The Collector froze mid-step, eyebrows twitching slightly.
"Wait… did you say one of them is an Earthling?"
The maid nodded quickly. "Yes, Master. He's in the bar now. Shall I bring them in?"
Soren's gaze flicked toward the maid. The mention of Earth had already piqued his interest.
Quill... he thought. It has to be Quill.
Who else from that dust ball even knows how to leave orbit, let alone make it this far into the galaxy?
The Collector glanced nervously at Soren, suddenly regretting his earlier dismissiveness.
"Soren." He said with a strained smile. "Your… fellow Earthborn traveler—would you like to meet him?"
Soren leaned back casually, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
"Why not? I've been waiting for them."
Collector's Reception Chamber
The ornate doors hissed open. The Guardians of the Galaxy stepped inside, tense and cautious. High ceilings. Artifacts in glass.
Weird things floating in tanks. It smelled like money and ego.
A regal-looking maid stepped forward and gestured.
"Welcome, travelers. You stand before Taneleer Tivan… the Collector. Renowned curator of rare beings, artifacts, and histories across the galaxy."
Rocket rolled his eyes. "So... space hoarder with a god complex. Got it."
The maid cleared her throat, ignoring the remark.
"And this." She gestured to the figure standing beside the Collector.
"Is Mr. Soren... our most distinguished guest."
The Guardians' eyes turned toward Soren. Tall, composed, radiating an energy none of them could quite place.
The Collector, ever watchful, studied Quill's face, hoping for recognition, tension, something. But Quill only tilted his head.
Nothing. Interesting.
Gamora narrowed her eyes. For the Collector to speak his name aloud... that meant respect. Fear, maybe.
Soren broke the silence, voice calm and friendly.
"Peter Quill, right? Star-Lord? You're from Earth, just like me."
Quill blinked. "You don't say? Another Earthling out here in the cosmic sticks."
Rocket elbowed Quill. "Wait you're from Earth too?"
"Is it always this full of lunatics?"
"Rocket~" Gamora snapped.
She turned to Soren with a graceful nod. "Forgive him. My companion has the mouth of a malfunctioning droid."
Soren chuckled softly, waving it off.
"No offense taken."
"I've met far worse in Collector's collection." He glanced at Rocket. "At least you're not in a cage... yet."
Rocket grinned.
"Yet."
Drax leaned in toward Groot.
"I like him. He speaks plainly."
"I am Groot."
"Exactly."
Quill squinted at Soren, suspicion mixed with curiosity in his eyes.
"You're really from Earth?" He asked, tone uncertain. "I haven't met anyone from there in decades... not since Yondu picked me up."
Soren gave him a knowing smile and nodded.
"Born and raised."
"Though I've walked a lot of stars since then."
Quill looked like he wanted to say more, but...
"I hate to interrupt this little Earth reunion." Rocket snapped, loud as ever.
"But in case you forgot, we've got a Kree maniac with a warship hunting us like we owe him child support!"
Everyone shot him a glare. He didn't care.
"He's not wrong," Quill muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. He turned to Soren with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry. Not the best time for catching up."
"It's alright." Soren replied. "Business first."
Quill reached into his coat and pulled out the Orb, holding it up with both caution and reverence.
"Mr. Collector, we're here to make a deal."
The second the Orb came into view, the Collector's eyes widened. His breath hitched.
"The... Cosmic Spirit Orb…" He whispered. A manic gleam lit up his face, as if he were staring at the universe's crown jewel.
But then he felt it, the weight of Soren's gaze.
Instantly, the Collector's excitement dampened. He remembered the quiet confidence in Soren's voice earlier. The way he'd hinted at expecting all of this.
He knew this was coming. He planned this.
Gamora stepped forward, voice calm but firm.
"We heard you were offering four billion Galactic Credits for the Orb."
"We came to seal the deal. Ronan is after it. You're the only one with the resources to keep it safe."
The Collector's fingers twitched with desire, but a flicker of fear ran down his spine. Unbeknownst to the others, the Time, Space, and Reality Stones hidden within Soren's being subtly pulsed, resonating faintly with the Power Stone sealed inside the Orb.
Only Soren could feel the call. Only he could understand it.
And in that moment, he knew, the Orb was real.
The Collector, still rattled, turned his head slowly.
"Soren…" He said carefully.
"Are you… interested in the Orb?"
Soren's expression didn't change. But when he looked at the Collector, it felt like the temperature in the room dropped ten degrees.
"Of course." Soren said softly.
"Why else would I be here?"
"…"
His voice was too calm. But there was no mistaking the warning laced beneath it.
The Collector tried to chuckle, but it came out dry.
"O-of course! I wouldn't dream of interfering. If you want the Orb, I'll merely act as a… neutral facilitator."
"Yes."
"A middleman."
Soren tilted his head slightly, letting the tension stretch just a moment longer.
"Good."
"Because I'd hate to misunderstand you."
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
PhantomDream