Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Music’s to be expected when Rocket’s in the bathroom. It was guaranteed if he was taking a bubble bath. Rocket was eclectic when it came to music. He hated the older music everyone else preferred, but chose not to argue.

The sound of Rocket’s death metal was annoying, but there was no other choice when it’s his turn to pick the music. The others despised it, but since Rocket snatched Quill’s Zune, they had no choice but to listen to his music.

They tried to get it back to no avail. After simply asking for the device back, the Guardians resorted to more desperate means. From denying Rocket dessert to cutting the electric and wifi, nothing worked. If anything, it would make Rocket angrier.

Peter was angry. He went to the master bathroom to confront Rocket, who was either taking a shower, or, if he wanted, a bubble bath.

“ROCKET!” Peter shouted from the other side of the bathroom door as he banged it with one hand in a fist as he held a sickly Groot, who was covering his ears. “CAN YOU PLEASE TURN IT DOWN?!?!”

“WHY?” 

“GROOT’S SICK!” Peter answered as Groot sneezed and a little snot ball was hanging from his nose. “HE NEEDS A NAP!” Groot began to cry at the commotion. “C’mon, Rocket, it’s for Groot.” The ungodly music fell silent. “Thank you, Rocket.”

Peter returned to the living room before tucking Groot in the bassinet that Drax brought out into the living room from the nursery.

“Finally, silence!” Peter sighed as he collapsed on the couch.

“Peter, Rocket’ll come around. He’s depressed.” Gamora reassures him as she gently rocked Groot.

An hour later, Groot was awake. He smiled and cooed happily, but he still wasn’t feeling good. Groot looked around for Rocket.

Groot cried, not knowing where Rocket was. Peter picked Groot up as they all made their way to the master bathroom. The main bathroom needed repairs. They knew this when they bought the house. In hindsight, that and it being in the least desirable area in Xandar was probably one of the main reasons why they could buy the house.

Once they arrived, they found out Rocket was inside, since the door was closed. Rocket didn’t like other people seeing him naked.

Peter carefully creaked open the door, which was harder with the added difficulty of trying to hold Groot in one hand while trying to pry open the door with the other.

Rocket was in Peter’s jacuzzi. This angered Peter because he knew that the pipes weren’t fur-proof. Rocket didn’t have the Zune, leaving it beside the table. Peter handed Groot off to Gamora while he snatched it back.

Rocket was doing something odd; he was humming and gently moving his head in tune to the music as he used the sponge with the long handle as a microphone.

“ I’m falling.

In all the good times, I find myself...

Longing for change, 

And in the bad times, I fear myself.”

What was Rocket talking about?

“I’m off the deep end, watch as I dive in.

I’ll never meet the ground.

Crash through the surface, where they can’t hurt us.

We’re far from the shallow now.”

Was Rocket thinking about Halfworld and his escape from there with Original Groot? 

“In the shallow, shallow.

In the shallow, shallow.

In the shallow, shallow.

We’re far from the shallow now.”

What did Rocket mean by “In the shallow?”

“Oh, oh, oh, oh.

Whoa!”

Peter closed the door slightly.

“I’m off the deep end, watch as I dive in.

I’ll never meet the ground!

Crash through the surface, where they can’t hurt us.

We’re far from the shallow now.”  

Was Rocket suffering in silence about his past? Now that Groot was gone and this new Groot didn’t get the memories of his past life, this meant that Rocket was truly alone.

“In the shallow, shallow.

In the shallow, shallow.

In the shallow, shallow.

We’re far from the shallow now.”

Rocket finished singing and sat silently as he bowed his head. Peter nudged the door open. Unfortunately for Peter, he forgot about Rocket’s hearing.

“Get out of here, Star-Munch.”

“Hey... uh, Groot just woke up.”

Rocket stood up from the jacuzzi and unplugged the drain as he climbed over the edge.

“Well, don’t bring him in here.” Rocket told Peter as he wrapped himself in one of his raccoon-sized robes. “I don’t-.” He then looked at the scars on his back that covered the main processor for his cybernetics. “I don’t want Groot to see me like this.” He admits as Peter silently signals to Gamora to take him away.

“Like what?” Peter questioned. He then realized what the raccoon was saying. “Rocket, you’re not a freak. Not to me, Groot, or anyone else. We DON’T. Sure, you’re hot-tempered, but there’s nothing we can do about that.” Peter giggled.

Rocket joins in and chuckled. If there was one thing that he was good for was to make Rocket laugh and feel better when he needed it the most.

“Thanks, Quill. I’ma go see if Groot’s feeling better.” Rocket said as they left together.

Chapter Text

Peter was just walking up the hallway that led to Groot’s nursery when he heard music.

He opens the door slightly.

As he got a better view, Peter saw something odd. Rocket was sitting on Groot’s glider, cradling the baby and at the same time, playing Groot’s ukulele gently and singing.

Peter strained to hear what Rocket was singing, but when he was able to discern it, he smiled.

“Tell me something, Groot.

Are you happy with these assholes?

Or do you need more?

Is there somethin’ else that you’re searchin’ for?”

It’s sweet that Rocket was singing to Groot. Even though Groot wasn’t officially his, Rocket was protective and would do anything for him.

“I’m falling.

In all the good times I find myself...

Longin’ for change.

And in the bad times, I fear myself-.”

Peter stumbled. Rocket’s ears didn’t even twitch at the noise as he put down the ukulele. Rocket’s hearing picks up every single nuance of sound, no matter what.

“I heard you.” Rocket said as he carried Groot to the changing table so that he could place a bag over Groot’s pot.

Peter struggled to speak as Rocket walked over to Groot’s crib, undid the latch and swung the side open. “I thought that Groot wanted some soup.”

“Groot hates soup.” Rocket deadpanned to Peter as he tucked Groot in. “Plus, he’s been puking all night and unless you want to wear Groot Puke on your pajamas...”

Peter nods as he wondered what influenced Rocket’s change in music. “You have a lovely singing voice.”

Rocket grabbed his blaster that was laying on Groot’s nightstand and aimed it towards Peter.

“Rocket, chill!” Peter begs as Rocket regains his composure and puts the blaster down. “What’s wrong?”

Groot stirs in his crib. Rocket’s ears pick up the coos coming from Groot as he whispers. “Let’s talk outside. Groot needs to sleep.” Rocket conceded as he and Peter walked out.

“What’s gotten into you?”

“It’s nothing.” 

“C’mon, Rocket, it has to be something. Just you and me.”

“Fine. I-.”

“Hey, Cap’n?” Kraglin interrupts. “Do we have anymore ramen?”

Peter shook his head. He then groaned as everyone, except Groot, crowded into the hallway. “GUYS! Groot’s sleeping on the other side of this door and if anyone wakes him, Rocket’s gonna have your head.”

Groot’s crying could be heard. Rocket excused himself.

Moments later, Rocket re-emerged with Groot. “He ain’t feeling good. Go ahead, Quill. Whatever you wanna ask me, you can ask in front of us all.”

Peter was careful in choosing his next words. “All I wanna know is what happened to your change in music? We’re not used to hearing that sorta song whenever you have the Zune. Why’s that?”

Rocket sighed. “Yesterday, Groot couldn’t sleep, so we watched a little bit of TV until he slept. I took five minutes to sleep myself. What? Bob Ross is boring.” Groot gasped. “Sorry, but you know that I don’t like him much.”

“Get back to the story.” Gamora rolled her eyes as she too didn’t like Rocket’s explanations.

“Anyways, when I woke back up, Bob Ross was off and a movie was on.”

“What movie?” Mantis asked.

Rocket took a deep breath. “A Star is Born.”

Peter was indeed perplexed, as was everyone else. “A Star is Born? Isn’t that movie really old?”

“No, Star-Munch.” Rocket answered. “Not the one that’s as old as your grandma’s panties. I’m talking about the one that they remade last year with Bradley Cooper.”

“Who’s that?” Gamora questions Rocket as he holds a picture in his right paw.

“No one...” Rocket replies as he tries, but fails to hide it while holding Groot in his other paw as Gamora snatches the picture.

“Is this him?” Gamora questions Rocket as he nods. 

“You sleep with that every night?” Peter was shocked. Rocket handed Groot over to Gamora.

Rocket’s tail puffed up. “NO! I put that picture over by Groot’s nightstand at night so that he has someone else to look up to other than Bob Ross!”

“I am Groo!” A tiny voice chirped.

“Shut up! Vin Diesel is just as bad as-.” It takes Rocket a minute to notice who that tiny voice belonged to and runs over to the twig. “Groot! You said your first word!”

“Well, you clearly haven’t watched Chris Pratt.” Peter stated.

“Heh, his name sounds like you’re saying ‘Crisp Rat’!” Rocket couldn’t help but fall over in laughter.

“Shut up!” Peter was not pleased. “Drax, how about you? Who’s your favorite?”

“I don’t watch many movies in my free time, Quill.” Drax replied calmly. “But when I do watch TV, I enjoy wrestling. Dave Bautista is a particular favorite of mine and the way he turns invisible after he says ‘You can’t see me’ inspires me.”

“Drax, I think that’s John Cena...” Peter explains quietly as the Destroyer glares. “But, you do you.” Drax then backs off as Peter looks at Gamora. “Gammy? How about you?”

“Thanos never allowed me to watch TV. But once, when I was a teenager, I snuck out to the movie theater and watched this film called ‘Avatar’.”

“Ego never allowed me that luxury either.” Mantis revealed. “So, I just made up stories.”

Peter then turns to Kraglin. “I’m sure that you and Yondu have watched many movies over the years.  Who’s your favorite?”

“Well, I don’t have a favorite actor, but I do like certain directors.”

“Okay, tell us then.”

“I used to love the movies that the Russo Brothers made.” Kraglin began. “But then their egos got too big and thought it would be ‘cute’ and ‘funny’ if they killed off everyone’s favorites in one movie and in the next one they bring back all the characters that they just killed off only to stab ya in the heart by killing some of the oldest and most beloved characters in the most depressing way.”

Everyone stared at Kraglin in disbelief. They couldn’t understand what he was talking about or where he got this disdain for these so-called “Russo Brothers”.

“Are there any directors that you do like?” Peter wondered.

“Yeah, James Gunn is really talented.” Kraglin gushes. “He’s so talented that so far he has made TWO MOVIES that perfectly retells some of our most important adventures and how we formed our family.” Kraglin adds as he handed Quill two DVD’s. “Wanna watch ‘em right now?”

“No.” Rocket answered as he cradled Groot. “It’s way past Groot’s bedtime and if you guys want a stubborn Groot tomorrow, then let him stay up.” He then turned around as he took Groot to bed for the night.

“Yeah, I think that we should all go to bed.” Peter declared. “We’ll talk more about this later.” He added as the Guardians went to their separate rooms and he and Gamora retreated to the master suite.