Rocket
Okay, it just so happened that Rocket hadn’t been sleeping recently. Rocket, being sleep deprived, well…
The Guardians had had no business recently and were aimlessly drifting in space, taking it slow and relaxing.
Right now, the group were sat around their only table on the ship. Dinner was being dished out by Drax, who still wore an apron. He’d mentioned before that it was his late wife’s and no one said a thing about it after that. A lot of Drax’s recipes for delicious meals were taught to him by either his mother, father or late wife, Hovat.
And that was the reason no one ever complained when Drax cooked. (Also because his food was the best out of all the Guardians.)
Drax sits down after discarding his apron and placing down the big bowl of extras in the middle of the table. He takes his seat beside Rocket and Gamora. Groot sits next to Rocket and on Groots other side is Quill. Mantis sits beside Quill on his right.
Everyone starts to dig in to their food. Well…everyone except Rocket. He keeps nodding off and almost leaning onto Groot completely before jerking back awake. This continues until eventually…
The rest of the Guardians are too busy eating and discussing their days one by one to notice.
“Gamoras been trying to teach me ‘the way of the blade’. I don’t think I’m getting anywhere, though.” Quill expresses through a mouthful of food. Gamora grimaces and sharply tells him to swallow his food before he talks.
Drax smiles and leans forward. “Cheer up, friend Quill. The art and mastery of a blade is not for everyone.” And he promptly tears into a piece of meat.
Mantis hums. “I do not know how to wield a blade nor blast a gun.”
Quill turns to her and gives her a soft smile. He puts a hand o her shoulder. “Don’t worry Mantis, we’ll teach you how.” He says it with such confidence that she instantly believes him.
Mantis nods gratefully and they both go back to their meals.
Without any warning, Drax turns to Rocket. “Why have you not touched your meal, Rodent?” He asks, a hint of concern in his voice.
Rocket gasps and then shakes his head. Everything is blurry even as he tries to blink through it.
“I am Groot.” Groot perks up, also turning his attention to Rocket.
Rocket growls softly. “Quit yer fussin’, I’m fine.” He crosses his arms and then looks at his food. It’s still warm, but it’s the last thing he wants right now. All Rocket wants is his nice, soft, blanket, to curl up and just…fall asleep.
While daydreaming about the comforts of his blanket, Rocket doesn’t notice his eyes closing or his body falling. He only notices when Groots hand stops his face from meeting the table.
“You are definitely not ‘fine’, Rocket.” Quill points out the obvious.
Gamora sighs and puts down her bowl that she had been holding. Ever since Rocket had dragged himself to the table, her attention was on him the entire time. Watching him nod off every five seconds. Mantis had also noticed and had been awake a few nights ago when Rocket was running around the ship instead of sleeping. She offered her help but Rocket refused it, saying ‘I’ll chop your hands off if you even try to touch me’.
Groot puts Rocket down on his seat, keeping an eye on him.
“Rocket,” Gamora says, elbows on the table and hands clasped together. Rocket realises with wide eyes that shes about to get serious. “How much have you slept recently?” She questions. It feels more like an interrogation.
Rocket crosses his arms over his chest again and avoids her eyes by staring at his food, as if he stares hard enough, it will disappear. It’s not like he doesn’t want to not eat, his body might reject it if he tries. “You don’t want me to answer that, Gam.” Rocket grumbles, eyelids feeling heavy and closing against his will. He curls up in his seat, hoping to fall asleep. It’s not the same without his blanket, but he tries anyway.
“Why would she have asked if she did not want to know?” Drax says and Quill runs a hand through his hair.
“Drax, that’s code for, ‘it’s been too long that even I don’t know’. Meaning it’s bedtime for Rock-ster.” Quill pushes his bowl away from him and stands from the table.
Alarmed, Groot tries to stop him. “I am Groot!” He says in warning before Quill can touch Rocket.
Quill holds his hands up in front of his chest. “Relax, Groot. I’ve dealt with things far worse than a sleep deprived raccoon.”
Groot shrugs, humming, almost like saying ‘whatever, you’re on your own for this one’.
Quill reaches out to touch Rocket and his hand brushes against his fur. Nothing happens, so he just goes for it, albeit slowly. He doesn’t want to accidentally provoke Rocket.
When the raccoon is halfway into Quills arms and nothing has happened yet, it is a surprise to everyone. Which is why everyone holds their breath when Rocket stirs, trying to once again blink through a haze.
“Nnh, Quill?” Rocket mumbles sleepily.
“Hey bud. Tired?” Quill smiles softly.
Rocket mumbles again, something inaudible before climbing the rest of the way into Quills arms and settling his head in the crook of his elbow. Everyone stares at him in shock.
Quill chuckles quietly. “Lets uh, never speak of this. Especially not to Rocket. He’d have our heads.”
“How would he—“
“It’s a metaphor, Drax! Now I should go put Rocket to bed.” Quill says, turning on his heel and walking down the hall.
Drax’s attention switches back to the table. Mantis is finishing up her food but everyone else is done. Drax stands, gathers everyone’s dishes after Mantis is finished and takes them to the kitchenette with Gamoras help.
Quill goes into Rockets room and attempts to put him on his bed. However, Rocket is practically wrapped around Quills arm.
“Oh, come on Rocket!” Quill grumbles and tries to pry the raccoons paws off him. Rocket (and he’ll deny it ever happened) whines, somehow clinging tighter. Quill huffs. Clearly there is no way to get Rocket off of him without consequence.
Quill rolls his eyes and succumbs to his fate of an early turn in. God knows he needs it too. He picks up Rockets blanket, surprised it hasn’t been ripped to shreds yet and drags them both to his room next door.
As soon as Quill sits on his bed and drapes Rockets blanket over him, the raccoon is almost immediately out cold. Well, not before snatching the blanket and holding it close to his chest. Now that the fabric has Rockets attention, his arm is finally free.
Laying down on his side, Quill drags his own blanket over his body. Rocket, even though being more than half asleep, crawls over and curls up against the mans chest. Quill smiles softly before drifting off to dreamland, Rocket not far behind.