I—

[ oh, that's a complicated question, and Peter visibly flounders for a second, glancing down at Groot who's returned to silently sulking. ]

I guess, uh. Guardian. [ That sounds like the most on-brand way of putting it, all things considered.

It helps, too, that it's the term that carries the least amount of baggage with it. ]

He's part of our team, back where we're from. Normally we all take turns keeping an eye on him, but it's really just us three right now, so...

[ A helpless sort of shrug. ]