-(.:.)-

Loki was not happy that Darcy had incapacitated his prisoner. Despite the amusement she provided, he was regretting allowing her to accompany him. He was using his energy to suspend the man behind them as they picked their way through Knowhere. He needed to find a ship.

"Dude, what do we need a ship for? Can't we just call the keyman?" Darcy was saying.

"This mission is not one for the eyes of Heimdall," Loki answered. "I have shielded us from his gaze so far. Asking him to retrieve us now would be averse to our goal."

"And what is our goal, aren't we heading back to Stark tower?" Loki stopped, staring down at her.

"Midgardian, please cease this mindless inquiry. All you need know is that I have a plan. I thought you would have enjoyed seeing this boy suffer after the pain he caused you." Darcy glanced back at Peter, unconscious, floating along behind them.

"He pissed me off," she said, "but that doesn't mean he needs to suffer. I mean, more than being tased. He deserved that shit." Loki had started walking again.

"Regardless of your feelings," he said the word as if it poisoned him, "there are deals to be made. This boy is wanted by his father, royalty in another realm, and I have need of allies." He had at last apparently found what he needed, a large pod ship that was sitting close to a bar, likely where its owner was currently located. He climbed into the pod, helping Darcy to get seated, and transporting the floating Peter Quill to a seat in the back, where he sat slumped.

"Best strap him in," Loki said, focusing on manipulating the ship's controls. Darcy climbed into the back and reached for the strap, when large hands closed over her wrists. Her eyes snapped to Peter's, and he put a finger in front of his lips, gesturing for her to stay quiet. He motioned for Darcy to take her seat again. She debated with herself about whether to alert Loki or do what Peter was telling her to do; she decided to take her seat but readied her taser gun in her hand in case she needed it.

Peter had stood quietly and approached Loki.

"So what is this about going to Sparta?"

-(.:.)-

Loki turned, glaring at Darcy, then at Peter.

"Your decisions are not your own, boy," he spat.

"Like hell they aren't. You're going to let me off this ship." Loki sneered at him.

"You are worth more to me as a bargaining chip, Midgardian." Loki began to raise his arms, likely to suspend Peter back in air, but Peter was holding up both hands, in surrender.

"Hey wait, I have something better," he said. Darcy got the feeling that he was used to talking his way out of a jam. He reached under his shirt with one hand and pulled up a chain, with a metal disk attached. He yanked it off of his neck and threw it over to Loki, who caught it in one hand. "These are my identifiers," he said. "Take it to whoever is looking for me as a sign that you control my actions. Tell them I am in control of the Guardians of the Galaxy and that we can be powerful allies." Darcy squinted at the necklace. It looked an awful lot like military dog tags.

Loki seemed to consider the offer. Before he could think through the options, Peter continued,

"Why don't you let me take Darcy home in this stolen ship, you take the Aerocycle back and stay off the radar." He could see the wheels turning in the Asgardian's brain. Darcy hoped he was thinking of how pissed off Thor and Jane would be if he told them that he had let some guy who had been an ass to her take off with her in a space ship.

"Uh, do I get a say in who I travel back with?" Darcy protested.

"No," they both said in unison. Darcy slumped back into a seat.

"Very well," Loki agreed. "But I should warn you that Ms. Lewis has very powerful friends who will take pleasure in hunting you if you harm her." Peter nodded, keeping a stony gaze trained on Loki. After a few minutes of male ego staring contest, Loki released the hatch and departed from the ship, the door shutting behind him.

"Finally," Peter said, turning to Darcy. "Alone at last.

-(.:.)-

"So what are you, really," Darcy asked him, standing to face him. "I think you left some things out before."

"Peter Quill, Star Lord," he breathed, "that part is true. I might also be an outlaw, and also saved the Galaxy. Once or twice."

"Loki said something about your father being royalty. What was that about?" Peter shrugged.

"No idea. I never knew my father. I assume that has something to do with why he wanted to go to Sparta, but walking into a new planet blind is never a good idea. I need more information first."

Darcy thought about this for a moment. "What was is that you gave Loki?" she asked.

"My grandfather's dog tags," he answered. "I have another set here," he gestured to a second chain around his neck. "I figured it would hold him off long enough for us to escape." Darcy didn't have any words left. He had just tricked the God of Mischief and Lies. That was going to end up being a terrible idea. "Is it my turn for questions?" he asked her.

"Shoot," she agreed.

"Did you think of me over the past year?" Darcy could feel her face grow red.

"Of course not. You were a jerk." She tried to turn away from him but he followed her.

"Are you sure? Why did you follow Loki to my jail cell?" He was advancing toward her, eyes gleaming.

"Morbid curiosity," she answered, backing away. He was way too close.

Darcy reached for her taser again, but Peter grabbed her wrists in his hands, backing her against the cold metal wall of the ship. He pinned her arms above her head and her lower body with his own. She struggled against him, breathing heavily, willing herself not to look at his lips, not to give away what her traitorous brain was thinking.

"God damn space pirate," she accused him, breathily.

"It's Star Lord," he smirked, whispering into her ear. He kissed underneath her ear, then her jawline, then her collarbone. She shivered, trying not to whimper at the tender action. Then he moved his hands down her arms to her shoulders and tangled them in her hair as he kissed her, still pinning her against the wall with his body. She knew she should fight, should reach for her taser and stun him, but all she could do was grasp his arms and kiss him back.

Peter groaned, grinding against her to bring out a strangled moan.

"Darcy," he breathed. He moved his hands to her waist, fingers finding her midriff and stroking her skin. "I looked for you. I never meant to hurt you." It was that last confession that yanked her out of her haze and back into reality. She pulled away from him.

"You did hurt me. I thought we had connected," she said angrily.

"We did," he said. "That dude was really bad, I didn't want him anywhere near you, thinking you had any kind of hold over me." Darcy shook her head.

"You didn't come back though," she accused. "A whole year and you couldn't have come back?" Peter looked sheepish at that.

"I thought about it," he said, "but I thought maybe it was all in my head, and for sure you'd hate me after what I said."

"You should have told me," Darcy answered. She walked away from him, sitting in the chair next to the pilot's seat. "Where are we going? Let's get moving." Peter ran a hand through his hair, but acquiesced, taking the pilot seat.

"I still need to find my aunt. I think we should head back to Terra."

"I would avoid New York," Darcy warned, "you may have a pissed off Asgardian waiting for you."

-(.:.)-