Merciful

Chapter Eight: Planting the Seeds

3rd Person

Natasha and Clint stared frustratedly at a pair of computer screens. One held a descriptive world map, while the other listed countless numbers and words.

"Try Italy," Clint muttered. Natasha rose an eyebrow.

"Why would Loki be in Italy?"

"I don't know, for the pasta?" Clint suggested. "We're running out of options here, Nat! We've checked every inch of New York, we have a face recognition program running world wide, we even have agents sneaking around the hostile countries! I don't know what to do anymore!"

Natasha was silent for a couple minutes, clicking away at the screen before standing. "Come on, Clint. Let's get outside. I'll have Agent Hill contact us if they find anything."

"Where are we going?"

"Malta," Natasha said. "We have a god to find, and this will help us cross off one more place."

Loki

It's all part of a plan.

But what plan? I asked, giving no outward indication of the conversation going on inside my head. You cannot believe that I will be a simple pawn in your games.

The voice laughed emotionlessly. Of course you will not be a pawn, I wouldn't dream of it. Then again, how can I be completely certain you will not betray me? Prove your loyalty, and I shall allow you equal input.

I was sick of this voice in my head, so I instead sent my mind out in search of Jaida's. As soon as I had found her, I realized that she had finally figured out how to beat Thor. I planted a small tidbit of advice in her head, practically ensuring she would win.

Jaida truly was a great fighter. She danced around Thor, frustrating him. She flitted around him like the bird she could be, reinvigorated with her new plan, constantly getting in sharp blows. Finally, Thor smirked as the barrier began sparking dangerously. Jaida noticed, and jumped away from Thor as he himself began sparking and gaining new momentum. He was cocky, though, relishing in the power and giving Jaida enough time to flip him on the ground and place a dagger at his throat with minimum pain to herself. Immediately, Thor stopped sparking and Jaida offered a hand for him to stand.

"Well fought, Lady Jaida," Thor boomed with a smile.

Jaida

Thor could have won at that last moment. If Loki hadn't told me what he would do, that is. Why did he? I wasn't certain, and decided I wouldn't dwell on such a small thing at the moment. Instead, I helped Thor up and stood at the edge of the barrier. I could feel my hair prickling, reacting to the electricity that it threw off, and I crossed my arms, staring at Loki. Mischief glimmered in his eyes, and I could see why.

Thor hadn't realized the barrier was still up, and slammed into it. It shouldn't have affected him, but it did, shocking him and throwing up his hair unrealistically. No one could help it; all of us, including Darcy and Jane, whom had been in the audience, burst into laughter.

"A bit late, Loki," I said with a wide grin. "Besides, didn't you say something about his being able to avoid shock being perfectly fair?"

"I said all's fair in war," Loki said flippantly. "This isn't war, is it?"

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. Come on, let me out."

"Just walk through."

"Loki, I can feel the static," I said in frustration. "I'd rather not become dinner today."

Loki shrugged. "I don't like the taste of owl anyways."

Glaring at the god, I carefully stuck out a hand towards where the barrier should have been; nothing.

"Oh, gee, thanks for making me feel like an idiot."

There was a thump, and I jumped, turning to see that Thor had been unable to pass through. Oh, Loki….

Just as I was about to fall asleep, my phone rang. I answered it immediately, unwilling to let it wake anyone else in the duplex.

"Agent Liao," I said quietly, moving to leave the building. A faint flash of light caught my eye, and I turned slightly towards it, spotting Loki watching me from the couch, laying down, but wide awake. I pointed to the phone at my ear and left through the door.

"Agent Liao, this is Director Fury."

"Director," I greeted. "Would you like a report?"

"Only if there's been any problem." I voiced a 'no', and he continued. "Are you still in New Mexico?"

"Yes," I said, wondering what was going on.

"Agents Romanoff and Barton are closing in on you," Fury said grimly. "My plan requires you stay out of sight. You need to move, ASAP."

I bit my lip. "It's Natasha and Clint. What's so important that they can't know?"

"Agent. I need you to follow my orders."

"They even knew about the Phase Two weapons," I argued. "Why are you trusting me with this and neither of them?"

I could hear the frustration in Fury's voice when he next spoke; whatever his plan was, it was important. "Jaida Liao, the Council already doesn't like you. You're dead to them, which is a good thing. Barton and Romanoff believe you to be alive, but that is as far as it goes. Get Loki, and get out. I want weekly updates, but other than that, that's the only contact you have with the outside world. Got it?"

I sighed. "I understand, sir. We'll be leaving within the hour."

"Good. I'm counting on you, Liao. Oh, and while you're out there in the Great Outdoors, see if Loki knows anything about that explosion. We've lost too many good agents, and if you can get anything on it, all the better."

"I'm counting on you, Nine." I grinned widely at the man who had just given me my first assignment.

"I won't let you down." I took on my owl form and soared into the skies. Three hours of flying later left me perching on the rooftop of one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s bases. It was a small one, but important. I waited patiently for my target to walk out of the building below me. Finally, he appeared; a young agent, late twenties at the most. My orders were to take him out and not be seen in my human form. What if I didn't ever take my human form? After all, this owl had a wickedly sharp beak.

Smirking - metophorically - I silently flew down and attacked the guy's face, tearing at his eyes with my beak, and then stabbed my talons into his throat, ignoring the spout of blood; I had seen worse, Red Room had made sure of it.

There was a clacking on the ground, and I shot into the air, flapping my wings hard enough to keep me in the same general position. I screeched loudly at the man who had tried to sneak up on me. He had an eyepatch one eye and a flapping black trench coat.

"I've lost too many good agents to let one bloody, flipping owl go gorging on any more," he hissed before pulling the trigger on his pistol. I just barely avoided the bullet and flew higher, screeching angrily at the man.

"Of course, sir. I'll speak to you in a week." I ended the call and went inside again.

"What was that?" Loki asked casually, standing as I flicked the light on. I shivered slightly when I realized that lately, I had been turning my back to him too often; that was dangerous, and yet, he hadn't taken advantage of the fact.

"Fury," I said shortly, writing out a quick note to Jane. "We need to be out within the hour. No public contact. Looks like we're going camping."

Loki complained. A lot. Seriously. When we arrived in a random clearing, the first thing he had said was 'I refuse to sleep on the ground.'

"Sleep in a tree, then," I reasoned, striding around the perimeter of the clearing to check for any bugging, just in case. A short flight into the air showed that we weren't remotely close to any cities or any sort of civilization in general. When I landed, Loki was already complaining again.

"I am a prince!" he said incredulously. "That couch or whatever you mortals call it was my limit! I absolutely refuse to live in these conditions!"

"Deal with it," I said coldly. "I don't like it any more than you do, but orders are orders."

Loki was silent for a second before a mischievous grin spread on his face. "Oh, orders, hm? Following them to the letter, I suppose? Fury's little puppet?"

"I am not a puppet," I sad calmly, trying not to let the stupid god get to me. Instead I left the clearing and walked a hundred yards or so to a small stream. Loki followed me.

"Are you sure?" he said silkily. "Or do you believe you are something more to him than a simple, mindless drone?"

"It doesn't matter," I said in a sing-song voice. "Grab those stones there, we need them for the firepit." He did so without question, and I tried to hide my smirk as we returned to our camping site, him still trying to rile me up.

Ignoring a bored god is a hard thing to do, especially when I kept thinking he was going to burn the forest down. What was up with that little ball of green fire anyways?

Loki

The camping really would be of no problem to me; after all, I was magic. I could simply conjure up a magic tent or what not. No, what was really getting to me was the fact that I was supposed to gain Jaida's trust. She no longer feared for her life around me, I could see that, but I could also still occasionally see glimmers of distrust, impatience, possibly even disgust in her eyes when she looked at me. Understandable, considering my past, but inconveniencing. How was I to erase those perfectly valid feelings and replace them with blind trust? I was also certain that it would not be in my best interest if I were to take too long.

I set about, instead, messing around, letting out a slightly childish side of me that hadn't seen use in years. Perhaps, if I were to act more innocent, she would believe that was exactly what I was.

"Will you stop that?" I looked up at Jaida's sudden outburst questioningly. Stop what?

"Your little magic trick," she said, gesturing to my hands. "It's slightly distracting."

I looked down to see a small green flame flickering around my fingers, and I chuckled slightly. "Distracting you from what? This amazing view?" Even so, I allowed the flame to die out.

Jaida sighed slightly. "No, not the view. I don't know… you know what, I'm going to bed. Don't stab me in my sleep."

I raised an eyebrow; did she truly believe I would do that? No, her tone was too light. Then again, her eyes told a different story. "Where will you be sleeping? I see no beds."

Jaida pointed up. "There. In the trees. Like a bird."

"Not a bad idea," I conceded. "However, would a bed not be more comfortable?" I asked, gesturing over to the edge of the clearing, where a large tent had just appeared. Jaida looked suspiciously at me, but still took a peek inside, where I knew there were two comfortable sleeping mats, complete with pillows and blankets.

"Thank you," she said quietly, before ducking inside. I followed several minutes later, when she had fallen asleep.

"You are doing well," the familiar voice that now haunted my sleep muttered in my head. "But not well enough. You must work faster."

"How?" I asked in frustration. "Trust is not something you simply give out. Trust takes time!"

"For one to trust, both must trust," the voice said. "Do you trust my daughter?"

"Of course not!" I said immediately. "Why should I? Not only do I know that she would kill me if ordered to without a second thought, I also know how foolish it is to place your trust in someone. I trusted my parents; look where that got me!"

"Further than if you had not been fuelled by your sudden hate. You have a week."

A/N: Hey, guys! Sorry for the long wait, I've been busy with stufffffff. Mainly, MuchoMangoz1734 has me writing an R5 and TMI crossover. I just thought I'd update now, as I have a church conference this weekend. Go Districts! I will list those amazing peeps who favorited, reviewed, and followed! I love you all, my readers!