Faith In The Deceiver

Chapter 3

Agent Coulson carefully stepped over the glass that littered the floor. He looked at the remains of the holding container where Tony Stark and Loki were no more than two hours ago. He looked up to where the camera hung. He had been the only one there. The only one to see the affection shared between them. For that he felt a strange sense of relief. With everything going on they didn't need the fact that Tony was probably in a relationship with the enemy on their shoulders right now. Coulson would keep it to himself for now. He adjusted the sling around his neck and shifted his right shoulder, wincing in pain at the movement of his broken arm. This was the worse damage S.H.I.E.L.D. has faced in a long time, if an enemy decided to attack them now it would be all over. Or if any more explosions went off.

Coulson was on the Helicarrier when it had all begun. The whole craft shook from the shock wave as the first explosion went off at the edge of the city. Everything began to move fast after that, people running around, getting sent out to check things out. Two more explosions went off and things began to go wrong, but it wasn't until the explosion on the Helicarrier when everything collapsed.

The Avengers were off in the city evacuating and protecting the people, so S.H.I.E.L.D. was on their own, or so they thought.

Alarms blared and sparks flew as the Helicarrier began to fall. Fury was shouting orders at an attempt to get the craft on its backup engines, but they were shot. Whoever planted those bombs knew what they were doing. Everyone braced themselves on whatever they could for impact with the ocean.

No one expected the God of Mischief, bloody and bruised, to appear.

The Helicarrier lurched as it slowed down and began to level. It would've been a relatively smooth landing considering, if another explosion didn't go off towards the back.

The Helicarrier hit the water and it began to rush into the control room. Coulson grabbed onto whatever he could, just now realizing his arm was broken from the harsh fall he took when the explosion went off. He glanced at his enemy best he could as the salt water hit his eyes. Loki was down on his knees with his palms pressed against the floor, the water up to his neck.

Then they were under, but not for long. As fast as the water came it in began to rush out as the Helicarrier was raised to the surface.

Everything was still.

Coulson pulled himself up and looked towards the center of the control room where Loki still knelt. Coulson could see the the god breathing heavily as the the blood dripped down his face.

Everyone began to rise, hoping that it was the end and no more explosions would go off. Coulson watched as Fury approached the god. They exchanged a few words and then Loki collapsed.

Coulson thought now, perhaps he had a better understanding of why Loki saved them. He made his way out of the room and headed to the medical bay.

Loki wasn't kidding when he meant they walk right through the front doors. Tony held onto Loki's sleeve as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents bustled by them. Tony made sure not to bump into anyone, he wasn't sure what extent Loki's cloaking went to. Following Loki, he was quite surprised that Loki knew where to go, who knows how many times he's walked these halls invisible. Tony bumped into Loki when he came to a sudden halt.

"What's wrong?" he asked before he looked at what was in front of them. "Fuck."

The explosion that had gone off that allowed them to escape was planted in Tony's place in S.H.I.E.L.D.

There was nothing more than a crater and reminisce of what looked like some sort of technology. He looked around and could see some remains of suits he had here. Tony ran a hand through his hair and began to pace.

"Who the fuck is doing this?" he suddenly shouted. "I know I've done a lot of shit in my life. I know I've pissed people the fuck off, but enough to do this to me?"

Tony continued his rant which started to go off into nonsense. Loki can begin to feel his magic stir in the link they shared, so Loki walked up to him and grabbed his wrists before something happened.

"Tony, Tony, stop! Look at me," he said. Tony looked up. "We're going to figure this out, okay?" Tony began to argue about having no leads and no ideas, but Loki gave him a rough shake.
"We'll think of something, now I know this can't be the only place you worked."

Tony began to calm down. "Can you get us to California?" he asked. Loki nodded.

"But first," Tony said quickly. "Can you do something?"

Loki knew what Tony wanted. "I saved him once, along with a lot of other people."

"Please," Tony said. "Please."

Loki sighed.

Natasha sat beside Clint's bed. Her hand resting on top of his. Most of his face was covered by the respirator that was helping him breathe. His face was bruised, like everyones quite literally.

"Hey," said a voice from the doorway. Natasha looked up and saw Coulson standing there. "How is he?"

Natasha sighed. "The same, they said he'll be out for a few days. To help with his recovery."

Coulson grabbed a chair and brought it to the other side of the bed.

"How's your arm?" she asked. Coulson shrugged.

"Compared to most people, I got off easy," he looked at Natasha, "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine," she shrugged, "sore all over but fine." She looked towards Clint. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him.

Loki watched from the edge of the bed. He was beginning to wonder when he became a healer instead of a mischief creator. He slid pass Coulson and placed a hand on the side of Clint's face and closed his eyes. The sudden gasp startled everyone in the room, even Loki who jumped a bit. He quickly got out of the way as Coulson and Natasha jumped up and nurses rushed in to remove the breathing tube. Coughing, Clint was helped up into a sitting position and given a cup of water. He blinked rapidly and looked in Loki's direction. Loki revealed himself just to him. He saw Clint's eyes widen immediately and Loki quickly placed a finger over his lips and let out a quiet shh.

People were speaking to him but Clint ignored them, he was too transfixed on the Trickster at the end of his bed. He knew nobody else could see him, but why? Why would he show himself to only him? It had to mean something.

Then Clint remembered.

Loki was the reason he was alive in the first place.

The Trickster had helped him and now it looks like he helped him again, but why?

It was a long day with doctors poking at him and calling it a miracle, he was fine. He was tired and worn out, but he was physically healthy after merely a few days ago his insides were mush. He was alone after he finally convinced Natasha to go home and get something to eat and some rest. He lay in his bed and went over everything Coulson had told him about what happened. How Tony was responsible for this. How he got out with Loki.

As Coulson told him this something just didn't feel right about it. He could even tell Coulson harbored some doubt in his words. There was definitely more to this then S.H.I.E.L.D. knew. None of it made sense.

He hadn't told anyone about Loki, who if he was here it was possible Tony was here too. Despite who he was the guy did save his life twice, so Clint felt he owed it to him to follow the simple request.

Clint just couldn't figure out why.

Why show yourself if you didn't want anyone to know you were there? Loki wanted Clint to know for a reason.

What that reason was, Clint couldn't imagine. He turned over on his side and adjusted his pillow. He heard a weird crunching noise, like paper. He reached into his pillow case and pulled out a folded note. There was a single word on it written in a very cursive script.

Cali.