Mischief

Chapter Twenty Nine- We Just Want to Help

"Why is there a donut here?"

"I was wondering where I put that!"

Quill watched in disbelief as Parker peeled a donut from the ceiling, munching on it happily. The child had shown an uncanny ability to leave his things everywhere; he'd once discovered some kind of fancy gaming gadget in the engine of the ship. Quill still didn't know had it had gotten there- he'd left the conversation in a huff after the kid had laughed at him and called him old. How was he supposed to know a Nintendo DS was outdated? He hadn't been to Terra in decades.

They were currently cruising through the galaxy, deciding to take some time off after everything that had happened. Thor and Banner had looked horrified when Loki suggested taking it easy on some planet called Sakaar, and Quill wasn't entirely sure what exactly happened there, but Loki's smirk had definitely put him off the idea. Even if he was apparently very good friends with its leader.

They were gathered in the hangar, debating where to go next. They had to stop for a fuel up soon, but deciding where to go when 99% of the team were literal wanted criminals was turning out to be quite difficult, unsuprisingly.

Ideas were quickly discarded, and the team were beginning to lose motivation when Loki had an idea. It was an idea that inspired horror and abject exhaustion in Thor and therefore inspired sheer terror in Quill. He may be as strong as the muscled, tanned, not-that-good-looking thunder god, but if something frightens him then Quill wasn't going to be an idiot. He's seen what happens in movies.

"Loki. No. We are not going there."

"It's a good idea!"

"Are you insane?"

"Yes?!"

"Excuse me?" Banner's slightly nervous voice cut through the brothers' bickering. "But what is Nifleheim? And why is it so bad?"

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Tony was furious. Taking the ship to Nifleheim was obviously a bad idea. And Thor's rather shaky explanation only solidified that fact in his mind. He'd stormed out the second he'd heard the description, angry that Loki would suggest such a horrific place, and angry that it was the best plan they had.

"Mr Stark?"

Peter's halting tone immediately calmed Tony's temper, the stress leaving his body instantly as it often did when Peter appeared.

"What's up, kid?"

"Are we really going to Niflheim? It sounds dangerous."

"It is what it is, and right now what it is is the best plan we've got."

"I understand."

The boy turned and left, Tony staring dumbly after him. That was... unusual. He wasn't expecting the kid to hang off his every word, of course- not that that wasn't the usual- but it was odd for him to leave so bluntly. Peter turned the corner and disappeared out of sight, a strange smile twisting his lips. Tony felt his hair stand up on the back of his neck.

Something was off.

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"Hello Bruce."

Banner let out a very manly scream as Loki's silky voice invaded his ear canals. The trickster somehow stood on the other side of the room to the door, yet he hadn't noticed the lanky man creep in. He was interestedly looking at the gadget in Quill's hands, something Rocket had whipped together with some spare crap lying around. He'd thought it was some kind of stress ball, with flashing lights and dinging bells, but the look Loki was giving it was definitely making him reevaluate that.