A/N: Welcome to Loki's first mission! I tried to make use of some of his unique skills. Hope you all enjoy it. And thank you for your continued support.
Disclaimer: The universe belongs to Marvel. I'm making no money off of them or this story. Truthfully, they're making money off of me, and I'm ok with that.
Loki's first mission is in Afghanistan. S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't give him any details. Neither does Captain America, who studies and makes notes in the information file all during the trip in the Quinjet. Whenever Loki tries to strike up a conversation or ask about what they are to do, the soldier says he is trying to determine the best tactic and he can't do that if he's constantly being interrupted.
Loki takes the not-so-subtle hint after the 10th inquiry.
When they arrive at the US base whose name Loki doesn't care to learn in a land that is remarkably the same color as New Mexico though somehow hotter, they head to the commanding officer. Everyone stares at the pair as they walk, the super soldier from the past dressed in the American flag and the stranger in dark leather and metal wearing a helmet whose golden horns protrude obscenely high.
General Howard cannot help but be impressed by the super soldier. He remains professional during most of the conversation, asking Captain America if he's been brought up to speed, if there is anything he needs, etc. At the end, though, he asks for the super hero's autograph for his grandkids. Steve smiles and is happy to oblige. Loki finds it amusing. He's very tempted to kiss his love right now just to see how the General will react, but the young soldier is in full Captain America mode. And Loki did promise to be good.
Next, they go see a Sergeant Marquez. She leads the team they've been assigned to work with. The Sergeant and the Captain salute each other then shake hands. She looks both men over before welcoming them to Hell. They discuss the objective – The Taliban has a well-hidden strong hold in the mountains that run along the boarder with Pakistan. It houses weapons that are used to terrorize civilians and kill soldiers. They need to get rid of it. "So what's the plan, Captain?" she finally asks.
"Seek and destroy," the super soldier replies.
Sergeant Marquez is unimpressed. "And how do you propose we find it, Sir?"
"Well, assuming Norse mythology has a basis in reality, we'll be using a goat."
"A goat?"
Loki cocks his head. "What are you thinking, Captain?"
He addresses the Trickster. "I apologize if this is a little personal, but…there's a myth about a time when you transformed into a mare and seduced a giant's stallion?"
The Sergeant could swear she had heard Captain America say 'you'. But that can't be right. And what does Norse mythology have to do with anything?
Loki smiles. "Jealous?"
"Intel," the soldier corrects seriously.
"I was young and curious, and there was a wager involved. The pregnancy was interesting. It probably would have been easier if," he begins but gets cut off.
"Great. You can tell me the rest another time. For this mission, you'll be turning into a goat. I'll leave the gender up to you."
"I'm sorry," the Sergeant cuts in, "but did you just say he's going to turn into a goat?"
"An ibex, actually." Captain America pulls a picture out of the file and hands it to Loki. It is indeed a picture of a goat, but it has two glorious horns rising tall and majestic and slightly curving towards the back. "Remind you of anyone?"
Loki laughs with delight. "What would you have me do? I assume I shan't be seducing anyone."
"I think you've done enough of that. No, you'll be locating the cave with their stash of weapons. The only thing is these ibex travel in herds with seven to thirty members. So either you'll need to join a herd, or…"
"…Or I create duplicate images of myself. As long as they don't try to hunt me, I should be free to roam as I please. Clever, Captain." Loki smiles admiringly at his soldier.
"Let me get this straight," the Sergeant begins, "this guy is going to turn into seven goats and search for the cave in the mountains." She doesn't sound convinced.
"Care to demonstrate?" Steve asks the Trickster.
"Perhaps something small. Self transfiguration takes a bit out of me. I'd prefer to save that for when it's needed."
"Will this do?" asks a duplicate image of Loki from behind Sergeant Marquez's shoulder. She visibly jumps and then stares wide-eyed at the impossible.
"Thank you, Loki," Captain America says before going into logistics. The next morning they'll travel together until they are north of Asadabad. Loki as an ibex will then start exploring the mountain ranges south and west of Chitral, Pakistan. Once he finds the location, he'll return to their camp, and they will move into Phase Two.
"That's just silly," Loki says.
"Are you questioning my orders?"
"I'm suggesting an alternate tactic." The god proposes that he go to the mountains now and begin the search while the others are traveling. There will be less waiting around for the troops that way. He remembers what warriors are like when they're bored, and it would be best for everyone, including the mission, to limit that as much as possible.
The super soldier admits it's a good idea and gives Loki permission to go whenever he wishes. The god asks as innocently as he can where he would sleep if he decides to leave in the morning. The Captain informs him that he would be placed in a secure facility under guard. There is a slight hint of disappointment in Steve's eyes that only Loki catches. The god decides to leave immediately, and the Captain suggests he transforms before he goes.
Loki nods and squats down, placing his hands on the ground in front of him. He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and…Shimmers? Radiates? Steve would never be able to put what he's seeing into words. It's strange and beautiful and grotesque and mesmerizing. And then there is an ibex where Loki had been.
"Huh," Steve utters. The ibex cocks its head. "Your eyes are brown," the man explains.
The ibex blinks its eyes slowly. They are green now and looking directly at Steve, who smiles warmly. The god blinks again, and his eyes are back to brown. The long-horned creature dips its head and then disappears.
"Did…Did that…? Did he really…?" Sergeant Marquez stutters.
"Yes, he did," Steve answers with a smile then immediately goes back into soldier mode.
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Loki wanders the mountains with his images for 11 days before he finds the cave. During that time, only one person tries to hunt the false herd of ibex, and he is a bad aim. The god notes the location then wanders quietly away. He stays an extra day, enjoying his freedom, and discovers a second cave with even more weapon stockpiles. Once he's satisfied that there are no other caves in the area, he moves out of sight to eliminate the duplicates and transport to Steve's side.
Captain America is listening to a young soldier named Mike Torrence, who is not even old enough to drink alcohol legally, talk about his grandfather. According to the stories he grew up hearing, then Lieutenant Torrence had proudly been on a few missions with Captain America back in World War II and would tell anyone and everyone who would listen about his brush with greatness. The war hero is so focused on the baby-faced soldier that he doesn't notice the horned ibex when it appears.
"Where'd that come from?" Torrence wonders aloud.
Captain America turns immediately and asks, "Loki?" The ibex nuzzles its head against the super soldier's hand. Steve smiles and begins stroking its snout.
"You know this thing?"
"You could say that," he says, his eyes never leaving the ibex. "Would you prefer to transform somewhere private?"
The god pushes against Steve's hand again.
"Excuse me, Torrence, but this goat has some valuable intel. But I hope we can talk more about your family later."
Steve leads Loki to an empty tent and is once again transfixed as the ibex transforms back into a man. The Trickster in his leather and helmet immediately stretches his back and arms.
"Well that wasn't nearly as fun as my time as a mare. At least I got to keep my horns." For a moment the two men just stare at each other. "What? No kiss hello? No welcome back?"
"Did you get the location?"
Loki keeps looking at the soldier trying to decide whether he should take a kiss or not. He frowns and rolls his eyes. "Take me to a map."
They find Sergeant Marquez and a map of the area. Loki informs them of the second stockpile and points to the locations of both caves. They are in Pakistan. The Sergeant shakes her head and says the mission is over. If they go into Pakistan, it could cause a major political incident.
"Don't worry, Ma'am. You won't have to. They're still watching us, correct? We'll move out, engage them about three klicks from here, get them into Afghanistan."
"That won't eliminate the caves, Captain."
"Someone else will be taking care of that. I've just got to make a call."
"Do I want to know? Never mind, I know I don't." She looks over the two men in front of her. "I hope you two are planning to change into fatigues, because the pair of you stick out like sour thumbs in those get-ups."
Captain America informs her that Loki will be changing.
"Will I?"
"Yes, you will." It was not up for discussion. "I, on the other hand, will be remaining in my uniform."
"But, Sir."
"No arguments, Sergeant. This uniform is a symbol. Also, it'll get their attention. If they're aiming at me, they won't be aiming at your soldiers."
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Steve insists that Loki change out of his leather before they move out. A band of light climbs up the Trickster's body replacing Asgardian armor with Midgardian desert fatigues. The god finds the new garb horribly dull.
Captain America and Loki ride in the Humvee at the front of the line. The young soldiers around them try to pump themselves up with loud, bass-driven, lyrics-screaming noise. Steve is trying his best to ignore it, but Loki can see how uncomfortable the music is making him. With a small movement of a slim, pale finger, the Humvee goes silent.
A collective "awww" is heard while someone tries to get the music working again.
Loki catches Steve's eye, gives him a smile, and begins to recite from Henry V, giving the words the intensity of war:
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Let pry through the portage of the head
Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth a galled rock
O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,
Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean.
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit
To his full height. On, on, you noblest English.
The silence that follows is charged.
Captain America gives the God of Mischief a nod as a determined fire flickers within his blue eyes. Loki, also feeling that rush of nervousness and adrenaline that comes before battle, is tempted to claim the super soldier's mouth with his own. But there are others here, and he knows they are probably not as open-minded as the Asgardians. Still, their eyes do not leave each other until the vehicle stops.
The hero takes the lead, climbing up to higher ground and yelling for the insurgents to get him. Shots are heard before any enemy is seen. Captain America easily deflects the bullets with his shield and begins firing at the enemy with his pistol.
The other American soldiers scramble for cover then begin exchanging fire with those in the mountains they can see. Loki creates duplicate images in desert fatigues to confuse the enemy.
Suddenly several loud explosions are heard deep in the mountains.
A few minutes later the sound of approaching jet engines mingles amongst the dying sound of gunfire. Two S.H.I.E.L.D. drones fly quickly overhead. The gunfire dies out as the enemy fighters are either hit, captured, or scurry away.
The fighting is over. The soldiers head back to base. But before the caravan of armed vehicles gets very far, Sergeant Marquez is heard over the radio. S.H.I.E.L.D. is sending a Quinjet to pick up Captain America and his guest.
Loki transforms his clothes back into Asgardian armor as soon as they are on the plane. As they head back to the Atlantic Ocean, Steve lays out on one of the benches that run along either side of the interior, his head near where Loki sits but not touching the god.
Steve asks Loki to tell him the story about turning into a mare. Silvertongue begins to weave the tale from his memories. It reminds him of when life was simpler, when he thought he knew everything. He stops when he realizes that Steve is asleep. Loki reaches out his hand and gently runs his fingers through the blond man's hair a few times.
"Don't stop," mumbles Steve.
"I thought you were asleep." He continues stroking the Midgardian's blond locks.
Steve smiles then says, "Thank you."
"For what?"
"'Once more unto the breach, dear friends,'" he replies, trying to imitate Loki's accent.
"It was the least I could do. I have no idea what those children were listening to, but it should probably be outlawed." That makes Steve's smile wider. "I miss you," is all Loki says then but with such vulnerability that Steve understands all of the things left unsaid.
"When we get home," he replies and tries to sleep.