Marvel Imagines and One-shots (Requests Closed)

A Strange Kind of Family - Guardians of the Galaxy

You were a Terran who couldn't remember your home. All your memories were of space, spaceships and various planets. A mercenary group raised you and as soon as you were able you went your own way. Sometimes you worked alone, sometimes you didn't, whichever was most likely to keep you alive and your pockets lined.

Currently, you'd just collected a finder's fee for locating an object stolen by someone else. It wasn't really your thing, but it paid well. You glanced around the market deciding what to purchase when your eye fell on your old partner. An old partner that owed you a lot of money. You wove through the crowd, heading in his direction.

"Rocket," you snapped when you were within snatching distance of the augmented raccoon.

He spun, arms out to his sides as he looked for the threat. His snarl fell and his features softened when his gaze fell on you. He stuttered out your name.

You fisted your hand into the front of his clothes and lifted him into the air. "So you remember me, fur ball."

"Woah, easy there." A smooth voice interrupted you and a hand grasped the arm you held Rocket with. Your eyes darted to the man and you looked him over. You had to admit he was handsome. And...Terran? You didn't see many of your own kind out here. "Put the raccoon down and step away."

Rocket's hands came forward to rest on yours, drawing your attention back to him. "This is Quill. Groot and I work with him now." His voice was low, calm. You'd been friends long enough that he knew how to talk to you when you were angry. You were surprised to see a sheen of tears in his eyes.

Opening your hand, you let him fall. He stood and dusted himself off.

"Now, what's this about?" Quill asked.

"He owes me money."

Rocket looked up in surprise. "That's it. That's all you have to say?"

"You owe me a lot of money. Is that better?"

He stepped forward and fisted his hands at his sides. "That's all you care about is money?"

"It wasn't until my best friends left me alone on some planet so they could keep my share of the bounty," you said through clenched teeth.

Rocket's face fell again and his eyes got wide as he shook his head.

"Let's take this back to the ship, guys. We're drawing a crowd," Quill said. You noticed immediately that he was right and nodded your head in agreement.

You were silent on the way to the ship though Rocket kept looking back over his shoulder with a sorrowful expression. It tugged at your heart, but you did your best to ignore it.

***

Peter stepped back to let Rocket and his "friend" enter first. His eyes darted down to check out your ass and he cocked his head to the side in appreciation. Damn. And he'd thought you looked hot from the front. Drax, Gamora and Groot were all waiting as you stepped onto the ship.

Groot sat on Gamora's shoulder and his mouth dropped open as he saw you.

"What the hell did you do to Groot?" you asked, gesturing angrily at the tree creature.

Rocket threw his hands up in the air. "Why is it always my fault?"

"Have you met you?" you snapped back.

Peter coughed to cover his laugh. "Sorry," he said as Rocket and you both turned to glare at him. He took a step back.

Groot tugged on Gamora's hair and pointed in the direction of the newcomer. "I am Groot. I am Groot."

"I don't care if you are super adorable now, I am still mad at you. You left me," you said and crossed your arms over your chest.

Groot shook his head. "I am Groot."

Your arms dropped and you looked between the treeling and the raccoon. Rocket was staring at the floor of the ship. "What do you mean I was dead?"

"Wait," Peter piped up. "You understand what he's saying?"

You glanced at him with a look of disdain on her face. "You don't? How long have you been travelling together? It's not that hard, Terran."

He scratched the back of his neck. "Damn. It was simple question. Calm down, lady."

You rolled your eyes and took Groot off Gamora's shoulder and put him on your own.

"I'm sorry, who is this?" Gamora asked, with a tone in her voice. He hated when she got the tone.

You introduced yourself. "Jack of all trades. Former associate of the tree and the rodent. And you are?"

"My name is Gamora." That was all she offered, but it didn't seem to faze you any.

"And the brick wall over here?" you asked.

"I am not a wall. I am Drax the Destroyer." Peter barely resisted the urge to facepalm.

"And what about you, flyboy?" you asked as you glanced over your shoulder at him.

Flyboy. He liked that. "Peter Quill, but people call me Starlord. This is my ship."

"I am Groot."

You and Rocket both laughed.

***

"What? What did he say?" Peter asked.

You grinned at him. "He said that you're the only one that calls you that."

Gamora and Drax both joined in the laughter. "It's funny because it's true," Drax added in his booming voice which made everyone laugh harder.

"Come on, guys! That's not cool."

You dropped to sit cross-legged on the floor of the ship. Plucking Groot from your shoulder, you placed him next to you then motioned for Rocket to sit down. "All right, you two. Start talking."

Rocket shrugged. "The building you were in blew up. We thought you were dead."

"I am Groot."

It was sad," Rocket agreed with a nod of his head.

You raked a hand through your hair and sighed. "Rocket, how many jobs did we go on together?"

"A lot."

"And how many of those jobs did I die on?"

"It would be kind of creepy if you died more than once," Peter said from behind you.

"Fair enough." You glanced at the floor before looking back up at your two friends. "Damn it, Rocket. You know I get myself out of impossible situations all the time. Why didn't you wait for me? I was the one that blew up the damn building. It was a distraction while I stole their stuff."

Rocket and Groot both watched with wide eyes.

"I came out and saw you two flying off ten minutes early. I thought you just wanted my cut." Your gaze shifted to your hands tangled together in your lap. "That hurt. You were my family."

Rocket hesitated a moment before crawling onto your lap. Groot climbed on Rocket until he was where he could lean against your chest as well. "We are your family," Rocket said.

"I am Groot," the treeling agreed.

"I'm really glad you're not dead," said Rocket softly.

"I'm really glad I don't have to kill you," you said and a burst of laughter came from beside you. You lifted your head and looked over to see the other three sniffing with shiny eyes.

Peter walked over and held out a hand. "So, you ever thought about guarding the galaxy?"