A/N: I own what you don't recognize. Everything else belongs to the rightful people.
DUH-DA-DUH-DAAAAA
This one's a long one!
The moment you've been waiting for…
When Hylda walked onto the bridge of the Helicarrier, the familiar atmosphere calmed her nerves. The sounds of people muttering amongst each other about stats, the sounds of keyboards clicking away and the soft buzz of the machines remind her that this was her home. She built this life and was happy with it, Loki wouldn't ruin that.
She was standing by the round table when Fury entered. He started to walk over to his spot on the platform, but stopped beside her.
"Still feel the same, Agent?" he asked, looking straight ahead.
Hylda nodded, "of course, sir."
Wordlessly Fury handed Hylda a file folder than continued to destination, barking out orders. After a few moments the doors behind Hylda opened. She felt the new presence in the room but didn't turn around. A hand was placed on her shoulder as Natasha walked by, giving Hylda a small nod. Hylda smiled back, placed the file on the table, then turned to see who had come in with the red head. An attractive blonde man stood stunned at the sight before him. Judging by his toned muscles and classic looks Hylda assumed that he was the one and only Captain America.
Being a nice person, Hylda walked over to say hi. "Captain Rogers?" she asked a pleasant smile on her face.
He turned his attention to her and gave her a shy smile." Yes ma'am."
"Welcome aboard" Hylda extended a hand to him," I'm Agent Hylda."
Rogers shook her hand and Hylda could feel just a fraction of his strength in his handshake. She could tell that under the cute shy persona, the Captain was a true solider. She saw his eyes drift to the ship around him again.
"It's amazing isn't it? I remember my first time on the bridge."
He nodded, "we've come so far since I was last awake. I still find things that amaze me to this day."
"I hear ya' solider" she said with a small laugh. When Rogers gave her an odd look, Hylda figured he hadn't been briefed about her past. "I'm not from around here" she said, laughing again.
He still stared at her oddly, so she tilted her head upwards and gestured to the sky. Rogers's eyes widened.
"A little different from the aliens in those old movies, eh?" she gave him a wink. When he didn't reply, just continued to stare, Hylda gave a nervous chuckle.
Shaking out of his shock he mumbled, "Sorry ma'am, I didn't mean to be disrespectful."
Hylda brushed him off, "Don't sweat it. Things are different now and you have a lot of things to get used to, especially in the world of SHEILD. Trust me when I say I know that feeling well."
Placing a hand on his arm she excused herself. "I'm going to see Doctor Banner, we'll talk later Cap" she smiled and walked towards the shorter man.
Doctor Banner stood close to the back of the room, fidgeting slightly. Hylda walked up to him silently and stood beside him. "There's no need to be nervous, Doctor. You're among friends here."
He looked at her out of the corner of his eyes as they narrowed slightly. He seemed to be sizing her up, seeing if she meant what she said or not.
"Agent Hylda" she said, offering him her hand. His eyes flickered with recognition for a moment before he shook her hand.
"You were working on the Tesseract."
She nodded.
"Think you can get it back for us?" her posture stiffened a bit as the thoughts of what trouble Loki could cause flashed in her mind.
"Hopefully" he replied.
Drawing her attention back to the bridge, she noticed Fury turn around and approached the table.
"Gentleman" he greeted, before looking to Hylda, "ladies."
Rogers walked over to the Director and took out a wad of cash. He withdrew a bill from it then handed it to Fury before walking forward. The Director looked at the bill than gave a smug smile. As Rogers walked to Fury's previous spot, Hylda saw Maria size him up. She tried to hold back a snicker at the impressed look the agent gave the blonde.
"Doctor, thank you for coming" Fury said, extending his hand to Banner. Hylda noticed how polite and calm he sounded, nothing like the loud harsh man he usually was. Banner shook his hand before replying.
"Thanks for asking nicely. So, how long am I staying?"
Hylda watched the Doctor as he fidgeted in front of Fury. The man seems so insecure and nervous as his eyes drifted to the floor numerous times. It was hard to believe that he could turn into a giant green beast.
"Once we get our hands on the Tesseract, you're free to leave" Fury answered.
At the mention of something in his field the Doctor perked up slightly, "so where are you with that?"
As Coulson began to explain their progress in tracking the cube, Hylda walked back to the table and began examine the file Fury hand given her. She sat down in one of the chairs and leaned back, file in hand.
()()()()()
Hours later Hylda had memorized all of the information in the file. It outlined the plan Fury and her had discussed on how to neutralize Loki. Apparently SHEILD had developed a formula they believed could put a stopper in a god's powers. Fury said they began working on it when Hylda and Cal first arrived, since they weren't sure if they were completely non-threatening. She also found out that Cal had been working on the project and had tested the drug on himself. They were convinced it worked, but Hylda knew that Loki was A LOT stronger than Cal. All she could do was hope for the best. She stood up to leave, just as a beeping caught her attention.
"We've got a hit."
A shiver went up Hylda's spin as she froze mid step.
She whipped around and slowly made her way over to the railing. It overlooked the screen of the man who'd spoken. Her breathing hitched slightly as she stared at the screen. There he was. She looked away for a moment and to the Director. His dark eyes were already boring into hers, and she could tell that her reaction had confirmed the picture more than any percentage match could. She gave Fury the smallest nod, trying not to draw attention to their interaction. She didn't want all of SHEILD to know about her familiarity with the hostile, even though Fury didn't have the right story either. The agent at the computer had spoken again, but Hylda wasn't paying attention. She looked back to the screen to see a video of Loki walking to a posh looking building. As he walked by the camera he smiled, his eyes seemingly looking right into the lens and at her.
After Fury addressed Rogers he called Hylda. He gave her a nod, which she returned, before the woman turned to leave. IT was time to put their plan into action. She would have to get ready on the flight to Germany.
()()()()()
The plane ride was shorter than she expected, but it gave Hylda enough time to get ready.
She strapped her gun onto her thigh before lowering her dress. It was just for insurance really, if any of Loki's henchmen got in the way. She knew bullets would be useless against the Asgardian; she was relying on her powers for that. She checked over herself once. When Fury assigned her this task they never assumed it would take place at a gala. Luckily Pepper had taken her to enough fancy events that she had a few dresses that could pass. The one she chose wasn't anything too special. It was a cream colored halter dress with an open back. It was hugged her body without being too tight and went all the way to the floor. It was a sweetheart top, with a little bit of beading under her breasts. She had curled her hair slightly and put on some silver jewelry and light make up. The event was a high class one and Hylda had to look the part. That wasn't her only motive however. As sick as it was, she wanted to look good when she saw Loki. She told herself this was only to prove that she had moved on, and was still strong without him.
She grabbed her small black clutch and exited the small room she had occupied on the plane. Along with the gun on her thigh, she had extra ammo and a small knife in her purse. Lifting a hand to her chest, she felt for her secret weapon. She could feel a small cylindrical object beneath the beading of her gown. It was just an escape plan, if she panicked and found herself in a tight situation. Hylda hoped she wouldn't have to use it. The plane had just landed in Germany, and she could feel her nerves settling in. She wanted to treat this like any other mission, but she knew it wasn't. He was involved, and nothing was easy when it came to him. She was grateful that Rogers and Natasha would be standing by should anything go wrong.
You can do this she told herself as she exited the aircraft. Either get him to stand down, or take him out. End of story.
Hylda's thoughts were cut off as she approached the building. Her jaw dropped as she entered the gala. The outside of the building was nice, but the inside was stunning. Everything was white marble; the stairs, the floor, the walls. The ceiling was tall with a stained glass roof. The room was filled with all kinds of people. They made a swarm of colors as they walked around the room and greeted each other. The air was filled with expensive yet pleasant perfumes. The sound of violins rang out just over the soft chatter. Shrugging off her long black coat she handed it to the man by the door. He smiled at her as he took it, holding his arm out to the room. Hylda returned the smile and continued forward. She moved through the crowd, smiling at people she pretended to know.
Hylda made her way to a large table in the center of the room. On either side was large bull's heads that were carved out of marble and slightly cracked. The marble slab in the center was a shiny caramel color. A waiter came over and offered her a glass of Champaign, which she took gladly. She surveyed the room, trying to find the face she was dreading to see. She should have known he would come to her.
"My, my, don't you look ravishing" a voice cooed behind her. A familiar shiver ran up Hylda's spine. Long fingers brushed against her shoulder and trailed down her arm. She turned around as his fingers wrapped around her hand. There he was in the flesh. He looked so different, yet was still the same man that made her speechless. It was odd seeing him in the clothing of Midgard. He wore a black suit, with a deep emerald scarf hanging off his neck. Of course he pulled it off and looked just as handsome as ever. It wasn't just the clothing, his appearance had changed greatly too. His hair was a little longer, just brushing his slender shoulders. His skin was slightly paler, and his eyes a little more sunken. The green orbs that she had loved were dull and emotionless, yet Hylda could see the smallest glimpse of that familiar spark buried deep inside them. Despite all that, he was still gorgeous. He still had his arrogant air about him, his confidence, and his impeccable drive. Loki smirked at her as he brought her hand to his mouth and brushed his lips along her knuckles. Hylda's face became hot and her mouth dry. No she told herself, remember what he did. He used you, he hurt Thor and the others, and he threatened Asgard. Now he's threatening your new home.
Hylda narrowed her eyes, attempting to ignore the amused twinkle in his green ones. She tried to pull her hand out of his grasp but his grip tightened, a toothy grin on his face. He turned her hand in his, brushing her palm against his cheek. "Come now, my rose. We both know you're happy to see me."
"Confident as always I see" Hylda scoffed. His chuckle sent a another shiver down her spine.
"Still feisty my dear" he purred. "Come, let's talk someone in private. I'm sure the lovely Director has eyes all over this place."
Before she could reply Loki pulled her towards him. He led her away from the crowd and up the nearby stairs, all the while her hand in his. Hylda's mind raced. She wanted to yell at Loki, to blast him all the way back into space. Another part of her wanted to grab him and never let go. She knew what Fury told her to do, either convince Loki to stand down (which they both knew was unlikely) or neutralize him before he could cause harm. Something told Hylda that that was easier said than done. Loki was still a God and a genius with magic. The goddess was talented, more so in magic now than before, but she doubted she could overpower Loki. She had to think of a way. She decided that she should at least try to talk some sense into him. He had been lost in the void for such a long time, she had to make him see that he wasn't thinking straight.
He led her to a dimly light balcony overlooking the main room. The soft chatter could no longer be heard, only the singing of the violins. Hylda slipped her hand out of Loki's and rested them on the railing. A feeling of nostalgia and longing spread through her.
"It reminds me of Asgard a little" she whispered, without thinking. Forgetting their predicament for a moment, she wallowed in her homesickness. She heard Loki scoff beside her. "We used to have so much fun at those parties. Thor, Fandral and Volstagg would get so drunk, and we would dance until our feet hurt." She laughed lightly at the memories.
"In fact" she said, turning to the dark haired man, "I believe I got you to dance with me once. One of my greatest accomplishments." She smirked as she watched him react to her teasing. She could see him reliving the memory. "You were so offended when I asked if you even could dance."
Loki's lips turned into a smirk that matched hers. He raised an eyebrow at her. "And I believe you were quite astonished with my ability in that department."
He took a step back and held out his hand, "allow me to remind you?"
She wanted to say no, she knew she should. However she couldn't. All those feeling she had buried were coming back. It wouldn't hurt would it, to have one dance? She could use the time to think about how she would neutralize Loki… Actually, dancing would put them extremely close which Hylda could use to her advantage. Plus she missed the feeling of being close to him. No, no, no! Stop that she growled, he is the enemy Hylda!
Loki's smirk widened, knowing the inner debate that was going on inside Hylda's mind. She glared at him before letting out a sigh, and then gave him her hand. He pulled her against his chest and lifting their intertwined hands up. His other arm snaked around her waist, resting his palm on her exposed lower back. Loki began to lead them into a slow dance, all the while his eyes never leaving Hylda's. They stayed like this for several minutes, gliding across the deserted floor. For the time being the outside world was lost to them both. They simply enjoyed the other's company. Loki's long fingers began to trace small circles on Hylda's lower back, sending shivers down her spine. She pressed herself closer to him instinctively. His smell was intoxicating. It was like fresh pine needles and fine wine. His dull eyes had brightened, sparkling with mischief. A look she had found herself missing.
Hylda was glad Loki was alive, she really was, she just wished that for once he wasn't trying to take over something. Part of her wished they could have a normal life. Falling in love like regular couples and grow old together… Woah, what? No, she refused to think like that again. She scolded herself mentally for using the 'L' word. Loki never loved her, and Loki would never love her. She was here to stop him, because that's what Fury wanted. It's what had to be done to save the Earth. SHEILD was her family now and she would do whatever she had to to protect them.
But what if she could stop him? Maybe if she stopped him now, before any real harm could be done, Fury would be more lenient? Before she could stop herself Hylda spoke just as the song finished.
"Don't do this."
Loki stopped their movement and stared at Hylda. He raised one thin dark eyebrow.
"Don't do this Loki" she asked again, "please."
The slightest tone of pleading in her voice caught him off guard. He looked at her with a surprised expression, which quickly turned to a grim look.
"I have to."
She shook her head. "No you don't. Please, I'll get Fury to go easy on you. You can stay on Earth, work for SHEILD. Or even go off and live a mortal life. But please Loki, do not continue down this path."
Green eyes narrowed into slits as Loki scowled at the goddess. "Why do you care? What does my life mean to you?" His voice became louder. "How long did you morn my death? Or did you flee to this filthy realm right away!"
"Do not act self-righteous with me Laufeyson! I died that day…" Hylda tried to pull away from his grasp. "What does it matter, you never truly cared for me anyways."
Loki's grim expression turned into a large smirk. He pressed his warm palm against her back and pulled her close again. "Oh my sweet rose, is that what the led you to believe?" He released the hand he'd been using to hold hers and brought it to her face. He cupped her cheek, "my dear Hylda, you are the reason I'm doing this."
Before she could respond, Loki's lips were on hers. It was just like she remembered. His lips were soft and fit perfectly against hers. He kissed her with passion, and Hylda could feel the yearning behind it. He had missed her. Loki pulled back for a moment, just to see Hylda's reaction. He seemed pleased with her dazed state and dove for her lips once more. Without realizing that they had moved, Hylda felt her back press up against a chilly wall. The cold and the shock made her gasp slightly, and Loki took that as his moment to dart his tongue into her mouth. Her hand found his dark locks and buried themselves in them. It felt odd now that his hair was longer, but she enjoyed it. He cupped her face in his hands as he kissed her harder. A soft moan escaped Hylda's lips and she felt Loki smirk. Loki ran one hand down her body, relishing the familiar curves. He slipped it over her butt and down her thigh, then hoisted her leg around his waist. As he pressed against her Hylda tiled her head back. She brought her lips back to his neck and began to kiss her way upwards.
Loki's hand slipped under her dress and ran up her bare thigh. He groaned, loving how soft her skin felt against his calloused hands. Long fingers brushed along a leather strap, and the god let out a chuckle.
"Really, my rose… do you expect bullets to deter me?" he whispered in her ear. She rolled her eyes as his mocking tone.
"It wasn't for you" she mumbled as she kissed under his ear. She heard Loki let out a moan as she nipped at his neck. "It was just in case you brought friends."
Nimble fingers undid the strap in no time and flung it across the room. "No one will be interrupting us, my dear."
Hylda's sense began to come back to her as the gun clattered on the marble floor. What the hell was she doing?! But just as quickly as it came, it left again as Loki attacked her neck. Her mind became foggy as she got lost in Loki's power over her. She brought her hands under his jacket and slid it off his shoulders. He chuckled against her skin and discarded the garment behind him before bring his lips roughly to hers. Hylda held him close, pulling him to her by the collar of his shirt. He ground his pelvis into hers earning a gasp from the brunette woman. Before anything else could happen, a buzzing went off from Loki's pant pocket.
The god pulled back and frowned, clearly not happy about being interrupted. This gave Hylda's rational side time to recover and realize the situation she was in. Her mind raced as she reached between her breasts for the needle that was hidden in her dress. Hylda's hand snapped to Loki's neck, but he caught her wrists just as the tip was millimeters from his skin.
"Now darling, is that anyway to treat the man you love?" he purred.
"I do not love you" she growled back.
Loki leaned forward, "then why were you about to let me have my way with you. I thought your path followed mine, darling?"
"I was foolish."
"No, now you are being foolish." Loki's face darkened. "I have told you many times Hylda, you belong to me."
A smirk spread across his lips, "However I cannot have you meddling in tonight's plans. Trust me when I say that you will be with me once more." Loki let go of Hylda's leg as a golden scepter materialized in his hand. Hylda had no time to react as he placed the glowing blue crystal against her head. Her wrist started to burn again and her vision began to blur. Loki leaned forward to whisper in her ear.
"Remember my rose; I did this all for you."
And her world went black.
()()()()()()
Loki lowered Hylda's unconscious body to the floor, laying her gently down. He brushed a few stray strands of hair out of her face before leaning over and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. He really had missed her. He was also pleased that her feelings were the same. She would be his either way, but it made things easier knowing that he didn't have to win her heart over again. All he had to do was remind her who it belonged too. The device in his pocket buzzed again. This reminded him of the task at hand. Soon the Earth would be his and so would Hylda. With one last look at the woman on the ground he stood up and walked over to his jacket. He slipped it on, along with the emerald scarf, and twirled the staff around in his hand.
Smiling to himself, Loki looked over at the room below and saw his target. With a spring in his step he made his way downstairs.
It was show time.
SO What did you think of their reunion? Review and let me know!
Think Loki still has feelings for Hylda, or does he just want power and a bed buddy ;) aha
Did he ever have true feelings for her?
Reviews make me write fasterrrr!
