〘 :*¨༺ 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 ༻¨*: 〙

"She just told everyone your deepest, darkest secret!"

ᴠᴏʟᴜᴍᴇ : ▮▮▮▮▮▮▯▯▯

do you always trust your first initial feeling?
special knowledge holds truth, bears believing."

ELLIE PULLED ON her fingers as she stared down at them, the fire warming her face. Groot sat on her shoulder and the rest of the guardians, with Blake, Ego, Mantis (the woman who traveled with Ego), as Ego explained to Quill how Quill came to stay with Yondu.

"I hired Yondu to pick you up when your mother passed away. But instead of returning you, Yondu kept you, along with Blake. I have no clue as to why." Ego said before biting into his apple.

"Well, I'll tell you why. Because we were skiiny little kids who could squeeze into places adults couldn't. It made it easier for thieving." Quill exhaled.

"Well, I've been trying to track you down ever since."

"I thought Yondu was your father." Drax added. Quill's brows knitted together as he looked over at Drax. Ellie's gaze immediately shifted to the man, her face holding the same expression, as well as Blake.

"What? We've been together this whole time and you thought Yondu was my actual blood relative?" Quill questioned.

"You look exactly alike, even little Quill." Drax said, nodding towards Blake.

"One's blue!" Rocket exclaimed, puzzled at the fact that Drax actually thought that they were related to Yondu.

"No, he's not my father! Yondu was the guy who abducted me and Blake, kicked the crap out of us so we could learn to fight, and kept us in terror by threatening to eat us." Quill explained.

"Eat you?" Ego asked.

"Yeah." Blake sighed. "Good times."

"Oh, that son of a bitch." Ego huffed.

"How'd you locate us now?" Gamora asked.

"Well, even where I reside, out past the edge of what's known we've heard tell about the man they call Star-Lord. What say we head out there right now? Your associates are welcome." Ego exhaled as he stood up. "Even that triangle-faced monkey there." He added.

Ellie almost burst out laughing, bringing her hand to her mouth to cover it up...unsuccessfully. Rocket immediately turned to her with a glare and she coughed to cover up her tracks, shrugging her shoulders and looking away from him as she shook her head.

"I promise you it's unlike any other place you've ever seen. And there, I can explain your very special heritage. Finally get to be...the father I've always wanted to be." Ego continued as he looked down at Quill. Blake looked down at his hands. He didn't want to be jealous of Peter getting to meet his dad. Quill had gone through a lot of hell to stick up for Blake in the past and took the role as Blake's father figure when he shouldn't of had to. Still, it stung a bit not knowing about his own father while Quill was getting to know his.

"Excuse me. I've gotta take a whiz." Ego finished before walking away into the forest.

"I'm gonna get a soda, anybody want anything?" Ellie asked as she stood up from her seat.

"Soda," Drax said between mouth fulls.

"Make that two," Rocket added.

"I am Groot." Groot said as he held up three fingers.

"Beer please." Quill added.

"I'll help you with 'em." Blake said as he stood up. Ellie nodded as she began to make her way to the ship, Blake following her.

As Ellie entered the back of the ship, she saw Nebula trying to reach for a vegetable that was on the ground. She kicked it away, feeling only slightly bad about it.

"It's not ripe." Ellie explained flatley as she passed the robotic woman that was chained to a post from the ceiling. Nebula hissed at the young girl as she disappeared into the ship. Blake stepped away from the woman and quickly followed after Ellie.

"What did you want to ask this time?" Ellie asked as walked towards the mini fridge. Blake put an offended hand to his heart with a gasp.

"Why would you think I wanted to ask you anything? That's very presumptuous of you Ellie. I simply wanted to help you carry the drinks." Blake explained.

Ellie turned to him and crossed her arms over her chest as she raised a brow at him. The stared at each other, waiting for the other one to break. Blake sighed, Ellie smirked, she had won.

"Fine, you caught me. What's your thing?" He asked. Ellie raised a brow at him.

"My thing?" She asked slowly.

"You know, Peter and Rocket use guns, that green chick was Thanos' daughter and can probably beat the crap out of anyone with her bare hands, and Drax has those knives." Blake rambled. "What's your thing?" He asked again.

"Oh, um..." Ellie trailed off as she opened the fridge to start grabbing the drinks. "I can produce electricity and make electric force fields." She replied as she bent over to reach into the fridge.

"Awesome." Blake chuckled, oblivious to the broken look come across Ellie's face. It's not his fault, she knew that. He didn't know how she got her abilities, she didn't know of the marks covering her body, reminding her everyday where she came from.

"Yep." She sighed as she placed the cans on the counter. "Did you want anything?" She asked as she gestured to the fridge.

Blakes brows knitted for a second at the girl's sudden annoyed tone. Had he said something wrong?

"Um," He said as he looked at the open fridge. He walked over and reached into the fridge, grabbing a soda can. He straightened up and closed the fridge for Ellie, who he was now standing right next to. She kept her gaze down while Blake's gaze stayed on her. "I'm sorry." He said, breaking the silence. Ellie glanced over at him.

"For what?" She asked as she tilted her head slightly.

"For asking you, I must've said something wrong. I didn't mean to upset you." Blake said softly, truly meaning what he said. Ellie shook her head slightly.

"It's not your fault. You didn't upset me." Ellie said, so quiet it almost came out in a whisper. She held his gaze, her mind just now realizing how close she actually was to him, sending goosebumps over her arms.

"Then what is it?" He asked, taking a quick glance down at her lips.

Ellie swallowed, her gaze bouncing between his eyes. She couldn't tell him, she wouldn't tell him. But could she? No. Last time she talked about it, she was nine years old and having a panic attack in front of Rocket and Groot.

She softly exhaled as she pulled her gaze away from him and grabbed a couple drinks from the counter.

"Maybe a question for another time." She said before walking away.

Ellie walked past Nebula once more, ignoring her as the sound of Drax's laughter echoed through the forest.

"What's going on?" Ellie asked as she handed Drax his drink, Mantis laughed from beside him.

"He just played a practical joke on me." Mantis laughed. Ellie nodded with a smile handing the woman a water even though she hadn't asked for one. Blake handed Rocket his drink, avoiding the raccoons gaze as he glared at the side of his head.

⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒

THE NEXT MORNING, Ellie slung a bag over her shoulder.

"Are you sure you don't need my help, Rocket?" She asked. Rocket had helped her pack earlier that morning to make sure she had everything she needed.

She didn't want to leave Rocket and Groot here where she wouldn't know if they were safe. Rocket didn't really want her to go either, but Quill and Gamora had convinced him. It was only going to be a couple of days, but it was the longest time Rocket and Ellie were going to be apart from each other since the day Rocket and Groot had found her. To say Rocket was a little paranoid about what could possibly happen to her would be an understatement.

"No, no. It'll be an easy fix." Rocket said as he started his repairs on the Milano, keeping his gaze away from the girl. He knew if he looked at her, he would tie her to something so she couldn't leave.

"Okay." Ellie sighed, ruffling Rocket's fur as a farewell.

Ellie walked over to Groot, who sat on top of a metal part. She knelt down to his level, though he kept his head down. Her heart breaking as a tear slipped from Groot's eye. She wiped it away with her finger.

"Hey, it'll be okay. Gamora says we'll only be gone a couple of days. I'll be back before you know it." She said softly. Groot wrapped his arms around her finger in a hug, she wiped away another stray tear from his cheek. As he let go, she stood up and walked out of the ship with a shaky breath. Groot watched her leave, waving at her retreating figure as she stopped next to Gamora.

Ellie turned around to see Drax carrying multiple bags.

"Drax, what's with all the luggage?" She asked, gesturing to the bags.

"I don't want Groot playing with my stuff." He replied with a shrug, Ellie nodding in return.

"Hey baby Quill," Rocket called to Blake as the teen passed him. Blake turned to him, kneeling down so he was near Rocket's height. Rocket stopped what he was doing and turned to the boy. "You see Ellie over there," Rocket began as he pointed behind the boy. Blake turned and saw Ellie talking to Drax.

"Yeah," Blake answered as he turned back to Rocket.

"Anything happens to her, physical or something else, and I find out you were anywhere near her, you're dead. You hear me? Dead." Rocket told him, his glare burning into him. If looks could kill, Blake would be six feet under.

"Yes, sir." Blake nodded.

"Okay," Rocket nodded before going back to the repairs. Blake nodded before standing up and joining everyone else.

Gamora, Ellie, Blake, and Drax all started walking towards Ego's ship once Quill approached them. Once they entered the rig, the strange entrance closed behind them and the ship immediately took off.

⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒

"HEY, CAN I ask you a personal question?" Quill asked Mantis, with Drax, Ellie and Blake sitting around them, somewhere in Ego's ship.

"Oh...No one has ever asked me a personal question." Mantis said, her interest peeked at the new possibility.

"Your antennae, what are they for?" Quill asked and Mantis looked up at them.

"Their purpose?" She questioned.

"Yes. Quill and I have a bet." Drax said as Gamora joined them, standing near their seating area.

"Dude." Quill sighed. "You're not supposed to say that!"

"I say..." Drax continued, "-that if you are about to go through a doorway that is too low, your antennae will feel this, and keep you from being decapitated."

"Right, and if it's anything other than you specifically not being decapitated by a doorway. I win." Quill explained.

"Whew," Ellie sighed as she shook her head. "That is a tough bet." She joked, Blake chuckling from beside her.

"I know, that is why I am right." Drax said to her before Mantis quickly shook her head.

"They are not for feeling doorways." She said, Drax sighed as Quill laughed.

"You'll get it next time Drax." Ellie added as she patted his back.

"I think..." Mantis continued, "-they have something to do with my empathic abilities."

"What are those?" Gamora asked.

"If I touch someone, I can feel their feelings." Mantis further explained.

"You can read minds?" Quill asked.

"No." She replied. "Telepaths know thoughts. Empaths feel feelings. Emotions. May I?" She asked as she held her hand near Quill's.

"All right." Quill said as he held his arm out to her. She placed her hand on top of his and closed her eyes, the end of her antennae glowing a bright yellow.

"You feel love." Mantis said.

"Aw, Petey." Blake cooed mockingly.

"Yeah. I guess I feel a general, unselfish love for just about everybody. Whatever-"

"No!" Mantis interrupted Quill's rambling. "Romantic, sexual love. Natural-"

"No. No, I don't." Quill quickly shook his head.

"For her!" Mantis added as she pointed at Gamora.

"No!" Quill exclaimed as he pulled his hand away. "That is not-"

Drax burst into laughter, making Ellie and Blake laugh with him.

"She just told everyone your deepest, darkest secret!" Drax laughed as he pointed at Quill.

"Dude, come on, I think you're overreacting a little bit!" Quill accused.

"You must be so embarrassed!" Drax said, causing Blake and Ellie to go into another fit of laughter. "Do me! Do me!" Drax said and Mantis nodded, reaching her hand to his shoulder. The second it made contact Mantis started laughing uncontrollably.

"I have never felt such humor!" She laughed, falling back in her chair and pointed at Quill with Drax.

"So unbelievably uncool." Quill mumbled. Mantis got up and moved over to Ellie. The girl's smile wiped off her face as she slightly scooted in her seat, bumping into Blake.

When Mantis touched Ellie, her smile went away too, her eyes scanning around and her antennae straightened. Hot tears blurred her eyes. Drax's laughter faded at the vacancy of everyone else's. Taking the attention off of Quill, everyone's eyebrows knitted in confusion at Mantis's reaction.

"So-So many emotions at once. I...I...You feel sadness, anxious, fearful, and l-." "Okay, I'm done with this." Ellie quickly said as she got up, leaving the room to get away from the confused looks they were giving her.