"The Man" was the physical manifestation of a residual pocket of space-time energy, shaped by Charlie Smith. He was brought into existence by Charlie in his attempts to make Quill happy on Earth. When manifested, the Man would often hang around Coal Hill School waiting for Quill as the end of the school day.
The Man was unaware of his true origins, and seemed to have memories of a prior existence before encountering Quill. He could transport both himself and Quill around the universe with a snap of his fingers. When Quill first pressed him on why he insisted on waiting for her, he teleported her into a pocket of space.
Over time, his abilities came to intrigue Quill and enjoying the attention, he started taking her off on trips to different places in the universe. The two eventually became close as a result. When "The Man" was pestered by a stranger in an alien nightclub, Quill came to his defense. Afterwards, they shared an embrace.
However, during this embrace, Quill overheard the faint stifled chuckles of Charlie and grew suspicious of him. He went with Quill back to Coal Hill, where they before discovered the true nature of his existence. Soon after, the remaining energy in the residual pocket faded and "The Man" ceased to exist. His last words to Quill went unheard. (AUDIO: Sweet Nothings)