'Ready when you are Cap'.
Steve wasn't surprised it was only SHIELD agents waiting to go in and get Loki for transportation.
He knew the other Avengers were busy setting up routes and scoping out potential exits Loki could take advantage of should he decide to fly the coop once he got outside. Thor was in a diplomatic meeting with Asgard, explaining what had happened the day before. Judging from the gathering storm clouds but lack of actual thunder or lightning, it was going okay so far.
'At ease soldier', Steve said to the agent that had spoken, 'Probably best if I go in alone'.
'Inadvisable sir', the agent said, shaking his head.
'Acknowledged but I think he might be more co-operative if it's just me', Steve explained, 'He gets antsy when he thinks he's being strong armed'.
He noticed some of the ten strong agents exchanging uneasy looks despite the four destroyer guns on standby.
'You really think you know how he thinks?'
Fury's voice cut through the nervous chatter easily.
Steve walked back to join him at his position beside the camera feed monitors. He saw they were still playing the loop that the infiltrators had planted. Whatever they had done seemed to have frozen the system.
'Hasn't hurt me so far', Steve said, not meaning to sound as cocky as he did.
'Let's face it Captain, your little heart to hearts ain't exactly been helpful. Everything useful we've found out about him we found out when he was knocked out'.
'Maybe', Steve conceded, 'But yesterday he started to open up. I think I can persuade him to tell me more. He owes me'.
'Am I missin' something here?!' Fury asked incredulously, 'He nearly blasted you to kingdom come yesterday!'
'I told you, he was reaching down to help me up', Steve said patiently, 'One thing he did show us was that you have one hell of a security problem'.
'Are you implying that these agents can't be trusted?' Fury asked in a hushed tone, eyes flashing.
'No', Steve said calmly, 'I'm saying that this is the last chance I have to learn who was really behind the invasion so I have to make a compromise. Loki doesn't trust SHIELD but he might trust me. What have we got to lose?'
Fury swore and shook his head but gave up arguing. In less than an hour, Loki would no longer be his problem anyway.
'We have to turn the machine that controls his powers off', he said, 'Asgardians want it returned along with Loki and it needs time to cool down before we move it. You'll be in there alone. Lock the door behind you. Use the keycard to get out when you're ready'.
'Same as when we were in the gym', Steve said, 'He didn't try anything then'.
Fury handed him a pair of metal bands. Steve saw they were engraved with writing he did not recognise.
'Get these cuffs on him. Should contain his powers until we get him to the rendezvous point'.
Loki was sitting on the floor with his legs crossed under him when Steve entered.
'Time to go Loki. Loki? You asleep?'
Loki's eyes slowly opened.
'No. Thinking', he said, standing up and stretching.
'About what?'
'This and that', Loki shrugged.
Steve thought Loki's subdued stance was understandable. Here it was: crunch time. He wondered if the prisoner was nervous. Thor had said Odin would spare his life but according to both Thor and Loki, the old god had a bit of a temper. It wasn't any of Steve's business but he had always personally disapproved of capital punishment and executions. He swiped the key card through the slot beside the door he had just come through. It locked tight and would remain so until Loki was wearing the cuffs. Steve noticed the Asgardian machine was no longer glowing. That meant Loki had noticed too.
He kept his guard up as he approached.
The glass partition, controlled by someone on the outside, slid up automatically.
Loki stayed in his cell, watching Steve come closer.
'I've been thinking too. At Stark's tower you didn't even put up a fight when we cornered you after the portal closed'.
'The monster bruised more than my pride', Loki said, 'Sneaking away was not an option at that point. You were more than happy to accept my surrender at the time'.
Steve took out the handcuffs. Loki nodded in understanding.
'What's coming Loki?' Steve asked, 'I played your game. I told you things. I came to save your life at that warehouse. It's time for some payback'.
'Yes. It is', Loki acknowledged, clasping his hands to allow Steve to cuff him.
Steve placed the cuffs on Loki's thin wrists but was distracted by Loki's fingers. They were moving strangely, like he was cricking his knuckles. He looked up and saw Loki had his eyes closed.
They opened and Steve was blinded by green light.
'Are you alright?' Peggy asked.
Steve blinked.
'Peggy?'
Peggy's brown eyes twinkled as she smiled at him.
'Who else would it be?' she asked, her brown curls bouncing as she tilted her head playfully.
She folded her arms. She was wearing a white shirt and the brown pencil skirt that Steve knew she secretly hoped showed off her legs.
'How are you here?'
Peggy took his face in her hands.
'Does it matter?' she whispered.
Steve shook his head. He felt weird: like there were cotton balls filling up his head. It was warmer in the cell than he remembered.
Yes…he was in…a cell.
With someone. Someone important.
'Someone important huh?' Peggy asked and Steve realised he had been mumbling to himself.
She tickled his chin.
'Who's that huh?'
'You', Steve replied, his mouth seeming to move on its own.
'That's right. Always just you and me. Just like it used to be'.
Steve smiled at that.
'Yeah', he said softly.
Except…no.
They hadn't always been together. Usually they had been on separate missions. He had missed her. Missed her touch and her voice.
This wasn't right.
Why couldn't he think straight?!
He couldn't recall a firm memory of them together. So he made up a fake one.
'You remember that time I got drunk?'
'Of course I do', Peggy laughed, 'You made a right spectacle of yourself too'.
Steve's head was clearing.
He couldn't get drunk. Peggy knew that. Everyone who knew him did.
He felt anger beginning to bubble up from somewhere deep and dark inside him.
'And do you remember when we went dancing?' Steve asked, taking her hand.
'How could I forget?' Peggy smiled, 'Shall we?'
She took both his hands and tried to lead him into the centre of the room. Towards the door.
Steve didn't move.
'What is it Steve?' Peggy asked, concern in her voice.
Steve placed both hands on Peggy's shoulders and ran his hands along her arms.
He looked at her, eyes scanning her face hungrily, as if seeing her for the first time.
Peggy's eyes widened with worry at the sudden searching gaze.
Steve felt as lonely as he felt sickened. He wanted nothing more in that moment to hold her. To tell her everything he had ever wanted to.
But it wouldn't be true.
'I missed you', Steve said, his voice cracking.
'But I'm here now', Peggy said soothingly.
Steve grimaced and sniffed.
'No', he stated, 'You're not'.
Peggy was in a hospital bed: he was supposed to visit her that Wednesday.
Blinking back tears, he punched hard.
Loki staggered and Steve punched him again.
The keycard Loki had taken from Steve's pocket fell to the ground. Steve kicked it behind him so it was out of Loki's reach.
It shocked Steve how much effort it took not to punch Loki again.
'Why did you do that?' Steve demanded quietly, clenched fists shaking, 'How could you- why did you?!'
'I had hoped to kill you quickly', Loki said, cheek red from Steve's punches, 'But if fight we must…'
Steve gave a grunt of surprise as he felt a sudden stabbing pain in his side. He had barely registered Loki's swift underhand throw. He fell as dead weight, clutching the end of the sharpened wooden sliver that had done the job. It was embedded in the lower left side of his abdomen.
Loki waved to get his attention before kneeling down and lifting the blanket from the bed. Steve saw where the wooden frame beneath the mattress had a thin but noticeable layer broken off.
'You fool', Loki derided, 'Instead of dying in blissful ignorance, you choose to die in failure. And they say humans are an intelligent species'.
Dropping the blanket and satisfied with his demonstration, Loki adjusted his coat as he straightened.
'Just…tell me', Steve croaked, 'Why?'
'Because why not?' Loki laughed, 'Satisfying your curiosity soldier is more than my life is worth and let me assure you it's worth a great deal to me'.
Turning his attention to the keycard, Loki began to move towards it, stepping over the downed Captain as he walked.
He was about to pick it up when he felt hands on his shoulders. As he reached to grab them, he was spun around and thrown. He staggered a few feet back into his cell and stopped.
Steve was pulling the thin sharpened piece of wood out of his 'stomach'. He snapped it in half and lifted his t-shirt. Loki recognised what was underneath: a stab proof vest.
Steve had worn the vest as a precaution in case of other enemy agents. He hadn't expected it to come in useful but being over cautious had paid off.
'You hit a bit harder than she did', Steve said, cricking his neck, 'Stark interrupted us in Germany. Ready for round 2?'
Loki's smile was all teeth as he leapt forward and suddenly the room was full of Lokis. They encircled him, jeering and mocking.
Steve closed his eyes and listened for the footsteps. Loki had said it himself: the illusions had no weight.
Besides, Loki was easy to predict: he usually attacked from behind.
As soon as he heard the quiet scuff of a boot on the floor behind him, he reached back and threw Loki over his shoulder.
Loki didn't understand it.
During their bout in Germany, he had easily outclassed Captain America!
Loki knew the illusionary glamour he has cast had taken a lot of concentration and effort but the soldier still should not have been a challenge.
As Loki struggled to rise, Steve yanked his arm behind his back and exerted pressure on Loki's wrist and elbow.
'How?!' Loki snapped, 'Where has this strength come from?!'
'I've been working out and you're not in top condition. Physically or mentally. Besides…'
Loki stopped struggling with a gasp of pain and Steve raised him to his feet.
'You should have stayed out of my head', Steve concluded and rammed Loki against the wall.
Loki groaned at the impact and spat a gobbet of spittle onto the floor.
'You're heavier than you look', Steve grunted, watching as the idle clones faded away.
'Than I look?' Loki said and Steve heard the sadistic pleasure in his voice.
Loki's form changed again and Steve swallowed a swear word in horror as he recognised Loki's new, borrowed face.
It was Bucky.
But not Bucky's smile.
'Knock it off!' Steve warned, yanking Loki away from the wall and twisting his arm again, 'I don't want to hurt you! I didn't come to you looking for a fight!'
'Pity', Loki sneered as he dropped the illusion, 'One's certainly found you'.
Kicking his foot out behind him, he caught Steve's shin. The kick was enough to undermine Steve's balance and Loki used his knees to quickly push himself up into Steve's chest.
The two went flying backwards. Steve's back collided with the wall and the impact was enough for him to loosen his hold on Loki for the briefest of moments.
Which was all Loki needed.
Wrenching his wrist free, Loki grabbed Steve by the throat with both hands and began to physically lift him from the floor. Steve braced himself and realised (at the same time as Loki) that the fingers around his neck were struggling to get good purchase. Steve saw Loki visibly sweating with the effort and thrusting his arms inside Loki's grip, broke it by moving his own arms outwards.
Loki aimed a punch at Steve but it was weak and uncoordinated. As Steve tried to grab his fist, Loki turned his whole body and with a laugh, threw a proper punch with his alternate hand. It collided with Steve's cheek and he tasted blood in his mouth.
Loki used both hands to push him as he staggered.
Steve landed on the bed with enough force to roll over the surface and fall off the other side. Loki tore a length of material from the blanket cover and began to wind it between his hands. Steve grabbed the bed, tipped it over and pushed it. It slid across the floor and Loki was forced to jump over it to avoid getting hit. Steve used the distraction to close the distance, ignoring the blanket tangling in his feet.
He grabbed for Loki and ran right through an illusion.
He felt coarse material slip swiftly onto his neck as Loki began to strangle him from behind with the blanket section. This time it was working: Steve felt the pressure building behind his eyes as Loki tightened.
Steve jerked his head back and was rewarded with the dull pain of impact. Loki spat a curse he didn't recognise. Clasping both hands together, Steve drove his left elbow into Loki's stomach. He missed but the blow to Loki's hip staggered him enough that his grip on the material weakened. Steve tore it from his throat and ripped it in half.
Loki stumbled back and Steve, turning on his heel and using his momentum, shoulder slammed his opponent into the opposite wall. Loki fell forward onto his knees hair matted and clinging. Steve stopped dead, arms raised in a classic boxer's stance, in case Loki was about to attack him from his lower position.
The expected attack didn't come.
Loki spat onto the floor, a faint tinge of red staining the pristine glass. His fingers dug into the floor, leaving claw like marks.
'Had enough?!' Steve asked, trying to get his breathing under control.
Steve watched Loki slowly ease himself back so he was resting against the wall. His cheek was red where Steve's head had connected. He too was breathing heavily, nose leaking a thin trail of blood.
Loki's skin began to darken to its natural blue shade for a moment but Loki gave a brief tremor and his 'human' skin tone returned. His red eyes met Steve's as they turned blue once more.
'I could do this all day', came the ragged response.
Steve's eyes widened.
How many times had he said that?
How many times had he ended up in some alley bruised and bleeding as a result?
'What the hell was that about?!' Steve asked angrily, keeping his arms up.
'Why the surprise?' Loki asked wearily, 'Your compatriots won't be shocked'.
Steve sighed angrily as he dropped the fighting stance. Both he and Loki knew their undignified scrap was over. Loki tore another scrap from the blanket lying on the floor and held it to his nose.
'I don't understand you', Steve said, 'Why do you make things so hard for yourself? You could've just walked out that door and been back to Asgard by now. Why fight now?'
'Why don't you just kill me now?' Loki thought, 'Most others would have but not you'.
It was ironic; Steve condemning him to a worse death through mercy.
But then… if he was going to die either way, why had he even attacked Steve?
Because he knew he stood a chance of winning? Steve's guard would be down and he had dominated him in Germany. No, that was just a decision he had made based on the order he had been given.
He had attacked Steve because Thanos ordered him to. He hadn't even thought about disobeying. That wasn't like him. Thanos was terrifying. He was more powerful than any being Loki had ever seen or imagined.
But… hadn't all his enemies seemed that way once? No matter how big the foe, Loki had never submitted. It had earned him enough thrashings but to do otherwise would have been to acknowledge they were better than him.
He had been many things in his life. He had not considered a coward to be one of them.
But here he was. Acting like the dog Thanos assumed he was.
Biting the hand of the one person who had treated him with any dignity.
There was genuine confusion and anger in Steve's eyes.
Loki had actually hurt him.
To his utter astonishment, it made him feel ashamed.
How many times had he seen that look in his own reflection? When he had been beaten by others who seemed to resent his very existence. Been beaten by those he believed were his friends?
'Once there was a boy', Loki said quietly, 'Weak and ignored, he resented the mocking glances of his peers. He aspired to be better than all of them. He wanted them to stop laughing. So he gained more power than he could ever dream of. But it did not make him happy. It was lonely'.
Loki glanced up at Steve.
Steve was watching him warily but he was listening.
So Loki continued.
'Sometimes he wants to go back to the way things were. When things were simpler. Then other times, usually when it's dark and quiet, he thinks about ending it all. Just letting go and drifting away'.
Loki paused to swallow and licked his lips.
'Like he should have done when he chose to die. But someone reached down and pulled him out the nightmare. They took his choice away from him. So he fights. He fights and fights even though he is sick and tired and feels too old. Because to do anything else would be to admit defeat. To admit that despite all his power, he still feels as weak and helpless as he ever did and the world is still an unforgiving place which only rewards the strong'.
Loki passed a hand over his face and sighed.
'Truth or lie?' he asked.
'It's true', Steve said.
'For whom?' Loki prompted.
Steve frowned but heard there was no mockery in Loki's voice. Just a sad undercurrent that matched his small, rueful smile.
'Us', Steve said quietly.
Steve rubbed his face with both hands and shook his head.
'I fought because I realised it was my last chance to', Loki said, slowly beginning to stand, 'And I wanted a chance of winning'.
'More like you'd thought I'd go easy on you', Steve said.
'I hoped you would know when to stop', Loki thought.
Steve sighed harshly, rubbing his neck in frustration at Loki's silence.
'There really is nothing more to this is there?' he said, 'The whole Chitauri invasion really was just you. Death or glory huh? Just like that fight just now'.
'Once again the tone of surprise', Loki said, throwing up his hands incredulously. He winced as he jarred his shoulder.
'Not surprise', Steve said coldly, 'Disappointment'.
'Disappointment?!' Loki cried exasperated, 'What have I done to make you believe I care about anything else than my own skin?!'
'You didn't kill me yesterday when you had the chance'.
'I just tried to rectify that', Loki said gesturing at the debris from the battle.
'No… you didn't', Steve said, his mind suddenly racing.
'Well, obviously I didn't succeed', Loki said, waving a hand dismissively.
'Yeah, why is that? My guard was down. Why didn't you try a neck shot? Or one of my eyes?'
'I don't know', Loki shrugged.
'No. When you decide to kill someone you don't mess around. And, even if you had killed me, you would've had nowhere to go! You don't want to kill me. You just want to go home. That's what this whole little game has been about but now you go and jeopardise it? You're scared. You never tried to escape because you're afraid. In here, you're protected and you'll be even more protected when they take you to Asgard. Don't play the tough guy Loki. It's the biggest lie you've told me yet and the worst thing is I think you actually believe it'.
Loki was going to hurl a cutting comeback. One of his usual barbs to deflect Steve's theory.
But he found he couldn't.
He didn't feel tough. He felt sore and confused. Looking down at his ruffled clothes and feeling his body ache, he knew he was running on empty.
'You're wrong', he said, 'I am far beyond the luxury of self-delusion soldier. There's nowhere left to run'.
'Who are you running from Loki? Who told you to kill me?'
Loki looked up at him impassively.
If there was nowhere left to run, there was also nothing left to lose.
'Thanos', Loki said simply.
'Who's Thanos?'
Loki burst into hysterical laughter.
The question was so ludicrous! The people on Earth had no conception of the horror in store! The horror he had lived with for months!
It felt good to tell Steve: to rob Thanos of the element of surprise! He wasn't as powerless as everyone thought after all. A dog could bite back hard if the owner wasn't wary after all. Now he felt like himself again! Taking those who thought themselves untouchable down a notch: this was Loki! God of Mischief reborn!
He no longer cared about Thanos' threats: let him kill him! Odin could very well kill him anyway! Hadn't he tried to kill himself once?!
Saving him had been Thanos' big mistake.
Getting his laughter under control was not easy seeing the confusion on Steve's face but with effort, Loki stopped and, wiping his eyes, answered Steve's question.
'Thanos is the reason I didn't just walk out of this cell the minute their backs were turned, the reason I agreed to be taken to Asgard with those lovely security systems and Heimdall's eyes on everything'.
'Is Thanos a person like a human or Asgardian?'
Loki laughed bitterly which gave Steve all the answers he needed.
'What does Thanos want?'
'I don't know but I know we're all going to die. By letting Thor take me to Asgard I, at least, will die later. If I'm very lucky Odin will execute me the minute I walk through the doors. Or Ragnorok will hit before Thanos reaches Asgard. At least I know what to expect from that apocalypse'.
'If he's that bad, you know you can't fight him on your own'.
'Fight him?!' Loki practically screamed, 'I'm not fighting him! With or without help. Don't worry though, I don't have any reason or plan to help him either. Does that make you feel better?'
'You're just pathetic you know that?!' Steve snapped.
'Finally exhausted your boundless patience have I?'
'You could do so much good if you weren't such a goddamn coward', Steve growled.
Loki raised an eyebrow at Steve's stronger language. He truly had touched a nerve then. Intriguing: taunting him had minimal effect. It was the fate of others he was concerned about.
'So to you, bravery is getting myself killed for Asgard or Earth? Getting yourself killed?!' Loki asked, 'Why should I die for two planets that want me dead?! No! I choose my own fate!'
'I don't understand the choices you make', Steve said, defeated, 'Every time you've had a chance to do the right thing you haven't. Every time someone tries to reach out to you, you reject them. It's so-'
'Alien?' Loki interjected sardonically.
Steve gave a humourless bark of laughter and rubbed his eyes wearily.
'Human', Steve corrected.
Loki said nothing but sighed and slowly offered his wrists clasped together. Picking up the cuffs, Steve put them on Loki and fastened them shut. They hummed with Asgardian magic and runes engraved in the metal glowed gold.
Steve moved behind Loki and, placed a hand on his shoulder. Loki flinched at the pressure and Steve swapped to his other shoulder. Steve began to gently guide him towards the door and opened it with a slide of the keycard.
The SHIELD agents moved in to take over guardianship of the prisoner. Loki didn't look at any of them. Fury raised his only visible eyebrow at Steve's dishevelled state but returned Steve's subtle nod confirming he was okay.
'Goodbye Captain America'.
Loki's voice was so soft that Steve wasn't sure he had actually heard it. By the time he realised Loki had actually spoken, he was gone, being led up the stairs to the transport van waiting to take him to the rendezvous point in Central Park.
Later that day, Steve was leaning on a railing by the harbour, watching the rose streaked clouds pass overhead. Behind him, the warehouse where Loki had been held stood with a fresh Hulk shaped hole in the wall which a construction crew were trying to patch.
The transportation to Asgard had gone off without a hitch. Evidently Loki had truly had enough of shenanigans.
Steve had not approved of the muzzle but he conceded that Loki owed Barton some indignity of his own. Just before Loki had taken hold of the cube and been transported home, their eyes had met for a fraction of a moment. Neither had blinked.
Steve heard Fury come up behind him and nodded in greeting as he joined him.
'Well, is the world in danger?' Fury asked.
Steve took the doughnut which was offered out of a Krispy Kreme bag. He had typed up a report and sent it to Fury while he had been getting cleaned up after the scuffle with Loki. The man read fast. Steve didn't bother asking how Fury knew he would be here.
'World's always in danger. But not from Loki'.
'You think he's telling the truth about this Thanos character?' Fury asked.
'The truth is out there', Steve quoted.
Even as he quoted, Steve reflected that it wasn't right.
The truth was not out there and it wasn't the same as reality.
The truth was changeable, subjective and could be twisted any number of ways. It was a story people told themselves and everyone told it slightly differently.
The only truth or truths that mattered were those you chose to hold on to.
'X Files', Fury said, identifying the quotation, 'That's an old show now'.
'Not to me', Steve said.
'Who recommended that one?'
'Tony'.
It felt odd to use Stark's real name: Steve was still getting used to how informal things were in this century. But it was about time he started engaging with it. It was the only way to make peace after all.
'That stuff'll rot your brain', Fury said.
'Well why watch it when we can live it right?' Steve replied, finishing his doughnut, 'I'm guessing you've got a plan? Just in case Loki is telling the truth'.
'Keep our eyes on the skies. Anything big and nasty pokes it's head out, we shoot it'.
'Simple', Steve nodded.
'And effective'.
'If it's okay with you I was thinking I might take a vacation', Steve said, stepping back from the railing, 'See what else I've missed'.
'Sure, why not?' Fury shrugged, 'You been asleep for a couple of decades. Seems like that'd take it outta' ya'.
Fury's mobile phone began to ring.
'Excuse me Cap', Fury said and clicked it open.
Steve smiled and went to his waiting motorcycle. He picked up his helmet and fastened it tight, heedless of Fury's mounting concerns behind him.
'How can it be gone?!' Fury demanded, 'Site B was classified. I don't care if they were unidentified, they were obviously professional. Listen to me, if that sceptre gets in the wrong hands-wait a minute, wait a minute! Hey! Cap!'
Fury turned but Steve was already gone. Fury could hear the noise of his motorcycle growing ever fainter.
Fury selected Steve's number from his list of contacts and rang it.
'This person's phone is switched off', began the automated message.
Fury swore as he hung up the call.
Overhead a magpie on a roof chattered in a way that sounded like laughter before taking flight, the dimming sunlight catching on its dark green wings.
END
CONTINUED IN: 'TO TAME A MAGPIE'