Largo Descent (Loki x Nebula)

Stars, Maps and other Artifacts

Loki
The girl moved quickly, stiff backed and tense with nerves. Her anxious demeanor drew several inquiring glances. Loki kept pace with her, making sure to keep a keen eye for any chance she might take to run away.
She led him through the sharp, cornered streets for a while before a large, dommed structure came into view. She suddenly folded her hands in front of her, jutting her elbows out and plastering a wide, false grin across her face.
"My Master, Taneleer Tivan, or the Collector as you know him, will be pleased to meet you."
Loki narrowed his eyes slightly before falling into her ruse with ease.
"Yes, I am sure he will. I trust his eye for . . exquisite treasures." The girl glanced back at him, her gaze slightly wary as she forced her grin wider.
"Yes, of course. Right this way, my lord . . "
"Loki Laufeyson." He smiled slightly. The girl's eyes widened slightly in recognition.
"Right this way . ." She led him through a wide entrance into an otherworldly museum. Loki looked around in slight awe.
Around a dimly lit, wide open and exceedingly high ceilinged space were glass cages in stacks upon stacks. Each one contained something different, some even had living creatures trapped inside. And in the center of it all, bent over an examining table, was a man almost as eccentric and strange as his collection, the Collector.
The only thing Loki saw of him at first was a long, white coat which made him look more snow beast than man.
"Miran, what could have possibly taken you so long?" The Collector snapped as he rose to his full height, pushing a pair of multi-lensed glasses above his brow.
"Never mind that now . . At least tell me you managed to get the Shi'ar polish?" The collector quickly turned, his face twisted in irritation.
' I need it for the-"
He trailed off as he saw his new guest, his eyes narrowed with curiosity and suspicion.
"And who, pray tell, might our new . . guest be? . ." His eyes flicked between Loki and the pink girl, Miran.
"My Lord, Loki Laufeyson-"
"An Aseguardian . ." The Collector drawled, interrupting Miran. "And a prince at that. A bit far from the Nine Realms, aren't we?"
Loki's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly at the mention of Aseguard and his father's former empire. No matter how he had been mistreated there, it had still been he and Thor's home.
"It has been quite the challenge to arrive here, Collector, but I have an irresistible offer for you."
The Collector perked up a bit at this.
"Oh? Enlighten me then, mischief god."
Loki smirked at that and reached into his pocket. Mirran watched curiously as he did. Conjuring an illusion into his hand before slowly pulling it out. A bright, shining star pulsed in his hand casting the room in a blue glow. The Collector's brows rose and he reached up and pulled the glasses off of his forehead, setting them on the table top next to him. Miran's lips parted in awe. The Collector took a tentative step forward.
"And what . . Is this?" His eyes gleamed in the abnormal star light.
"The core of an ancient star, saved from the vaults of Odin himself before the fall of Asgard." Loki said grandly, lifting the false star higher.
"Ah . . I see." The Collector murmured, glancing at the star then back to Loki's face. Artifacts glinted as Loki turned the illusion slightly in his hand. The Collector watched the movements like a hungry vulture, his hands gripped inside his sleeves.
"What is it capable of?" He leered closer.
"A great many things . ." Loki started as he watched the Collector, amused. A mighty man, but a greedy one nonetheless. Greed was something he could use.
"It can shift the very nature of gravity itself if used right, it can bend the tide of a whole moon to wash out cities . ."
The Collector tilted his chin up at this, his fingers tapping together, eyes focused on the star.
"And . . how much would you want for this?" He mused. Right where I want you. Loki grinned.
"I heard that you have acquired a new addition to your hoard, a map." The Collector's gaze snapped to Loki's face.
"So you've heard . ." Loki nodded.
"I offer you the star in exchange for the map." Loki stated.
The Collector narrowed his eyes for a second.
"And how do I know that this is not one of your infamous illusions? Hm?" Loki's smug grin grew at this, he had been practicing his magic.
"See for yourself." He tossed the star to the Collector who caught it with a single hand. He raised a brow as he felt the warm pulse of the star in his palm, before his mouth pulled into a grin to match Loki's.
"You, my royal friend, have yourself a deal." The Collector quickly turned to Miran.
"What are you ogling at girl? Fetch the map. Go, shoo!" He waved her off with a hand and quickly turned back to his table, wiggling his strange glasses back on with one hand. Miran quickly slipped away.
Loki folded his hands behind his back and focused on keeping the illusion stable. It had taken much work, making illusions real enough to hold, to touch. But he had done it. It was now only a matter of time if he could keep it up long enough to get the map and slink away. The Collector held the star up closer to his face, studying it through his glasses.
"Fascinating . ." He murmured, tilting it this way and that to examine it.
"And how did your father acquire this stunning trinket?" The collector asked as he studied the illusion. Loki tensed slightly in concentration, making sure to keep the star stable enough to hold.
"He found a powerful, dying star along his conquest of the nine realms. He told me the story once or twice." Loki made sure to keep his voice steady as he fed the Collector the false tale. His mind raced to keep up with the illusion but his face did not show it. He wandered over to a few of the stored artifacts, pretending to inspect them. A few moments later, Miran came back with a small, intricately carved metal box cupped in her hands.
"Ah, here we are." The Collector announced as he waved Loki over. Miran opened the small box as the two men approached.
Loki peered with curiosity into the box. Inside was a small, triangular metal chip the size of two finger tips. It looked ancient, with runes scrolled across it to tarnished to decipher. Loki stared at it for a second before glancing at the Collector.
"How do you access it?" The Collector paused for a second, his lips pursed.
"We have yet to figure that out." Loki's brows raised.
"Then . . How do you know this is the map to the Heart?"
The Collector smirked at this.
"It was found on a long ago forgotten world in an underground cave system. It was hidden in a chamber with more than a few booby traps, many people died to get this."
"And?" The Collector rolled his eyes at the god's impatience.
"And there was writing all along the walls. They were able to decipher enough of it to reveal that this is indeed the right map."
Loki reached into the box and picked up the small chip, squinting at it. It was cool to the touch and it seemed much heavier than it should be. Out of the corner of his eye, Loki saw Miran glance warily at something in the far shadows of the room. Before he could look, the Collector was speaking again. He refocused on maintaining the illusion.
"Now then! The deal is sealed, I take the star, you take the map and go on your merry way." The Collector plucked the map from Loki's hands and placed it back in the box, Miran snapped it shut. The girl smiled politely at him and held out the box. The Collector gave an impish grin as Loki took it carefully and tucked it into his pocket.
"Pleasure doing business." He threw the star up in the air and caught it again. Loki bowed his head before turning swiftly, the tail of his coat flaring out dramatically.
"Make sure you take good care of that, stars tend to burn out when not treated properly." He called over his shoulder.
He was halfway to the door when he felt the muzzle of a gun press against the back of his skull. He froze.
"Hands in the air." Said a low, raspy voice. Loki's eyes flicked to the side, trying to catch a glimpse of his new captor.
He snorted as he lifted his hands.
"A gun? Oh, how pedestrian. Surely you can do better than that?" He mused. The gun pressed harder into the back of his head. He grimaced slightly.
"Gets the job done. Now hand it over." Loki's brows drew.
"I have no idea what you're talking about . ."
"Ill refresh your memory then." the muzzle jabbed painfully into his head and he hissed. "The map."
"Alright alright, no need to be so temperamental." He slowly reached for his pocket.

Nebula
She watched the trickster's movements like a hawk. She knew what he was capable of, illusions and all. She didn't need to worry about the Collector, the girl had already clocked him in the head and he was crumpled on the floor. The 'star' the Asgardian had traded to him had already shimmered out of view, a clever illusion.
The very same Asgardian still had his hand in his pocket.
"If you try anything, I'll put a laser right through your skull." She pushed the gun a little harder against his head to prove her point.
"Ouch." He said pointedly before pulling the small metal box out of his pocket. She had spotted it earlier from her hiding place in a shadowy corner. She kept the gun pressed against the back of his head and held out her other one. Loki slowly lifted his hand to place the map in hers. Nebula took it quickly and gripped the small box tightly. Finally, she thought. She was getting irritated at both the Trickster and the Collector's games.
"Not so fast!" Miran called from across the room. Nebula heard the tell tale click of a blaster as it was cocked. Her head snapped towards Miran, but she made sure to keep a steady watch on Loki out of the corner of her eye.
"What the hell are you doing?" Snapped Nebula. Miran's hands trembled slightly in her weak grip on the gun. She stood infront of the dispatched Collector.
"I want that." Her wide gaze flicked to the map. "Give it to me." Nebula's eyes slowly narrowed.
"We had a deal. Why the sudden change of heart?" Miran squared her shoulders.
"That must be very valuable if you two are both after it . ." Loki slowly looked over his shoulder at the situation.
"Well well well, this just got far more interesting . . Wouldn't you both agree?" Miran swung the gun towards Loki.
"Shut up! Now, give me the map." She said defiantly. Her eyes were wide and nervous, but Nebula saw the desperate edge in her wild eyes, like a cornered animal. Desperate people were dangerous. She huffed and slowly lifted her hands, dropping her own gun.
"Miran, you're making a mistake. Put the gun down before I make you." Nebula warned. The girl did not listen.
"You think you can threaten me? That he hasn't done enough already!?" She cried, swinging the gun towards the Collector. That single moment of distraction was all Nebula needed. She sprinted with inhuman speed at Miran, who turned too late. The cyborg maneuvered behind her, wrapping an arm around her throat. Miran yelped in surprise and dropped the gun, which clattered to the floor, clawing at Nebula's arm. Nebula held fast, watching as Miran's eyes fluttered and rolled back, and her movements slowed. The girl slowly sank, and Nebula let her flop to the floor. The Trickster had been watching the scene with keen interest.
"Impressive . ." He glanced Nebula over. She glowered at him.
"Perhaps I underestimated you. It seems you can be creative without a mere gun." Nebula reached down for the blaster, pointing it at him. Loki smirked.
"Give me one good reason not to kill you right here, right now." She hissed.
Loki spread his arms wide, chuckling darkly.
"Because we both need to get off of this trash heap, don't we, dear Nebula?" She tilted her head.
"I can do that without you." She cocked the blaster. Loki's smirk widened at her threat.
"I'm sure you could . . But you wouldn't get very far with the Collector's minions after you. Not to mention the countless others after that little treasure." He nodded to the box gripped in her other hand. Nebula slowly considered his words. They had a certain logic to them . . No.
"I will not be twisted by your words!" She snarled. Loki's mouth twitched slightly, almost imperceptible. The only reason she caught it was due to her cybernetically enhanced vision.
"Just listen to me for a second, will you? I will not go anywhere without that map, and neither will you. We both need it. How about a truce, a minuscule alliance until we are off of Knowhere, yes?"
Nebula glared at him for a few seconds longer. She knew he would stop at nothing till he got the map. Besides, it was better to have a god of disguises on her side rather than against her. And this way, she could keep a closer eye on him. She lowered the gun slightly.
"This doesn't mean I trust you." He grinned.
"I'd be highly disappointed if you did."