This is Sky.
Cosmo had heard Friend Rocket leave his room, but he was quiet, he was sneaking. Or at least, attempting to. When Friend Rocket truly wanted to sneak, Cosmo had to try incredibly hard to detect him.
But right now, he was not a good sneak.
He was trying to be, Cosmo could swear.
But he was not a good sneak. Cosmo could actually HEAR him. It made her nervous.
But her friend wanted to sneak, wanted not to be spotted. That is why Cosmo is keeping quiet about the fact Friend Rocket has left his room.
And gone to the kitchen, strangely. That is a bit too far for Cosmo to hear. Maybe Friend Rocket went further. Maybe he went there for food.
Cosmo is concerned, and so she will investigate. Cautiously.
She hops down from her chair, and Officer Groot glances over, Captain Peter Quill fully looks at her.
"Everything alright, Cosmo?" He asks, she can tell he is worried she has heard something of Officer Rocket. She has, but nothing he needs to fear.
'Da, am going to the little doggies room.' Cosmo lies. She lies rarely, but it isn't something she minds, when it hurts no one. 'Cosmo will return, Kapitan.'
"Alright..." Captain Peter Quill relaxes.
Cosmo trots off, into the hall.
She follows her nose to the kitchen, and pokes her head around the corner, curious, but not fully intruding. She was a little surprised by what she saw.
Friend Rocket was wearing almost nothing, though Cosmo recognized blue sheen: Space Suit. He also had undies, looked a little silly.
That was unusual.
Cosmo had never seen Friend Rocket not wearing something over his torso.
She had never seen the scars, the metal, brutally injected into his flesh. The place fur does not want to grow back. The way it must hurt.
Friend Rocket was cooking with Officer Drax. They were working together, it seemed. That was not so uncommon. In fact, Cosmo had seen it many times. Many, many times. The two seemed much closer than Cosmo had initially thought they would be. But the Guardians were full of surprises.
Officer Drax looked tense.
He was gently talking with Friend Rocket.
"-and Rocket built a spear that allowed Gamora to lunge into the skies, which she used at that point, to strike the giant Raybird down, and the village was saved." Officer Drax was telling a story. "Though of course, the Raybird had struck him with one of it's whiplike tails. Which is how you got that scar."
Cosmo felt confusion wash over her.
Why was Officer Drax telling stories to Friend Rocket, about Friend Rocket?
"What is a Spear?" Friend Rocket asks, curiosity rich in his voice.
Cosmo tilted her head.
Cosmo knew he was lacking memories, but she didn't think it was so bad.
Friend Rocket's ears perked up as Cosmo moved to step away. He whipped his head around-Cosmo was ready to apologize for scaring him, but...
He looked at her with... Gentle curiosity. No malice, no annoyance. He looked ever so slightly surprised, but...
"Who a' you?" Friend Rocket asked.
Cosmo felt her tail drop all motion. She whimpered unconsciously. She had known Friend Rocket longer than even he knew. She had seen him taken by the Collector, sent to the Profiteer, she met him after, too. Before he was a guardian. They would growl at each other, or bark and hiss. But he would see her, something no other granted her. She thought him a friend, at least.
It filled her with something she had never felt before, to no longer be known, or seen, or recognized, by someone she had known for so long.
She whimpers again, and Drax-Officer Drax, coughs into his hand. "Take a breath Cosmo. It is alright, my friend."
Cosmo refocuses on reality, and breathes in and out, as ordered. Friend, Officer, whatever he is right now, without his memories, Rocket is looking at her, a slight frown, concern. So emotive.
'Da, Cosmo sorry, Cosmo okay.' She assures Drax, and Rocket's eyes widen slightly.
He looks at her, curiosity, rich with wonder. "You sent out somethin'... Wavery things... An' then I heard ya..."
Cosmo blinks. She forgot Rocket could see waves. Including telepathic ones. He rarely brought it up.
'Da... I am... Cosmo. Space Dog, friend of... Rocket?' She hopes and begs the primordial powers of the universe that this jog a memory loose, summon together a psychic stone that fixes Rocket and gets his memories back.
That doesn't happen.
Cosmo doesn't know how to handle what does.
"I'm Sky, hi Cosmo."
Cosmo doesn't know what to do. Sky? Who is Sky? This is Rocket, he is Rocket, Rocket, Rocket. Smells like Rocket, looks like Rocket, sounds like Rocket, would probably taste like Rocket if she licked him but honestly the thought never occurred to her to try. It was Rocket, not Sky, who was Sky.
"Cosmo." Officer Drax says firmly, to get her attention.
Cosmo is snapped back, she sees that things are lifting around the kitchen. Little things. Some are bending and breaking.
She whines, shaking her head, slumping on the floor, and putting her paws over her head. They drop back to their places.
Officer Drax was taking a step forward, but froze.
Someone else dropped to the floor, and started walking over to her. His claws clicking against the floor, his tail brushing the floor, making a light, almost imperceptible scratching sound.
Rocket, not Rocket? Sky? Rocket?
He kneels down, and puts a hand on Cosmo's paws. "I'm sorry..."
"First I made Drax upset... An' now you... An' th' Flora Colossus, too... I'm... Really upsettin' everyone, ain't I..." He speaks, voice sounding small, insecure, and mournful.
That was. A lot more like Rocket.
Cosmo feels him lean forward, and wrap his arms around Cosmo's head and neck area. He is hugging her. Rocket had only ever hugged her once before.
"M' sorry. I don't... Know what happened t' me. I dunno how t' not be me, an' be him again." Sky says.
Drax has approached the two now, too.
"You heard me in the hall..." Drax says with a sigh. "Of course you did, you have amazing hearing."
He apologetically scratches Sky's head. Cosmo was still being quiet, so he scratches her head, too.
Sky was learning things bit by bit, and now they were learning just how much they were hurting everyone. Drax hates that.
"Y' taught me what hurtin' inside means... I can see both a you hurtin'..." Sky sighs, patting Cosmo gently. "I dunno what t' do about it."
"You don't need to do anything about it, Sky." Drax gently picks Sky up, pulling them away from Cosmo, and into his arms.
"You don't understand why this happened, or how. You don't need to. You are not responsible for this. It is not your duty to handle it. You are struggling too, and we will all struggle together. We are still family, and friends. We will figure this out... One way, or another." Drax says gently, feeling Sky curl up against him, and he gives Cosmo an understanding pat. "We will be okay."
"I promise."
Cosmo had come back, she quietly climbed back onto the chair, and dejectedly sat there, not saying a thing. Gamora knew something was wrong right away. For one, she took twenty minutes to come back. For another, she was never this... Low.
Drax had the called out.
"Dinner is ready! Two at a time, and then to the dining room, no exceptions!"
A strange command.
Gamora rationalized that it was for Rocket, so he wouldn't hear too much movement all at once.
Peter had (nervously) invited her to come with him first. And now they had both learned why they could only come two at a time.
Drax had opened the counter-window to the kitchen, so everyone could get their food from the hall. And helping him plate up two plates, as they approached...
Was Rocket...?
He perked up when he saw them, and seemed immediately more nervous, looking from Drax, to the two of them.
His face was so expressive that they had an easy time reading him. It was kind of a whiplash.
He gives a small, modest, admittedly cute wave. And neither of them tries to think about the fact he is only wearing 'underoos' and a space suit.
Peter was the first to speak, again.
"Uh... Hey! You feelin' any better Rocky...?" Peter somewhat stumbled his way through the question.
"...I'm uh..." Rocket seemed immediately more nervous and tense. He tapped his hands together, and turned to Drax, letting out a quiet helpless whimper.
"They are not Rocket." Drax explains firmly, setting the two plates in the window. "This is Sky."
His intense stare meets Peter first, telling him so much, when he turns to Gamora, she learns too.
His eyes tell her he is hurting. He is confused, and unsure, and yet so sure he must be strong. And they took, must be level, and strong. They took must be firm and patient.
This isn't Rocket. This is Sky.
Peter takes a breath.
"Hi, sorry Sky. It's nice to... Re... Meet you? Assuming you remember me from the bedroom." Peter rubs the back of his head.
"Yeah, y're Quill." Sky says, seeming at least slightly more positive. He knew, or... 'They are not Rocket'. That seemed purposeful. They knew.
They had picked up on them upsetting everyone, or making them concerned or uncomfortable. Even without Rocket's memories, Sky was just as observant.
"Yep." Peter smiles at Sky, and Gamora realizes... Peter introduced himself to them with the name Rocket always called him. "You uh... You helped cook?"
"Yeah, I still got... Th' other guy's... Like, technic'l kna'ledge." Sky nervously glances away.
"That's nice." Gamora speaks up, hoping to show kindness and help... Sky... Feel a bit better. "Thank you for helping prepare the food, I'm sure Drax appreciated an extra pair of hands. He always does."
Peter looks at her with a smile, clearly approving, and appreciative.
Sky, too, seemed to perk up, and smiles bashfully, head lowering into their shoulders a little while their fur puffs up, and they start to... Purr... Sky was admittedly incredibly cute.
Seeing the body of Rocket so relaxed, comfortable, un-hidingly happy. It made something deep inside Gamora do flips. It made her feel warm, proud, delighted. It made her want to cling to this forever, just like the first time Rocket had smiled sincerely at her, when he once helped nurse her back to health after an injury on a mission. He had joked to cheer her up, played up his attitude to get her energy up by butting heads with him.
But it wasn't Rocket being this way. It was Sky. She immediately regretted the thought of clinging to Sky forever. That... That would mean they lose Rocket. She could never lose him. He was family, she would become a monster again if he ever needed her to. That was how much she cared for him.
But Sky. Had his body... And they were undeniably innocent and goodhearted, clearly.
She would be kind to Sky while they were here.
She smiles at them.
"I am Gamora, by the way." She puts her hand on her chest. "I am happy to meet you, Sky."
Sky smiles back. "I'm happy t' meet you, too."
Drax gently pats the counter. "We should let them get to the dining room, so everyone else can get their food, Sky."
Sky looks over, blinking in surprise, and nods. "Right, okay, right." They look at Gamora and Peter.
"Please go away."
Peter, Gamora, and Drax all look at Sky, pausing for a second.
Peter then snorts, and starts laughing to himself, putting his arm up over his mouth to keep from spitting while he laughs.
Gamora silently giggled to herself, picking up her plate.
Drax has an amused smile as he turns away.
Sky looks at them all in confusion. "What'd I say? What's all that?? An' you okay?"
Peter laughs a bit more, and Gamora explains, through light chuckles, "It was just quite unexpected, it made us laugh. That's a good thing."
Drax nods, "That was a very amusing thing to say at that moment."
"That was hilariously pure." Peter snorts again, voice in his nose and throat from amusement, and holding in laughs. "We'll get outta the way."
"Aye aye, boss!" Gamora jokes, making Peter chuckle more, as the two walk away, to the dining room.
Sky blinks, surprised by the statement, before turning to Drax as they walk away.
"What was that. What is, this???" They put their hand to their rumbling chest, tail swaying behind them. "It feels very good."
Drax looks at Sky, taking a breath. "You made people laugh, made them smile. It made you feel good inside." Drax pats Sky's head. "That's alright, it's just a new sensation. And incredibly sweet."
"...I like makin' people happy." Sky nods firmly.
"You always did..." Drax says gently.
Kraglin gets up, and whistles to Groot. "C'mon buddy. Y'r gonna eat next." He had already decided for the teen. Mantis nods, approving, and Cosmo stayed all pouty.
Groot looks hesitant, but nods, getting up.
He quietly follows Kraglin.
Kraglin is good with moody teens though. Or at least, the world's most difficult moody teens, it feels like.
"Whaddya think Drax made?" Kraglin tries.
"I am Groot..." Groot says, and Kraglin nods.
Kraglin can't understand Groot, not quite there yet, but he's trying. "Was that... You sayin' steak? Or somethin' close? 'Cuz I smell steak." Kraglin looks over his shoulder.
Groot frowns at him, and shakes his head.
"You was sayin' you dunno...?" Kraglin tilts his head a little. "That what it was?"
Groot hesitates, but then gives a little hand shift to say 'close'.
"...You was sayin'... It kinda sounded like when you said... We're ya sayin' y'don't care...?" Kraglin frowns slightly. Groot gives a slight nod, and Kraglin sighs. "Fair, fair. I know things is tough."
"It'll be awright though, we all gonna figure out how t' help Rocket." Kraglin talks as he rounds the corner to the kitchen window. "An' it'll all go back t'..."
Kraglin looks from Groot's suddenly petrified face, turning, to then look at Rocket, who was for some reason only wearin' some briefs, and who was goin' through the warmin' cupboards while Drax was looking directly at Kraglin's head.
"...Hi." Kraglin could tell when someone wanted him to shut up.
Drax looks to Groot, face growing sympathetic. "Sky, bring those plates over, please?"
Kraglin frowned, and he could sense the air grow a little drier behind him, Groot had rapidly inhaled, taking in moisture.
Kraglin closes his eyes a second, and smiles. "Sky, huh? That's a helluva name! How'd y' pick it?"
He leans on the counter, and sees 'Sky' perk up, and looks over at him. "I rememb'r'd th' sky, an' I really loved th' sky, so I wan'ed t' be th' sky. So I'm Sky." He seemed happy to explain.
"Perky lil' man, ain't'cha?" Kraglin tilts his head.
"They are nonbinary." Drax explains, and Kraglin mentally facepalms. New name, new pronouns, new buddy, Groot would not handle this well.
"Aw, cool! My bad little buddy." Kraglin apologizes, and is... Pretty surprised that Sky seems to immediately perk up, and his, no their, fur puffs up. Visibly excited and happy to be called 'buddy'.
Kraglin knows for a fact Groot won't handle this well, this wasn't his dad.
Kraglin smiled as he took his plate, and then Sky frowned slightly, and then refocused on Kraglin.
"Y'r uh... Who're you?" Sky tilts his head.
Kraglin won't handle this well.
He was doin' his best but he had a weird closeness with the little badger. Both of them lost Yondu. Neither of 'em saw Yondu as a dad like Peter. But neither of 'em were very okay after.
They had spent months, recovering together. Rocket reminded Kraglin of Yondu, which probably wasn't the healthiest, but it made Rocket feel like home to Kraglin. Made him feel like family.
Rocket seemed to like having a friend who wasn't always with the guardians, too. Whenever Rocket was frustrated with the others, or strugglin' with his feelins... He would call Kraglin, or the two would hang out somewhere. They even went on trips together once or twice.
Rocket and Kraglin were friends.
Kraglin and Sky... Weren't.
Kraglin felt his heart practically stop. He had thought he could handle this. He really did.
"I'm... Kraglin." He says, voice as steady as he can keep it. "I'm sorry, I ain't..."
Kraglin looks at Sky, and sees their ears start to droop, their eyes start to look away.
He wasn't friends with this little critter...
But, he could be.
"Naw, hey." Kraglin says, Drax pausing his reach to comfort Sky. Sky flinches, and looks up at Kraglin. "We might be hurtin' about this an' all, but y' seem real nice. It's nice meetin' ya, little buddy."
Kraglin smiles with all the sincerity he can muster from his heart.
Sky looks at Kraglin with what can only be described as a hope and optimism. They smile back, wiping their eye, then looking at the tear on their claw in confusion. They rub it in their fur, and look at Kraglin again. "Th... Thank ya. Not little buddy."
Kraglin can't help but smile, snorting ever so slightly. "No prob."
Kraglin turns to Groot, and gives an understanding nod, stepping out of the way so he can come forward.
Groot looks at Sky, and gives a tiny wave.
Sky seems to soften slightly, looking at Groot thoughtfully. "Y'r Groot, right?"
Groot perks up ever so slightly, and Sky immediately waves a hand, "I mean, y'said 'I am Groot' t' me before..."
Sky deflates at the same time as Groot.
"'M sorry... I uh... I know I ain't Rocket, an' you look... Really, really hurt by that." Sky looks down. "I dunno why, or what I can do."
"But... Y'r the only one I seen here, who I have memories about, kinda."
"I don' know why, but Flora C'lossus care stuff is in my brain still, like it was... Stored with all th' technical stuff I closed up, an' with th' sky."
"I don'... Know what that means. But, I know y'need more water, sun, an' nutrients ri' now." Sky looks at Groot with a gentle firmness.
Groot reaches forward, gently taking his plate, and nods. As soon as Drax let's go of the plate, Groot's trembling is making the plate rattle, and Kraglin moves over, gently taking it away.
Groot stares at Sky, and looks down, walking away. Kraglin glances at Sky, and offers a smile, "I think sayin' that'll lead t' feelins that're somethin' good, even if it hurts right now. 'Cuz if them technical mem'ries are things Rocket kept close, that means he kept Groot real close. An' I think Groot'll get that."
He then follows after Groot. "Wait up, kiddo-"
Sky slowly holds their hands together.
"They hurt a lot 'cuz I said that, though."
Drax gently places a hand on Sky's head again.
Mantis stands up as Drax calls next.
She calmly looks at Cosmo. "I will bring your food to the dining room. I know that Rocket is with Drax. I could sense the pain in your heart."
'Nett. Is not Rocket, not anymore. Will see, stay strong.' Cosmo says with a sigh, and gets up, tail slack and drooping as she walks her way to the dining room.
Mantis pauses. What did... That... Mean?
She could feel such sorrow on the ship. It was hard to deal with, but she was strong.
She walks into the hall, hands together.
Rocket and Drax are waiting. Rocket is more expressive than usual, she can sense pain coming off of him, and he looks up at her. She can feel a wave of anxiety.
She walks right past, hearing Drax grunt in confusion. "Mantis?" He asks, as she rounds the bend, and enters the kitchen.
She walks towards the two of them, and looks at Rocket. "Are you okay?"
He freezes, blinking, and Mantis now realizes he is only wearing underwear, that's silly.
"I... Uh... Um..." Rocket says nervously, putting his hands together and looking down. Anxiety building inside him.
"Mantis, this is... Sky, they are struggling with everything that's been happening. As I'm sure you understand." Drax kneels next to them.
Mantis kneels in front of Sky.
"I am an Empath, that means I can sense emotions. You are trying to be very strong, aren't you?" Mantis speaks softly, but firmly.
Sky frowns, and nods. "I... Yeah..."
"Let's take a break." Mantis sits down. "You do not have to be strong all the time."
"I... But, everyone is upset I'm... me... An' I don't... I can't fix it, an' I don't know what I can do t' make it better. What I can do t' make 'em happy, t' make me happy..." Sky sits down, and hugs themself. "I know all this stuff, but I don' know what t' do about it. I don' know how t' use it. So much stuff happenin', but it feels like way too much, an' it hurts. An' it's overwhelmin'. I don' know why... Stuff is..." Sky puts their head on their hands.
Drax frowns. "You are... Still overwhelmed, still struggling that much? You did not have to stay... Or come out so early..."
"I didn't wanna be alone." Sky looks up at Drax. "That's all I knew... I didn't..." Their voice trails off weakly, into a raspy whisper.
Sky looks down, tail curling around themself.
"I don't like bein' alone."
"I realized that, an' it... I left, an' I found whoever was on their own. An' stuck with him. An' tried t' make friends, an' be nice..." Sky looked more openly, unashamedly sad than Rocket would ever let them see him.
"That is okay." Mantis says with a gentle certainty. "You are in quite a horrible struggle."
"Are you in physical pain?" Mantis tilts her head.
Sky pauses. "'S there a difference...?"
"That is deeply concerning." Drax frowns.
Mantis offers her hand. "I can help you find the difference."
"With... Th' empath stuff?" Sky asks.
"Indeed. I can help you sort your emotions." Mantis offers. "If you would like to."
"...I think I'd like help with the emotion stuff." Sky nods. "It's confusin'."
"Very well. Drax?" She looks at the man. "Would you take Cosmo's food to her? I would like to help Sky one on one."
"Understood." Drax nods.
Sky frowns slightly, but relaxes as Mantis smiles at them in understanding.
As Drax leaves, Mantis gently puts her hands together. "If you need a break, you tell me."
"Okay."
"Let's take a breath, and then begin."