The Misadventures of Loki
Chapter 3
Loki was resting peacefully in his bed. He slowly opened his eyes being awoken by the sounds of talking in a nearby room. He yawned; these damn mortals didn't seem to understand any etiquette about people sleeping. He sat up in his bed and his feet touched the floor. He rubbed his eyes then spied the clock which read that it was noon. Great he had slept most of the day away no wonder the mortals were eagerly chatting away.
He changed into suitable mortal clothes and walked out into the hall way and walked into the kitchen area. The mortal women and a man he didn't recognize were sitting at the table enjoying some coffee.
"Oh good morning!" Cheered Darcy.
Loki wondered how this woman could function with such little sleep. He sat at his normal place beside her and smiled weakly. "Good morning, Darcy and Jane." he said.
Darcy poured him a cup of coffee when he looked at the new visitor at the table.
"Who is your friend?"
"Oh, this is Erik. He used to work with my dad when they were professors." said Jane.
"Hello." said Erik as he held out his hand in greetings.
Loki took his hand and smiled briefly.
"And you are?" Erik asked.
"I'm Loki."
Erik jumped up from his seat nearly spilling his coffee. "Are you the real Loki?" he asked his voice almost shaking.
"I'm fairly sure I am. Why? Do you fear me, mortal?"
Erik looked at Jane who simply shrugged. "We need to talk." he said gesturing to the outside of the research lab.
The two left.
"Loki, I believe you are the only person who can cause trouble unintentionally." said Darcy, shaking her head.
"I didn't do it on purpose. Did you want me to lie about my origins? I figured telling the truth would be better since someone might call me by my true name."
"No." she said uneasily. "It's just you being… you might cause some problems."
"I didn't know I was so well known in this current mortal world." he said as Darcy turned on the television.
He frowned to himself. Typical mortal not wanting to address any issues. "How can you function on only a few hours of sleep?" He was confused by this after all he returned to the lab at the early morning hours and she was wide awake.
"College." she said unenthusiastically, as she flipped through the channels.
"Pardon?"
She looked at him. "I've spent many all-nighters trying to finish a paper or studying for my finals."
"Oh I see." He paused to collect his thoughts. "What's a college? Is it an educational system?"
She nodded. "Yeah. It's were we go to get degrees in our fields of study."
"So you studied science?"
"Political science." She said, stopping on a channel.
"What's that?"
She raised her hand. "Shh." She pointed to the television.
"Oh, so the magic picture box is more important than answering my questions?" he asked, sounding rather irritated.
"I said shh. And it's not magic it's a TV. Look something's up." She pointed to the TV.
He looked at the TV. It was the news there was a young blonde reporter was standing in what looked like a desert.
"No one has yet to figure out what is falling from the sky but citizens are slowly growing concerned." she gestured to the desert behind her. "Objects has been falling out of the sky for the last few days, no one knows what it is or what may come from it."
Loki knew what this meant. Destroying the Bifrost was weakening the layers that divided the realms and allowing whatever to slip into other realms. This was how he was able to fall for so long without dying. He bit his lower lip in deep thought.
"Are you okay?" asked Darcy, concern dripping from her voice.
"Hmmm?"
"Loki?"
"Sorry I was thinking."
The reporter started again. "Look right now something is falling!" she exclaimed pointing off into the distance.
Loki soon recognize what it was falling and appearing before the young woman. Its tall blue form was slowly appearing. "Oh no." he said.
"What?" asked Darcy as she focused on the TV.
Just as he had suspected what was appearing was a Frost Giant. He jumped up to his feet. He had thought he had destroyed all the Frost Giants.
"What's wrong?"
"Where is this at?" he asked pointing at the TV.
"Umm close to here I think."
"I must go then." he said jumping to his feet and running to his room.
"Hey where are you going?" She asked as she followed him to his room.
"To deal with that." he said, pointing to the TV.
"What is that even is that?"
"Frost Giant." he said as he picked up his armor. "I might recommend you leave my room unless you want to see me naked." He remarked glaring at her.
"Are you going to fight that thing?" she looked to the TV. "It looks scary and mean."
"Frost Giants are scary and mean. This is why I have to fight it. Besides it might be considered a good deed and I can get another spell back." He gestured to the door. "But I can do nether without my armor."
She frowned and backed out into the hallway shutting the door on the way out. "You can't fight that thing. You don't have anything strong enough." she said outside the door.
"I have fought them before." he called from inside the room.
"What when?" she asked. "I mean can you fight it without any magic or anything?"
He opened the door. "I can deal with it. All I have to do is outsmart it with what I do have." he said loading the last of his throwing knives into his storage container.
She shook her head as he walked past her preparing to leave. "Loki!" she yelled.
He looked back at her.
"Be careful. Please."
He smiled to himself and nodded. "I will be careful. I have no intentions on dying on Midgard."
"What should I tell Jane?"
He paused. "Tell her I went back to bed."
"Okay." she said, he disappeared before her eyes. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that."
In a blink of an eye he was out in the desert.
He walked forward. He could see the Frost Giant off in the distance. His blood ran cold seeing it. The large blue beast brought on all kinds of unpleasant memories. He shuttered briefly thinking of how he and this creature were cut from the same cloth.
He continued walking. He heard the giant let out a mighty yell. Before him the reporter and her crew drove past him towards the giant. He wanted to stop them but they continued on. These mortals were either brave or stupid, he thought as they drove past.
He heard a noise from above. Was it another Frost Giant? He hoped not.
Was that was that? He recognized it to be Iron man flying into battle. He watched Iron man fly to the Frost Giant. Hopefully Iron man would be able to fend off the Frost Giant before the news crew got there.
He saw the news crew unload out of the van. The camera man was already loading as the reporter began talking again.
"Live from New Mexico. This creature appeared from nowhere, and now live is Iron man preparing to fight it."
Loki walked past her. "I suggest you stay back mortal."
"Film him!" she yelled. She moved up to him. "So who are you? Are you a new hero?"
He glared at her. "I told you to stay back." he gathered up two throwing knives. "This could get ugly." He turned himself invisible and walked to the giant. He could hear the mortals talking behind him.
Iron man was already fighting the beast. The beast was blasting ice at him and he dodged every one of them. The Frost Giant raised its ice mace and struck Iron man causing him to fall to the ground.
Loki took this opportunity to attack the giant.
The giant screamed holding its bleeding wound.
Loki repapered near Iron man. "Are you well?" he asked.
"Get out of here before you get hurt." he said standing up.
Loki held up a finger. "I observe you getting hurt. Not I." He said pointing to himself.
"Whatever." Iron man said flying up in there air. "Just stay back and stay out of my way."
Loki scoffed studying the fight. This Iron man person wasn't exactly in a winning position. The giant was swatting at him as if he was a fly.
"Might want to avoid his club!" Loki called as Iron man had a near miss.
"Mind your business!" he yelled at him.
"Just trying to help." he was begging to wonder why this giant hadn't tried to communicate or anything with them. "Don't let him touch you by the way."
Iron man shot at the giant. "Why not?" He asked.
"Just trust me."
"What do you know about this thing?" He asked dodging another attack.
"Fought them before." he tossed a throwing knife at Frost Giant hitting it in the chest causing it to fall to the ground.
The giant slowly disappeared into little ice crystals. Loki let out a little breath that he wasn't even aware that he was holding. He realized after the battle that there was something strange about the Frost Giant. The giant never tried to communicate with them and it just vanished when it was defeated. Was it an illusion? Was it created by magic?
Iron man landed beside him. "Hey, thanks."
"You're welcome, mortal."
"So who are you?"
"I am Loki, and you are?"
"Iron man. So how did you know about that creature?"
"Fought a few in my life."
"Where are you from?"
"Asgard."
"Asgard?" he looked past his shoulder. "Looks like we have company."
Loki turned around to see the reporter running to them as fast as her high heels could carry her. Her poor camera man was struggling to keep up with her.
"Might want to leave." said Iron Man, nodding his head to the reporter. He put his feet together and his arms down and lifted up into the air. "Good luck to you." he said, flying away.
Loki looked at the reporter. "Bye." he said, waving then teleporting away.
Back in the research lab. He landed in the room that he had made his own. He removed his helmet and began to change back into his mortal clothes. While he was changing he could hear talking outside.
"I told you all ready. Loki is sleeping." said Darcy
"Stop defending him, Darcy." he heard that man named Erik reply. "You can't trust him. He is using you I can see it in your face."
Loki finished changing then stepped outside of his room. "Where you looking for me?" he asked nonchalantly.
"Care to explain this!" demanded Jane pointing at the television
He looked at the TV to see a loop of his fight with the Frost Giant and Iron man. "Um that's not me." he responded smiling weakly.
"Oh so it's just someone who happens to look like you." snipped Jane as she crossed her arms across her chest.
"See you can't trust him. He's the ultimate liar and trickster." said Erik.
Loki glared at him. "I suggest you watch your mouth mortal."
Erik threw his arms up in the air. "Well you're the one who has to face the consequences not me. SHIELD will be here shortly and they'll want answers."
Jane looked at Erik. "You called SHIELD?"
He shrugged. "I'm just doing what I feel is right. We can't have a known evil god in the research lab."
"But he hasn't done anything to us!" yelled Darcy
"Not yet at least. I'm getting him out of here before he has a chance to hurt anyone."
Loki frowned. Well this was shaping up to be a horrible day. First a frost giant and now this. In attempt to defend himself he said to Erik, "I do not wish to bring harm to these mortal women."
"Oh sure that's what you say now. But how do I know you are telling the truth, after all you are known for your clever lying techniques."
"I stake whatever reputation I have developed in your weak mortal mind that I, Loki will not harm either, Jane nor Darcy. But you on the other hand are testing me."
Erik stood a defense posture. "Are you threatening me?"
"Oh I don't make idle threats. I act. So I suggest you stop accusing me of things that I have not and will not do."
Erik held up his hand getting ready to further address the issue when the door flew open. "Agent Coulson I see you've finally showed up."
Coulson walked into the room. "General Fury sent me to address your personal issue."
Erik pointed at Loki. "This man I believe is a threat to us."
"No he's not!" screamed Darcy getting ready to run to them when Jane grabbed her.
Coulson looked at Loki. "We already know about him."
Erik frowned. "What?"
"Got him on video surveillance last night stopping a robbery in progress. Not to mention what he did earlier today."
Loki raised his eyebrows. "I have caused quit a situation haven't I?"
Coulson nodded and said. "Indeed you have. As a matter of fact I was looking for you. Now if you just come with me I'd appreciate it."
"You can't take him like that! He's a person not a stray dog!" yelled Darcy.
"We just want to talk to him that's all."
"A threat assessment?" asked Jane.
Coulson smiled. "He should feel honored. General Fury is the one who wants to talk to him."
Loki laughed shaking his head. "Then this Fury should truly feel honored because I Loki, prince of Asgard. Will gladly see him."
"Then let's go then."
They arrived at a coffee shop in the middle of town.
Coulson let Loki out of the car. "I'll wait here for you."
Loki looked at the shop and frowned. There was no one around at all. Not even any clerks in the store. He saw several suited men standing around the shop wearing sunglasses and talking into what looked like their selves. He looked back at Coulson.
"Go on in we have the perimeter secure that's all."
Loki walked inside and saw the store was full of tables. Just as he thought no one was there save for one man in the back of the store with a steaming cup of coffee.
He raised his cup to him. "Come and sit, Loki."
Loki eyed him warily. He slowly walked up to him. "I assume you are this Fury person."
"Well I'm assuming you're Loki." He looked at him. "Well you look like the guy on the video." He held out his hand for a hand shake. "General Nicolas Fury."
"Loki Odinson." he said as he took his hand.
Fury gestured to the chair across from him. "Go on sit."
He sat down as Fury poured him a cup of coffee. "I had the waitress make a fresh pot of coffee before we had everyone leave." He pushed a box of doughnuts towards him. "And I bought a box of these. "You do eat right?"
"Yes I do." He took a chocolate doughnut with sprinkles on it. "What did you want to see me about?"
Fury leaned back in his chair. "I see, you're not one to beat around the bush." He leaned back forward. "Neither am I. I called you here because I think we can help each other."
He cocked his eyebrow. "Oh how?"
"As I'm sure you've have heard already there has been strange occurrences going on. Things falling out of the sky mysterious monsters appearing, random weather occurrences. And all of this started right after one of your fellow Asgardians left Earth." He slide a file forward that had written on it Asgard and Thor. "SHIELD has been gathering information on you guys ever since Thor first arrived." He opened the file. "According to what we have discovered, you and Thor are brothers, right?"
Loki simply nodded absorbing the sear amount of information he was receiving. "How does this help me or you for that matter?"
Fury laughed. "We believe that these strange occurrences have something to do with Asgard since they started after Thor left and increased after you arrived." He pulled out a flat device out of his pocket and turned it on. "Watch this video." he said handing the device to Loki.
The video was stitched together news cast displaying strange glowing blue flecks falling out of the sky, the next clip was cactus covered in at least a foot of snow then a violent rain storm that all most destroyed a small community, then the next clip was of the Frost Giant attack earlier that day. Loki let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He had caused this indirectly, he didn't think that trying to destroy Jotunheim with the Bifrost would affect other realms but it was certainly affecting Midgard. He handed the device back to Fury who shut it off and put it back in his pocket.
" I assume you know what is going on?"
Loki realized that at this moment this is why Odin sent him to Midgard. Not only to prove his own ability to be good but to fix the damage he had done when he destroyed the Bifrost and damaged the connections to other realms.
"Loki I asked you a question."
Loki looked at Fury. He really didn't want to help this man he kind of had a bad feeling about all of it. "Yes Fury I know what is going on."
"Well good."
"So I take it that a deal of some sort will be made?"
He nodded. "Help SHIELD understand what is going on and fix the problem and we won't have you arrested for your vigilant justice oh and we won't fire your buddy Darcy."
He sighed to himself. "I will indeed help you mortals."
"Good to know." he said smiling as he closed the files in front of him.
Five seconds into this deal and Loki already knew that he was being used. Loki most certainly did not trust anyone this organized. Though he himself is one to plan far in advance and even has back up plans in case the first plan doesn't work he certainly doesn't have all his plans laid out in a file.
"Well that's all I have to talk about. If I need further information I'll make contact with you."
Loki nodded as he reached out to the doughnut box to pick it up. He scooped up the files under the box so Fury wouldn't notice.
"I'm sure Coulson will take you back to Foster's research lab."
Loki stood up. "Oh I have my own ways." he said smiling as he disappeared.
Loki arrived at the lab. "I have doughnuts." he said dropping the box on the kitchen table.
"Christ!" yelped Jane almost falling out of her chair. "Where did you come from?"
"Teleported. Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Where's Darcy?"
"I sent her out to pick up some things." she said as she eyed him suspiciously.
He bit the side of his lip. "Oh well when she returns tell her that I wish to speak to her." he said turning around. "Enjoy the doughnuts." he said as he began to walk away.
"I don't trust you, Loki."
He stopped and smiled to himself. "You can trust me. Most of the time that is anyways." He added looking back at her and winked.
He walked into his room and placed the files on his table. He opened the first file the file on Thor. He read over it briefly.
The file read as: Thor Odinson. Allegedly the son of Odin, God of Thunder. Agreed to help us if we "mortals" needed it. According to what we gathered he lives in a palace in a "realm" called Asgard. Other than a father he has a mother named Frigga and a younger brother named Loki. Further information on the two was not gathered but Jane Foster was reported as saying that Thor spoke highly of his brother but added that he was one who sometimes could not be trusted as he was a "gifted" liar.
Loki scoffed to himself then kept reading the file.
Thor would be a valuable assist to SHIELD and the Avengers project.
Avengers? What was this project Avengers? He flipped the file over and there were a few notes written about him. He read to see what SHIELD had thought of him.
Loki Odinson. Thor's younger brother. Age difference unknown appears to be about same age or close to age of Thor however. Position in Asgardian royal family unknown. Thor had been quoted once that Loki is gifted lair. Trust is questionable. Abilities unknown apparently a gifted sorcerer.
So they knew very little about him. He flip over the next page this page read: print copy of conversation recorded June 5, 2011 2:45 AM. He frowned when he began to read what was written. These SHIELD people had been spying on him. They had written down the whole conversation that he had with Darcy last night. He flipped the page over and saw more documented conversations. Not just ones that he had with Darcy and Jane but even documentation of conversations that Thor had with Jane.
There was a knock at the door. "Come in." he said.
Darcy walked into his room. "Thank goodness you're back I was worried that you were in jail forever. What's up? You look paler than usual."
"They're spying on us."
"Who?" she asked as she walked closer to him.
He held out the file. "SHIELD has been spying on us." he said handing her the file that had their conversation written down.
"What?" she asked as she took the file and read over it. "This is bull shit! I can't believe that they have been recording our conversations."
"I can."
She looked over at him.
"There was something about Fury's behavior that I didn't trust. So I grabbed the files and they only deepen my suspicions. I knew someone like him wasn't giving you mortals a nice research lab and money for nothing."
"Why are they spying on us though?"
"I suspect that they are interested in Asgard and Thor. Probably not for the best of interests either."
"Is that why they wanted to talk to you?"
"Most likely. They have a small paragraph on me, but…" He looked away from her. "I'm concerned about whatever this SHIELD is planning." He sat down the other files.
"What's the other file?"
"Something called the Avengers." He took the other file from her. "They want Thor for it for some reason."
"Are you worried?" she asked tilting her head to one side in question.
"About?" he questioned wondering what she was aiming at.
"About…" she hesitated. "Thor and what SHIELD wants him for."
Though Loki could not care if SHIELD wanted Thor or why they wanted Thor but what he did care about is that they were interested in him, Loki.
"I am more concerned with their spying on me and their interest in me."
"What about me and Jane?"
"What about you and Jane?"
"They are spying on us too, Loki!"
"That's no concern of mine." he said as he raised his hands up to his chest and shook his head.
She glared at him. "Well I see how you are. I thought we were friends."
He shrugged. "If you want to call it that, but that's just how I am."
The door suddenly opened and Jane marched in. "Loki a bunch of agents are here wanting to see you."
Loki walked out of his room with the women following behind him.
"Loki." addressed Agent Coulson who looked very angry.
"Coulson what brings you here again?"
"I believe you have something that belongs to General Fury."
"Oh, do I?"
"Do not get coy with me Loki. We have studied Norse mythology and know your tricks so you can't fool me."
Loki smiled wickedly. "If its honesty you want I'll give it to you." He snapped his fingers and the files appeared in his hands. The mortals stared at him. "New spell." he remarked sounding disinterested. He held up the Avengers file. "I will return this only if you explain what the Avengers are and why you want Thor for it."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Bull shit." He looked back at Darcy. "That is an appropriate time to us that phrase correct?"
She nodded.
He turned to Coulson. "You know what this is?"
He paused. "Indeed I do. Why do you care though?"
"If it involves Thor I am interested in it."
"So you read the file?"
He nodded. "I read the file on Thor and the written down conversations."
Coulson held out his hand to take the file. "I'll tell Fury that you are interested. But that doesn't mean that he will let you join the project."
"Oh really? Well tell your Fury that I'm as strong and as capable as Thor."
"Oh really? You don't look it."
"I may not be gifted in strength and swordsmanship like my brother but I am fairly capable of other tasks."
"Fine. I'll talk to Fury about it. Anything else?"
"Yeah." He pointed back to the two women. "Stop spying on them."
"Fine we'll stop. Anything else?"
"Don't hold back any more information from me about what you have learned about Asgard."
"Fine. I'll talk to Fury about your… interest in the Avengers."
He smiled. "Well good." He held out his hand. "I hope this is the start of a great relationship with SHIELD."
Coulson took his hand eyeing him with suspension. "I hope so as well." he said nodding. He turned to the door to leave but before he left. "I'll have you know, Loki that SHIELD is not one to be toyed with. Do you understand?"
"Of course." He smiled evilly.
After Coulson left. Darcy yelled. "What the hell was that about?" she demanded.
"It's called building bridges." He looked back at the two women. "No one uses Loki. Not SHIELD or anyone." he remarked leaving to his room.
Heimdall looked out into the vast nothingness when he realized that someone was beside him. He soon realized that it was Thor.
"How is she?" he asked crossing his arms across his chest.
"She is well."
Thor looked over what was left of the Bifrost. "Heimdall I hate to ask but what is with the secretiveness between you and father?"
"What do mean my prince?"
"I… I feel like father is hiding something from me. He stays in his office rarely interacts with me or mother. However, I see him every day coming out here to speak with you."
"I cannot tell you." he said hanging his head down.
"Is it," Thor started then stopped. He paused looking for the right words. "Is it my brother? Did Loki live?"
Heimdall remained silent as he soon saw Odin fast approaching him.
"Thor why are you here, my son?" asked Odin
"Just checking with Heimdall on how Jane was doing."
Odin nodded. "I need to speak with Heimdall." He gestured for him to leave.
Thor sighed and walked away. He lingered around as close as he could to hear what was being said. He hated to spy on his father like a coward but he was worried about what was wrong.
"How is he?" asked Odin
"He is well, however many strange things have happened of late."
Odin stopped as he waited for Heimdall to finish.
"Firstly that SHEILD group who was interested in Thor has taken an interest in Loki."
Off in the distance Thor had to reframe from expressing any exclamation of joy over the news of his brother's living.
"But the most disturbing thing I saw was a Frost Giant attacked Midgard."
"What?" asked Odin. "How could any of them still live?"
"More disturbing is that the Frost Giant wasn't real. It was an illusion created by someone outside of Midgard."
"So it was not one of Loki's tricks?"
"No."
"Then where did it originate from?"
"Jountheim."
Thor frowned from what he had learned Loki was still alive, SHEILD wanted him, and somewhere on Jountheim someone was projecting Frost Giants on Midgard… This didn't sound good. Thor looked over the infinite void that used to be the Bifrost. He knew he needed to get to Midgard somehow and help the mortals as well as try to save his brother from himself.
Nick Fury sat at his desk checking his e-mails on his computer. Phil Coulson walked into his office.
"Sir?" he started.
He looked up at him. "Ah, Agent Coulson did you get the files back?"
He handed him the file. "Yes sir, unfortunately though Loki read the files."
"Damn, that slick bastard. What does he know?"
"That we are monitoring their conversations and a little bit about the Avengers."
He frowned. "I'm almost impressed with this guy. Maybe I should try to hire him for some missions."
"Sir, he's interested in joining the Avengers."
"Why?"
"Because he learned that we want Thor to join. He feels that if we want Thor that we would want him as well."
Nick folded his hands behind his head. "Well, well now this is an interesting turn of events."
"What do you want me to tell him?"
He shrugged. "Let's see how it plays out shall we." he said standing up from his desk.
"Sir?"
"Continue to monitor him from a distance. If he is a worthy ally we will learn soon enough."
Coulson nodded. "Fine. Who do you want me to assign to watch him?"
"Hmm, let's use Clint Barton for this one."
"Barton? Are you sure?"
"Why not?"
"All right I'll let him know his new assignment."
Author's note: Sorry for the long delay. I went and rewrote this whole chapter because I wasn't satisfied with the way it was going. Thanks all for the reviews on the last chapter :) Chapter 4 will be done… eventually hopefully soon.