Space Lovers~ Peter Quill- ON HOLD

9. Cherry Bomb

Walking as a collective group, we enter the large room that is filled from floor to ceiling with numerous glass observation tanks that held a large variety of species and beings that appeared to be held against their will.  A shiver racing up my spine as I grab onto Peters free hands as we move up some stairs and follow the lady with the questionable dress sense.

Peter squeezes my hand in reassurance as I gaze upon the never ending collection of filthy tanks. Our footfalls echoing off the metal plates below us as we wander ever closer to the centre of the ginormous room; Rocket giving a growl towards a dog in an uncomfortable, dated, space suit.

"We house the galaxy's largest collection of fauna, relics, and species of all manner." She moves with her well practised motions to make our gazes follow her hand towards a funky looking guy who needed to have a look at the amount of eye liner he was drawing across his eyelids and down his chin as if he had dribbled with his drink, "I present to you, Taneleer Tivan, the Collector,"

The announced man now slowly moving around to face us and once his eyes focused on Gamora under his spectacles, he approached her with fake grace as he takes her hand and tries to woo her with his manner,

"Oh, my dear Gamora. How wonderful to meet in the flesh." His slow and deep voice doing nothing to ease my crawling skin. Peter pushing his body ever so slightly in-front of mine; himself also having an unusual feeling about this man.

"Let's bypass the formalities, Tivan. We have what we discussed," Gamora attempts to hurry the meeting along, but unfortunately Tivan's eyes have now moved on to assess the beauty that if Groot.

"What is that thing there?" he so rudely speaks.

"I am Groot." Innocent Groot introduces himself.

"I never thought I'd meet a Groot. Sir, you must allow me to pay you now so that I may own your carcass. At the moment of your death, of course." Tivan bargains, his eyes hungry with the unusual entity before him.

"I am Groot," Yeah, okay, Groot agrees with a shrug of his shoulder, obviously not bothered by the weight of the question that he had just been asked. Luckily, Rocket interjects,

"Why? So he could turn you into a frikin' chair?"

"That's your pet?" The Collector motions over his shoulder as he rudely teases without looking away from Groot.

"What!-" Rocket goes to reach for his gun once again in his rage, his temperament still a little sensitive after the brawl a few minuets ago in the bar.

"Excuse me, but you better apologise right now, David Bowie, before I electrocute you and you wont have to use so much jell to spice up your hair any more," I spit, moving from behind Peter and pushing my way in-front of the Collector so that he can see the rage on my face.

Eyes widening in what appears to be shock, the Collector suddenly bows deeply and does a very strange motion with his hands that could be seen as a royal gesture as he addresses me with his head kept bowed:

"Asgardian, the pleasure is all mine,"

Looking around and giving Peter a wide eyed look, I clear my throat and cross my arms in an unimpressed fashion over my chest as Tivan stands once again. His cold and calculating eyes sweeping over my body as he processes my form, "I recognise your face, have we met before, milady?"

My breath catches in my throat. Could this be a trap that he is wishing me to reveal my heritage and then manipulate anyone that is willing to buy the missing princess of Asgard? Or does he recognise my fathers features on my face because I for one have not been here before.