"This is friggin' impossible!" Tony snapped as he turned away from the plasma screen before he was tempted to run his fist through it. "There's no connection, no pattern, no clear energy identified…I have no idea how Loki found those Relics!"
Bruce patted him on the shoulder. "Maybe it's because you don't have a magical scepter."
At this Tony snorted. "Too bulky for my taste…not to mention it'd clash hideously with my suit."
"Oh I dunno," Bruce smirked teasingly. "I'd think that Iron Man could make anything look good."
"Touché my friend," Tony nodded with thoughtful exaggeration. "That I can. Jarvis, make a note of that."
"One glowstick of destiny, coming right up," Jarvis said in his usual monotone.
"But make it bigger and fancier than Rudolph's." He instructed.
"Ah but then it would be too bulky," Bruce pointed out.
Tony let out a dramatic sigh as he pressed a hand against his head. "You're right. It's a true challenge indeed. One that will test my very genius and-"
"Any success yet?" Steve asked as the elevator door suddenly opened and he entered the room.
Tony turned towards him with an impatient frown. "Seriously, would it kill you to call ahead? How do you know that I wasn't walking around naked up here huh?"
"Because that would be pretty awkward with Bruce around, wouldn't you agree Doctor?" Steve smiled as Bruce shuddered. "Beside I had a feeling that you'd be up late too." He sat down at one of the screens with a heavy sigh. "I have to say this puzzle has me whipped. I can't make heads or tails out of it. Either of you had any luck?"
"No," Bruce hung his head sadly. "The data is too scattered and random to make any clear connection. Either we don't have enough data or its technology is beyond our understanding."
"With it being Asgardian I wouldn't doubt it," Steve said sadly. "Has Thor reported back yet?"
"Gods don't often condescend to check in," Tony said sarcastically.
"Well let me know when he comes back."
"Hey I just remembered something," Bruce perked up. "Didn't you say that Loki had a hostage?" Tony nodded. "Well shouldn't we look into that?"
"Yeah except that Thor didn't tell us anything," Tony grumbled." No details, no age approximation, and heck we don't even now if it's male or female. Nothing!" Now he felt ashamed that they'd been so hyper-focused on the Relics that they'd completely forgotten about the innocent life that was now in the hands of sadist. Who knows what he intended to do with it?
Bruce wasted no time in pulling up several new screens, his fingers flying like crazy as he opened several websites. "Surely there should be a missing person report or something. Let's start with Sleepy Hollow first."
"It's not much to go on," Tony said softly as he sat beside his friend. "But it's all we have."
After a few days Loki had to admit that being stuck in a car with Miko wasn't as bad as he'd thought it'd be. She proved to be more than a pretty face; she had wit and intelligence which revealed a clever side to her. Of course he never admitted that out loud but soon he came to find their discussions amusing. "So I heard about your little freedom speech in Stuttgart," she said once as they entered Indiana.
He smirked gently at the memory. How foolish the Avengers were to fall for that little stunt. Still it was also his one fleeting moment of domination. How quickly those cowards kneeled, so eager to give up their precious freedom just to save their lives. That is what makes humans so weak and why they will always kneel. His gaze drifted thoughtfully over to Miko. He somehow had a feeling that she never would…at least not to him anyway. Surely she would to Thanos and again his stomach knotted with dread. There was no hope for her, like there had been none for him. All fall before Thanos. Her teasing smile pulled him out of his gloomy thoughts. "And what did you think of it?" He asked curiously.
"More than a bit arrogant and plain old condescending," she said bluntly.
"They still kneeled," he said smugly.
"Yeah but how long did that last?" She asked keenly.
He flinched as she remembered that old man who challenged him. Not to men like you, he has said. There are always men like you. And even with the fear of death, he still remained on his feet.
"Freedom is more than just a belief or even an ideal," she went on, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. "It's ingrained on the human soul, so intricately a part of us that it can't be removed."
He chuckled grimly. "And yet for all your glorious words, in the end you will fall into Thanos' hand. There will be no freedom for you…or anyone else." Her smile faded away and the light in her eyes dimmed. He smirked with pride that his words had silenced her at last. Surely now she knew how silly and pointless her words sounded. Freedom is nothing but a lie. At last he had gained the upper hand over her. But the victory was short-lived as she started to smile again. "What?"
"You're so short-sighted Loki," she giggled softly. "You miss the big picture."
"And what is "the big picture" hm?" He asked pointedly.
"Its different for every person, you'll have to figure that out for yourself."
He shook his head wryly. "You're just making it up, aren't you?"
She laughed. "No I'm not!"
"Then what's your big picture? Huh? Tell me little miss know-it-all." He leaned in as he purred with mild sarcasm.
She was quiet for a moment and then finally said. "I know what Thanos has in store for me."
That surprised him so much that he stared at her in silence for a long time. "Do you really?" He asked in a hushed tone. She nodded solemnly, and he noticed that her gaze turned hollow…haunted. It was a look he was very familiar with. "Then why are you turning yourself in?" He asked incredulously.
As she smiled the light returned to her crimson eyes. "Because Thanos is not my end," she said with all seriousness. "My story doesn't end there."
He considered her thoughtfully for a moment as he let that sink in. Again he sensed that she wasn't as normal as she appeared. "Are you…a soothsayer?"
She giggled softly as she shook her head. "A soothsayer sees and knows all. I'm just a regular girl."
"Then how is it that you know?" he insisted.
She blushed slightly at his penetrating gaze. Her and her big mouth. "Well it's more like…"she tilted her head to the side thoughtfully. "A sixth sense sort of thing, you know?"
He wasn't sure that he did but she didn't seem inclined to give more details. Silence stretched between them as she continued to drive. His gaze drifted out the window and he was content to watch the scenery pass by. It still amazed him how vast this country was. Either that or the car moved too slowly, perhaps a combination of both?
By sundown Miko pulled off the interstate and within the hour they checked into another hotel. Loki went to take a shower while Miko laid down on the bed with remote in hand and clicked the TV on. After surfing through the channels she perked up excitedly. "Naruto's on! Alright!"
Loki came out later to find her hugging a pillow close to her chest as she stared wide-eyes at the screen. "What are you doing?" He asked. She hissed at him to be quiet as she continued to stare without blinking.
He looked at the TV to see a young man on the screen with long dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. His eyes glowed crimson and his expression was scornful. "I've had enough," his deep voice rumbled. "There's no hope left for this pathetic clan."
Then Miko squealed all fangirl-like as she fell back against the bed. "Oh Itachi you're sooooo hot! I'd totally help you revive the clan!" She laughed as she kissed the pillow.
Loki stared down at her in complete shock. Who is this girl really? One moment she sounds wise above her years and now she's acting silly again. He didn't really know how to make sense of her sometimes. Then she groaned softly as her hand slid down the length of the pillow. "You might be bad but I'd be so good to you," she whispered amorously. Whoever this character was, it was clear that she desired him. That irked him for some reason. He wasn't about to be outdone by some little man in a box.
"Why wait?" He chuckled as he approached the bedside.
She squeaked in horror as he knelt over her. She pressed the pillow against his chest. "Don't you dare!"
He yanked the pillow out of her hands and tossed it aside. "Are you really saying you'd rather settle for that when you could have me instead?" He smirked deliciously as he leaned in and bit her bottom lip. He relished how her body trembled against his, how delicately her cheeks flushed. All women are weak in the presence of an ardent man…even if he was faking it. It was all about the tease, the conquest, never about mutual affection. Miko was his assignment, his property, and perfectly within his control.
Then to his surprise she looked sad, almost pitying. That…wasn't a reaction he was used to…at least not in the initial stage of seduction. "Do you get pleasure from this?" She whispered faintly.
He smirked as his hand drifted down her front. His fingertips tingled at her softness…the soft, weak flesh of a vulnerable human. "You know nothing of men if you even have to ask."
She frowned and caught hold of his wrist to stop him with surprising force. For a split second she narrowed those crimson eyes. "Do you really think me so beneath you?" She hissed. "I will not be a plaything of yours!"
"Oh but you are." With quick reflexes he pulled out of her grasp, snaked his hand under her back and yanked so hard on her hair that she arched into him. She yelped with pain but made no further move to resist him. He chuckled softly as he ran his lips along her soft neck…he relished the fact that her pulse raced erratically under his lips. "You forget your place, little human," he growled under his breath. Feeling her squirm against him…was not an unpleasant sensation and for once he felt a flare of temptation.
She was silent for a moment, apart from her soft panting. Yes…he could feel her fear…taste her terror. It brought a delicious smile to his lips as he tasted the sweet flesh of her collarbone.
Then suddenly she spoke. "You play games with lives as recompense for Thanos playing with yours."
He stiffened for a moment.
"You want everyone to be as miserable as yourself."
He released her hair and frowned down curiously at her. "What nonsense are you spouting now?"
"I have more to offer than Thanos," she whispered with a soft, sweet smile.
He laughed at that as he climbed off and sat beside her. He no longer had interest in such a fool. "You? Don't insult my intelligence." He scoffed.
"That's just it Loki," she giggled softly. "That's the irony. You're smart and yet you can't see what's right in front of you."
His smile slipped away as he narrowed his eyes. His pride wouldn't allow for insults. "And what's that?"
"Thanos is just using you. Once he gets what he wants, he won't need you at all. You're just convenient."
His temper flared as he grabbed hold of her throat and slammed her into the headboard. "I am a GOD! And a King! NEVER forget that!" He snarled in her face.
Strangely enough…she remained completely still and looked at him through her long lashes. "Then why do you work for him?" She said softly.
To that…he couldn't bring himself to answer. Instead he squeezed harder, making her gasp. "Don't test my patience you mewling Quim," he growled. "Not if you want me to bring you back ALIVE."
And with that he let go and stormed out the door. He wanted to think that he'd finally showed her…and yet instinctively he felt that she had truly won this battle of wits. She asked the one question…he could never bring himself to answer. Why a God would ever submit to the will of another…is something no one ever wants to admit…least of all him.
