Chapter Text
“Son, where are you even taking us?”
“Just trust me, dad, you’ll like it!”
Rocket skips along the trail, Zuka lagging behind. Pressing against his gear, he was moderately fretting over the possibility that things might go wrong again, but Darkheart repeatedly affirmed that they were on board as well and would take care of the rest.
He squints ahead of him to find a good path, glad to have brought out the night vision goggles today. Rocket holds onto Zuka’s hand, as he did not have the same luxury and was staring at the ground in front of him.
“Shouldn’t you be preparing for your phight tomorrow?” Zuka makes light conversation with him.
“Nah,” he simply replied.
Rocket hears his dad’s footsteps trail off, stunned at his response. “What does that even mean—“
“We’re here! You can open your eyes!” Rocket takes a step back and releases his grip on his hand.
Zuka tears his eyes from the floor and looks up. The comforting fields above flicker with astral sparks. Far away from any possible city interference, the stars above revealed themselves in their full glory.
“…You remembered.” Zuka manages to express.
He grins. “That’s not all!”
Rocket takes his gear and slides it into place, ammo preloaded. Zuka looks at him worriedly, but Rocket runs a sly smile. “Don’t worry dad, I already tested this out!”
Before he could protest, Rocket fires, the recoil shifting him back a few studs as it soars through the sky.
A few moments pass.
“…You wanted to show me your gear?”
At that moment, an explosion lights up the night sky, illuminating the canvas with a massive bang. On his cue, several more follow the explosion to the sky and begin the show, breathing a sigh of relief that Darkheart followed through.
“Ah,” Zuka realizes. “Fireworks.”
“Enjoy the show?” Rocket grins as he walks towards a lone tree to lean against, Zuka following suit.
It’s been years, but he remembers when his dad took him here to celebrate the holiday. Rocket wished that he had not been so angry at the world then, because then he could have enjoyed the moment more. He barely notices the glance that Zuka takes, deep in thought.
Rocket takes a deep breath, brushing away that thought. The past is in the past, after all. The thing that matters now is what he has in the present. A smile escapes into his face.
“…How did you even buy one?” Zuka interrupts, hand hovering over his gear.
“Wha— er, that’s a secret!” He stumbles back, settling on hovering his finger above his mouth.
“Sure, son.”
Rocket finds himself in Zuka’s quiet grasp as he takes his arms and wraps it around him as well.
“…Love you, dad.”
His hold tightens in response.