Author's Notes: I do apologize for the long delay in posting this chapter. Had a slight issue I needed to figure out before I could complete it. Enjoy!

Chapter 12: Child's Play

Thor and Loki burst into the weapons lab startling the one man who was in there working.

Thor recognized the lone man still working in the lab. "Sóti! I am glad you are here. I need to know something about Tony Stark. You were here when he was working on his new weapon, correct?" Loki was quick to note that his brother did not refer to Stark as his friend. He looked at him curiously but said nothing. Sóti nodded. "Aye, my lord. I helped him for a bit, but he did not work on the weapon." "What was he working on? How did he get that weapon of his to combine with our technology?" Thor asked. Sóti shook his head. "He said it was fine as it was. He spent more time working on his metal suit, and he refused to let me touch that. All I did was show him how to connect it to our technology base."

"And what else?" Loki asked suspiciously. "He had to have done something else." Thor pounded his fist angrily into the bench. "That bastard! Sóti, check all around. He's bound to have hooked up something in here, and who knows where else. Trying to download everything. That's what he did on the Quinjet. Downloaded all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files. It's how he found out what Fury was up to. Who is behind this?" "That is what we are trying to discover," Loki reminded him. Sóti began searching the lab. "What precisely am I searching for?"

Thor shrugged. "I do not know. As far as I know he cannot connect to his own computers from here unless he brought something with him. Whatever it is, it is going to be small… unless…" "Unless what?" Loki asked. "Unless he is working for our enemy. I cannot believe I trusted him." "You shouldn't have," Fury's voice sounded in the room. "Sorry boys, but you're too late. Stark got what I needed when he was working in there. Now… if you don't mind returning to where you left us surrounded by your goons." "And if we do not?" Loki asked quietly. "Let's just say it is in your best interest… or your children's best interest." "Kiri!" Loki's mind screamed. ~o~O~o~ Katirya pulled away from Eir. "I have to go. NOW!"

"But, my Queen, we are not quite done…" Eir protested. "We are done for now. Something is going on. I promise I shall return as soon as I can, but Loki…" Katirya put her hands to her head, shaking it furiously. "Mortals!" she huffed in frustration. She grabbed the new dress one of the assistants had brought for her, and dressing quickly darted out of the room. She made one stop before she reached the hallway to the pub. Thor and Loki were waiting for her. "What is going on?" she asked. Loki looked at her, noticing she had the Stones. "The children, Fury is threatening them. It seems Stark had no intentions of working on his weapon but brought it here fully assembled. He had to have had assistance back on Earth."

"But that would mean The Other has been working with them all this time. I do not believe that for an instant," Katirya stated baldly. "We would have known. He… or she would have shown their hand far sooner. They have allowed us to collect most of the Infinity Gems. Why wait till now?" "Perhaps because we have most of the Stones and they believe they can take them from us now. I wonder if they have the last one?" Thor mused. "Well, there is only one way to find out," Loki nodded towards the pub. "Ready?" Katirya took a deep breath, then nodded. "Yes." As the three reached the pub, two guards opened the doors, allowing them to enter the room. Fury was seated with his feet up on the table in front of him, looking rather satisfied. "Well, well. I see you three have finally decided to rejoin us," Fury rose from his seat, clasping his hands behind his back. "Where's Barton?" Thor asked, noticing the man was missing. "No one was to be allowed to leave here." "Oh, he left before all the commotion. Before she killed Jane Foster," Fury stared hard at Katirya. Challenging her to refute his statement. Katirya ignored Fury's taunt; instead she laughed and called over to the bar. "I do believe this calls for a round of drinks!" She walked gracefully to one of the nearby benches and sat down. "Loki, shall it be that champagne? I find I am growing rather fond of that beverage." Loki grinned as he joined her on the bench. "Champagne it is." He clapped his hands and servers quickly made the rounds with trays of champagne. Fury looked at her, astonished at her lack of concern. "Drinks? Aren't you worried about your kids?" He refused the drink being offered by a server. "No," Katirya took a sip of her champagne. "I am more concerned about your Mr. Barton." "Concerned? Shouldn't you be concerned about your children?" Fury repeated. "Clearly you do not know the twins. They take after their father." Katirya gave Loki an amused look. "Lady, you are plain crazy. Barton is a trained assassin. Kids are child's play for him, and there are just four and one is an infant. You'd better hope he doesn't get angry," Fury shouted. Thor laughed. "I believe that might have been a mistake on your part, only sending one to retrieve that group. He will discover they are more than you bargained for. Are you sure you want to use the children as leverage?" "Thor! Stay out of this. Unless you want to offer up yourself in the kids place," Fury glared at him. "Wait, Director. You sent Clint to get those children? Innocent children? Since when have you resorted to that level? And why didn't you tell all of us?" Natasha interrupted. "Stay out of this Romanov. This is a top-secret mission, with a need to know basis, and YOU were not on that list! Got it!" Fury retorted. "I'm sorry Director, but I'm with Miss Romanov. Children are not something that should be a part of any negotiations," Rogers chimed in. "Are you guys questioning me?" Fury stared at them. "My my… troubles in paradise? Well… now that we have determined Mr. Barton was on the top-secret list, and the rest were not, why don't you join us in a drink? We might be in for a long wait while he attempts to retrieve our children." Loki lifted a glass in salute. "And do tell us, what is it you want? Or is that on a 'need to know' basis as well?" "You mean you don't know what I want? Tsk, tsk," Fury turned and waggled a finger at Loki. "I am surprised at you. I thought you knew everything." He jerked his head towards Katirya. "I want those gems your wife has. Pretty, but I can put them to better use." "You cannot use the Stones, so what good are they to you?" Katirya asked quietly. "You're right. I can't use them, but I can barter with them. Now, just hand them over and your kids will be safe," Fury held out his hand. "We'll be gone and that will be that." "What are you getting in return for the Gems?" Loki asked. "They have promised to leave Earth out of all this. We will be safe," Fury replied. "Safe? Do you not understand that is what we are trying to do?" Thor roared at Fury.

"All I see is war and chaos around you. That seems to be all you folks can manage," Fury stated bluntly. "Now hand them over nicely and I'll leave." "Who has promised to leave Earth out of the war?" Loki's eyes narrowed as he asked Fury. "Why? Does it matter? All I care about is keeping Earth safe," Fury retorted. "Safe? Do you truly believe THEY will keep you out of this?" Thor's arm swept to encompass all of Asgard. "They have waged a war on us! WE have been the only thing standing between you and utter annihilation! Are you that foolish?" "I'm not the one who's being foolish. They've offered…"

"WHO? Who has offered?" Loki demanded. He rose from the bench and advanced on Fury. "Tell us who wants these gems!" "Like I'm going to tell you. Just give me those gems and we will be out of here." "You are not being very polite for a guest," Loki chided Fury. "Threatening us, demanding things… I would say you have managed to overstay your welcome." "I'll do more than that if you don't do as I ask!" Fury glared at Loki. Loki, Katirya, and Thor exchanged a quick look. Before they could say anything, a door burst open and Kai raced in. Flying into his mother's arms, he wailed. "Mom! I didn't do it!"

"Shhh… I know, Kai. What did the twins do now?" Katirya said soothingly. Kai raised his head to look at his mother's face. "You know they did it?" Katirya grinned. "Yes, and for once I shall not even be mad at them." "Not even the tiniest bit?" Kai asked suspiciously. "Not even the tiniest bit," Katirya assured him. "Nor will your father be mad." Kai slid off Katirya's lap and faced his father. When Loki nodded, he sighed in relief. "That's good then." Loki gently pulled his son into a hug. "So, what exactly did they do this time?" he whispered quietly in Kai's ear. "You'll see." Kai pointed to the door and giggled. "Here they come!"

Author's Notes: I do hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please remember all "guest" reviews are moderated, so if you have a question, either PM me or sign in to review.