LauDuJardin, StepiLady, lovelyanimeangel, Leelee909, donnabella2k7, cocoatd, ArtemisLuna85, catwoman90808, AccioVoldemortNose and Daughter Of Loki.001 (wow... that was a mouthful of names, not that I'm complaining, though LOL) Thank you all so much and welcome to the new readers and reviewers :)
Mmm... what is there to say about this chapter? Nothing... I have nothing to say today... (call an ambulance!)
I'm sleepy, what can I say? :( Sorry.
Ok, so, usual disclaimers: BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
And the song of the day is... *drum roll*: Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
ENJOY! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
CHAPTER EIGHT – MY VERY HORNY NON-FRIEND
"Sir… a word?" Coulson asked Fury who only nodded and they walked to a secluded corner
"What's on your mind, Coulson?"
"Sir… I think perhaps the time has come"
"What do you mean?" Fury questioned
"I mean about Emma… Dr. Jansen"
"What makes you think the time is right?"
"Because Dr. Banner has reported significant betterment in all the surviving victims since this morning…"
"And?"
"And it all happened after Dr. Jansen revived one of them, a girl and then started checking on the rest of them…" Coulson explained and Fury's brow furrowed
"You mean to say that she is doing to them what she did to you when Loki attacked you?" Coulson nodded and Fury began pacing "How many of them have improved?"
"All of them, sir"
"Do you think it's got something to do with Thor and Loki's return?" Fury asked
"Who knows, sir but what is certain is that she starting to show the signs… she even fainted after bringing that girl back to life…" Fury remained silent "What should we do, sir? Should we tell her?"
"No… not yet. Let's see what happens when she is in contact with the gods… release Loki and get him to where Jansen is"
"Dr. Jansen" JARVIS called
Emma had returned to her office and had decided to take Coulson's advice: to rest.
She had lain down on the couch she kept in the room, closed her eyes and had tried to think of something other than Loki but it seemed impossible. She had ended up reaching into her pocket and fidgeting with Loki's ring.
"What, JARVIS?" She asked, her eyes still closed
"You have an approaching visitor" JARVIS said
"J, I told you, the only thing I'm attending right now apart from whenever my pager sounds, it's my rest" She replied not bothering at all
"Not even if it is your favorite god?" Emma immediately recognized the voice, opening her eyes wide and sitting straight up, coming face to face with no other than the god of mischief himself
"What the hell are you doing here? How did you get out of your cell? Please tell me I didn't have anything to do with that…" She said covering her face with her hands
"No, you did not" He replied approaching to her "I believe we were in the middle of a conversation"
"No, we were not. Now get out of my office" She demanded standing up and walking to the door, opening it and revealing Coulson "Coulson! This is not what it seems… I didn't let him out! He… well, I don't know how he got out but…"
"Calm down, lieutenant. I brought him here" The agent responded
"Oh, I see… You what?" Emma shouted at him in front of a very amused Loki "How dare you? Why?"
"Director Fury thinks that incorporating him to the agency and the team will be a key component to his collaboration"
"That didn't answer my question, Phil…" Emma narrowed her eyes enraged at this
"The colonel wants you to lead Loki through his time here on Earth…"
"WHAT? As if didn't have enough work or worries… or sleepless night for that matter…" This last part she mumbled them mostly to herself "But I thought he was considered a hostile… doesn't that mean he's dangerous?"
"Oh, I do love it when people talk about me as if I weren't in the room" Loki intervened
"You shut up! I'm not done with you just yet… and you…" She said striding towards him and pointing a finger at him menacingly but by the time she had turned back to Coulson she saw the agent closing the door and practically running for his life "You come back here, Coulson! I've got a word or two for you and Fury to stick up your…"
"No foul words, please" Loki said with a smile on his face having quite a lot of fun with the scene
"Or what?" She asked slamming the door
"You seriously do not want to threaten me, healer"
"And you don't want to mess with me when I'm in a bad mood, Loki" Emma exhaled and walked straight to her couch, ignoring Loki
"So… what do we do now?" He asked fidgeting a little
"Well, I don't know about you but I was about to take a nap…"
"Can we finish our conversation?"
"No"
"Why not?"
"Because I say so, that's why"
"And what if I say otherwise?"
"I'm not gonna get away with mine, am I?" She asked opening only one eye and seeing him shaking his head "Argh… ok, ok…"
"I do not understand why you complain. You are the one who came downstairs to shout at me in the first place" Loki said leaning against the desk. Emma said nothing and just stared at him as he stared at her. It was like a non-fun staring contest "What you came to ask me…"
"Look, Loki… like I said before, I haven't been getting enough sleep… I was probably making it up… my mind was playing tricks on me" She said shaking her head and looking down
She suddenly felt a pair of hands touching hers and she was forced to look up; surprised to see Loki staring down at her with some sort of kindness.
"What was the name you heard?" He asked softly and then kneeled in front of her, getting to her level
"Eira" She simply said and he closed his eyes at this
"Was it the first time you…?"
"No… about two days ago… it was the same… like a whisper… but I'm not entirely sure that's what it was saying… after all, Eira sounds a hell of a lot like Emma so…" She started feeling how he was softly caressing the back of her left hand and she remembered something "I forgot… here…" She pulled her hands from his and took the ring out, handing it to him "I promised to give it back as soon as I could… here…"
Loki looked at the ring in her hand and then took it, closing his hand in a fist "Thank you…"
"Not a problem" She said and stood up, meaning to get away from him, not out of repulsion but on the contrary; she felt a strange magnetism drawing her towards him but she was fighting with body and soul to avoid it, but he wouldn't let her; he reached out and grabbed her wrist "Let me go"
"No"
"Sorry?" He gave her a stern glare "I believe I told you to…"
"I heard you… I just refuse to do it"
"JARVIS, call Steve and Thor" Emma said
"Doctor?" JARVIS asked
"You heard me"
"Yes, doctor"
"Do not call them… please" He practically begged letting her go
"JARVIS" Emma said after a moment without taking her eyes off Loki
"Called interrupted, doctor"
"Thank you" He told her honestly
"Loki… I can't act like this around you… I should not…" She said giving her back at him
"And by 'like this' you mean…" He asked
"I don't know you… and yet…"
She felt him walk up to her and his breath against her hair, making her even more nervous "And yet?" Loki asked
Emma turned around and faced him getting lost in those green eyes which were full of sadness and concealed vulnerability "If only I could explain it…" She raised her hand and reached out to touch his cheek
"Who are you?" He repeated in a whisper as he leaned down, aiming for her lips
"I am…" She felt entranced by him and was about to give in but…
"Hey, Em!" Tony's voice came from the door, startling her and making her give a couple of steps back from Loki "Whoa… what are you doing here, Rudolph? How did you get out of your cell?"
Tony barged into the office and grabbed Loki by the collar of his Asgardian garments slamming him against the nearest wall.
"No, Tony, stop!" Emma shouted rushing to them and trying to get Tony to let go of Loki "Coulson brought him under orders from Fury"
"What? Why?" Tony asked glaring at Loki with murderous eyes
"Something about wanting him to incorporate to the team, I think. Please, Tony, let him go" She struggled as she explained and finally Tony obliged but not without giving Loki a small push as he let go
"Good day to you too, Mr. Stark" Loki joked as he straightened his attire
"I'll have a good day when I won't have to deal with douchebags like you" Tony said and turned to Emma "Did he hurt you?"
"No, no, of course not" Emma replied adamantly
"Ok then… well, William Tell is back and he's asked us to meet him upstairs… and I suppose that includes Mr. Whistles & Buckles here" Tony said eyeing Loki
"Yes; we'll be right there, Tony, thank you" Emma said meaning for him to go
"What? I'm not leaving you alone with this creep" Tony told her
"I'll be fine, Tony; don't worry… I've dealt with worse" She reassured him
"Alright… but if you're not up there in five minutes I'm coming to get you" He warned them both and left giving one of his nastiest glances to Loki before leaving
"I'm so sorry about that" She told Loki
"Do not apologize" Loki said, that softer look returning "So, you have dealt with worse than me?"
"Ah… you heard that…" Emma said chuckling nervously scratching the back of her head "Well… in a way I have… you've never seen Fury in a bad mood"
Loki couldn't help to smile genuinely at this and nodded "We should go. I do not want Mr. Stark to kill me before I figure out who you are"
Emma stared at him with some sort of fascination but nodded in agreement, leading him out of the office and towards the elevator. This was going to be a very interesting day.
"Un-freaking-believable" Tony exclaimed as he walked into the meeting room and took a seat
"What?" Natasha asked "What trouble have you gotten yourself in this time?"
"Me? Oh, no, don't look at me, Tarantula… this time it wasn't me"
"Then who?" Steve asked
"Emma" Tony said and they all looked at him in disbelief "Oh, so you don't know either? Well, let me break the news for you: Emma's got a new friend… or a pet, I'm still torn"
"What are you talking about, Stark?" Clint asked in a very bad mood
The elevator doors opened revealing Emma and very surprisingly accompanied by Loki. Everyone's jaws dropped at the sight and a mortal silence fell upon them.
"I'm talking about that" Tony finally broke the freezing silence by pointing at them
"Brother" Thor greeted coming into the room "Are you well?" Loki nodded and glanced at Emma for a split second "Emma, are you better?"
"Yes, Thor, thank you" She replied with a polite smile
"Better?" Loki asked
"I… I'll tell you later" Emma murmured to him and then returned her attention to the rest of the Avengers "You wanted to talk to us, Clint?"
"Yes… yes…" Clint said hurriedly trying to hide his distractedness
"About…?" Tony asked
"I talked to a… contact… she told me she saw the beast, Fenrir talking to someone else…"
Clint told them all everything Adrianna had told him about Fenrir and the stranger and they all agreed it was good.
"It is an advantage. Fenrir does not know we know about his partner" Thor commented
"Let's hope we can find Fenrir before he strikes again" Steve said solemnly
A while after discussing everything (with everyone giving Loki nasty glares) the group divided in three: Loki stood on his own leaning against the wall on the farthest corner; Steve, Tony, Bruce, Natasha and Thor continued to talk about Clint's intel and Emma, noticing Clint's change of mood had decided to chat with him.
"What's wrong, Hawk?" She asked and noticed him lower his head "You saw her?" He nodded "And… it didn't go very well…" He shook his head "What happened?"
"Just so you can get an idea, she ended up pointing a gun at me" Clint told her
"Oh, Clint; I'm so sorry… I didn't think things were that bad" Emma patted him on the back "Are you seeing her again?"
"I'm not losing track of her, if that's what you mean…"
"You wouldn't be yourself if you did" Emma reassured "Is there anything I can do to help?" He shook her head and gave her a weak smile "She'll come to her senses , you'll see"
"I hope you're right, Em… you usually are so… we'll see…" He replied and then noticed Loki staring at them "What's up with him? What is he doing here and why did he come with you?"
"Well, Fury told Coulson to take him to my office"
"What for?"
"To help him 'integrate' properly, apparently" She said looking at Loki
"And why you?" and she shrugged "You don't mind?"
"I guess not… I mean… he's really all alone so… I don't know…"
"You like him, don't you? I mean… you actually think he is a miserable soul"
"No! Well… maybe… I don't know, Clint… Fury is yanking my chain and dealing with Loki doesn't make it any easier but… I don't know... I suppose it's what you said… I really don't mind…"
"You like everyone, Em" Clint said
"I do not!" Emma defended
"Yeah, you do" And she shook her head "Oh, really? Name someone you don't like. She opened her mouth and tried to say something but he interrupted her "And it can't be Fury. We all know he's not saint of your devotion…"
"Well, I don't like you right now… does that count?" She asked making him laugh
"Emma…" Steve called walking to them accompanied by Tony, Bruce and Natasha "What's going on? Why is he here?"
"Clint, would you mind explaining? Loki's giving us quite an annoyed glare "Excuse me" She said apologizing and walking towards Loki who was, by this point, talking to Thor
While Clint explained everything to the other Avengers, Emma made her way to the god-like brothers.
"Loki was telling me about Fury's idea" Thor told Emma
"What do you think?" Emma asked him
"As long as Loki cooperates… will you, brother?" Thor asked and Loki nodded
"Of course" He said
"Good" Thor said with a huge grin patting his brother quite violently in the back "Take good care of Emma, Loki. She seems to be brave enough to deserve you" He joked as he walked away leaving a very uncomfortable and blushed Emma next to the very tall god of mischief
"What happened to you earlier?" Loki inquired after a moment in silence
"Oh, that… it was nothing… I just… I fainted"
"Why? Did you feel unwell?" He asked looking at her truly concerned
"I think I did…"
"But you are better"
"Like I told Thor before" She nodded "Why do you ask? Are you worried about me?" For a moment Emma's voice adopted a quite cheeky tone
"No" Loki turned back to the front but Emma was sure she saw how his cheeks blushed a little "I was just wondering"
"Curious, aren't we?" She joked and heard him scoff "Did you just laugh?"
"No" But then he looked down and gave her half a smile
"I don't care what Fury says, I'm taking him back to his cell, where he belongs" Emma heard Steve said and completely lost her smile
"He's not going back there" She told Steve with determination
"But Emma, it's not safe… he could escape at any time" Steve tried to explain but Emma cut him off
"No… I don't want to hear about it. I will not allow it" She said adamantly standing between the super soldier and the god of mischief
"Emma, be reasonable" Tony tried to intervened
"Not you, Tony…" She lamented but kept her stand "I'm sorry guys but I won't see him down there again"
"Whatever you think it's right, Em" Tony told her walking past her but stopping for a moment, turning to Loki "But if you dare to hurt her, my very horny non-friend… I swear to you…"
"You don't have to swear anything, Tony… thanks" Emma smiled at him and then Iron Man left followed by Natasha, Clint and Thor
"Are you feeling better, Emma?" Bruce asked approaching to them
"Yes, Bruce, thanks" She reassured and then saw the mild tempered doctor glare at Loki and she could've sworn she saw a glint of green in his brown irises "Uhmm… Steve?"
"I'm sorry, Emma… I don't agree with this… and I don't plan on leaving you alone with this monster" He stated crossing his arms
"You won't have to…" She smiled and both Steve and Loki "You are going to look after Loki while I finish with my to-do list"
"What?" Both men asked
"Yeah, so… I think Loki should get something to eat and then maybe you can explain to him how our operations work?" Emma suggested patting them both in the arm and starting to walk away
"Why not you?" Loki asked from his spot
"Because I have things to do; patients to attend; reports to make; forms to fill and complete my training hours… I haven't done any training in almost a week!" She exclaimed and started to make her way to the elevator "And boys… please, behave… I'll be checking on you in a few hours"
Steve and Loki were left alone in a huge room filled with nothing but tension and discomfort.
"Follow me" Steve finally told Loki and the latter walked after the soldier into the elevator
They descended for a few seconds but then Steve buffed and lounged himself at Loki, doing the same Tony had done earlier, only with more strength: he grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the steel wall making the moving box shake.
"I don't know what you have in mind, Loki but if you dare to hurt Emma in any way I swear I'm gonna rip you open and cut your heart out" Steve threatened as aggressively as he could but didn't get the reaction he had expected; Loki was smirking
"I would not touch a hair in her head even if my life depended on it, Captain" Loki told him and Steve looked at him utterly lost
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I mean it" Loki responded pushing Steve away and fixing his clothes once more
Steve could do nothing but stare at the man who had once threatened to destroy their world with anything other than pure confusion and disbelief.
Loki was up to no good and Steve would stop him at any cost.
Ok, ok... not THAT eventful... ok, a little, maybe LOL.
Thank you so very very much and I'll be posting very very soon... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Oh and don't forget... ASSEMBLE! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Angie.
xoxo
