Cap and Loki shared a brief glance before taking after the pesky centaur. It was dark in the woods but neither man was willing to slow down as they wove between the trees and leapt over rotting logs. The Centaur was maddeningly just ahead of them; close enough that they could see the light of the Tesseract illuminating the trees around him, but always just out of reach. Every now and then he would taunt them by coming to a juddering halt to wave the Cube at them before taking to his hooves again and leaping away.
It was then that Steve finally noticed that his shield was not strapped to his arm. He had dropped it in the lobby of Stark Tower, which was really annoying as the Vibruim shield would have really come in useful at that point.
To his horror, Loki suddenly over took him, not slowed down in the least by his wrists being bound together by the Asgardian handcuffs. Another second later and he too had faded into the darkness ahead, along with the Centaur and the Tesseract.
Steve gritted his teeth and pushed himself to go faster.
He hadn't really expected to be able to catch up with Loki so quickly, but moments later he could just about pick out Loki in the gloom. And was he on his stomach, crawling forward? As he neared Steve saw that he had been correct and that Loki was indeed lying on his front, sliding forward in an almost caterpillar motion with his cuffed hands out in front of him.
Steve slowed down, shuffling forward in a crouch. There had to be a good reason for why Loki had hit the dirt, and whatever that reason was, Steve did not want to be caught out by it.
'What's happening?' he called out in a low voice, although honestly he wasn't really expected so much as a hand gesture from the Trickster.
Loki flat out ignored the Captain.
Steve drew closer, the reduced proximity revealing to him what he had not seen before: Loki had two legs...but one of them was now being held in the crook of his arm as he moved doggedly forward on his front.
Steve blinked. Loki's right leg was perfectly normal and was exactly where it should be on a body, but as for the left side there was only a stump, ending just above the knee. Out of it trailed a tangled mess of colourful wires, a thin trickle of dark blood, and a faint smell of oil and something that had burnt out.
The odour of mixed blood and oil was weak enough, but still possessed a sharp enough tang that it sent a shiver down Cap's spine as it revived buried memories of the battlefield, of men lying wounded in the back of medical trucks as oil dripped onto the mud below. He had seen people with missing limbs before, particularly WW1 veterans, but it made his stomach flutter to see the tangle of wires. It looked a mess. An unhealthy, brutal mess. There was a dark story behind it, he could sense it.
Steve shook his head to free himself of the memories. Thor hadn't mentioned the metal leg. Either he didn't know or hadn't deemed it important enough to mention. It seemed obvious now that Loki had fallen over earlier because the leg had become loose in its artificial socket, and sprinting over the uneven terrain of the forest floor had been enough to detach it completely. Or perhaps Loki had tripped. The specifics didn't really matter, but Steve suspected that his encounter with the Hulk may have had something to do with it.
The Cap straightened up to watch as Loki reached a strong looking tree with low hanging branches. The trickster dropped the metal leg as he reached for one of the branches, drawing his right leg under himself as he did so and pushing and hauling himself upright, the task being made all the more difficult by the cuffs. A bead of sweat of ran down his chalk white face.
Captain America had been called many mocking names before: saint, boy scout, holier than thou...stupid was not one of them. He knew how to take advantage when an opportunity presented itself. So while Loki was distracted he snatched up the bionic limb, resting it across his shoulder. It was heavier than he had expected and could feel the heat of it quickly seeping through his uniform.
Loki glared furiously at him. He made a swipe for the leg, but because of the handcuffs was forced to release his grip on the branch. He almost toppled over before catching hold of the branch again with both hands.
Smiling softly, Steve took a single step back.
'This is what's going to happen,' he said in a low no nonsense voice. 'I'm going to get the Tesseract. And when I do I'm taking you back with me to Earth. After that your people will deal with you. As for right now, you can wait here and not move a muscle. If you're really good I may even ask Stark to fix your leg.'
Loki coldly held his gaze for several seconds before saluting him.
'Is that all you've got, Loki?' the jeering voice of Centaur accused from somewhere close by. 'My, my, you must have been in the wars to want to give up so easily.'
Steve caught sight of the Centaur just as his whole form began to flicker. He glanced quickly at Loki to gauge his reaction. The trickster looked more annoyed than afraid, but from the short time Steve had known Loki, he was being to suspect that this was rather normal for him.
The Centaur's whole body glowed brightly as he began to change shape, becoming taller and thinner. When the light faded there was a baby-faced man wearing a mischievous expression on his face, and on his head wore a wide brimmed hat with two adorning wings. On his slender feet he was sporting a nifty pair of sandals, also adorned with wings. Clearly he had a fashion theme to stick to.
The man still had the Tesseract in his hand. Once more he tossed it high into the air, caught it and gave them both a winning smile.
'Welcome, fair traveller and Loki, to Olympus. I am Hermes, god of many useful and varied things, at your service.' He bowed deeply, sweeping his winged hat off his head. He winked at Steve when he straightened up again.
Steve refused to gape. He would never gape when it was expected of him. Loki noticed this denial of awe and experienced a strange sense of pride. Maybe it was because he felt that he and Cap were united together on the same side against Hermes, but more likely it was just because it was fun to watch.
Hermes frowned at Steve's neutral look.
'You are traveller of sorts, a man who has moved beyond his own time,' he went on. 'But even as you find yourself in a new world you keep defying everyone's expectations. Yes, I like you very much. But, seriously, Loki, it's been far too long, my dear friend. You must be a little bit pleased to see me. Yes?'
He spread out his arms wide as if he were expected a hug, but soon dropped them when Loki looped his arm over the branch just so he could give him the middle fingers without falling over.
'Well, I suppose I can't expect your manners to have remained untarnished after everything you've clearly suffered through.' His clear blue eyes lingered on the spot where Loki's leg should have been. 'Especially the manners of an Aesir. But, I have to admit to being pleased to see you; I'm not adversed to the sight of you gagged and cuffed.'
Loki shook his head, and catching sight of Steve's face, shrugged his shoulders and glared in a 'what's wrong with you?' look.
Hermes sighed heavily. 'You used to be so charming.'
'Hand over the Tesseract!' Steve demanded, moving in front of Loki. 'I need to take it and Loki back to Earth.'
Hermes gave him a bored, half amused look.
'I do not know what the Tesseract is,' he said in an innocent voice, drawing the Cube closer to his chest. 'I've only just arrived here.'
Steve saw Loki rolling his eyes to the heavens. He almost visibly flinched when he heard Loki's voice inside his head clearly say:
[Don't engage him in conversation. He'll dozen you. Just attack him and take back the Tesseract. Go on. I believe in you.]
Cap clenched his fists tight, but then faltered. He was sure that Loki was only egging him on for the purpose of snatching the Tesseract while he was busy fighting Hermes; yet, he was also sure that Loki was right, that Hermes would not be negotiated with.
It was during that single second of hesitation that Hermes the Quick Thinker suddenly bellowed, 'Now, Eros!'
Steve heard the whistle of an arrow flying through the air. However, the duration of the whistle was extremely brief as the flight of the arrow was unexpectedly terminated by Loki snatching it out of the air, a trick made all the more impressive by his hands being restricted in their movement by the cuffs.
The watery sunlight bounced off the golden arrow held tightly in Loki's grasp, giving it an ethereal shimmer.
Whatever pride Loki may have felt in himself for having performed such a feat of agility was cut short by the inevitable second golden arrow embedding itself in his back. The force of such an impact was great enough to knock Loki off balance. He fell heavily into Steve's embrace, gasping in pain from behind the muzzle.
Steve lowered him onto his side so that he was not resting his weight against the protruding arrow. His own heart was pounding as he quickly ran over an eye over Loki. He had every reason to despise the god with a passion, but he also felt some responsibility for returning him back to his people in one piece...well, mostly in one piece anyway...Yet it also crossed his mind in a flash that he should abandon Loki and save himself.
He did not do this. Instead he looked up at trees, searching for a glimpse of the concealed archer. Whoever it was, they were at Hawkeye's level of mastery and fast.
'Don't panic, Captain, I've no desire to hurt you or anyone. Loki will be fine. In fact, he'll be more than fine,' Hermes grinned. 'He should have known that there's always another arrow. Well done, Eros!'
Steve was not so willing to take Hermes' word for it, besides he wanted to buy himself a few seconds of thinking time under the cover of checking Loki out. Loki's face was chalk white and glistening as he shuddered and shook on the ground, his nostrils flaring. Steve knelt beside him and wrenched the arms of the muzzle outwards so that the restraint fell away, allowing him to breathe freely.
As he threw the muzzle aside his blue eyes locked with Loki's green and orange ones. Loki's gaze became soft and almost hopeful, a look which Steve interpreted as an expression of gratitude.
'You'll be fine,' Steve grunted, giving Loki's shoulder pad a light thump of reassurance. 'You've seen worse.'
He was a little troubled to see the white pallor of Loki's face was now flushed red and that his pupils had widened within their olive green iris, the amber flecks completely swallowed up. The arrow had to be poisoned.
He stepped over Loki's one remaining leg and with a sharp pull, yanked the golden arrow from his back. Loki hissed loudly, but Steve was too busy thinking to pay him much mind. In any case, Steve felt that if someone tries to take over the Earth they should expect to suffer a little pain.
But, the situation had gotten out of hand. He needed a plan, he needed backup, but there was no time. He had to get the Tesseract back.
[Steve, the arrow...]
Cap looked down at the arrow in his hand.
'How did I do?' cried an eager, young voice.
There was a loud rustling and a winged man with a bow and a quiver full of shimmering gold and silver arrows landed lightly on a tree branch above Hermes' head. The slender branch should have been bent under the weight of a fully grown man, but it somehow kept him aloft.
Steve gritted his teeth in irritation. He suspected that the winged man was just another individual pretending to be a god he hadn't heard of. Where were they all coming from?
'Wonderful!' Hermes gushed, staring lovingly at the Tesseract. 'Father will be very pleased with us.'
'How about a swap?' Steve cried, hurling the golden arrow at Hermes.
The god caught the arrow in one hand and tossed it aside.
He tilted his head to one side, light eyes shining brightly.
'Did you really think that would work? You just saw Loki catch it. In handcuffs. And, no offence to Loki, but if Loki can do something then you can be sure it's child's play for everyone else.'
Eros chuckled along with Hermes.
Loki giggled with Eros.
Steve had to wonder what poison had been on the arrow. And he didn't like the way Loki was staring at him with a weird goofy smile.
'Time you two went home,' Hermes announced. 'Bye bye now and have fun together. Give my best regards to Thor.'
The Tesseract began to glow brightly, bathing Hermes in its cold blue light.
'No!' Steve bellowed. 'Wait!'
But nothing was going to prevent the power of the Space Stone from flinging them back across the galaxy to where they had come from: the lobby of Stark Tower.
They tumbled out of the cloudy blue portal a foot above the hard, polished floor. Guns were immediately pointed at them.
'Where the hell did you come from?' demanded one of the Shield guards.
AN: Thanks for reading!
I feel like that Steve probably doesn't know anything about the Greek gods, so doesn't know really who Hermes or Eros is. Although, he will have come across references to Greek mythology frequently e.g. Hydra and Project Pegasus...I imagine that someone in the lobby mentioned the word "Pegasus" during the argument over who would get the Tesseract and Loki, just as Steve laid his hands on it, which is why they were sent to Olympus.
I picture that Hermes will keep the Tesseract under his hat, along with many other stolen items.
Also, in the Norse myths, Loki is sometimes called "Sky Walker" (like Stars Wars") or the "Sky Traveller" because he owns a pair of shoes which allows him to walk on air...So, did Hermes steal Loki's shoes, or did Loki steal Hermes'? Or do Tricksters go to the same enchanted shoe shop?
These are important questions!