I slid off of the leather seat and the cool air of the garage prickled my skin. A row of flashy cars not belonging to Tony caught my eye. Black and grey, nothing to identify them with. If these were government cars, they were the part of the government that didn't want to be known or associated to the face of the government.

The door locked behind me and I started forwards towards the stairwell and elevator. I dialled Steve's number but I only got the answer machine. "Back safe, speak to you soon." Was all I could tell him with Loki hovering about me. "Can anyone see you?" I ask him.
"No, like it was for you before I gave you the crystal, I have no real permanence in this realm."
"Good." I push the door open. "I don't want to attract any unnecessary attention." We pass through another door and I smile at the guard on duty.

"Thought you weren't coming back 'til whenever the rest did." He grunts, lifting his feet from the desk in front of him.
"Well I am, could you let me in please." I act as if I'm in a bad mood, at the raising of his eyebrows, I fold my arms and hurriedly add on, "I forgot the folder I need for the launch Pepper is setting up. Can you open the door now?"

He glances at the floor uneasily. "Well see the thing is-"
"Yes?" I ask, tapping my foot impatiently.
"Oh, very good." Loki says. "I see what you're doing, and moreover he believes it, I'm impressed." I try not to roll my eyes, knowing the guard couldn't see him.
"I've been told not to let anyone in." The guard finishes lamely.

I smirk, "You've been told not to let anyone in? I live here. On whose authority have you been told to bar me entry?"
"You're overacting, rein it in." Loki growls in my ear.
"I can't say." He almost stammers in reply.

I raise my chin, sensing Loki's approval, and give him my most regal look, modelled of course from what I had seen of Loki when he gave commands. "You're going to let me in and let me tell you why. If you don't let me into this building in the next thirty seconds, I won't get that folder back to Ms Potts on time. And then she can't make that business deal before her client flies back to Paris. When that happens I'll be at risk of losing my job, and do you know who I'll be bringing down right alongside me?" I pause for effect. "Do you really want to piss off Iron Man and Captain America's girlfriends in one night?"

He doesn't take long to consider me. Immediately he opens the doors, apologising to no end. Ignoring him, I sweep into the building, Loki following at my heels. "My Queen!" He laughs as the doors shut. "And oh what a magnificent queen you would have made."
"Shut up." I hiss, marching forward. I don't have time to think about what type of queen I would have been. Under his enchantment, in my own head, I was a queen in my own right. I knew exactly what kind of queen I would have been.

I glance over my shoulder to make sure the guard has closed the door behind us. I can feel my heartrate increase and I clench my hands to stop them from shaking. I had no idea what I was about to walk into. I was completely unprepared even if I did have a god by my side.

"Are you nervous?" Loki asked as the elevator doors closed on us.
"Yes." I muttered, pressing the button to head up.
"Good." His hand fluttered briefly by mine, as if he was going to take my hand in his. He couldn't, not in this form anyway, but it was a kind gesture, even if it was only a comforting thought. "I would be concerned if you were not."

I hesitated. "Do you really think Gabriel drugged me?"
"With your sudden and apparent willingness to throw yourself into an unknown situation to save the man you hardly know? Yes. I do." I don't make another remark as the elevator nears its destination. "I am right beside you." He whispered in my ear as the doors opened.

I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe some kind of fight, coils falling from the ceiling in a shower of electric sparks, with broken glass lining the floor? It was oddly peaceful in the hallway. It was neat and tidy, just as I had left it. I'm not sure which was more menacing, what I was expecting or what I had found.

Loki and I stepped out together as if part of a team and headed down the hallway towards Gabriel's room. Along with how impossibly neat it was, the hallway was eerily quiet. Terrified, I pushed open the door.