Chapter One: The Game is Afoot
Loki perched on the ledge, barely moving apart for the occasional blink and the rise and fall of his chest. Hidden just out of sight of the electrical lights which lit the streets he watched is prey carefully as she meandered down the streets without much care, swinging her bag in a way that almost begged for someone to snatch it from her. But he was not here to play the petty theft, his intents were much grander and if any thief decided to take this opportunity from him then… well, it wouldn't be pretty.
The woman in question was in her early twenties with long, dark hair that fell past her shoulders and made her skin seem paler in comparison; her rounded face sported a pair of dark blue eyes and lips that seemed almost set in a permanent pout. She was dressed in the casual Midgardian clothes of jeans and a baggy t-shirt, jacket tied around her waist even though the temperature was bringing out goose bumps on her bare arms. Whistling a random tune to herself as she walked, she seemed not to be bothered by the dark foreboding alley she had chosen to walk down.
He would have to do something about that.
Waiting until she walked past he jumped down to the ground with the grace of a cat, barely making a sound as he landed and ducking behind a bin as she turned sharply to look.
Her gaze swept across the alley, settling on nowhere in particular, her eyebrows coming down as she frowned and a look of anxiety crossed her face.
Had she suspected he was there?
She looked on for a few moments more before turning back with a light shrug and carrying on. Her posture seemed stiffer now, not noticeable to the mere mortal but to him it was obvious and he relished it. Her pace had quickened noticeably and now the glances over her shoulder came more frequently.
Not that is was a bother to him.
He stepped out from behind the bins and with several quick steps was right behind her and pressing the blade of one of his daggers oh so gently to her throat. He brought his lips to her ears, chuckling darkly as he took in the minty smell of her hair and brought his other arm around to pin her arms to her side. "Game over," he whispered.
"Yes it is."
The voice came from behind him and on instinct he released the woman he was holding onto, ducking as a blue, rippling blast shot past his head and passed through the woman who disappeared from view. Turning his head sharply to see the new arrival, his intended victim stood there with a faintly worried look on her face.
"I just killed myself, didn't I?" She cocked her head to the side slightly, frowning before a grin lit up her face. "I sensed you coming! I actually did it this time!"
He didn't bother to point out that to detect magic was a basic skill, her enthusiasm was catching and he allowed himself a smirk. "You've been practicing on your copies as well. You will be quite skilled with magic, Miss Attwater."
"Miss Attwater? Since when were we back on formal terms?" She waltzed back other and stood in front of him as she peered up at him carefully. "Call me Jess."
I couldn't help but feel proud as Loki and I headed back to my apartment, sipping on hot drinks after a quick stop at an all night convenience store. Sure Loki had told me it was basic, but every new skill was welcomed- even if the only need I had of magic sensing at the moment was to find out if Loki was using my shower (That guy never seemed to understand the meaning of closing the bathroom door- even the shower curtain couldn't completely spare my eyes… not that it's a bad sight). I did secretly wish I could add some new attacks or defences to my arsenal, but Loki was insistent I learn basics first and he could be an evil teacher when he was in a bad mood.
"Teaching a mortal isn't quite as humiliating as I imagined it to be," Loki said suddenly, taking a sip of his Latte.
I just rolled my eyes. One thing you had to learn about working with him was that he was prone to say something bad about us mortals and whatnot. You just had to take it in your stride and not let it bother you. "That's because you're teaching me- and I'm awesome."
"Is that so?" He gave me a questioning look, one eyebrow raised and the corners of his lips upturned.
"Of course!" I flashed him a grin before draining the rest of my hot chocolate. I wiggled my free fingers at him. "For starters I have magic."
"That is an important quality in magic students," he said with a slow nod, the smirk more pronounced as he did so. "Yet so is obedience and as I recall that is not a quality that comes easily to you."
"I spend all day working my ass off at S.H.I.E.L.D." Pouting childishly I chucked the empty cup in a nearby bin. "You can't blame me if I don't feel up to learning magic when I get back."
"You seemed perfectly okay to handle it today," pointed out the liesmith, wagging his finger at me like I was a bad dog. "I think a certain mortal may be lying."
"Actually I drank a whole load of Red Bull today." Looking about with exaggerated suspicion, I leaned in to whisper at him in a conspiracy manner. "They lied- it doesn't give you wings."
The perplexed laugh he gave me was enough to have me laughing, all the sugary goodness of the drink going straight to my head (Fact- sugar doesn't make you hyper, aren't I smart with all my knowledge.) and even when it changed to annoyance I couldn't stop giggling.
"I'm beginning to thinkI should have just killed you when I had the chance."
"That's not nice," I replied as I tried and failed to stop the giggling, bringing my hands to my face in an effortless bid to smother them.
The streets were empty enough thankfully, the only few out were those who could afford to get drunk on a Tuesday and even they were in relatively low spirits. Several of the streetlights seemed to be broken whilst several others flickered precariously. It was rare for a car to drive past and even when they did it was usually a taxi searching for its latest prey. We could have took a taxi but after watching Sherlock I had developed a mistrust of all taxis and so we were made to walk- not that Loki minded…. I think.
The god in question appeared to be deep in thought now, his body on autopilot as his eyebrows arched down in an elegant frown. No doubt planning my next torturous lesson for payback on the giggling- no matter how much he claimed to be 'above such things' I knew it was only a matter of time.
Several minutes of silence passed before I spoke. "Something on your mind?"
His eyes snapped to me, but the frown remained pencilled onto his face. "I was merely wondering why there have been no attempts my Asgard to capture me- after all I still have my punishment to face there."
"I figured you were using some sort of cloaking spell," I replied with a shrug, putting my hands in my pocket and looking ahead to my apartment building as it slowly approached. "Maybe they figured you were doing your punishment through community service?"
Even if he didn't know what that was he seemed to get the gist of it and shook is head slightly. "I do not think so." Turning his gaze skyward he studied the few lone stars that shone intently. "Does it not bother you the Chitauri have not returned- and with their device they no longer need my assistance to invade Asgard and take the Tesseract."
"You think the Chitauri are back again?" It no doubt showed on my face how little I wanted to deal with them again and it seemed to reflect on Loki's own.
I wondered if he was thinking back to the threats they made against him- and the fact he had betrayed them not once but twice now. "I think that trouble is brewing in Asgard- something more dangerous than me."
"Good to know."
We reached the door of the building and the rest of the journey to my penthouse apartment was in silence as we both considered the possibility of there being something even more deadly out there turning its gaze towards Earth and Asgard. Was Thanos already preparing to make his move? Or was it the villain who would appear in Iron Man 3 (I remembered looking at the calendar at the date the film would have come out in my world and feeling a twinge of regret- it was something me and my friends had planned to see together), or those from the impending sequel of the other films. My knowledge of the future had reached an end, unless you counted the trailers I had seen for Iron Man 3 which had left me missing that crazy genius- not so much any more.
It almost surprised me when we reached my door and I found myself unlocking the door with my keys, the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' key ring waving at me cheerfully. I let Loki in first and took note of my communicator beeping as it rested on the coffee table, glaring at me for having left it behind.
My curiosity was piqued as I wondered what could have someone contacting me at this hour- then dread filled my stomach. Was this the threat Loki had mentioned only minutes ago? I strode over to the table and picked it up quickly, pressing the answer button and listening as Tasha's voice sounded through.
"You're needed- I'm waiting out front."
"What's the problem?" I asked, exchanging a quick look with Loki.
"Eddie Brock and Cletus Kasady got out- and that's not all."
"Don't tell me," I groaned, running my free hand across my face. "The Symbiotes got out as well."
"Exactly- it appears that magic had a factor in it this time as well. One minute the Symbiotes were there and the next they won't- the cells Brock and Kasady were in apparently opened for no reason."
"I'll be down in a second," I informed her, closing the link and strapping it to my wrist. I turned to Loki who was watching me carefully. "Guess I'll be leaving you now."
A slight inclination of the head was all I got as I exited the apartment once again, the journey to meet Tasha out front seeming so much longer. Perhaps I could get Loki to teach me how to portal places.
Tasha was leaning against a taxi as I left the building, arms folded across her chest and suited up in her S.H.I.E.L.D. uni- guess I should have changed… I went to question he choice of vehicle when I realised it was Phil seated in the front. He offered me a quick nod. She said no word but got into the cab and I gave a huff before joining her.
"Set phasers to stun then I guess."
This was going to be a long night."