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Sword does not eavesdrop.
He simply happens to be standing near the corner of the training yard when Rocket’s voice carries across the courtyard.
It is loud.
Rocket is always loud.
“…I mean yeah, I like him,” Rocket says.
Sword freezes.
He hadn’t meant to listen, but it’s difficult not to when Rocket talks like he’s trying to reach the next city over.
Boombox laughs. “Dude, finally admitting it?”
“Shut up!” Rocket fires back. “I’ve admitted it before!”
Sword’s grip tightens on the handle of his sword.
Rocket likes someone.
That… shouldn’t matter.
It doesn’t matter.
He shouldn’t care.
He definitely shouldn’t care.
But he does pause.
Just briefly.
“He’s just— I don’t know,” Rocket continues. “He’s cool. And like, really dependable.”
Sword looks down at the ground.
Dependable.
That could describe several people.
Certainly not him specifically.
Boombox hums thoughtfully. “You gonna tell him?”
Rocket groans.
“No way.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’d probably think I’m being annoying.”
Sword exhales slowly.
That… sounds accurate.
“Plus,” Rocket says, voice quieter now, “he probably doesn’t like me like that.”
Sword looks away.
That part is also accurate.
Probably.
Definitely.
Sword leaves before the conversation finishes.
It’s not his business.
He tells himself that repeatedly while walking away.
Rocket likes someone.
That’s good for him.
Truly.
He deserves that.
Even if—
Sword pushes the thought away immediately.
The problem begins later.
Rocket acts exactly the same.
Which should be reassuring.
Instead, it’s confusing.
Rocket still drops into the seat beside him during breaks.
Still talks constantly.
Still bumps shoulders with him like personal space is optional.
“Did you see that shot earlier?” Rocket says one afternoon, flopping down beside him.
“Yes.”
“It was amazing.”
“It was reckless.”
Rocket grins.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
Sword exhales.
Rocket leans closer.
“Hey, you listening?”
Sword nods.
Rocket squints.
“You look weird.”
“I always look like this.”
Rocket laughs.
“Fair.”
Sword spends the next few days observing.
Not intentionally.
Just… noticing.
Rocket talks to everyone.
Laughs with everyone.
But every once in a while, Sword catches him glancing over.
Quick looks.
Then Rocket looks away again.
Sword tries not to read into it.
A week later, the misunderstanding gets worse.
Because Sword overhears Rocket again.
This time it’s with Skateboard.
“I almost told him today,” Rocket is saying.
“Almost?” Skateboard says.
“I chickened out!”
Sword pauses in the hallway.
“He was right there,” Rocket continues miserably. “I was gonna say it, but then he looked at me and I forgot how words work.”
Skateboard snorts.
“You? Forget words?”
“Shut up!”
Sword quietly continues walking.
He does not linger.
He absolutely does not wonder who Rocket is talking about.
That evening, Rocket finds him in the courtyard.
Sword is cleaning his blade.
Rocket drops down beside him with the usual lack of ceremony.
“Hey.”
“Hello.”
Rocket rocks back on his heels.
“You’ve been quiet lately.”
“I am always quiet.”
“Yeah, but like… extra quiet.”
Sword pauses.
Rocket tilts his head.
“Did I do something?”
The question catches Sword off guard.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Rocket studies him carefully.
Sword hates how perceptive he can be when he slows down enough to notice things.
Rocket fidgets.
Then blurts out—
“Can I ask you something?”
Sword nods.
Rocket immediately looks like he regrets it.
“…Hypothetically.”
Sword waits.
Rocket rubs the back of his neck.
“If someone liked you, like, hypothetically, would you want them to tell you?”
Sword considers.
“Honesty is usually preferable.”
Rocket groans.
“That’s not helpful.”
“You asked a hypothetical question.”
“Yeah but I wanted emotional insight!”
Sword looks at him.
“…That was emotional insight.”
Rocket buries his face in his hands.
“You’re impossible.”
They sit in silence for a moment.
Then Sword says quietly—
“Who do you like?”
Rocket freezes.
Slowly lowers his hands.
“…What?”
“I heard you speaking with Boombox earlier this week.”
Rocket turns red instantly.
“You were eavesdropping?!”
“I was nearby.”
“That’s eavesdropping!”
Sword ignores that.
“You described someone dependable.”
Rocket stares at him.
Sword continues calmly.
“I assume you have not told him yet.”
Rocket’s brain visibly short-circuits.
“…You think it’s someone else?”
Sword blinks.
“Of course it is.”
Rocket looks like he’s about to explode.
“No it’s not!”
Sword frowns.
“You said he would find you annoying.”
“Yeah!”
“That would not apply to me.”
Rocket makes a strangled noise.
Sword finally processes the implication.
He stills.
“…Rocket.”
Rocket throws his hands in the air.
“Yes, Sword! It’s you!”
Silence.
A very long silence.
Rocket groans.
“Wow. That was way less cool than I imagined.”
Sword is staring at him like the ground just shifted.
“You… like me.”
“Yes!”
“You were referring to me.”
“Yes!”
“You assumed I would be annoyed.”
Rocket crosses his arms.
“Well you do complain about me a lot!”
Sword considers this.
“That is fair.”
Rocket sighs dramatically.
“Great. I confessed and now you’re evaluating me like a research project.”
“I am processing.”
“Hurry up!”
Sword finally speaks.
“…I did not think it was possible.”
Rocket blinks.
“For someone to like me?”
Rocket snorts.
“Sword, you’re like— extremely likable.”
Sword looks unconvinced.
Rocket softens slightly.
“…I like how steady you are.”
Sword looks at him.
“And you keep me from doing stupid things.”
“You still do stupid things.”
“Yeah but less.”
Sword almost smiles.
Rocket nudges his shoulder.
“So?”
“So what?”
“Do you like me back?”
Sword hesitates.
Rocket waits.
The courtyard is quiet except for distant noise from the training grounds.
Finally—
“…Yes.”
Rocket blinks.
“Wait seriously?”
“Yes.”
Rocket stares.
Then breaks into the brightest grin Sword has ever seen.
“You are unbelievably bad at communicating.”
Sword sighs.
“I am aware.”
Rocket laughs.
“But that’s okay.”
He bumps their shoulders together again.
Because apparently that’s his version of affection.
Sword doesn’t move away.
Rocket tilts his head.
“You know what’s funny?”
“What?”
“All of this could’ve been avoided if you just asked sooner.”
Sword nods thoughtfully.
“That is correct.”
Rocket grins.
“But then we wouldn’t have the dramatic misunderstanding arc.”
Sword sighs.
“…You are insufferable.”
Rocket beams.
“You like me.”
Sword cannot argue with that.