Petting Isn't Just Reserved for Pets

Author: So it shouldn't be too hard to guess my new favorite Marvel Cinematic
Universe character is. The question is who do I love more: Rocket or Clint? Um...
I don't wanna choose. So anyways, taking a couple of stabs in the dark as to how
Rocket sees the world. Anyways I own nothing, nobody, etc... Have fun & plz review.

He hates being touched.

Absolutely frackin' hates it.

The bastards on Half World were always touching him... before.

But since "earning his freedom" (more like blowing the frackin' place up and escaping), he doesn't allow anyone to touch him except Groot.

The prison guards don't count.

They've made a habit of giving him a mild sedative when he gets locked up.

Probably because he almost tore that one guard's face off a while back.

Bastard had it coming for poking around his hardware.

But Groot... Groot had been a simple thing.

Simple but very big and very, very strong.

But even when he would turn on Groot, cursing and biting and scratching, the tree-man never showed an ounce of aggression towards him.

If anything, Rocket would find himself lifted into the air by the scruff of his neck and have his nose gently tapped with a twig, tendril or thin branch.

The message was always clear when Groot did this: "You are angry, I know. But you must stop."

Groot pitied him because he had known he was in pain but he had been unsure how to make it better.

But... that had been how Groot was made.

Gentle, calm, simple but protective of his friends.

Out in the world... the place Beyond (as he had used to call it)... all races, especially the little ones (children he thinks they are called) will try to touch him.

And he's not above nipping fingers that get too close.

After a while he finds out it is call petting.

Apparently it's usually reserved for creatures that are kept in homes as companions... pets.

He is NOT anyone's pet.

Anyone who suggests it tends to leave the area bleeding.

So when Drax sits beside him and pets him between the ears as he sobs over broken pieces of Groot's body, he tells himself that he should take off a few of the Destroyer's fingers.

Or at least give him a few good scratches.

But he really can't bring himself to.

So he growls out: "I ain't yer pet."

"I am aware." Drax replies.

"Then why are ya petting me?" he hisses as tears drip off his whiskers.

"Because you are in pain and because you are my friend. As was Groot." Drax tells him gently.

Rocket sniffs and whispers, "Everyone who ever touched me wanted to hurt me... or thought I was a pet."

"You know... on Terra and some other planets people "pet" each other because they care." Peter calls from where he and Gamora stand nearby.

"So ya really are petting me cuz ya care?" Rocket asks, glancing at Drax.

"Yes." Drax whispered. His hand has gone still and Rocket realizes the Destroyer waiting for him to blow up.

"Just... don't do it unless you ask if I'm okay with it. Or if I ask for it." Rocket mutters.

"Agreed."

He glances down at the twigs in his paws and his chest tightens again, making it hard to breath. "Will ya...?" he sobs.

And then Drax is petting him again and he should hate it.

But... they've established that he is Drax's friend not his pet.

So he lets it happen... just this once.

Author: Also the word "Frackin" that I use generally meaning fucking. I think I picked it up from Rocket in GotG or maybe somewhere else. But I'm pretty sure it was him using it.