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Chapter Text

            Hi! Welcome to the Submission Zone!!!

            Go ahead and head over to my tumblr, or just put a comment here, and if I get ideas, I might write a chapter inspired off the word prompt, featuring the Special Guardians AU version of the Guardians!!

            I will be doing more with them as time goes on, so look forward to that! For now though, just know that the Special Guardians AU is a version of the Guardians who are inspired from the MCU, but expanded to take a lot more influence from the Comics, and have a DRASTICALLY different story they go through, even if it's a lot of the same characters.

Chapter Text

            It was a quiet day on the Alentador, the large ship humming as it glides through space.

            And on one of the several floors, there were several well known, famous heroes. Saviors of the Galaxy. Rivals of the Black Order. It was a life of harsh battles, a life of noble sacrifice, a life of dedicated training and constant self-improvement.

            "An' y'r tellin' me he said y'r penis is weird?" North asked with a confused tilt of his head.

            "Yeah! I didn't know how to respond, usually people don't comment on it. But I guess Terran biology is still weird to some people, which like, fair." Quill sat with his arms crossed, eyebrows furrowed in slight frustration. "Haven't had someone say something so blatant in like 10 years."

            "I ain't ever seen a penis. But it sounds like it'd be weird." Rocket grumbles, sitting across from the two.

            "D'ya not got one??" Kraglin turned to Rocket with a dumbfounded stare.

            "40% sure I don't." Rocket calmly answered with a wave.

            The four were currently sitting in Quill's room, as the strawberry-blond ocean-eyed universally infamous boy-toy, currently wearing a warm-purple T-shirt and skinny jeans, sat on his bed. He was athletic, though had a slightly chubby belly that Gamora called cute. His hair was messy, not in it's natural voluminous and wavy state. He sat on his bed with a frustrated posture.

            Leaning on one arm, lounging with his legs spread at the edge of the bed, was North. The Edgeworlder Cayullian (Quill says it's just a Coyote that walks on two legs). North was currently only wearing some black sweatpants, and a white sports crop-tank. His eyes were a mismatching mixup of greys, browns, blues, greens, and yellows that some would call Hazel. His fur was equally mismatched. A patchwork of soft brown, cool dark grey, light ash, sandy beige, and white. He was lithe and lean, toned and tempered. They currently weren't wearing their prosthetic leg, and had their finger prosthetics removed as well, simply living with two fingers and a thumb on one hand.

            Kraglin was sitting in a pair of overalls, just letting the straps hang loose, his yellowed bed-shirt underneath. He was lanky and gangly, with a mechanical red fin on his head like a mohawk. Rocket had taken care to clean up the insertion, but it still looked a little gross. Kraglin had soft brown eyes, and he sat criss-cross applesauce next to Quill. The Xandarian had a scruffy beard, and a frown painted on his face.

            Rocket looked up from the gun he was tinkering with, on his chair next to the bed, dark ash brown fur as grim as ever. His body had some parts of a starker black fur, and some light markings of a creamy latte-esque color. In certain seasons or lightings or mood, his fur might appear differently. But right now he was tired, it was freezing everywhere they went, and the dark fur seemed to allow him to stay better temperature-regulated. His eyes glinted an incredible ruby red, and he was currently wearing a turtleneck sweater, no sleeves of course. It was black, to try to counterbalance the darkness of his fur, but it just made him look even darker. Fur was well groomed, but messy because it was an off-day. There was a dark grey jumpsuit underneath the sweater, but it basically just looked like pants. The only thing breaking up the darkness of his fur was the glints of cold metal implants. 

            He glanced at the group, and frowned as all three focused on him. 

            "Rocket." Quill says, frowning in thought, forgetting his one-night stand problems. "What do you mean by that, Rocket."

            Rocket paused. His dark fur stood on end, and his eyes glinted dangerously as he glared at Quill. "What do I mean by what?"

            Quill lifted a hand slightly, gesturing with pressed together fingers like he was patting an invisible cat or something. Oh, he was doing the 'tone it down' motion. Rocket paused as he realized he had gotten too defensive, and it wasn't serious. At least they seemed not to think it was.

            He forces himself to relax a bit, fur bristling softer, but eyebrows still furrowed in a light glare.

            "Whaddya mean y' don't got no penis, Rock?" Kraglin asks, looking the smaller guy up and down.

            "I mean I ain't got one I don't think. I ain't seen one but from th' sounds of it I ain't got one." He explains as plainly as he can.

            "What do you mean from the sounds of it?" Quill asks hesitantly. 

            North glances between everyone with soft nervousness. He gave Rocket a little smile as if to say 'I have no clue how this became the conversation'. Rocket doesn't know either.

            "Like, I ain't... Got somethin' with those functions. Don't got nothin' that..." Rocket finds his fur puffing up in embarrassment, lifting his hands and doing a helpless gesture, before lifting a fist with a curled finger, then making it point straight up.

            Quill snorts, and slaps a hand on his own face. 

            Kraglin blinks.

            North grimaces and puts their hands over their eyes, curling over as they let out a sigh, trying SO hard not to laugh. This was absurd.

            Rocket shifts uncomfortably, and his glare softens while his eyes sharpen. He's aware this chat isn't serious, but it still puts him on edge to be the focus of... Whatever this is.

            "You really don't???" Quill is on the verge of laughing MUCH harder than he felt like he wanted to, today.

            "40% sure I don't!!!!" He snaps, glaring.

            "What does that mean???" Quill is now chortling.

            "Means I don't know what they look like, don't know what they'd be like t' have, don't think I got one, and I don't wanna have one. And I ain't ever needed one." Rocket says with a glare.

            Quill moves to speak, and North slaps his knee to stop him. The Cayullian gives him a stern look, before he turns to Rocket, leaning on an elbow as he tilts his head. "Y'ain't never had a boner?"

            Kraglin and Quill both die. 

            On the spot, yep, on the spot.

            They just fall over and die, the sounds of their wailing laughter filling the room. North is keeping himself together pretty well, but he has to sternly frown to avoid falling to the humor of the statement.

            Rocket had outright jumped to his feet, and he tensed as he looked at the two who had flopped to their sides. He glances at North.

            North takes a deep breath, and sighs. 

            "Go ahead Rocket." He quickly smacks Quill and Kraglin on the legs, so they focus.

            The two sit up with a start, hands on their lap, and North gives a nod to Rocket.

            "I don't really know how t' answer the question, and I dunno if I really wanna." Rocket admits, slowly sitting back down. 

            "Y'ever been 'excited' by seein' someone?" North asks gently.

            "...yeah??? O'course I have. I'm excited whenever I get t' see y'all if we been split up a bit." Rocket seems confused by the question.

            North can't help but huff out a soft sound of amusement, smiling. "Nah, naw, not like that."

            "Lemme explain." North pauses. "D'ya know what Sex is?"

            Quill and Kraglin fall over, at least containing their laughter by keeping titan grips on their guts to keep from heaving into hyena-dom. North rolls their eyes, but keeps focus on Rocket. 

            "I... Vaguely know." Rocket puts a hand to his chin in thought. "Y'like, fuck. By doin' some weird loud weird smellin' noisy shit in the bedroom."

            Rocket grimaces, and gives Quill a sideways glance. "Quill does it very often. T' my knowledge."

            Quill sighs, panting a little, and sits up, voice weak from how hard he's fighting not to die. "Guilty, yeah, guilty as charged."

            "Not as often as he'd have ya believe." North rolls his eyes with a playful grin.

            Quill coughs out a singular betrayed laugh, falling onto his back on the mattress, and North facepalms with a grin. 

            "Damnit, now i'm parta th' problem." North is shaking a little as he tries to hold back from laughing.

            Rocket relaxes a little.

            Kraglin takes a breath, interrupting. "So y'like, slide a thing int' another thing, and like, sometimes it makes babies is how sex works."

            Rocket's eyes go wide and concerned. "The fuck???" 

            "THAT'S HOW BABIES HAPPEN???"

            No one survived. North, Kraglin, and Quill all crumple on the bed, howling and trembling with full-body laughter. Rocket can't help but laugh in utter bemusement. 

            A minute or four later, they all finally gather themselves together, and Rocket sighs. Quill then chimes in. "There's a lot more ways than that, by the way." 

            "What?? Why??" Rocket snaps to attention, turning to look at Quill in horror.

            Before Quill can speak, North lifts a hand. "Have y'ever seen someone and they made y' feel real weird in y'r gut, and ya kinda wanna stick close to 'em, and it makes y'r uh..." He frowns as he tries to think of a gentle way to put it. "Y'r nethers feel weird?" North does a gesture to the region, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.

            "Uh..." Rocket rubs his chin, thinking sincerely.

            "No." He says firmly, but with a sincerity to it that makes North think it might not just be denial. 

            They take a soft breath, and shift to sitting forward. "I think we can experiment with it a little t' confirm later, but buddy, either y'ain't got a sex drive, or y'don't understand what I'm askin'." 

            Rocket frowns a little. "Is that... A bad thing not to have?" He glances off to the side.

            "Not really." North says calmly.

            "When I was Nova, I was celibate by choice, though even b'fore that I wasn't exactly keen t'wards anyone in that way." North explains calmly. "An' even though I ain't technically held t' celibacy now, I ain't had a single inkling t'wards anyone in that way. And none o' y'all've judged me just 'cuz I ain't lookin' fer someone t' woohoo." He smirks as he sees Quill, Kraglin, and Rocket all snort slightly from his silly phrasing. He leans back on his hands. "Some people ain't got an inklin' t'wards doin' that sorta thing, and some don't want it by choice, and some got different things goin' on. It's real various. But it falls under an umbrella called 'Asexual'."

            "But... I'm not a sexual." Rocket frowns.

            North snorts softly and facepalms. "Asexual." He emphasizes the one-wordidness of it. "It's all one word. It means a group o' people who ain't sexually inclined t'wards anyone, by choice or nature." 

            "Oh." Rocket pauses.

            ". . ." Everyone sits quietly.

            Rocket seems nervous. Antsy as his hands intermingle amongst themselves, just unsure what to think about or what he is. He sighs, a slight waver to his tone as he tries to think it over.

            "I don't know. I ain't never thought about... any of this stuff." Rocket gives a helpless open-palm gesture, as if to say he has nothing he can give them concretely. He doesn't understand if it is what he is or not.

            North shifts to the edge of the bed, leaning forward and putting a hand on Rocket's thigh. 

            "Me personally, I ain't int' the sex crap." They snort with a grin. "Never been my cup of tea. I've tried."

            Rocket blinks at him.

            Quill speaks up, leaning back and putting a finger to his chin as he looks up at the ceiling. "I'm pansexual, personally-"

            "WHAT!?" Rocket stands up with a start. "The fuck you been doin' to the pans!?!?"

            North's fur stands on end and he slouches over into a massive, almost painful laugh. Kraglin howls as he flops his back onto the pillows, mohawk tech piece scraping the headboard. Quill slaps his hands so hard onto his own face that he left red marks when he lowers them, dragging the skin a little in exasperation. 

            "No no, no. Pansexual means I'm sexual about everyone." Quill frowns, curling his hand into a fist, and looking down in thought. "Wait, that was a terrible way to say that."

            North slaps his knee and wheezes. "Yeah. Yes it was."

            Rocket looks between the trio.

            Quill takes a breath. "Okay so. I am generally lenient about my sexual preferences."

            "Men," he gestures towards Kraglin.

            "Women," he points towards a picture of Gamora on his end table.

            "Otherwise." He gestures at North.

            North rolls their eyes and give a threatening grin in his direction. 

            "Okay, maybe otherwise is a bad term for it, but men, women, and everything outside and in between those two terms." Quill explains.

            Rocket narrows his eyes suspiciously, resting a knuckle against his mouth, elbow in his other hand.

            "Includin' pans?"

            Quill falls over in defeat.

            "Everyone everyONE." Quill backpedals, face bright red. "I do not sexual the pans!!!"

            Rocket nods, relaxing a little. "Thank God."

            Kraglin snickers. "I'm het'rasexual." He explains. "That means I just like th' opposite of me. Like, sex-wise."

            Rocket tilts his head. "...opposite?"

            They all nod.

            Rocket frowns. "Wouldn't ya rather have someone with th' same sexual int'rests?"

            Kraglin snorts, and sighs. "Not that sex."

            North interjects before Rocket can ask whatever question he was moving to ask. "Sex means two main things, darlin'."

            "There's Sex, like what's in y'r pants. Th' thing ya gotta tell doctors and such, I guess is th' way t' explain it. Like Quill an' Kraglin 'r both male by birth." He looks at them to make sure that's correct. They nod, and he nods back. 

            "An' then there's Sex like th' action, th' ol' shag. Th' mutual canoodlin'." North makes one hand a circle, and pokes a finger into it.

            Rocket stares in horrified confusion.

            "I don't like that gest'a." He says firmly.

            North snorts, and nods in understanding. "Fair enough. I can explain it better later, if y'want the info."

            Rocket looks thoughtful. "Sex, like, th' pants thing. If I ain't sure what I got, what's that mean?"

            The three pause, Quill and Kraglin looking at each other. North leans forward, having more knowledge on the subject.

            "Well, in that case, maybe you prefer a chosen gender." North puts a hand to his chest. "Like how I go by He an' They, an' prefer not bein' called man or woman specifically, but don't mind masculine titles, or some feminine ones." He gestures to Quill. "But these two, at least as far as I'm aware, they match their sexes."

            Quill nods.

            Rocket rubs his chin. "Oh. Well, I was an 'it' b'fore I left th' place I got put t'gether. An'... Then I got called a guy, an' got called by he an' such... An' that made me feel right an' good. So, duzzat mean that's my genda'?" He tilts his head, voice softening with sincerity.

            North nods. "Yep. Y'r one a' th' boys. Wether y' got a penis or not." He snickers.

            Rocket seems to fluff up a little at that. Tail swaying with a hint of joy.

            After a moment of everyone smiling and looking at each other with fondness and care, Kraglin speaks up. "We was talkin' about Pete's penis?" He says, to get everyone back on track.

            Quill slumps over laughing.

            Rocket nods. "I still think it sounds disgustin'."

Chapter Text

            Rocket crumples to the ground as the training session draws to a close, huffing in pain, blood dripping onto the metal grated floor of the training room, the light below turning slightly red from the blood on the pane.

            He coughs, wheezing slightly, and suddenly senses arms bracing against the floor overtop of him. Hears a hiss and a snarl.

            "Please-" Drax pleads, his weapons clattering to the ground. "Hellgate, I-"

            Another hiss, dangerous and primordial.

            Rocket clutches his gut, shivering and trying to hold the blood in, hearing the clattering of more footsteps, and feels bristled fur lightly brushing his own, as Hellgate hisses again.

            Hellgate, the Ancient Devil-Drake with cloud-grey fur over his lanky, anthro-reptilian shaped body, stood braced over Rocket. His blue eyes were sharp and focused on Drax, with an icy glare thar could kill. All four of his ears were perked up towards Drax, though flicking to keep attention on the others. His long, whip-like tail lashes behind him. He was wearing greyish blue cargo-pants, and the large black metal nails implanted in the side of his neck, ankles, wrists, and his chest were glimmering with a red hue from the bloodstained light below. His long snout was baring teeth, claws grasping the grate below.

            Drax, the greyish green Kylosian, with scarlet red tattoos swirling in his body, telling stories upon stories. He wore dark grey martial wraps around his forearms, and black sweatpants, comfortable for training. He had dropped the handles that made up the twin halves of his weapon, the blazing blades having disappated without a source of rage to fuel them. He wore a desperately apologetic expression on his face, yellow eyes glinting in sorrow.

            Rocket was on the floor, his dark fur streaked with jet black markings, and latte-cream colored accents. His eyes were hazy and distant, their bright red dulled. His dark purple jumpsuit, with black up the sides, had been ripped open at the chest. His ears were flat against his head, his own knives having been dropped to the side, and his tail was bristled and curled against his side as he balled up on the floor. Blood flowed around the hand he gripped to his stomach, staining his fur. 

            Drax tries to crouch towards Rocket, looking at him in concern, and Hellgate's hands slap against the metal grated of the floor as he quickly moves, hunching over Rocket more, twisting to keep face to face with Drax, opening his jaws with a hiss.

            Drax steps back, putting his hands up.

            "I just want to make sure he's alright, Hellgate." Drax tries to express his concern. "Please."

            Hellgate stands protectively over the smaller man, fur standing on end, tail lashing back and forth. He snarled lightly again, and Quill moves to step in, but Drax lifts a hand to stop him as Hellgate's attention snaps to the Terran for a second.

            Drax looks at Quill and the others, and bows his head slightly. This was his mistake, and he had to be the one to fix it.

            He takes a deep breath, turning to Hellgate.

            "It was an accident." He starts, aware of the way Hellgate's fur bristles as he says it. "Sincerely, I did not intend to wound him. At least not that badly. It was a mistake made in the heat of our practice." He takes a deep breath. "I am not going to claim it being a mistake makes it alright, as I shouldn't have even gone for a hit like that while we were using our actual weapons." He bows his head. "And I am sorry for that."

            Hellgate looks from Drax, to Rocket, hesitating.

            Drax lowers to a knee, and looks Hellgate in the eyes. "I know you fear us being monsters like those you ran from. I know you fear us deceiving you or betraying you, and you watch for any sign we might not be the heroes we claim to be. But Hellgate Su Gallu, I swear to you, on my name, and the memory of my wife and daughter, on my honor as a warrior, this was an accident, and I would NEVER willingly, or purposefully hurt Rocket like this."

            Drax gives a stern glare of promise, hoping it holds everything he wants Hellgate to understand. Hoping he is heard and understood. That it's within the devil child's heart to give him a chance at least. Hellgate is tense, studying the destroyer's face.

            Rocket weakly grips Hellgate's wrist, and the boy looks under himself at the rodent. 

            Rocket gives a gentle nod. He's affirming that what Drax said is true. Or at least that he trusts and believes him. His eyes have managed to refocus a little, trying to offer comfort to Hellgate.

            He stands up, stepping back, and putting his hands together as his face falls, ears drooping, and tail curling around his ankle. "...s-sorry, I'm sorry."

            He bows his head to Drax, glancing away as his fur bristles in shame, and he drops to all fours to lunge away, and climb a wall to go to the balcony overlooking the training arena, and disappear to somewhere else. He'd made a mistake, in his mind, and made things worse.

            Drax and the others descend upon Rocket.

            Hours later, Rocket, now wearing a slick black and white jumpsuit, space-suit attachment not yet activated, bandages unseen but present, sighs as he looks at the exterior cameras of the Alentador. There was a certain Devil-Drake on the roof. Well, the only Devil-Drake in the universe, but who's counting. It's still their favorite one.

            As he looks at the kid outside, he sighs. Hellgate had panicked. Thought Rocket had been maliciously attacked in a situation he wouldn't expect it. Rocket hadn't taken the hit all that well, sure, but he had hoped Hellgate knew the guardians weren't like that. Though he can't be too mad about someone rushing to protect him when he thought he was in danger. It was sweet.

            He perks up as Drax approaches, turning to the man. He'd changed into dark pink pants. "Are you planning to speak with him?" The destroyer asks upon standing next to him.

            Rocket nods. "He's scared. He's always a little scared, but right now he's extra scared. And I ain't about t' leave 'im be like that." He looks at the camera sadly.

            Drax nods. "I am coming with, then."

            Rocket nods, taking a spare space suit from his pocket and tossing it to Drax.

            Hellgate sighs as he sits on the aged blue metal roof of the ship. His ears twitch, and he glances over his shoulder, seeing Drax and Rocket approaching. The blue sheens of space suits around them. He turns away, shoulders tensing, and fur standing on end. He shuts his eyes right, trying to remember which version of an apology he had settled on.

            He puts his hands on his face as Rocket sits next to him. Drax sits past Rocket, and then a blue orb expands from Rocket's palm. The little device that had deployed the oxygen bubble beeping once it's secure and safe. 

            "Y'alright Sue?" Rocket asks gently.

            "Are you?" Hellgate retorts. "I-I got, s-so freaked out over n-nothing, a-and I held you off from getting helped b-because my stupid ass..." He huffs as he grips his face with his clawed hands.

            Rocket snorts, shaking his head. "I have survived, and will survive worse. Looky here Bunny." Rocket snaps his fingers. Hellgate anxiously lowers his hands, turning to look at Rocket.

            "I get that it wasn't th' right thing t' do. That you was panickin' about what ended up bein' nothin'. But it's alright. No one's mad. We get what'ch've been through. What people've done to ya." He gently puts a hand on Hellgate's. "If anythin', I'm touched you were that quick t' try and protect me. An' willin' to face off against Drax for me, hah!"

            Drax snickers, nodding. "Yes, attempting to stand against me takes guts. Even if it was pointless and foolish at the time."

            Rocket snorts and facepalms. 

            Drax frowns as he realizes his poor wording, before taking a breath and refocusing. "Foolish and pointless, yes, but I know it came from a sincere place of fear and love. I appreciate the thought that had I been a genuine threat to Rocket, you would be there to protect him. I understand that you feared me, and what I could have done to Rocket. You also feel upset that you panicked like that, as you care about me, and you worry that because of this outburst, I might think less of you, or think you think less of me."

            Hellgate's ears flatten, and he frowns as he looks off to the side.

            "I do not think less of you, Hellgate. And I know you love me. Just like you love everyone. You are full of love, but that love made you fill with fear when one of us was hurt." Drax says firmly. "I am proud of you for being so quick to be on guard."

            Hellgate droops a little. "I should have t-trusted you b-better though. Sh-should have known y-you wouldn't do that..."

            Rocket pats his thigh. "Sue, buddy. We ain't upset. Well, we're a little upset. Mostly that th' accident happened, and it freaked you out so much. But I was freaked out too. An'... You jumpin' to protect me kinda made me feel better. 'R at least, safer." He sighs. "Y'r a good dude. An' I know ya wish y' trusted us easier, but after what'chu've been through, I'm glad y' been able to trust us at all." He sighs. "I love ya, Sue. Y'r my favorite dumb-dumb devil boy with no brain. Y'make mistakes and y'don't always get how things're meant t' go, and y' freak out a little sometimes. We all do. But y'r always showin' your heart with everything y'got. And I ain't never gonna not love that about ya. Y' made a mistake today. So did Drax, so did I. No one's mad."

            Hellgate relaxes slightly.

            Drax nods. "We have all been morons today. But I promise that by tonight things will have settled down completely."

            He turns to Drax, ears twitching.

            Drax sighs, smiling. "I will not swear upon that promise, as there is a chance everyone babies you and Rocket tonight. Which would not be completely settled down. And I will not swear in vain."

            Hellgate's eyes relax and soften, and a small grin graces his draconian face. Swears, deals, oaths. Those were important things to the Devil-Drake. It comforted him that Drax didn't take that for granted.

            Rocket gently pats Hellgate again. "Wanna head inside?"

            "Not really... I need some space. I forgot the apology I was practicing." He turns to Rocket and Drax with a bashful smile.

            Rocket snorts, grinning as he looks down, shaking his head.

            Drax nods in understanding.

            "Alright, bud." Rocket sighs, and stands up, before grinning, and stepping around to the front of the lanky grey bub.

            Hellgate perks up, as Rocket gives a sneaky smile, raising his arms and angling his head inquisitively.

            Hellgate looks down, then grins like a soft little doof, sighing and lifting his arms.

            Rocket happily steps forward, over Hellgate's legs, so he could stand and hug the obnoxiously tall Devil-Drake. Resting his head in the crook of his neck, and wrapping his arms around his chest.

            Hellgate rests his head on Rocket's, closing his eyes and sighing with apologetic sorrow. His long limbs wrap the smaller guy in a hug, and his ears twitch as Drax pats his back.

            Hellgate swears he'll try harder to trust, and feel safe with the Guardians.

Chapter Text

            It was afternoon on the Alentador. Kraglin and Hellgate making their way to the 'group hangout' Quill, Mantis, Rocket, Amja, and Kraglin liked to have. This was Hellgate's first time getting to join.

            Kraglin was a tall and lanky Xandarian, with a bald shaved head. His beard was short and fuzzy, and a mechanical red fin mohawk rose from his skull. He was wearing a red T-shirt with 'brawny' on it in white Terran writing. He wore simple loose blue shorts under that, and was casually walking along.

            Hellgate was even taller and lankier. The grey furred Devil-Drake was like a living cloud in color. His icy blue eyes naturally piercing and sharp. He had 4 ears, two pointed sets, with little black diamond earrings jingling as he walked. His snout was long and angular. Built like an anthropomorphic reptile, but covered in a soft layer of fur. He was athletic, but all of it was dense and thin, lithe and flexible. His tail was a long whip flowing behind him, as he stood tall over almost everyone around him. Right now, he was wearing a pair of white boxer-briefs, with a light blue dress that looked like a big tank top on him. The large black nails in his ankles, wrists, neck, and chest glint in the golden lights of the Alentador 's halls.

            They walked through the bronze halls, eventually reaching the lower deck living room. Hellgate pokes his head around the corner as Kraglin walks in casually.

            The lower deck living room was exclusively used as a "hangout" space for the adult members of the crew, which basically meant it was where everyone goofed off stupidly without being bothered by the kids. 

            Amja was sitting down on the shorter of two couches, her black and blue hair let down, her tan Xandarian speckled with freckles. She had warm light brown eyes, and a denim jacket she had formerly been wearing was now laid over the back of the couch. She had a white t-shirt with "I ❤️ NY" on it, along with a pair of jean short-shorts. She glanced over when Kraglin walked in, before noticing Hellgate, and waving.

            Quill had his yellow T-shirt mostly off, it was around his neck like a scarf. His softened gut was given air to breathe, and he had black jean short-shorts on. His hair was a wavy strawberry blonde, the sides trimmed recently, but the top floppy and lengthy. He was currently getting the brownies sorted into three bowls. He briefly glanced up, nodding to Kraglin and Hellgate, before refocusing.

            Rocket was wearing an unbuttoned pink Hawaiian shirt with blue flowers on it, and white outlines on the flowers. He has a little pink armband on, which was for his kids to know he was high, or going to be high, and he didn't want them being caught off guard. He had grey sweatpants on underneath, and his fur was a lighter brown, nutty and soft. There were starker dark parts, that appeared honestly not dissimilar in color to the brownies, with latte-cream colored lighter accents. His eyes were ruby-red, and currently, he was drinking a glass of water, and rubbing his forehead with a grimace.

            Mantis was wearing a black T-shirt, hair tied in a small ponytail, and her antennae are perked up. She's got green sweatpants on, and her large black bug-like eyes are observing everything around her while she sits down on the larger couch.

            Kraglin waves to everyone. "Hey y'all."

            "Heya." Amja waves.

            Quill nods, Mantis turns with a smile and a cheery, "Hi Kraglin!"

            Rocket grits his teeth slightly, and lifts a hand to wave. "Hey."

            "Y'don't alright Rocky?" Kraglin frowns as he joins Mantis on the couch. 

            "Headache. Might sit out th' hangout." He grumbles softly. "Sorry gang."

            "It's alright. We can save your brownies for you." Quill offers. "I mean, none of us are about t' eat the nukes." He snickers.

            Rocket nods. Apparently not in the mood for joking back, but still appreciative.

            Quill droops a little. "You gonna linger a bit, or head off now?" He asks, having finally finished sorting the brownies, before he sits down on the short couch. 

            "Dunno." Rocket mutters then walks over, sitting on the recliner chair. 

            Kraglin leans on the back of the couch, and the group engaged in talk to gauge if the night needs to shift from hangout, to care routine. Hellgate creeps in, walking past silently, and looking at the brownies curiously.

            He knew one was regular brownies, one was weed, he'd been told, and one was Rocket's weed. He apparently had a ridiculously high drug tolerance, so they made 'nukes'. Now he had no clue which one was which, but he wanted a regular brownie. So, that one looked the most brown. It was also on the bowl with the least brownies, which tracked in his mind. If everyone wanted to get high this was probably for Hellgate alone, since the others would probably just do the weed ones.

            Hellgate plucks up a brownie, and tosses it into his mouth, chewing it up and gulping it down. It tasted weird, but a little tasty, so he grabs another.

            "Sue." Rocket suddenly says, quickly getting up and walking over.

            Hellgate blinks, turning towards him as Rocket hops onto one of the bar stools, and looks from him, to the brownies. Then back at him. "Which ones did ya just eat?" He looked visibly concerned.

            The others are all now also standing, looking nervous.

            Hellgate blinks, and looks at the brownies, then points at the light brown ones. "Uh, those."

            Rocket frowns and puts his hands on Hellgate's cheeks. "Come sit. Come on." He hops off the stool, and holds one of his hands, pulling him over. Hellgate follows, and when Rocket pushes him into the recliner, he just obediently sits, confused and worried. He must have eaten the wrong brownies.

. . .

            About an hour later they were all sitting in a circle while Hellgate was literally climbing the wall, inspecting every tiny bit of the room, and continuously trying to to dig into things, or scratching protective mystic runes as he found "weakpoints".

            This was after he spent half an hour in a ball going through extreme disorientation and confusion, just balled up wailing about what was happening, throwing up before they had guided him into a better mental state, and now he was having some sort of hyper-protective anxiety spike trying to guard them all.

            "Hellgate, babyboy." Rocket groans, hands on his face.

            He hears rapid scampering, and then Hellgate shoulder checking one of the couches and falling on the floor, before scampering more, and then feels his breath on his face. Opening his eyes to see Hellgate's snout on his face. Both his blue eyes wide and devoid of thought as he looks at Rocket.

            Rocket sighs, shaking his head with an amused snort. "Fuckin' hell."

            He clasps his hands on either side of Hellgate's face, rubbing up and down and just smooshing his face a bit. "Fuckin' dumb stupid idiot who ain't got a fuckin' brain. Y'ain't got no thoughts. None! No thoughts!!" Rocket is tearing up from laughing as Hellgate's tail wags.

            "I'm jus' makin my voice sound happy an' he's eatin' it up!!" Rocket cries a little, doubling over in laughter as he puts his hands on his head. This had somehow gotten rid of his headache. Or maybe it was the water.

            Quill sighs with a smile. "We are never taking our eyes off him in the presence of drugs again."

            "Honestly I'm just glad he's handlin' it so well." Rocket snickers, before sitting up and grabbing Hellgate's face again. "Must have a strong constitution. Which tracks."

            Mantis looks at him in concern. "He is most definitely going to get sick again."

            "Oh absolutely." Rocket nods.

            "100%." Quill nods.

            "I feel like this could have been planned out better, instead of acting like normal and then letting him free-roam." Amja cups her cheek in her hand, leaning on the arm of the smaller couch. 

            Kraglin nods in agreement. "Every word outta his mouth's been gobbledygook."

            Hellgate turns towards Kraglin, eyes wide and empty, and speaks in the unknowable Eldritch speech again. The microwave turns off.

            "Whaddya think he's sayin'?" Kraglin glances at the others.

            "No flarkin' clue." Rocket sighs.

            "...so are we invitin' 'im next week?" 

            "Absolutely."

Chapter Text

            The guardians landed in the Milano III, the blue and orange paint glinting in the sunlight that hadn't yet dipped below the horizon. Red sand blew in the wind, and inside the cockpit, North frowned.

            The coyote had a patchwork pelt of cool greys, soft browns, oranges, ashy light greys, whites, and beiges. His fur was thinner, trimmed for the heat, and his eyes of colors aplenty, blues, greens, greys, browns, and yellows, scanned the desert. He was wearing a green poncho with intricate darker green patterns, geometrically pleasing and carefully crafted. Purposeless but pretty. Underneath that, he had a pale brown jacket, tucked into the belt-line, with a white shirt underneath. Their pants were the same color as the jacket, with plenty of pockets, and he had sandals on underneath that. The grey and blue metal of his prosthetic leg, and the two metallic fingers on his dominant hand glinted in the fading sunlight that entered the cockpit window. Attached to the belt at his waist was the holster of a simple sidearm. The Cayullian narrows his eyes as he looks at the red desert.

            The planet Dalgabond... A distress signal had been sent out four hours ago.

"Dalgabond, Mine 314, urgent help needed, collapse."

            What they could get from it was that a mine had collapsed, and they needed help from anyone who was close enough to offer a hand. Thankfully the guardians had just been on their way back to the Alentador when they'd noticed the call. 

            While they'd been approaching, Rocket read up on whatever he could find about the place. 

            The planet Dalgabond, known for its' heat, and the equatorial desert, rich with underground resources. There were large oceans, taking up roughly 40% of the surface, and jungles and plains took up much of the northern and southern hemisphere's further limits, once you got away from the deserts and badlands in the middle area.

            It existed within the edge of the Nova space, close to the border with the Spartax. But the resources weren't so valuable anyone'd cared to fight for it, compared to what some of the other planets in the area could provide.

            A sea of red welcomed the Milano's landing gear upon it. Wide Gear to ensure it didn't sink into the sand, and for good measure, high-lift. That way they wouldn't get buried, either.

            North takes a deep breath, looking at the large Stony orange mountains up ahead. They could see the large industrial structures that detailed the exterior of the mines. He could see what looked like a large manufacturing plant, or packaging plant? Something like that, they weren't a professional on which. It paired with the mine, that's all he knew or cared about.

            There were roads alongside what looked like a popup town, of easily delivered metal sheet buildings. The reason they couldn't park closer. Well, they could've, but it would've been risky.

            The buildings were a uniform grey and yellow, and were in a very specific grid pattern, going for about 6 or 7 blocks from the mines.

            North narrows his eyes, suspicion and a bad feeling on the edge of his throat. 

            Turning and walking out of the cockpit, taking the side stairs down, he finds Hellgate and Mantis.

            Mantis had her slick, well hydrated and healthy black hair tied into a bun, with some of the hair loose at the sides of her face, one side longer than the other. Her cheeks had a soft puff to them as she frowned, brow furrowed in thought. Her antennae twitching a little, as her eyes looked down at herself. There was a fuzzy little pink bead thing on one of her antennae, and both had a matching little lime green ring bead. She had a white collared shirt, collar popped up to cover the back and sides of her neck, and looks cool. The sleeves were rolled up and pinned, but the shirt was large enough it didn't restrict movement at all. She had martial wraps around her hands and up half her forearms. The wraps were green with little dinosaur patterns, Rocket had gotten them for her on his last trip out. She had light brown pants on, and darker brown sandals. Her fingernails and toenails were both painted green, probably done on the way here, actually. She was currently pulling a sash through the belt loops of her pants. It was a verdant green, and she left part of it loose for style, letting it trail behind her almost like a tail of her own. Her staff was collapsed, the green and gold metallic item on the back of her belt.

            Hellgate, the tall Devil-Drake with grey cloudy fur, and a reptilian body, and four ears, was standing nervously as he tried to get his outfit together. All four of his ears were perked, with the little black earrings jingling and jangling against each other with little clinks and tinks. He had eyes like cold blue ice, and just as piercing if you didn't know the guy behind them. His tail was like a long, sharp whip behind him, and his slender, careful hands were working the cloth of his clothes. He was tying a cobalt waist cloth on the side of his pale yellow shorts, which has pockets full of snacks. The black nails on his wrists, ankles, neck, and torso glinted in the white light of the living area. He was toned and lithe, but his fur somewhat softened how muscular he secretly was. Helped that the muscles were packed dense, and he looked pretty lanky. 

            North waves to the two as they entered. He speaks with a drawling voice, slick and warm like tea and honey. "Y'all look real stylish. But r'member we gotta be practical, too." He gently instructs, hoping they're aware what they're dealing with.

            "Oh, I know." Mantis nods, voice cheery and sweet. "That is why I am wearing lighter colors!" She beams at him. "And lighter, airy clothes."

            Hellgate nods, focused still.

            North sighs. "Y'can't just dress f'r the heat, gotta think about th' night too. We're goin' in right when the sun is settin', and goin' underground, too."

            Both pause. Hellgate rubs his chin, his voice was soft and distant, a tender shakiness that took prominence over the gentle Eldritch power on the edge of his tone. "I-I have fur, so I should be f-fine, b-but even if it gets too cold, I-I have friends wh-who'd be willing to help." He offers.

            North rubs their chin, "aw really now? That's kind of 'em." 

            Hellgate smiles. "Y-Yeah! Th-there's quite a few who could help."

            North nods. "Awright."

            He turns to Mantis, and then back to Hellgate. "Can they help all of us?"

            "Probably." Hellgate thinks, "l-lemme ask." He walks down to the cargo bay. North's ears twitch as he hears Hellgate mumbling to himself and his... Friends.

            They turn back to Mantis. "Y'seen th' other two?"

            "Rocket is helping Phyla in his room!" She points to the hall, but North was already turning.

            "Got it, thank ya, sweetie." North merrily walks into the hall, tail wagging slightly as he pauses outside of Rocket's door.

            He leans against the wall, and lifts his hand to knock with a knuckle. "Call."

            "R'sponse. Standby." Rocket answers quickly and calmly. 

            North nods, turning to lean their back against the wall. They could easily listen in, but instead, they waited for a minute. After a moment, Phyla called out. "Okay come in!"

            He grinned slightly, and stands back up, opening the door and stepping through the doorway.

            Phyla was standing at the mirror, cheerily looking at her hair, which had been braided with a teal ribbon, the streak of color moving down through her pure white hair. There was a bow at the start of the braid, and at the end, carefully tied from the ends of the ribbon. She had a light blue hoodie, with most of the sleeves cut off, and there were colorful bandaids dotting her arms from various little falls and cuts she'd gotten training. There were some blue ones with fish on them, some with purple ones with stars, and some teal ones with snakes. She had a purple skirt on over dark blue leggings, which got a slight starry Galaxy look towards the bottom of them. Her shoes were white sandals made to be good for the desert. 

            Rocket had freshly groomed his own fur as well, which was currently a warm caramel brown color. The lighter parts were a soft latte cream color, and the darker parts look like milk chocolate. He had a sweet smile on his face, his eyes a blood red. There was a loving spark to everything about him at the moment, as with any time he was busy parenting one of his kids. He was currently wearing a light and comfortable white tank top, with a red jumpsuit, the top undone and hanging limply from his waist. The belt had his mod-gun in box form, and multiple knives in sheaths. He has a small pink cast around his bicep, and several things written on it; 'Hellgate Su Gallu wishes you Healing', 'Love U Dad -Phyla', 'Mantis loves you', and lastly, 'Get Well Soon -North'. He'd been hurt on the mission they'd been going home from, but had insisted it was nothing serious. Didn't keep everyone from insisting he dress it, though.

            Rocket grabbed some black framed goggles, with pink lenses off the bed. Sliding them onto his head, and covering his eyes, it hides that red glare, making him look a lot softer. He smiles warmly over at Phyla as she continues admiring her braid, before turning to North. 

            "Cap'n." North nods.

            Rocket snorts, shaking his head. "Whaddya need North?"

            Phyla picks up her little backpack, shuffling past North, who steps to the side. "'scuse me gran!" 

            North can't help a toothy grin at the title, turning to Rocket smugly. "I think that's the greatest title I've ever earned."

            Rocket snorts, wiping his eye a little as he pushes the goggles up. "You're a good guy. O' course you're family, bub."

            "Never doesn't make me happy though." North sighs. "Anyway, that's another time's talk. Y' ready to go?"

            Rocket nods, standing up. "Yep."

            North crosses his arms. "Y'sure?" He narrows his Hazel eyes. Studying the smaller man's face for any hint of deception as he readies to speak.

            Rocket sighs, rolling his eyes. "Yes. I'm fine."

            He gives his best sincere smile, and even lifts his arm a little in case North wants to test it.

            North shakes their head. "Better not be lyin'."

            Rocket's fur puffs up a little, and sighs. "Yeah, I know. I'm not lyin' this time."

            North nods, and heads out of the room. "Once y're ready, Cap'n." 

            A couple minutes later, Hellgate, Mantis, Phyla, North, and Rocket are all in the cargo bay. Mantis, Hellgate, Phyla, and North all lean against the wall in a line. Mantis stands with her hands held together in front of herself. Hellgate's arms are allowed to hang limp, tail curled around his leg. Phyla has her hands in the pocket of her hoodie. North has their arms crossed across their chest. 

            Rocket paces back and forth, checking his own equipment and tools, checking the emergency packs, and then turning to the four. "A'right."

            Everyone stands at attention.

            "Comms?" He lifts his goggles so his red eyes are free to glare at them studiously.

            All four's arms lift as they put a finger to their left ear (or one of them, in Hellgate's case). "Check!" "Ch-Check." "Triple-Check!" "Check." 

            "Check." Rocket taps his own comm, before nodding. "Primary Weapons?"

            Mantis whips out her staff, letting it extend to full form. "Check!"

            Hellgate is quiet, he sits this part out.

            Phyla focuses, and makes a rough blade of light appear in her hand. "Check!"

            North takes his rifle from it's hiding place under his poncho, checking the safety is on, and that it's loaded. "Check."

            Rocket nods, making sure his Mod-Gun is still on his hip. "Check."

            Phyla dismisses her light blade, and North and Mantis put their weapons away.

            "Secondary Weapons?" He looks at the group again, always wanting to be sure about this step.

            Mantis takes a small taser gun from one of her pockets. "Check!"

            Hellgate has started fiddling with his claws, rubbing a hand over the nails on one of his wrists. 

            Phyla takes a stun pistol out of her bag, and checks the safety and the ammunition. "Check!"

            Rocket lifts a hand to stop North from taking his turn, and looks at Phyla. "In y'r bag? How y' gonna get that in a pinch? When it's on y'r back?"

            Phyla blinks, and frowns. "My leggings didn't have a belt to attach the holster..."

            Rocket shakes his head. "What d'we do when we ain't got what we need...?"

            Phyla frowns. "Ah, oh, right."

            Mantis and North both turn to smile patiently at her, while Hellgate perks up, refocusing on the conversation, glancing at Phyla and Rocket.

            Phyla takes a breath. "Does anyone have anything I can borrow to keep my gun closer...?"

            North takes a sash-belt out of his pocket, and holds it out for Phyla. He kinda saw this coming. "Here y'go sweetie."

            Mantis stops taking one out of her own pocket. As does Rocket. 

            Phyla slings it over her shoulder, buckling it, and attaching a holster, and putting her stun pistol into it, before securing it. "Okay, now check."

            Rocket nods, and turns to North. 

            North shows the pistol on their belt, taking it out, checking the safety and the ammunition, before re-holstering it. "Check."

            Rocket nods, checking his Gravity Blade, checking the discs, and checking the disc-pistol, before he puts it all back. "Okay, Check."

            He then steps to the side, pointing to the emergency kits. "Emergency kits."

            Mantis gets up, walking over, grabbing one, and putting it in a pocket. "Check!"

            Hellgate gets up next, picking one up, and putting it into his pocket as well. "Ch-check!"

            Phyla grabs one, tossing it in her bag. "Check!"

            North walks over, grabbing one, and sliding it into his jacket pocket. "Check."

            Rocket grabs the last of the five kits he prepared. "Checkity check."

            North snorts, and then Mantis stops in the door of the Cargo Bay, holding a hand up. Hellgate stops, which makes Phyla bump into him, and North calmly stops her from falling over, before he stands as well. Rocket turns and tilts his head.

            Mantis smiles, putting her hands on her hips. "Last check, emotional check!"

            She stands on tippy-toes, attempting to kiss Hellgate on the cheek. He blinks, waiting a second, before Phyla elbows his tail, and he perks up. "O-oh, right." He crouches a little so Mantis can kiss his cheek. His tail wags, and he smiles. "Ch-Check!"

            He walks past, and Phyla giddily walks over, Mantis beaming and bending over, cupping her cheeks with her hands, and planting a kiss on her forehead. "Mwah."

            Phyla giggles. "Check!!"

            North steps forward, giving a polite nod of his head as Mantis smiles, giving him a little cheek kiss. They chuckle, and smile as they step out of the ship. "Check."

            Rocket is softly smiling as he walks up next. "This ain't part a th' routine, sweetheart." He teases, giving her a cheeky grin.

            "Well sorry Vice-Captain, but emotional well-being is my department." She gives a playful smile.

            Rocket proudly grins at her display of sass. "Fair enough."

            Rocket politely bows his head, and Mantis smiles as she gently cups his head to plant a firm kiss on his forehead. 

            She stands back up, and Rocket gives a little nod. "Check." He then smirks as he walks past her, and moves to stand beside the others, who are all waiting for her expectantly.

            Mantis squeaks. "Huh?"

            The four chuckle. North picks Phyla up, and Rocket climbs Hellgate's back as they all converge on her. 

            Phyla gives Mantis a kiss on the nose, North a little kiss on the cheek, Rocket a little kiss on the forehead, and Hellgate a kiss on the other cheek. As they step back, North setting Phyla down, and Rocket sliding off of Hellgate's back, Mantis giggles in delight. "Check!!"

            Everyone walks off the ship, moods lifted. The red sand crunching underfoot as they walk onto the sandstone road into the mining town.

            Hellgate takes up the rear, with North and Phyla in front of him, and Mantis in front of them, with Rocket in the lead. The simple structures alongside the path look like foldout buildings. Meant to be deployed and built up quickly, allowing for large workforces to move in quickly. These all looked to be 1-2 bedroom homes, intended for very small families, single occupants, or roommates. 

            Hellgate looks around curiously. 

            Phyla looks up at him, walking backwards a little. "Those're houses y'know! Pretty cool, right?"

            Hellgate frowns. "N-Not quite Wh-What I'm w-worried about."

            North pauses, and Rocket turns quickly.

            "What's up?" Rocket's fur starts to stand up as he studies Hellgate.

            Hellgate's fur, too, was standing on end. His blue eyes were narrowed as he glared at the buildings. "Th-the distress signal s-said the m-mine collapsed, a-and people were tr-trapped, b-but wh-why is everything so q-quiet...?"

            Hellgate stands up a little straighter. "Sh-shouldn't someone be here? W-Waiting for help? O-Or having seen us arrive?"

            Rocket turns, back towards their surroundings. Something was definitely off about that. "Good call."

            North takes out a monocular, and looks down the street, to the mines. "Not seein' anythin' Rocky." They lower the monocular as Rocket deploys recon drones from his belt. "Wan' me t' go on ahead t' the mine?"

            Rocket rubs his chin. "Nope."

            North blinks in surprise.

            "We stick t'gether 'til I got a better reason t' split us up." There's a small electrical light in his eyes as he focuses elsewhere, starting to walk again. 

            "Calcyalatin' that there could be a popyalation o' roughly 100-150 guys followin' standard deployment fare, th' chances of all them dudes bein' gone in the mines is zilch. Ain't no sitiation all th' flarkin' grubs should be und'ground. Somethin' is up an' I ain't about t' be steppin' in unaware." Rocket says firmly, eyes sparking lightly behind the goggles as information comes in. "Good call Hellgate. No one's home. At all."

            "What do we do now?" Mantis tilts her head.

            "Let's get a bit more info." Rocket says, drones diving into his belt, leaving red streaks of light behind. "Everyone, forw'rd."

            Rocket keeps low to the ground, starting to make his way toward the mines. Hellgate crouches low, rapidly stalking forward alongside him, and Mantis, North, and Phyla kept in a group walking behind them. 

            The structures were all well maintained. They couldn't have been empty for long. Likely no more than a day at most. 

            As they moved forward, they kept close to each other, keeping as aware of their surroundings as they could. North and Rocket had the best perception, with Mantis and Hellgate also being quite perceptive, so they had good chances on avoiding trouble. Rocket was preparing his Mod-Gun, clicking parts into place as he made it into an SMG. Mantis had taken her staff out, to be ready. Hellgate was keeping low, ready to pounce on anything that revealed itself, and North was holding Phyla's hand to ease her anxiety. 

            Passing the shells that once held life by as they walked as a group, the night slowly falling didn't ease tension. Light dipping below the horizon, allowing the sky to take on a navy blue hue, the red sand almost looking like a soft pink or purple now. 

            Then suddenly, automatic street lights clicked on, and in an instant, North had whipped his rifle out, looking behind them. Rocket had aimed ahead of them with his SMG. Mantis stepped back to be ready to protect Phyla. And Hellgate was standing with claws at the ready. Phyla had just squeaked in surprise.

            They all take a breath after a moment. 

            "Just lights..." Rocket sighs, everyone de-tensing, and they start moving forward again. They reached the edge of the pot that had formerly been a mine structure. Scaffolding and walkways collapsed down into the ground, and conveyor belts crumbled in the metal mess as well. "This don't look safe at all. But I can see th' tunnels we're s'posed t' check out."

            Everyone is extremely tense as they stare down into the dark collapsed mines. There was branding on the scaffolding that could still be made out, 'Dalgabond Mining Company'. The metal was worn and yellow, but seemed not to be all that old. This operation hasn't been active long.

            As they look down into the pit, everyone is clearly tense. Phyla looking outright scared, while Mantis and Hellgate were unsettled. North and Rocket were the most calm.

            "Nope." Rocket shakes his head. "I don't trust it." He turns to Phyla, turning her and grabbing North's arm. "You two ain't goin' in."

            North blinks. "Woah wait, what?"

            "North, y'r level headed, and a sniper. Y'ain't gonna help us in the mine, I want you protectin' Phyla up top, helpin' keep her calm." Rocket says firmly. "An' Phyla, you gotta stay on the ship with Gran, got it?"

            Phyla blinks, glancing over her shoulder at the mine. "Fine by me."

            North can't help a small smirk, but shakes their head. Teasing people for being scared, especially when they're still that young just isn't right. He gently puts a hand on her shoulder, and nods to Rocket. "Got it, Cap."

            He gives a nod of his head, and starts walking back to the Milano III with Phyla. 

            Rocket turns to Hellgate and Mantis.

            "Y'alright?" He tilts his head at them.

            Mantis takes an anxious breath. "Not quite."

            Hellgate shakes his head. "N-nope."

            Rocket snorts, and rolls his eyes. "Least y'r honest. A'right, wait up here." He readies his gun, and moves to step forward, but Mantis and Hellgate both put their hands out to stop him.

            "I am not so scared I would leave my brother to explore the darkness alone." Mantis says with a firm glare.

            "Y-Yeah!" Hellgate snaps, glaring at the mine. "W-We can do it t-together. N-Not about to let you f-face that alone."

            Rocket pauses. "Y'sure you'll be okay?"

            Both nod in sync. 

            "Affirmative, captain!" Mantis says with her best confident smile.

            "A-Aye." Hellgate nods, staring into the darkness with tense determination.

            Rocket relaxes a little, unable to keep a soft smile away. "Thanks. I really didn't feel like goin' down there solo." He chuckles, and stretches.

            Mantis snorts, and nods. "Understandable."

            Hellgate takes a breath, stepping back from the two. "L-let me prepare for the dark and cold."

            Rocket and Mantis step back, and Rocket holds his breath slightly as Hellgate stands in a meditative position.

            Hellgate focuses, and makes an odd motion, creating orange sparks that form into orange chains made of mystical light, which form, before spearing through him, the ends fading into an unseen aether. His body starts to glow, and his hands and claws grow larger, tail gaining larger spikes, and horns starting to sprout from his head.

            After a moment, gazelle-esque red horns have spawned, his claws a similar color, and dark charcoal markings have appeared on his hands, feet, tail, and head, while the rest of his fur has turned ashier and sootier. His blue eyes have turned a scarlet red, and he frowns as he looks at his now slightly undersized shorts. "Oh dear." His voice has grown deeper, and has a crackle on the edge of it, as if it were alight with flame.

            "S'alright. Y' feel okay?" Rocket asks gently.

            "Yes. I feel fine." Hellgate nods. He then takes a breath, and the red bone of his new horns and claws spark to life, glowing with a reddish-orange flame. The tip of his tail also sparking on fire, but it seems to be mystical, and under Hellgate's control. The chill of the desert night vanishes, and the warm embrace of a gentle light graces their presence.

            Rocket takes a small breath. "Okay, let's head down." 

            The trio stands at the edge of the pit, and Rocket leads the way down, sliding to a part of the collapsed scaffolding. He holds out his hand as Mantis slides down, and she grabs it to swing to grip on the scaffolding as well. Hellgate digs his claws into the ground, turning sand into a glass grip to stop himself next to the two.

            Rocket hops and slides a bit further, waits for them to catch up. A bit further, wait. A bit further, wait. Until the open tunnels await at the bottom of the pit. One slide away.

            He takes a deep breath. "We ready?"

            "As we can be." Mantis responds.

            Hellgate nods.

            "Drop." Rocket commands, and hops onto the sand, sliding down the rest of the way, and then rolling into a short fall, before landing on the stone ground. Mantis drops next to him quite gracefully, and Hellgate lands on all fours impressively.

            Rocket stands up, eyes darting around as he focuses on the tunnel. It looked empty. Mantis takes a breath in and out, as Hellgate sniffs, and snarls.

            Both focus on Hellgate instantly. 

            "What is it bunny?" Rocket asks quickly.

            "Bad feeling..." Something deeper edges on his voice. It's the demon talking.

            Rocket tenses slightly, making sure he has his gun out. "Any intel beyond that?" He narrows his eyes at the darkness.

            "Scent of blood. Smell of anguish. I sense the dead are aplenty here." The Devil-Drake narrows his eyes as well, though it still wasn't Hellgate talking.

            "Specifics?" Rocket asks, trying to be patient with the demon. He knows better than to sass them too much when he needed their aid.

            The Devil-Drake's snout crinkles as he takes deep whiffs, hissing slightly. "I smell something is alive, many are dead. Unsure what is what, never smelled any of these types of blood besides some Xandarians." He stands up tall. "Don't like it. Don't trust it."

            "And... What can you pick up, Hellgate?" Rocket asks hesitantly.

            The demon's glowing red eyes blink, and they shift to a more passive appearance. "I b-believe th-that most of the miners are dead. I-I can s-still smell a couple who seem alive...? Strange, b-but alive."

            Mantis tilts her head nervously. "Strange... How?"

            "It doesn't... Smell quite right...? L-like I don't, know if mines just smell like that, b-but... It's off." Hellgate explains, and his eyes sharpen again as the demon seems to want the reigns, or is at least making itself more present. Hellgate starts softly mumbling his vague feelings with the demon, who mutters back, while Rocket and Mantis look at each other in concern. 

            After a moment, Rocket snaps his fingers. "Lead us t' someone alive."

            Hellgate turns and looks at him, eyes flicking between both occupants of the body, and both seem hesitant. Eventually the demon nods. "...very well." He turns, and starts to walk through the dark tunnels.

            The only sounds echoing through the tunnels are their own footsteps, and the crackle of the fire on Hellgate's body. Occasionally they would pause and listen, waiting for signs of anything else, or letting Hellgate recalibrate the direction. They travel deeper into the darkness, and eventually Hellgate tensely heads towards a collapsed tunnel. He points at an orange arm, sticking out of the rubble.

            "There."

            Rocket and Mantis blink. That doesn't LOOK like someone alive, but it wasn't impossible. Rocket steps forward. "You two stand back."

            Hellgate obeys quickly, but Mantis frowns. "Rocket..."

            "I don't trust it, I want y'all ready t' run." He turns to Mantis with an authoritative glare.

            Mantis nods nervously.

            Rocket creeps forward, and gently wraps his hand around the wrist of the orange arm. Feeling for a pulse. He focuses, listening as best he can...

            ...nothing.

            "This chick ain't ali-VAH-" He shouts as the arm twitches, jumping backwards before it can try to grab him. His fur stands on end as it wildly jerks and grabs at nothing, then starts trying to dig itself out. This isn't normal movement.

            Mantis claps her hands over her mouth, and both Rocket and Hellgate's ears have folded against their heads. 

            The limb starts to dig it's claws into itself, as if to get itself free from the rest of the body, and Rocket lifts a hand, gesturing for them to move. "Go. Go." He snarls, and turns as Mantis and Hellgate go running. The two are outpacing him as he focuses on readying his weapon, looking over his shoulder to see the arm has given itself a large wound, which black, slimy looking centipedes seem to be trying to come out of. He shoots at them, making them squirm their way back in for a moment, and then books it.

            He runs on all fours, panting slightly, and panicking as he loses track of Mantis and Hellgate. While he knew the exact route they'd entered from, he was worried wether or not they did.

            After giving his all to run as fast as he could, he reaches the opening, and leaps up, gripping the scaffolding and leaping from metal bar to metal bar. "Please be out here please be out here..." He pants, and reaching the top, he leaps over the edge, and looks around.

            Mantis and Hellgate were holding each other, staring at the pit, and visibly relaxed when they saw Rocket. He relaxes seeing them, too, quickly darting over and hugging both. "Thank th' fuckin' stars y'all've alright."

            "That's our line!!" Mantis snaps.

            "W-What was that?" Hellgate shudders.

            "Don't care, we're leavin'." Rocket snarls, and starts to lead them back to the Milano III.

            North and Phyla were sitting in the cargo bay, playing a card game together, when North perked up as he saw the trio running back towards the ship from down the street. He quickly took out his monocular, catching Phyla's attention, and tried to see if anything was chasing them.

            ...nothing he could see.

            But he trusted them not to freak out for no reason, so he stands up. "Phyla, please clean up."

            He moves to wait by the door control, to close it right behind them, and she nods, having also seen the others. She starts packing the card game up, and tosses their snack wrappers in the trash too.

            Rocket, Hellgate, and Mantis sprint onto the ship, and North quickly closes the door. "What'd ya find?" He asks quickly, slightly raising an eyebrow at Hellgate's current form.

            "Somethin'... Down... In mines... Hidin' in bodies..." Rocket pants out. 

            "Oh shit." North grimaces. "What's th' plan?"

            "Not dealin' with it. Nope. No way." Rocket shakes his head. "Nova's problem. We'll just report it."

            North nods in agreement, moving to hold Mantis and pat her back, hoping to help calm her down, before moving to Hellgate and doing the same. "Got my support on that."

            Rocket gives a little appreciative smile.

            Phyla looks concerned, crouching by Rocket. "Dad...? Are you okay?"

            Rocket hangs his head, panting slightly, still. "J-Just a lil' scared, sweetheart. Dad's alright."

            Phyla gives him a hug, and Rocket's tail shudders, before his fur slowly relaxes and smooths out. He takes a few breaths in and out, recovering from the scare, and closing his eyes as he holds his daughter. Her being safe makes him feel MUCH better. He huffs softly. "Thank ya, starshine."

            Phyla nuzzles him a little. "I love you dad, it's okay."

            Rocket chuckles, shaking his head a little. "You are SUCH a sweetheart! How'd you manage that?"

            He snorts a little, smirking softly as he steps back, eyes a little watery. "Y'r such a good kid, dunno how y' managed that."

            Phyla snorts, and playfully glares, punching his shoulder. "I had a good dad! Who shouldn't be so mean to himself." She puts her hands on her hips, and the others all chuckle.

            North moves past them. "I'm gonna start th' ship." 

            Rocket nods, sighing. "I'm gonna report t' Nova."

            Phyla matches after Rocket as he walks towards the central consoles room. "I'm gonna protect you!"

            Mantis huffs softly, sitting against the wall.

            Hellgate sits next to her, fur fading back to normal, losing a bit of height and muscle, horns and extended claws crumbling like ash, and eyes blinking back to blue.

            "I-I am... V-Very glad we're leaving." Hellgate sighs.

            "Agreed." Mantis nods.

            The impromptu sudden rescue mission was a failure, if it was ever even real in the first place, but the guardians weren't getting paid enough to deal with whatever the hell went on down there.

            No way they'd risk their lives to live out a horror movie.

Chapter Text

            They were on the planet Hyven-9, battling on an old metal bridge, covering a local freedom fighter group, who were taking on the Badoon, freeing many of their slaves that were forced to work on a mining island in the sea. 

            There were two teams for two sides to the extraction. Quill, Kraglin, Cosmo, Amja, Mantis, Drax, Gamora, and Adam were on the back side of the island, with several resistance ships, extracting many of the captured slaves back there.

            Meanwhile Rocket, Groot Jr, North, Nebula, Hellgate, and Phyla were on the bridge, covering the ground extraction.

            They had been fighting ferociously, save for Phyla, who had snuck her way into the operation, and Rocket had put on Watch to call out incoming ships. Kept her back on the safer side of the bridge, the side they'd already wiped out the Badoon presence.

            Phyla had her white hair cut short, a soft blue pilot's jacket on, with a yellow sweater underneath, and blue jeans on, with yellow running shoes. She was standing on one of the resistance ground-level vehicles, something like a jeep, with tank-like treads.

            North was right by Phyla, sniping any Badoon ships that got too close down, and switching focus to sniping on the bridge whenever Rocket called for it.

            North was wearing a pale yellow and white cloak, with a black sweater underneath, and white slacks beneath. He had his hunting rifle at the ready, the patchwork mismatched colors of his fur looked dull in the stormy grey light, his hazel eyes focused on the sky, firing off bright golden shots and sending ships plummeting into the sea.

            Nebula, the blue plated woman with silver accents, wearing a dark blue tank top, unbothered by the cold, with red cargo pants on, had her glimmering red blades at the ready, as she sliced and diced through the Badoon, having been the blades of freedom for the operation, herself, Rocket, and Hellgate having infiltrated the main island building before coming back out to here once they had disabled all of the security systems. Her arm glinted a deadly silver as she slaughtered their enemies at the mainland side of the bridge.

            Junior was back on the mainland as well, the teen sized Flora Colossus trusted with guarding the rear from any Badoon forces, his arms piercing the ground, using extra nutrients from the earth to allow him to make massive vine traps in the road, whipping anyone who approaches to shreds, if they weren't one of the resistance members.

            Hellgate was with Rocket on the center of the bridge, fighting a massive Badoon tank. The Devil-Drake was wearing only a fluffy black jacket, resistant to the cold, his grey cloudy fur looked blue in comparison to the actual grey clouds. His piercing blue eyes shines with vigor as he dashes and clawed the treads of the massive machine, rending massive cracks into the hefty tech even without a fused demon. 

            Rocket's near-black fur glimmered in the humid air, only the latte-cream colored streaks standing out, wearing a purple jumpsuit with black up the sides, and little orange accents and pieces. His eyes glinted pink as he attacked the opposite side of the Badoon tank, using his Phys-Rifle to fire out Solid Light, hitting with heavy blunt damage that kept knocking the barrels and cannons off, keeping them from being able to fire, and heavily denting the machine. He wore a vicious snarl as he fought.

            Hellgate and Rocket had just managed to topple the tank, when suddenly, the Badoon started to retreat back to the island-side, catching the attention of both. Some of the Badoon were making attempts to attack while running by, so both were suddenly having to defend themselves.

            Hellgate yelps as one of the Badoon tries to take a slice at him, ducking under and headbutting them, knocking them out. Rocket had put the Phys-Rifle away, and was slicing through the crowd with twin daggers, wicked black, edged in violent violet.

            Then, they realized WHY the Badoon were retreating, as a large shot charged up on one of the mine towers. Rocket quickly shouted.

            "LANDSIDE! NOW!" And he started running on all fours.

            Nebula reached land fast, and Rocket was halfway there, too, when he heard Hellgate let out a sharp shout, quickly turning and seeing he'd been grabbed by one of the Badoon they'd knocked down, having fallen onto his chest.

            Rocket snarls, and quickly darts back, using everything he had.

            He leaps, as Hellgate gets back up, and grabs his hands, as the Devil-Drake instinctively grabs back. Rocket braces against the ground, and then leaps off, taking Hellgate with him into the air, before doing a spin for windup, and throwing Hellgate all the way across the rest of the bridge. Nebula quickly darts out to catch Hellgate, and drag him to the land.

            Rocket grimaces as he senses the incoming blast of blue energy, trying to dart towards the mainland, but the blast hits the bridge hard, throwing him off balance, and sending him stumbling as the bridge starts to fall. His eyes go wide as he sees it start to crumble off the edge, seeing Nebula, Hellgate, North, and Phyla all realize in wide eyed shock, as well. 

            The bridge falls apart, Rocket tries to scramble along it, but as it falls, eventually it's vertical, and then horizontal again, with him on the underside. And then it's crashing into the ocean, him sandwiches between roaring waves and the massive metal mass of the bridge. He didn't get a good breath in time, his systems should survive longer than most though, if he can only close off his throat, stop taking in water.

            He forces his mind to stop panicking, trust one of the others is on their way ASAP, anything, as he forces his throat shut, and his nostrils, too. Salty brine infiltrates every pore of his body, trying it's best to freeze him to death, it feels like. He tries to swim, but his body has been battered too much to have the strength. He grimaces as he feels sand underneath him, and then several tons of metal on top of him, softened ever so slightly by the water. And yet it feels like even more pressure at the same time... All the water did was spare him from being crushed.

            He keeps his eyes shut, trying to focus on feeling his heartbeat, try to squirm free, but it's hopeless, he can already feel he's been cut off from all the currents. He's trapped.

            If he weren't underwater, it'd be incredibly apparent that he was crying. Just praying this wasn't how he died. Praying to whatever gods the others talked about all the time. Whoever might be close.

            As ice cold waters encapsulate every part of Rocket, his clothes feel heavy, his fur feels like weights, his body feels like a prison keeping him trapped here. He doesn't dare open his eyes to see the darkness he was surely in. The still water was already more than enough to realize he was doomed.

            The metal moved, now and then, from the powerful waves above. He kept hoping it was something more than that.

            He was struggling to think, but he knew that he was going to lose consciousness soon, from lack of air. He should have planned for this better.

            If he leaves his airways closed, he risks dying anyway, on the off-chance anyone is able to save him. Able to get him out of this.

            Rocket thinks, as he unseals his airways, putting a hand over his nostrils to keep from taking in water. Already feeling the salty sting. 

            The others had all made it off the bridge. He'd seen that much. 

            Rocket can't help a relieved smile creeping onto his face. They were okay. Wether he lived or not, at least he knew Phyla and Groot were okay. Nebula was okay. North and Hellgate were okay.

            Everyone was okay.

            As the waves washed away his consciousness, he let that thought comfort him. As his mind slowly drew the curtains closed, all thought ceasing. His waterlogged body simply easing into darkness.

            The last thing his body feels is saltwater dragging into his jaws, his nose.

            The last thing his mind feels is peace. 

            Rocket wakes up, feeling himself hacking up what feels like his bodyweight in saltwater. It hurts like hellfire coming up and out of his throat. It feels like his soul is leaving his body. He can feel that a hole had been stabbed into him as well, which was Junior's technique for draining. It had likely helped. 

            He heaves up the water for what feels like several minutes, eventually left trembling and wheezing.

            And then he feels waterlogged furry arms wrapping around him. And then the fabric of a pilot's jacket. And then roots.

            He tries to open his eyes, but his body is still battered, his mind still beaten down and drowned. 

            He lets out a pained groan, and slumps onto the hug, falling unconscious again. Too exhausted from the damage. Too tired from the weight. But glad he was okay, too.

            Rocket's mind is entirely consumed by water in his unconsciousness. He feels it infiltrating every part of him, as if trying to convince himself he was still dead down there. As if he were still in the sea. After a while, he feels the thoughts driven away by a soft warmth, can hear faint, distant whispers telling him they loved him.

            After what felt like weeks, he starts to wake up, eyes painfully opening into slits, light feeling like it pierces his very soul. He shuts his eyes tight again, and whimpers. He hears movement, though everything feels heavy and overwhelming. He can't tell if it's right next to him, far away. Something small, or something massive. He heard a click that rattled in his brain. Bounced around painfully. 

            He whines, and despite the heavy weight of the gesture, he manages to lift a hand and lay it over his eyes. It feels like he parked a truck on his face. He's trembling slightly.

            He takes breaths in and out. It feels like grains of sand pouring into his jaws, and then trying to heave them back out. It feels like his body has become a sandbag, growing heavier and heavier with every breath. 

            He suddenly feels pure light grabbing around his neck. A being of pure good, as soft and light as an angel. And it says "Dad!!"

            He feels the embrace of the world itself, as the very heart of what must be all life in the universe wraps its' roots around him. "I am Groot!! Dad!!"

            And then he hears the shuddering, joyful voice of what must be a god, a firm, gentle hand sliding onto his back, and another bracing against his chest. "Father..."

            The divine trio then embrace him, as if he too, were something to be welcomed as divine,as if he were part of something stellar, and beautiful.

            Because he was, he realizes. These pure-hearted beings, these angelically good figures... They were his kids. He was awake, they had rushed to hug him, from wherever they had been. And even if he was nothing like them, even if he was so heartless, so impure and imperfect, they still loved him. Even after he'd died, or almost died, he still had the chance to be here, to hug them. To know they were all alright.

            He was crying again, his voice pathetically whimpering and whining as he hugs his kids. 

            He lived, he survived, someone saved him.

            He opens his eyes, motivated to see his kids. 

            The lights had been turned off, but he had good darkvision. He sees the pale faced, white haired Phyla to his left, her eyes watery with tears. She was wearing a blue and white striped shirt, with a blue skirt, and black leggings, sitting on the infirmary bed with him, having backed off a little to look him in the eyes.

            He gives her a smile, and then looks at the roots around his arm, following them up...

            Junior looked like his world had crumbled apart, and come back together. His eyes so full of worry and sadness, but every second Rocket looked at him, more and more of the warmth and joy returned to his amber eyes. He smiled at Rocket, and Rocket smiled back.

            Rocket then perks his ears up, looking, and turning to the one who had his hand on his back. 

            Adam stood next to the bed, his pale blue eyes glimmering with joy and tears. He was wearing a red T-shirt, and some grey sweatpants, golden skin glinting with less luster, Rocket would remind him to polish properly later. His hair was a mess, too. Rocket realizes Phyla's hair had been, too. Groot had even grown twigs and not trimmed them.

            They'd been worried.

            He frowns at the thought, and tries to smile apologetically. "I'm awake, kids."

            All three converge on him in another hug. He squeaks in surprise, but can't help but smile, shutting his eyes and melting into the embrace. "I love you idiots." His voice is weak, and frail, but he can feel the rumbling purr permeating it as he says it.

            He softly sniffles, and lifts his arms as best he can to hug them back, though everything still feels heavy and wet. He's dry, he can tell, but he doesn't feel dry. He feels like he's still underwater... But holding his kids feels like it's warming him up, taking him from the sea...

            Phyla pulls away, Junior and Adam standing upright, too. "I thought you died!!!" Her voice is strained and angry, she's clearly been stressed. "Y-You fell in the OCEAN, a-and... And..."

            Junior droops. "i am groot... i was rooted to the ground, couldn't help..." 

            Adam gently puts a hand on Rocket's shoulder. "North, Nebula, and Hellgate dove in and saved you, father."

            Phyla tears up. "You were down there f-for like, half an hour!! Th-they... Groot had to..."

            Junior wilts a little, frowning slightly.

            Adam turns away.

            Rocket's hand doesn't feel as heavy, he lifts it up and gently cups Phyla's cheek, wiping her tears with his thumb. "It's okay, starshine."

            Phyla sniffles a little, and Rocket gives his best comforting smile. He looks over at Junior, expression growing firm. "Y'alright, blossom?"

            Junior puffs up a little, eyes focusing on Rocket, instead of the thoughts he'd been stuck in. Rocket sees little flowers blooming on his vines, and smiles a little, but makes sure his eyes go back to focusing on Junior's. "I... Am Groot. I thought... Thought you were dead, too."

            "I am Groot... You can't regrow..."

            Rocket nods. "I know. But y'all saved me. How'd the mission go?"

            Junior, Phyla, and Adam all perk up.

            "I am Groot! Mission Accomplished!"

            "Only one major injury, Father."

            "We got everyone clear!"

            Rocket smiles at their quick update. They learned well. And now they were thinking of a job well done. "Good. Proud of ya." He gives a little salute. "Field Leader grantin' an Ice Cream trip when he can walk again." He smirks as they all perk up a little.

            They all sheepishly shake off their enthusiasm, and Rocket chuckles. "How long I been out?" He tilts his head, status check told him the info, but he wanted it from them.

            "6 days, Father..." Adam looks down solemnly.

            Rocket looks at the bedding. That was a long time. For these kids, at least.

            He looks up, meeting Adam's eyes. "How're we holdin' up, Sunshine?"

            Adam's eyes glimmer slightly, and he stands up a little straighter. "I've been doing my best, father. I've tried to keep an eye out for when Phyla and Groot Junior need me, and be a good brother."

            Rocket turns to Phyla and Junior.

            Phyla nods. "Me too."

            Junior nods. "I am Groot. I've tried to, too."

            Rocket smiles, and turns back to Adam, then back at the other two. "Y'done good then."

            His ear flicks. Hellgate and Mantis are around the corner, outside the doorway. He'll get to them. Kids are his priority right now.

            "Y'all kept up with your work? Used the workbooks I left in case of emergency?" Rocket sits back, crossing his arms, settling into normalcy.

            The kids blink, then stand up straight. Adam nods firmly, "Gran and Uncle Drax ensured we kept up with our work. I have completed all the assignments as dictated by the emergency plan, and Aunt Gamora and Gran have already reviewed and checked my work."

            Phyla nods. "Auntie Amja helped me check mine."

            Junior also nods. "I am Groot. Amja helped me, too."

            Rocket nods. "And y'r chores...?" He raises an eyebrow, and sees them all awkwardly droop. He snickers, shaking his head. "I'll let it slide f'r the past few days, but y'gotta get back on it now, okay?"

            They all stand at attention, nodding.

            "Understood, Father!"

            "Got it, Dad!"

            "I am Groot! Okay!"

            Rocket snickers, and grimaces slightly as he sits up. "Ah. Ain't quite ready to get up. Ah well, I'm feelin' a lot better at least." He smiles at the trio, dissuading some of their concern.

            "Now I love you three, but I think a line is formin', and y'all are gonna have me t' yourselves as soon as I can walk again, okay?" He tries to be sympathetic in expression, hoping he isn't seeming mean.

            Adam nods. "Understood."

            Phyla frowns, but thinks, and nods. "Deal!"

            Junior nods too, stepping back from the bed. "I am Groot. Okay."

            Rocket nods. "Now then..."

            "You three go..." Rocket prepares, 

            "Clean y'rselves up, brush y'r hair, trim y'r vines and twigs, get some water, get some food, an' brush y'r teeth an' such." Rocket lists the different tasks on his fingers, and gives a knowing look to the trio as they freeze, caught slacking on taking care of themselves.

            "R-Right!" Phyla says nervously, not making eye contact.

            Adam coughs into his elbow awkwardly. "O-Of course."

            "I am Groot... Understood..." Junior mutters.

            Rocket grins cheekily as the trio all walk off. They give a thumbs up to the ones waiting outside, and he quickly hears two people stand up, and start walking. One with fuzzy reptilian feet, and one wearing sandals and walking lightly. He already knew it was Hellgate and Mantis before that, but that kinda just made it even more obvious.

            The two round the corner, Hellgate looking like a wet puppy. Icy blue eyes wide and watery, all four ears flopped down, tail dragging behind him, wearing a pink tank top that belonged to Rocket. It looked... Comically undersized. 

            Mantis had her hair in a messy black bun, with a green scrunchie. She seemed more at ease, more confident in Rocket's state. She wore a brown leather jacket over a light grey band T-shirt, with dark blue jeans and brown sandals. Her antennae were perked.

            "Bunny. Bug." Rocket nods to the two.

            Hellgate tears up upon the nickname, and in a flash has darted over to hug Rocket and cry. "I'm soorryyyyyy." 

            Rocket snorts, rolling his eyes and hugging the towering Devil-Drake back, trying to get a good hold from his position. Hellgate's face was buried into his torso. "Buddy, whaddya apologizin' for...?"

            Hellgate looks up at Rocket, already having tears streaming down his cheeks. "I-I almost g-got you killed!!"

            Rocket stops smiling, and in fact, glares into Hellgate's eyes. He furrows his brow as hard as he can, and Hellgate looks down solemnly.

            "Hellgate Su Gallu." Rocket says sternly.

            Hellgate's ears twitch, and he hesitantly looks up at Rocket.

            Rocket grips Hellgate's face, and makes sure he's focused on him. "Y' didn't almost get me killed. You ain't the guy who fired a freakin' laser whatever at the bridge. I chose t' save ya because I am th' Field Leader. My first priority, every mission, every day. Is you an' th' others bein' safe. And alive. An' if I did die, I'd die glad you were okay. That everyone was okay." Rocket glares into his eyes. "I love ya, dumbass. Y'r part o' this family, part o' this crew, an' that means I'd die for ya. Y'ain't responsible for what I choose to do."

            Hellgate withers slightly, still looking guilty, but less guilty in that way, and more guilty in a new way.

            "I ain't never gonna regret doin' somethin' like that. Not really." Rocket smiles softly. "'cuz I know you'd do the same."

            Hellgate tries to doubt himself, but Rocket knows, even if Hellgate doubts it. Even if ANY of them doubt it... They would. They were family. They were the Guardians of the Galaxy. Nothing could stop them from doing whatever they needed to, to protect that.

            He turns to Mantis. "Y' helped me, didn't ya?"

            He taps his head, and she nods. "I am sorry to have used my powers without your consent, but..."

            Rocket shakes his head. "I get it."

            Mantis nods sheepishly.

            Rocket softens a little, gently running his hand over Hellgate's forehead while he talks. "Y' doin' alright, bug?"

            Mantis takes a deep breath. "When I learned what happened to you, I... I was... Terrified, that you had almost died, and I would have been powerless to help you... I am very glad you are okay, but..."

            Rocket's concerned frown turns into a gentle smile. "C'mere, Bug." He lifts his other arm, and she perks up, climbing onto the bed with Hellgate, and now both are hugging him, faces pressed into his torso. He runs his fingers through her hair, too.

            "I'm okay. No one better be blamin' themselves for nothin'. I'm alive, and that's what matters." He says firmly.

            "I did hear though... You, North, an' Nebs saved me, right?" He looks down at Hellgate.

            Hellgate is quiet.

            "...North jumped in right away. Nebula was right after." Hsays softly.

            "I tried to contact an aquatic demon, it took a minute... I got one, fused, and then dove in, too... And we managed to get you out. You looked..." Hellgate clings a little harder, and doesn't finish the statement, his eyes glancing off to the side.

            Rocket sighs, and gently brushes his fur a little more.

            "I know."

            He gently holds the two. He could already hear most of the others in line outside...

            It'd be a long day.

            But he didn't mind. This was the cost of being loved. And it was a price he was glad he was still alive to pay.

            He hugs a little harder.