Back in Houston, Texas, in the NASA campus where the S.H.I.E.L.D.'s folk had taken him, Petteri Vuori sat behind his computer screen, drinking cherry-coke spiced up with vodka, surfing in the internet trying to gather up all the information he could find about the ancient Viking gods, anything that could have helped finding Emma and catching Loki. He had gone through everything he had found.
The search on Youtube with a search word 'Loki' brought him a huge number of hits; documents and funny videos of some people's pets, but the latest update caught his attention. He took a big gulp of his drink and hit the play button on the video. When it started, he nearly choked up with his mouthful, coughing hard while staring at the playing video. It was showing him that same mad demigod he had faced in Greenland; Loki showing magic tricks for an audience.
Pete gazed at the screen taken aback. He turned the voice louder and could pick up Emma's voice from the background. He played the video again, and again, and again. He checked up the channel where it was updated; 'Phantom's challenge'.
"What the hell?" Pete murmured and went for his things searching feverishly for a calling card that the agent had given him. When he found it he sat again behind the lap top's screen, his hands shaking while picking up a phone, making sure he had really seen the video and it hadn't been just a product of his imagination.
Somewhere over the sleeping English countryside agent Coulson awoke from a short nap inside the Quinjet as the sound of his mobile phone awoke him. Coulson wiped his eyes and answered the phone in a tired voice. "Coulson."
"Have you found that Loki yet?"
Agent Coulson frowned, not recalling the voice immediately. "Excuse me. Who is this? Where have you gotten this number?"
"It's Petteri Vuori. We met in Greenland. You gave me your card and said that I should call if anything would come up with Emma Morgan."
"Ah, Mr. Vow-voouri." Those Scandinavian names were impossible to say without concentration. "Yes. Has Emma Morgan made a contact with you?"
"No. I assume you haven't found them either?"
"Not yet, but we are getting close."
"Well, have you tried Youtube?"
Coulson heaved a sigh. "There is no time for cat-videos!"
"Man, there is always time for cat-videos!"
"Are you drunk this time, sir?"
"Maybe a little."
"I said call me if you come up with something that could help us with their search. I'm going to hang up now."
"They are in middle England, more specifically somewhere in the Staffordshire."
Coulson put the phone back onto his ear. How did this man know they were in England or in specific that region? "Go on, I'm listening."
"Do you have an internet access? I recommend you check up a Youtube channel called Phantom's Challenge. There are a bunch of some crazy snake videos and the latest update of Loki Odinson making magic tricks. I swear I heard Emma's voice on the background. I pinpointed the location where the video was uploaded. That's in England. Of course they could have used several foreign servers but..."
"How did you find out this?"
"I'm a nerd with an access to a NASA satellite."
"Alright, thank you. We will check that up. Is there anything else you have discovered?"
"Well… this is a kind of disturbing shit I had already forgotten… but the folklore says that Loki has given birth to an eight-legged horse… while being a mare…"
"Come again?"
"Yeah… I think I need another drink. I hope he's not turning Emma into a mad cow or something."
"Well... Call me again if you come up with anything else," agent Coulson said and put down his phone, gazing at his companions inside the jet. They had continued the search through the night, but now they all were in the jet, having an uncomfortable break. "Do we have an internet access here?" Coulson asked, directing his question to Tony and his fellow agents.
Tony Stark looked at him a bit offended. "Sure! Need to check up your Tinder profile, Phil?"
A little later Coulson, Tony, Natasha and Thor stared at a small screen of a laptop that one agent borrowed them. Damien's Youtube video of Loki's performance in front of a live audience left them all puzzled.
"What am I watching here?" Natasha asked frowning, unable to decide was Loki threatening those people or making a show for them.
"Wow! This guy's gonna be famous. Almost 3000 views and the video was uploaded like a few hours ago." Tony Stark took note. "Damn!"
Thor was only glad that Loki seemed to still be alive, but otherwise he was furious to his adopted brother. What was Loki thinking? "So, can you find him with this realm wide net?" Thor asked, confused. "It sounds an impressive craftsmanship."
"World wide web! And, yeah. It's the best thing Earth has got to offer. You should try the basic how to use hammer videos," Tony said to the big Asgardian deity.
"Well, this is the best tip we got. Find out where that video was filmed and uploaded!" agent Coulson told to another agent that got eagerly into the work. Then he moved closer to Thor, getting uncomfortable about the next question. "Thor… er… has your brother ever given birth to a horse?" he asked whispering in a doubtful voice.
Thor stared at the agent a moment without a word but then burst out laughing like crazy like that had been the best joke he had ever heard. "Do mortals still talk about that?" he asked then chuckling, wiping his wet eyes. "That was a joke Fandral made centuries ago because Loki really like horses and he can transform himself into anything… Wait! You mortals do realize that it was only meant for a joke, right?"
... ...
The daylight made the room looking bright in the next morning when Emma awoke in the luxury four-poster bed. Touch of the heavenly soft bed sheets on her naked body made her wanting to stay under the covers the whole day. She lifted her head from the pillow after a sweet long sleep, smiling sated, glancing lazily around her and searching for Loki since he wasn't there next to her as she had hoped. She had fallen asleep in his safe arms, and there was his scent in the bed sheets but he was nowhere to be seen. Oh, how she would have wanted to see his smile in the first thing when she opened her eyes.
Slowly Emma sat up, calling for him, feeling a bit betrayed. She took note there weren't any of his stuff in the room anymore. He had promised to stay and a part of her feared that she had been only a one night stand to him. After completely wooing her and gotten what he had wanted, he had left her alone.
"Oh, welcome back to the reality, you brain-dead Cinderella!" she murmured to herself and ran her hands over her wild curls, berating herself for being such an idiot for trusting that beautiful Trickster. Mom would have been so proud of her now!
She noticed something small and white peeking from under the cover on his side of the bed and she lifted the fluffy quilt to see what it was. She couldn't helped but to burst out laughing finding a small Jotun-blue smurf doll sitting against his pillow.
"Loki?" She whispered, poking the thing with her finger. "It isn't you, is it?"
She picked up the stuffed doll into her arms and smelled it. It too had his divine scent and she held it for a while, hoping he hadn't gone very far. So, he had remembered her calling him a smurf. How had he found out what a smurf was? And where had he found the doll? At least one thing was sure; he had learned to take himself less seriously.
"Now, you wait here, little Frosty. I'll be right back and then we'll go looking for that trickstering daddy of yours," she said to the smurf and placed in gently back on the bed. Great! She was talking to a freaking doll now!
With a grimace she glanced at the broken bed's headboard. The old Grey folk were never going to do charity anymore after seeing that!
She hopped off from the bed and went to bathroom, thanking god that she had an ability to heal fast, otherwise she wouldn't have been walking or sitting on that day at all. The magic of the last night with Loki still burning on her cheeks if she dared to think about it.
As she was getting dressed in the bathroom, she heard the room's door opening and a naughty grin returned to her lips. Loki! She went back to the bedroom, slipping into her little black dress on her way. She was going to have to ask Loki changing her clothing again for something more appropriate.
"Good morning, you god of sex. Shall we go bumming for some breakfast?" she asked in a cheerful voice, walking out from the bathroom in barefoot, her attention caught by the zipper on the back of her dress.
"No, thank you. We already grabbed something on our way here," agent Coulson said as he stepped into the room like a boss, his loaded pistol pointing at her.
Emma lifted her gaze at the strange man horrid, only to find out that he hadn't come alone. There was already Thor in the room looking bleak, carrying his hammer. And after Coulson came agent Romanoff, her gun aiming at Emma, and the last came Ironman ready to strike.
Emma had assumed it was Loki who had entered into their room, but when she saw the intruder four, she stopped, staring at them in a shock, unable to say a word, holding on her unzipped dress as her cover. It was like she would have stepped straight into her worst nightmare. She made a quick calculation for her chances for an escape. There were no chances to get away from all of them. Especially that big blond warrior and Ironman gave her chills in a mean way.
"Mrs. Odinson? I'm agent Phil Coulson from the S.H.I.E.L.D. I guess you know why are we here," agent Coulson said, walking closer, scanning the room around him, looking for the big guy. He loved the old-fashioned glamour of the place and considered spending his next holiday in a place like that. He glanced quickly at the broken bed's headboard on the floor next to his feet and turned his questioning eyes at Emma.
Emma gasped, gravely embarrassed and afraid, finding herself trapped. It had been a fool thing to introduce them by Loki's real name. "Um… You've got the wrong room!" she tried her best to lie, moving backwards, towards the bathroom.
Thor shook his head. "No, she is a woman. She can not be anyone's son. Certainly not Odin's son." He realized that it was an insignificant matter, so he took a step closer her too. "But this is the same woman who was with Loki, I am sure of it. Hold on! Mrs.? Are you two married?"
"No! Definitely not!"
"Thank heavens! And you do know he is the god of mischief not um… sex?" the god of thunder spoke slightly uncomfortable about the subject and past her taking a quick glance at the bathroom.
Yeah, he certainly wasn't the brightest star in the constellation, Emma thought, stepping out of his way.
Thor turned then at her with a demanding look in his ocean blue eyes. "Where is my brother?"
"I don't know," Emma told and to her great dismay that was true. She gave Thor a look from head to toes, remembering everything Loki told her about him. He looked exactly the same as Loki had when the Trickster had pretended to be Thor. She was afraid of him. He was huge, maybe even taller than Loki and she didn't feel like fighting with him at that moment.
Tony Stark stepped in the center of the room in his full Ironman suit making a quick scan with his high-tech gadgets. "Infra-red, thermo- and gamma-radiation scans shows nothing. Thor, your bro is not here," he stated. "Wow, but now I'm curious what happened here," he continued, meaning the broken headboard, as he took off his helmet, giving Emma a flirty grin. "Well, it seems that someone's been a naughty girl, still wearing a cocktail dress in this time in the morning. You need a hand with that, honey? I'm good with zippers," he said offering a helping hand. "I like zippers."
"Agent Romanoff, could you please help Ms. Morgan getting decent?" Coulson suggested.
"Fine," Natasha said and put her gun down and stepped behind Emma. "Just give me a reason to put a bullet in you!" she menaced, zipping Emma's dress with an unfriendly manner, pulling then Emma's arms in front of her and handcuffing her unmercifully.
Feeling helpless and been caught, Emma had no means to fight back. She just had to go along with them. A princess fairy tale had just turned into a freaking nightmare.
"Ms. Morgan, you would do yourself a great favor by telling us where Loki is," agent Coulson offered, walking a small circle in the room and put his gun away.
"I'm telling you, I don't know where he is," Emma reassured, telling the truth, moving along as agent Romanoff was taking her towards the door, holding on from her arm.
She gave one more glance over her shoulder at the suite that had been the best place in the world for her for one night, her eyes caught up with the blue smurf doll on the bed. She felt a tear creeping in the corner of her eye even she swore she wouldn't weep. Has she been a complete fool for trusting Loki? She should have known what kind of trickster he was. He had left her after having his way with her. A small part of her doubted would she ever see him again. She had sworn she wouldn't let anyone treat her the way her mom had been treated by so many men. She thought she would have been smarted than this, that she'd had learned from her mom's mistakes, but now she reasoned that everyone had to learn it the hard way.
She let out an aggrieved snort, yielding, when the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were escorting her out. But she refused to regret any of it she had had with him. At least she had felt being alive with him that small moment.
"Wait!" Emma yelped passing over the threshold. Agent Coulson turned to look at her with a hope of co-operation. "I want to have that stupid doll with me!" she demanded and that was all said.
... …
"Well, I must say they were impressive creatures indeed," Loki admitted, being in a good mood, walking side by side with Damien back from the stables. They had been taking a look at the Greys horses as he had promised to the young boy. He had always liked horses. They had those in Asgard as well and he loved riding.
It was a bright beautiful morning, the flourishing green garden around them worth to admire, and Loki felt marvellous after the night he had spent with Emma. She had made him feeling appreciated anew, in a whole new way, and his feelings towards her had only grown stronger. Was it love? He wasn't sure about that. And even Frigga had gently encouraged him courting a young maiden, he was certain that the queen of Asgard wouldn't have ever approved this outcome outside the wedlock. It was irrational how quickly, how effortlessly, they had gone beyond courting. Maybe it was pure madness what he had with her. Emma had become his greatest distraction, he admitted, but he wanted to cherish her in every way possible. She was his now, and she was as sweet as the chocolate she so much enjoyed. That thought made him smile. Yes, he most definitely had lost the rest of his sanity with her.
Loki hadn't had the heart to wake her when she had been sleeping so peacefully by his side and he had only left her for a moment, pressing a kiss on her forehead before leaving. He and Damien had gone out very early in that morning and he had hoped he would get back before Emma awakes, staying there next to her when she opens her lovely eyes as he had promised to her. He found out that it was very hard to keep all his promises. That's why he had usually avoided committing himself to too attaching promises.
"Yeah, weren't they great? I like to ride sometimes. Maybe we could go riding later today. Did you know that even the queen loves horses? My dad met her once in a polo tournament. He was playing there and his team won."
Loki shook his head in amusement. The boy surely liked to talk when someone was listening to him. He would have loved to stay in that place for a few more days but he saw it wiser to continue their journey with Emma. "Tell me about the queen."
"The queen Elizabeth is an old lady, very nice but tough. Have you not seen her? Not even in the pictures or from TV?"
"I am afraid not."
"That's weird. Oh, guess what? This morning when I checked up my channel, there were already 3900 views on your video," Damien told excited, "My videos have never gotten that much views before, ever. People really like you and your tricks."
Loki's forehead furrowed by a pure bewilderment. "You should tell me more about these animated illusions of yours. Are you saying the all the people in the world would see them?" Loki asked interested.
As he lifted his gaze at the manor far ahead he stopped walking, noticing the bustle that hadn't been there when they had left.
Two Quinjets were landed on the green garden field in front of the manor. There were several big black cars parked around the buildings and soldiers in black outfits swarming everywhere. They looked very much the same as the ones he'd met on the Greenland's glacier. So, the S.H.I.E.L.D. had found them!
Loki turned looking grim, his splendid mood already broken. And then the unpleasant fact entered his mind, twisting his inside with cold worry; he had left Emma there alone, unprotected and unaware of his whereabouts. "Want to see another trick, Damien?" he asked and with one golden glow he transformed himself looking like the boy's father, who he had seen from a photo in the boy's room yesterday. He needed a disguise to get in there to her.
The young one stared at him in silence, tears glimmering in the corner of his eyes. "A-are you an angel?"
"No, but close." A god would do!
The boy suddenly gave Loki a long hug, wrapping his small arms around his waist, leaving the god of mischief utterly confused.
"What are you doing?" Loki asked staring down at the young one.
"Loki, you look just like my dad!" said Damien, letting him go and moving back a bit in awe. "But he's a bit shorter I think."
Loki put his finger over his lips to tell the boy to keep quiet. "Do not call me Loki, alright? Just act as if I would be your father. Can you do that for me?" the god of mischief asked and gave his hand to the boy, who took it with a great trust and holding on tight. "So, tell me, what is your father's name?"
Disguised as Mr. Nathaniel Grey, Loki strode across the yard with the boy, taking note that he was being greatly outnumbered. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents dressing in black, heavy combat outfits were scattered all around the yard, and the hotel guests were gathered there in small groups like herds of livestock.
Loki was getting closer to the entrance when he made a stop as he saw a group of people coming out, lead by agent Coulson who he had seen while his short visit in New Mexico. The agent was followed by Thor, and Loki felt his rage rising. Then to his concern he noticed Emma, chained in handcuffs, escorted by an equally small red-haired woman. After them came the man in the metal armor.
They had caught her! Loki felt his heart skipping a beat when he watched them taking Emma towards one of the jets, she walking there on barefoot with only her little black dress on. She looked embarrassed and shattered like she would have given up all hope. He shouldn't have ever left her alone! His breathing shivered with anxiety and he barely controlled himself, nearly running after her, wanting to save her from her capturers. But he took a moment to consider his chances, calming himself down. A stab of remorse hit him with a thought that Emma would probably believe that he had abandoned her coldly and left to the wolves.
"Why are they taking Emma away? Has she done something bad? Is she a criminal?" Damien asked whispering from Loki, confused about the strange bustle all around them.
It was only then when Loki remembered he was there with the boy who was holding his hand. He glanced down at the young one, still looking like the boy's father. "No, she has done nothing wrong. They are looking for me," he admitted quietly.
"Why?"
"Because they are evil people who doesn't like my tricks."
Damien looked at Loki determinately. "Don't worry. I'm good keeping secrets. I won't tell them a thing about you."
Loki gave the boy an encouraging pat on his small shoulder with a smile. "Thank you, my young friend. Now, go back inside and wait me there!"
… …
"Sit down!" Natasha Romanoff told to Emma once they were inside the Quinjet and buckled her to the seatbelts on the side of the cabin. Emma sat in silence, gazing out through the opened rear hatch, unsure what would happen to her now.
The female agent tossed the smurf doll into her lap. "Here! You're going to need something soft to hold on after we're done with you," she said ominously and sat opposite her.
Loki strode through the scattered crowd of soldiers and the hotel's guests towards the jet after agent Coulson who was having a word with the soldiers outside. "Excuse me! Someone's better tell me, what the blazing hell is going on here!" he said in an aloud and upset voice sounding like a British gentleman, managing to control of his anger.
The nearby soldiers turned their weapons at him as a precaution, stepping closer.
Coulson cast a suspicious gaze at the man. "Who are you, sir?"
"I am Nathaniel Grey. I own this establishment with my parents," he said sounding convincing, giving a short glance at Emma, who sat in the jet out of his reach. He took note that she had that silly blue doll with her he had left there in the bed for her. She was holding onto it like a scared child and it made him shuddering inside, thinking how afraid she must be there alone.
Coulson took a quick check from a list of the hotel guests and staff. "Your name is not on the list, sir," he said and the armed soldiers around him took a defending step closer to the gentleman.
Loki noticed the red dots of the laser sights gathering on his chest like a bunch of angry bees and he concentrated to his act. "I've just arrived here, with my son," he said pointing his hand at the boy who ran inside. "We are running a decent business here. Why are you harassing our guests?"
"I am sorry, sir, for the inconvenience. We won't be here long," agent Coulson said to the gentleman. "We are looking for one of your hotel guests. He was booked in as Loki Odinson. Do you happen to know his whereabouts? Once we'll find him, we'll be out of your property."
"I'm afraid I don't know who you are talking about. We don't keep track of our guests as long as they pay their bills. What have this man done? Should we be worried? Is there a terrorist threat upon us?" Loki asked, glancing around him at the soldiers and his brother who strode further away, searching at him and making himself looking ridiculously busy.
Loki knew he would have the advantage of a surprise on his side but there still was Thor and Ironman who had seemed to made a pact. And all those soldiers with their weapons. He would have pulled through it but Emma may not have been that lucky.
Coulson gave a sign to his men to drop guard. Loki's act had convinced him. "Nothing that serious. He's an international con-artist, whom we have been tracking a year already."
"Is that so?" Loki asked, despising the agent's attempt to lie about him. "What about that young lady?" Loki nodded towards the jet. "I believe she is one of our guests."
"We caught his partner. I'm sure she would prove us useful information that would help us to catch him."
Loki got worried of how they were planned to get that information out of her. He watched at her trying his best to conceal his concern, his hands clenching into fists. He needed to act, and he needed to act fast.
Emma stared at the dark-haired tall man who talked with Coulson. His pose was so much like Loki's. There were some tiny gestures he made that reminded her of him. She closed her eyes, thinking was she becoming mad, seeing him in every person that walked by. She knew he could change his appearance, she had seen it with her own eyes. All she knew, he could have been that mean bitch sitting opposite her, legs and arms crossed, glowering at her under her brows. He could have been Damien who she had seen running into the manor in the corner of her eye a while ago. He could have been that stupid smurf she was holding, well maybe not. He could have been a crass hopper which chirping she heard carrying through all the noises from outside. He could have been even the queen of England if he would have wanted to.
There were a lot of people around them, but Emma got that feeling, as if she would have sensed him being somewhere near. She opened her eyes and gazed outside again. That man who talked with the male agent. He watched at her a short moment, a few seconds longer than you normally looked at a stranger. Her eyes grew larger with a quick realization, her heart pounding fast, but she tried to hold herself as calm as possible. It could have been him. She had never seen that man in her life but he kept gazing at her a bit concerned every now and then.
Natasha leaned closer to Emma taking a glance outside where she had been looking at, getting up on her feet, and touching her earpiece. "We may have a possible target in front of the manor. All units proceed with extra caution. Check everyone!" Natasha said sternly into her earpiece, giving a quick look at Emma.
"What?" Emma frowned, upset, staring at the red-haired woman. The bitch had read her reactions.
It was the first time Natasha smiled at the prisoner. "Thank you for your cooperation," she smirked and moved on the opening of the rear hatch, taking a better look outside, pinpointing possible targets.
Emma stared at the man who had quitted his chat with the male agent, giving him a subtle shake of head when he glanced at her once again, and mouthing to him to 'Go, please'.
Emma knew it was him. She knew he hadn't forsaken her, Loki thought smiling inwardly. But she wanted him to leave, being worried for his sake. Silly little woman! She should have been worried for her own sake. He pondered did she truly care for him so much that she was willing to sacrifice her life for him. He sensed the agents and soldiers around him getting in alerted state, beginning to scouting up for him from among the confused people in front of the manor.
With heavy hearts he turned away as she had asked him and started walking slowly towards the entrance, feeling himself being the worst coward there was. He couldn't leave her on their mercy. He made a quick calculation of his enemies around him, valuating his chances with every step he took. The circle of the soldiers around them grew tighter. He noticed the metal man stepping in front of the entrance, guarding the place. Then he heard the familiar heavy steps approaching him from behind, and he nearly smiled knowing it was Thor, before his brother placed his hand on his shoulder making him to stop.
"Loki?" Thor asked, holding the dark-haired man from his shoulder. He was certain it was his mischievous brother in a false form.
Loki glanced over his shoulder at Thor, mentally preparing himself for releasing his rage upon him and the nearby soldiers. "No, Nathaniel Grey. You are standing on my property. Get your hands off me, you brute, or I'll sue you!"
Thor looked angry, lifting his hammer. He had grown tired of Loki's games, running around and trying to find him. "I am not in a gaming mood, brother. Yield now! Do not force me to beat you out from that form!"
Loki was about to conjure his daggers when he heard a familiar voice drawing near.
"Hey! Leave my dad alone, you big bully!" Damien yelped, running at Loki like a small heaven-sent rascal, giving Thor a mean glare. "Come on, dad!" the boy continued, taking a hold of Loki's hand.
A second ago Loki would have been ready to unleash a hell upon them. He gave the boy a small puzzled smile and glanced at his dumbfound brother, and then at Emma, who nodded her head as if begging him to go with the boy. He didn't want to leave her, but he didn't want to start a fight in front of the boy either. Emma had made her mind clear about not wanting anymore bloodshed. He only wished it wouldn't be her blood that was about to shed, if he would simply walk away.
He was boiling with anger inside, but like the old days he didn't let it show. He had a plan to save her already cooking up in his mind; he would create a distraction, take the form of the leading agent and walk into the jet to her and they would fly away together again.
There had been only a few of those times Thor had felt himself making a mistake. That felt like one of those times, as he released his grip from the man's shoulder, staring down at the young boy by his side. "My... um… apologies," the god of thunder stammered, puzzled, and took an embarrassed step back, putting his hammer down. He had been so damn certain of it that it was Loki that he could have bet his hammer for it.
"Let's go, son," Loki said to the boy and they left Thor and the agents continuing their search.
Emma watched them walking away from her sight, a part of her glad that he hadn't gotten caught, another part of her selfishly wishing that he would have given up. Then again, she feared it wasn't an option. The S.H.I.E.L.D. would have probably killed him, and she didn't want that. She squeezed the doll in her arms, scenting Loki's odor from the stuffed smurf. Last night had been the best time of her life. She was never going to forget it or him. Maybe she wouldn't have too much time left to cherish the memory of it anyway.
Natasha Romanoff slipped out a few curse words in Russia and pushed the closing button of the rear hatch to close it a bit as a cover but not completely. Then she pulled out her pistol, turning back at Emma, and attaching a muffler to her gun that she picked up from her pocket. "Do I have to do everything by myself?" she grunted, moving to her prisoner, hunching down at her, and pulling from Emma's hair. If the mad deity was somewhere out there, she would lure him out. "I heard you heal fast. That's beautiful. But I promise, this is going to hurt a lot!" she said, pushing her pistol's barrel against Emma's bare thigh right above the knee.
Emma grimaced in pain at the woman's tight grip on her hair, looking at the red-head in a fright. "Are you crazy? You must really hate my kinds."
"I have nothing against mutants, but I don't like people who hurt my friends. When your boyfriend hears you screaming in pain, he comes for you, and that's when we'll catch him. Clint told me that you are his weak spot," Natasha said, squeezing a little of the trigger, hoping that Emma would scream before she gets to the part actually pulling the trigger. It was refreshing being on the other side of the gun's pipe for once.
Emma braced herself for the pain, unwilling to give up the fight. She was not going to be Loki's doom. "You crazy bitch, he's not here!" Emma grunted, taming her voice down. The best way to lie was to tell a bit of the truth. She had learned that a long ago. "I hoped he would have been here, but now I know he's not. Loki is gone! He dumped me, after he got what he wanted. I tried to fight, I really did, but he messed up my mind. I keep seeing him in every person I look at..."
Natasha frowned. She was an expert of what came to lying and acting vulnerable. That could have been just an act. "Then where is he?"
Emma did her best to sound hurt and betrayed, and giving up. "London. If you want to find him," she closed her eyes, "try Buckingham palace. He said he wants the throne..." Even Emma was surprised of the short scheme she had come up with. Loki would have loved it. She met the female agent's doubtful gaze, the barrel of the gun still against her knee. "Pull the trigger, you bitch, if you don't believe me! Why do you think he came in England in the first place?"
… …
When Agent Coulson was marching into the jet, Natasha met him in he opening of the rear hatch looking uneasy. "We might have a bit of a problem, sir!"
Agent Coulson took a look at the both of the women questioningly. "What is it?"
"If it is true what she just told me, our boy Loki is about to take over the throne of England acting as the queen. He is in London as we speak. She told me that his plan is to subject all the old colonies back under the rule of the crown, and then declare a war to everyone else."
Coulson wiped his forehead looking agonized. "Oh, no way in hell!" he sighed, walking in front of the young woman in handcuffs, gazing at her. "Is this true, Ms. Morgan?"
Emma stared back at the agents. "He said he wants the whole world to kneel before him. Who knows, maybe he was just joking. That's the way he is."
"I need to make a phone call. Fury is going to love this!" Coulson snorted, feeling the sweat rising on his forehead.
Watching at Thor and Emma over his shoulder as he was walking with the boy, Loki was ready put his plan into action. But then the soldiers were pulling back, rushing to their jets and cars like they would have been ordered to move out. Also Thor and Ironman hurried to the jets. And before Loki made another move, the jet where Emma was, was already airborne, the hatch closing up, Loki catching the last sight of her.
"No, no, no, no," Loki whispered following the jet with his gaze as it rose fast up in the air, a knot in his stomach tightening with worry. "No!"
He was furious, to himself mostly, for doing nothing to save her. Why hadn't he killed them all? Why had he let them caught her? His mind clouded and his expression hardened as he stared at the distancing aircraft, feeling suddenly so very helpless, his already unstable state of mind not asking for this disturbance. He couldn't understand why he felt like this. She was just a mortal he had known only a few days. He could have always found another pet. She had been a distraction from the very beginning. He had not been looking for a companionship, but now he felt that he needed her back, by any means. It was as if she had taken a part of him with her and he couldn't go on without that missing piece. Why had he let her to reason with him in the first place? Why had he ever kissed her and cursed himself with this sentimental madness?
A small group of the agents remained on the site, cleaning up the mess, guiding the hotel guests, and keeping the situation under control. Loki overheard a conversation of a couple of them as they walked pass him:
"Where are they going? Did they find the guy?"
"No. The woman told that he's already in London, taking over the throne of England."
"What the hell?"
"Apparently the loony wants to become the queen instead of the queen, taking back the old colonial possessions and starting the World War Three."
"Christ!"
"I wouldn't want to be in Coulson's shoes right now."
Loki frowned. Damn! It seemed she had come up with a perfect plan for him to take over the world and hadn't bothered to tell him about it. That conniving, little, sweet, beautiful creature! She had sent them to a wild goose chase buying him some time to scheme up his own plans. The trickster in him was proud of her. He definitely wanted her back. And he was going to get her back, somehow.
Damien pulled from Loki's hand, staring up at him while they were still standing on the yard. "Where are they taking her?" he asked whispering.
It was only then when Loki remembered again that the boy was there with him. "I do not know," Loki whispered back at him, watching as the jets were disappearing out of their sights.
"Are we going to save her?"
"We?" Loki asked glancing down at the young one.
"I can help. Just tell me what I can do."
Loki already had something in mind. "At first we make another video."
"Those evil people took my phone and laptop. We need to go home to borrow my sister's"
The old lady Grey stormed out through the entrance looking for her grandson, being beside of herself with worry about the bustle around them. "Oh, Damien, there you are, darling? Where have you been? You've got me so worried..." the old lady said, but then froze as she saw Loki standing with the boy looking like her dead son.
Loki gave the lady a small smile. "Hello, mother. I came for my boy."
"No!" the lady Grey cried out, wailing like a sick cat. "Don't take him, Nathaniel!" she stammered, horrid.
Loki glanced down at the boy confused. "What is wrong with her?"
"Oh? Oh, I forgot to tell you that my dad is actually," the boy swallowed with a sad face, "dead."
"So, you forgot to mention? Just happened to slip off your mind, hm?" Loki rolled his eyes and turned back at the old lady, understanding why the boy had been so keen being with him. That was one more thing they had in common, both fatherless sons. "I am sorry for your loss, Mrs. Grey. But we must leave. It would be unwise to tell anyone you have seen me," he continued, placing his hands on the boy's shoulders.
"You are an imposter! What do you want? Money? How… how much?"
"It's alright, Nana. I'm going to help him."
"The boy will be returned to you safe and sound if you do as you are told, my dear lady Grey. You have my word." Loki glanced around him; there were no agents in sight. "You may tell the agents about me after two hours have passed. But only then, otherwise," he said menacingly, glancing down at the boy. Then he and the boy both vanished before the lady's eyes, leaving her utterly confused and worried.
"No! Damien!"
