Chapter 23: Tony
Tony woke from a well-needed sleep to the sound of quiet voices. The music must have been turned off some time ago, and despite the Guardians' lowered tones, he could keep track of the conversation – a conversation about him.
"The guy was locked up on one of Thanos' ships, Gamora," Quill was saying.
"But can he be trusted?" Gamora pressed.
"Yeah," Quill said, then added, "I think."
Gamora gave him a stern look.
"What?" Quill raised his hands defensively. "Look, if it turns out he's playing us, we'll just revert to your modus operandi."
"I don't mean to eavesdrop," Tony cut in, "but what exactly is the lady's modus operandi?" He sat up straighter in his seat as the team turned to face him.
"Dump your body into space and move on," Drax answered bluntly.
Tony had no doubts the green woman was capable of doing it. He swallowed. "There'll be no need for that."
"I guess we'll find out," Gamora replied.
There was a moments' tense silence, then Quill announced, "Aaand Knowhere at twelve o'clock!"
Tony's eyes widened as he looked at the massive greenish object looming through the Benatar's windscreen. "It … looks like a head," he said.
"That's because it is," Rocket replied as Quill steered the ship in through what Tony now knew to be an eye socket. They landed beside a massive ship inside the skull, and the Guardians unbuckled.
"No sign of the Chitauri yet," Gamora noted.
"Good." Quill checked the two strange guns he carried and turned to the tree creature. "Groot, stay here with Stark."
"Hang on! You're not leaving me behind," Tony protested.
"It's a precaution," Quill explained.
"Because you're not sure you can trust me?" Tony queried.
"No, because the last time we were here everything kind of got destroyed," Quill said. "The Collector doesn't really like us, and we don't need a humie in the way if things go badly."
"Then send me in first," Tony said quickly. "He doesn't know me. I'll have a better chance of getting the Stone."
"You mean steal it, right?" Rocket interjected.
Tony frowned. "He won't sell?"
"He's the Collector," Drax pointed out. "He doesn't sell stuff.
"Fine. Steal it then," Tony agreed. "Either way, we need to do this fast."
The Guardians looked at each other.