Gif not mine/found it on google/credit to the original owners.)
-Him warming up to you after you’ve shown interest towards Baby Groot and would constantly ask him how he is feeling and such
-Him enjoying to look at you walk around the ship with Baby Groot on your shoulder, making him realize how pretty you are to him
-Him loving that you’d rush to help Baby Groot with whatever he needs from carrying his heavy stuff to giving him a hand to climb up high places, as he just enjoys the fact that you’re so ready to help
-Him being speechless whenever you’d manage to translate or understand whatever Groot is saying, and just thinking about how you have even more things in common
-Him loving how much you pay attention to how much Groot’s twigs would overgrow and offer to cut them off properly, making him think about how caring you are
-Him being stunned whenever you’d make Groot laugh with your stories and deciding to listen along, only to end up joining on the conversation
-Him staring at you in amazement whenever you’d tuck Baby Groot to bed, only for him to be teased and having to deny it
-Him always noticing whenever Baby Groot has a new piece of clothing to keep him warm, and just knowing for a fact that it was from you, making him approve and smirk
-Him getting jealous yet feeling at ease at the same time whenever you’d offer a hug to Groot to comfort him, making him think about how kind you are
-Him just loving you for caring so much for his friend and actually take him into consideration as well whenever you’d do so, making him fall for you even more but acting like he doesn’t need all of your attention
18: It’s late, shouldn’t you be asleep?
33: Don’t cry
95: Come Cuddle
You were laying in bed reading a book, Rocket laying next to you trying to sleep. You had just finished your chapter and were about to turn the light off when you heard a soft thump at the door. You nudged Rocket waking him up. He growled at you but you just shushed him. You got out of bed walking to the door and opening it. Looking down you saw Groot standing there looking down. You kneeled down on the ground to look him in the eye.
“Hey. It’s late, shouldn’t you be asleep?” You asked him making him look up at you.
“I am Groot.” He squeaked out his voice shaky.
“You had a nightmare?” You asked him and he nodded as he started to tear up.
“Don’t cry. It’s okay.” You cooed as the tears started flowing.
He let out a wail and you scooped him up into your arms holding him close. Rocket jumped at the sound of a baby crying. He rubbed his eyes looking at the two of you. You had stood and were holding Groot as he cried.
“I am Groot.” He sobbed out into your chest.
“Ego? What do you mean a death button?” You asked him glancing at Rocket.
You hadn’t been with them during the whole Ego thing. You’d been on Xandar helping to rebuild your city. After Ego rocket had made them go back for you. You glared over at Rocket as Groot told you that he had been shoved into a hole with a death button. Rocket just shrugged his shoulders at you. You just held Groot walking over to your bed. You sat down as Groot started to calm down. You just soothed him before laying him down between you and Rocket. He had fallen back to sleep and you couldn’t help but smile down at him.
“Come cuddle?” You asked Rocket as you laid back down.
He mumbled under his breath grumpily but he scooted over to you and wrapped his arms around Groot. You grinned wrapping your arms around him. You smiled down at your little family. Sure none of you were even the same species but that didn’t matter. Rocket smiled back at you nudging his nose against yours. You let your eyes close not even bothering to turn the light off.
*Requested – Reader wears high tech glasses due to their poor vision and one day they break. Rocket offers to fix them but takes his time because he wants a way to get closer to them.*
It normally would have taken him about three days, he did have a reputation for being good with tech after all. He watched silently as you staggered across the room, hands out slightly to avoid walking into anything. The sight was comical. Like something from one of those… what was it Peter called them? Martoons? Cartroons? Rocket couldn’t quite remember and made a mental note to ask Peter later.
You had been that way ever since you had your glasses smashed by some thug on knowhere. The Guardians had been treating themselves to a few drinks to celebrate their triumph against Ronan. It wasn’t everyday they saved the galaxy after all. It had been your round and the line had been long so when a guy pushed in front of you just as you were about to order… Well let’s just say you weren’t all that pleased about it. Now, to say that this guy was built like a brick shithouse would have been an insulting understatement. After dealing with bullying due to your vision all your life you had grown tough and confident. You were through with people treating you like nothing so you probably weren’t thinking when you placed the barrel of your gun against the guys back.
“I think I was here first pal. Move along or I’ll shoot.”
You had always wondered what it would be like to fly. However, as you flew through the air after being flung by the brute and the bar wall came closer into view, you couldn’t help thinking it wasn’t as fun as you had first hoped. The contact with the wall was swift and left you crumpled on the floor like a discarded rag doll. Rocket had been the first one out of his chair. Shots were fired and he managed to chase the guy out of the bar. The whole place seemed uninterested by the scene, completely numbed to it after the amount of times these kinds of things occurred. You were thankful for that at least because your face was red with embarrassment.
Drax offered his large hand to help you up. Rocket watched this and scampered over quickly.
“Nah, I got her, I got her!” Rocket shouted over the noise or the bar waving Drax away. Drax raised an eyebrow and backed away.
Rocket instead offered you his small clawed hand and pulled you up into a sitting position. He studied you carefully and noticed a slight cut just below your eye where some smashed glass had caught your skin.
“Ya alright?” He asked.
You sighed heavily.
“I’m fine…” You couldn’t help seeing the cracked glass and glitching software dance across your vision, making Rocket look out of focus and distorted. You remove them from your face and glance down at them. Your blurred eyesight made you grimace and Rocket realised taking the glasses from you.
They were brilliantly designed. Infrared technology, target locking software, facial recognition and very, very expensive to replace. Rocket turned them in his hands and chewed the inside of his cheek in thought.
“I’ll fix ‘em, it will take a while but I’ll get ‘em working again.” Rocket knew it was easy. Brilliantly made they were… for someone on Xander that was. He had developed bombs more complex that those glasses. Not that he’d tell you that.
With a smile, you had thanked him and allowed him to guide you back to the Milano.
What you didn’t realise was there was perks to you not seeing clearly… Not for you, of course, but most definitely for Rocket. You see, with your vision impaired it allowed Rocket to watch you without fear of being seen himself. He was good at hiding behind a veil of satire meaning he had grown good at masking his true emotions as tolerance or annoyance. When no one was watching, however, he was free to allow some of his feelings to slip through the cracks. He felt the tell tale tug on his lips letting him know he was in fact smiling to himself again. He had been taxed with looking after you until your glasses were fixed. Peter thought it would be a good incentive for him to fix them sooner. Oh, how wrong he was. Rocket laughed lightly at the thought. It had been two weeks now and Rocket was still yet to actually take a good look at the true extent of the damage caused to them. If he was being completely honest with himself; he enjoyed the fact that he now spent all of his time with you. With out the loss of your glasses you really had no need for his help.
“You know, if you’re just going to laugh at me I’d rather you just left.” You mumbled under your breath.
Two weeks of feeling useless was really starting to take its tole. You had become irritable from having to rely on Rocket because as far as you knew Rocket was hating every moment. The last thing you wanted was who you considered your closest friend to start to resent you. Rocket never had been the type to help people without making a fuss about it first.
Rocket’s smile faded.
“(F/n), I ain’t laughing at ya.” He said quickly, ears twitching as he spoke.
“Oh, yes you are. Everyone is.” You threw yourself down on what you hoped was a chair. Luckily, it was.
“Ain’t nobody laughing at ya. What makes ya think that?” His ears had flattened slightly, any trace of his smile completely gone.
You scoffed.
“What makes me think that? I’m completely useless without my glasses. And now you need to baby sit me. I know you hate this Rocket. Just go, it’s my stupid fault for picking a fight with a guy that could quite literally throw me across the room. You shouldn’t have to deal with me. I’m going to buy some new glasses as soon as we land. If done relying on everyone.”
Rocket felt a stab of guilt enter his body. He hadn’t realised you had been feeling that way.
“Nah, don’t spend all of those units. I’ll get ’em fixed by tomorrow. I promise.”
“Rocket it’s been two weeks, I’ve stolen far too much of your time already. This isn’t fair on you. You have more important things to be working on.”
A second stab.
“…(f/n), I haven’t started looking at ’em yet.” Rocket admitted.
He paused waiting for you to shout at him. You remained silent and waited for an explanation. Rocket took the hint and continued.
“I just want an excuse to spend time with ya. ’M sorry. I understand ya just wanted ya glasses back, It was selfish of me.”
“…You never needed an excuse Rocket. I’m annoyed don’t think I’m not but… that’s kind of sweet…” You smiled in his general direction.
“…yeah?” He mumbled, the smile reappearing. He made his way towards you and gently placed his hand on your arm.
“Yeah.” You laughed and scoop him up into a hug. He was just a fuzzy blur at that moment but he was still your Rocket. Rocket never minded you picking him up. He loved being close to you.
“Just please fix them if you can.” You laugh.
“I’ll go now, you’ve waited long enough.” He nuzzled his head into your jumpsuit before running off towards his room.
Later that night, after several hours hard work, he had your glasses working as good as new. He even took it upon himself to add some new features. He held them excitedly and ran off to find you.
You had managed to stumble back to your room and lay on your bed. There was a quiet knock on your door and you called out for whoever it was to come in.
“Hey (f/n), I fixed ’em.” He ran over to your bed and hopped up.
You allowed him to place them onto your face. You watched as the galaxy came into focus once more and your eyed landed on Rocket. His beautiful brown eyes stared back at you and a smirk tugged at his lips.
“Oh Rocket, thank you so much. They’re as good as new!” You pulled him into another hug. He once again snuggled close and smiled. Trying his hardest to wrap his arms around you.
“They’re better than new. Thought I’d add some stuff, y’know.” He pulled away and placed it on your hand. He then extend one of your fingers and guided it up to the metal frame of your glasses. You could feel two small buttons.
“This one,” He moved your hand onto the left one. “Allows ya to detect what weapons someone has. Pretty useful in combat. This one,” He guided you to the right one. He tried to stifle his laughter but still ended up sniggering.
“Allows ya to see the probability of winning in a fight with someone based on build and IQ, so, if it’s below thirty percent ya know ya gonna get thrown across a bar and smash your glasses.”
You laughed and nudged him playfully. “What’s the probability I’ll win against you then tough guy?” You press the right button and writing appears in the corner of your vision.
‘Aint nobody beating me princess, besides, who else will fix your glasses?’
You laughed again at the fact that he had made your glasses as sarcastic as himself.
“Thank you Rocket, I love them.” You smiled and kissed his cheek.
“No problem (f/n), ya waited long enough.” He had a dopey grin on his face and he scratched behind his ear nervously. “Since I don’t need no excuse to hang out with ya does that mean we can go get a drink when we land?” His eyes dropped to your bed sheet. He found that the pattern had suddenly became very interesting to him.
“Of course Rocket, I’d love to.” You smiled when he looked up at you in disbelief.
“Really?” He beamed.
“Really. I think I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t enjoyed your company for the past two weeks.”
“It’s a… It’s a date then?” His grin faded and he regretted the words as soon as he had said them. Had he just blown it? Took it too far? He looked away in fear.
“Its a date.” You grinned excitedly. “I can’t wait.”
His smile returned in full force and he looked back up at you.
You and Rocket were out at a bar after a particularly hard job. You weren’t sure which planet you were on and you didn’t really care. You had taken some hits to your side and you had to admit it had taken a lot out of you. When you touched down Rocket had immediately suggested hitting up a bar. You weren’t one to say no to a drink especially not when it came to getting one with Rocket. You had developed quite a few feelings for the loud mouthed thief so you never turned down a chance to be alone with him.
You were sitting at the bar and Rocket was off doing something. You weren’t sure what he hadn’t said but you were assuming he was betting on something. You had just finished your drink when the bartender sat one down in front of you. You raised an eyebrow looking at the drink.
“I didn’t order this. I think there’s a mistake.” You told the bartender.
“No that guy down there bought it for you.” He explained gesturing to a tall Baluurian man.
The man gave you a sweet smile and you blushed a little. You looked down at the drink with a small frown however. It was some sort of green drink and you could tell it was probably sickeningly sweet. But hey free alcohol was free alcohol. You took a sip and it immediately confirmed your suspicion. Rocket was no where in sight as the man made his way over to you. He sat down next to you flashing that sweet smile again. You returned it your eyes roaming over him. He was tall and muscular and he strongly resembled a Terran.
“Thank you for the drink.” You took another sip fighting the wince you wanted to give at the amount of sugar in it.
“No problem. Pretty little thing like you. I couldn’t help myself. You here by yourself?” He flirted a smirk on his lips as he checked you out.
“No. I’m here with one of my crew mates. Winding down from a job.” You explained downing the drink just to get it over with.
“Oh? I don’t see them anywhere. Why don’t you let me take you out? We can go dancing or something.” He grinned.
“I’m right here. And there’s no way (Y/N) would go out with you. Yer barking up the wrong tree.” You heard a gruff voice behind you.
Turning a little to see Rocket you saw him snarling at the man. You gave Rocket a small smile as he climbed onto a bar stool to be eye to eye with the guy. The man cocked an eyebrow sizing up Rocket.
“And why is that little man?” He mocked Rocket.
“Because you’re not (y/n)’s type. (Y/N) doesn’t date losers.” Rocket growled clenching his fists.
You shook your head knowing this was headed into a fight. You couldn’t understand why Rocket was doing this. You stood up from the stool you were sitting on. You pushed through the crowd and the two guys going out the door. Rocket was behind you in a second catching up outside of the bar.
“What the hell were you lettin him do that for?” Rocket snarled at you huffing as he did.
“Rocket come on he bought me a drink.” You responded.
“Why do you need him to do that? I thought you were out with me? I could get you drinks!” He was almost shouting at you.
You stopped where you were and he stopped beside you. Your mind was racing. There was no way. You grinned as things clicked.
“You’re jealous.” You accused.
“I’m not jealous!” He shouted crossing his arms.
“Oh okay then. I guess I’ll just go back in there and see if that guys still around.” You smirked turning around and starting to walk back to the bar.
“No! Yer coming back to the ship with me.” He was firm and you felt a chill go up your back.
*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.”
Rocket paced the bedroom the two of you shared nervously. He had a diamond ring in his hand and he was turning it over and over. He glanced over at Groot who was currently trying to eat your necklace. He walked over taking the necklace with a firm no.
“Come on Groot! Stop putting things in your mouth. Now I need your help. We’ve gone over this a hundred times. Tell me what you’re gonna do.” He looked down at the baby tree.
“I am Groot. I am Groot… I am Groot.” He said smiling up at him.
“Holy shit you actually got it right.” He ran a hand over his face.
He paced for another minute before nudging Groot towards the door. The small tree smiled and ran down the hall shouting. You were in the training room and at the sound of Groot shouting you stopped what you were doing. You ran out of the room to stop him from doing whatever it was he was likely messing up. You caught the little guy as he ran towards you. You picked him up seeing a note in his hand.
“Can I have that?” You asked pointing to the paper.
“I am Groot!” He grinned giving it to you.
“Oh it’s for me?” You asked raising an eyebrow.
You put him on your shoulder as you opened the note. You scanned it quickly giving a small smile. You looked over at Groot putting him back down.
“Alright where are you supposed to take me?” You asked running a hand through your hair.
He didn’t answer you as he took off down the hall again. You followed closely behind him as he ran to your room. You stopped in the doorway at the sight before you. You looked at the hundred of flowers that were meticulously placed. You smiled although you were a little confused. You saw Rocket standing in the middle of the room in a nicer jumpsuit than usual.
“What’s going on here?” You asked looking from Rocket to Groot.
Groot smiled at you growing a small flower from his hand. He twisted it into a ring and handed it to you. You took it putting it on your right ring finger. You thanked him although you were even more confused now.
Your confusion was immediately replaced by surprise and then joy as Rocket moved to stand in front of you. He led you to sit down on the bed and when you did he kneeled down on one knee. Your eyes widened as he held out a diamond ring.
“(Y/N)…. I know I’m not the easiest to live with… and I’m not always nice…. but I love you…. and I don’t ever want to lose you…. so marry me? Or something.” He looked up at you hopefully.
“Rocket…. yes! A thousand times yes.” You had tears in your eyes as he put the ring on your left ring finger.
Groot did a little dance as you hugged Rocket. You gave a small laugh at the sight tears still streaming down your face. You looked at Rocket and then the room your eyes landing on Groot.
“You’re so adorable.” Was all you managed to say before hugging Rocket close again.
Note: Here’s the only Rocket Raccoon fic I ever wrote. I think it’s pretty cute. Enjoy!
You weren’t sure how, exactly, but once again, your blaster was jammed. You shook it a few times and then hit the end of it against a railing. But when you pulled the trigger, nothing came out.
“Godammit!”
“What’s wrong?” Peter asked, looking back at you from the cockpit of the Milano.
“Blaster’s jammed. Again.”
“Might wanna have Rocket take a peek.”
“That’s where I’m going.” You sighed, climbing the ladder up to Rocket and Groot’s shared bedroom/greenhouse. Groot had a habit now to buy little potted plants every time they went to a market on some far off planet. You sometimes came up here to tend to the flowers when the boys forgot. Or at least, when Rocket forgot and Groot pretended to.
The large tree had seen the way his small friend looked at you when you weren’t looking. God, Rocket knew it wasn’t normal. Hell, he was half of your height and on your planet, he was considered a common rodent. But the team had been all over space. They’d seen galaxies full of beauty and wonder, and he still swore he saw more stars in your eyes than he ever had in the universe stretched out around them.
It was also the reason Groot had jammed your blasters four times this week.
“Rockeeettt? Can you do me a favor?”
“What is it this time?” Rocket tried to cover his racing heart rate with a snide comment. It had sort of worked. A genuinely proud grin found Groot’s mouth as he silently left the room.
“Blaster’s jammed again.”
“What the hell do you do to this thing?!”
“I didn’t touch it! It was working fine yesterday and now it won’t fire!”
“All right, let’s see what we have here…” he held out his paw for your weapon, which you gladly turned over to him. He looked inside the barrel of the gun, squinting one of his eyes. His night vision certainly helped him spot what was very obviously a piece of wood. Groot. Oh, he might have to have a talk with that overgrown shrub.
“What is it?” You brushed a lock of purple hair behind your ear, causing him to lose focus for a second.
“Hand me the tweezers, would ya?” You nodded, plucking them off of the workstation and handing them to him. He very carefully reached inside and pulled out what was no doubt a piece of Groot’s finger. That bastard.
“Well I don’t know how that got in there, but I’ll have to tell Groot not to mess with my guns.” You chuckled. He smirked and nodded.
“Yeah, probably.” He paused. “Do you maybe want to come up here tonight? There are some upgrades to your armor I think could really help your fighting.”
“Sounds great, Rocket.” You smirked, ruffling his fur under your hand. “And you know, if you ever want to hang out, you can just ask instead of having Giving Tree jam my blasters.”
“But I didn’t-”
You were already walking down the ladder when Groot ventured back into the small space.
Summary: requested by anonymous. the milano crew are stuck paying taxi to yondu, who quickly takes a liking to the reader. only problem is, she’s already involved with a certain raccoon, even if the others don’t know it yet.
Note: while the reader shares the same powerset as Barricade, featured in my Tony works, the stories are in no way related. she’s just a template character I use.
Characters/Pairings: rocket x reader, peter quill x gamora, yondu udonta, drax, baby groot
You sat cross-legged and comfortable on the floor of the Milano’s main room, your paperback laying abandoned by your side. You’d intended just to read for a while, content to keep Rocket silent company as he worked on whatever new device he was creating. The two of you spent a lot of time like that; while neither of you addressed it, the friendship between you had grown into something more emotionally intimate in the last month or so, something neither of you had named. Still, you’d stopped picking up men at bars while at port, and Rocket slept curled against the small of your back more often than not. Whatever it was, you were keeping it to yourselves; you were still trying to come to grips with your feelings for the raccoon, and you didn’t need input from the others until you both knew where you stood.
Nothing had really changed between you outwardly; you still shared a bunk, you still sat by his side at dinner and you were still the one most likely not to suffer a shot from a blaster if a drunken Rocket had to be manhandled out of a bar. The others were in the cockpit, and you’d had about ten minutes of quiet (aside from the quiet backdrop of Quill’s mixtape) with your partner and book before you’d gotten distracted.
Not by Rocket – he was still fiddling with spare parts – but by the tiny tree that shared your bunk and would wake you up at night to beg for candy.
Your hands were raised in front of you, fingers twitching in the gestures you always used to shape and control your projections on a small scale. The mid-level ability to create psychokinetic force fields came with its perks, and while you didn’t have as much control as you liked, entertaining Groot on long treks between planets was definitely one of them. It might not have been the usual purpose, but you could always chalk it up to honing your reaction times. Besides, the little guy loved this game.
You were projecting a small, saucer-sized field about a foot or so above you for Groot to use as a platform. With a joyful cry he leapt off it blindly, and you quickly closed your fist to dissolve it while summoning up another with your other hand. You caught him about eight inches down and further away from you. He giggled as he landed, standing again and jumping on it excitedly. Every time his feet met it, ripples of blue-tinged energy would dance through it. Rocket glanced up at the two of you, an amused, affectionate expression on his face, one that he only let cross it when you were alone.
“I am Groot!”
“Yeah, I saw it, little man.” Rocket assured him, like a dad tiredly watching his kid on a diving board.
You wiggled your fingers experimentally, the shield expanding. Groot bounced around the edges of it happily before leaping off again. You caught him hastily with another projection, a few inches above Rocket’s head. The raccoon smirked up at him as Groot waved at him through it. You bit you lip and released the energy suddenly, bursting into laughter as the Flora Colossus fell straight onto your partner’s head.
Rocket cursed as his little friend tumbled down into his lap, glaring at you. You winked teasingly at him as Groot babbled away laughingly; the little guy immediately began tugging at the edge of Rocket’s jumpsuit, eager for him to join the two of you.
“You’re a frickin’ pain, you know that?” he huffed, trying to hide his smile. He shook Groot off and poked him in the belly when he pouted. Groot laughed again, wriggling away. “The both of ya.”
“Oh, please. You’ve been paying more attention to us than whatever the hell that is.” You taunted playfully, gesturing at the half-finished device in front of him. “Which is…?”
“Prototype.”
“How enlightening.”
“Shut your mouth, I’m workin’,” he grinned.
You snickered, beckoning Groot towards you. He scampered over excitedly. “Again?”
“I am Groot!”
“How about a speed run?” you suggested and he nodded, bracing himself like a runner at the starting line. You turned to Rocket. “Do the honors?”
He sighed and rolled his eyes. “On your marks… Get set… Go!”
You summoned a force field, dissolving it and creating another in front of it almost immediately after Groot jumped upon it. He ran over each of them, and you both continued all the way to the table in the middle of the room. When Groot’s feet met the tabletop you both cheered, Rocket clapping behind you in amusement. You stood and stretched, stiff from sitting on the hard floor.
“Well, ain’t you just full of surprises?”
You turned around, caught off-guard. Yondu Udonta was leaning against the wall by the cockpit’s ladder. Quill followed him down and gave you a friendly wink, taking a seat at the table and planting his feet on it.
He was doing his old captain a favor – Yondu needed to get somewhere Ravager ships weren’t welcome, but thanks to the events on Xandar, the Milano was the exception. So, you were all stuck playing taxi for a while.
You flushed and stiffened uncomfortably; you weren’t used to people seeing you use your abilities, not in a personal setting. You saw Rocket straighten in your periphery, ears up, no doubt noticing your wariness. “Can I help you with something?”
Yondu smirked widely at you, touching his tongue to a canine. “Haven’t decided yet. I’m Yondu.”
“She knows who you are, ya moron.” Rocket interjected sarcastically as he tossed his work aside and moved to your side, arms folded. You coughed to smother a laugh. “How many ugly-ass blue guys you think Quill knows?”
“Rocket…” Quill groaned, exasperated.
“Missed you too, Rat.”
You rolled your eyes. “I’m Y/N.”
“Ain’t you just…” Yondu replied, giving you an appraising look that made you very aware of the tightness of your jeans. It was kind of strange; he had the same kind of charm to him that Quill did, and you had to wonder if Quill had purposely picked up Yondu’s mannerisms, or if it had been subconscious. Either way, it was uncanny; the look he gave you was the same one Peter had once upon a time, and just like then, you ignored it. You saw Quill shake his head exasperatedly out of the corner of your eye. “What exactly is it you were doin’, darlin’?”
“I, uh…” you cleared your throat. “I make shields.”
“Shields?”
“Like… force fields.”
“Out of thin air?”
“…with my brain?”
“You just think it and ‘poof’?”
“Something like that.”
“She’s a hell of an asset in a fight,” Quill interjected, and you shot him a small smile. “Stand out in the open with her and they can’t land a single shot.”
“And what does that make you exactly, girlie?” Yondu asked, stepping away from the wall and towards you as Drax descended the ladder.
“She’s Terran.” Rocket said sourly. He knew, as did the rest of crew, that you’d had a hard time coming to terms with your mutant genes back on Terra. Your time at the Charles Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters had helped you learn to control and appreciate your abilities, but the idea that people would consider you abnormal still stung. “Just like Quill.”
“Except for her mutation. Quill doesn’t have one of those.” Drax pointed out casually, and you glared at him. The smallest of growls rumbled through Rocket’s throat. “What?”
“You one of them mutants, then?”
“If you want to get all technical about it.”
“Wanna show me what you can do?”
“You get any closer and you’re gonna find out.” you dead-panned, and Rocket sniggered. Quill coughed to cover a laugh of his own.
“Is that a promise?” Yondu said suggestively.
“Ugh,” you groaned. “I’m going to my bunk.”
***
Yondu paid particular attention to you over the next few days; dropping comments whenever you came in the room. It was easy to ignore, but you could tell that it was starting to get to Rocket. He tensed every time Yondu came into the room, so you’d taken to avoiding him just to keep Rocket relaxed.
It wasn’t until his third night on the ship that it became an actual issue. Quill, Drax and Yondu had broken out some of the heavier stuff early in what would be considered the afternoon, the roar of their laughter and macho posturing echoing through the ship. You’d eventually convinced Rocket to join them, insisting he have a good time.
You had joined Gamora in the cockpit and taken the opportunity to ride shotgun and get a kind of intro course into flying. You’d spent a few hours with her, Groot scrambling happily underfoot, and while Gamora was quieter than your male cohort, she was wonderful company. She’d watched with interest as you’d tried projecting a shield around Groot instead of in front of him; she’d offered to help with more hands-on training once you were planet-side.
Quill had called you both down for food some time later, and while Gamora had rolled her eyes at the slurring of his speech, she’d set the Milano to auto-pilot and the two of you had gone down to join them, Groot riding on the assassin’s shoulder.
The four of them were sitting around the table, drinks in hand. Rocket stole a quick glance at you as you passed, a drunken, affectionate smile on his mouth and a twitch in his ears. Gamora touched a hand to Quill’s shoulder as she passed, and his came up to brush over it.
“Is this a liquid dinner?” you asked in amusement, noting the complete lack of food on the table. “Cause if you’re expecting us to make it… Well, Gamora won’t be impressed.” You caught her smirking at that.
Quill looked sheepish, but Drax had no qualms about speaking up. “Gamora is too formidable to expect that from, Y/N. But you are much more suited to domestic work.”
Quill let out a dramatic gasp at that and Yondu snorted. They’d had more than you’d thought.
“Thanks, buddy.” You said sarcastically, but you rolled your eyes and headed for the kitchen. “You’re gonna pay for that later.”
“I am not afraid of doing battle with you!” Drax declared loudly.
“Oh, not in battle, my friend,” you told him as you returned, hauling with you a bunch of snack food. Not the healthiest dinner, but maybe the salt would help sober them up. “Get used to freezing showers.”
Rocket laughed at that, and you winked at him as you passed around food.
“Thanks, darlin’.” Yondu drawled, and you faltered as you felt his hand caress your backside. You spun around, instinctively summoning up a force field between the two of you. It stretched floor to ceiling and was big enough that it knocked him off his chair, and Drax roared with laughter at the bewildered expression on the blue man’s face.
“What the hell’d you do that for?!” Yondu said, clambering to his feet.
“You don’t touch me,” you said, voice hard despite its wavering. You weren’t used to projecting shields so large, and you realized it had been hours since you’d last eaten. Your head spun slightly.
“What’d he just do?” Rocket demanded, standing on his chair. His voice was still thick with alcohol, but his tone was serious now. “What did you just do?!”
“Rocket, man, what’s your problem?” Quill had straightened slightly in his seat, but Gamora looked surprisingly calm beside him. Maybe even a little proud.
“Did you just touch her?” Rocket was off his seat and in front of you before you’d even realized it. You felt dizzy, and your hand found the tabletop for support. Low blood sugar was a bitch. “You don’t get to touch her.”
“Rocket…”
“Man, relax!” Quill was now out of his seat, hands up in a pacifying gesture. Last thing he needed were holes in his ship.
“You got a problem with that, Rat?” Yondu challenged defensively, ego bruised.
“Yeah, I got a problem, asshole.” Rocket slurred angrily, hackles raised. “You don’t get to touch what’s mine!”
“What’s yours?” Quill repeated, the slightest hint of amusement to his words. “Rocket, have you got a crush?”
Drax’s laughter renewed, almost painfully loud, and he almost fell out of his chair himself. “The rodent has feelings for the Terran!”
Rocket snarled, hackles raised as he turned on the two of them. Despite the increasingly uncomfortable dizziness you were feeling, you held out your hand and projected a small shield in front of him, barely the size of a baseball. Still, he stopped, glancing down at it and then at you.
“It’s okay, Rocket. I’m fine…”
“He’s—”
You closed your hand, the shield dissipating, and reached out shakily to stroke the fur behind his ear. You gave him a small, reassuring smile. “It’s okay.”
“Uh, Y/N…?”
You stiffened slightly, hand halting, before turning to face the others. “You got something to say, Peter?”
He hesitated, before shaking his head. “Nope, I’m just very, very, drunk.”
“Good.” You nodded, turning to the Destroyer. “Drax? You laugh at Rocket one more time and I find out what happens when I project a force field inside someone.”
Oh my God, you actually made Drax the Destroyer gulp. Gamora, who seemed to be taking this revelation pretty much in stride, looked somehow more proud than before.
“You—” you pointed a finger at Yondu, who was watching the whole situation unfurl with a mixture of confusion and amusement. “Touch me again and we’re gonna have a problem. Otherwise, we’re all good.”
“’ppreciate it.” He replied, nodding and helping himself to another drink. “Tell you what, Rat. You got yourself a hell of a spitfire there.”
There was a cockiness in Rocket’s expression that almost made you roll your eyes, but it disappeared under the blooming affection he wore as he looked at you. “Yeah. She’s got me, too.”
and an anonymous reader. your relationship with rocket becomes strained when his overprotective attitude hits your last nerve. furious, you lock yourself in your bunk, and it takes an intervention from the other guardians and a touching gesture from the raccoon to make things right.
Characters/Pairings: rocket x reader, implied peter x gamora, drax, groot
Warnings: angst, minor explicit language, emotional vulnerability (someone give rocket a hug damn)
Toad's Cave 