video; @star.lord

[nostalgiabomb]

[ INT. Shared Housing, Floor 13, Room 4 – Very Late Night.

We open on a shot of the living space in one of the many shared housing units. It's dark in the messy room, with a couple of red jackets tossed onto the backs of chairs. Nearby, soft snores are audible.

In frame is a small, wooden creature, his giant eyes squinting with concentration as he stares at the screen. An old, beat-up mp3 player and a Sony Walkman sit beside him on the coffee table. The little creature mumbles a tiny, irritated— ]

I am Groot?

[ —in the same tone of voice someone else might use to ask, “How the hell do you work this thing?” He pokes at the screen fruitlessly for a while, but soon enough, his eyes light up as he shoves his hand forward one last time.

Suddenly, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” by the illustrious AC/DC shrieks over stereo speakers.

DONE. DIRT. CHEAP.

Sorry about your beauty sleep, Floor 13. And probably Floors 12 and 14.

The sapling yelps, scrambling and panicking to figure out how to stop this crazy thing, just as a sleep-tousled Star-Lord stumbles into frame, flicking on a light. Barely audible over the music, ]

Groot, what are you—?

[ Busted.

Peter picks up the device, sees that it’s recording, and he grimaces. ]

Oh, son of a—

[ Which is when the feed and the music both cut out. ]

Comments

[bunnyhopped]

[ The corners of Hana's lips actually curl into a small grin at Peter's introduction of the little tree thingy, recognizing something unmistakably dad-like in his behavior. She gives a little wave at the camera, for Groot. ]

Hi, Groot. I'm Hana.

[ Then she chuckles before adding, ]

I'm okay, dad, thanks for asking. So yeah, what is Groot? Where'd you get him?

1/2

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter doesn't look entirely convinced, but another careful look at the screen tells him Hana isn't currently hooked up to anything, doesn't seem to currently be in a hospital cot. So— not a patient, then.

His frown doesn't leave him, even with this bit of information sussed out. Waiting is just as bad, and he knows it all too well. And more than that, he can understand the need to, like, just kind of forget, even for a little while.

It's why he goes with the topic change: ]

He's—

[nostalgiabomb]

[ —well, he was going to go with it, except— ]

Wait, what? "Dad"? [ In the most offended tone in the galaxy. ]

[bunnyhopped]

[ She realizes he's not all too convinced by her answer, but it's not something she wants to get into. Her boyfriend is in a coma because of some weird virus going around, but.

Baby tree is cute.

Smirking a little, Hana just points at her own elbow to direct Peter's attention to the sapling. ]

I mean, he's a baby and you're taking care of him right?

[nostalgiabomb]

Well, I mean, yeah, I guess, but—

[ oh, this is complicated. ]

Listen. It's just... a thing.

[bunnyhopped]

Okay, so not dad. Babysitter then? Or just a leveled up gardener?

[ Since, like, tree and all. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

... Guardian. Let's just go with guardian.

[ That's the most on-brand, after all. ]

He's kind of a teammate. From back home, I mean.

[bunnyhopped]

A teammate?!

[ What kind of team has a talking baby tree in it ??? ]

Okay... [ She doesn't sound convinced at. all. ]

What'd he do on your team? Mascot?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ an awesome team obv ]

He can do this thing where he stretches out his arms and uses them like vines, right? One time, he threw, like three guys off a cliff.

[ There’s a touch of pride in Peter’s voice, and even Groot takes a break from his sulking to look pleased. ]

It was so cool.

[bunnyhopped]

[ @ Papa Jeff pls make a talking baby tree the next Overwatch hero ]

What? No way!

[ She sees that pleased look on the little tree, though, and she can't help but coo a bit. ]

Awww... Wait, can I see? Will you show me, Groot?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Groot nods eagerly, moving to stand, but Peter presses the pad of his index finger on top of Groot's head. ]

Ah-ah-ah.

[ Peter gently but firmly pushes the kid back down to sit. ]

Someone is still on time out.