Author's Note: I remember one of my reviewers saying that she wished that Jamie and Loki had gone to the zoo a few chapters ago. Well, your wish has been granted. :) Sorry for the sudden halt in updates; I got busy with work.
So, from here on out, I'm taking some features of Greek and Roman mythology and using them to fit the story (I'm not completely destroying mythology, don't worry), and certain facts about Hel are going to be non-canon. Just so you guys know, the face claims of Hayden and Lucius Hellman are Sir Ian McKellan and Michael Fassbender, respectively. :) Anyway, enjoy. ;)
The meeting with several NASA officials about their use of Stark Industries' newest missiles didn't end well for the government department. Thanks to Jamie's scrutinizing eye, the Starks were able to prevent NASA from accessing the company's signature arc reactor, which Tony and Jamie had rebuilt from scratch after the former's altercation with Obadiah Stane several years ago.
The NASA officials were clearly disappointed, but ended up accepting the Starks' terms anyway. Now, Tony and Jamie were enjoying a small celebratory meal in Marea, one of the top Italian restaurants in the city.
Pepper and Loki were going to join them in a few minutes, and so Tony and Jamie spent the time talking about the meeting as well as the expected revenue they would have. They normally didn't talk about finances in public places, but Tony and Jamie were on an all-time high after the meeting.
"I think they were hoping that we wouldn't spot that subtle detail they placed in their proposal," Jamie said, sipping her water. She had ordered seafood pasta with a few slices of garlic bread, while Tony had decided on baccala salad. Tony had also ordered a three cheese pizza for Pepper and Loki.
"Apparently. The Major General's face when you mentioned that was priceless. I hope Jarvis has a record of the entire meeting; I'd love to see the look on his face again." Tony bit back a laugh and settled back on the chair.
Tony liked eating in Marea; it had a quiet atmosphere and featured a contemporary design. Besides, the food here was excellent, and the waiters didn't fawn over him when he and Jamie came. He liked that.
"It's like he learned that Christmas had been canceled," Jamie grinned. "I don't know why they're all so eager to get their hands on our reactor. Are they afraid that we're going to misuse it and cause a nuclear explosion?"
"Our last reactor almost did," Tony said, reminding her of the Stane incident.
Jamie's expression darkened slightly, and Tony wished he hadn't reminded her. They both knew that if it weren't for Pepper's intervention, Tony would have most likely died.
Jamie shook the memory away. "Speaking of which, when does Fury plan to move the Avengers' headquarters in the new underground base?"
The newest SHIELD headquarters was located beneath Stark Towers, but this would serve as the Avengers' base of operations. Fury thought that it would be best if the team had a place where they could train and assemble whenever the need arose.
Since Tony Stark already had a potential location, it seemed natural that he construct the headquarters (with some help from the secret branch of the government that SHIELD operated with). Jamie had seen her brother's blueprints of the facility, and it looked impressive.
There were eight floors, each with its own security system. The first two floors contained the Avengers' different transports, including their brand new jet, while the third, fourth, and fifth floors housed the various training facilities. The sixth and seventh floors were where the control rooms were located, and the eighth floor was a highly restricted area, accessible only for those conducting research and experiments.
In a way, the Avengers' base of operations served as an offshoot of the SHIELD headquarters, and every inch of the facility was utilized.
"I don't know yet," Tony admitted. "I did send him a message a few days ago, but since the others are still enjoying their holiday, that may take some time."
"Well I'm glad you're all given some time off. After what happened with Thanos, you all deserve it." Jamie leaned back as she spotted the waiter coming towards them with their order. As the waiter set the plates down, Tony took out his mobile phone and called Pepper.
Jamie crossed her arms and closed her eyes. She hadn't had a lot of sleep last night – although Tony thought she'd had six hours of sleep, Loki had kept her up for four. Not that she was ready to tell her brother that, of course.
"They'll be here in ten minutes," Tony told her, slipping the phone back in his pocket. "She said we could go ahead and eat."
"Great. I'm starving." Jamie picked up a slice of garlic bread and bit into it. It tasted heavenly, and before long she had finished two slices. Jamie was about to eat her third when Pepper and Loki arrived. "They're here."
Tony turned around in his seat and waved; Pepper smiled at waved back, following the God of Mischief as he headed towards their table. Loki kissed Jamie on the lips – Tony looked away at this point – and sat down beside her, immediately stealing a slice of garlic bread.
"Seriously?" Jamie raised both her eyebrows at Loki, who grinned at her through a mouthful of garlic bread. "Hey Peps!"
"Hey," Pepper greeted, smiling at Jamie and Tony. "Sorry we're late. A message came from Hellman Corporation and I had to take it."
Tony rolled his eyes. "They're really pushing it. I said I'd think about it, didn't I? If they send me another message, I'm going to cancel the damn merger."
"Why don't you?" Jamie asked. "Hayden and Lucius creep me out. Remember the time when we met them during your birthday party ten years ago?"
"Yeah. I don't like them either, kid." Tony turned to Pepper, who was drinking water. "So, what did they have to say this time?"
"They're inviting you and Jamie to their office tomorrow. I told Lucius that I'd ask you first before setting an exact appointment." Pepper set the glass down.
Jamie frowned, but it wasn't because Loki had just stolen the last slice of garlic bread on her plate. "Why are they inviting me?"
"Lucius didn't say," Pepper answered. "I guess it's just a formality."
Jamie knew, without asking her brother, that she had to come with him whether she liked it or not. She picked up her fork and took a bite of the pasta. But Jamie had lost her appetite, and after a few bites she pushed her plate away.
"Are you alright?" Loki noticed that she had stopped eating and was now looking at her with concern. "You haven't finished your food yet."
"I don't feel like eating anymore," Jamie admitted. "May I be excused? I need some fresh air."
Tony nodded. "Call me if you need anything."
"Sure." Jamie stood up and walked to the door. Loki caught up with her just before she stepped out of the restaurant. She smiled at the god and held his hand as they walked down the sidewalk. Jamie hoped that there were no paparazzi around; she didn't want to deal with a crowd of photographers clamoring for a picture of her and Loki.
"Worried about the press?" Loki asked as they passed by one of Jamie's favorite clothing stores. "I can take us somewhere more private, if you wish."
"A little," Jamie admitted. "Can we go to the zoo? I don't think I've brought you there yet."
Loki smiled. "Of course."
Jamie grinned and pushed back all thoughts of Hayden and Lucius Hellman at the back of her mind. She would deal with them tomorrow; right now she was determined to enjoy her day with Loki.
Alone.
Loki laughed as another penguin waddled towards him, moving its head from side to side. Although the handler was throwing fish at the other penguins, this one seemed more interested in the tall, dark-haired man standing a few feet from the enclosure.
"I think that one likes you," Jamie said, giggling as the penguin flapped its flippers.
"Let's take him home with us, then." Loki swung his leg over the railing. He was about to jump into the enclosure when Jamie tugged at his collar furiously. "What is it?"
"Hey! Hey, get out of there!" a security guard had spotted Loki's attempt to go inside the penguin pen and was now running towards the god.
"Loki, we're not supposed to go inside!" Jamie hissed, and Loki raised his leg and set it back on the ground.
"What the hell do you think you were doing…oh." The security guard paused at the look on Loki's face.
"I'm sorry," Jamie said quickly. "He didn't know."
The security guard nodded, while Loki's expression slowly darkened. He wasn't used to be told what to do, especially by a Midgardian. Jamie sensed the tension in the air and she led Loki away from the penguin enclosure before the god turned the security guard into a fish and fed him to the penguins.
"What purpose is there to keep animals in this place if we aren't allowed to go near them?" Loki asked as they entered the snake exhibit.
"To let kids learn more about them without having to go to the jungle. I know you think it's cruel, keeping them caged like that, but the zookeepers treat the animals well." Jamie squeezed Loki's hand just as they came to the first exhibit, which held a boa constrictor.
Loki murmured something unintelligible, his eyes fixed on the snake. The boa constrictor raised its head again, stared at Loki for a few seconds, and then lowered its head on the flat, smooth stone it was resting on. Loki studied the boa constrictor with interest, and was amused when he saw a green snake that had yellow flecks along its back.
"It seems like someone copied my armor," Loki commented as the snake dangled from a branch, swinging back and forth lazily.
Jamie chuckled. "Green and gold is a cute combination. On you."
Loki glanced at her. "Flatterer."
"It's true," Jamie insisted, leaning against Loki. "You'd better get used to getting compliments, Laufeyson, because many people think you're a hero. Don't let them down by being all cranky and stuff."
Loki remained silent. He didn't really care what the other Midgardians thought about him – he never did. All that mattered to him was the woman standing beside him. They continued staring at the snake for a few minutes before Jamie said that she wanted to go back to Stark Towers.
"I need to prepare for the meeting," she explained with a roll of her eyes. "I'd much rather spend tomorrow with you, but the Hellmans are being complete asses about it. Hey, you want some cotton candy?"
Loki, who had never tasted cotton candy before, shrugged. "Why not?"
Jamie walked over to the vendor and bought two sticks of cotton candy. Loki bit into the pink cloud, while Jamie tore a small piece off and popped it in her mouth. The candy melted almost immediately in his mouth, leaving only the sweet taste of sugar. He found that he liked it a lot, so Jamie bought two more for him.
Loki ate the sweet delicacy as they walked, even going so far as to licking his fingers clean. Jamie giggled and quickly took a picture of Loki using her mobile phone. "I can't wait to show this to Thor and your mom," she teased, and Loki made a move to grab her phone away.
When Jamie managed to avoid his sticky fingers, Loki stopped and finished his cotton candy first before chasing her down the main pathway. Jamie weaved her way through crowds of teenagers and parents with small kids, but as always, Loki's long strides allowed him to catch up to her in front of a hotdog stall.
"I'll never be able to get away from you, will I?" Jamie said with a small pout, although Loki saw that she looked thrilled at the idea.
Gods, he was, too.
"Never," he confirmed, and he leaned over for a kiss.
"Hey, there are kids," Jamie reminded him, pulling away from him a little. Loki looked disappointed, and Jamie laughed softly and patted him on the cheek. "Let's just go home. Maybe we can sneak in a few kisses while Tony's away."
Loki liked the sound of that.
Jamie took a deep breath as she and Tony entered Hellman Corporations. Like Stark Towers, the building featured glass and chrome, and the sun streamed through the glass windows.
The receptionist had a rather cold look, and Jamie resisted the urge to frown. Jamie could tell the receptionist knew who they were – the woman's eyes lighted up slightly when Tony approached her – but she was keeping her composure to make her look more dignified and unruffled.
"Of course. Mr. Hellman and Mr. Hellman are waiting for you, Mr. Stark," the receptionist said, gesturing to the elevator lobby. "They're at the thirty-first floor."
"Thanks." Tony turned from the woman and towards Jamie, who immediately followed him.
The Starks debated whether to dress up for the occasion or not, but in the end they did. Tony was wearing a pair of slacks and a cool gray shirt, both from Eton of Sweden. Jamie, on the other hand, was wearing a blue Herve Lager bandage dress and matching Louboutin pumps. Her hair was slicked back in a ponytail, making her Stark features stand out...starkly.
"Nervous?" Tony asked her as he punched the number for the 31st floor.
"Not one bit." Jamie crossed her arms and leaned against the elevator wall, watching as the floors sped past. The elevator suddenly stopped at the 25th floor, and several employees stepped inside, chatting animatedly.
It took them a few seconds to realize that Tony and Jamie were there, and when they did, they fell silent. Every so often the employees would steal glances at the two Starks, who both had placid expressions on their faces.
The employees got off on the 30th floor, and Tony and Jamie were alone for a few more seconds. When the elevator reached the next floor, Tony and Jamie saw that Hayden and Lucius's office made up the entire floor.
"Ah, Anthony," Hayden greeted, striding forward, his hand outstretched. "So nice to finally meet you in person. I apologize if I have been sending messengers to your office, but my son and I have been terribly busy."
"It's fine, Hayden," Tony assured the older man. "I've been busy these past few weeks myself."
"I can tell. Your admirable exploits have been all over the news." Hayden smiled at Tony, but Jamie saw that the smile didn't reach the man's eyes.
Hayden turned towards Jamie, and she nearly flinched. "Mr. Hellman."
"Miss Stark," Hayden acknowledged. As always, his intense stare made Jamie feel like she was being scrutinized. "You've grown into a really attractive young lady. If I'd have known, I would have insisted that my son wait for you to grow up."
"We live in a modern world, Hellman," Tony cut in, obviously irritated that Hayden was suggesting that he considered Jamie worthy of Lucius because of her looks and nothing else. "I don't think arranged marriages work now."
"Of course not." Hayden turned from Jamie, who took quick gulps of air. She hadn't realized that she had been holding her breath while Hayden was looking at her. "Let's get down to business, shall we?"
Hayden and Tony both walked towards Hayden's large mahogany desk, which could have doubled as the table in the Last Supper. Jamie trailed behind them, observing that most of the decoration in the office followed the theme of death.
There were paintings that showed scenes of Dante's Inferno, Satan, Lucifer, and even the dark king of the Underworld, Hades. Jamie shuddered, hoping that Hayden didn't notice her. She sat on the chair opposite her brother, crossing her ankles.
"So, have you seen the reports I sent?" Hayden inquired, pouring bourbon into three glasses. He obviously didn't know that Jamie didn't drink (not in the morning, that is), but Jamie didn't want to correct the old man.
"Of course." Tony accepted the two glasses gratefully and set Jamie's glass on the desk in front of him. Hayden raised his eyebrow slightly but said nothing. "They were very detailed."
Hayden smiled. "My secretaries are thorough. Ah, Lucius."
Lucius Hellman strode into the office and the two Starks turned their heads towards him. Lucius didn't seem to age; even though he was in his mid-thirties, he still looked as young as ever. It was easy to see why a lot of women liked him.
He looked like a god.
"I hope I'm not late, Father," Lucius said calmly, smiling at Jamie. "If I'd had known the lovely Jamie Stark would be here, I'd have come sooner."
Lucius was now staring at her, apparently thinking that the sickly sweet expression on his face made her swoon. Jamie resisted the urge to vomit.
Lucius leaned against the window, watching the crowds of puny humans scurry along the sidewalk and across the streets. The meeting with the Starks was stretching too long, and he was already bored.
He could understand why Jamie Stark had excused herself seven times for the past hour and a half; she was bored as he was. However, every time he tried asking her if she wanted to "get out of there," she had politely but firmly rebuffed him.
Lucius wasn't used to being refused; as the son of the powerful Hayden P. Hellman, Lucius had everything handed to him on a golden platter. Silver was far too gauche.
Of course, it had been like that for centuries, ever since his uncle Zeus had appointed his father as lord of the Underworld.
Lucius smiled at wondered what the Starks would say if they realized that they were in the presence of Death itself.
They would most likely 'shit in their pants', Lucius thought with a soft chuckle. His father shot him a warning look, and Lucius fell silent.
Hayden, otherwise known as Hades, was the younger brother of Zeus and the older twin brother of Pluto, the lesser god of the Underworld. Greeks and Romans believed that Hades and Pluto were the same person, but they were wrong. Hades was more prominent because of his countless roles in the ancient battles, but Pluto had managed to worm his way into the scene when Romulus and Remus had fought to the death.
It was Pluto, not Hades, who had brought the souls of the brothers to the Underworld, earning himself a place in the human's very inaccurate mythology.
Lucius, on the other hand, was known as Lucifer, the fallen son. In many ways, the stories were true. But again, humans had injected so many fallacies that the truth was slowly corroded over time. One unknown fact about Lucifer was that he was the husband of Hel, the Norse Goddess of Death, the only daughter of Loki and the Frost Giantess Angraboda.
It was Hel's death that fueled Lucius; he wanted to seek revenge on Loki for the death of his wife. But never in a million years did he imagine that he would be within striking distance to the God of Mischief.
Lucius, like his father, possessed many abilities. One of these was telepathy, which he now used to read the thoughts and memories of the beautiful Jamie Stark.
And the most recent thoughts and memories that he was hearing and seeing were very, very interesting. If these proved true, then Jamie was the newest beloved of Loki Laufeyson.
Lucius slowly turned his head towards Jamie, who was listening attentively to every word her brother was saying. Lucius had to admit that she was pretty, with her long black hair and her Stark features.
An eye for an eye, Loki Laufeyson, Lucius thought, his eyes still on Jamie Stark. And a mate for a mate.
