AN: So here it is, chapter five; you didn't have to wait so long for it this time, for which you'll be glad. ;)
This isn't a favourite chapter of mine, but a necessary one for the plot. Just a quick explanation: in this chapter we are now catching up to the present and seeing Pepper on her vacation again just when she is taken. Add that to the fact that Loki has been around for a while, as well as his feelings and motives and you come up with- well, read to find out. A big thank you to all my lovely readers, the ones who have reviewed and let me know their thoughts (Iloveyas sooooo much!), as well as those who have added this story to their favourites and/or alerts. ^.^
Just wanted to address some readers' thoughts, so if you reviewed chapter four, this is my response.
Abbey Lee: I won't give anything away, but you can rest easy and carry on reading this story. It has dark tones and drama, and themes not suitable for a non-adult audience, but apart from that all will work out, never fear! ;)
Gigi: First, I'm so happy you're sticking with reading and commenting! ;) I realise the names/different personalities was confusing. Loki comes to Earth and wants to keep off the Avengers' radar, so he names himself Lukas Waldron and goes about surviving as a man ... with special powers. When he decides that he wants Tony to pay for what happened in the Avengers' movie, he starts forming plans, following both him and Pepper. Then he realises that he can't hurt Tony better than by getting to Pepper, so he employs all the tricks he knows in order to get close to her. This, he does by meeting one of her personal assistants one day, and striking a 'friendship' with him (Trent Mason). He then gets as close to him as he can, and when he has the chance of taking Trent's place at the company, he seizes it, by getting rid of the real Trent, and assuming his identity. This will all be resolved in this chapter, so I hope you're not confused about things. ;) Hope to hear from you again!
ilikegoo, fantasia-49, lecka: thank you for your kind words, I hope you all enjoy what happens next! ;)
My beta reader will be reading this, so she knows how much I appreciate her help. Luv you bb! x x
Now on to the chapter!
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* Chapter five: Lay down *
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* *Lurking in darkness, there is a root that takes a man's reason prisoner, until it calls out no more.* *
-A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE RECONSTRUCTION OF STARK TOWER.-
Pepper's flight out to the Turks and Caicos islands that morning would depart within the hour.
She had tied up all loose ends, and left instructions with Evangeline, Sarah and Trent with regards to official business. They all had multiple ways of contacting her should the need arise, and so everything was set. And their break was set to go.
If only Tony himself was set to go.
Pepper frowned in distress as she acquiesced and then ended the call. This wasn't a great start to some alone time for her and Tony, who had just called her to tell her that something was holding him up. She had immediately readied herself to call the flight to a halt, but Tony had insisted on her going ahead without him. Naturally, Pepper had plenty of arguments to contest the questionable decision, but Tony was adamant about this, and so she complied with his wish to go ahead this morning as planned, and await his arrival at the house that night.
She did it, but she didn't like it.
When boarding time approached, Pepper took her carry-on and made her way out of the VIP lounge.
Something niggled at the back of her mind. What was holding up Tony was some virus that had hacked into the company's systems and had caused no short list of problems for their eastern seaboard offices.
And that in and of itself was not just strange, it was practically impossible.
Tony himself had designed the safety protocols and firewalls of the company, and they were unbreakable. But someone had still managed to get past them and wreak havoc.
If Tony said he could totally handle things without her input, for once in her life, she really should just stand by and watch what he'd make of it. It was still his company, and it wouldn't hurt them if he took immediate action and an actual interest once in a while.
Having reached a sensible decision, Pepper strapped herself in, and was soon immersed in more pleasant thoughts.
This was the tricky part.
He absolutely had to pull this off, or his house of cards would tumble to the ground in shambles.
Loki (up till now still disguised as Trent) had been one of the few people to be aware of Pepper and Tony's little get away – being one of her loyal assistants, it couldn't be helped. And this was good.
He'd timed everything perfectly down to a 't'.
Loki had created the illusion of a virus that was sweeping the company's servers, forcing Stark to remain behind whilst Pepper would travel on out of the country, alone – and utterly ready for the taking. He let the glow of warmth steal about him as he relished this last thought.
He had something better up his sleeve. He was the Trickster, Master of Illusions.
And right now he had one more task to complete before leaving the city.
Loki's smile resembled daggers.
Satisfied with what was brewing, he stealthily resumed his own physical appearance (though not the exact one of Loki), and left for his date with destiny.
-LATER THAT DAY, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS-
He was good at stalking. He had learned this art in his father's dungeons and the remotest towers back in Asgard, trailing behind Thor's boisterous steps.
He made himself no more substantial than smoke, and let the wind carry him where he commanded, invisible to all.
The red-haired woman who would be his prey went about her day none the wiser. He was not seen.
He was not heard.
He was no suspected.
…Then she shocked him. He had to admit it. His degree of admiration for her rose up another couple of notches, though a little grudgingly.
It was enough for uncertainty to slip into his mind, but not enough to deter him from this path.
She's sensed him, down at the beach. He knew she had.
And no one, not even Heimdall, the All-Seer, had ever sensed Loki's presence when he bid himself invisible.
And yet this woman, this … mortal with her beguiling, ensnaring ways, she had sensed him near her. Loki had been disconcerted the moment it happened. How? How could it be?
He'd had to play with her, then. It was an irresistible impulse.
When Pepper had become rigid and started looking about her to see who else was there, as though she expected to see someone if she turned her head, Loki had frozen her body, paralyzed it. This had swamped her with fear.
It had been amusing to watch her struggle his hold on her, and he once again admired her strength. By the elements that were inside her and surrounded her, he first bound her – enough to give her a small sample, a taste of what was coming – and with the same speed he then unbound her.
If he was honest with himself, Loki had planned to take her right there on that beach.
And then the surprising turn of events had shocked him, yes, but something good had still come of it all. He realised he could prolong things a little more, which would be even more enjoyable. This way, the tension would build and build and build, reaching a satisfying crescendo, until-
Loki had always had a taste for drama and theatrics.
Taking her at night, just before Stark's arrival would indeed be sublime.
Still invisible and insubstantial, he looked at her as she got ready to leave the house for the last time. The smooth expanse of her naked skin, lissom and elegant only highlighted just how vulnerable she could be. He sometimes needed to remind himself that this woman, whose will made of iron paved her way in the world as she mediated between it and Tony Stark, was still very much vulnerable and open to manipulation as well as pain.
Loki's heart beat more resoundingly in his chest, and his arms fairly itched with anticipation down to his fingertips.
Soon, he thought, watching her dress, tasting on the back of his tongue the restless anxiety she couldn't completely ignore, a deliciously tangy burst of flavour. Something within practically purred with satisfaction. The strange yearning built and built and flooded his senses, making him feel heady with the sensations, and slightly desperate for something. Those eyes. Her temperament. Her mind. Loki closed his eyes with bliss and savoured his building excitement. She was … finger-licking.
He followed her inside the small thicket of trees, where the only eyes and ears that penetrated the encroaching darkness of twilight belonged to animals.
She reached the end of the tree line- -
Loki pounced- -
- -And drew her into his embrace of darkness, fading the world around her…until Pepper was no more.
Cliffhanger, I know. ;)
Next chapter will be present-day.
I'm taking some leaves outta Loki's Book of Mischief. But you won't be hanging for long, promise! Thank you for reading, I hope you'll take the time to leave a comment, or that you favourite my story. :)
R&R!