Chapter 24.
The new lab was unusually quiet, the one called Twitch left the program running and left to sift through the remains of the old one. He returned, dirty and covered in sweat from helping the rest of them, Loki scanned the pages of recovered evidence, his mind unable to focus completely on the task and he let out a long breath. He thought about her, they way she looked through every page and checked everything twice before putting the files aside. She was so thorough, and she left no avenue unchecked. Her brilliant mind so careful and concerned that she would miss some small detail in reaching the goal. He rubbed his tired eyes, and closed them briefly hoping he would open them and find her standing across from him.
He was exhausted, but he would not give up. Not until every avenue had been checked, and every hiding spot for these men revealed. He put aside another folder of papers, pinching his nose and leaning his head back again with his eyes closed. He needed to clear his mind, to focus somehow on finding her.
"You look like you need this, Lilly said you like them." Twitch said and put a can of Coke in front of him. He opened both eyes and nodded, opening the drink and taking a sip from it.
"Thank you." He replied tersely, picking up another file and stopping because the mortal was looking at him. He glanced up at the purple haired man, pressing his lips together in annoyance.
"She wouldn't want you burning yourself out looking for her, like you didn't want her burning herself out finding you." Twitch said and jerked, his condition not helped my his added stress. He was also looking for someone he considered his friend and Loki let his lecture pass.
"And what would you know of it?" Loki snapped at the man in front of him, he was in no position to give any orders to him at all.
"I know her. Dude, we were tight. She would score me identities all the time, she was slick too. Anytime she needed plates and vins, she would trade me a stack of Drivers Licenses she stole off of tourists. Lilly would also always tell me to take my time getting her stuff, not to stress it or she would tell me to take a walk when I couldn't figure shit out. She was so cool that way. When Michael got too hard on her, she would crash at my place and we would hang out and just shoot the shit together. Totally into Ancient Aliens and that bullshit, she is Hot Rods of the Gods now." He said, smiling at his memory of her, letting out a sigh.
"How were you both so close, you are not fond of women." Loki challenged him and the strange man jerked again. Twitch laughed at his statement, scratching the back of his purple hair and sitting in a chair. He picked up a file and opened it, closing it again a few second later and tossing it back.
"We were friends Chaos Dude, she is the kind of person you could trust to have your back. She does not let people down and she does not give up, you should know this bro. We started out in school together, these dudes were beating me to hell and back. Lilly, she stepped in and beat the shit out of one of them. They rest turned on her and took turns turning her into a punching bag, the whole time she made smart assed remarks. She never screamed or begged them to stop, eventually, the dean of students found them and they got suspended for beating up a girl. After that, we were friends, she would eat lunch with me and she just knew we were both freaks. We had to stick together. I am glad she found you though, she needed someone good in her life though Chaos Bro." He said and grinned, staring at him and Loki could not help but chuckle at his statement.
"Her tenacious nature is one I am very familiar with, as well as her nurturing one." Loki replied, the computer him alerted the Twitch's search was complete. The man stood up and walked over to it, jerking again as he entered more commands as he talked.
"You got more of her than I did. Anyone for that matter, she does not just let anyone in the door bro. You got to work hard to get to that level of trust with her, she also does not give second chances with anyone. Mess with her in a bad way, and she will slam that door in your face. She does not burn bridges, she nukes them then salts the earth after her." Twitch said and looked over at his shoulder at him, Loki smiled to himself. He was actually respected by the mortal, and that respect was earned.
"She is guarded with many persons, it is how she has survived for so long." Loki said and his friend nodded and laughed to himself, still typing commands into the computer.
"Shit man, she survived. The girl I see now is thriving, she is a whole different person than the one I knew." He replied and looked at him. "Don't worry bro, she will find a way to get out. Trust me on that, she always finds a way. She almost got her card punched by a bunch of Gang members in White Center a long ass time ago, she managed to get out of the trunk of their car on a freeway and hauled ass across four lanes of traffic. She has more lives than a damn cat Chaos Bro."
"Fuck, all the searches are back and there are twenty eight properties and holdings for all three of those assholes." He said and ran his hand through his hair. Loki stood up and walked over, looking at the screen and pointing to one.
"Twenty seven if you exclude that one in Scotland, that one was taken during out first excursion. Show me how to fully find information on my own, we split the list and begin at once." Loki said and Twitch opened a computer for him, the man jerked again and opened a page setting the tools out for him. Loki knew enough to use the tools front of him from previous times, but lacked a general skill set to use it fully. Twitch sat down in a chair and put an unopened can of Red Bull on the desk in front of him, he moved the drink aside so it would not block his view.
"Saddle up Chaos Bro, you Kung-Fu is about to be very strong when I am done." Twitch said and began showing him how to fully operate the computer in front of him.
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It was late, I lay on the bed for the final check of the night, pretending to be fast asleep. The olive skinned man had just left, taking the tray with him and dimming the lights. If he had lifted the cover to look for the fork and the knife, I would have been sunk for my plans. Lucky for me, he just took it away.
As soon at the door clicked shut, I went into action. Crawling off the bed and heading straight for the wardrobe. I pulled a gown off a hangar and grabbed two bottles of perfume off the vanity. Not many people realize how many flammable materials are used in their fashion, their real loss. I opened the bottles and poured them onto the dress, the perfect accelerant next to diesel fuel. I did not want to burn the place down, just make enough smoke to attract attention. I them yanked the cord from a bedside lamp, stripping the wires using the knife, creating a small arc of electricity to ignite the fabric. As soon at the dress caught, I did the girl thing and started screaming for help.
"Fire!" I shouted and used a towel to fan the smoke under the door. I heard footsteps running down the hall and kept up my Oscar caliber performance, slapping my hands against the door and I called for help.
"Someone help, please! There is a fire!" I screamed and stood to the side of the door, armed with my fork. The pad turned green and I waited, grinning to myself. A single Security thug opened the door and pointed a fire extinguisher at the blaze, I stabbed him in the thigh and pivoted on my toes driving the palm of my hand into his nose and putting his lights out. I snatched the card from his belt key ring and was through the door before he could recover. I drove the fork in my hand into the jamb of the door, holding the door shut just in case he had a back up card. Everyone in the building was most likely asleep, and I was free to run.
I limped down the hall as fast as I could, favoring my bad leg and using the wall for balance. I found a stairwell and carefully descended to the ground floor, a few minutes more and I would be outside. I opened the door at the bottom and found myself across from an office, the hall around me dark and quiet. I slipped out of the stairwell and began limping toward a door marked as an Exit, the green sign glowing like a beacon to me. Suddenly the alarms started going off and I could hear people running my way, I thought fast and ran for an office door. I ducked into it and closed the door behind me, locking it and looking for options to hide until the threat passed.
I heard someone run by, and they tried the door. I slapped my hands over my mouth and backed away, bumping the desk and looking for a hiding spot.
"I left the master keys in the office upstairs." I heard whoever it was say, and they left. I needed to lay low and hopefully get my abilities back, wait until I could jump. Just in case though, I needed a strong Plan B. I was scrambling and my brain was running a mile a minute, panic clouding my judgment.
I looked around the office and saw the normal stuff, but the one thing that made me really happy was the phone on the desk. I picked it up and put it to my ear, hearing the sweetest dial tone in the history of mankind. I started dialing Tony's cell from memory and stopped, his phone was probably ruined in the explosion. I searched my photographic memory, and five numbers came to me. I clicked the receiver and dialed Steve's number, listening as the phone rang. I went to voicemail and I cussed to myself, hitting redial again and listening.
"Answer you phone Steve. I'm begging you man." I said and I heard him answer, mentally cheering as he began talking.
"Hello?" Steve said and I gasped, fighting back the urge to sob. I ducked down and hid under the desk, covering my mouth to keep the sound from traveling.
"It's me Steve, it's Lilly. Please believe me." I said, my voice shaking as I spoke. He went silent and I could hear him fumble with the phone, I guessed he was excited to hear from me too.
"Lilly? Holy...oh my...are you O.K? Where are you?" Steve said into the phone and I could feel myself wanting to cry.
"I don't know, the only thing I can tell you is that I am in the United States. Probably East Coast." I said and I heard him walking, I let out a shaky sob and I could hear doors opening as he moved.
"Just stay calm, I am going to get someone to put you on speaker. I can't figure out how to." He said and I panicked at the sound of more activity outside my door, pulling myself further under the desk.
"I need you to listen now Steve, I may not have much time before they find me. I am down the hall from a fire exit and I am going to run for it, but my leg hurts. I will hopefully find a car I can steal, you guys need to trace this number in case I get caught. It will give you an idea of where I am, and you guys can find me. If I get away, I will call you in three to four hours. It will give me time to put some distance between me and them." I said, shaking with fear and trying not to let my voice crack. The one voice I really wanted to hear was gone, and I fought back the urge to sob again, I let out a gasp and tried not to cry out at the hollow pain in me, I had to hold it together.
"Wait, don't hang up Lilly." Steve said and I could hear him say something to another person off the phone. I wiped my face with my hands and let out a long breath, waiting for Steve again. He was probably going to have me talk to Phil or Fury, they would have questions for me for sure.
"Are you still there?" Steve asked and I sniffed.
"Yeah Steve, I'm here." I said, making my voice stay even and calm.
"I got someone here for you. He might be able to talk you through this." He said and I heard him hand the phone to someone else, It was most likely Phil. He would give me instructions and was probably tracing the number now, I waited and knew I would have directions to a pickup point soon.
"Little Mouse?" Loki said into the phone and I gasped in relief, everything inside me did back flips and the sound of his voice.
"You clever woman." He finished and I smiled in my hiding spot, relieved to hear his voice.
"Loki? You are alive? They told me you were dead." I said and choked back tears, trying to stay quiet so no one would hear me.
"No, they told you lies, I would think you were smarter than them to believe that I would be killed by them. Why have you not used your gifts to return, have they hurt you?" He said, I could hear his anger through the phone, the final question coming out low and growling.
"They injected me with a serum that suppresses my abilities, they have to give it to me every twelve hours. I can't even make an illusion right now." I said, I could hear him let out a breath.
"You still have your mind, think your way out of this. I know you, and I am always impressed by how well you adapt." Loki said, I heard someone outside the door, two men talking and I took in a sharp breath out of fear. I covered my mouth and stayed still, begging them in my mind to move on.
"Lilliana?" Are you still there?" Loki said into the phone, I heard the men walk away and I relaxed.
"Yes, someone was outside the door. I couldn't let them hear me. Loki, I'm scared, they are going to hurt me if they find me. Death... he..." I said and choked a bit as I started to cry, wiping my hand on my face and calming back down.
"What did he do?" He asked, this voice dripped venom and I shivered. The anger was not directed at me, but I was aware that Stephen Johanasson was going to suffer for this.
"Nothing yet, but the way he looks at me, it terrifies me. I have to get out of here." I said and shivered, looking down at the lace ruffles on the night gown.
"Do not show them you are afraid, we will find you through any means necessary. I will find you." Loki replied and I tightened my grip on the phone. The plastic creaked in protest and I shivered, I was about to drop a bomb on him. The same bomb that Bruce dropped on me a few days ago.
"Loki, I have to tell you something, please stay calm. I'm scared, I, I don't want you to get mad at me." I said and looked down at my hand, naked in the pale light. I wanted my ring back, and someone had it. I just did not know who had it though.
"My anger is not directed at you, I swear that to you." He said and I sniffed, holding the phone to my ear and bracing myself.
"Bruce Banner ran my blood after the shooting...he...something came back in it." I said and cried into my hand, I could hear him breathe and I wrapped my arm around my knees. My heart was pounding off my ribs and I shook, afraid to tell him.
"What is it, nothing is so terrible that you should fear telling me." Loki said, his voice even but straining with fear and emotion. I took in a deep breath and steadied myself, ready to say the two words.
"I'm pregnant." I said and I could hear his breath exhale sharply, everything in his world crashing down on him.
"Loki?" I said and I could see him in my head, shaking with anger at me for not telling him. Even angrier at The Horsemen for kidnapping me, I was scared that this was it for all of us.
"You have to run, do not let them harm you. Keep yourself safe, hide if you must. I will find you, I give you my word." He said into the phone, the desperation in his voice evident. I nodded to nothing and tried not to cry more.
"I'm so sorry I did not tell you earlier. I'm sorry." I said and he shushed me.
"You truly are everything to me Little Mouse. I love..." He said but the phone cut out, I looked at the receiver in my hand and tried not to cry. I scrambled out of my hiding spot and was going to press the redial button, but the olive skinned man was there. He held his hand out for the phone in my hand and I shivered in fear.
"Please give me the phone." The man said, I handed him the receiver and stepped back. I pressed my back against the wall, afraid of the calm man in front of me. He neatly set the phone back into the cradle, extending his hand to me. His other hand sent a text to someone else, smiling as he hit send.
"Please don't hurt me." I said and he tilted his head to the side, putting the phone into his pocket.
"My orders were to find you, not to hurt you. You have only one option right now madam, cooperate and come with me." He said, his voice completely calm. Something about him told me he was dangerous, like a lion fish, beautiful and serene but venomous. I had no choice in the matter, I walked forward and he rested his hand on my back, guiding me back up the stairs and to my cell.
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The silence in his ear echoed, her voice gone. Numbly, he handed the device back to Rogers and swallowed hard, sitting in a chair nearby. He leaned forward, rubbing his face with both hands, pressing the palms together under his nose. Two words repeating in his mind as he sat quietly, those words that filled him with more anxiety than ever.
Stark walked over to him, resting a hand on his shoulder. He regarded the people around him, Banner looked down in shame.
"She made me promise not to tell you, she wanted to tell you herself when she thought it was right." Banner said and opened a screen on a tablet, handing it to him. "She is eight weeks along, judging from the fetal development. Her body protected it from the trauma of the shooting and everything else she had gone through. He powers are amazing, the fetus is perfectly healthy."
Loki looked at the scans in front of him, the side view of his child. His fingertips shook as he traced the small hand, so tiny yet so perfect. Another scan showed that tiny hand near where it's mouth was, like it was soothing itself and sucking at the tiny appendage. He felt something break inside himself, and he wanted to wrap the woman carrying that child up and protect her from everything. Stark looked over his shoulder, he pointed at the profile and grinned.
"It already has your nose, and her attitude." Stark said and Loki glared up at the man. He found him smiling down at the scans, a bit of sadness on the man's face as he studied the screen.
"We are going to get her back Loki, I promise." Rogers said and Wanda closed her eyes. He looked back down at the images and Banner walked forward, opening another file and pressing the icon, the sound was rhythmic, one louder than an underlying faster beat but both were steady.
"Their hearts, the faster, softer one is the baby. She cried when she heard it, she was really excited to find out she was pregnant." Banner said, smiling at him. Loki leaned back into the chair and studied the faces around him, listening to the repeating sounds coming from the device in his hands. Wanda nodded and smiled at him, his hands were still shaking though.
"May I keep this?" He asked Banner and the man modded. He stood up and faced Stark, collecting himself and tucking the tablet under his arm.
"We need to get her, and I am taking her back to Asgard immediately after." Loki said, his voice calm and firm as he spoke. He wanted no argument, he only wanted the both of them safe.
"She had a plan. The phone may have gone dead or got disconnected somehow. She said she was going to try and steal a car, and that she would call when she put some distance between her and them." Rogers said.
"Keep that phone near you every second, and charged. You nod off, give it to someone else. If she calls again, someone had better damn well answer it." Stark said and wrote the numbers from it on the back of his hand.
"Listen up, whoever has that phone is in charge of keeping it active, hang up on telemarketers. The second she calls again, someone is to get Loki. He is to hear her voice to verify that she is O.K. Get her to describe everything around her, even the stupidest details will tell us volumes." Stark continued, and all persons in the room nodded their agreement. He waited and grinned, looking around him.
"Lets move like we have a purpose then, we need to find two very important people out there." Stark finished and walked over to Loki. "We are going to find her, I promise you that. Everyone here is going to do everything they can to find her, is there anything you can do to give us an edge?"
"I will think on it, but you have a better chance than I using your technology." Loki said, his mind focusing on everything he had just seen. The images of the child she carried, and her fear still fresh. Stark nodded at him, pressing his lips together and thinking himself.
"All right, we will figure out other routes." Stark said and crossed his arms in thought. Twitch burst through the door, catching his breath and shaking. He jerked as he walked toward Loki, opening a shaking hand.
"You will not believe what I just found in the old lab Chaos Bro." He said and held up several sheets of paper, in the other hand was a gold and amethyst ring.