Verity fumbled in her bag trying to fish out her keys. Damnit I know they're in here somewhere. Fuck!
Finally her hand felt the bulk of her keyrings causing Verity to smile triumphantly and produce the keys from her bag like a magician pulling a rabbit from her hat.
"You really should clean out your purse" said Natasha sardonically leaning against the wall. After speaking to Loki, Verity had asked if she could grab a few things at her apartment. Steve had agreed on the condition Natasha went along.
"It's not a purse"
Verity opened her door and dumped her bag on the side table along with her keys. Verity's apartment was a small. The letting agent called it a studio flat and it didn't take Verity's ability to know that the letting agent was lying through his teeth but it suited Verity. The main part was an all in one kitchen and living room, which was just a glorified way of saying Verity had put an old battered couch in the tiny kitchen and mounted a TV on the opposite wall. There was a separate bedroom and shower room. Natasha completed a quick sweep of the apartment before letting Verity into her bedroom. The walls were covered in all things geekery. From Doctor Who posters and screwdrivers to Star Wars and Harry Potter memorabilia. There was even a Captain America shield above Verity's bed.
"Wow. This is cluttered" stated Natasha shocked. She never understood the fangirl thing.
"Yeah, it's my geektress of solitude" smiled Verity
"I'll...uhh..just wait out here. "
And with that Natasha shut the door. Verity sighed before dragging a duffel bag from under her bed and dumping it on top. Verity turned and nearly jumped out her skin. Standing in front of her chest of drawers was Loki.
"Jesus, what the hell are you doing here" hissed Verity, her voice barely above a whisper. Verity crossed the floor until she stood toe to toe with Loki.
"But I'm not really here"
Truth
"I know that. You're shimmering" stated Verity and if to prove her point she reached her hand through Loki and pulled open her drawer taking out her clothes. Loki vanished and reappeared behind Verity.
"You really are remarkable, Miss Willis"
Truth
"Flattery will get you nowhere Loki. Agent Romanoff is just outside. What if she came in?"
"You worry too much"
"Why are you here? How are you here?"
"I wanted to talk to you without prying ears and you should know how I'm here. We're connected since your little jaunt inside my head"
Truth
Verity scrunched her face before tossing clothes in her duffel bag.
"I am sorry about that"
Loki flicked his wrist
"Forget about it, I've done worse"
"Doesn't excuse my actions. What did you want to talk about?"
"You said when we last talked you were working on letting me go"
"You can release yourself at any time"
"That is not the point. I want to be free"
Truth
"Is that why you're here on earth?"
Loki raised an eyebrow at Verity's question
"C'mon you and I both know you were captured on purpose. You want to redeem yourself, I'm not judging Loki but you can trust me."
"Trust is a concept I am not familiar with"
"Likewise"
"I am not a good friend. I'm the villain"
"Yeah well, beggers can't be choosers. I'm not exactly Miss Popular"
"Why do you want to help me?"
"Because you need my help. Plus helping you saves the world remember and like you I kinda like living especially when it has just got interesting"
Before Loki could answer, Natasha swung open the bedroom door.
"Who are you talking to?"
Verity swung round in a panic
"Agent Romanoff I can explain"
"Just hurry up. I'll be waiting in the car" said Natasha before slamming the door behind her.
Verity looked around her room and smiled. Loki had vanished.
XOXOXO
Verity threw her duffel bag into the back seat of Natasha's Black Corvette Stringray before buckling herself into the passenger seat.
"You get everything you need" asked Natasha as she started up the car and pulled out.
"Yes"
"Good, Rogers just called. Everyone has assembled"
"Great" Verity chewed her bottom lip.
"Do you really believe Loki can help?" asked Natasha without taking her eyes of the road.
"Yes. I just hope the others will understand"
"It's not going to be easy. Loki has done a lot of damage. He's killed a lot of people. The others may not believe you that Loki can change. They will think he'll just double cross us at any given opportunity"
"But you don't think he will? "
"I don't know that. Given his nature, it seems likely but..." Natasha hesitated.
"But?" prompted Verity
"He has red on his ledger. He wants to wipe it out"
"What?"
Natasha glanced at Verity before focusing on the road again.
"Never mind"
Xoxox
After Verity returned to the Avenger's Compound, Natasha showed her to her room. At least it's not a cell or a cage. Be grateful for that Verity. Heck it's bigger than your flat.
Verity busied herself by unpacking whilst Natasha went to check the Avengers were ready for her. Verity shook her head in disbelief. The Avengers are waiting for me. God that doesn't sound daunting. Hope I don't stutter.
Verity snorted with laughter just as a tall gorgeous S.H.I.E.L.D agent enters her room.
"Hey, you never heard of knocking, I could be naked"
"Name's Barton. Nat sent me to get you. Said you would be ready" said Hawkeye cocking his eyebrow at Verity's less than pleased expression.
Verity didn't respond but merely strode past Hawkeye from the room.
"Nervous?" asked Hawkeye indicating to Verity to follow him.
"No, should I be?" answered Verity
"You are about the go before the mighty Avengers and plead to them to let a genocidal maniac go so we can catch a bigger genocidal maniac"
"Well you know what they say; send a maniac to catch a maniac"
Hawkeye smiled as he opened the door. Verity's stomach plummeted. Sitting around a big conference table was Thor, Bruce Banner, Tony Stark, Natasha, Falcon, The Vision and Scarlet Witch. At the head of the table sat Captain America who stood when Verity entered the room and introduced everyone. Hawkeye moved to sit beside Black Widow whilst Verity tried to gather her thoughts. Here goes nothing Champ!
"Verity is here to pitch us a very interesting plan to defeating Thanos" Steve's words caused several Avengers to smirk and shake their heads. Interesting indeed.
"After recent events, everything is voted on, so let's hear Verity out" Steve indicated to Verity to take the floor. Verity took a deep breath giving her a chance to survey her surroundings. The room was big and behind her was a large projector console that was currently blazoned with the Avengers symbol. All eyes were on Verity and she started chewing her lip nervously. Suddenly behind Captain Rogers, Loki materialised into the room. Verity frantically searched everyone's face to see if anyone had realised his arrival but no one had flinched. Smiling to the apparition behind Captain Roger's shoulder, Verity felt her nerves evaporate.
"Uhhh...hi. As Captain Rogers said I'm Verity and ...ehhh" Verity could feel her face blush red and her throat physically constrict. What was it mum used to say to you? Ver, if you ever get nervous speaking in public, just imagine your audience in their underwear.
Verity looked at her audience and couldn't help smiling. Great, now you look like a loon smiling at everyone. Get your shit together Verity.
"Ok, I'm sure Captain Rogers has told you about my "special ability" and why I'm here. I can already see that none of you are really keen on the idea on letting Loki go"
"Gee, I wonder why" interjected Tony which earned him a stern look from Steve. Verity kept her eyes on the apparition of Loki just behind Steve.
"But I'm not here to ask you to let Loki go"
Loki's eyes narrowed and he tilts his head questioning Verity's motives. Verity gives him a slight shake of her head. Trust me Loki.
"I'm asking you to work with him."
"Ha! You cannot work with Loki. He will double-cross us at the first chance" laughs Thor
"You did and he didn't double-cross you. In fact if it wasn't for Loki, Jane would be dead"
"How did you know that?" growls Thor, his face thunderous.
"Loki showed me when I touched him. Not by choice mind but nonetheless I saw how you broke him out of jail and he helped you bring down Malekith."
The others look at Thor shocked. Clearly this is new information for the Avengers.
"I guess you guys weren't aware of that information"
"No" says Steve, his voice clipped "But now is not the time to discuss it"
"We're discussing your mad-brain idea to work with a genocidal maniac" added Iron Man.
"All those who have not nearly killed an entire population due to their weapon designs, raise their hands"
Scarlet Witch smirked at Verity's sarcastic comment.
"Just what I thought" said Verity when Iron Man failed to come back with a quip. Verity looked around the room at the Avengers.
"On that thought, none of you can cast the first stone. I mean we have two assassin spies, one of whom was raised by the KGB. The God of Blunder whose "small tiff" levelled a small town. A billionaire whose weapon designs has probably killed more people than everyone here. Two soldiers who have blood on their hands and a giant green rage monster. Not to mention, the witch who volunteered to join Hydra. None of you can judge Loki"
"What about me" asked The Vision.
"You? You, I don't know anything about and I can't get a read on you. But I'm guessing that's more to do with the gem in your head than my ability to see the truth."
"You're very perspective Miss Willis" smiled The Vision
"So I've been told. Sorry for my outburst but I'm just trying to show..."
"That we've all made mistakes" interrupted Steve.
"Yes, everyone has red on their ledger" Verity looked to Natasha who smiled at her.
"Let me get this right, you're proposing we let Loki out, team up with him so he can lead us to Thanos whom we destroy and save the universe" quipped Tony.
"In a nutshell, yes!"
"I'm out. There is no way we can trust Loki. I mean how can you be sure, Loki isn't leading you up the garden path and won't jump ship to Thanos. Who we know gave him the Loki-Poki Stick as you put, in the first place. Or isn't already working for Thanos and is leading us into a trap".
"You don't have to trust Loki. You just have to trust me"
"No offence Miss Willis but we don't know you and we don't have your ability to know if what you say is honest" said Bruce who had not spoken yet. His voice was quiet and still. It seemed to have calming effect on the room.
"None taken and sorry for calling you a giant green rage monster"
"None taken, I've been called worse" His smile was as gentle as his presence.
"Let's take a vote" stated Steve. "All those in favour, raise their hand"
Only Natasha and The Vision put up their hands. Verity was slightly surprised by The Vision, she was sure he was a no. Really need to get a read on that guy Ver!
"All those against"
The rest raised their hands including Steve. Verity looked over her soldier as Loki nodded once before disappearing.
"You've made a big mistake" Verity searched the Avengers' faces imploring them to change their minds.
"We're sorry Verity"
XOXOXO
Verity tried to slam her bedroom door but it was too heavy and just slowly melted into its frame. Verity flopped in frustration onto her bed face first.
"FUCK!"
"Well that didn't go exactly to plan" said Loki materialising beside her. Verity sat up.
"I need to get you a cat-collar with a bell. It would jingle when you sneak up on me"
"And why would I want to alert you of my arrival? Seems counter-productive"
Verity just shakes her head in disbelief.
"I can't believe they are so stubborn and stupid. They are stupidly stubborn. Do they not want to stop Thanos or something?"
"As much as I agree with you that they are stupid, I understand their reservations. I would not trust me either."
"It's not a question of trusting you. It's a question of believing me"
"Unfortunately to them, it is a question of both."
"Uggh. Fine" Verity jumps up and starts pacing. She passes through Loki's apparition "If they won't listen to us, I guess we're on our own"
"What now, Miss Willis?"
Verity smiles mischievously at Loki. Her grin stretches her full face causing her green eyes to twinkle.
"Now we save the world"