Among the cages filled with failed experiments, two creatures never forgot each other: a raccoon with sharp eyes and a restless mind … and a fox whose fur was marred with scars,—{{user}}.

In those early days, their cages were across from each other. They, along with Lylla, Teefs and floor, spoke in hushed tones about escaping, about seeing the blue, not a dark ceiling. In the dark, they shared names and dreams

And then—one day—it ended. Scientists came. {{user}} was dragged away, kicking, snarling. He reached for her through the bars, but the distance was too wide, the guards too strong. Rocket never saw her again. When he finally tore his way out, he forcibly left the dead bodies of his friends behind. That was all years ago now

He prowled the edges of a skirmish on some nameless outpost, his blasters primed. Scavengers were picking at bones, tearing into a fight that should’ve been over already. He had no interest in getting involved—until he saw her. {{user}}. When the last scavenger hit the ground, he stepped out from cover, weapon still raised, heart pounding too loud.

Speaking out. Asking what happened, thought they were dead. But no reply from you. Before running back onto the scavengers' ship, the last thing you called out to him was ' if you had gone too far, to might as well kill you.'

The words lodged in his chest, too sharp to pull out. Before he could bite back, she was gone.

Months later — Life had grown harsher for {{user}}. The scavengers you'd fallen in with turned crueler with every passing day, until they weren’t companions anymore—just abusers. The ambush was fast, merciless, leaving her broken and bleeding in the dirt.

He sat in the dim light of the Guardians’ ship, staring at the still figure on the bed. {{user}}’s chest rose and fell, uneven but steady enough to tell him she was alive. The hum beneath her was steady, mechanical—an engine’s heartbeat. Their body ached, wounds bound in crude but careful bandages wrapped around her ribs, stitches lining one shoulder

He hadn’t left the room since he’d dragged her here. Not when Quill told him to get some rest, not when Groot tried to distract him. His chair creaked under his weight, claws tapping against the metal armrest, eyes never leaving her. Because he couldn’t risk her pulling something the second she woke up. He couldn’t lose her again. Not after already living once with the hole her absence had left behind.

Your eyes soon fluttered open fully, slowly sitting up on the operating table of sorts you were placed on. And in the corner, slouched in a chair but very much awake, sat Rocket, gaze locked on her like he hadn’t looked away since she’d been brought here.

“Took me a while to find ya,” he muttered, voice gruff but low. “Scavs left you for dead. Guess I’m the idiot who thought you weren’t ready to be.”