Rocket's POV - Rocket x Reader part 1

Dead Weight

"Damn, for such a tiny human she sure is heavy!" I said as I hoisted her in my arms. Must be all that muscle, I thought. "Quill, can ya grab my damn sleeping bag?"

"Sure thing, buddy." Quill bent down to grab my bag and slung it over his other shoulder.

Groot strode alongside me in silence as we made our way to the overly cramped room of nasty, smelly, over-weighted people. "Groot, let's camp out over in that corner. There's a bit more space there."

"I am Groot!" Groot shoved a few folks outta the way who were too sacked out to care they'd been moved. He sat on the bench and made a sleeping place for (Y/N). Quill threw down our bags against the wall before announcing he'd go get us some food. I gently placed Princess in what looked like an oversized wicker basket and her face contorted in pain. For some (unimaginable) reason she didn't get a sleeping bag.

"Oh, what the hell." I scrubbed my face with one of my hands and reached for my sleeping bag with the other. "Why the hell am I doing this?" I asked no one in particular. Groot took it upon himself to answer.

"I am Groot."

"I do not like her." I growled as I slid the sleeping bag under her to make the branches a bit more comfortable. Her face relaxed and her hand wrapped around the edge of the material.

It was then I noticed Gamora had been placed in a separate cell all to herself. I had seen her walking down the hall to where they kept all of the 'higher threat' criminals. I'll show them who's a threat next time I get the chance. Hopefully Gamora's cell would protect her from any unwanted company.

Quill returned with some smuggled food and we all chowed down before making ourselves comfortable for the evening.

"Why are you sleeping on the concrete?" Quill asked me. "Shut up." I said before stretching out. The sounds of snoring inmates was insanely obnoxious and my eye twitched in irritation. I finally started dancing along the edge of sleep and I welcomed it wholeheartedly.

I'm not exactly sure what time it was but it felt like I had fallen asleep just a few minutes ago. I slowly blinked my eyes open as I felt somebody poking my shoulder. "Just fucking fuck off..." I muttered and batted the hand away.

"I am Groot."

"Huh? Wha-?" I mumbled and sat up, smacking my lips together. What the hell does a guy need to do to get some sleep around here?

"I am Groot."

"Fuck." I shook my head to fix my fur and walked quietly over to (Y/N). I grabbed her hand gently and saw that her skin was dripping with sweat and her hair was plastered to her pale face. "Come on. We're gonna go get ya cooled down in the showers. We gotta bring your fever down."

She stood slowly and somewhat leaned against me as we shuffled our way down the hall. Her breathing was labored and I could practically feel the heat coming off her in waves. When we got to the showers, she let out a sigh indicating she was happy to sit.

I turned on the water and adjusted the temperature so it was just below lukewarm. With her sitting on the shower floor, it would be more like a cool mist and wouldn't actually soak her. I leaned against the other wall of the shower and crossed my arms, watching her as she pressed her face into the cool tile. Her pulse was beating erratically in her throat and her breathing was quick. Eventually it evened out and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. I don't need no humie dying on me.

The sounds of a struggle bounced off the walls and (Y/N) opened her eyes again. I peered around the corner of the stall while I reached an arm out to shut off the water. I pressed myself against the tiled wall and put a finger to my lips. Don't move I mouthed to her. When she nodded, I peeled my gaze from hers.

The sounds of a woman struggling grew louder before a voice hissed out a name. "Gammoorraa. Consider this your payment for your crimes against humanity." Some lizard looking fuck had Gamora by the throat with a knife shoved in her face.

"You don't have the right to take her life. You know who I am, yes?"

"You are Drax the Destroyer. Here, use my knife." The lizard man held out his weapon and bowed to this Drax bozo. Gamora spoke to Drax in a low voice in which he responded with an outburst.

"Your words mean NOTHING to me!"

Suddenly, Quill appeared out of nowhere and I could see the dumbass getting his ass beat. "Hey, hey! Take it easy. If you want to kill Ronan this isn't the way to do it."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean don't do his work for him. She betrayed Ronan and he's gonna come after her and kill her. That's when you-"

"Why would I run my finger across his throat?" Drax obviously didn't understand the symbol Quill used and I didn't know what it meant either.

"What, no no. That stands for slicing his throat." Quill clarified.

"I wouldn't slice his throat, I'd cut it clean off."

"It just means you'll kill him."

Quill and Drax held a pissing contest and finally Drax let go of Gamora who fell to the floor in a coughing fit. "Fine. I like this knife. I'm taking it." Drax said then stormed off. Quill and Gamora left and I made sure that everyone else had left before helping (Y/N) up. We followed behind Quill and Gamora who were having a conversation when we caught up to them.

"How are we going to sell it if we and it are in here?" Gamora questioned. Peter noticed we were there and glanced at me before returning his attention back to the woman. "My friend Rocket here has escaped prison 22 times."

"Oh, we're definitely getting out of here." I boasted and puffed out my chest. "But when we do, I'm collecting your bounty." I followed it up with a smug smile at Quill.

He turned to the emerald skinned girl. "How much was your buyer willing to pay you?"

Gamora hesitated before supplying an answer. "4 billion units."

"WHAT?! 4 billion units?" I exclaimed.

"Holy shit." Quill said with a nod.

I took note of (Y/N) out of my periphery and she seemed okay leaning against the rail.

"This is my chance to get the hell away from Ronan and Thanos. If I can pull this off, I'll split the profits between the four of us." Gamora said.

"I am Groot." Groot came out of the shadows with an offended look on his face.

I sighed and shook my head in disapproval. "Asleep for the danger, awake for the money. As per freakin' usual."