The rest of Thor's afternoon had been relatively uneventful. He had spent most of it idling in the common room of the penthouse with Stark. Having spoken with the head of his human resources department, he'd declared enough progress had been made on the whole fan mail situation and took the rest of the day off. Thor wasn't sure that Pepper would agree with him. She'd been quite clear about her expectations when it came to the letters brought up this afternoon, but there was no telling Stark that. The pile of them still sat in the entryway.
Still can't believe Loki actually means to read any of them.
Then again, he might. As his brother pointed out, he didn't have anything to do. Thor could only imagine how bored he must be if reading fan mail looked like a better alternative. Actually, he didn't have to imagine. Aside from the meetings with the mayor, he hadn't had much to do, either. If he didn't think his brother might lose his mind with only Stark and Hawk for company, he would have volunteered himself to help with Fury's investigations.
Can't risk what might happen around here if I leave those three on their own.
Or Lilith, for that matter.
Thor still hadn't forgotten that he needed to have a serious conversation with the woman about the amulet. She'd managed to keep him- make that all of them- at arm's length since Tuesday. He ought to try again this evening now that she'd had a few days to think on the situation a little more rationally. Surely she'd be more receptive when it came to taking advice about how to handle things with his brother.
If you say so.
Thor frowned to himself, wondering where that response had come from. Why would he think that Lilith wouldn't see reason? She'd struck him as a logical person, and it only made sense that she'd defer to him. He knew Loki far better than she ever could. He'd know how to deal with him.
So why is it that you've never been able to get him under control after all these years, if you claim to know him so well? What if she does find a better way?
A mortal, he scoffed. I highly doubt in the year Loki is here that any mortal is going to change his mind about anything. If there's any chance of changing him, it'll be up to me to do it.
I wasn't talking about Lilith.
What the Hel does that mean?
Thor asked the question of himself, but no answer came. No explanation whatsoever. He wasn't even sure how the debate had begun, or why. Definitely didn't know who else he could have meant if it wasn't Lilith.
"You look entirely too serious," Stark observed from his chair. "Worried about the team?"
"Actually, I-"
"I am."
A surprising moment of candor from the man who usually brushed off everything. Thor set aside his own thoughts and replied, "I'll admit, the investigations don't sound like they're going well, but I'm sure Cap and the others will sort it out. It's only been two days."
"I haven't heard from any of them since Tuesday- not even to complain." The mortal took his feet off the coffee table and sat forward. "I mean, I get why we're not throwing the whole team at this- someone has to stay in the Tower, but…" Stark sighed. "I don't like having to sit this one out."
"I don't like it much, either," Thor admitted.
The two of them lapsed into silence for a while, until a sound from the hallway drew their attention. Pepper emerged from the direction of the elevators, deep in conversation with Lilith. Oblivious to anyone else in the room.
"- doesn't make sense. I ought to run the next pass."
"You'll be tied up all day tomorrow," Pepper countered in a dubious tone. "Are you sure that you'll have the time to work on the analysis?"
"I don't think it's a matter of having the time. Something else might turn up that could be relevant, and Darryl would never even know it was there. I wouldn't even be able to tell him what to look for. It's better to leave it with me."
The blonde shot her a look full of misgivings, but didn't venture to argue the point any further. And then the two of them stopped abruptly as they crossed in front of the pile of fan mail. Pepper fixed it with an annoyed grimace. On her left, Lilith's expression was more quizzical.
"What's all this?"
"Something I thought I'd told a certain someone to deal with before I got back." Her gaze snapped up, drilling into Stark with the force of a laser beam. "Tony- thought you were handling this. Did you do anything while I was gone?"
"Of course I did! I called Marla about posting for a fan mail coordinator. She said she'll draft up a REQ for me to approve by end of day tomorrow. Might even get it posted and start interviewing by next week."
Pepper wasn't entirely impressed, but Lilith's attention was caught. She gestured to the pile at her feet, incredulous.
"That's all fan mail?"
"I'm afraid so. Dennis used to handle it, but he's washed his hands of the mess."
"Can't say I blame him," Lilith muttered. "You could do with your own post office just to get these sorted, much less to read them all."
"I take it you won't be applying for the job, then," Stark jested.
"You couldn't pay me enough."
He must have taken that as a challenge, and couldn't resist the temptation to meet it with a cocky, "Wouldn't count on that. Just name your price."
While Lilith looked merely bemused by the offer, Pepper's expression suggested she might like to strangle the man. Thor couldn't blame her, since she would stand to lose a protégé that she'd invested a lot of time and effort into training. A fear put to rest when the red-haired woman beside her shook her head.
"Thanks, but no thanks. I've got my hands full enough as it is."
"Yeah, so we were hearing a moment ago. What's that all about?"
Pepper and Lilith exchanged a glance. One that left Thor with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't put his finger on why, but a sixth sense was telling him that he wouldn't like whatever either of them had to say in reply. Pepper soon proved his instincts right.
"Didn't Fury talk to you?"
"Well, yeah. Thor and I spoke with him this morning when he gave us the latest update about the team."
"Something's…come up since then. He was supposed to talk to you."
He did not like how that sounded at all. And a sideways look at Stark told him that he didn't like it any better. The man grew serious again as he told her, "We haven't heard anything out of Fury all afternoon. So what sort of something are we talking about, doll?"
The ladies came further into the room, each taking a seat. Pepper crossed her ankles and folded her hands in her lap. Lilith propped an elbow on the armrest and tucked her hand beneath her chin. Neither looked happy to have the burden of delivering this news; Thor doubted he'd be happy to hear it. And when both of them were settled, Pepper answered Stark's question.
"Lilith will be assisting Fury and the team for the next few weeks."
He was really hoping that he had just misheard what she'd said, but Thor knew he hadn't.
"Assisting in what capacity?"
"Apparently, they need someone with real estate connections to approach and interview a possible target and want to run it through my office."
"I thought they didn't have any targets," Thor pointed out. "At least they didn't have any this morning."
Lilith gave a one-shoulder shrug and said, "I, um, sort of uncovered one."
And just how did you do that?
He was about to ask her, but his eye caught on movement on the edge of the room. Loki. Just what they needed right now. Although, maybe it was better that his brother made a point of coming out here instead of lurking out of sight. Less likely someone would say something they shouldn't. In retrospect, either he or Stark should have suggested they take this conversation back down to S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters rather than to have it here. Would have been better if Loki hadn't heard any of it.
Although…is there really any real harm in him knowing any of this?
Thor hadn't been expecting an answer to the question, but it came to him, anyway. You know how he is. He'll find some way to use this- if not to work against us, but to help himself.
How, he countered as Loki leaned casually against the door jamb. He can't access anything beyond the Tower- can't even get out onto the terrace.
He'll find a way. He always finds a way.
"Uncovered one how," he heard Stark ask, rendering the debate moot as he pushed the conversation forward.
"Four times," Lilith grumbled irritably under her breath. "That's four times I've had to go over all of this." In a louder voice, she told Stark, "The arsons. I found a connection to them when I was running some independent data analysis for Pepper. Fury has the specifics if you want them."
At least someone had the sense to be cautious about what was said with Loki around. That or Lilith was just annoyed and kept her explanation short to get out of repeating herself. Either way, he was grateful for the lack of details. Thor still wasn't convinced that it mattered, but he'd rather not be wrong if it did.
"Fair enough. But why does he want you for this- why not one of his agents?"
Pepper and Lilith let out twin sighs of aggravation. The latter's ended with a wry, "Believe me, Tony, I already voiced that question."
"And?"
"And he defended his reasons for it over any objection I could make. The way it stands, the decision is final."
Maybe she couldn't, but Thor was damned certain that he would be able to remind the mortal that he wasn't in a position to make such a decision. So long as Lilith remained the amulet bearer, Asgard's concerns took precedence over anything Midgardians might ask of the woman. And the primary concern for the next year remained keeping Loki's magic safely contained. S.H.I.E.L.D. had no business putting her in a position where that safety may be jeopardized.
"If that's what Fury thinks, he's in for a surprise," Thor predicted ominously.
I think you're the one who'll end up surprised, I mused to myself. I don't think Fury is going to give in as easily as you believe he will.
My feelings about it were mixed. On one hand, I felt as though I ought to see this through- even if I hadn't intended to get involved. It ran against the grain to just walk away. But if the Thunder god did convince Fury that he could do this without me, I wasn't sure I'd be all that upset. I was already up to my eyeballs in assignments that fell way outside my job description. Adding 'undercover agent' to that list was a bit more than I felt comfortable with. More so even than agreeing to be Esperringte's Bearer.
Although, I suppose it's given me a lot of practice at disguising what I really am.
In more ways than one.
Speaking of Esperringte…it had chimed in right on cue with a jab designed to bait me into asking what it meant by that. I refused to play its game, and threw myself into the conversation instead.
"Talk to him if you want, Thor but it seems a lot of effort just to avoid a few meetings in a corporate office while I ask a few questions. No big deal."
He regarded me with a heavy, disapproving stare. The same stare he'd given me a few days ago when I hadn't been willing to back down about confronting Loki on my own. He was no less thrilled to be gainsaid this time, even if what I'd said was true.
Well, mostly true.
Boyden had something to hide. I could feel it already. Whether or not he knew in advance that those properties sold through New Beginnings were intended arson targets, he couldn't ignore that it looked suspect in hindsight. Nor could he be totally ignorant that the company wasn't completely legitimate. I was sure that once I got a few meetings in and started asking questions along those lines, Boyden could prove dangerous. Especially if he thought I was working for S.H.I.E.L.D.
I considered what Fury had told me about him while we were waiting to hold the joint call with the team. Boyden's daughter had been abducted. Maybe someone at New Beginnings was behind it. Maybe not. But I could see him offering whoever it was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in hopes of getting her back, thinking I'd be more valuable.
And that's if he wasn't involved the girl's abduction in the first place.
So yeah, it could end up being a very big deal.
"Fury still should find someone else for this assignment," the god replied. "He could get Nat to do this. If she's tied up with the rest of the investigation, he's got other agents who could handle it. He doesn't need you."
His tone scraped at my temper and goaded me into setting my heels in to do this thing despite not really wanting to. So I grabbed for an argument that would shut him down. Didn't take long to find one.
"Oh yes, waste time getting that person up to speed on what I already know." I leveled my own hard look at him. "This ties back to the Newark investigation, Thor. You know with that sort of thing, days- even mere hours- matter. They don't really have the time to waste."
It was a strike below the belt, but it was effective in getting his attention. Stark's, too. The latter shook his head and remarked sharply, "You didn't mention that before. What's this got to do with the abductions?"
"Ask Fury. I rather got the impression he's wanting to keep this on a 'need to know' basis. That's why he doesn't want to bring someone else in who's not already involved."
The argument went a long way towards shifting Stark's opinion. I wouldn't say that he completely agreed with it- or that he was overly happy that I would be pulled into S.H.I.E.L.D. business- but he might be willing to give up arguing about it. Thor, on the other hand, was far from done. I was willing to bet that he would be bringing up his objections in a not-so-distant conversation with Fury.
So long as I don't have to listen to it. Fury can have that headache.
"Well," Stark said after a few moments had gone by. "I don't know about you ladies, but I've had enough talk of work for one day. And since I made progress with my assignment, doll, you and me are going out."
"Not so fast, Tony- what about what Dennis sent up?"
"Oh that? Well, you'll have to take it up with their new custodian about getting them out of the hallway."
"New…what?"
"They're the Trickster's problem now. He said he was going to read them."
"Tony, be serious."
"I am." She regarded him with a disbelieving stare. "Seriously, you can ask him yourself. He's-" Stark gestured to the opposite side of the room, but Loki was nowhere to be seen- "well, he was just over there. Let me take you out and I'll regale you with the whole story."
Pepper cast a sideways look at me before asking, "You going to be fine here without me?"
"Yeah. I might as well set myself up in the conference room. Start drafting a proposal to justify meeting with Fury's potential suspect."
"Okay, then."
She and Stark got up and headed for the elevators. Leaving me alone in the room with Thor. Seeing the potential that he might try to corner me again about helping S.H.I.E.L.D., I vacated my seat on the couch with the intent of going to my room to change clothes. Wasn't quick enough. He intercepted me before I'd gotten more than a step or two.
"Lilith, I want to talk to you."
"I really don't have the time to-"
"Make time."
My expression hardened at the arrogance in his tone. Already, I could feel my temper rising to an all too familiar flashpoint. If Thor had asked, I might have been more apt to just hear him out. But he hadn't; he'd demanded.
Like he's better than you and has the right to order you around. I heard that whispered comment in my ear and couldn't say I disagreed with Esperringte's assessment. You should remind him who he's talking to and why he ought to be more mindful of how he treats you.
The idea had its appeal. I was half-inclined to go along with the suggestion. After all, I was the one they'd chosen to safeguard Asgard and Midgard alike. I stood between them and Loki reclaiming his magic. And so far, all it was getting me was harassment and aggravation. Perhaps Thor might think twice about those words if he knew I might just step aside.
That's not the right way to deal with him.
The other voice. The one I suspected wasn't Esperringte. I hadn't heard it since Tuesday. Had almost convinced myself I hadn't heard it at all. But now it was back. I was curious what perspective it would offer me, and asked, what would you suggest instead, then? Or were you inclined to just let him dictate my life?
Hardly. But he doesn't realize how his words and actions come across. Work with him to help him communicate in a better way.
Why is it any concern of hers to help fix his failings, Esperringte argued back, confirming that the two of us weren't alone in my head. Why put in all that effort for his benefit?
And this is why you've never gotten along with one another. It's not only for his benefit, but for her own as well. Learn to talk to one another and you resolve conflicts before they even begin.
That was always your talent, not mine.
Because you always felt it beneath you to learn it.
I felt like a bystander in my own mind as the two of them argued. They crowded the invisible space, leaving almost no room for my own thoughts. The sensation frightened me, and I tried desperately to regain control. All the while, I could see Thor standing there, waiting for my answer. An answer I didn't seem to have the power to give.
"Lilith, you can't just ignore me," he warned. "It's disrespectful and I won't accept that from you."
You see? You see how he speaks to us, Esperringte decried in outrage. Why should we bother to get along with that?
You know why.
Shut up the both of you, I demanded. I didn't ask for either of your opinions and you certainly don't get a say in how I handle this. There is no 'we' about it. Understood?
Silence.
I doubted I'd heard the last from them. Esperringte or the other presence. But I managed to beat them back to their respective corners for the time being. Enough to take back control and deal with Thor. As for how I intended to do that…
"And I won't accept being ordered around as if I'm a soldier. I definitely don't need you lecturing me about respect when you treat me like a child who can't make decisions for myself. So if you are of a mind to talk to me, Thor, I'd suggest you get that through your head real quick."
Though calmly delivered, my words carried a bite of anger. Not to mention a veiled threat of sorts. For a moment or two afterwards, I wondered if either had made any impression upon the god. He stood glowering at me as fiercely as ever. Was almost willing to go with Esperringte's advice and tell him to fuck off altogether. But then by degrees, Thor's expression turned somewhat rueful. He let out a sigh.
"I guess…it did sort of come out that way, didn't it?"
"Damned straight it did."
"I didn't mean it to, but I'm used to-"
"A chain of command where you're at the top," I supplied with a raised eyebrow.
"You could put it that way."
"Well that's not how it's going to work. Not with me."
"Fair enough." He paused. "But Lilith- I still don't think this is a good idea. Going to meet that suspect is not the smartest risk to take."
"I don't see how there's really another option, Thor."
He wanted to say something else, but his eyes drifted over to where Loki had been standing only a few minutes ago. I could read his thoughts: too risky to bring up the subject of Esperringte. No telling where his brother might be now and if he'd overhear it. Same trouble he'd had since we got back from Asgard, and why he'd yet to speak a word about the amulet to me since we arrived back at the Tower.
All for the better he doesn't; I don't really have anything I want to tell him.
"I think I'll go talk to Fury," he said finally. "See what he has to say about it. I'll be back in a little while."
Loki listened to the exchange between Lilith and Thor from around the corner. He'd been curious whether the latter would convince the mortal to divulge more about this latest development with S.H.I.E.L.D. Specifically how she fit into the picture. Truth be told, he'd been more than a little surprised to hear that the surly Director had enlisted Lilith's help with his investigations. But the woman had been careful about how much she said to the rest of the group.
An outcome he had expected. Naturally, they wouldn't talk freely in front of him. Making a point of proving it to himself had only been a waste of his time. Not only that, but it had given away his advantage if he'd hoped to eavesdrop on what they might have said if they didn't think he was listening. Even now, he could tell that the conversation in the other room was hampered by the question of whether he was truly gone.
Doesn't mean it is wholly uninteresting, though.
Quite the contrary. Loki found it to be quite entertaining to listen to what the mortal had to say once Stark and Pepper had left. Thor was being himself, as usual, and she was having none of it. Lilith had pegged the god's attitude with impeccable accuracy. The commander barking orders to everyone else and expecting them to be obeyed on his authority alone. An image that always irked the Hel out of Loki, so he was more than a little glad to see her force Thor to back down.
Not surprisingly, Thor was quick to end the conversation shortly thereafter. Never one to respond well to criticism, even if he'd pretended to accept it. The two parted company, which meant Lilith would likely be headed in this direction. A moment or two to make a decision- did he remain where he was, or did he head back to his own room? As it turned out, Thor made the decision for him, announcing that he would be back 'in a little while'.
Might as well make use of the opportunity while I have one.
Opportunity for what exactly? Do you expect to fare much better? If you recall, she hasn't spoken a word to you- civil or otherwise- in two days.
A true statement. Their standoff had suited him just fine, but posed a problem for him in light of what he'd just heard. If Lilith was now privy to information about S.H.I.E.L.D. operations, it would be worth his time to repair the damage done by their…misunderstanding. Loki wasn't quite sure how he was going to manage that, but if the others were obliging enough to leave him a clear field, he might as well try.
Loki hovered out of sight until he'd seen Thor disappear into the elevators before re-entering the common room. Lilith's back was to him as she faced the massive terrace windows. She finger-combed her hair once or twice. Didn't seem to be in any hurry to go anywhere, content to gaze out at the darkened city skyline. Just when he thought he might have to get her attention, Lilith turned around.
"Christ on sale," she exclaimed with a jolt of surprise.
"Perhaps I ought to wear a bell. You seem easily startled and I wouldn't want to be accused of terrorizing the Tower residents."
By the time he'd finished speaking, she had already recovered. No reaction of any kind to what he'd intended to be a humorous witticism. Just wary, guarded silence. Loki offered a half-smile.
"That was a joke- or have you no sense of humor?"
"I'm running rather short on it at the moment, so you'll have to forgive me for not laughing. It has been a long day."
He supposed a somewhat barbed answer was better than none at all. It gave him an opening to continue the conversation.
"So I heard," he replied with a nod. "It would seem you've been made a temporary S.H.I.E.L.D. agent."
She rolled her eyes.
"I wouldn't go that far."
"No? Why not?"
"Like I was telling the others- I'm just going to meet this guy and ask a few questions to narrow down if he's a genuine target or not. It's not like they're signing me up with a member's jacket or anything."
Not entirely truthful. Loki detected some measure of deception in her answer- just as he had when she made a similar comment to Thor and Stark. In both cases, he couldn't quite pinpoint which part was false. Or what motivation she had to lie. Pressing Lilith about it would be a tactical mistake, however, so he merely shrugged it off as if he didn't care one way or another.
"That may be, but I'm sure the agency has good reason to appreciate your help- in more ways than one. If I heard Thor correctly, they had no leads. And now it appears you have found one for them."
"Yeah, and look where that got me. More work to do." Lilith collected a bag leaning against the sofa and slung it over one shoulder. He recognized the move for what it was; she was going to try to cut the conversation short. "Speaking of- I ought to get to it, or it's going to be a late night."
He could have made it difficult and blocked her way, but Loki stood aside to let her pass. He didn't need to resort to something so crude to get what he wanted. He wasn't Thor; Loki actually used his brains. And so he waited until she'd nearly made it to the hallway before he set the trap that would draw her back into the conversation.
"By all means," he called out after her. "I wouldn't dream of interfering with a S.H.I.E.L.D. investigation. Especially as we have nothing to say to one another."
She halted mid-step, right hand resting against the wall. Though silent, he could almost hear her swearing over the baiting taunt. Or perhaps that she was unable to ignore it. A second later, Lilith pivoted to face him. As Loki predicted she would.
They rode the elevator down for a floor or two before Pepper spoke. She sided a glance to him and said, "Tony, I'm worried about this thing with S.H.I.E.L.D. I get the feeling that Fury isn't telling me how much danger Lilith might be in when she meets with the guy."
He couldn't blame her for being concerned; Tony didn't really like the feel of this, either. He wanted to believe that it was as simple as Lilith made it sound. But suppose this guy turned out to be a genuine threat? If he turned out to have Hydra connections- and that wasn't too far-fetched to imagine with this investigation- meeting with him was more than a little risky. Potentially catastrophic if anyone in that group found out about the amulet she wore. He shifted to lean against the elevator wall facing her and crossed his arms.
"You want me to talk to Fury?"
"I would feel better if someone from the team did. Someone he might give a more honest answer to."
She fidgeted absently with the cuffs of her sleeves. Dead giveaway that this was really eating at her conscience. Would probably be sitting on her mind all through dinner, so he might as well deal with it now.
"JARVIS," he called out. "You mind a quick change of plans? I think I'll stop off at HQ and try to catch Fury before he heads out for the evening."
"Tony, you don't have to-"
"Doll, no worries. We can do dinner another day. But it's just as well I talk to him before Lilith gets dragged too deep into this thing."
The elevator came to a stop and Tony stepped out. Pepper, to his surprise, came along with him. He thought she might head back upstairs and join the others for dinner in the penthouse. At his quizzical look, she brushed her blonde hair away from her face and shrugged.
"I can't imagine you'll be that long. I'll just stick around until you've finished and then we'll go out."
"You sure?"
"Mhmm, I'll be fine."
He left her and made a beeline for Fury's office. On the way, he caught Hawk talking with a few other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. The archer registered his arrival with no small amount of surprise, cutting his own conversation short to ask, "What are you doing here this late?"
"I need to have a chat with Fury."
"What for?"
"I take it you haven't spoken with him this afternoon."
"No. He was gone when I came down here, and when he did get back, he closed himself up in his office and hasn't surfaced since. It's been a while since this floor has been so…quiet."
Doesn't bode well, Tony thought. Something is up if Fury isn't cursing a blue streak at someone on a regular basis.
Hawk frowned.
"Wait- should I know about something?"
"Yeah, you probably should. So you might as well come with me. I'll get you caught up to what Thor and I heard upstairs."
"Which explains why he's headed this way, I imagine."
Tony glanced behind him, confirming that Thor was indeed crossing the floor in their general direction. From the Thunder god's expression, he also wanted to have a few words with Fury; doubtful they'd be pleasant ones. He met up with the two of them and checked his stride.
"Pepper said you'd made a side trip," he told Tony. "I think we've both got the same idea- someone needs to talk sense into Fury."
"Sense about what?"
Thor shot the archer a disgruntled look before he continued on his way. From over his shoulder, he answered, "He has it in his head to drag Lilith into the team's investigations."
"Fury's putting Lilith on the assignment," Hawk stated incredulously as he and Tony fell in step beside the god. "What the hell for?"
"Long story," Tony replied. "Short version is they have a suspect that needs questioning and Fury's convinced it can't be done by the team or one of this other agents."
"And he thinks it should be Lilith?"
"More like is insisting," Thor amended darkly.
The three of them reached the door to Fury's office. It was closed. From the office within, not a sound. Tony raised an eyebrow at the other two.
"Well, who's knocking?"
"You, since you asked."
He rapped solidly on the door and waited for a response. A minute later, Fury yanked it open with a scowl. Ready to give some agent hell for interrupting him, no doubt. But when he saw the three of them, the Director held it back. Assessed their collective demeanors and must have guessed the reason for the impromptu visit.
"If you're here to argue, you can save your breath," he warned ominously. "I won't be changing my decision."
Thor would have argued despite the warning, and that likely would have ended with a door slammed in their faces. Definitely not the right approach. Tony cut in before the god could get a word in, hoping for a more productive outcome.
"I don't know about them, but I came to get a few answers about Lilith's 'assignment'. The ladies weren't able to give me all of the particulars."
Whether or not Fury believed him, he backed out of the doorway to let them into his office. A red light blinked on his desk phone- surprisingly visible amid the administrative detritus. Fury jabbed at it with his thumb and delivered a curt message to whomever he'd placed on hold.
"I'll have to call you back. I've got Stark and the others in my office." With that, he ended the call and regarded all three of them with an implacable stare. "All right. What is so all fired important that it brings you all down at this hour?"
"As I said- the details. Lilith said she uncovered a possible target for the arsons and mentioned that there was a potential connection to the abductions. We didn't get much else out of her, save that the guy is in real estate."
"The details aren't important."
"I beg to differ, Fury, but yes they are. We'd like to know just what she's stepping into when she meets with this guy."
"Look, I don't have time to play twenty questions to satisfy your damned curiosity. I have an operation to run."
"It's not curiosity," Thor protested heatedly. "For the next year, Lilith's safety is my responsibility. Not yours. So if I want to know what risks you're asking her to take, then you better tell me."
Could have sworn her safety was all of our responsibility.
He could see a similar thought passing through Hawk's mind, but neither of them voiced it aloud. Fury wasn't overly impressed by it, either, his lips thinning to a flat line. They were approaching the tipping point where he was likely to throw them out of his office. And again, Tony stepped in to try to keep the peace.
"All we're saying is that we have a vested interest in keeping her protected. We can't do that if we're in the dark about the investigation. Surely you can agree with that."
Fury relented. A little. His tone remained bitingly caustic as he said, "All right. But what I'm about to say stays in this office. And I mean it- I don't want anyone outside of the team hearing this."
"What's the big deal," Hawk muttered. "S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are looped into each other's investigations all the time."
"Not anymore."
That caught everyone off-guard. Tony was the first to react.
"I get the feeling that's a bigger discussion than the one we came here for. So why don't we bring it back to Lilith and this suspect she's identified."
"He's the father of one of our kidnapping victims," Fury stated bluntly. "And according to Lilith's research, he's also been behind the sale of properties torched by our arsonists. In what capacity, we don't know. That's what we need her to find out."
"Find someone else to do it."
That would be Thor. Gearing up for another round and rushing out of the gate with a combative attitude. He wasn't sure what was up with the Thunder god today, but he was starting to sound a lot more like Hawk. The same blind spots, but on different subjects. Tony would have to pull the god aside when they were done here and give him a lesson on perspective. If that failed, he might consider sending Thor out to have a chat with Bruce. As for Fury, he didn't bat an eye at the imperious tone in the god's voice.
"I would if I could, believe me. But Romanoff tells me the guy already suspects that S.H.I.E.L.D. is onto him. That knocks out anyone from the team."
"But wouldn't stop you from pulling in an agent from around here- someone less 'high profile'."
"I have other reasons not to take that path."
"What 'other reasons'?"
Tony listened to the discussion, but his mind was already following through to the most logical conclusion. Piecing together the bits of information he'd heard from Lilith and Pepper with what Fury was- and wasn't- saying. A suspicion took root, and he reluctantly gave voice to it.
"You think someone has spies inside S.H.I.E.L.D."
Everyone fell silent- including Thor, who'd been about ready to launch into a full-scale argument. For several minutes, the four of them held that tableau. Until Fury cleared his throat to answer.
"Yes."
That was not what Tony was hoping to hear. Nor did it sit well with Hawk and Thor. The former couldn't even stand still, and set to pacing. Or at least as much as anyone could pace in the cluttered disaster that was Fury's office.
"Hydra," Hawk queried sharply.
"We don't know yet."
"If that's the case- all the more reason to take Lilith out of this," Thor demanded. "She's not equipped to deal with a threat like that, and she's got enough on her plate as it is. It's just too great a risk, Fury."
"She's equipped to deal with that menace you call a brother while she's up in the Tower," the Direct fired back. "So I fail to see how you can turn around and say she can't handle herself with this. Hell, she looked me in the eye today and told me to fuck off about giving her orders. That sound like someone who'll buckle under a tense situation to you?"
Tony had been inclined to laugh at first, but at the mention of Lilith and the Trickster, it suddenly dawned on him that the Tower was virtually empty at the moment. He was surprised that it had taken this long for any of them to notice- Hawk in particular. But those two were all alone in the penthouse. And while he trusted JARVIS to alert him of anything serious…
"You have something to add, Stark," Thor asked with a note of impatience. "Something we haven't thought of?"
"Yeah, actually."
"And what is that?"
"If we're all sitting here, who's guarding Loki in the Tower?"
"As a matter of fact, I suppose there is something."
He merely waited.
"I know where you got my book," she stated bluntly. "I know you were in my room."
Curious that she'd waited until no one else was in the Tower before confronting him on that subject. Loki suspected the timing was deliberate. He favored her with a sly smirk and scoffed lightly, "Yet I seem to recall you telling Barton that I found it somewhere else. I confess, that seemed a very odd choice if you were so upset that it had been stolen."
"You can be sure I still am."
The words thrummed with frigid anger, matched by the green ice in her stare. If he didn't know better, he would say she gave a credible impression that she had a right to be. To squelch any potential argument from his second-self that she might, Loki delivered an immediate- if not mildly provocative- reply.
"So why not call me out as a liar and tell them how I got the book? I'm sure it would have convinced the others to take stronger measures than meaningless lecturing."
Lilith readjusted the strap of her bag.
"Exactly."
Genuinely confused, he asked, "I beg your pardon?"
"As far as I'm concerned, my room is my room- Stark's Tower be damned. I don't want or need any of them deciding it's their business. Don't want them telling me what I can and can't do. So if this 'stronger measures' might lead them to think otherwise, I'd sooner avoid all of it."
That was not the answer he'd been expecting- nor the vehemence in her voice when she gave it. Although, perhaps he should have after what he'd heard her say to Thor a moment ago. But he had assumed early on that as a Tower resident, Lilith would sympathize with Stark and the other Avengers. An assumption he'd made in error it would seem. She might not be on his side…but she wasn't necessarily on theirs, either.
A free agent, Loki said to himself. Which means I'll have to figure out what motivates her and appeal to it if I want to sway her to my cause. Luckily, she's already given me a place to start.
Or you could appreciate that her views on privacy and autonomy resonates with yours and leave it at that.
And why would I be inclined to throw away an opportunity to gain a foothold on discovering the Bearer?
His question met with disapproving silence, and left a gnawing feeling of discomfort in its wake. As the silence stretched on with no reply, Loki grew increasingly uneasy. Until at last his invisible opponent delivered its rejoinder.
Not everything needs to be a means to an end.
Maybe in your opinion, he contested while attempting to quell the pinpricks of censure that poked at his conscience. But when it comes to getting back what's mine, I intend to use anything- or anyone- I have to in order to achieve that end.
With that, Loki ended the internal debate.
"An attitude I can't disagree with." Loki ensured his tone conveyed a note of surprise. As if he had unexpectedly discovered 'common ground' with her. "I'm not especially fond of the oversight and restrictions that have come with living here. Under the circumstances, a good many of them are unnecessary."
She studied him for a long minute or two. He found her scrutiny somewhat unnerving, unaccustomed to someone who wasn't pressured to fill silence with a hasty response before taking the time to weigh someone's words. As he often weighed the words of others. Loki didn't like to be on the receiving end of it, and before he realized what he was doing, he'd filled up that silence with a comment of his own.
"What's the sense in preventing me from going out onto the terrace? Hardly a credible argument that I might escape the Tower by that route, and yet I'm denied that freedom."
Immediately after the words were said, Loki wished them back. He shouldn't have said them. He hadn't meant to say them. Yet another time when he'd said what he'd really been thinking. Where he'd given something away without the benefit of getting something in return. And judging by Lilith's speculative expression, she knew the value of the information he'd just given her. He could only imagine how she might use it.
"I suppose you have a point," she conceded with a shrug. "But Stark is the one you'll have to convince, not me. And quite possibly JARVIS."
At the mention of the Tower's most sophisticated AI security system, Loki saw an opportunity to put their conversation back on track. Draw it away from the mistake he'd just made and direct her thoughts somewhere else.
"Speaking of the latter…I had expected him to denounce both of our stories as false."
"He would have, but we came to an agreement of sorts."
Well isn't that interesting. I'll bet Stark isn't aware that he doesn't have supreme control of his beloved Tower. How fortunate for me to have discovered that fact first.
"An agreement, you say? I am very curious what you could have offered the AI to buy its silence."
"Oh it's not anything I offered," she countered quickly. Her chin notched slightly higher. "I merely brokered the bargain with him. But ultimately, it's yours to keep."
"Very presumptuous of you to make arrangements on my behalf."
"Perhaps. Then again, you stand the most to gain by it."
Clever. He had to admit Lilith was more clever than he thought. She'd already identified a means of motivating him to do what she wanted, and she didn't shy away from using it. Loki would have to keep that in mind.
"And what am I expected to do as part of this bargain?"
"Not much. JARVIS is willing to…overlook…what he's seen regarding the breaking of certain rules- so long as there's no repeat of the offense."
She was right. It didn't sound like much effort on his part at all. A deceptively easy bargain to have struck with the AI busybody. So why did he get the feeling that more had gone into it? What had Lilith said that convinced JARVIS to accept such a simple trade? That was something Loki was very curious to know. Not that he would ask that now. She wouldn't tell him. But it was something to circle back to later.
"Well, if you've gone through all the trouble on my behalf, who am I refuse? Besides," he added. "I see no reason to make a second foray; you possess nothing of interest to me."