I Am Groot?

[st_arlord]

 "Knock, Knock," Quill said as he knocked on Rocket's door. "There's a huge pizza, beer, and donuts with our collective names on it."

He glanced down at the pile of food and drink he brought. He hoped this was enough of a piece offering. Maybe I should go get more booze...

Quill was dreading this moment. Out of everyone in the inn, Quill wanted to protect Rocket the most and now Rocket learned about all the bad things. He wanted to do one thing and he wasn't even capable of that.

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[st_arlord]

He leaned against his knees more and let out a loud breath. He rubbed his face again as if trying to get his head on straight.

"I don't think I need back up,' he said. "I think I'm dead."

He stared at the carpet for a long minute. When he looked back up, his voice had soften and so had the features in his face.

"I'm sorry, okay?" He said softly. "You are real. If I didn't think you were I wouldn't have wanted to keep you from being hurt."

He sat up.

"I'm an idiot. We both know that." He said. "Maybe I was trying to protect myself a little too."

[st_ripetail]

Rocket watched him for a few seconds, then sighed and didn't just shift closer to Quill, he actually reached to take Quill's face in his hands. Quill wasn't about to take the brunt of a massive explosion to save everybody else, but it seemed like a technical difference. It seemed like a good idea to be close. "You are a fucking moron, Quill. I can't fix shit I don't know about, an' I ain't when you are."

[st_arlord]

He stared back at Rocket while Rocket held his face. It's just not fair you have to lose Groot after everything else.

Quill hesitated before he openly admitted something he didn't think he would ever do in front of anyone.

"I can't have you mad at me, Rocket," He admitted. "When it comes down to it, you're the only one here that really matters."

[st_ripetail]

The hell of actual attachment was that it was hard to stay mad. It was never hard to get mad, ever, but actually burning hard enough for grudges just didn’t happen. Groot knew that all he had to do was stand nearby long enough and Rocket would get over it. Quill didn’t seem to have worked that one out yet, and... well, he hadn’t been party to the years of softening up that had been Gotham. “I’m gonna rub your face in this for a while, but we’re good, Quill. I don’t really have anybody but you either.”

[st_arlord]

Quill paused as he looked at Rocket. He didn't mind having to deal with Rockey rubbing his face in his mistake for a while.

Suddenly he reached out and hugged Rocket. He wanted to actually hug Rocket, but he knew Rocket was not a hugger. Doing this gave them both an 'out' of the sappy moment neither of them were good at.

"C'mere buddy," He said while squeezing tight.

Quill gave enough room for Rocket to squeeze out in protest, but made it look like he wasn't.