oOo

Chapter 18

"You would allow your Agents to turn without your command!"

"They have rights to be angry, but I don't condone this merciless killing, Thor!"

"Then keep your Agents at bay, Director." Thor paced through the halls with Fury following behind. "Else I do something more than I already regret."

"I can't accept your apology."

"You do not have one." Thor turned to a corner.

"Thor! Stop running away." Fury caught up to him. "You have to answer for the deaths you caused."

"They were going to harm my brother, and they will not receive ANY mercy." Thor growled. "Not from me."

"You could have spared their lives so we could interrogate them."

"Think of it this way, Director. You no longer have any problems to deal with."

"This isn't going to look good on your file."

"Do I look like I care!?" He screamed. "The life of my brother had long since been threatened and I will no longer stand here so idly uncaring while he suffers! Believe me or not, I am trying to win back the brother I had once lost. And you trying to interfere will mean more casualties. I do not want war with you, but harm Loki in any way, and I will rip off bonds I ever came in contact with."

And through that, Thor had walked away.

That was yesterday.

Today was going to be different.

Or so he thought.

"Mmm... brother?" Thor called, hoping for an answer.

None.

"Loki..." He whined.

Thor groggily woke up and pushed himself off the bed, blinking the blur away.

The first thought that went out of his mind, was the first words he questioned. It was Loki, of course. He wished that Loki was awake so he would know if his brother was alright and if Loki would want to finish their movie.

"Oh no." Thor groaned and sighed.

He noticed the pillow in front of him and felt the sheet of the bed drop as he stretched his body on the stool. Thor's eyes widened when he fully realized that the bed was empty, and Loki was no where to be found.

"Norns forbid." Thor stood up, draping the sheet on the bed.

Where could Loki have gone?

Thor's thoughts went to Shield Agents, but Thor knew if there was a struggle then he would have woken up, so why didn't he?

"Loki?"

Thor checked the bathroom first, hoping that his brother was there but there wasn't anyone. Thor was getting restless, and he wondered why no one had thought to wake him up.

"Where are you?" He wondered.

Thor stormed out and headed to the lab.

oOo

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"Would you stop that?" Clint huffed.

"Oh I apologize, Agent Barton." Loki grinned. "I thought you were paying attention to something else." Loki chuckled, using the pillow to shield him from the sharp edge of the table in front of him.

"Shut up, you two." Natasha huffed.

The three of them were in the canteen, with a few (okay a lot) of Agents around. They were sitting by a long glass window that was from the ceiling to the floor at a large table that could fit six people. They were in the middle of the long and very large canteen, and nobody seemed to question his presence.

It was 10:30 in the morning.

Natasha was facing Loki by the window. She was sitting beside her partner, Clint, who was devouring his lunch while watching on his phone.

"Some do battle while others do tricks." Thor chuckled mockingly.

The Attendant stifled his laughter and Loki took notice of it. He made a gesture to the goblet on the tray and Eels or Snakes poured out of the goblet, slithering out across the terrified Attendant.

Loki chuckled in content.

"Loki." Thor pouted. "Now that was a good waste of wine."

"Just a bit of fun." Loki replied. "Right, my friend?"

"Just a bit of fun my ass." Clint huffed as he took a spoonful of food into his mouth.

"Why was I ever partnered with you?" Natasha smiled, sitting right beside him.

"Maybe you are secretly half as disgusting as he is." Loki replied, using his pillow and placing his chin on it. "I don't understand why you must drag me out here for a mere conversation and to watch that."

Loki pointed at Clint's phone, playing Thor (2011) for the three of them to hear.

"Nat and I have already watched it." Clint said.

Liar.

Natasha gave him a look. No, she did not watch it with him. She frowned at Clint, giving him a look that said 'Are you serious?' Clint just shrugged at her and smirked.

"I know what I'm doing."

"Show off." Natasha scoffed.

"Nice feathers."

"You do not want to start this again, do you, Cow?"

Clint almost choked on his food.

"Barton!" Natasha hissed. "Would you at least try to slow down?"

"I was being sincere!"

"You are incapable of sincerity."

"Why must I be forced to watch two horrible images?" Loki sighed in disgust as Clint chowed down on his food and continued to watch.

"You can't even see the screen of my phone from here."

Loki scowled at Clint.

"That does not matter, I have lived that scene." Loki sighed in frustration. "Of course I would know what it looks like. So why must I watch you eat and hear that insignificant event, at the same time?"

"Because I find it easier to understand something when I watch the first movie first, before I watch the second movie, second." Clint answered nicely this time. "We've lived through the Avengers, I might as well know what kicked your ass."

"My ass was not kicked." Loki frowned.

"Enough boys." Natasha rolled her eyes. "Finish your drink, Loki."

"You are not my mother."

"Am I?" Loki smiled. "I've looked forward to this day as long as you have. You are my brother and my friend. Sometimes I am envious, but never doubt that I love you."

Thor puts his hand on Loki's neck and smiles.

"Now give us a kiss." Loki joked.

"Would you please stop that infernal thing." Loki demanded. "Or I might just punch a hole through this window and throw that damn thing away."

"Is this normal for the two of you?" Clint smirked.

"It was an overused joke." Loki rolled his eyes, staring out the window.

New York was so small.

And Loki wondered how it was possible to keep the government of this world so oblivious to the flying ship hovering thousands of feet off the ground. To that extent of stupidity, Loki wouldn't know.

"Again, you don't seem so shocked that people are trying to kill you." Clint ignored the scene unfolding with Thor talking to his mother next. "You really don't care about two life attempts while you were asleep?"

"How can I be?" Loki shrugged. "Is it not to be expected?"

"That people kill you?" Natasha sipped on her smoothie. "That's normal?"

"I can hardly blame your people. They lost a lot."

"No kidding." Clint scoffed.

"And you do not seem to mind either." Loki gave them a glance. "You are speaking to me in a room full of people that were either once or twice your comrade on a mission, in a place you call a canteen, which is almost equivalent to our taverns or banquet halls. Also, you are all from Shield, therefore I question whatever got into your mind to actually try this stunt."

"Damn your accent." Clint muttered.

"Consider it a peace offering." Natasha narrowed her eyes. "And seriously? Taverns?"

"Thor usually takes me there." Loki shrugged, picking up his drink and took a sip. "What is this?" He found it rather enjoyable. "It is sweeter than what Stark gave me."

"He gave you hot chocolate." Natasha explained. "That's a Strawberry smoothie."

"Where did you get it?"

"I stole it." Clint answered and Loki gave him a look. "Where did you think I got it!? I made it right at the back."

"Privilege of being a superhero?"

"More like privilege of knowing who the canteen staff are." Clint downed his drink in one go.

"They must be thrilled to have you." Loki stared at him with disgust.

"I'm hungry and thankful, and so should you." He pointed. "Now don't waste my smoothie."

"What's with the change of heart? Aren't you doing this out of the Captain's orders?"

"Not really."

"Where is he?" Volstagg questioned.

"He said he'd be along." Loki shrugged as Sif shook her head in disappointment.

"What?" The big man questioned.

"He wants to make an entrance." Sif piped.

"Well, if he doesn't show up soon, he shouldn't bother." Fandral sighed. "Odin looks like he's ready to feed him to his ravens."

"I wouldn't worry." Loki said silently. "Father will forgive him. He always does."

"Like I said, your dad is still a dick in my book." Clint nibbled the ice in his own smoothie.

"He's not my father." Loki rolled his eyes.

"Was Thor always like this?" Natasha leaned closer to see Thor acting so stubbornly. "So hard headed."

"When we were young and during that time, yes."

"I would snap just the same way you did if I was in your place." Clint licked his lips.

Thor's coronation was ruined by the Frost giants that entered Odin's vault. They all came to the vault while Thor began to talk about the Jotun's harshly that Odin sent the other warriors away so the family could talk. Odin and Thor fought, leaving Odin to scold his oldest son while the young one watched in terror.

"I don't like your father." Clint leaned back on his chair.

"He's not my father." Loki repeated.

"Thor's a whining little kid." Natasha pointed out.

"He wanted to be king so he could lay waste to the Frost Giants. We were both fed horror stories when we were children, and often believe that they are real monsters. Who would've thought we all had our demons."

"It's unwise to be in my company right now, brother."

"Who said I was wise?" Loki smiled.

"This was to be my day of triumph."

"It will come. In time." Loki admitted. "If it's any consolation, I think you're right. About the frost giants, about Laufey, everything. If a few of them could penetrate the defenses of Asgard once, who's to say they won't try it again. Next time with an army?"

"Exactly."

"But there's nothing we can do without defying father."

Thor considered this, looking at his hammer and Loki guessed what he was thinking. He grew concerned and gave Thor a look.

"No! Nonono! I know that look." Loki scolded. "Stop right there."

"It's the only way to ensure the safety of our borders."

"Thor, it's madness."

Clint immediately lowered the volume on his phone.

"Hey Loki," Clint looked up at him. "The information stated that you're young in Asgard's standard. Basically a teenager here in this world."

"I would prefer young adult." Loki scowled, turning to him. "Why the sudden question?"

"You don't sound like a young adult." Natasha repeated. "Given the way you talk."

"And that would mean what exactly, Agent Romanov?"

"You sound like someone who knows what he's saying." She said. "You get into situations and you know things more than you should. As a professional, Clint and I know people from first glance at having experience. Why is that?"

Loki sighed, groaning in annoyance.

"On Midgard, Thor would be known as a star who brings hope and entertainment to his people or fans as you call it. While I am always in the background, like someone who guides him. I am considered a scholar and often bury myself in books in the library or in my studies which is frowned upon in Asgard."

"I don't see it." Clint stared.

Loki raised an eyebrow.

"Actually no, I think I see it now. You had your armor before and when you don't, you actually look like a library person. So what are you supposed to be if you weren't for the throne?"

He eyed Loki.

"I never wanted the throne." Loki admitted.

"Why?" Natasha intervened.

"I am to be Thor's counsel." Loki licked his lips. "While he kept up the image of the golden boy of Asgard, I was the hidden voice behind Thor. I knew more about politics, laws and everything else concerning Asgard than my brother does. He knew things, but he was never focused on it. Often he'd rather go hunting and play war games while I studied magic, books, laws, and everything else that I found interesting. It was one of my flaws, as they often told me. I was far too curious for my own good."

"So it's like curiosity killed the cat?" Clint answered.

"Out of all the things you could say." Natasha rolled her eyes. "That's what you picked?"

"I do not follow." Loki said.

"That's a saying here on Earth." She explained. "Curiosity often kills, but not literally. Usually being curious has consequences. But that's not important, what I want to know is, why people from your world would consider that a flaw?"

Loki merely shrugged.

"I know not." Loki sighed.

"You don't know?" She raised an eyebrow, saying 'seriously?'

"I was often bullied in my youth, which probably added to my frustrations." Loki mumbled loudly enough. "They called me Ergi or Argr, meaning unmanly in your terms or if you dig deep enough to the meaning and try and twist it in your language, it would probably be equivalent to the word gay."

"So you're the mishap of a troubled child." Clint narrowed it down.

"I suppose you could call it that. It was mostly because I chose magic instead of brute strength like all other men in Asgard do. Women are most likely to fall to magic, while Men end up with weapons. And now, I don't doubt they would cease calling me an Argr for the things that had happened recently."

Clint and Natasha exchanged looks.

They knew how to put two and two together. But now wasn't the time to talk about that, because they could see that Loki did not want to elaborate on that.

Loki looked so miserable.

They noticed Loki clench his fist on his pillow, and looked away. Clint and Natasha could feel that Loki was indeed young in Asgard standard, but he was just broken.

And way too hardened.

It must be because of the trauma he dealt with that made him so cold and twisted that he was no longer as youthful as he should be. And that boy was gone... No... not gone, just afraid.

Hiding.

"Your world is twisted." Clint crossed his arms. "And you were young, young-er! even. No wonder you're so... You."

"Thank you for pointing that out." Loki said dryly.

"So what do you say, a little truce?"

"You wish for a truce?" Loki laughed. Natasha and Clint weren't amused. "Only a few days ago, we were tearing at each others throats, quite literally, Agent Barton."

"Common enemy." Clint said bemusedly, trying to come up with an excuse. "You're not the common enemy right now. But that doesn't mean I forgive you."

"Clint likes to make peace with a good made smoothie." Natasha smirked. "And mostly because we can't afford another fight while the Other is still around."

"I can accept that." Loki shrugged.

Clint stretched out his hand and Loki shook it. Natasha just smirked which Clint dismissed.

Spy scored 2 while archer scored 0.

oOo

Boredom.

Tony was sitting right beside a snoring Erik Selvig, putting up a very determined facial expression. Tony was trying to put as many objects as he can inside Erik's breast pocket without waking the man up and was committed to finishing it.

Bruce was laughing quietly in the corner, with Steve by his side, looking as if he regretted saying anything.

"One would think he has a mental problem." Bruce chuckled.

"I would like to think so."

"He wouldn't want to hear you say that."

"I don't see what's so fun in doing this to a co-worker." Steve shrugged. "Look at him. That's dangerous."

Tony placed an unsharpened pencil inside Erik's breast pocket, and proceeded to place a ruler, an eraser, a rolled up paper, and paperclips inside it.

"Dr. Banner." Steve whined.

Tony took the challenge to an extreme and placed jellybeans on Erik's face and proceeded to stick some stick-notes all over his body with very funny quotes.

"You're the one who encouraged him."

"I said it's not possible without waking Selvig up."

"And now Tony is committing to that." Bruce pointed. "And look at his achievement."

"It's like he's a kid." Steve watched as Tony snickered happily.

"And what about you?" Bruce turned to him. "Aren't you the least bit concerned about the two Agents you just sent?"

"Clint and Natasha?" He sighed. "Not anymore, thanks to Tony."

"You shouldn't doubt your teammates so much."

"I don't know what to think anymore."

"Then tell me."

"It's always been about authority, listening to the law, but now it isn't about that anymore. I'm starting to question it. Listening to Fury seems strained, and listening to teammates, possible friends, it's emotionally draining."

"Nothing is easy." Bruce nodded. "Like I said, we're a chemical mixture."

"You mentioned that before."

"And I mention it now."

"Why?"

"Because it's true? I don't think there will ever be anyone who will dictate us, Steve." Bruce said. "Look at Tony, no one ever dictated him. He just knew what he had to do. So did I, I chose to move past all that hurt and pain and just went on with it."

"I guess so." Steve leaned back. "But what about Shield?"

"It's your choice." Bruce shrugged. "I really don't know what you have to question in Shield. Truth is, Tony and I don't trust them but that doesn't mean we can't work together to help people."

"You're right."

"I should really stop giving people advice." He smiled at Steve. "I'm not a therapist."

"Bruceeeee..." Tony hissed happily. "Isn't there anything else to do?"

"Not that I know of." He answered.

"Nothing at all?"

"Fury hasn't ordered anything." Steve piped.

"And Selvig is sleeping." Bruce shrugged. "Trying to finish the container without him will be too risky."

"Eh..." Tony whined. "I want to go visit the assassins and Thor's brother."

"You really can't sit still can you?" Steve smiled.

"No."

"Aren't you satisfied with what you did to Selvig?"

"Come on, Rogers. Of course I am."

"While you're still here." Bruce pointed at what Tony had done. "How are you going to explain that to him?"

"Who says I'm going to be here when he wakes up?" Tony gave them a look.

"Okay." He nodded at Tony. "It's not the worst that could happen."

Suddenly, Thor came bursting into the room looking wild and angry and holding Mjolnir with one hand. The hammer was pulsing with electricity and Thor was breathing hard, looking a little lost.

"I spoke too soon." Bruce stared.

"Thor?" Steve stood up.

"Where is he?!" Thor growled lowly.

"Oh no." Tony backed away. "Thor keep your cool."

"Where is my brother!?"

oOo

Loki stared at Clint as he and Natasha continued to watch the first movie. The tray of food was already disposed of and the number of Agents had dwindled.

Loki was listening intently at Clint's phone, all while he stared outside the window, looking at New York. Loki wondered how it was possible that people managed to live in such a place. Looking at it intently, he noticed that Midgard wasn't so bad after all, and now he figured out why Thor was so enamored with it.

It was breathtaking.

"We shouldn't be here." Hogun said.

"Too late now." Thor muttered.

"Actually, it's not!" Fandral said wearily. "We could turn right around, hop back to Asgard, share a mug by the fire. Could be nice!"

Thor ignored him and headed off, while Loki looked around anxious.

"Perhaps we should wait."

Thor turned back to Loki.

"For what?" He said mockingly.

"To survey the enemy." Loki excused. "To gauge their strengths and weaknesses from a distance."

"I'm liking that!" Volstagg smiled. "Gauging, surveying. Particularly the distance part."

"We know all we must. It is time to act. "

Thor headed off again, with the others reluctantly following.

"Looks like Thor really needed that banishment." Natasha mumbled, snapping Loki out of his thoughts.

"The banishment was for him to learn humility." Loki answered, putting the pillow on top of the table and rested his head there. "And humility will teach him to become worthy and wise."

"I don't think he's learned all of it." Clint said eying Loki.

"My thoughts exactly."

"You think he could do it?"

"Agent Romanov," Loki sighed, still staring out the window. "I've no doubt that Thor knows what he is doing. And that my brother will be wiser than Odin." Loki scowled, looking away.

"Adventuring? Is that what we're doing?" Fandral asked.

"What would you call it?" Thor smirked.

"Freezing." Fandral said.

"Starving." Volstagg preened.

"Whining." Sif muttered.

"I don't like your friends." Clint sighed. "They're as ever boastful as your brother was."

"They are not my friends." Loki scowled even more. "They are Thor's and they were the ones who often bullied me in my youth. It was only when Thor was around that some of the insults ceased, but Thor usually went with the insults as well."

"Bummer, dude."

"Clint." Natasha whispered. "Did Fury say where he was?"

"In the main control room." Clint turned to her. "He said something about redirecting some hacking from the FBI."

A few minutes had past and Loki could feel something bad about to happen. The bright blue sky was now turning into a dark grey color that Loki disliked. He frowned at the thought that it could be Thor, but judging from this world...

It could be anything.

"Thor, stop and think. Look around you, we're outnumbered." Loki was elbowed by Thor.

"Know your place, brother."

"You should listen to his counsel."Laufey spoke. "You know not what your actions would unleash. I do. Go now, while I still allow it."

"I was rooting for Thor one time." Clint said, trying to make a conversation. "And from what I judge, you're making an effort to keep them from messing up."

"That is because no one listens." Loki huffed.

"You're like a twisted version of the boy who cried wolf."

"You have a strange way for analogies, Clint." Natasha smirked.

"Am I right, Loki?" Clint asked.

"Hmm?" Loki turned to them with discontent. "If you so crudely put it that way."

"Run back home, little princess."

"Damn."

Thor threw his hammer and started attacking, followed by his friends who were also joining in on the fight. Loki just looked about frightened but decided to go on and defend himself instead of going for the offense.

"At least make it a challenge for me!" Thor shouted.

Laufey gestured and more fighters came.

"This Laufey guy, he's the king right?" Clint asked. "Your real dad."

"He's not my father just as Odin is not my father, and he is dead." Loki muttered, feeling a bit annoyed at the recalling of memory. "I killed him for Odin, which was dismissed cold-heartedly, ending up shattering my very existence, enough to commit suicide by falling off the bridge."

"NO! NOOO! How could you, you asshole!?" Clint screamed childishly. "You spoiled the story for me."

Loki looked at him with a scowl.

"Is he serious?" Loki turned to Natasha. "I thought you've seen it already."

"I don't know. Apparently he was lying."

"Great! I don't want to watch this anymore." Clint hid his phone and crossed his arms. "Thanks for spoiling the story for me with your horns and shit."

"By the nine, it won't kill you." Loki grumbled.

"Says you."

Out of boredom, Clint took out his phone again and started skipping really boring scenes with Thor in New Mexico and skipped to the good parts about the real plot of the story. Loki couldn't help but roll his eyes that it was such a stupid display of information gathering.

"How childish." Loki mocked.

"Says the affectionate cry baby." Clint smirked, copying Loki's voice. "Ooohhhh, Tell meee!"

Loki smirked at him.

Oh this is on.

oOo

Sitwell went back to main room looking a little nervous. He coughed unexpectedly and went back to his station, pretending to monitor the controls and help redirect incoming FBI hacking.

"Sitwell, where have you been?" Fury asked.

"Just took a break, Sir." Sitwell smiled.

"Long ass break if you ask me."

"We've been working a lot, Sir."

"Don't want any excuses." Fury smirked. "Is there anything you can find that's out of the ordinary in the cameras."

"I'll speak out when I see anything."

"Good. And you Hill?"

"All good here, Director Fury. The controls are working just fine, and the turbines have been double checked. We're in the clear. The FBI are backing away, but there are other strange disturbances we need to worry about."

"Like what?"

"There's a radio communication that's passing through our defenses, especially Stark's newly built firewalls." Hill narrowed her eyes. "And we can't get a lock on them. The transmissions transfer from one communication to another making it hard for us to distinguish the signal."

"Is it relaying any messages?" Fury walked over to her.

Sitwell swallowed, hoping to not get caught.

"Not that we know of Sir, the signals are jammed, but we managed to trace it back to our world."

"How is that possible?" He laughed. "You mean to tell me that we can access technology from our world from HERE!?"

"I don't know." Hill shrugged. "But we do know is that someone from our world is trying to contact us here, but is doing it one by one. The interference isn't long enough for us to trace who it is. Whoever it is, they managed to get through Stark's and our firewalls."

"Trace it again." Fury commanded. "Try and figure out who they are. Let's hope it's not the Other."

"It's not, this from ours."

"And what about the alien we have hiding in our cargo?"

"Still no sign of him." Hill frowned. "But he can't hide forever."

Sitwell was breathing hard, hoping that nobody would find the dead body that they shot out through the window, letting it fall a thousand feet off the ground. He had ordered the men to do their worst and to call upon anything else. For some strange reasons, the communications were working back in their real world, therefore, Hydra was able to give out commands to the minions they have on the Helicarrier.

Sitwell did not know what the orders were.

But the only order he was given was to stay put, stay out of sight, and don't allow Shield to further watch their future. That was it, therefore he gave others orders to create a distraction.

A distraction about Loki.

Sitwell did NOT know HOW it was possible for Hydra to know what was happening in this world, but he was sure that they have eyes on everything just a bit better than Shield does. Because Shield had a blind spot, and it was everywhere.

Shield was compromised from the start, and that was something Sitwell planned to keep quiet about.

It was nothing personal.

They were just taking orders.

oOo

Loki felt a little heavy and nauseous. Something terrible was going to happen and he could feel it. The chaos was calling to him like a beacon and he could feel it everywhere. It was unnerving and it made him fidgety. He ached everywhere, because the chaos kept calling to him. He wanted to know what it was, and who it was creating it. There was a plot, and he felt fear of the unknown, much like the inside of the void he once fell upon.

He hated it, but the whispers were there. He wanted to flee, but he knew he would be in safe hands, he had two assassins with him, and he knew they wouldn't die easily.

He just hoped that this Shield is really the heroic people Thor told him about, because if Loki knew better, his senses told him it was all a lie.

oOo

TBC.

Please review and tell me what you think!