Kindred Spirits Reunited

By: KC Vaillancourt

Disclaimer - You know the drill…I do not own any of the original characters of Sailor Moon or Marvel. A few other characters to be introduced are of my own creation. Please ask if you would like to use them in your own stories.

Chapter Eleven

After securing Hawkeye in one of the other apartments Serena returned to her apartment and nearly walked into Loki when she came through the door. "He's still out cold." She reassured him as she walked in closing the door behind her. "Luna is watching over him and will let us know when he comes to." She walked over and sat on the couch.

"You said upon our return you would explain what you did in the alley." Loki reminded her as he sat next to her.

"I did." Serena said and turned herself so she was facing him. "There really is not muct to explain. The crystal I have not only gives me the power to heal but also the power to transform into Sailor Moon. At least that's the name I gave her. In that form I can protect the people of this planet."

"You would protect people that you do not have a desire to be around?" Loki asked.

Serena nodded. "Just because I don't want to be completely apart of this world does not mean I would not defend it."

Before Loki could say anything more they heard the front door creak and Luna entered the apartment. "He's waking up."

"That was faster than I thought it would be." Serena stood up and walked out of the apartment with Loki right behind her.

Hawkeye slowly opened his eyes. He moved his hand to his head, it was pounding, not to mention the large bump that had formed. He fully opened his eyes and sat up taking in his surroundings. He was in a small room, there was no furniture in it accept for the bed he was laying on. The walls were water stained and flower wallpaper was peeling off them. He tried to stand up and that's when he realized that his right hand was shackled to the bedframe. "What the hell?"

He pulled at it and reached into his belt for a lock pick only to find that it was gone along with all his other gear. He raised his head when he heard voices approaching the door to his right. It was a man and woman, when he heard the man's voice he remembered just who's prisoner he was.

Serena approached the door but before she opened it she turned to Loki and tried to speak quietly. "Please go back to my apartment." She pleaded for the fifth time.

Loki shook his head. "This man knows me and attacked us because of it. I must know why."

Serena sighed. "I promise I will tell you everything he tells me but I don't think he will be as forthcoming if you are in the room."

Loki said nothing but stood planted where he was. Serena narrowed her eyes at him her frustration at his stubbornness showing through. "I hope I was never this stubborn with" She shook her head. "Never mind I am sure I was. Fine but at least stay out here."

Loki nodded in agreement. Serena opened the door and walked in the room leaving it open a crack. Hawkeye's eyes did not leave hers as she approached him. He tried to get up again and remembered he couldn't. "Even if you kill me the rest of my team will come for him and now you."

"So I was right about that ear piece you wore. There were others listening." Serena said as she took a couple steps closer.

Hawkeye nodded his head. "I am sure my team has already informed the rest of SHIELD I am missing and they will track me right to you. You are in way over your head little girl."

Serena's eyes narrowed. "I am no little girl. Your team can search all they want they will not find you. I am curious though how did you find him?"

Hawkeye was unsure why knowing the company she kept but he felt that he could trust her. "SHIELD monitors potential threats and we got a reading of an anomaly, a wormhole, here that we had seen before. I was sent here with a team to check it out. I was doing a final sweep when I happened upon you both. Now let me ask you a question. Do you know who you're protecting?"

Serena ignored his question. "Why are you after him?"

He took her non answer as a no. "He's a wanted hostel of this planet. Unless you live under a rock you must have heard about the alien army that attacked in New York City. Loki, the man you're protecting, was the one responsible. He stole a powerful weapon called the Terreract and used it to open the portal that allowed them passage to earth and intended to use that army to take over the planet. While he was here he killed anyone who stood in his way including a good friend of mine whom he stabbed in the back. It didn't matter to him whether it was an agent or an old man standing up for what he believed in. He had a scepter and used its power to brainwash me plus many others into serving him. To this day I can still feel him in my head and am haunted by the memories of what he made me do for him. He was supposed to be returned to Asgard, his home, with Thor for judgment." Hawkeye finished and watched her closely as she absorbed everything he told her.

She had heard of course about what happened in New York from various news outlets. She had also heard of SHIELD, Thor, the rest of the Avengers, and the man in front of her but never thought anymore about it since she wanted to remain hidden from it all. They had never mentioned who had in fact been responsible for it. Serena stared directly into his eyes and he continued to stare back. She could read people like books and could see he was telling the truth or at least what he believed to be the truth but she needed to know for sure. She approached him slowly. Without a word she placed her hands on either side of his head and closed her eyes. Images flashed in her mind as she saw his memories. She watched as Loki took control of him with the scepter he had mentioned. She saw all the things he was forced to do under his control. She watched the battle in New York through his eyes. She had seen enough and broke the connection removing her hands from his head. She opened her eyes and stood stunned.

Hawkeye smirked at her. "Believe me now?"

"You know what I did?" She asked surprised.

"After having him in my head not much surprises me. Even after what you saw I can see you don't what to but a part of you does believe me." He laughed at her surprised expression. "I may not be able to read minds but I am no slouch when it comes to reading people."

"Were you after me as well?" Serena asked still trying to wrap her head around what she had seen.

"We didn't even know of your existence until tonight." Hawkeye told her.

Serena did not speak a word. She knew he was right or he would not have given her the chance to transform earlier. Hawkeye was becoming frustrated. "You saw with your own eyes I am telling the truth. You saw the monster you are protecting in action and the bodies of the innocents he and the army he led killed."

"You spoke with him briefly earlier. You saw he has no idea who you are or who he is for that matter. He didn't even know his name when I found him." Serena explained.

"He's a skilled liar. After he gets whatever he's here for he will turn on you most likely kill you. You need to let me go and help me get him back to our base." Hawkeye pleaded.

"What makes you think I would help you?" Serena asked crossing her arms over her chest.

"If you were going to kill me you would have already. Besides I have looked into the eyes of evil. You aren't it. You're one of the good guys. Hell if we had known about you we probably would have tried to recruit you." Hawkeye told her thinking about how delighted Fury would be to have found another to recruit to his team.

Serena stood silently thinking. If he knew some of the things she had done in her past he might hold a different opinion. She turned her thoughts to Loki. She was not able to completely wrap her head around it. The Loki she saw could not possibly be the same Loki she had spent the last few days with. Could it all be a cunning con? Could he really be using her? She was surprised that a large part of her didn't care about what she now knew about him now. Then a thought struck her. "Perhaps he was at the mercy of someone else himself." She needed to know the truth from Loki himself. She was pulled out of her thoughts by Hawkeye. "You have got to be kidding me. You're falling for him aren't you?"

"What?" Serena asked trying to hide her surprise.

"I have seen that look in many women's eyes before. You have feelings for him." He accused her and she could see the disgust on his face.

"I don't want him to be murdered if there is more to this situation than is aware of. So I must have feelings for him is that it?" Serena asked and Hawkeye smirked as she tried to keep her face blank.

"Keep fooling yourself if that makes you feel better." His face turned serious. "If you try to protect him when SHIELD comes they will deal with you accordingly."

Serena looked at him just as serious but said nothing. He noticed a silver glow coming from her palm and before he could do anything he was unconscious. She turned around and opened the door. She wasn't surprised to see that Loki was gone. She wanted to go confront him with what she had learned but turned back to Hawkeye.

She unshackled his wrist and using the crystal she disappeared with him from the room. She reappeared on a faraway rooftop. She returned all his gear just as it had been and with the silver crystal still shining she placed a hand on his forehead erasing any memories of what he had seen today from his mind. Then with in a flash of silver she disappeared from the rooftop and returned to the roof of her apartment building. She was about to go directly down to her apartment but stopped. She saw Luna come up to the roof and immediately confronted her. "Did you know?"

Luna looked at Serena confused. "Did I know what?"

Serena told her about the attack by Hawkeye and what she had seen in his mind. To say Luna was surprised was an understatement. When Queen Serenity had told her that he had fallen into darkness she never thought it would be something like this. "Serena I honestly didn't know anything about what he had done."

"But you knew he wasn't from the moon. In fact I am willing to bet you knew who he was when he first arrived here didn't you?" Serena accused her. Luna lowered her head and nodded. Serena looked away from her but then turned back. Luna felt the knife turning in her heart when she saw unshed tears in Serena's anger filled eyes. "How could you manipulate me like that? I asked you what you knew, how could you not tell me?"

"Serena I honestly did not know anything about what he had done. What would you have done if the moment you saw him I told you I knew him?" Luna asked while ignoring her previous questions.

"I would have…" Serena stopped as Luna spoke up.

"Because I knew him you would have left him there." Luna finished for her.

Serena didn't bother to argue. Luna knew from the silence that she was right, "That's why I was told he would fall to you and make sure you cared for him. I did what I had to do to stop you from discarding him as you have everyone else. I am sorry I lied to you Serenity but given the choice I would do it again."

Serena was about to speak but stopped when she realized what Luna had said. "Told? Told by who?"

"Your mother." Luna saw no point in hiding it now. She could tell Serena most of the truth without revealing the past that she and Loki shared.

Serena felt herself go numb. "Mother…came to you?"

"Yes. She told me he would come and that it was important that you helped him." Luna answered.

"Why?" Serena asked still feeling numb. She shook her head. "This doesn't make sense. What did mother expect me to do?"

"Well she told me he had taken a dark path…" Luna tried to explain.

Serena gave a sarcastic laugh. "That's an understatement."

"All your mother wanted you to do was let someone in." Luna answered.

"So she sends him. You didn't see what I saw Luna. Why would mother send him to me?" Serena asked confused. "I saw the look in his eyes. He is as evil as those that destroyed…"

"Wait a minute. You only saw a small part of his past from one man's mind. You don't know anything more like what lead him to it. Perhaps he was manipulated by someone else. You know like I do that not all of those that attacked the planet kingdoms were evil. Some were manipulated even brainwashed. If it really was as simple as he is evil do you think your mother would have done what she did to have you put in danger? The little that you know does however make it easier for you to deny how you feel about him?" Luna finished.

Serena walked over to sit down. First Hawkeye, now Luna. How did they know what she hadn't even admitted to herself yet? Even if Luna had told her that she knew anything about him when she first saw him that first night it might not have made a difference. When she saw his face that night she knew. Serena noticed Luna staring at her with a smirk on her face. She rolled her eyes. "You're right Luna as always. I really don't have the entire picture."

Luna noticed Serena completely ignored saying how she felt about him but decided to let it go. She knew Serena would deny it if only because she was stubborn. "What do you know about Asgard?" Serena asked out of the blue.

"What?" Luna responded back.

"Asgard. Hawkeye said that's where Loki was from. I had assumed the avengers lived here on earth like I did. I can't remember ever hearing of it before. Did you know there were other places out there other than the planet kingdoms?" Serena questioned.

Luna knew she needed to tread lightly. When Queen Serenity erased her memories of Loki she must have erased the knowledge of the nine realms as well. She didn't want Serena going off on some quest to find potential survivors or threats. "There were brief mentions of Asgard on the moon but we never had dealings with them." Luna looked at Serena and knew exactly what she was thinking of doing next. "Don't you go getting any ideas in your head about trying to get there."

"I wasn't…" Serena tried to say in her most convincing voice.

"After all these centuries you still don't think I know you. I see the look in your eyes. People could have taken refuge on Asgard or other places that could be out there. That has always been a possibility with how vast the universe is. Now since you loath most modern technology I am going to go to New York. I want to see if I can find out more about this SHIELD organization and what happened there. I will be back as soon as soon as I can." Luna was about to turn to leave when Serena picked her up.

"Luna please be careful." Serena said a hint of worry in her voice. She could only imagine what they might do if they discovered a talking cat. Luna smiled and rubbed her head against Serena's cheek. Without another world Luna jumped from her arms and disappeared into the night. She thought about what Luna had said about Asgard and knew she was right. She couldn't go try to find another realm when she had other priorities right now.

Loki sat on the couch in Serena's apartment stunned. Hawkeye's words playing over and over again in his mind. "He's a wanted hostel of this planet. Unless you live under a rock you must have heard about the destruction in New York City. That was him. He killed anyone who stood in his way including a good friend of mine. He even used his power to brainwash me into serving him, to this day I can still feel him in my head." Loki didn't need to hear any more of what he had to say after that. He couldn't believe it. He wasn't the monster he had described. Was he? He looked down at his hands and again for a moment saw bright red blood dripping from them. He closed his eyes and shook his head. When he opened them it was gone. As he sat thinking he didn't hear Serena reenter the apartment. She approached him a little more cautiously and spoke quietly but there was a harsh bite to her voice. "If this is all some kind of grand plan of yours I am going to give you one chance to tell me the truth or…"

"Or what?" Loki stood to face her and could see in her eyes that she believed what Hawkeye had said. "You'll kill me or had me over to Hawkeye." Serena said nothing. Loki's eyes narrowed and he approached her slowly. "It would be easier for you wouldn't it?" He didn't give her a chance to answer. "Then you could be rid of me and crawl back into your shell."

Serena was taken aback by his words. "What? I don't…"

"You have so many walls built up around yourself I am amazed you go outside at all." Loki said quietly.

Serena's voice was quiet but no less serious. "You have no idea the life I have led. I have built up walls to protect myself and I was just fine until you fell into it."

"Fine?" He laughed. "I can only imagine what could have happened to you that makes you think the life you lead is fine. You live with a cat and shut out the rest of the world. I have offered to leave." Loki reminded her. "If I am such an inconvenience to you I would be more than happy to remedy that."

He tried to walk to the door but Serena blocked his path and looked at him her eyes deadly serious. "Tell me the truth. You owe me that much."

Loki felt something inside him break and the frustration at not being able to remember came pouring out of him. "I don't know the truth!" He yelled. "I don't know anything except what has happened with you these past days. Do you think that if I meant you or anyone else harm I would have done this…" He ripped open his shirt to show the brand that marked his chest. "to myself? Or I would have arrived in such agony. You connected with me and saw for yourself the man that did this to me. You felt the pain I endured. If I am the man Hawkeye said I was I think I would have defended myself? How do you know he is speaking the truth?" Loki asked desperately.

"I saw it." Serena answered quietly. Loki looked at her stunned feeling sweat beginning to moisten his forehead and his heart began to pond fast as he looked at her. "Like I did with you I connected with his mind. I saw through his eyes what you did. You brought an alien army here intent on ruling this planet and killed any who got in your way. You had no regard for innocent life so you could claim yourself king. A team called the avengers stopped you and the army was destroyed. Then with Thor you were returned to Asgard."

Loki had calmed down a bit and narrowed his eyes as he looked at the door behind her. "So I suppose he and his team are waiting to take me away?"

Serena shook her head. "He's gone. I erased the memories of his attack or even seeing us from his mind and brought him to the roof of another building. Luna has gone off to New York to see if she can find out more about SHIELD."

Loki looked at her shocked. The way that she had come at him a few minutes before he thought for sure she would hand him over to them. "Why would you do that for me?"

Serena's expression softened as she approached him. As she did she could feel her own heart beating a bit faster. "I'm sorry for the way I came in here just now but I had to be sure and now I am. If you were still the same man I saw. I know you would have defended yourself or tried to kill me." She reached out to put her hand on his arm but he backed away. "I still want to help you and now after our encounter with Hawkeye I don't think whoever sent you here was trying to hurt you but help you."

"What do you mean?" Loki asked curious as to her reasoning.

Serena thought about the brief glimpse she had gotten from Loki's own mind. Her heart began to race faster as the image of the old man came into her mind. She prided herself on not fearing anyone but there was something about him. Had she met him in her youth and blocked him out. "Hawkeye said you were taken to Asgard to face justice." She walked closer to him and this time he didn't back away as she put a gentle hand on his arm. The words about the shell she lived in echoing in her mind. "I did not see much of your past but when I connected with his mind I could feel your pain and sadness when you were near him even though you tried to hide it behind a mask of hate."

She hesitated at first but moved her hand from his arm and let her hand graze the symbol of the serpents on his chest. As she stared at the chains that bound the heads a new theory came to her. "I think this was your punishment for the crimes you committed. Taking your memories could be a way to help you start again. Become a better person." Serena looked up into his eyes. Both of their hearts began to beat faster again as he took the hand that was on his chest in his. As the moonlight glowed in the apartment both began to move their heads closer to each other closing their eyes. Just as their lips were about to meet Serena backed away shaking her head. "I'm sorry…I can't…"

Loki looked away from her. "I understand." He let go of her hand and walked across the room opening the slider to stand on the balcony. Of all the scenarios he had come up with about who he had been this was not even close to one of them. Now he knew why a part of him didn't want to know who he really was or where he came from. He was a killer, more than a killer, a monster. He thought about the kiss they had almost shared and was not surprised she backed away.

Serena looked over at him. She had wanted so badly to kiss him to have him hold her. In truth her backing away had nothing to do with what she had learned about him. Serena had begun thinking about what she had learned from Luna earlier and was afraid. Her mother had made sure he was sent to her was the kiss they almost shared the reason. She sighed all these revelations and new questions were giving her a headache. She walked over to the join him on the balcony. He didn't look at her. "I thought knowing something, anything from my past would help me find my way. I never imagined I could feel more lost."

"I promise I will help you find your way." Serena said placing her hand on the railing looking out at the city. "We will have to be careful now though. I may have erased his memory but it doesn't mean he or someone else from his team won't spot us again. They will most likely try harder once they find him."

Loki nodded and continued to stare out saying nothing. He didn't know what to think or why she would still want to help him. Part of him wanted to jump off this balcony and run. Knowing some of what had sent him here did not bother him as much as the thought that by staying he was putting Serena in danger. At the same time he didn't want to leave her. He felt more confused now than when the day had started. Without looking at her he spoke quietly. "I need some time alone."

With that he turned and walked to his room closing the door behind him. Serena understood and said nothing as he left her side. The events of the day replayed in her mind. She still didn't understand how the man that had just been standing next to her and the man she had seen could be the same. She looked out at the moon. "Why did you send him to me mother?"

She thought of some of the heinous things she had done in her past and realized that was why it was so easy for het to accept what she had seen. She sighed walking away from the window feeling drained. She rubbed her pounding head and after taking a couple Advil went to Loki's room, when she opened the door she wasn't surprised to find it empty.

Loki sat on the roof staring into the night sky. He thought about the first time he had looked in the mirror in the bathroom. He had wondered what he had done to deserve the pain he endured or the symbol that was left on him. Now he wondered what other horrible things in his life he had done. After he left Serena on the balcony he felt claustrophobic in his room and needed air. Even without seeing what Serena had seen all he had to do was look in her eyes to know she was telling the truth. He didn't understand why he was still alive. Why had The Avengers not just killed him and been done with it. He realized if this was his punishment for what he had done it was fitting. To know what he had done but not know at the same time felt like torture. Then he had an idea. As he got up and turned around he saw Serena coming to join him. "I know you have done much more for me than I deserve but I need to ask you to do something else for me."

"What?" She asked as they sat back down.

"You connected with Hawkeye and saw his memories." Now she knew exactly what he was going to ask but let him finish. "Can you show me what you saw?"

Even knowing what he was going to ask she had hoped she was wrong. "I want to help you piece together what was taken from you but I can't do it that way. Whoever sent you here did so making sure that magic could not undo what was done. I'm sorry."

Loki looked away from her feeling defeated. He was tempted to ask her to try but thought back to what had happened when she tried to restore his memories. It was unfair of him to ask her to risk that again. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made such a request."

Serena placed a hand on his cheek and turned his head so he was looking at her again. She could see the sadness in his eyes and felt a need to help him. "I can try…" She offered.

He shook his head and removed her hand from his cheek. "I don't want to risk putting you through what happened before."

"Maybe knowing a little of who you were is a good thing." Serena suggested.

"How?" Loki asked.

"You wanted to know why you were sent here and I think now we do." Serena offered putting a hand on his thigh.

"Why do you still want to help me?" Loki inquired.

Serena was caught off guard by his question. "What do you mean?"

"You've seen with your own eyes what I am…" Loki tried to finish but Serena cut him off.

"I only saw a small portion of your past through one man's mind. We don't know what led you to what you did. I know how people can be manipulated and that could have happened to you. You fell through the portal to me and no matter what we find out I will keep my promise to help you find your way. Besides until we know for sure I don't think you should allow yourself to drown in the past." Serena wanted to laugh at herself as she said the same words Luna had said to her a thousand times before. "You very well could have been given a second chance that most people do not get." Serena's cheeks turned pink as her stomach gave a loud grumble. Loki couldn't help but chuckle as his own stomach answered hers. "I don't think frozen pizza or any other pre-packaged meal is going to cut it tonight. Come on." She pulled him to his feet and they made their way back into the apartment. "Just give me a minute to get changed." Serena let go of his hand and began to walk out of his room.

"Wait, you want to go out? What about SHIELD?" Loki asked not wanting to risk putting her in further danger.

"I think it's a risk we will have to take." She said and with that she turned and walked into her bedroom closing the door behind her.