Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay in updating, but real life has been demanding much of my attention lately. A huge thank you goes out to everyone who has followed, favorited, and reviewed this story. Your support means everything, and gives me the will to continue on. A special thanks to dreambear43, msalina007, Chiafun, Loki God of Evil, minaleigh, and IWouldHaveFoundYou for your beautiful reviews on the last chapter! You guys are amazing, and I'm always thrilled to hear from you! And for those of you who are wondering, I estimate this story to be anywhere from 20 to 30 chapters by the time I'm finished, so we're in this together for the long haul.
A quick note: I finally got around to watching Civil War a few weeks ago… Yes, I know… I'm WAY behind. With that being said, I will allude to some of the main events from Civil War in this story, like how the government wants more control of the Avengers, but the finer details will not match up, because I developed this plot before I watched the movie.
Anyways… enough of my rambling… On to the new chapter! I've included a line from one of Samuel L. Jackson's other movies in this chapter, but changed a few of the words to make it fit this story. See if you can find it! As always, read, review, and enjoy!
Chapter 11: Win the Battle, Lose the War
Earth
7:45 a.m.
Nick Fury sat at the end of a long table, drumming his fingers impatiently against the dark mahogany wood. The American government had spared no expense on the décor. Fury had been informed by one of the General's secretaries that the table he now sat at had been imported from Cuba, the wood originating from the collection of one of the finest carpenters in the Northern Hemisphere.
As if he asked or even cared. It was all part of the dog and pony show. Impress the guests with your illusions of grandeur so they don't ask too many questions. It might have worked on a lesser man, but Nick Fury had no intentions of backing down.
Across the table from him was a video projection of the United States Secretary of Defense, General George McClinton. He was dressed to the nines in a suit that most likely cost him thousands, his mouth set in a perpetual sneer, and his knuckles nearly white from gripping the pen in his hands tightly. He sneered at Fury, haughtiness dripping off of him, and the purest disdain in his tone.
"So let me get the story straight," McClinton sneered. "You have procured Hydra's weapon, and are holding it at a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility?"
"Correct," Fury responded, trying to keep his voice even when all he could think about was knocking the son of a bitch's teeth out.
"And you also have Dr. Foster, the war criminal, Loki, the Winter Soldier, and Captain America in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody as well?"
"Yes," Fury acknowledged. "They are all being held in a secure location."
"Good," McClinton sneered. "They'll be easier to pick up. Expect an army-escorted team to pick them up at zero-eight-hundred tomorrow morning. They'll be moved to a more secure location."
"Excuse me?"
"Those are orders Fury."
"Who's orders?" Fury demanded. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is tasked with the safekeeping of the Avengers and all advanced prisoners of war. This is our duty."
"Not anymore," the Secretary of Defense growled. "Orders of the President himself. I can show you the paperwork if you'd like."
"He wouldn't."
"Don't be so sure. There's been a lot of negative press coverage for your rag-tag team of super freaks lately. S.H.I.E.L.D. can't keep their dogs on leashes, it would seem, and the administration is sick of seeing the fallout from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s defense program. The Avengers can't all seem to agree on setting laws in place to keep this planet safe, so we're doing it for them. S.H.I.E.L.D. is being dismantled, and a new organization is being set up in its place, one that focuses on prevention instead of reaction. Fallout from destruction during the Avenger's battles will be minimized if we focus on getting rid of known problems before they have a chance to create more problems."
Fury glared at the screen, seething. He wished the Secretary of Defense had the balls to be in the room with him, because he was certain that he would kill the man on sight.
"Don't be so cross, Director Fury," McClinton sneered. "In time you will realize this is for the good of all mankind."
"Say I hand them over," Fury began thoughtfully. "Jane Foster, Loki, the Winter Soldier, and Steve. What will you do with them?"
"Saber, the organization that will soon be replacing S.H.I.E.L.D., has plans for Loki, the Winter Soldier, and Captain America. They will be utilizing the same techniques Hydra has used for decades to reprogram them as obedient soldiers, loyal to whatever cause we deem worthy. As for Dr. Foster… she has become a liability. Hydra is currently in possession of her Einstein-Rosen bridge, and we have intel that suggests they want her to finish it. That cannot happen. The Einstein-Rosen Bridge is a danger to our planet, and needs to remain unfinished at all costs."
"Jane Foster is not in any condition to travel right now," Fury pointed out. "She doesn't need to be moved across the country to a new location until she's recovered."
"Then we simply won't move her," the Secretary of Defense replied easily. "She can be easily dealt with at your facility. In fact, take care of her yourself, and I may be able to get you transferred to Saber to continue your work."
"Kiss my ass," Fury growled. "Jane Foster is innocent, and I'll have no part in her murder. She stays with S.H.I.E.L.D. and I will protect her if you come looking for trouble."
"So noble," McClinton jeered. "But I fear your intentions are only that, noble intentions. Not everyone at S.H.I.E.L.D. works for you, you know. Hydra has infiltrated your ranks, along with a few men who work for me as well. You'll never know who, but they're there. The job will get done, so you can keep Dr. Foster. I want the infinity stone and the other three out in front of your facility and ready to go by zero-eight-hundred. And you'll do as I ask, or I can have the military drop a few bio-weapons on your facility, and kill all of you. Your choice, so choose wisely."
"You worthless, scheming, low-life, son of a bitch!" Fury shouted, but the screen in front of him went black, leaving him alone in the posh government room.
Nick Fury stood from the table, his hands trembling in rage. He crossed the room slowly, and exited to find Natasha waiting for him outside.
"What happened?" she asked him immediately, taking in his trembling form.
"Walk with me," he growled. "I'll explain everything once we get to the car." Natasha followed him, and only when they were safely inside of the S.H.I.E.L.D. issued SUV did Fury speak. "Remember when I told you the Secretary of Defense was not on our side and we needed to be wary of him?" he asked softly.
"Yeah," Natasha responded, her eyes meeting his with concern. "What happened in there, Nick?"
"S.H.I.E.L.D.'s being dismantled. The government's forming a new organization called Saber. They're coming to take Hydra's weapon, Steve, Loki, and the Winter Soldier tomorrow morning. They also want Jane Foster dead."
Natasha's shocked expression morphed into anger. "Surely you didn't agree to this?"
"Hell no. I'll fight them on all of this, but we have to give them what they want, or at least look like we're giving them what they want."
"You have a plan?"
"Sort of," he admitted. "But it needs some work. I need you to call our facility and set me up a meeting with Loki wherever Jane's being kept. I'm going to need his help. Also, I'm going to need a few volunteers, so get the Avengers on the phone for me. I intend to make them regret this decision very much."
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10:30 a.m.
Loki sat on the edge of Jane's mattress in the tiniest room S.H.I.E.L.D. had kept them in to date. There was barely room for a mattress and a chair, without tripping every time he moved around. He assumed that this had been thrown together as a living quarters of sorts because they had nothing else for them.
He watched Jane sleep from the corner of his eye, never losing sight of her. She was still pale and weak from her ordeal at the gala, and he felt somewhat responsible for her current condition.
S.H.I.E.L.D. had collected Hydra's weapon after the battle, and to their surprise, had discovered that it was an infinity stone. Hydra had harnessed it to be used as a weapon without ever touching it. Had he known what it was, he would have never asked Jane to dismantle it. She could have easily died, and the god of mischief was irritated with himself for almost allowing such a thing to happen.
She would live. He felt it in her magic, though she would need his assistance and protection for a short time as she recovered. He had informed one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s medics of this during the night, when the man had come to take yet another vial of blood from Jane. He did not succeed. Loki had threatened to put his mother in a blender if he touched Jane, and promptly showed him the door. His Jane did not need doctors. She merely needed to sleep it off and allow her body to heal. He smirked at the thought of just how strong she was becoming. To say he was proud would be an understatement. He was absolutely thrilled with her progress.
"Loki, are you listening to me?" Fury growled, grabbing his attention once more. "Look, I'm going to be straight with you. I don't like you. In fact, I hate you. If it wasn't for Thor, and the very real possibility of triggering an interstellar war, I would kill you with my bare hands. I would strangle you and watch the life leave your eyes, and I would laugh the entire time. I hate you that much. Now that we've established my feelings for you, let's talk about what needs to happen next."
Fury scooted his body forward, perching on the edge of the room's only chair, and trained his eyes on Jane.
"Jane's in trouble," he said simply. "People higher up the chain than I am want her dead. They see her as a liability now that Hydra has the Einstein-Rosen Bridge. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s been compromised. Not everyone who works for me can be trusted, so I wouldn't be surprised if an attempt on her life is made very soon."
Loki looked to Jane, who lay sleeping, her face smooth and worry free in her slumber. "They may try, but they will not succeed," he growled.
"I was hoping that you would say that," Fury nodded. "Jane will need your protection now more than ever. The only problem I have is that the military wants you, Captain America, and the Winter Soldier in a program they're developing. They're going to be here first thing in the morning to collect you, and as much as I despise both you and the Winter Soldier, I refuse to hand the two of you over to be turned into weapons, and I sure as hell don't want a war with Asgard over your sorry ass. The problem is, I have to give them what they ask for. You're a master of magic. I was hoping you might have an idea."
"You will need to deceive them with a decoy of some sort," Loki mused. "I could create illusions, but they are not solid. The military would not be deceived."
"What if I could get some men to volunteer," Fury asked. "Could you illusion them to look like yourself, the Captain, and the Winter Soldier?"
"I could," Loki acknowledged. "But even my magic has limits. The illusions will not last forever, maybe a week at the most, and they can dissipate with too much contact. They would not hold up long in battle."
"That's okay. You can do it?"
"You severely underestimate my skills."
"Good," Fury acknowledged, fixing him with a glare. "I don't think I need to tell you that if you double cross me, I won't hesitate to kill you."
"And if you betray myself or Jane, I will disembowel you," the god of mischief retorted.
"Very well," Fury sighed. "Do we have a deal?"
"We do."
"I'll send instructions when I figure out how the hell to get all of you out of here safely. Be ready to move when the time comes."
Loki nodded, and Fury got up to leave him alone with Jane, shaking his head as he left. "I'm tired of these motherfucking aliens on this motherfucking planet," the director mumbled, causing Loki to smirk at his back.
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4:15 p.m.
Steve tried not to cry in frustration as he watched his best friend struggle against the chains that held him until he was bleeding. Dark blood trickled down his wrists and arms, his ankles and shoulder blades. His bare chest heaved as he thrashed, and his dark eyes were wild with hatred. Sometimes his screams were intelligible and in English, other times they were in Russian, and sometimes he would simply scream. It hurt Steve to see his friend this way.
"Buck," he approached the table he was bound to slowly, trying not to make him struggle against the metal bonds that held him any further. The Winter Soldier's eyes snapped to him, murderous rage in their depths.
"Buck, it's me Steve," he tried again, his voice barely loud enough to carry past his friend's ears. "I need you to remember who you are. It's important. You're Sargent James Buchanan Barnes of the one hundred seventh infantry regiment. You were best friends with a shrimpy, little kid named Steve Rogers. That was me."
The Winter Soldier snarled, and lunged at Steve, the metal digging into his bleeding flesh.
"You used to fight anyone that even looked at me funny," Steve continued. "You were a brother to me. When we were sixteen, we used to sneak out and try to pick up girls at the movies. Well, you picked up girls. I just went with you. Your mom used to make lasagna that would just blow us away. She made it every Sunday, and I always came over and stayed the night with you. Do you remember any of that?"
The Winter Soldier snarled and lunged for him once again, but his brow furrowed, and Steve thought he saw a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"You do remember some of it, don't you?" he pressed. "It's all still there, isn't it? You just need to be reminded. I won't give up on you, Bucky. I know you're still in there, and I'll keep trying to find you for as long as it takes."
Steve sat beside the Winter Soldier, who was slowly starting to calm down, no longer struggling against his bonds. He began to tell him stories from their childhood, all the way up until he had fallen from the train and into the hands of Hydra. He felt Bucky's eyes on him the entire time, and when he finally turned his way, he saw the concerned face of his very best friend.
Bucky opened his mouth to speak, closed it, and then opened it once again. "I know you, don't I?"
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11:00 p.m.
"Why is it so difficult for you to relax?" Loki sighed. "For the record, I advised against this since you are still recovering, but you are very persistent when you wish to be."
"Persistence is one of my best qualities," Jane smirked playfully. "Perhaps one day, I will teach you to be as skilled as I am."
"I can be persistent if the goal is worth my time," Loki rolled his eyes. "You mortals know nothing of true tenacity. Your lives are but a grain of sand on the ocean. You know not what it's like to wait for thousands of years, hoping that you can achieve a goal you set out to accomplish."
"Oh yeah? Educate me." she challenged. "Tell me what that's like. What do you want more than anything? What would you spend thousands of years fighting for?"
Loki's usually composed face went blank, and Jane knew she had him. "Aha!" she shouted triumphantly. "You don't even know what you want out of life, do you? My life may be a grain of sand, but at least I have a general direction."
She felt light headed, and she sat down slowly, ignoring Loki's frown.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked skeptically. "You need to rest."
"I'll rest when I'm dead," she smirked. "Now teach me something cool."
He chuckled at her persistence. "First you must relax, which seems near impossible for you."
"I can totally relax," she shot back. "It just kind of feels like we're being watched, and it makes me nervous."
"I took care of the cameras while you were sleeping," Loki assured her. "All they're getting is a constant feed of you sleeping and reading, and me attempting to pace the room with what little space is available."
"So there are cameras in here? Those dirty bastards."
"Were," the god of mischief smirked. "They are not anymore."
"Well aren't you clever?" Jane gave him a grin as he mock bowed.
"Truly, my Jane, would you expect any less?"
"From you, no," she laughed. "You cover your bases pretty well."
"I am no stranger to being hunted," he remarked dryly. "Now relax so I can teach you something cool."
Jane closed her eyes, and focused on her breathing, trying to slow her heart rate down. She stood up, and focused on keeping her body still and calm.
"See if you can create a small rift in the fabric of space and time," Loki commanded her. "Very small, just large enough for you to access."
The astrophysicist took a deep breath, and felt her body relax completely just as Loki came up behind her to whisper in her ear. "Very good," he encouraged her. "Now make your surroundings obey you. Make a rift."
Jane took another deep breath and readied herself to break the laws of physics, though it seemed those laws no longer really applied to her. She imagined creating a rift, separating space and time.
"Good," Loki whispered. "Now find where the rift opens. Put your hand on it."
Finding it was a little more difficult. It was invisible, but Jane felt around with one hand until she felt a strange sensation. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled, and it was as if the very air beckoned her to reach forward into nothingness. The air around her felt as though it was being pulled towards an invisible center, and it delighted her. "I think I found it!" she exclaimed excitedly.
The god of mischief placed a dagger in her hand, curling his long fingers around hers in a way that made her heart skip a beat. His skin felt divine on hers, and when he withdrew his hand, she felt a tangible loss that she couldn't explain. "Now put the dagger in the rift," he commanded her softly.
The astrophysicist reached out uncertainly and held the dagger to the place where she felt the air pull.
"Now let it go."
She did, and the dagger disappeared before her very eyes. "Wow!" she exclaimed. "That was cool! Give me something else to put in there!"
Loki handed her a book, and then a pen, both of which she made disappear like the dagger. Jane laughed in delight, only stopping to shiver when she felt Loki's breath ghost over her ear.
"Now get them back," he commanded softly.
"Huh? I can do that?"
The god of mischief chuckled. "Yes, you can. Now find the rift and bring my dagger back."
Jane reached for the place where the air around her pulled into the rift. She reached into the center, and there it was. The dagger appeared in her hands, and she thrust it into the air victoriously.
"Excellent, Jane!" Loki grinned at her, looking very pleased.
"Is this where you put our weapons when you made them disappear?" she asked in awe. He nodded slowly, and Jane could feel the wheels turning in her mind. "Do we share the same rift?" she asked, curiosity burning away at her.
"No," he said. "You have your very own space for whatever you want to put in there."
"What do you keep in yours?"
"Weapons, valuables, whatever I find useful."
"Do you have a name for it?" Jane asked, turning around to face him. "Or do you just call it a rift?"
"I don't have a formal name for it," he admitted. "But I occasionally call it the space between spaces."
"What?" Jane teased. "No cool name like the pocket of destiny, or something along those lines?"
Loki rolled his eyes. "I am certainly glad that you didn't have this magic first," he snorted. "I would hate to have to spend the rest of my life calling my storage space 'the pocket of destiny'."
"It's an awesome name and you know it."
"I am going to have to disagree with you on that one."
Jane made a face at him. She knew it was juvenile and childish, but she didn't really care. "Oh, hey, you never told me what Fury said to you earlier," she noted, changing the subject. "What's going on?"
"You are in danger," he said simply, not bothering to lie to her, and for that she was glad. "Someone high up in your government rankings wants you dead. They see you as a liability now that Hydra has the Bifrost."
Jane stiffened, and felt Loki put one hand reassuringly on her shoulder.
"Obviously, they will not succeed. I will be with you at all times. They wanted me, along with the Captain and the Winter Soldier for some sort of testing as well. A decoy will be sent in place of the three of us. Director Fury is going to get us all to a safe location soon, but we need to be on guard until then."
"Do you think we can trust Fury?" Jane asked skeptically.
"I don't know," Loki told her honestly. "But you can trust me."
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7:30 a.m.
Loki touched Tony Stark's shoulder lightly and closed his eyes, speaking in hurried tones. He recalled clearly every word of the illusion charm. He had used it on Thor, Sif, and the Warriors Three on two separate occasions when they needed disguises to sneak into enemy territory. The charms had worked well in the past, and he saw no reason why they wouldn't work now.
When he opened his eyes, he was staring at the mirror image of himself, arrogant smirk and all. "Do I look pretty?" Tony asked him sarcastically.
"You look devastatingly handsome," Loki smirked. "Not unlike someone else I know."
"The hair looks better on me," Tony quipped, running his hand through black curls. "What kind of conditioner do you use? Your hair is soft."
"Stark! Stay focused!" Fury growled. "You can talk about salon products with Loki when you get back. I'm about to hand you over to the enemy in less than half an hour. Are you ready to do what needs to be done?"
"Sir, yes, sir," Tony snickered.
"Watch yourself, Stark. Do you have the drive?"
"Thumb drive is hidden in my belt," he acknowledged. "It can download a super computer's data in under a minute, and I have it programmed to send that data directly to my handheld device, which will in turn send the files directly to you." "
"Excellent," Fury said. "We're going to see exactly what those bastards are up to, and if necessary, expose them to the world. Romanov, Barton, are you two ready?"
An exact replica of Captain America and the Winter Soldier stood at attention. "Yes, sir," Natasha responded, her Winter Soldier disguise hiding any evidence of her true identity. "Once Clint trips the electricity, I'll secure weapons for the three of us and we'll meet you at the rendezvous point."
"And the trip switch, Barton? Are you comfortable with it and know when to use it?"
"Yes, sir," the Captain America look alike stepped forward. "As soon as Tony gets the data, I trip the electricity and we get out of there."
"If it gets rough where you're going," Fury said. "Get out of there. Even if you don't have the data, save yourselves. That's an order."
"With all due respect, sir," Natasha cut in. "We will succeed, and S.H.I.E.L.D. will continue on for many years."
"I hope you're right," Fury mused. "Loki, tell them what you told me about their disguises."
"I have put an illusion charm on the three of you. It should last almost a week if you are careful," the god of mischief began slowly, his eyes sweeping over his immaculate work with pride. "Sometimes, if you are drawn into battle, an injury or prolonged physical contact can cause the illusion to fade away, so don't engage in battle unless you must. These disguises are simply illusions, and will not last forever. Once they are gone, you're exposed, so tread lightly."
"Take care of Jane while we're gone," Tony commanded, turning a stern look to Loki. "Don't let any of those halfwit bastards lay a hand on her. And for the love of God, if you see Pepper, don't tell her what I'm doing. She thinks I'm away on a business trip."
"I will not reveal your whereabouts," Loki promised, his mouth curling up into a smirk. "And Jane is safe with me. I will destroy anyone who tries to harm her."
"That's my boy," Tony grinned, extending a hand to him. "You two stay safe."
"And you as well, Tony Stark," Loki replied, shaking the hand of his mirror image. "You must return so that I can beat you at chess again."
"You will rue the day you challenged me, space man." Tony pulled him in for a hug and Loki stiffened as he put his arm around the god of mischief's back. Tony patted him on the back a few times and sighed. "Awkward?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Okay then, I'm going to let go and we'll just pretend this didn't happen."
"Agreed."
Tony let go, and gave Loki one more handshake, slipping a key in his hand. "That stuff you asked for is ready," he said nonchalantly. "It's in B-five, men's locker room. This key will get you what you need."
"Thank you," Loki told him, impressed by the speed with which his request had been met. "Good luck."
"I don't need luck. I have skill," Tony joked, but the nervousness in his voice was audible.
Loki left him, turning his attention to Jane, who waited for him across the room. He rolled the key Tony had given him around in his hand, already making plans to retrieve his items from the locker. He wondered if he had made a friend in Stark, though a strange friend he was. He hoped that he would have a chance to see him once again, if only to show him his superior chess skills.
"God speed, Tony Stark," he whispered, as he left his new friend to his fate.
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8:00 a.m.
Tony Stark shot Natasha a grin as they were cuffed by soldiers and led towards a government issued armor-plated truck. Men in suits belonging to an organization called Saber had just loaded up the infinity stone in a steel box, and placed it in an SUV that was parked next to the van.
From the corner of his eye he saw Nick Fury glaring at the Secretary of Defense, playing his part to a tee. The soldiers shoved them into the back of the truck and shut the door, leaving them in darkness.
"Well this is fun," Tony said sarcastically. "The least they could do is give us a tablet and some wifi."
"What exactly were you thinking, volunteering for this?" Natasha growled, elbowing him in the ribs. "It's extremely important that we stay in character and fool our captors for long enough that we can find what we want and get away. What crazy notion would make you think that you're capable of being quiet for long enough to fool them?"
"I don't have to be quiet," Tony retorted. "I'll just spout off some nonsense about how I'm so much more powerful than all of you mortals, and they'll buy it. Loki's no good at being quiet either."
"At least promise you won't run your mouth too much," Clint sighed. "Don't make it any worse on us than it's already going to be."
"I'm perfectly capable of being quiet, I just choose not to."
"Then prove it," Natasha challenged. "Starting now."
"I don't want to be quiet now. I'll prove it to you when we get there."
"That's because you're incapable of being quiet," Clint sighed.
"Am not," Tony responded.
"Are too."
"Am not."
"Shut up!" Natasha growled. "Before I hurt you."
"Wow, you two are boring," Tony sighed. "This is going to be the longest few days of my life."
The driver of the truck started the engine and they began moving forward. Clint and Natasha sighed, and Tony muttered under his breath. "Party poopers."
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Asgard
Training was going well. The men were catching on quickly, and Thor knew without a doubt that in a weeks time they would be ready for battle on Alfheim and Vanaheim.
According to his father, the situation had not changed. Enemy forces threatened invasion of these two realms, and Asgard had pledged her loyalty to both. Asgardian warriors were spoiling for a fight, and Thor, along with Lady Sif, Fandral, and Volstagg were itching to engage the Chitauri in battle.
Thor's group of warriors were deep into their fifth round of hand to hand combat when he ordered them to take a break. It would not do to wear them down too far. He needed them to keep their energy and spirits up for the battles ahead.
He watched them walk away, laughing and teasing each other, when he realized just how tired he was. It had been almost two days since he'd slept, and it was beginning to take a toll. The thunder god decided that he too would take a break and get some rest before his men reconvened for training.
He headed into the palace, intending to go straight to his quarters when Fandral and Volstagg caught up to him.
"Thor! Come and join us!" Volstagg grinned at him, trying to groom his unruly beard, as he matched the prince's strides. "We are going to eat in the hall of feasting. There is to be many delectable foods this evening."
"I suggested sparring," Fandral laughed. "But Volstagg thinks of nothing but his stomach."
"Aye, but the boar's legs are to die for. Valhalla can wait until after I've eaten."
"I would love to join you, my friends," Thor laughed. "But I am far too weary to enjoy myself feasting. I intend to sleep for awhile first."
"Perhaps you should bathe before you head to your quarters," Fandral suggested. "You smell worse than the stables."
Thor stopped walking and lowered his head to his shoulder, sniffing himself cautiously. "Aye, it would seem that you are right, my friend," he admitted sheepishly. "Perhaps a bath is in order. I will see the two of you on the morrow, and we shall feast together then."
With that, Thor left them, taking a detour down the halls of the palace to the warrior's bath room. He would bathe, and then he would sleep. Nothing would stop him.
When he entered the bath room it was quiet, the large, golden arches opening up to reveal a dozen hot spring tubs. He did have a tub in his quarters, but often times he would bathe here, so that he could build rapport with his fellow Asgardian warriors. He liked showing them that their prince was not too arrogant to mingle with them. Being around them in places other than the training grounds strengthened their trust in him as both a prince and a leader.
He walked to the nearest tub, and was about to take his armor off, when he saw a figure rise from the water in one of the tubs across the room. His eyes went wide and his mouth nearly dropped when he took in the lush form of a very attractive woman.
Her legs were long and flared out at perfectly sculpted hips. Her ivory skin lay flat over her stomach, and her breasts were large, perfectly shaped, and very enticing. He found himself staring for far longer than was appropriate, when her voice finally cut through his thoughts.
"Thor," she greeted him, and his eyes finally snapped up to her face.
Long, dark hair hung past her shoulders and down her back. Her dark eyes were fixed on him with both amusement and something that he couldn't place. It was Sif.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," she teased.
"Sif…you're…" Thor struggled to find words. "You're… you're a woman."
"An excellent observation, Prince Thor," she smirked. "I see you're as sharp as ever."
She reached for a towel and covered herself, tying it loosely enough that the thunder god could still see a good portion of her cleavage. His face burned with blush, but he couldn't stop staring.
"I've wanted you for a very long time," she admitted softly as she slowly walked towards him. "But you've never noticed me, really noticed me until today. I've seen you take women whose names you didn't even know to bed with you. You've known me your entire life, and you've never once taken me into your bed, or even considered me as a proper match. Why?"
"I must admit, I've never thought of you in that manner before," Thor replied sheepishly. "I am truly sorry if I have slighted you."
"What is so special about Jane Foster?" Sif asked. "What is she to you?"
Thor gave her a quizzical look, taken aback by the nature of her question. Sif glared at him, full lips pouted, and dark eyes full of scorned pride. She was beautiful, and Thor found himself wondering why he had never noticed before.
"Jane is kind and intelligent," Thor explained. "She makes me see the world differently than anyone I've ever met. She is my intended, at least, I'd like her to be if that is what she wants."
"That's wonderful," Sif groaned, rolling her eyes. "Though you're forgetting something very important. She's mortal! Do you truly think that the Allfather will allow her to eat one of Idunn's apples? If not, your lives together will be but the blink of an eye. Will she want to uproot her entire life on Midgard to rule at your side, knowing that her life will be over long before yours? Even if she does gain an Asgardian's life span, she will never be one of us. She will be a misfit, just like Loki, living among us, but never belonging."
Thor was about to argue, but she silenced him with a look.
"If Jane Foster is as smart as you claim she is, she will come to her senses and find a lover on her own realm. As future king of Asgard, it is your duty to do what's best for your realm, even if it's not what you want. I would be a good wife to you, Thor, if only you would give me a chance. Think about it. I know that you will do what you think is best for Asgard."
She left him then, dropping her towel to give him a nice view of her shapely backside as she walked away.
"Sif is a woman?" Thor mumbled softly as she shut the door, leaving him very confused about what just happened.
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Earth
3:15 p.m.
"So you and I are friends?" Bucky asked suspiciously. "And Hydra captured me during the war, enhanced me with drugs to make me virtually ageless and turn me into a killing machine, and they brainwashed me so I wouldn't remember who I was?"
"That's the gist of it," Steve acknowledged. They sat side by side on the floor. Steve having freed Bucky from his bonds earlier that morning. He was still confused, but he was no longer the Winter Soldier.
"How long have I been doing their bidding?" he asked slowly, fearful of the answer.
Steve gave him a pained look, pursing his lips as he tried to judge exactly what to tell him. "A long time," he finally said honestly.
Bucky shook his head, pain and shame coloring his face. "I killed so many people…" he mumbled.
"You were brainwashed," Steve countered. "You didn't have a choice."
"Maybe I was, but those people begged me for their lives, and I still pulled the trigger. Brainwashed or not, I was the one that killed them. That kind of evil doesn't just get wiped away because they made me do it. Their blood is still on my hands."
"We'll get through this," Steve promised, gripping his friend's shoulder tightly. "Director Fury's going to get us to a safe place, and then we'll get through this together."
"I don't deserve to live after what I've done," Bucky mumbled. "I should just turn myself over and let them kill me."
"You can't do that," Steve said sharply. "If you turn yourself over, they're not going to kill you. They'll just use you like Hydra did. You'll kill even more people, and those deaths will be on you because you gave up. You can't do that, Buck. I can help you. I can help you remember who you are. I can help you get your life back together. I can even help you right some of your wrongs, but I need you to fight. I need you to not give up. There is a way back from this. You can redeem yourself, but you can't give up. Promise me, Buck."
Bucky Barnes met his best friend's gaze with the sorrow of decades he wished had never happened. "Okay," he promised.
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7:42 p.m.
Jane watched him silently as he read A Song of Ice and Fire. She was feeling much better, and had decided to practice her magic by storing some of her things in what she had jokingly come to call the pocket of destiny, only keeping the asinine name because she knew that it irritated him.
Loki lay sprawled out on a chair next to her mattress, having forgone his armor for black pants, shin high boots, and a green tunic. His long legs hung over one arm of the chair, and his shoulder blades leaned back against the other, giving him a relaxed appearance.
Against her better judgment, she found herself admiring his features. His green eyes scanned across the pages, the intelligence in them readable, even from her distance. His nose was sharp, giving him the appearance of a proud and noble man, the kind most women swooned over. And his lips… her cheeks burned as her eyes fixated on them. They were thin, and nothing noteworthy, but she could still feel them kissing along her jaw line as though the sensation would be ingrained there forever.
Things with Loki had become intense ever since Jane had saved him and he had given her his magic. She liked him, she trusted him, and on some level she even desired him.
It scared the shit out of her.
She loved Thor, didn't she? She wasn't supposed to think about what his brother's lips felt like on her skin. In every movie she'd ever seen, when two people were in love they didn't want anyone else, and nothing could tear them apart. Unless every love story she'd ever seen was wrong, Jane knew that she wasn't supposed to feel this way.
And then there was the question of her magic. It drew her to Loki, so she had to wonder how much of her strange desire for him was her, and how much was her magic. Would this desire leave her once they parted ways? Would it ever go away at all? Would she have to give up her magic to get rid of it? She knew in her heart that she would never do that. She would live with it if she had to, but she was keeping the magic.
Jane wondered if Loki felt the same way, and if so, was there anything they could do about it? She was certain that he didn't like it any more than she did. After all, she was only a mortal. Perhaps when she found her courage she would ask him about it, and maybe together they could figure something out. Having the hots for Loki was not exactly something that she wanted after all. Was it?
As a scientist, Jane didn't like not knowing about this weird attraction she felt for Loki. She preferred to deal in absolutes instead of gray areas, and everything about the god of mischief screamed 'gray area'."
"My dear Jane, if you want to stare at me, there's no need to be shy," Loki smirked, bringing her thought process to a horrific halt. "Merely ask, and I will be happy to accommodate your needs."
He made a show of stretching his long limbs, and brought one leg down to sit in a much more provocative position. Oh dear God, she needed some serious help.And he had totally caught her oogling him again. Embarrassed didn't even begin to cover her level of mortification. He gave her a devilish grin, and Jane struggled to find anything to divert his attention from her.
"What part are you to in your book?" she blurted, grabbing for the only distraction she could find.
The god of mischief frowned in disappointment, but allowed her to change the topic. "Khal Drogo died and Daenerys made a deal with a questionable woman of magic to bring him back to life, but at a cost of course."
"Oh yeah," she mumbled. "Not her brightest decision."
"Would you do such a thing for Thor?"
And again, he had put her at the center of their conversation, though this question she sensed, was loaded. He was testing her. He was waiting for her response to see exactly how loyal she was to Thor.
"Maybe," she responded cryptically. "That would depend on the situation. Are you capable of bringing someone back from the dead? I would imagine that would take some seriously strong magic." And again she diverted, playing his game by simply turning the conversation back to him.
"You are correct," he said simply. "It takes a great deal of powerful magic, magic that I do not possess. However, there are beings that can do such a thing. They call them the Norns."
Jane was immediately fascinated. She sat down on the mattress, focusing on him intently, wanting to know more. "Who are the Norns?" she asked.
"They are powerful creatures," Loki told her. "Said to live in the center of Ygdrasil itself. No one knows how old they are, but they've been there for thousands upon thousands of years. It is said that between the three of them they know past, present, and future, and can tell you some of what they know for a price. I have heard tell that they can give the dead life again, though I have never seen it myself. I have also heard that they ask for far more than they give in return, so it would most likely be better to allow the dead to stay that way. I would imagine that one would deeply regret asking for their assistance."
"That's so cool," Jane breathed. "Have you ever seen them? Or been to the center of Ygdrasil? What does it look like?"
The god of mischief chuckled. "My dear Jane, I have not ever seen them. I heard stories as a boy of men who had, and that was enough to make me decide that I never wanted to. I've been to the center of Ygdrasil once, and it was breathtaking. It's as though everything you've ever experienced plays before your very eyes, and occasionally you can see different paths your future might take. All speculation of course, as ultimately you are the master of your own destiny. All the realms can be seen from Ygdrasil's center, and the stars are endless. It feels as though the universe will swallow you whole, and you'll never want to leave."
"Can you tell me more?" Jane asked in awe. "Thor drew me a picture and told me a few things, but I'd like to hear about it from you."
"Seeing as Thor knows little about anything that doesn't concern battle or feasting, and his drawing most likely looks like that of a child, I would be glad to share my knowledge with you."
Jane pulled a pen and a notebook seemingly out of thin air, and handed them to Loki who was grinning proudly. "My pocket of destiny has a few cool things in it," the astrophysicist smirked as the god of mischief rolled his eyes.
"How long are you going to keep calling it that?"
"As long as it annoys you," she responded cheekily. "Now tell me about Ygdrasil."
Loki moved onto the mattress next to her and drew a picture of the world tree that did indeed make Thor's look childish. He began to tell her stories of things he had learned about the realms as a boy, and Jane listened intently.
A small piece of paper slid under the door as they talked, catching Jane's eye. She moved from her spot on the mattress to retrieve the paper, and sat down once again next to Loki, where they unfolded the note and read it together.
Parking Garage 5:00 a.m. sharp. Make sure no one see you.
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1:37 a.m.
Loki watched Jane as she slept, her small body strewn haphazardly across the mattress. She stirred occasionally, but her dreams were not the nightmares she had been plagued with lately. He thought to join her. Perhaps she would be receptive to him in her dreams, and he could be rid of the near constant desire to have her.
Rational thought returned to him, and he decided against it, at least for tonight. He needed to be vigilant, and he could not keep her safe if he was busy seducing her in her dreams.
He reached into his space between spaces and withdrew his gift to Jane. Tony Stark had come through for him and attained a high carbon metal he had never seen before. It was light, much lighter then the metal on his armor. According to Tony Stark it was incredibly strong, and the very best Midgard or any of the realms had to offer.
Loki took his dagger, and began to carve in the metal, making his marks neat and precise. Being from Midgard, Jane Foster did not have her own rune, symbolic only to her, so Loki was going to make one for her. He carved her name into the metal carefully, using the universal symbols he had learned as a boy. He made a crest for her that was similar to his own, seeing as they shared the same magic, and engraved it beneath her name. He would have to list her deeds, as many warriors did, and he had mixed feelings at the thought of inscribing her brush with the infinity stone. He was proud of how strong she was becoming, but he was also irritated with himself for allowing it to ever happen in the first place. He could have lost Jane and his chance at the throne because he made a mistake.
The god of mischief was working on the metal, when he heard the soft click of the door opening. The metal disappeared, and he went invisible with it, watching and waiting to see what would happen.
One of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s agents entered, dressed in his standard issued S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform and holding a syringe in his hands. He was clean-shaven, and had a face that could easily blend into a crowd. There was nothing remarkable about him at all.
He entered the room silently, closing the door behind him, and crept towards Jane intently. Loki watched him, silently daring him to try and harm Jane.
He reached for her, grasping her arm in one hand, while he placed the syringe in a position to pierce her vein. Jane stirred, close to waking, but the man never had a chance to inject her with whatever he carried in the syringe.
Loki, still invisible, clamped down on the man's wrist so tightly that he cried out in pain. Jane scrambled off of the mattress, now wide awake, and took in the scene before her in horror. The god of mischief drove the man backwards and shoved him into the wall so hard he heard his ribs snap. He lost the disguise, showing himself to the intruder as he pinned him against the wall and placed a dagger to his throat.
Rage filled him at the thought of this mere mortal trying to harm his Jane. She was his. She belonged to him and him alone. No one would touch her so long as he lived. The rage drove him mad, and he wanted… no, needed to make this man bleed.
The man wheezed in pain, fear filling his eyes as he took in the god of mischief. "You're…you're not supposed to be here," he wheezed.
"Neither are you," Loki growled. "Who sent you here?" He pressed the edge of his blade into the man's skin, drawing blood and causing him to whimper, tears pooling in his eyes.
"The S-Secretary of Defense. I w-work for him," the man whimpered pitifully.
"I have a message for your Secretary of Defense," Loki snarled. "Jane Foster is under my protection. Anyone who tries to harm her will suffer my wrath." He took a second dagger and shoved it into the would-be assassin's side, hearing the crunch of bone beneath the blade, along with the man's pitiful scream. He withdrew the blade, grinning wickedly. "Do not presume you can ever touch what belongs to me."
With one quick slice he took the man's hand, kicking him to the ground as he desperately tried to stop the bleeding. The would-be assassin stumbled, trying to rise, but Loki brought the second dagger down on the back of his neck, severing his spine. He flipped the man over then, and sliced his throat open, the knife cutting through his skin like butter. Blood pooled beneath him, and the man struggled to breathe, his breath coming out in a drowning gurgle as he bled out.
Loki turned his attention to Jane, who stood in shock a few feet away from him. The sudden rage he had acted on only moments before left him. The primal urge to kill and maim for what belonged to him slipped away, and in it's place rational thought returned.
He reached for Jane and she took his hand slowly, her own small hand shaking in shock against his. For the longest time she refused to meet his eyes, and he feared that in his rage he had frightened her. She had seen him lose control and brutalize a man right in front of her after all. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, she looked at him and he was stunned by what he saw.
There was no fear in her hazel eyes, only a look like the kind a child would have for a guardian, or a woman for her mate. He had seen many look at Thor this way, and his mother would glance at Odin the same during times of trial. It was trust. No one in all the realms had ever trusted Loki Silvertongue. He simply was not trustworthy.
And yet… Jane Foster did. It was a revelation that was both surreal and frightening.
His chest tightened uncomfortably, and for a brief fleeting moment he wished that he could be the brave and noble man she obviously thought he was. The moment faded however, and he accepted that he would never be that man. He was duplicitous, a liar, and Jane Foster was merely a means to an end. Protecting her was necessary to achieve his goal.
He ignored the tightness in his chest and the dread that pooled in his gut, but even then a voice in back of his head asked if he really felt that way, or if he was merely lying to himself just as he did to everyone else.
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3:20 a.m.
The sniveling weakling came to him as he was giving orders to a few of Hydra's officers with fear in his eyes, and rightly so. Red Skull found himself becoming more hostile and agitated with each passing day. He attributed his changing personality to his new DNA, which seemed to have bonded quite well with his existing genome. He was no longer a mere mortal. He was a god among men, and the more he accepted his new role, the less human fallacy he tolerated.
"Sir," the young man began nervously. "One of our scouts has intel that S.H.I.E.L.D. is changing hands, and they've transferred the Winter Soldier, along with the weapon to a facility in Nevada."
"Do we have floor plans for this facility?" he growled.
"No, sir, but we can get them."
"See that you do. I will go myself to retrieve the Winter Soldier and our weapon. I cannot allow either to stay in enemy hands, and I will ensure that the job is done correctly this time. What of Dr. Foster?"
"She's in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, sir," the young man winced. "Under guard, though the Asgardian who was protecting her has been moved to Nevada with the Winter Soldier. It will be easier to take her without him there."
Red Skull sneered at the man who was hardly more than a boy with barely concealed rage. He clenched his hands into fists again and again, squeezing so tightly he could hear his bones pop in and out of socket. He was becoming agitated, and it was difficult to control the rage he felt building within him.
"Did I not instruct you upon our last meeting to place our weapon with the most trustworthy soldier that we possessed? Did I not tell you to kill the Asgardian? And did I not explain how paramount it is that Jane Foster be in our custody?"
"Y-yes, sir," the boy stammered. "I'm sorry, sir. I wasn't there. I had no control over anything that happened, I swear!"
"Perhaps you should have been there," Red Skull sneered as he slowly approached the boy, circling him like a predator dances around its prey. "If you are tasked with a job, is it wise to put others in charge of something that was given to you?"
"No, sir," the boy squeaked. "But-"
"Silence, mortal!" Red Skull growled. He could smell the fear on the young man, hear his heart race, and he was overcome with the urge to destroy him for his weakness. "You have failed me," he snarled. "And it will not happen again."
He moved so quickly, the boy didn't have a chance to respond. He kicked his legs out from underneath him, and grabbed him around the neck, throwing him to the ground. He held the boy down sideways with the weight of his body, and pressed one palm to the side of his face.
"I do not tolerate your failure," he snarled, as he began to crush the young man's skull beneath his palm.
The boy cried and screamed, but Red Skull gritted his teeth and pushed downwards, until he felt his skull split apart beneath his hand. The boy flopped around, his body convulsing beneath the irritable leader of Hydra. He glanced down to see the young man's face caved in under his palm, his features distorted, and blood seeping from his nose and mouth.
"Your weakness disgusts me," Red Skull spat as he pulled himself off of the boy. His sharp gaze pierced his officers, who had watched the scene in mute horror. "Let this be a lesson to you as well," he growled. "I do not tolerate failure."
And with that, he left the boy to die, his officers cowering in fear of his wrath.
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5:00 a.m.
"Your lab results are back," Dr. Roberts began slowly, his usual good nature somber in the early morning hours. "I was going to wait until later in the morning to tell you, but Fury says you have to go now. After seeing that syringe full of cyanide Agent Martin tried to inject you with, I have to agree with him."
"What is it?" Jane asked fearfully, her gaze drifting to Loki, who stood beside Steve and the Winter Soldier, watching her carefully. He was in his armor, dressed for battle, and she tried not to let him catch her as she allowed her eyes to run over his lean frame. "Is the Kree DNA gone?"
Dr. Roberts shook his head sadly. "No," he said. "I tested blood samples from the time we picked you up after the gala to the next morning, and the amount of toxins in your blood is rising. It's slow, but it's still poisoning you."
"So the magic doesn't work? What does this mean for me?"
"The magic seems to have slowed the process, but it's not stopping the DNA from trying to bind with your own. Your body is rejecting the merging DNA, and attacking it, causing parts of the Kree DNA and other toxins to poison your blood stream. In short, you're still dying, just at a slower rate. I'm sorry, Jane."
She felt as though she could cry. She had hoped so desperately that Loki's magic would be the key. She had hoped that it would undo what Hydra had done to her, that she could live a normal life.
She should have known better.
"So there's nothing at all that you can do for me?" she asked, giving a last ditch effort to hear some good news. At this point, anything would work.
"I'm afraid not. I could give you some drugs to help with the pain as your condition worsens, but I can't fix this."
"Jane, are you ready?" Fury waved her over from across the room, anxious to get them moving.
She nodded, and gave one last look to Dr. Roberts. "Thank you for trying," she said halfheartedly as she headed over to join the men next to a large truck.
Jane bit back her tears, unwilling to let any of the men see her cry. She could cry later when she was alone, but until then she had to hold herself together. She saw the Winter Soldier standing next to Steve, and she felt nothing. Ten minutes ago, she would have refused to go anywhere with that psycho, but now it didn't seem to matter all that much. If he killed her, would she really lose anything? She was already going to die anyway. Jane found her place next to Loki, who regarded her with concern.
"Here's what's going to happen," Fury began. "I'm loading the four of you up in supply crates headed to a rendezvous point in Tennessee. When you reach the point, your driver will let you out of the crates, and give you a GPS. There's a safe house twenty-five miles north east of the rendezvous point."
He regarded them all, weighing his words carefully. "It's not safe to take you directly to the safe house. You'll have to go on foot, over some semi-mountainous terrain. I've provided you will several packs full of food, water, and camping supplies. You'll need to follow the coordinates on your GPS to the safe house. Once you're there they won't be able to find you, it's a veritable fortress. You'll stay there for as long as necessary. Do you have any questions or concerns?"
The four of them remained silent and Fury nodded in approval. "Load up."
Jane followed the men into the truck, as their driver directed them four large crates that were open. The bottom of the crates were empty, and the top folded over so that supplies could be stored on top of them while they were hiding. She stepped into her crate, and heard Loki's voice in her head.
"Everything alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine," she lied, and she saw from the disapproving look on his face that he knew better.
The driver motioned for her to lay down in her crate, and she did while he fixed the lid on top of her. It was dark, and confining, but Jane appreciated having some time alone after spending over a month with someone constantly at her side.
Jane tried to relax, thinking of safety, but she was still reeling from the news Dr. Roberts had delivered to her. She was going to die, and nothing could save her. After what seemed like an eternity, she heard the driver start up the truck, and felt the surface beneath her move forward. When they were moving and she was fairly certain the others couldn't hear her, she finally allowed herself to cry.
So that was it. Kind of building, but I promise you an action packed chapter on the next update. Also, it was brought to my attention the last time I posted a story on this site, that some people find it deeply upsetting if I kill off characters…. When I write, I strive to make the story as realistic as possible for the setting, and in real life… well… not everyone lives in a situation like this. I'm seriously considering killing someone off in the next chapter, but I don't want you guys to show up at my doorstep with torches and pitchforks.
So, with that being said… you get to choose. I promise that I will allow Jane, Loki, and Thor to make it out of the next chapter alive, but anyone else is fair game. There will be a few deaths in this story later on that are unavoidable, because they're a major part of the plot, but this one is your choice. You have the power to stay my pen, or turn me loose and let my play. So, let me know what you would like to see.
As always, please review! I love hearing from you! Until next time!