marvel one-shots

16. starlord ; cat

I'd just got back on the ship, with my freshly packed bag.

"Ready? You took long enough." Peter teased.

"Yeah." I chuckle. My bag began to shift on my back and I hit the bottom with your hand.

He smiled, half-curious, but not curious enough to ask. He left to go to the cockpit. Gamora had been off on a leave, she had to figure some things out by herself.

We hadn't heard from her in a year.

So Peter was piloting the ship alone.

"What's in your bag?" Rocket asked from behind me. I turn and faced him.

"Clothes." I state.

"Liar. Let me see." He said, reaching for it. I backed away from his reach.

"Buzz of Rocket, it's none of your business." The ship lifted off the ground and I stumbled a little.

He stood from his seat at the table and approached me.

"I don't want to hurt you, Gracie. Hand me the bag." He said. I set the bag to the side and stepped in front of it, in a stance. He cracked his knuckles and paused.

He looks behind me and I turned to see what was happening.

My bag laid open, and Groot was cuddling the cat that i packed inside.

"Groot!" I whine.

"What is that thing?" Rocket inquired. He'd never seen one, Groot probably hadn't either. Drax would be added to the list, but he was asleep in his bunk.

"It's a cat."

"A cat?" Rocket asked, confused. He was almost panicky.

"Sh, yeah. His name's Vito." I stated, still irritated the secret was out.

"I am Groot." Groot said, talking to the black feline.

"It's gross, and fluffy."

"So are you." I say to Rocket. He bares his animalistic teeth.

"What's the fuss back there?" Peter calls, not turning around. We all look at him.

"Nothing." I croak, giving everyone a look.

"Okay..." He trails off, barely convinced. I rub my temple and take the cat from Groot. He reaches for it and frowns.

"Vito got his hair all over you, I'm sorry."

"I am Groot." He shrugs. I put Vito on my empty top bunk, he lays down and purrs.

"So how're you going to keep a cat in space?" Rocket asks, following you. His arms are crossed and he looks unhappy.

"Why do you care? You scared you're going to get replaced?" I tease. "Alright I'm sorry. I figured the majority of the planets we go to are oxygenated. And even if he doesn't go outside, the ship always is."

"And food?"

"He'll have part of mine."

"Peter's not going to be happy about you having a-"

"A what?" Peter interrupts. "What do you have?" He asks, appearing in front of me and the two.

"Nothing." I say bluntly, looking at Rocket.

"She has a cat." Rocket says evenly and walks away. He smiles at me, he's gotten what he wanted.

"A cat? When did you get a cat onto my ship?" He sounds mad, I thought he'd be fine with it. He seemed like he'd be the animal-loving kind of guy.

"Um, in my bag." I stop lying to him.

"You can't have an animal on my ship." He says sturdily.

"There's Rocket. And not to get all science-y but we're technically all animals. Except for Groot..." I trail off.

"But a cat's different. There're responsibilities and you have to feed it. And you have to groom it..."

"Peter, you have to be kidding me!" I pick the cat off the bed and hold it out to him. Vito's hind legs dangle and kick the air.

Peter takes him from me and pets him unhappily. Vito begins to lick his face and mouth.

"Alright." He chuckles. "He can stay."

I laugh at his dismay. "Yay! The cat's staying!" I yell through the cabin. I hear Rocket sigh unhappily.

"I am Groot!" Groot says happily.

I turn to the right and see Drax, rubbing his eyes. He's still groggy from sleep.

"A cat?" He questions Peter. "Geez, why don't you guys sleep together before you get a cat together, Christ!" He laughs. He slaps Peter's back, and Vito jumps down and starts wandering through the cabin.

"Um, it's not like that." My face burns red.

"Yeah, w-we-"

"Excuses, excuses." Drax says and leaves. He picks up the cat and sits next to Rocket and Groot.

I look up at Peter and smile awkwardly.

He smiles and heads to the cockpit again. My face cools down, and my heart leaves my ears.  I join him in the front.