Behold, it is I! So in hobbit culture, it's customary on one's birthday to give gifts to others instead of receiving gifts. Therefore, as my birthday was this week, I gift you this extremely long, extremely juicy chapter that you will absolutely love. In fact, because it is my birthday, and because you will love this chapter, I know that every single one of you is going to give me a wonderful review to make me smile. XOXO M
They all stared at Kyle in dumb silence. All except for Emory, who still hovered over her wounded partner, moving from each wound in a tense worry. Suddenly, she looked up, meeting his eyes. The gaze held for several seconds, and then she gave a sharp nod.
"Go ahead and get to the infirmary. I'll brief them in the conference room." He turned and left, obviously used to following her orders.
She glanced at the rest of the group, noticing Loki's scowl for the first time. An eyebrow rose slightly, and then she was gone, headed to set up for the meeting. Her familiars ghosted out of the shadows, circling Bruce, who held Cara in his arms, before following their mistress out the door with the flick of a tail.
Steve spoke first this time, looking from person to person. "So I guess we will be doing a brief in the conference room here in a few minutes." He appeared slightly bemused by the turn of events. "When did Kyle get back? I haven't seen him in weeks I feel."
Natasha answered before Clint could open his mouth. "He came in last night. He was off-world for some private mission between him and Emory. Sometimes I can believe it's more master and servant than a couple with those two, especially recently."
Tony smiled deviously. "Well, we have all seen her in leather, so it's not too far of a jump, right?" He barked in pain as Thor slapped him on the back of the head sharply. "What, it's just a joke!"
Loki's answering glare silenced his excuses quickly, as Tony found anywhere else in the room to look other than him. After the Asgardian king's display of power before, he wasn't too keen on challenging him, accidentally or otherwise.
As the team filed out of the gym, Loki held an arm out to keep Thor back for a private moment. He wanted some questions answered. "Who is this Kyle?" There was no question of whom he spoke. "He is not Asgardian, that I know."
Thor glanced down at the floor, uneasy and uncomfortable with being the source of information on Emory once more. "I cannot say exactly." Loki's scowl deepened. He was not in the mood for games.
Thor hurried on quickly, "I can say in all honesty that I do not know. Truly. When she came back to Midgard, he was with her. She must have met him on her pilgrimage after her exile from Asgard."
He casually shrugged a shoulder. "He is not from Midgard, but what race I cannot say. He has been devoted to Emory the entire time they have been here, so I trust him because she trusts him."
Loki turned away quickly, a ball crashing against the wall as he kicked it in frustration. Tense energy crackled across his lithe body, sparking at his fingertips. His voice was low and tight. "I don't understand Thor! I thought she would have forgiven me by now. Would want to come home!"
He spun back towards his brother, emerald eyes shimmering with his pent-up anguish. "Everyday, I am so close to her, so close to a family, yet she is eons away. She shuts me out, turns away. Why, brother? Why can't I reach her?"
Loki didn't wait for Thor to respond, continuing on his rant instead. "I cannot make any headway with her. All I see is the ice queen; there is no warmth, no love. But the moment that plebeian returns, a beautiful flower blooms in from of me. But not for me. No. For him!"
Rage lit his face, making the sharp planes of it even more severe. Shadows were thrown across his visage, mirroring the darkness filling his heart. "So I wonder, who is this man? Who is he, that he can make her smile, and laugh, and love when I cannot?"
Thor looked at his brother intently, curiously. He was not used to such displays from Loki, such emotion. Not for the first time the god of thunder wondered what all had happened to Loki, those times he had "died." He replied quietly, "I suppose we shall have to find out."
She faced away from the door, working through a series of projections while sporadically turning to type furiously on a keyboard. Long dark curls cascaded down her back, caught up in a makeshift braid.
The braid had no aesthetic value, messy and haphazard, strands falling out in random places, giving Emory a distracted librarian look. Of course, she was distracted. When the agent got so caught up in a project, little things such as appearance fell to the wayside.
To Loki, however, she was beautiful. He watched, mesmerized, as her delicate lips moved silently along with whatever she was reading. He knew that he was a fool, to have thrown such a treasure away as this. That thought reiterated itself when his competition for her affection walked past where the god lounged casually against the doorframe to look over Emory's shoulder and comment. Whatever he said, her face glowed with the resulting smile.
Jealousy wormed through his stomach, snaking its way up to wrap around his heart and settle uncomfortably in his chest. He honestly did not see any way of winning against such devotion.
Suddenly a warm hand clapped on his shoulder, and he whirled about with a knife in hand, cape flaring. Old habits died hard. To his surprise, the doctor faced him. The monster. Banner merely looked amused at the knife, thankfully, and no green showed anywhere on his skin. "I was going to give you some encouragement. And some advice."
Loki peered down his long nose at him. What could this mortal, however powerful, offer him? Bruce flashed a brief smile before continuing. "Oh, I know that look. Thinking you're better than me, right? Probably something about me being mortal?" Shock filtered through Loki's facade before he shut down all emotion. This one was quite perceptive. The grin grew wider, and perhaps a bit condescending. "Thought so. Maybe I'll keep that advice to myself for now."
He too moved past the god into the conference room, clapping him on the shoulder once more. As he passed, Loki heard, just faintly, "Puny god." He spun back towards the door, refusing to acknowledge or revise that particular occasion.
Finally, the room was full, and the door closed. All attention faced forward, on Emory. Again. She hated public speaking. No help for it though; this was her brief to present to the team, no one else knew what was happening.
She took a deep breath before beginning, allowing the rush of air into her lungs to calm her. "As you all know, Kyle was attacked this morning in New York City. It's a bizarre occurrence, understandably. Kyle is quite…formidable." He smirked from where he stood, against the door with arms crossed, exuding confidence despite the new busted lip and bruises.
Interestingly enough, Loki sat across the table, doing his best to look menacing as he gloried steadily at Kyle, rather than watching her as he usually did. Strange. Pushing the thought to the back burner for the time being, she continued the brief. "Be that as it may, there was an attack. However, it is clear kidnapping, no assassination, was the goal. And beyond that, Kyle recognized someone."
That got everyone's attention. Tony sat forward slightly, while Steve straightened his shoulders, as though bracing in anticipation for an impact.
She smiled encouragingly. "I feel that we don't need to be worried now. Or as worried, at least." She sighed. "The men were agents of Freyja, my grandmother, and patron. It seems apparent to me that she feels I am being held captive and wants to rescue me."
Thor, who initially looked quite shocked, began chuckling, a deep sound that boomed from his chest. "What a fine jest! That sounds exactly like her." He gasped to get words out between the laughs. "Too arrogant to check her facts before acting." Emory smiled weakly in response, the corners of her lips turning up sadly.
"A wonderful joke, if not for the loss of Bridgette," Natasha spoke up quietly. Suddenly, the laughter stopped. Pink and red climbed up Thor's neck as he suddenly began studying his hands. He had forgotten that SHIELD lost team members during this.
"Yes, well, there's nothing to do but move forward from this. Something about this bothers me, but until I can put my finger on it, there's nothing I can do." Emory frowned, allowing her worry to show to the others. "My grandmother surely meant no harm, and no doubt she is worried. I'll reach out to her soon, assure her that I am well and promise a visit soon. I could use a restorative pilgrimage home soon as it is."
The screen behind her flipped on, showing the imposing figure of Director Fury. "That's good news, seeing as all of you are about to be very busy." She turned quickly, taking in the scene and nodding before sitting down between Clint and Natasha to brief with the rest. Fury took a moment to look at the group, especially Loki, before starting.
"I'm glad you're all here; it means I don't have to repeat myself. We've got a problem, a big one, and I need every single one of you on it." He looked toward Emory. "Cara can stay with Maria until you get back, but we need you there."
The mother looked torn between her loyalties with her child and her team but quickly gained resolve. Sharing a look with Loki, she squared her shoulders and gave him another decisive nod. He took that as a sign to move forward.
The screen split into two images, a map, and a fuzzy video feed. The map appeared to be somewhere in Eastern Europe, while the feed showed even less, just the front of an old, seemingly abandoned warehouse. "We don't know what's going on in there." It could be meta-humans, maybe a super weapon, but we do know it's something big."
Several pictures flitted across the screen, each showing different imposing faces entering or leaving the building. Everyone leaned in as they began recognizing the faces passing in front of them. "As you well know, these are all notorious figures associated with Hydra and their contemporaries. And all of them have been seen in the vicinity of this building in the last few days."
Another image shot to the front, this one an aerial view in thermal. The building was much brighter than its surroundings. "This morning, a massive burst of heat and radiation shook this location and the area surrounding it. This flare is what I need you to investigate. It's simply recon, but because we don't know what we are up against, and we know these people are dangerous, I want all of you there."
It didn't go unnoticed when everyone glanced towards Loki and then sent questioning looks towards the screen. Fury smiled. "Yes, all of you. It is a good chance to see how he will cooperate with the team. Now, suit up."
An hour later, the quinjet took off, headed for a tiny remote country settled in the Western Himalayas. Natasha and Clint were in the cockpit, piloting the craft and having a quiet conversation discussing the faults and merits of going undercover versus simply staking a place out. Spies as always.
They were both fully geared, having an array of firearms, knives and specialty weapons scattered across their persons. Black Widow mainly had some new toys that she was eager to try out. Bruce stood between them, considering a role for himself that didn't include destroying everything in sight.
Tony, Sam, and Steve discussed strategy and how to implement all of the players on their team best. Currently, they debated between holding Loki back until he was trustworthy and throwing him directly into the front lines. It didn't take much to figure out who was on which side of that argument.
They too were ready for battle. Cap's shield rested against his leg, shining dully in the bay lights; suits were on, and wings strapped.
The four other-world beings sat in the back, none speaking, all wrapped up in tense silence as they pointedly looked anywhere but at each other. Bruce considered the situation. It was rather amusing, even if they were all acting like teenagers.
Apparently, they all independently decided to wear traditional battle armor, which made them look like an exclusive team. His mouth twisted in a sardonic smile. They all knew that wasn't the case. It was no secret that Emory and Kyle were devoted to each other, and it drove Loki mad.
Emory stuck out the most dramatically in appearance. Usually, as Nightshade she wore blackout combat gear, helmet included. Obviously female, but that was about it. She had guns strapped to her thighs and knives everywhere. Now, however, she appeared the priestess she indeed was.
Long, sweeping robes adorned her petite body, somehow making her taller and more imposing in their elegance. Deep purple and paneled in black, the robes stitched with archaic runes along the seems and hood in a brighter royal purple, the same color as her magical signature. Lengthy as they were, Bruce was sure Emory wouldn't wear such an outfit if it impinged on her fighting ability.
Even more amazing than her robes was the headpiece she chose to wear with them. A dainty chain settled upon Emory's brow, and delicate wings rose up from either side of her face to illuminate her already present beauty. The ornate detail throughout the entire piece was reminiscent of a crown, and indeed the whole ensemble made Emory look like the goddess queen she was.
Surprisingly, her two cats accompanied them on this trip, although the scientist had absolutely no idea why. Steve and Tony argued against it but eventually admitted defeat. The Asgardians didn't even bat an eye. Maybe taking pets into battle was a thing in their realm.
Where Emory was graceful and elegant, a true goddess, her companion was powerful and imposing, her warrior servant. Kyle too had chosen to forgo tactical gear for traditional garb, and it wore well on him.
A black cape fell from his shoulders, pinned by medallions carved into wolves' snarling visages. A chest piece in muted bronze covered his front, descending into a tunic and boots. Two long swords rose up from behind his head, where they strapped to his back.
Even more astounding was how the outfit made him more terrifying in appearance. A solemn grizzled face looked across the bay, scarred from many battles. One such scar ran the length of his jaw, from eyebrow to chin, just barely missing his mouth. The broad planes of his determined face reminded Bruce of the side of a mountain, just like rocky crags.
He recalled when they first entered the jet and the staring contest between Kyle and Loki. Or rather, not Kyle. Apparently, his name was Audolf. That announcement caused Loki's hackles to rise even further. The tension between the two put the entire team on edge, and he sincerely hoped that it wouldn't prove detrimental to the mission.
The Asgardians per usual elected for their standard battle garb, capes and armor, Mjolnir and long knives. Of course, Loki no longer had his scepter. Thor appeared uncomfortable, and Loki angry. The harsh whispers he and Emory exchanged before takeoff let everyone know that they too, were arguing. Bruce wasn't going to linger o it for very long. He needed to get his mind on the mission.
Finally, the lull of the engines drew him down into sleep. They would arrive soon enough, might as well be rested.
Before too long the rumbling of the land brought him back into the waking world. Captain America strode into the center of the group, commanding all the authority his role as a team leader gave him. "Alright team, here's the game plan." They gathered around Cap; game faces on. Weapons were hefted, armor was cinched, and as a group they took a steadying breath before clearing their mind for the upcoming mission, focusing on the team leader and the plan.
"We'll do some recon first using Sam's droid, and see what we're up against. Once that's done hopefully it will be clear whether or not this will be an infiltration job or an all-out assault." They all nodded in agreement.
The droid in question detached from the back of the quinjet, zooming out the door towards the building. "Okay, I'm coming up on the perimeter. I see posted guards every fifty feet, assault rifles, and the works. There's some kind of weird rod next to each of them. I wonder what that- oh shit!"
Wide-eyed Sam looked at the rest of the group in horror. "He's gone. The rods must be an EMP barrier. There's no way to get electronic eyes in, so I guess we will have to go in blind."
Tony threw his arms up, dramatic as ever. " I hate to be Mr. Obvious," he stated dryly, "but half of us rely on electronic equipment to get the job done. That thing has to come down."
Running his hand through his hair in frustration, Captain America huffed quietly before replying, "I'm not sure how we can get eyes in, get the EMP down, and plan an assault without being detected."
"I might have part of the solution to that." Everyone turned to Emory lounging against the bay door, legs dangling over the edge. She looked up from scratching Saphin's ears. "Nothing electronic can get in, but who would notice a pair of cats?"
"Are you saying we can use the cats as spies?!" Tony stared at her in shock and awe, seeing the cats in a more forgiving light. She smirked, the gesture giving her an elfin look.
"What you should really be asking is, have I already used them as spies in the tower?" Tony grew pale. The smirk widened into a full-blown grin. " I can see what they see. They're familiars, not house pets. Of course, they have their uses."
She rolled her eyes in feigned boredom, obviously amused by the astonishment crossing the faces of the less accepting members of their team. Steve gave her a long look, evaluating the pros and cons of this new development.
"Alright, send them in. Once we scope the place out, we can put together a real plan." She nodded absently, already petting both cats and whispering. Suddenly she barked out a sharp command. "Leita!"
The two felines touched noses before bolting off towards the compound, slinking from shadow to shadow. Emory smiled softly at her familiars before bringing up two images in the air with a wave of her hand, the view from the cats.
The view was odd, in a sort of distorted way, all the colors swimming together. As well, rather than standard colors, everything was in red and yellows and oranges, with hulking gray shapes in between. These cats saw in infrared.
"I sure hope you know what we are looking at," Tony mentioned sarcastically, regaining some of his composure and dislike for the felines.
"It's a heat-based 3D model." Clint stepped forward to get a closer look, moving his hands to gesture at the shapes. "These are the trees surrounding the perimeter, and now they are coming up on the EMP. See how it's purple?"
Dark red blobs dotted the edge of the fence, indicating where the guards stood. They were paying no mind to a pair of cats slipping through the cracks. The cats moved from shadow to shadow, stealthily making their way to the hulking gray mountain that was the warehouse. More red blobs showed where guards were posted outside those doors as well.
Instead of going to the doors, the pair jumped up on a ledge and wiggled through a broken window, gaining access to the interior. The large room that encompassed the entire building was empty. No heat showed up at all.
The cats prowled further inside, wary of the quiet. As they gained the floor, what appeared to be a massive wall loomed over them. After sniffing cautiously, they turned the corner and stopped.
Natasha swore at the sight before them. Even in the altered view of Emory's familiars, she knew what that was. Four incubator-like devices sat in a row on the floor, each with a strangely glowing occupant. The cats' views showed them as a pale blue, rather than the typical red of humans.
"What the hell is that?" Banner had peeked up from his slouched position to peer carefully at the view. "Are those more altered humans?"
Steve closed his eyes, carefully composing himself before replying. "It appears to be. As it is, we can't assault this place until we neutralize their wild cards. Someone will have to go in."
Suddenly the view whirled about, back towards the door. Someone was entering the room. The animals slunk back onto the shadowed ledge, ready to watch the goings-on.
Two figures walked up to the wall and began touching it. It must be some kind of console. Behind them, a struggling figure was dragged into the room and forced into a vacant pod. Though strapped down and sealed in, the person struggled no less. The watchers stepped back behind the wall, and with a push of a button, a blinding bright light filled the room.
When the glare faded down again, the figure lay still in the pod. The person struggled no more.
"We need to get in there. Now."
Emory let the images fade from view, and then turned her head towards Steve, tilting it quizzically. He nodded before turning to the team. "All right, Spy Pals, I want you in there. The rest of us-"
"If I may interrupt, I do not think that would be the best plan of action." Steve looked sharply towards Loki, indignant at being interrupted.
"Loki, I know you are new here, but I am the team leader."
A slow smile crept across the god's face, his upper lip forming into a soft sneer. "I am aware of your status, sir, but do please hear me out. Both Ms. Romanoff and Mr. Barton are well-known SHIELD agents, and have most likely had multiple run-ins with these people." He gave a brief nod at the pair. "I am not questioning their abilities, but they will end up recognized, and this whole thing might turn into a rescue mission."
Steve stiffened at the sarcastic jab Loki sent his way but relaxed with the decent insight that followed. "He may…have a point. But if not them, who?"
Loki's smile deepened, turning him into a child filled with glee at the prospect of an upcoming adventure. "Why, Emory and I should go. We are both experts of illusion magic, and can easily change our appearances to suit the mission. Furthermore, even unarmed, we will have our magic as a weapon, and can remove ourselves quickly from harm."
Emory stretched backward from her post at the bay, allowing her lithe body to rest on the floor as her slender legs dangled off the side. She blew upwards into her bangs in irritation, causing them to fly away from her face, before turning her head to the group. "Unfortunately, everything he just said is accurate and sound."
Her estranged husband became even more gleeful if that were possible. Almost all of his teeth were showing as he jibed, "What was that dear? You said I was right?"
The cold gaze she turned on him would have killed any mortal, freezing their soul from their body, but he was no mere mortal. A little cold wouldn't hurt him. Emory turned her attention back towards Steve. "What do you want to do?"
He sighed before placing his hand over his eyes in stress. "Go on. But please for the love of God, keep him out of too much trouble."
She raised her eyebrows playfully, wiggling them dramatically in response. "I shall do my very best, but I make no promises. How about we promise to come back in one piece?"
He groaned loudly as they jumped to the ground below, heading through the forest towards the base. "I'm going to seriously regret this."
Tony snorted in reply, while everyone else broke out into grins in anticipation for the upcoming antics.
"Well since this was all your brilliant idea, you can be in charge. I know how much you love being in a position of authority."
Emory's dry comment sparked an annoyed eye roll from Loki, but no more than a grunt in response. She continued. " What, no pithy reply? No brilliant plan to make yourself the glorious god you were destined to be? Surely you have something in mind."
His face tightened even more, but he continued to hold out against her onslaught, walking through the thick green forest in silence. "Well, this is new. King Loki has nothing to say, and no commands to give. I do believe you have lost your commandeering touch."
He had had enough. Whirling towards his wife, the god pushed his companion into a nearby oak, using his large frame to press her into the rough bark. His hard hip against her soft form didn't go unnoticed by either person.
Emory gasped slightly, a pink tinge flushing up her face at the contact. His head was whirling with the scent of her, moonlight and herbs, so close to him. He drew a deep breath in before speaking, savoring the flavor of his distant wife.
"I do not think you realize the amount of effort I have put into becoming a better man since I became king. I know now I was wrong for what I did." Her eyes widened at the admission. "Yes, you heard correctly. I was wrong. I have been a hard, cold, ruthless man in the past, only focused on gaining power and respect. But not anymore!" He took another deep breath, now too upset to really smell her beneath him. His voice quieted as he continued until his tone was barely over a whisper.
"Now all I want is to have my daughter, and my wife, and go home and be happy and normal." The tone became pleading. "Emory, I have realized since coming here and being a part of this team what I am missing. There is camaraderie here, a sense of family that I never realized I needed. I have seen a side of you around these people that you never showed me. And that is my fault as well. You trust them. I didn't deserve your trust. But I am trying to gain it."
She shifted under him, trying to dispel the nervous energy. Emory tried to look away, but he grabbed her chin to direct her gaze at him. "Look at me! Please…look at me. See me trying to make things right."
His hot breath streamed across her face, bringing with it the scent of sage and spice and something all him. "Ever since I came back, you have not looked at me, but through me. I am there, but barely enough to acknowledge my presence. Acknowledge it, and acknowledge your emotions for me! Whether or not they are good or bad. What do you feel?"
So she looked. Emory gazed into his face, taking in his distraught appearance, hair askew as it framed sharp cheekbones, falling between eyes that burned with a fierce intensity she had never seen in him before.
He actually cared.
What did she feel for him? She studied him further, thinking. Before, there was a burning hatred, anger at him for the machinations of his father, anger for his apathy towards her. Neither had wanted a spouse at the time.
That fire had died down now. She no longer hated him. "I…I don't know how I feel." She looked down again, bashful, but he brought her face up once more, gently this time. "Then why will you not allow yourself to see if you could love me?"
She looked into his eyes, drawn in by his electrifying stare, sinking deeper and deeper into the emerald depths, darker now with the forest around him. She was drowning, and suddenly he bent down and took her lips with his, gently at first, but adding more and more pressure as she didn't draw away.
His persistent ministrations soon were rewarded as she found she could no longer resist. She kissed him back, and at this turn he took the opportunity to push his hips into hers, pressing her up against the ancient tree behind them. Continuing the kiss, he framed her face with his hands, becoming more and more intense in his desperation to prove his affection to her.
Suddenly Emory realized what was happening. She was kissing Loki in the woods, like some hormonal teenager. She broke away, gasping for breath, unable to move past the barrier of his body.
He had the decency to look down, slightly ashamed. Emory's blush deepened as his body stepped away from hers, leaving a cold space she yearned to have filled again.
"I need time to think about things. The middle of a mission is not the time to hash out relationship problems. But I will consider…us." He smiled slightly in relief, before turning away completely.
"I suppose that is fair. Besides, there is Audolf to consider as well. I would not want to have your lover challenge me over his honor."
Emory snorted once, before really hearing what he said. Once his statement registered, she began laughing. It started as a small giggle, quiet and childlike, but it soon grew into a raucous laugh that reduced her to tears as she slid down the tree, finally holding her arms around her knees until slowly, the laughter dissolved.
Throughout all this, Loki stared, confused and slightly taken aback at this show of apparent hysteria. Once finished, she looked up at him through wet eyes, tracks of tears still present on her face, and smiled condescendingly up at her estranged husband.
"Audolf is not my lover." She giggled again at the thought before continuing. " He's my brother! My guardian. He was given to me when I was initiated as a priestess of Freyja, to protect me and give me counsel, to do what needed doing."
Loki barely heard the rest of her explanation through the roar of his thoughts. Not her lover? Better yet, a close relative! He felt a dopey grin grow across his face at the idea. She had no one for comfort, but he was right there, offering it up. Perhaps he had a chance after all.
"Loki, are you still in there? We really ought to keep going."
He turned back towards the tiny woman next to him. "Yes, I suppose you are right. Let's go be spies." This last statement was said in a convincing British accent as he morphed into a taller, blonde haired man with an impressive build and a neat, tapered beard.
Emory grinned up at him as she morphed into an Asian woman, several inches taller, especially considering her stiletto heels. Tight clothing and a leather jacket completed her look.
In a just as convincing British accent, she replied, "This should be fun."