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"I am Groot. (To give a shit)."

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(Rachel's POV): In Yondu's ship...

"That's figured it out?! We're gonna rob the guys who just beat us senseless!" Rocket expressed his disbelief at what Peter had just explained earlier. "Oh, so you want to talk senseless? How about trying to save us by blowing us up?" he shouted. This made me shrug and reply, "It's an option. Plus, Yondu didn't mind it last time." Of course, Peter didn't like what I said and retorted, "That's because he had a soft spot for you!" I reminisced about the good times when Yondu forgave me for exploding his new ship, which was destroyed in the process. 

As I sighed happily, Rocket turned around and smirked at my agreement: "See? We were only gonna blow you guys up if they didn't return you.." He added, "And how on Earth were they gonna turn us over when you only gave them a count to five?" Peter wonders at us, 

"We didn't have time to work out the minutiae of the plan." Rocket turns to Groot and me, "This is what we get for acting altruistically." I nod as Groot says his normal, "I am Groot. (They're ungrateful and rude.)"

"They are ungrateful." Gamora says, "What's important is we get the Ravagers' army to help us save Xandar." 

"So we can give the stone to Yondu, who's just going to sell it to somebody even worse?" I mumble, not expecting a response. "We'll figure that part out later." 

"We have to stop Ronan."

"How?!" Rocket and I both ask. 

"I have a plan." I look at Peter as if he was suddenly a Kree, shouting Ganavian swears. "You've got a plan...?" 

"...Yes.." 

"First of all, you're copying me from when I said I had a plan.." 

"No, I'm not. People say that all the time it's not that unique of a thing to say.." 

"Secondly, I don't even believe you have a plan."

"I have.... part of a plan." Peter hesitantly told him, leaving me confused at how stupid that sounded, "What percentage of a plan do you have..?" Drax cuts in, always trying to be helpful, when Gamora immediately points out the nonsense he pulled in Knowhere: "You don't get to ask questions after the nonsense you pulled on Knowhere!" "I just saved Quill." "We've already established that you destroying the ship I'm on is not saving me.." "When did we establish that?" "Like three seconds ago!" "I wasn't listening. I was thinking of something else." 

I snort at Drax, staring at us all like a businessman as if he was thinking carefully of his decisions: "It's barely a concept." Gamora points out, and Peter agrees, "She's right; you don't get an opinion. What percentage..?" I look at Rocket, then roll my eyes. "I don't know twelve percent." "Twelve percent?" Rocket started to laugh; it sounded so pushed that I crossed my arms over my chest while watching him fake laugh throughout the conversation. 

.

.

.

"That's a fake laugh." Peter mocked and deadpanned.

Rocket denies it and continues to fake laugh at him, "It's real!" 

"I think it's pretty fake," I said, and Peter echoed my sentiment, "Totally fake." We were both looking at Rocket, who was denying that the laugh he just pulled off was fake. "That is the most real, authentic, hysterical laugh of my life because that is not a plan," Rocket insisted, sending a wink in my direction. I felt my tail wag and blushed. "It's barely a concept," Gamora agreed. Peter retorted in disbelief. "You both are taking their side?" "Yes, dumb-ass." I sassily spoke, looking at Gamora. 

Groot said, "I am Groot (It's better than an 11%)." "What if it's better than 11%? What does that even mean?" Rocket questioned his friend. I, on the other hand, was grateful for Groot's input and said, "Thank you, Groot. Thank you!" "See, Groot's the only one of you who has a clue," he said as we watched Groot eat a leaf off his shoulder. Peter shook his head and squeezed the bridge of his nose: 

"Guys...Come on, Yondu's gonna be here in two seconds. And he expects to hear this big plan of ours. I need your help... I look around at us; you know what I see...?" I stated, "A tree, two raccoons, a fearless assassin, and a blue smurf with red markings. Who isn't listening to half a word your frickin' saying?" Gamora chuckled, Rocket rolled his eyes, Drax frowned, and Groot turned his head to the side, slightly offended but not really. 

"No," Peter continued, "I see losers. I mean, like folks who have lost stuff. And we have, man. We have all of us: our homes, families, normal lives. And normally, life takes more than it gives. But not today. Today, it's giving us something; it has given us a chance." Sadly, I looked up at Peter when he mentioned the words 'losers' and 'normal lives.'

"To do what...?" Drax looks at Peter with a frown. Peter responds, "To give a shit, just this once. Instead of running away, we all can't stand by as Ronan destroys countless innocent lives." He delivers his speech with determination, 'For once, Peter. Your speech is... idealistically not bad nor good but worth a shot.' I thought, gripping my furred left arm

"But Quill, stopping Ronan, it's impossible. You're asking us to die." With uncertainty in his voice, Rocket tells him, and Peter huffs, "Yeah, I guess I am." He turned his back to them, stammering under his breath, worrying that no one would vouch for him. As I was reflecting on the past, I couldn't help but think of my friends from Halfworld who passed away that day. They were like family to me; I had made them my small family. But everything changed when I met Yondu, Peter, and the Ravagers. 

They became my second new family, and I promised to protect them no matter what, even if they were to betray me. I will always keep that promise and protect them with everything I have. I walked over to Rocket and held his paw to comfort him while he returned it: "Quill." I hear Gamora and look up at Peter; he hesitantly turns, "I have lived most of my life surrounded by my enemies." She stands up. "I will be grateful to die among my friends." 

"You are an honorable man, Quill. I will fight beside you, and in the end, I will see my wife and daughter again." Drax says, finally adding his two cents. "I am Groot. (I won't mind sacrificing my life for the ones I believe in.)" Everyone and I stared at Rocket, waiting for him to answer; after a couple of thoughts entered his mind, he gave up: "Oh, what the hell. I don't get that long a lifespan anyway." Rocket sighs in defeat, finally standing up: "Now I'm standing. Y'all happy? We're all standing up now. Bunch of jackasses standing in a circle." 

Once everyone got ready to talk to Yondu about the plan, I let go of Rocket, only for him to pull my right metal arm towards his chest, leaving me in shock and confused at his actions. Before I could ask him, he shushed me until the rest disappeared. After that, it was just Rocket and me, standing in the middle of a circle. He slowly hugged me so tightly in silence that I returned it with equal force. We stayed like that for a while, finding solace and reassurance in each other's presence. No words were necessary; our actions spoke volumes.

"Rocket? Is something wrong?" I asked quietly, feeling my fur tickle in suspense and getting goosebumps as Rocket held my metal paw tightly. "Yeah, um, just... don't get hurt. Okay?" Rocket said. He eventually let go and stepped back, but everything happened so fast that I was the one who instantly wanted to do something I will never regret before I die, so I pulled him back towards me. My body moved, grabbing the side of his furry face, and I pressed my lips against his.

Rocket's POV:

I widen my brown eyes at her actions, feeling a warm glow spread through my chest, and I slowly return with a hesitant kiss. The emotions swirling inside me were confusion, surprise, and a strange sense of comfort. Eventually, we pulled away, our foreheads resting against each other as we tried to catch our breath. The air crackled with unspoken words and a newfound tension. Rachel broke the silence first, her voice filled with vulnerability.

"I've always cared about you, Rocket—more than I thought possible. And I don't want to lose you, not now, not ever," she said softly, her eyes locked with mine. A wave of emotions washed over me as I processed her words, a flicker of vulnerability crossing my eyes before quickly masking it with my usual bravado. "A-Alright then, let's go face Yondu and convince him that this crazy plan of ours is worth a shot. Who knows, maybe it'll work." She quickly swished her tail on my face and left with a wink towards the exit, leaving me in the room.

With renewed determination, I smirked: "It sure will be crazy... but she got me wrapped around her finger.