Troublesome Holidays (Rocket x reader)

    "And that’s how you do it." You smile proudly as you walk out of the building with an odd group following behind you.

    "I can't believe you got him to increase the pay by a thousand units!" Peter Quill aka Star-Lord, exclaims as he hurries his steps to catch up to you.

    Rocket and Groot had just brought you to the planet to meet his friends who were finishing up a delivery. You got there just before they went in to talk to the man they were delivering for and ended up going with them.

    "Nothing to it. I was around for a lot of my dad's negotiations so I know how it goes down."

    "But he was really upset about his ship. He was about to make us pay him for damages."

    "Like I said: Nothin’ to it. Maybe it's just because you're not me."

    "Or maybe it's cus you batted your eyelashes and showed off some cleavage." Rocket replies with an eye roll as he passes you onto the ship.

    "Whatever works. Nothing wrong with using a little feminine wile, right Gamora?" You say as you lightly elbow her.

    "Whatever gets the job done." She replies with a smirk.

    "I am Groot." Groot says as he leans down and smiles at you.

    "Thank you, Groot. See? It's not just us who think that. Even Groot agrees."

    "You always side with her." Rocket throws his arms in the air.

    "It is good you used your means. I found him irksome and was considering removing his spine." Drax says seriously. Your eyes widen at him and you take a step away.

    "Where did you find this girl? I've known her for an hour and I already like her." Peter asks as he flies the Milano away from the planet.

    "She planned her own kidnapping and we were the kidnappers."

    "It ended well." You say as you smile at Rocket.

    "Yeah, I guess it did..." He mumbles to himself.

    "Hey Star, what's with all these colorful lights?" You ask as you look around at the strings of small lights hanging around.

    "He says they are part of a Terran celebration called Christmas." Drax explains.

    "Christmas? What's that?" You furrow your brows at the strange name.

    "It's a holiday we have back on Terra. You exchange gifts, hang some lights and mistletoe, and decorate a tree. This is your guys' first Christmas so we don't have to worry about the presents this time though."

    "Mistletoe?"

    "Yeah. You hang it up and if two people end up under it, they have to kiss."

    "Interesting. Where will we get a tree from though?"

    "I am Groot."

    "Yes, it all looks very nice on you." You say as you hang a shiny red ornament on a branch sticking out of Groot's arm.

    "I think you look ridiculous." Rocket grumbles.

    "I am Groot!"

    "That is rude. Don't be so mean, Rocket." You punch his arm.

    "Do you actually understand Groot?" Peter asks with a frown.

    "Yeah. You don't?"

    "No. Rocket's the only one here who understands him."

    "Aw~. Well that's cus we're special." You swing your arm around Rocket and pull him into a tight hug. He smacks your arm and neck, crying for you to let him go. When you do, he pulls back and takes a deep breath.

    "You were smotherin me!"

    "Sorry. Hey! Didn't you say the tree is usually topped with something? Let's just put Rocket on Groot's head!"

    "What? Hell no."

    "Come on~" You coo as you grab his arm.

    "No! Let me go or I'll bite you!"

    "I am Groot." A bright and decorated Groot says to a frowning Rocket.

    "I have not been moody."

    "I am Groot."

    Rocket lets out a sigh and hangs his head.

    "Yeah, I know. Don't you dare say anything to her." Rocket glares at the tree.

    "I am Groot."

    You and Rocket sit in the empty ship, the others having gone to bed, slowly finishing off the last of your drinks. An awkward silence has settled in the room and you fidget in place. You see Rocket twitch his tail out of the corner of your eye.

    "Hey, Rocket?" You finally break through the silence.

    "Yeah?" Rocket glances up at you.

    "I don't think I ever actually thanked you for saving me. I know I tricked you into it but... Thank you."

    "It's nothing." Rocket shrugs.

    "No it isn't. You really helped me out. You could have just dumped me on some strange planet but you let me stay with you. Thank you."

    Rocket looks up and your eyes connect as it goes silent again. You stare into his eyes and nervously swallow. A tension begins to develop and you tear your gaze away from Rocket to break it. He clears his throat before standing.

    "Well... I'm going to bed."

    "Oh, yeah, I should too." You stand and bump your head against something. "What's that?" You wonder out loud as you reach up above your head. Your hand wraps around something small and you tilt your head back to look at it. "What is this?" You frown a bit at the green leaves and small red berries.

    "Isn't that mistletoe?"

    "Oh yeah. What did Peter say it was for?"

    "The people under it are supposed to kiss."

    "... Oh." Your face heats up and you glance over at Rocket. "S-so we're supposed to kiss?" Rocket silently nods. The tension from earlier builds up again. You stare at each other without saying anything or making a move. Finally you can't stand it anymore. "Aw, to hell with it." You grab onto Rocket's collar and pull him into a kiss.

    He's surprised for a moment but doesn't waste any time in placing his hands on your waist. You release his collar and wrap your arms around his neck. After a few moments, you both pull away. You have a smile playing on your lips as your eyes search his hopefully.

    "So?" You ask.

    "What?" Rocket snaps out of his daze.

    "Geez. Are you really gonna play dumb?"

    "I don't know what you want from me."

    "Whatever you idiot. I love you anyway." You push him away.

    "I'm not an idiot. You're an idiot!"

    "I am not, you fur ball."

    "Shut up. I love you too."

    "You're not romantic at all."

    "Good thing you figured that out now. It'll save you a lot of disappointment in the future."

    "Merry Christmas hairball."

    "Merry Christmas Princess."

    "Look at this place, all shiny and pretty. Reminds me of home." You say as you scrunch your nose.

    "Buncha idiots if you ask me." Rocket says.

    "Hey, I grew up with people like this."

    "Bah. Explains a lot."

    "Guys! Can't you stop arguing for two minutes? I thought you were supposed to be a couple." Peter snaps back at you.

    "Couples argue." You say defensively.

    "Yeah. We can argue all we want." Rocky backs you up.

    Peter rolls his eyes then turns his attention to a man with curly hair walking your way.

    "Star-Lord, how are you? You've been keeping the others out of trouble, right?" The man asks.

    "Yeah Dey, of course."

    "You couldn't keep a stray hair under control." You scoff and Peter glares back at you.

    "Hey, you look familiar. Aren't you that missing Princess?"

    "What? No. I just have that kind of face." You quickly stammer and hurry past everyone. "What are we all standing around out here for? Don't we have a party to get to?" You call back.

    "Don't forget to keep yourself out of trouble too, alright?" Dey says to Peter. He laughs nervously in response.

    Your eyes light up when you enter the large room filled with people. Peter and the other Guardians had been invited to Xandar to celebrate with the Nova Corps the safe end of the year.

    "Hi. Who are you?" A man in a uniform asks you.

    "I'm the Guardian's plus one." You smile brightly at him. You're excited to be at a party since you've only ever been to the boring business gatherings your family would have.

    "You came with them?" He looks past you and you turn to see Groot awkwardly trying to drink from a champagne fountain and Peter trying to stop him.

    "Yeah. Something wrong with that?" You ask with a raised brow.

    "No. You just don't seem like you belong with them. They did save us and all but they’re kind of chaotic."

    "I suppose that's true but-"

    "Hey! What are you doing talking to my girl?" Rocket shouts as he makes his way over. Your heart skips at the thought of Rocket being jealous but you frown.

    "I'm not your property. I can talk to whoever I want!"

    "Um, I think I see some friends over there." The man says and scurries off.

    "Now look what you did. You scared the poor guy away."

    "Good. I didn't like the way he was looking at you."

    "Well I don't like the way you talk to me."

    "I was just saying that the guy was checking you out and I didn't like it."

    "You argue quite often." Drax says, seemingly appearing out of nowhere because you were too distracted. You look over to see him standing nearby and looking you both over curiously. You sigh and slump your shoulders.

    "We really do... Maybe we're not meant to be together." You say as you look over to Rocket.

    "What are you trying to say?" Rocket's ears drop as if not wanting to hear the answer.

    "We should break up. It's good that we end it now when we've just started than later on." You turn and disappear into the crowd before Rocket can stop you.

    "I apologize. I did not realize my words would affect her to such an extent." Drax says.

    "Yeah." Rocket murmurs and wanders off.

    "Look at her. She's dancing with some random dude. She's not even upset." Rocket mumbles before taking a gulp from his glass.

    "Of course she's upset." Gamora snaps. "She's just dealing with it differently."

    "Oh really? I'm pretty sure that's the same guy I got upset about talking to her. He was obviously checking her out." Rocket holds his arms out in front of him at you and the man.

    "Girls want a man willing to fight for them. Are you just going to sit here and watch or are you going to try and change her mind?"

    Rocket sulks and sips his drink.

    "I don't know how to dance!" You smile broadly as you whine and he pulls your hand.

    "It's not that hard. Just let the music move you and it'll come naturally." You tense slightly when he places his hands on your waist but let him sway you slowly side to side.

    "It's almost time. Find your partners everyone." A voice announces.

    "Partners for what?" You ask as your brows knit together in confusion.

    "Your new year's kiss."

    "My what?"

    "Would you like to be my new year's kiss?" He asks as he leans in a little closer.

    "Uh, no. I don't think so." You push him away.

    "But I thought-"

    "No." You say firmly as you walk away.

    "Time for the count down!"

    You can't help but wish that Rocket were here.

    "Ten!" Everyone shouts in unison.

    You always argued but you never actually meant any malice towards him.

    "Nine!"

    Rocket searches the crowd. He lost sight of you with that man.

    "Eight!"

    He spots the man but he's standing with some friends and you're not with him.

    "Seven!"

    Where is he?

    "Six!"

    Was that his tail?

    "Five!"

    Rocket spots you through an opening.

    "Four!"

    You see Rocket push his way through the crowd.

    "Three!"

    He gives up pushing through and starts running on top of people's heads, earning angry shouts and curses.

    "Two!"

    A woman almost falls as you push her out of the way.

    "One! Happy new year!"

    The room is filled with the excited shouts and cheers of the Nova Corps and their families. Drax and Groot can be heard over all the others but you and Rocket don't notice, you're too focused on each other. You have your arms draped around his neck as he holds your face in his hands. Your lips are locked as you block out the world around you. When you pull away, Rocket has a dopey grin.

    "I knew you couldn't stay away." He states cockily.

    "You're the one who ran on people's heads." You grin.

    "Fine. I don't want to break up. I want to stay with you this year and every year after that."

    "I love you, Rocket, you stupid rodent."

    "I love you too, you spoiled princess."