Hope y'all enjoy.. See you in the outro! Yup, talking to you. Yes you. You, sitting right there on your computer. Yes, you.
I don't own Loki, or anything Marvel *sniff*
Chapter 9 – Let Him Out.
Cassidy left the board room sombrely, then walked silently passed the receptionist and back to the elevator. She pressed the button and waited, then once she was safely inside with the doors closed, she did a crazy FUCKING DANCE. She stamped her feet and flailed her arms madly, jumping and squealing like a pig rolling in the filthiest mud in the world.
They'd given her her job back! She was so happy she didn't know whether to cry, scream, laugh or melt into a puddle of goo. Her 'Happy Dance' wasn't nearly happy enough for how she was feeling.
She pressed the button for the fifteenth floor and began to descend slowly, she couldn't wait to shove it in Shooranks' smug face.
Suck it you little shit. I'm back.
Actually, no. Cassidy paused, and began to weigh up the pro's and con's of either; dancing in there, guns blazing and flaming Shooranks in front of everyone, which was what he deserved. Or, she could simply walk in and act as though nothing had happened, and then snidely make comments around the office about him. Yeah, that seemed better. Sneakier. Fake taking the moral high ground, then dig the foundations out from underneath him. Oh, she felt devious. The trickster in her was rising from the ashes, and she liked it.
The elevator dinged open on the fifteenth floor on to it's wide, open-plan office. Cassidy adjusted the satchel strap on her shoulder, and strode into the room with her head held high. As she walked through the main strip between the office desks, towards Tony's office, she could hear the awed mutterings of her colleagues: Some seemed amazed, others surprised and others, like Millicent, who just couldn't keep it in. Millie squealed and jumped up from her desk and hopped the short distance towards her, clapping her hands like a seal.
Dear god. A pig, a seal and a kangaroo. Not everyday you see that.
And then she felt terrible. She'd have to buy her lunch to make it up to her.
"OH! Cassidy, I'm so glad your back! We missed you so much, didn't we everyone?" she asked, drawing everyone's attention even further onto Cassie. There was an slightly elated murmur of agreement, mixed with a few feeble cheers.
"Oh thanks, you miserable bastards. I missed you too!" she cried with mock incredulity, the gathering crowd laughed, while a small few began clapping her return.
"Well, Cassie. Didn't expect to you around here again." said a cool voice from beyond the gathering.
The crowd parted to show Shooranks, standing defiantly, arms folded over his black and pink striped Armani dress shirt, Armani pants and Armani belt along with his oh-so-very expensive Armani shoes. His thick blonde hair brushed casually to one side, his icy-cold eyes glaring at her. He clasped his hands into a praying gesture and bobbed them in front of him, punctuating his words. "Can I just say how pleased I am that the board decided to keep you on, despite your actions yesterday." he finished snidely, metaphorically pulling out a knife ready to plunge into her back.
Cassie laughed lightly, "Well, obviously I apologised for that." she said, then addressed the rest of the crowd, "I mean, I was completely out of line back there. But come on, who can blame me? If you lost a job promotion to Shooranks, how pissed would you guys be?" she joked to the masses. Millicent stood with her head down, while her other work-mates began howling with laughter, agreed with her and adding their own mockery into the fray.
This was working out quite nicely.
Cassidy smiled, pleased at how easily he was playing into her hands. She could see the anger bubbling in his tanned, preppy little face, demonstrating beautifully how fake his highlights were. She squinted her eyes and shook her head at him.
He was such a tool.
"Well, the board must see something in me, and my skills that you all don't. That's why they're the boss, and now I'm all of your bosses." he spat, scanning at pointed finger along the crowd. "So you can all get back to-"
"And don't you be forgettin' 'Ranks," Tony interrupted, placing a large, hairy hand on Shooranks shoulder, "I'm your boss. So, get back to your desk and do your job, editor." he concluded, flatly.
Cassie couldn't help but beam at the sight of Tony. When she had pleaded with the board for her job back, they had given it quite willingly. They told her that Tony had begged them to reconsider and had done nothing but praise the ground she walked on. Then, when they wouldn't change their minds, he had threatened to quit his job as Chief Editor if they didn't bring her back. And since his family part-owned the paper, they could do nothing but comply.
When she and Tony had discussed the matter of her asking for her job back yesterday, Tony had told her that he'd make sure he'd get her job back for her and she believed him, but she never imagined the lengths he would go for her. He'd always have her back, and she would irrevocably do the same. He really was like family to her. Warmth spilled into Cassidy's heart, filling it with further adoration and unrelenting respect for the wonderful man who had shaped her career.
Yup, old and balding but he still knew how to make a girl feel special.
Shooranks' face fell as he mumbled, "Yes, Chief." and skulked off silently back to his office. There were a few mocking giggles and mumblings from the guys as he huffed away, back to his fancy new office. Millicent turned and followed him, keeping her head down. Cassidy's eyes followed her as she sat down in front of Shooranks' office. She raised a brow.
Huh, Millicent as a secretary. What the hell was that about?
"Alright kids. Yes, we're all excited to have Cass back-" a loud, male whoop from the back interrupted Tony, the crowd giggled again, "Alright, Janeson, calm down. But we've still got a paper to write, 'uh? Get back to your desks and start typin'." he called, shooing his massive hands in the air. As the crowd began to disperse, Cassie could hear the faint agreement of her co-workers that it was good to have her back; which elated her mood even more.
Tony pointed a finger at her and beckoned, then turned and strode back to his office. Cassidy obligingly followed. She looked back at Millicent, who was sitting at her desk, practically covering her face with her monitor. Cassie's eyes flicked up at Shooranks, who was leaning against the frame of his door, looking smug. He clearly thought that she was in trouble.
Douche.
Cassie spread a wide grin across her face and waved her fingers at him, to which he huffed and retreated back inside his office, slamming the door. She rolled her eyes, as she stepped into Tony's office.
"Close the door." he ordered, as he reached his long desk at the back of his spacious office. Cassie did as she was told and turned back to her boss. Tony stood by the side of his large pine desk, stone-faced, his light brown eyes cold.
Oh god, was she in trouble?
Then, Tony cracked a smile and began sauntering towards her, with a little dancing spring in his step. Cassidy threw her head back and laughed, then began to dance a creeping motion towards him. They reached each other and Tony wrapped Cassie in a warm, tight hug. She was comforted by the smell of his cologne and cigars, and smiled into his shoulder.
"I've been wantin' to say that ever since that jack-ass got the job." he whispered into her ear, his stubbly chin tickling her cheek.
Cassidy laughed again, "And it took you this long?" she said, teasing him.
"I know, I've been a damned saint, kid." he said, chuckling. Then he gave a chesty inhale and began coughing into his hand. They released each other and Cassie gave him a pat on the back.
"I've told you before, Tone. Those cigars won't do you any good." she chided.
Tony waved a huge paw at her and headed back towards his desk, reaching for his white, linen handkerchief. Cassie sat down on the chair in front and placed her satchel beside her on the floor.
"Okay," Tony groaned, as he lowered himself onto his leather desk chair, "I don't need yuh in today Cass, we've got everythin' covered. So you can go home for the day and-"
"Yeah, that's no problem. I'll-" Cassie butted in.
"I'm not finished yet." he interrupted, tilting his head forward at her, "Go home for the day and start packin'."
"Packing?" Cassie cried, "Why do I need to start packing, what-" but Cassie was silenced by Tony's look of mock disapproval. She held up her hands, "I'm sorry, go ahead." she said.
"Thank you. So you can start packin' for New York. You're interviewin' the Avengers, baby." Tony finished, winking at her.
It took a second for the information to process. Cassie just sat there, staring at Tony with a confused expression on her face. He raised his thick black brows at her.
"You alright over there, honey?" he inquired. Cassie nodded, still bemused.
"You want me to fly to New York, to interview the Avengers? The Avengers? Like, the real crime-fighting, ass-kicking Avengers?" she asked, repeatedly.
Tony gave her a sideways smile, "Yes. There's no one else I would trust in this office to take this on. I know you'll do the paper proud." he paused, watching her. "So, whaddya' say, Sheridan?" he asked.
Cassie smiled, "I'll start packing!" she cried, throwing her arms in the air.
Tony reciprocated with a beaming grin of his own, "Wonderful," he shouted, mimicking her gesture, "Now, I'll give you a run down of what'll go down. When you'll be leavin', flight times, all that kinda stuff. On the interview side, it'll be whoever is available on the day, but hopefully we'll get at least two o' the big four. I don't need to tell you you'll need to do some research on them, just make sure the questions are good ones, huh?" he finished, tilting his head at her again. Cassie went to speak but Tony held up at finger at her, taking in another chesty breath and again began spluttering into his fist. Cassie reached across the table and tapped his hand as he wheezed.
She was utterly incredulous. An hour ago, she'd been fighting for her job. Now, she was going to be interviewing the Avengers in New York City!
Cassidy 1, Shooranks 0.
She'd always wanted to visit the apple; the fashion, the architecture, the history, everything about it. But it wasn't just about that, she would be shooting two dreams with the same arrow. She'd always fantasised about that one interview, that one article that would put her on the map as a real reporter, and now she was getting four of them, at the same time. Cassie shook her head; she'd never felt so fucking blessed in her life.
Loki watched her from the window, leaning over the large wooden desk, stroking the old man's hand and the familiar jolt of jealousy stung in the pit of his stomach. He was sick of that feeling; that old feeling that told him that something, or someone was better than him. He'd come to terms with his lack of popularity a long time ago, but it didn't make the pain any less bitter.
She laced her fingers in the old man's fist, smoothing her delicate thumb on the back his furry hand as he barked into a white piece of cloth. Loki felt her gentle caress on his cheek. He sighed and nuzzled into the image of Cassidy tracing a hand lightly on his face, bringing his head to face her as she softly pressed her lips against his jawline and kissed her way up to his mouth, while her other hand explored the hardened ridges of his heavy armour.
Loki groaned at his fantasy and placed his palm against his swelling erection. This was not appropriate. She was his friend, not his lover.
It had been so long since he'd felt another's embrace. The warmth of skin touching skin, hot and sweaty as they writhed beneath each other. He'd truly savour in the delight of a handshake.
Anything.
Being trapped within the Mirror Realm was incredibly lonely.
He'd succeeded in re-building the Realm, since he'd accidentally managed to destroy it with his powers, but had honed it to his own liking. Instead of the swirling, manic chaos of the spinning mirrors and windows, he'd amended it to allow himself to flick through the surfaces at will. He was able to pick and choose which mirror, or window he would like with a wave of his hand. Although it made his life a lot easier than traipsing through the Realm for a certain window, it had made the place far quieter. In fact, it was slightly eerie after having the incessant, whooshing noise for so long. It was strange, the things you missed, when they were no longer there.
But he didn't plan on staying here much longer. Thanks to his old friend in the Mirror of Fróðleikr, he'd learned of a way to escape. It would be dangerous, and painful but he could endure this place no longer. He'd have to locate certain ingredients on Midgard from the Mirrored Realm, then try and persuade Cassidy to acquire them for him.
He didn't know whether to tell her about his plan to escape, or not. His friend within the Mirror of Fróðleikr had told him the dangers of leaving the Mirror Realm through force, it was not a smooth transition; for the traveller, nor the assistant. He wasn't even sure if she would help him retrieve the items he needed, but he would have to try. Besides, he could always make her get them for him. Not that he much relished in the idea of controlling Cassidy against her will, but he was desperate to escape this place.
Loki looked on as Cassidy and the older man were enraptured in avid conversation, her smoke-coloured eyes alive with joy and mischief. He smiled to himself; he'd missed that special glint in her eyes. Her golden hair, entwined with bronze fell gracefully across her face as she reached down into her bag beside her. She slid her fingers through her hair and set it behind her ear, as she began taking notes of what the old man was saying.
His heart pined, like a forlorn puppy, as he watched her. He missed her, even looking at her beautiful face, not mere steps from her. He longed for his little friend, with a mass of caramel hair scraped atop her head and a devious sparkle in her eyes, wanting and wishing to make mischief.
Loki had never judged Thor for falling in love with a mortal, he himself had done the same. It wasn't Eros between Cassidy and himself, he'd never allow himself to do that. But now that he'd found her again, he couldn't bare to be without her. It seemed as though he wasn't whole, unless he was with her.
He physically shook himself, and pushed aside the old man's window with a wave of his hand. He stood, alone within the colours of the Realm for a short while, before gesturing for a new window.
He saw his once brother sitting in a room full of flashing equipment, with people in black attire flitting about. He saw Thor lightly tossing his hammer in the air in front, as if it weighed nothing. Loki watched him closer; his long blonde hair cast across his face, his blue eyes fixed to the floor. He seemed heavy-hearted, Loki pondered what could have his brother so melancholy. He wanted to speak to him, let him know he was there if he was needed.
Again, his heart pined. Only this time it was different, it was a dull ache in his chest that told him, he would never speak to his brother again. Thor could never forgive him for what he had done. Loki felt his the backs of his eyes sting as he gritted his teeth, he would not shed any more tears to this lost cause.
Suddenly, a dark haired man in a cream suit burst through the doors, which distracted Thor from his saddened musings. Stark loudly announcing his arrival with gusto and Loki quickly threw away the window.
Arrogance was never far behind his brother, be it his own, or in the company he kept.
He turned himself in the void, and stared blankly out into the swirling abyss of colours before him. Loki tilted his head as he looked out onto his creation. Through his accidental loss of control, he had managed to create something beautiful. What was a more fitting statement for the bringer of the Ragnarök? He shook his head, as his face hardened.
One thing was set in stone; he would not let Cassidy assist him in the ritual, no matter how desperate he was. By the power of the Norns, he would never put her in peril for his selfish endeavour. However, that did create a fatal flaw in his plan.
How was he to find someone, beside Cassidy, to let him out?
Why, hello again. Nice to see you! Yes, you. Hope you enjoyed :) Thank you all for your reviews, it makes me all warm and snugg-leh. Which helps a lot, since it's bloody freezing here!