Chapter Text
It’s calm, the air fresh as Kraglin and Cosmo sit on the stairs, the main area of Knowhere in full display before them. At least, as calm as it could be.
Ever since they rescued the animals and various creatures from the High Evolutionary’s ship, Knowhere’s been more lively. The animals and little critters were allowed to roam freely around the city, until they were ready to be taken back into their real home; Terra.
Cosmo watches in silence as people walk by, talking to one another, drinking, dancing, having fun. It’s mirthful, as it usually is, as it should be. Especially after what had happened.
She hadn’t been there for long, but she knows that the times were tough, especially on the previous team of Guardians, and on Rocket.
But she’s glad everything went well. Knowhere was getting some new improvements to prevent any additional attacks from outer sources that might have it out for them. Rocket was the one that came up with most of them, and he had some more projects in mind that could better improve the viability of their HQ.
All was well, as it should always be.
Cosmo sighs, laying her head on her front paws as she watches the action before her. Part of her feels guilty, like she hadn’t been enough during those past few days. She remembers the weight she had to carry, literally, when she was tasked at aligning the ship to Knowhere so the life forms could be safely evacuated, and how much she had struggled while doing so.
Her tail flicks behind her in frustration, and it catches Kraglin’s attention.
“Something wrong?” He asks, elbows resting on his knees.
It wasn’t uncommon for them both to be seen together, one could say they were inseparable. Cosmo just enjoyed being with Kraglin, the guy was fun to be around, even if some of her antics were seen as weird to the Xandarian.
“Нет. I am just thinking.” Cosmo answers, her accent heavy as the collar around her neck lights up with green.
“What could you be thinking about?” Kraglin asks, raising an eyebrow. He doesn’t come off as disparaging, Cosmo knows that, as he’s simply curious.
She lets out a breath through her nose. She thinks of a lot of things.
How she couldn’t even hold her own without needing the help of someone else, like Mantis. How Peter could’ve made it without nearly freezing to death if she had managed to do what she had been tasked to do. How she could’ve probably prevented Rocket from being injured and nearly dying when Adam came into their city the first time. How she could’ve been of greater help overall.
“Много.” She simply responds.
For a dog, there’s a lot going on in her mind. Memories of the past come back, of when the Soviets had put her in that pod, and when she had nearly died in a ball of fire while in space. Her snout twitches at that, discomfort lacing her features.
Kraglin watches her with intent, unsure of how to approach her. Rarely is Cosmo in this almost dissociative state, silent and pensive. It’s unnatural, seeing as she’s usually so lively and carefree.
So, slowly, he brings a hand up and pets the top of her head, smiling when her eyebrows raise at the sudden gesture.
“You’re a good dog, you know that?” The Xandarian praises her as his fingers scratch the back of her ear.
Cosmo doesn’t speak, as she only turns her head to the side to look him in the eyes, although she stays low on the ground. Brown meets blue, and it’s as though she’s asking to know if he means what he states.
Kraglin huffs with a smile, hand still on the top of the dog’s head.
“I mean it, you’re a good dog.” He affirms, giving her head a gentle pat as emphasis.
At his words, Cosmo’s tail begins to wag from side to side, showing her elation at the praise, one she adores above all. And her mind quiets down, giving way to happy thoughts, warmth and glee.
Perhaps she wasn’t there for the entire ordeal, but she helped a lot, and that’s what matters. She decides to stop bargaining so much, and simply focus on the present, and on the pets she’s receiving from her favorite Xandarian.
But that was something she was never going to say out loud.