Concrete Jungle

"OH MY GOD GROOT WHAT IS HAPPENING."

He spotted the tree creature trying to stop a school bus. His eyes widened as he slid towards Groot, head lifting up to the alien who was looking so out of place even in a place that had no real streamline norm. He looked up at him and shoot his head, placing a hand on Groot. "Groot buddy! Don't try and touch those! They're bad. They're really really bad."

He looked about. Rocket was nowhere to be found. Neither was Gamora or Drax. "Groot where's Rocket? Why're you out here by yourself? Why am I asking these questions when I know you can't answer me..."

Groot blinked as Quill came rushing out to him. He grinned from branch to branch, shaking his head. "I am Groot."

Quill was wrong. The offspring were generally quite friendly! And so far only one transporter device had hit him, and the woman had been apologetically hysterical. Delighted to be joined by a friend, Groot spread wide his arms in a gesture clearly meant to draw Quill's attention to all the fascinating activity. Transporters that actually move on land! More Terrans in one place than Groot had ever seen! Big black bags heaped onto the sidewalk containing a multitude of mystifying objects.

He flinched, head sinking towards his shoulders as Rocket came up balking at them. He looked guiltily at the raccoon, pointing at the large light which formerly had been red but was now a calming, pleasant green. "I am Groot!" he rumbled, clearly explaining that he'd wanted to see the light and that he'd only gone when the Terrans had done it as well. Still he fidgeted almost nervously, a twig growing directly out of his forehead. 

"I am Groot," he murmured, trying to inform Rocket it might be best not to anger the transport operator. It did in fact carry a wallop when it struck one head on. 

Rocket's shoulders sagged as he groaned at Groot's response. Leave it to him to find something as simple as a light and want to go touch it. The guy wasn't the brightest but maybe that's why Rocket was so pledged in loyalty to the thing, a sort of responsibility that he'd picked up somewhere along the way. All he knew is that he wasn't going to raise another tree from a twig ever again; that was strictly a one time thing.

"I don't care if there's a light, you're gonna get pasted out there if you haven't already! Now hurry up." he grumbled.

Then his ears flicked in Quill direction and his nose wrinkled.

"Sass?" he sneered, "I've got about as much sass as you've got brains, buddy. And get off my case- all you Terrans. So nosy." he growled, clutching at his bag possessively while squinting at Quill suspiciously. All the same, if they both came to the sidewalk he stood on he'd haul it off of his shoulder and open it. Just a simple grocery bag and inside? An unnecessary amount of bags labeled 'corn nuts' and some bottles of a dark fizzy mixture. He grabbed one from the bag and held it up, the read label with white letters that read 'Coca Cola' in white almost cursive letters.

"Asked the guy in charge if these were consumables. He ran out screaming like a lunatic for some reason." he shrugged. "Beats me. So I shoved a bunch of these in the bag and here I am. That lug was supposed to be waiting outside, but there he is." Rocket gestured with a sharp nod of his head to Groot.

"Whoa, defensive. Relax, Rocket." He raised an eyebrow as the snacks made themselves known. He groaned, pushing back his hair. Heaven knew what the heck Gamora was doing right then and Drax as well...Drax he was more worried about. Actually...he shook his thoughts free. He was probably with the two most adaptable Guardians right there. A tree and a raccoon. Go figure.

He nodded towards the coke and the corn nuts. "I'm not actually sure if you can eat those, Rocket. But who knows what your digestive system does. Groot damnit, you're eating the package." He groaned. "But the Coke's good. It's sweet, you'll like it."

"Swear you guys...can't take you anywhere."

Groot drew back his hands like a scolded child as Rocket smacked them away, looking somewhat hurt. 

Groot damnit, you're eating the package.

Widening his eyes, Groot opened his mouth, plucking one of the remaining bits of plastic out and looking at it doubtfully, then wiping it on his chest. It clearly wasn't proper ration packaging. What self respecting pilot would have these in his ship? One jump and the corn would be popping all over the place. He was only partially listening to Rocket now, attention wandering to the people now once again commencing with the ritual. Terrans halting transporters in a noble walk across the street drawn by the flashing lure of little orange hands. 

Then the pop exploded. 

Groot staggered back as he was doused in sugar, letting out a roar of surprise as waving his hands frantically to regain ballance as he almost bowled down some of the Terran's mid ritual, sending them rushing out onto the street. He shook himself, sending drips of coke everywhere as Rocket scurried up to his shoulders and the coke began a wild spin on the ground spraying passer bys as well as Groot and Quill. He nodded in support of Rocket's statement, reaching out a hand which grew in length to grab the corn nut bag, hoisting the soggy white plastic up to his friend. 

"I am Groot," he advised. Best to keep the known food source secure, and he wanted Rocket to advise Quill of this. Even with its tastelessness as tough exterior, who could say when they'd find another suitable source of sustenance. 

These 'Avengers' were clearly shifty individuals, luring them to such a desolate planet. 

Rocket growled, straightening up a bit on his perch that was Groot's shoulder and apparently trying to regain some dignity. He took the bag that Groot offered with a grimace as it dripped with the sticky liquid that had basically exploded on them, and game himself a good shake, spreading more drops of the coke around.

"Oh I don't think we'll have a problem finding food around here." he told Groot, with a particularly venomous sound in his voice regarding his next sentence, "Look around. These people are just stuffing their faces everywhere you look. Look- no, look- SEE? Look at THAT one!" he exclaimed, pointing at a passing larger man with a burger.

"Disgusting." Rocket clicked his tongue while shaking his head. Then his attention was diverted to Quills advice. Screwing up his face a little, he raised a paw and looked baffled if not annoyed.

"If it fizzes don't shake it??" he repeated incredulously, "What kind of instruction is that[/i]?" Rocket demanding, looking to Groot as if for some sort of support or agreement in the situation.