Who's excited for this chapter? I am, and you should.

Be excited. Enjoy, and review. It's an order.

Chapter 36. The One Who Likes To Be Queen.

As I thought, Loki went to Moriarty. He didn't say anything about his visit or what did they talk about, so I asked.

"Don't pretend you don't know I know you've been with Moriarty."

"I am not pretending" he answered. "I'm just not mentioning it."

"Same thing. What did you agree on?"

"I'll help him get some technology he wants."

"Infiltrating the Avengers. I see. You've already talked to them, so when are you going?" I asked. If he was going to leave soon I would have to change the perspective of my own visit to John.

"I will need a couple of days to test the waters before I leave for good." The god made a pause and lowered his gaze. "Sherlock, I'm really sorry, but Jim confirmed our suspicious about John. I didn't mention it, he just told me."

"I'm still asking him myself. I don't trust Moriarty, and he loves these mind tricks" I declared.

"Because you owe him" Loki said, repeating my words.

"What do you get out of your deal with Moriarty?" I asked. That was something I couldn't understand, and I didn't like that.

"Power, and a magnificent view of his destruction across the Realms" he answered.

I narrowed my eyes but didn't comment. Loki had definitely grave issues, but as far as I could see, his behaviour had moved from destructive. Why this now? Power, that was understandable. A seat to watch the universe burn? Not so much.

"A view of his destruction? How much of it are you going to actively be part of?"

"Quite a bit" he answered, crunching his nose for a moment in a funny way.

That made more sense. Loki was the God of Mischief and Trickery, after all. Some havoc was to be expected.

"I want to see him" I asked.

"I know, I'll reunite you with John as soon as possible. Fret not" he answered, even though he knew I wasn't referring to John.

"Not John. I want to speak with Moriarty" I explained.

Loki arched an eyebrow sceptically. "Now you want to see him?" I shot him a glare. "Alright, we'll go. I have some errands to run on my own; I'll leave you with him. Just call me when you're done."

"Didn't you leave your phone when you fled from Stark Tower?"

"I'm planning on getting it back soon enough."

"Still, I don't have your number."

"It's all about complaining, isn't it?" He tsked. "But I know yours, dear Sherlock."

"Okay." I wasn't going to get anything else out of him, so I grabbed his arm, and he looked at me, surprised. "I've heard you teleporting directly, so I'm assuming it's safe to do so. Now move" le urged him.

"We'll go tomorrow" he just said. He probably needed to rest for a bit, but I narrowed my eyes anyway.

"What a rubbishy god" I complained, sitting on the sofa.

I still had to talk to John, but I had decided to talk with Moriarty first, especially after Loki had told me James had admitted John was his spy. He loved to boast, but in a private way. In a way that only I could know. Or in this case, Loki and me.

I could see what he told me, and then go to John, and see what Moriarty told him to say. I would see if he was just repeating what Moriarty said. He wouldn't be able to fool me. I can even pick Loki's lies up, and he has had a thousand year practice as the god of them.

If he's indeed a spy, reminded me a voice. I closed my eyes. Of course, if he was the spy.

The next morning I found Loki in the kitchen, brewing some coffee and dressed in simple leather pants and an open shirt. I couldn't help but to stare at his chest and marble skin.

I cleared my throat. "Do you think that's the best approach with Stark? He just left you for his assistant, and you yourself said some mean things to him." He glared murderously at me, but I could see a hint of vulnerability behind his burning emerald eyes. "People forget, and I've said some unfortunate things myself, but you usually have to apologise" I added hurriedly. I didn't want to have my neck broken on the spot.

"Anthony Stark is my business. I advise you not to interfere" he said, dangerously smooth. Then he buttoned his shirt, but there was still a lot of skin showing. It was distracting. His eyes found mine, and I could see he was nervous. For this trip, yes but for something else too. He suddenly grabbed my arm and teleported.

I had never seen where Moriarty lived before, but it was exactly what I had thought. A skyscraper, and he lived in the attic. Always on top. Observing the world from above.

Loki rang and the door opened. Moriarty looked surprised when he saw me.

"Oh" was the only thing he said. I stepped inside, followed by Loki.

"Hello, James. Pleasure to find you" the god greeted. Moriarty replied with a simple hi.

"Uhm" the man started, "you should be dead."

"Surprised?" I asked sarcastically.

"Well, yes, Jim's plans usually work. And he had quite an obsession with you."

At that I turned to face him. It was definitely Moriarty's face, but there was something… That man wasn't the consulting criminal I had faced before. Loki didn't seem preoccupied, so he had to know what was happening.

"Who exactly are you, now? Did Jim have a twin I didn't know about?" Now that would have been a surprise. But no, they were identical, too similar as to be different people. Double personality?

"My name's James. You are used to deal with Jim, I'm afraid" he answered with a smile. A kind smile, without any trace of malice or wickedness.

"You have never met James?" Loki asked, curious. "I assumed you knew about him."

"Well I didn't. And he is of no help; I want to talk to Moriarty, not his good twin."

"We are not…" James interrupted.

"I don't care" I answered before he could finish his sentence. "Can't you call him or something?"

"I am sorry but I can't right now. I have a date. You'll have to wait." The determination of his voice surprised me. James seemed way more weak than that. Dealing with Moriarty's acquaintances must have forced him to be firm.

"You know who I am. Jim won't be happy if you make me wait."

"You're the great Sherlock Holmes, who came back from the dead not so long ago. Oh, I think he will be pleased" James answered.

Someone rang the doorbell before I could reply.

James glanced at me one last time before heading towards the door.

"I'm sorry I'm early; I thought there would be more traffic" said a female voice I knew all too well from the entrance.

Molly Hooper.

"It's okay. Eh, Molly, could you wait a minute? He has guests."

"Oh, sure, yes."

"Molly!" I called.

"Sherlock?" came the hesitant answer.

"Could you please come for a second?" Maybe she could convince James to let me talk to Moriarty. I heard her hurried steps and a moment later she appeared through the door.

"Sherlock, where were you? Are you okay? Has something happened?" she started asking, stumbling over the words.

"I'm in the middle of a case, and your boyfriend here is a nuisance and won't let me continue with my investigation" I explained.

"James, what is he asking?" Molly addressed him instead of me. Maybe this relationship was more important than I had thought.

"He wants to talk to him. But this is your free afternoon, and I promised to take you somewhere nice."

"Well, Sherlock" Loki started. "I have to go. Call me when you're done, but I don't promise to come back immediately."

"Of course. Have fun with Stark." The god vanished and I turned to face Molly again, who had just noticed the dark haired man and had a baffled expression in her face. "Please?" I added, putting the best innocent face I could. She looked away from the spot where Loki had been. By the expression on Molly's face, it had worked.

"James, I'm sure it won't take long. We can go out afterwards." She took his hand and tugged lightly. "I'll be here."

He seemed to finally give in. James nodded and closed his eyes. A moment later his whole demeanour changed to one I knew quite well.

"Hello Jim."

"Finally. I didn't know when you'd visit." He grinned unpleasantly. "Are you here about your little pet? Has he bitten you yet?"

"Jim!" Molly reprimanded him. He looked at her and his smile sweetened a bit.

"Hello, Molly, dear. Sorry for interrupting." He meant it. He actually meant that.

Interesting.

"Yes" I answered, ignoring their interaction. "I am here about John."

"One of my best acquisitions." He shrugged. "You didn't even suspect he was one of my spies, did you? Must have been quite a shock when you found out. You were so in love."

"But he's not part of your current big bad plan."

"Nah, he's not. He's been useful, but his task is not over yet. I may kill him, though. See how that affects you." He watched me intently, searching for any reaction to his words. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.

Molly's eyes spoke volumes as she listened to our conversation. A myriad of emotions crossed her face in a matter of seconds.

"So why don't you tell me what is this new scheme of yours?"

"Why don't you deduce it, my dear Sherlock?" Jim asked, taking a step closer to me.

"I would, but I'm working on more important things right now."

"That hurts me. I thought we had a special something" he quoted. He leaned forward and continued. "I'll tell you, if you beat me at, say, chess?"

"Typical. Classy as ever. I'll be my pleasure to best you at chess. Boring game, it doesn't prove anything, but if boring is what you like" I commented. "When I win, you'll tell me your plan. The truth, not what you've told Loki."

"Uh, clever."

"It was obvious that wasn't the truth."

"And If I win?" He reached out and traced my neck and jaw with his finger. "I get you."

"No" I replied. "I'll tell you where we've been."

Moriarty pouted childishly before moving back his hand to rest on his side. "And about Loki. You'll tell me about him."

Loki won't know you've told him.

"Deal."

Moriarty placed a chessboard on the table and set up the pieces.

"I'll take black" he announced.

"So typical."

Once the pieces were in their place, I moved a pawn.

"I do that too; move my pawns. Mine are people, though" Moriarty pondered, moving a knight.

"Must be boring, having only pawns to play with" I commented.

"I don't only have pawns. They are pawns, yes, but they are valuable. Like rooks. Or knights, or bishops" he pondered for a moment before continuing. "John would be a knight. Your very own knight in shiny armour."

"You must be the queen, then." I made a pause, ignoring his latest comment. "No, you're the player."

"Of course I'm the player. But sometimes it's fun to be queen."

"I can see you like it."

We continued to play in silence for some time, until finally I saw an open flank and moved a knight to win. Moriarty had slipped and made a mistake.

"Checkmate" I announced.

"Oh. I lost" Jim said innocently. "A deal's a deal. And here I thought I would find out about your shenanigans with the god." He made a pause and shrugged. "Well now, my part. I do want to travel to other Realms. Amora told me all about them. She's not that interesting, but others may be. Like Loki. He's really interesting."

"But not enough for you" I observed.

"Nah. Not as good as you, dear. Don't get jealous. But I expect to find someone decent. Anyway, I need to use the technology SHIELD has. They've been quite protective of it; I can't get it any other way. So our favourite God of Mischief will get that for me. And I am actually going to give him his beloved helmet and spear; I keep my promises. I am going to use him to open the portal, though. He doesn't know that, but there's plenty of time until he'll have to do it."

"Use him" I repeated.

"I've promised him a place to create as much chaos and mischief as he pleases. He'll create a distraction while I have fun. And he'll have his vengeance. It's a win win situation" Moriarty continued. "And John… Let's just say his part is not over yet."

I narrowed my eyes, but the man just stared at me blankly.

"There's still so much I could destroy about you. I want to have my fun with this. It's a second chance, and I will take advantage of it." He grinned showing all his teeth. "The first time I didn't do it correctly. I should have relied more on him. I didn't see it, but you were already in love with him. You yourself said it; love is a vicious motivator. You were ready to commit suicide to save them, and look at you now. What would you do now for the people you love? And just who is my spy and who isn't? Would you even care? I can still see the hope in your eyes. The hope that John won't be connected to me. Believe what you want, Sherlock, the truth will fly." He raised his hands, mimicking a bird flying with them. Then he turned to Molly. "It's been a pleasure, Molly. Send James my regards." The man grinned one last time, looking at me, before changing into James.

"I'm sorry Molly, that you had to watch this" I apologised.

"No, no, it's okay. It's good to see you." She looked at me and smiled as she held James' hand. "Are you…, are you safe?"

"Of course I'm safe. He did try to kill me before, but it didn't work."

"He'll learn from his mistakes, believe me. He always does" James said ominously. He squeezed the woman's hand and looked at her adoringly for a moment. "We're already late, so please leave now."

I exited the apartment and called the number Loki had given me before. It hadn't been that long; he was probably still with Stark. As expected, he didn't pick up, so I went outside the building and called a taxi.

Maybe John was in Baker Street.