I didn't update yesterday...nobody cared so yeah, but I'm optimistic about this chapter! It's a favorite. Anyway, thanks to those who continue to add this fic to alerts. At least people are reading. I do not own the Avengers and if I did...hmmmm Loki wouldn't have gone back to Asgard hehe Enjoy!
Chapter Four
Mimi bombarded Willow as soon as she walked through the door.
"You have to give me the details," Mimi demanded and Willow smiled, all the way to her office.
"It's not really something I'd like to recollect," Willow dismissed and Mimi groaned.
"Oh come on! You need to talk to me about this," Mimi insisted, but Willow shook her head. If Willow told her about the crazy dreams, Mimi wouldn't believe her.
"It was like a regular date, but we didn't really connect," Willow lied and went through the mail that resided on her desk. Mimi gave up and went to her office to get some work done.
Maureen knocked on Willow's door, drawing her attention from the mail and phone messages.
"Good morning, Ms. Ethel," Willow greeted her.
"Willow, I need you to run to the nearest coffee-house and get me a latte. I need to get started on this paperwork and it's going to take me all day," Maureen rambled. Willow stood up with a nod and grabbed her purse before exiting the office. Mimi followed closely behind and was on Willow's heels.
"Why are you following me around?" Willow asked before they entered the coffee shop. Mimi rolled her eyes.
"Adler sent me to get her coffee after hearing Maureen ask you," Mimi explained and Willow exhaled.
Mimi followed Willow into the coffee shop and spotted Loki in the corner, his eyes scanning a book. Willow immediately went to the counter to order Maureen her latte. Mimi observed Loki as he continued to read his book in silence. When Willow got Maureen's coffee, Mimi waited for hers and that was when Loki spotted them.
He had known that Willow would come. The woman she served would need coffee and Loki had stationed himself in the corner. Willow's friend, Mimi, was watching him carefully and when her gaze was astray, Loki gazed at Willow, meeting her eyes. He hadn't meant for the dream to end so abruptly, but Willow had pushed her way out. Composing himself, he got up and approached Willow.
"Mimi, could you take the coffee to Maureen and tell her I had an emergency to take care of. I'll be back really soon," Willow said, watching Loki the entire time.
"What emergency are you talking- oh, I see." That was when Mimi noticed Loki walking toward them. "I'll tell her. Just don't be too long. We have to discuss a few things for the new article."
Mimi left and Willow ventured outside. She didn't want to talk to him in the coffee shop. As she walked away, he caught up with her easily.
"Are you enjoying your morning, Willow?" he asked casually and Willow turned her head to look at him.
"Why do you care?" Willow wondered. Her stance was defensive.
"We did not quarrel as I had thought," Loki pointed out and Willow shook her head.
"I still don't believe that you can control my dreams," Willow argued and Loki grinned.
"You still have no idea who I am. I am sure you are aware of Norse mythology," Loki said, trying to lead Willow in the right direction.
"If I ever figure it out, you'll be the first to know. I have to get back to work," Willow said and walked away from him. Loki stood there and watched as she left him once again. What would it take to make her stay until he wished her to leave? Perhaps he'd let Willow have a respite from his intrusion. In the meantime, he'd uncover information.
Willow got back to the office and instantly ran into Mimi. She stood in front of Willow's door with her arms over her chest.
"What the hell was that about?" Mimi demanded and Willow pushed past her.
"We just had unresolved things from last night. That's all," Willow said, sitting down in her chair. Mimi entered her office and closed the door behind her.
"Okay, I need you to stop lying to me. I can tell you're lying. What the hell is going on with you?" Mimi demanded, taking a seat in the chair on the other side of Willow's desk.
"You wouldn't exactly believe me if I told you." Willow mumbled and ran a hand through her hair.
"Try me," Mimi challenged her and leaned back in the chair.
"Don't laugh at me, but I've dreamed about Loki. Ever since we met him over the weekend, I've had really vivid dreams about him. He tells me he wants me to know how it feels to have someone in your head constantly. Apparently, I've been plaguing his thoughts," Willow explained and Mimi just stared at her, "Say something, please."
"You need to stay the hell away from him. Is that why you had to talk to him? Do you guys talk about these dreams when you're awake?" Mimi wondered, getting worked up.
"I can deal with this myself, Mimi. You don't have to act motherly toward me," Willow said and Mimi shook her head.
"I blame myself. I introduced you to him," Mimi said with a dramatic sigh.
"Mimi, I told you that I can take care of myself. Remember when I told you that I knew how to shoot a gun and seriously injure people?" Willow wondered if Mimi remembered.
"Yeah, what about it?" Mimi was lost.
"I wasn't lying. I don't know Tai-Kwan-Do, but I do know how to protect myself," Willow elaborated. Mimi rolled her eyes in disbelief.
"Alright, I'll leave it to you. If it gets worse, let me know. We can call the cops or something drastic," Mimi assured her and Willow nodded. Another assistant knocked on Willow's door and opened it. He looked at Mimi and smiled.
"Adler wants you, Mims," he said and Mimi nodded.
"Yeah, I'll be right there," she replied and he left the door ajar as he walked away.
"Go on, I have lots to do. Did Maureen say anything when you gave her the coffee?" Willow asked, not forgetting about her boss.
"She just asked when you were and I replied that you had run into your ex. She was totally understanding about the whole thing," Mimi explained, getting up from her seat to stand by the door.
"Thank you for that. I owe you one," Willow figured and Mimi grinned.
"How about lunch? You buy," Mimi said and left the room before Willow could protest.
The morning went by and Willow was knee-deep in paperwork that Maureen had dumped on her desk. Mimi poked her head around the corner around lunchtime.
"Are you ready to go get something to eat?" Mimi wondered and caught sight of the stack of papers on Willow's desk.
"I can't, I'm so sorry. Maureen piled these papers on my desk and I have to go through them," Willow replied, not bothering to look up at her best friend.
"What is that stuff?" Mimi walked into Willow's office and examined the papers lying on her desk.
"They're copies of the articles. I have to proofread them all before handing them over to Maureen," Willow said and finally looked up at Mimi to sit back in her chair.
"Do the rest of them at home tonight. Please, just come with me for lunch. You owe me," Mimi persisted and Willow gave a heavy sigh.
"Fine, I'll go with you," Willow gave in and got up from her desk with her purse in hand.
Loki had uncovered a few interesting details about Willow Crecy. She was an orphan and had an older brother, Quinn, who lived in California. They didn't contact each other and hadn't since the accident three years ago. Apparently, Willow was in the car with her parents and had been the only survivor. There was a newspaper article about it from a town in Indiana. Loki continued searching until he came across something from SHIELD. It had taken quite a bit of magic to break through the security, but Loki discovered that Willow was being watched by SHIELD. For some reason, she had done something to gain their attention. The information he had gathered was more than he needed. If SHIELD was keeping an eye on Willow, they would soon come to realize that he was back in Midgard. It made Loki chuckle to recall how he escaped. It was quite simple because the Allfather left him alone in the dark cell in the dungeons. It was right before his trial he escaped. It was possible that Thor knew it was merely a hologram of himself, but Loki didn't mind. Soon, Loki would take Willow away and leave Midgard.
Willow took a seat across from Mimi at the restaurant she chose. It wasn't anything fancy, but nearby work if they needed to rush back to the office.
"It's a pity you don't have a boyfriend," Mimi muttered as she traced patterns on the table. They had already ordered a while ago and were now waiting for their food.
"Are you suggesting Ethan? I don't like him that way. He's a friend, Mimi, not boyfriend material for me," Willow explained and watched as Mimi frowned.
"What exactly is your type? You haven't dated anyone in a long time," Mimi pointed out.
"You know exactly why I don't date. It's still hard for me," Willow mumbled quietly and Mimi leaned back in her chair. The food came at the point and Mimi smiled. She didn't take advantage of Willow paying. Mimi felt her phone buzz in her pocket and she checked, letting out a sigh.
"Damn it, Adler wants me back at the office soon. We'll have to hurry up and eat," Mimi mentioned and the rest of lunch was quiet.
Mimi and Willow practically ran back to the office. They were out of breath when they got to their floor. Ethan was standing at the front desk, talking with the secretary. Mimi tapped him on the shoulder and stood there expectantly.
"You texted me and said Adler wanted me. What's up?" Mimi demanded and Ethan looked at Willow who gave a shrug in response.
"She's having a fit because Maureen doesn't agree with the cover designs. They want your opinion…and they need you to work late tonight," Ethan explained and Mimi groaned, walking to Adler's office.
Ethan turned to Willow with a smile. She watched Mimi with a smile on her face.
"So, do you have plans tonight?" Ethan asked suddenly and Willow bit her lip. He was crossing the friendship line they had clearly established.
"Sorry, Maureen gave me articles to proofread and I have to do that tonight. Maybe some other time," Willow said, trying not to be too unfeeling.
"Okay, then. I guess I'll see you around," Ethan said awkwardly and walked back to his office. Willow felt bad for giving the excuse, but if Maureen didn't get these proofread articles, Willow would be toast.
The sun was going down and it was around seven when Willow finally got back to her apartment. Mimi had ordered takeout from a restaurant down the street for dinner, seeing as she'd have to work late for Adler again. Drax attacked Willow as soon as she closed the door. In his mouth was a copy of the newspaper. Willow pulled it out of his mouth and noticed that it wasn't current. What was this doing in her apartment? As Willow read the headline, she realized it was from about a year ago when New York was being attacked. She scanned the front article and instantly blinked a few times upon seeing 'Loki' in the article. Willow put the newspaper down and went to her laptop on the desk in the kitchen. She searched the article and looked at the photos from New York. Her eyes widened upon seeing a close-up of the villain in question. It was Loki dressed in the green she had seen in her dream.
Uh oh...Willow knows! I'm thinking Loki's escape was vague, but oh well. An Avenger will show up in the next chapter. Any guesses as to who it may be?
