thank you for the reviews!
As my mind began to register that the information was gone, I began to take a few steps backward from Agent Barton, who was completely silent. My eyes darted to his clenched fist resting next to the keyboard. This entire situation smelled of trouble.
Still quiet, Barton raised his head and looked at me with narrowed eyes. Seconds later, Loki materialized by his side, looking irritated.
"The data's gone," he said through his teeth, pointing at the computer.
"It was all there," I promised, shaking my head. "I watched it all move, it all copied over. I don't know what happened to it, I swear."
A few white coats around us raised their heads with interest. My eyes fixed on Loki as his lips pulled backwards to reveal a snarl that would have sent a pack of lions running in the other direction. The scream that Loki unleashed sent every person in the lab into shock and some completely stopped what they were doing as he roared at the computer, veins throbbing in his neck and forehead. With one swat of his hand, he sent the computer sprawling to the floor and then grasped the edge of the table with trembling hands. I edged away from the splintered pieces of the screen.
The lab was completely silent except for the sound of Loki's harsh breathing. He leaned on the counter, gripping the edge tightly, and became mumbling to himself, as if he was searching for an answer to his problem. Barton patiently clasped his hands in front of him as if this has happened before.
For a moment, I hoped that his plan had failed and that maybe I was home free. The data's gone. What can be done? I began to relax, still watching him in case he tried anything.
"There's nothing that can be done," I said cautiously, planting the idea in his mind that I was of no use to him.
"Oh, but there is," Loki replied, his voice husky. He stood upright, a smile tugging at the end of his thin lips. "You."
"Me?" I repeated, licking my lips nervously.
"The data probably erased itself because it wasn't running on a S.H.I.E.L.D. computer, sir," Barton surmised curtly. "This is a personal computer."
"Fair play, Agent Barton, but we haven't lost all hope," Loki promised, raising his hand to the man. "We still have access to what we need."
"It didn't erase itself on mine when I glanced at it," I said thoughtfully, my eyebrows coming together.
"A glance?" Loki echoed, his eyebrows raising. He chuckled. "Then you have seen the information, have you not?"
I realized my mistake too late. I bit my tongue, keeping my face as still as could.
"HAVE YOU?" he screamed, his features transforming. I backed away from him warily and hit my hip on the side of the table. I struggled to keep my face composed. As he leaned closer, watching my face, I couldn't help but widen my eyes in trepidation. "You have." He tilted his head again. "Have you seen...all of it?"
Please stop asking me questions, I thought with exasperation.
"You have seen everything on that disk. I can see the truth written on your face as plain as day, Elliot. All your secrets. Laid out like a virgin bride, so ready to be exposed," he added, trailing off to a whisper. His words made my stomach burn with revulsion. "I have no need to have your mind. I can see everything on your face."
Shit. I nearly let angry tears build in my eyes in frustration. How does he know what I'm thinking so easily? He isn't a mind reader, but how can he know? So many of my friends and family told me it's always hard to know what I'm thinking, but I have an impassive face, perfected over the years. Yet, this Asgardian descends from the sky with the ability to strip my defenses clean and know everything.
"Your mind is swimming with knowledge and secrets you had never hoped to learn," Loki whispered, his eyes searching mine for reactions to his words. "You hold information about your superiors and your friends you have never hoped to learn. Do you realize that you hold knowledge that could tear down the thing you love so dearly?"
I refused to give him an answer so I crossed my arms and tried to give him my most steely look. That and I did not agree with his words- I do not love S.H.I.E.L.D. As a matter of fact, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s torn my family apart.
"I can see in your eyes, Elliot, that your heart wavers in your loyalty," Loki continued casually, standing upright. "They have hurt you." He curled his fingers around his golden staff. "Do you see now? We are one in the same. Two lost creatures in the dark," he added softly.
That observation piqued my curiosity. "How do you know anything about me?" I asked, leering at him, relaxing my arms a little.
"I know enough about you, Elliot Pedagia," he said, standing upright, "To know that your sister and her child intend to journey together before the day's end."
"They what?" I asked dumbly, not understanding his wording.
Barton turned to me and put it in simple terms. "Your sister and the kid are traveling to Myrtle Beach for the weekend. I have snipers positioned outside the airport as we speak. I only have to say one word and they'll put two bullets through their heads."