Summary: AU – In the private eye business sometimes it pays to have connections in shady places. It's the only reason Coulson came knocking, pulling Loki back into the fiery underbelly of the city. The Hydra Underground is feeding the flames as white heat blinds the night in a searing mix of crime and passion. - Established Loki/OC - 40s Noir Setting - Obviously a bit OOC
Authors Note: So I decided to have another adventure in the noir universe. I'd recommend reading the first installment, Ruby Red, before continuing. Anyway, thanks for reading. :)
prologue
~ the seventh victim ~
Phil was holed up in an alcove just passed the dock trying hard to see through the thick cloud of fog that had just rolled in. He was a ball of anticipation, knowing full well there wasn't any back-up. Not this time. He was going it alone and he was none too pleased. Across the still water he heard voices. Suddenly a cast of shadows descended on the dock and he narrowed his eyes to get a good look. It was useless though. The thick cloud was covering the city's secrets, hugging her in a dewy white.
"What the blazes?" he mumbled, realizing he recognized at least one players, but prayed he was wrong.
Across the open expanse of shimmering water he caught another piece, enough to be sure. It was definitely Loki and no doubt that meant Ruby too. He cursed without realizing and knocked his head on the wall of the rust laden warehouse, startling to attention as he worried he'd given himself away. When he was satisfied that the rumble was just shrugged off as one of the many creaks of the waterlogged buildings, succumbing to salt and moistened air, he went back to brooding. They weren't supposed to be there. They promised to walk away. Who was he kidding though, he was there too, playing the part he was fated just like them. Some things there was just no walking away from...
Suddenly the unmistakable pop of gunfire echoed in the night and Phil jumped to attention. Across the way he could see the flashes of the guns as shadows slowly began to drop to the ground. Then there was a scream as one of the shadows teetered back, toppling over the edge of the dock. The sound of the splash echoed just as deafeningly, mingling in a frightening crescendo with the piercing cry.
He saw Ruby running across the empty dock towards lands edge, navigating through wooden shipping crates and piles of soggy rope as bullets ricocheted behind her. Phil caught sight of the shooter, a Hydra Underground goon he was certain. He steadied his pistol and fired, knowing after all this was over he'd have to answer for what he'd done. He was in the right, but that wouldn't stop the questions. It never did.
Ruby finally reached him, breathing heavy and clearly out of sorts. The tremble in her blue eyes was a mixture of confusion and dread. Phil stepped forward and gripped her shoulders giving her a jostle to snap her out of it. He needed answers. He needed something.
"He's dead..." she finally whispered, unable to contain her tears.
They flowed like glistening jewels across her rosy cheeks. A sorrowful lament, beautifully touching for the one she'd lost, but it came off too surreal. Loki couldn't be gone...but life really was that fleeting.
Phil ran through the scene, playing back the moments he managed to gleam. Amid all the shots there had been a scream and with it a figure had fallen into the black murky water, sinking towards oblivion at the bottom of some trash strewn wasteland wrought with sand. He felt a pit in his stomach realizing it really was Loki. It had to be. The timing played out perfectly like a dismal glimpse of someone's final bow before life dropped the heavy red velvet curtain.
"I know," Phil quietly acknowledged, unable to offer any gesture of comfort.
He'd pulled them all into this mess and now he had blood on his hands. He might not have pulled the trigger, but he'd put them in front of the gun. Loki played dirty, but he didn't deserve to go down like this. He was another casualty of the Hydra Underground and this time...this time they were going to pay.