Chapter Text
"What's he doing, Pete?" Yondu motioned to Groot, who was laying on his back, squirming on the floor, attempting to scratch his back while his little twig-like fingers scratched at his chest.
"Oh, that? He's had another growth spurt and he's been growing leaves. Actual leaves. Not the mossy fluff that he grows. It itches but he's not supposed to constantly scratch himself like that it he'll rub his bark raw and soft," Peter bent to scoop the smallest Guardian off the floor. Groot had grown indeed. He was the size of a Terran infant, sans the pudgy-ness, and Peter needed two hands and a bit of arm to carry him now as opposed to one hand. "Stop that, buddy."
Groot pouted, settling back in to crook of Peter's arm with his own arms crossed over his little chest.
"Anyways, as I was saying, I think the Milano will work without the third engine, but I still wanna take the safer rout and fix it, which means we gotta land somewhere soon because I still don't want anyone space-walking."
"You still scared?" Yondu questioned, though his eyes trailed to Peter's arms, where Groot was now leaning forward, attempting to scratch at his back, though he seemed troubled, as if he couldn't reach the spot he wanted to.
"I'm not scared," Peter scoffed. "I just…don't like seeing anyone floating out there outside of the ship...even if they do have a space suit. It reminds me of— Groot, sit still or you're gonna make me drop you!"
"I am Groot!" The younger whined, squirming to find a comfortable position where he could sit up without falling off of Peter's arm while also being able to scratch his back. He tried stretching his vines but Peter stopped him.
"No scratching, you're going to hurt yourself! Be good and I'll give you some skittles later!"
"He don't want skittles," Yondu said, taking Groot from Peter and putting him down on the table and taking a seat. "Summin's wrong with 'im."
"I am Groot!"
"I hear ya, twig. Tell me what's wrong."
"I am Groot."
"Uh-huh."
"I am Groot."
"Uh-huh."
"I am Groot," Groot gestured over his shoulder, indicating that his back was the issue.
"I didn't understand a thing he just said, but I'm pretty sure his back aint feelin' too good," Yondu said, turning Groot around and looking the twig over. "And I think I know why."
Poking out from between Groot's shoulder blades was a little green sliver of a leaf.
"Hold still, twig," Yondu placed both of his hands on Groot's shoulders and put his thumbs on either side of the little green fleck and began to rub at the bark, softening it up. Groot seemed to be in heaven, big brown eyes going half-lidded as his unbearable itch was scratched at last.
"What are you doing?" Peter kept his eyes on Groot while he sat himself beside Yondu.
"Makin' him feel better," Yondu grunted. Calloused blue fingers worked at the bark underneath as the pair sat in silence.
Gently, Yondu teased the little leaf out of it's bark trap.
"An ingrown leaf?"
"I guess," Yondu shrugged, forcing the leaf out just enough for him to pinch it between two fingers and tug it out completely.
"Yondu! Don't pluck his leaves!"
"Shush, boy. Look, the twig's doing just fine now."
"I am Groot!" Small arms wrapped around Yondu's wrists in a Groot-esque hug.
Peter reached over and picked up the leaf, inspecting it. It was about the size of half of his thumb, but it was the biggest leaf Groot had ever sprouted. "This thing is pretty big compared to the rest of them. That's probably why it was bothering him. Poor guy."
Yondu shrugged. "Jus' do what I did next time one of 'em is giving him an issue."