Part Twelve
The quiet of the small room made Agent Kevin Henderson shift uncomfortably in his seat. Being stared down by Director Nick Fury and Agent Clint Barton was absolutely terrifying, and the hanging light currently heating his scalp wasn't helping in the least. He was pretty certain he'd followed protocol to the letter… or as close as one could get when most of his superiors had been unconscious. He didn't regret his actions… not even the questionable ones. This is what he'd been trained for. He was a SHIELD Agent, and his main priority had been protection of the planet. It didn't matter if they approved or not, though he sure as hell could do without the interrogation.
Kevin dropped his hands to the metal table in between them and cracked his knuckles, simply out of desperation to hear sound as the two men seemed to stare into the depths of his soul. He hadn't done anything wrong. He just had to remember that. It wasn't his fault they'd been sleeping on the job… nevermind the orb that had pulled them under it's spell. Perhaps he risked a few lives to get them out, but wasn't that part of the job? They were supposed to look out for each other. No, he would stand by his actions… whatever the consequences may be.
Barton's lips curled into a less than settling smile as he met Kevin's gaze. "Alright, let's get started. Do you want to start from the beginning?"
Kevin cleared his throat. Where else would he start from? The end? Jesus, they were already trying to fuck him up with this shit. "You mean from the moment we lost contact?"
"That's right," said Fury, leaning forward, and linking his fingers together. "Tell us what happened, Agent Henderson."
Kevin licked his lips. "Well sir, we lost contact with you around three a.m. when the first tremors began, emanating from power surges we detected from the orb. People were dropping like flies on the inside. Hill was the last one to lose consciousness. Once she was gone… we had no choice. The building was losing integrity fast. Many inside were pinned and covered in rubble. We had to get in there and get everyone out. I was one of the first to go in. On the third level I discovered one of the first affected by the orb, Jane Foster. She was unconscious and pinned by debris. She was bleeding out pretty bad, and I knew we didn't have much time. If not for the EMT she probably wouldn't have survived. Agent Mosby discovered most of the other scientists trapped inside on his way to meet my team and had other agents remove them from the building…."
"Jesus!" breathed Kevin as he surveyed the mess that was Stark's building. They'd been pulling people out of the rubble for what felt like days. Almost all were unconscious and bleeding. It could have been a lot worse. It was late, and most were gone for the day, but there were still far too many bodies being pulled from under debris. Most were injured, but they'd discovered at least seven a little too late. "What the hell happened here?!"
Mosby let out a long sigh, leaning down to check Barton's pulse as he lay pinned under twisted metal. His wounds looked superficial, but there was no way of knowing until they cut him loose. "They've been asleep for a while. We need to get out of here and away from that orb before we're unconscious with them."
He nodded his agreement just as another tremor shook the building and sent them hurling towards the floor. It was violent enough to make the entire building sway, sending more dust down, but thankfully not much else. Mosby's forehead slammed into the wall as he tried to brace himself, while Kevin was thrown onto Loki, lying near Darcy Lewis' unconscious body. It softened the blow, but he still winced as the air left his lungs. "Shit! Mosby, you okay?!"
Mosby was bleeding from his temple, but he nodded. Dirt and grime covered his pale face. Kevin doubted he looked much better. They'd been working around the clock to find people, and they were all pretty exhausted. "We need to get the hell out of here. The other teams are falling back!"
Kevin whole-heartedly agreed. "Let's get these last few out and get them back to headquarters. Who knows how long this building will last."
"How long before the first few began to wake up?" asked Barton.
Kevin blinked for a moment, trying to give himself time to think. "Most of the scientists awoke seconds after they were pulled from the building. Director you, Agent Hill, and several others awoke on the way back to headquarters. We figured it was best if we didn't send you to the hospital considering the classified nature of the rescue mission, so we had the docs at base check you over. We made contact with Loki soon after. He seemed to be the only one who understood what the hell was going on. Most of the others, including yourself, sir… were too out of it even after you woke up."
Kevin stared over at Mosby. Aaron Mosby's gash was patched up neatly, and mostly hidden under his surprisingly long reddish-brown hair. They'd managed a shower to rid themselves of the grime, though he doubted either of them would feel clean for several more showers. His skin still itched. Green eyes met Kevin's dark brown ones the moment he entered the room where Director Fury was resting. He didn't seem to be under the orb's influence anymore, but he wasn't lucid enough to take back his job, leaving Kevin in charge for the time being. "He manage to give you anything?" Mosby questioned.
He shook his head in frustration. "Not a thing. No one seems to know what the hell happened in there. I sent Agents to retrieve the orb, but it's gone. We have no idea where, or if someone took it. The Avengers are still under it's influence… and we have no clue how to wake them up." Kevin was grasping at straws. He'd never really been the kind of man to crave leadership for just this reason. Too many lives depending on him. His old man would be fucking horrified just thinking about it.
Mosby nodded. "Come with me. Loki, Thor's brother, is awake and he has one hell of a story."
Kevin's eyes widened. "He's lucid?!"
Aaron gave Kevin a knowing look. "Not just awake… apparently he's responsible for releasing people. He claims he's controlling the orb now."
Henderson quirked an eyebrow, wondering if he was also responsible for the tremors. He wouldn't put it past the bastard. "You believe him?" Kevin lost thirteen friends because of that bastard the first time he'd arrived to Earth. One was taken with Loki's staff, blue eye'd and mind-washed. Greg would never forgive himself the horrors he committed under Loki's control. Kevin would never forgive Loki for being a crazy son of a bitch. If he was responsible for the tremors there would be no force in heaven that could stop Kevin from making Loki unrecognizable. "Fine… let's hear what he has to say."
"And he explained his plan to you?" questioned Barton.
Kevin nodded. "The tremors were a result of Atum, the entity's influence, and the goddess Nott's suffer. He'd managed to make them stop after she was killed, but he filled us in on what Atum was trying to do. He wanted to use Thor's body to escape the orb, and if he did that no one would be safe. His plan was simple. He wanted to use a virus to reprogram the orb and shut it down for good. Anyone trapped inside would be killed instantly. He managed to release Bruce Banner, Natasha Romanoff, and most of the rest excluding Tony Stark, you… Agent Barton… and Darcy Lewis. They weren't lucid, but Loki managed to help Banner clear his head enough to release the virus while Loki kept the entity inside distracted."
Barton shifted forward, mirroring Fury's pose. "And that's where Stark and I came in, correct?"
"Loki explained that he needed others, you and Stark, to keep the entity distracted while he carried out his plans. If Atum figured out what was going on too soon there would be no way Loki could manipulate the virus and shut down the exits from inside the orb. He was transferring the powers of the orb to himself, and using that energy to keep up the ruse for as long as possible while the virus was uploading."
"And you believed him?" Fury probed.
Kevin knew he'd be judged for his decision to trust the god of mischief… not that he'd had much choice. At least he'd had Banner to confirm that something seemed to be off about Thor. In the dream he'd learned that Jane Foster was in a 'coma.' Thor's behavior had been curious to say the least, though it still hadn't been much to go on. In the end it was about assessing the bigger threat. If Loki was lying it wouldn't really matter, because there was no way they could stop him without Thor and the others. "I had no choice. If there was an entity trapped in that orb and trying to make his way out… I knew I couldn't let that happen. I could have been wrong, but I had to take the chance. Loki was working with us… I couldn't ignore that."
"And so Banner began to upload the virus," pushed Barton.
"Yes. It took about fifteen minutes for him and Loki to create the coding necessary to shut down the orb. Loki showed us how to deliver it. Banner got to work and Loki used Thor to reenter the orb. All that was left was to wait. If I may say so, sir… he saved a lot of lives by doing what he did. Considering how powerful the entity was… and the fact that he would be walking the Earth in Thor's body… it's quite possible he saved the world. No one hates to admit that more than me." Kevin liked to think he was an open-minded guy. If someone told him he'd actually be taking up for Loki he'd have shot them in the leg and dragged them to an insane asylum, but the truth was Loki saved all their asses. That couldn't be ignored.
Barton smiled at that. "Noted."
The tension in the room seemed to fade with those words, and Kevin smiled back. Director Fury stood quickly. "You did well, Agent Henderson. You'll receive a commendation for this… you and Agent Mosby."
It wasn't what Kevin was expecting. If anything, he'd been sure he'd be begging just to keep is damn job. "Th-thank you, sir."
Fury nodded sharply. "No… thank you."
She'd been fighting sleep most of the night. She wasn't sure why she was so tired. Hadn't she slept enough for a lifetime? Darcy shifted on her side and stared at the alarm clock beside her bed. So many fucking caffeinated sodas and coffee just to keep her awake, but her body was aching for rest. She'd yet to hear word about Loki or Thor. The fact that no one seemed willing to tell her anything worried her. Her muscles were tense. Dark circles around her eyes reminded her of all the stress she carried with her since the day she'd encountered the orb. Her vision blurred as her eyelids grew heavy. Damn… she was so tired. Not even fear would keep her from sleep….
Darcy Lewis was back at the hotel, but it wasn't empty this time. Families passed by her with luggage, and carts, seemingly oblivious to her presence. She was in the massive sized lobby, and it looked so much busier than she ever remembered it being. Bellhops were helping most with luggage, while others were checked into their rooms. Golf pros and tennis champions walked through with their equipment, bragging about their perfect games, and private beach houses in California. There were some kids chasing each other in their swimming clothes, laughing hysterically while their parents yelled after them to walk. Darcy smiled, watching them pass her, amused. This felt right… less haunting than what she'd seen before inside the orb.
"Is it fair to consider this hotel where we first met? It seems far more romantic than Stark's science lab."
Darcy's body tensed as she froze in place. While the people around continued to go about as if she were invisible, Lewis was about ready to have a fucking panic attack. Loki? How was that possible? Was he even real, or just a part of this dream? She forced herself to turn around, watching the crowd of people part as he walked towards her. He wore leather and metal, but no one seemed to notice or care about the freak show going on around them. "Is that really you?"
Loki nodded with a smile so fucking warm and bright. It shouldn't have soothed her as much as it did. Her muscles eased in relief, though she wasn't certain why. She still didn't know how he'd managed to hijack her dream. "This was the only way I could see you. My new abilities are quite useful in my opinion… wouldn't you say so?"
New abilities? Jane had said something about Loki having control over the orb, but she hadn't really been paying attention. The last thing she'd wanted to discuss was her experience in that hell. Darcy folded her arms. "You scared the shit out of me… you lied to me… and you fucked me in a dream while trying to convince me that we were awake," she pointed out, glaring at him.
He hesitated for a moment. "Would it make you feel any better to tell you that I was unaware that it was a dream at the time?"
She rolled her eyes at that, not quite sure she should believe him. "Why are you in my dream? How are you in my dream?!" Loki's eyes took in her form with a desire she couldn't ignore. Males were the same in every country and planet, it seemed. Now wasn't the time for that! She wanted to know what the hell was going on. "Not my eyes, Loki!"
Loki immediately held her gaze, his smile extra wicked. "With the orb permanently shut down, I have possessed it's power. I am lord of dreams now that Nott is gone. I've saved us all… should I not receive a hero's welcome?" he teased.
"You want to have sex in a dream?" she questioned in disbelief.
Loki shrugged. "Certainly felt real enough the first time." He took a step forward and trailed a finger down her shoulder, his eyes following his touch. She shivered unconsciously, and snickered.
"You are such a horn dog," she muttered under her breath. "I guess I'm glad you're okay, though."
Loki's smile widened. "You were concerned for me?"
"Nope."
"Liar," he teased, leaning forward to steal a kiss. Her body betrayed her. Arms wrapped around his neck and she kissed him back. Her need for him was overwhelming even now. Eventually he pulled away just enough to speak, hands stroking her back sensuously. "I worried for you too."
Damn him… she couldn't stay mad when he talked like that. He rested his forehead against hers, and her heart nearly ached. "Okay, I was slightly concerned," she admitted.
"Ugh, don't make me gag!"
Darcy jumped at the sound of a familiar voice, turning to see Andrew and Victor staring back at her. Victor's smile was wide with delight as he took in the couple, while Andrew was pretending to throw up in his hands. "Well… this just got awkward," she muttered, wondering how to explain her dead brothers' presence to Loki.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you both… officially," Loki greeted before she could try to explain. He'd seen them before in the orb, but they were nothing more than bodies then… a shadow of their former selves.
"You don't have to do that. It's not like they're really here. They're both dead," she pointed out, while Andrew pretended to be wounded by her words.
"Jeez, you could have put it a little more delicately, don't you think?" Andrew asked.
Victor snorted. "Please! When has Darcy ever put anything delicately?!"
"Good point," Andrew agreed.
Loki glanced back at Darcy with a pleasant smile. "They are quite amusing. I see why they are of such importance to you."
"They aren't real," she stressed, a bit disturbed by the entire interaction. She still wasn't quite sure if she could consider herself sane with two dead people living in her head, while her 'sort of' boyfriend entered her dreams whenever he liked. Her life was never this confusing before Thor. Fuck him and the bifrost he rode in on!
"You hold onto their memories and keep them alive inside your mind, Darcy. They are as real as they ever were. The dream is nothing more than an altered reality, a separate plane of existence in which anything is possible."
"Not that you need us anymore," added Victor as his smile began to fade. "Now that you have Loki… I mean."
Andrew met Darcy's gaze, suddenly serious. "I think I was wrong about him. He's good for you."
It was a bit of a surprise to hear that from Andrew of all people. He rarely admitted he was wrong, and to speak well of Loki seemed downright impossible. "I uh… thanks guys."
Victor shoved his hands in his jeans and shrugged. "Take care of her, Loki."
"I will," Loki assured him. "You have my word."
"Hell yeah, he will… he has no choice. He loves her too much," added Andrew, sharing a knowing look with Loki.
She almost scoffed at the idea. Loki? In love with her? Loki'd admitted he needed her, but love… the thought was overwhelming. Loki's arms surrounded her and he kissed her temple tenderly as her brothers disappeared in the crowd of families walking through the lobby. Okay… maybe not that overwhelming. It was certainly a nice thought. "He's right you know."
"How can you love me?" she questioned, confused. "We haven't even been together that long." The fact that they'd been unconscious during their love affair didn't really help either.
Loki's hold on her tightened. "When you've lived as long as I, Darcy… you learn you do not need time to tell you what's inside your heart. However I am certain you will need time to sort out your own feelings. This too, I can give you. The orb has been cut off, and Atum is now and forever cut off with it."
"Thor?"
Loki let out a tired sigh. "He will recover… in time." She knew that voice. Loki was holding something back from her. Keeping secrets… always keeping secrets. She was surprisingly okay with that though. Eventually he would tell her… if she really wanted to know. "Now, let us enjoy the rest of our time together. I believe you once said something about a wet dream?"
Darcy let out a huff. He wanted to have sex in this shared dream of theirs… of course he did. "Ugh… you are SUCH a horn dog."
To Be Continued
