XXIX

Loki scowled. For the supposed "Napoleon of Crime," Moriarty's facilities were quite pathetic. His makeshift lab from his attack on New York was ten times cleaner and more sophisticated than this dump. He kicked at a rat that had the misfortune of crossing his path. The Mischief God could only hope this whole charade of working with Moriarty would end soon. For Sherlock's sake.

Loki's thoughts drifted back to Baker Street this morning. He managed to sneak away while Sherlock slept but not before stealing along glance at his fiancé. Sherlock was sound asleep, having been worn out by his insatiable lover. Loki smirked as he remembered the purpling patterns of possession forming on Sherlock's skin. The god suspected his phone would probably incessantly buzz with the detective's ire over the love bites. Frankly, Loki didn't care.

Loki wanted Sherlock to know just how much he loved the mortal and the world to know that Sherlock Holmes was his. Whatever Infinity Stone Moriarty was looking for, he would soon find it. Luckily, that meant Loki would as well. He hated that it also meant he could very likely lose Sherlock, be it through being imprisoned or Sherlock deciding this deception was too much. But if it kept him and Sherlock off of Thanos' radar, then Loki was certain the pain would be worth it. He began to rub and twist his engagement ring.

"I trust you have a good reason for interrupting my date?" Loki asked as he approached Moriarty, who was slumped into a comfy chair and playing on his phone. The god frowned as the criminal chose to ignore him for the phone. He growled softly, kicking the chair out from under his "partner." "I am not a patient god and will not tolerate my time being wasted." The glare Moriarty shot would make most cower, but the god only leveled it with a vicious one of his own.

"'Date?' What are you, some teenaged boy?"

"I am not the one hunting non-existent monsters on my phone like a child."

"Touché." The criminal tucked his phone into his pocket before standing and straightening his suit. "Westwood," he explained.

"I really do not care about your tailor. Why did you call me here?" Loki crossed his arms in frustration, relishing the satisfying creaks and clinks of his armor. He never realized just how much he missed his Asgardian garb.

"Because I have wonderful news and… less wonderful news," Moriarty explained with his usual overdramatic flair. "Nothing really too serious but could prove problematic."

"Get to the point."

"I found it." Loki's heart stopped. "I found the Infinity Stone from your scepter."

"The Mind Gem…" Moriarty grinned like a child, nodding. "Where?"

"That's the tricky part. It currently resides in an Avenger's forehead." Loki frowned.

"You'll never get it."

"And why not?"

"I will not aid you against the Avengers. I have far too much to lose." The god turned to walk away. Losing Sherlock was one thing. Losing his very sanity as well was not an option. What would be the point of saving Sherlock's life if he would be forced to take it himself? He wished he had known it was the Mind Gem Moriarty was searching for.

"You've already lost everything, Mischief God," Moriarty called. Loki stopped. "Just by associating with me." The god slowly turned to the mortal, brows knitting together. Moriarty had his maniacal smirk that always reminded Loki of his own much darker days. "I'm not stupid. I know the only reason you agreed to our little arrangement is because you're soooo sentimental for Sherlock," Moriarty explained. "Plus you are the God of Lies. That automatically ruins any trustworthiness you could possibly possess. No one, not even Sherlock, would be surprised to find you helping his mortal enemy steal from – and perhaps murder – an Avenger."

"Perhaps… But who would believe you?"

"Not me. This." Moriarty held up his phone. On the screen was an undeniable photo of one of their meetings. Loki wasn't one to be intimidated by a single photo, but Moriarty kept scrolling, revealing more and more damning evidence. "You really think I would enter an alliance with you and not have some insurance you won't betray me?" Moriarty grinned. "You have to see this through with me if you want to keep Sherlock."

"You think me a fool? If your folly succeeds, Sherlock will never trust me either way. I merely wish to keep him alive," Loki countered. "As it is, there is no possible way for you to defeat an Avenger, particularly once in possession of an Infinity Stone."

"That's what you're for, buddy!" Moriarty gave Loki a friendly pat on the back. "I see no reason why you wouldn't be able to kick on little avenger's ass. Especially since they are still recovering from that whole Sokovia business." Loki simply glared at him. "Come on. We're this close. It's almost over."

That gave Loki little comfort. Now that he knew it was the Mind Stone that Moriarty sought, Loki truly wanted nothing to do with his plan. If anything, he wanted to pack up Sherlock and flee to the furthest reach of the galaxies. Perhaps he was never quite under the same influence as the Hawk or Dr. Selvig, but Thanos was certainly never afraid to use that Stone to get his way. The God had no doubt it could and would be used against Sherlock.

"You've no idea what you are meddling in," Loki countered. "And photos, I'm told, are quite simple to manipulate."

"You really trust Sherlock that much?" Loki smirked.

"I can count who I truly trust on one hand. Sherlock Holmes is the first finger." He ran his thumb along his engagement ring. "You'd be amazed how quickly two outcasts can bond."

"I really wouldn't." The criminal just kept tapping at his phone. "And you really should be careful what you say, Mischief God." He turned the phone screen to face Loki… showing Sherlock sitting with Peggy at a café. The detective seemed unaware that he was being filmed.

Loki growled before throwing Moriarty into a wall by his throat. "You dare think you can threaten me?"

"If… he d-doesn't get a s-signal… he'll f-fire…" Moriarty gasped out, surprisingly calm given his current position.

"You're lying." Moriarty just showed him the phone again. A red dot focused onto the back of Sherlock's head and a countdown clock began in the corner of the screen. Reluctantly, he released the criminal. Son of a bitch had the gall to smile as he gasped for breath.

"Fragile things we mortals tend to be. If you want yours to remain in one piece, you will see this through."

***Burdened With Glorious Deductions***

"Sherlock, we're going to fall through the floor if you keep pacing like that," Peggy said as she attempted to protect the computer parts she was fixing from the detective's elbows. "I'm sure Loki is just fine. And I swear if you damage any of these parts…"

"Loki should have been back by now. Mrs. Hudson will have a field day if she catches you sitting on her table," he countered, continuing to pace. He began to twist at his engagement ring. He couldn't quite put his finger on why but Sherlock had a bad feeling itching at the back of his mind, as if the other shoe was about to drop. "If Moriarty-"

"I highly doubt a human criminal really poses a threat to a god."

"Perhaps… But Loki could relapse…" Peggy paused mid-screw in the motherboard in her hands.

"'Relapse?' I don't think villainy quite works that way."

"Power can." He finally stopped pacing though he still twisted the ring. "Power is Loki's drug of choice. I suspect it always has been." The detective slumped into the nearest empty chair with a sigh. "I would not put it past Moriarty to turn that against him somehow…" Peggy set down the motherboard and carefully scooted the computer remains out of the way so that she could scoot closer to him.

"That's a big if, Rookie. Loki isn't one to be manipulated easily. Especially not by some mere mortal." Sherlock nodded a bit.

"Shouldn't you expect the worst out of Loki, Ms. SHIELD agent?"

"Don't try to change the subject. If he wants or needs Loki out of his way, Moriarty will need to be ridiculously clever and try something like giving him the Ark of the Covenant or something."

"You watch far too many movies. And you and I both know that in much less impossible than most think."

"Most of those options are hidden in SHEILD bases that technically don't exist."

"So you think there is no chance of Loki turning on us?"

"I think you need to hear that it is an actual chance." Sherlock's eyebrows shot upwards at that. Peggy smirked. "We catch criminals for a living, Rookie. It's in our nature to assume the worst." He chuckled.

"Perhaps you're right." Peggy shrugged and turned back to her dismembered computer.

"I'm sure Loki will swagger through that door any minute now." Just as she finished her sentence, the door could be heard opening and slamming shut after a pause. Sherlock and Peggy exchange equally shocked stares. "I swear I'm not psychic."

"Loki?!" Sherlock called, unsure whether to be impressed or concerned.

"Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Holmes," Director Coulson greeted as he came through the kitchen door, John trailing behind him. Something about the doctor's expression made Sherlock's heart drop. "I know I'm not nearly as pretty."

"What's happened?" Sherlock asked. Coulson and John exchanged concerned glances. "Is Loki ok?"

"Loki… is alive…" John assured.

"Is he hurt?"

"No, Sherlock. He…"

"He was caught breaking into an Avengers base… with Moriarty," Coulson explained. The normally snarky detective found himself struck mute. Even Peggy seemed shocked as she looked between them. "I'm sorry…"

"It's not true."

"Sherlock, I'm sorry."

"It can't…"

"I almost wish I could agree with you, Mr. Holmes," Coulson said as he pressed a few buttons on his phone, turning it for Sherlock to see. "But it is true…"

Sherlock felt his heart rip in two. The security video was distant and seemed grainy as though something were interfering with the feed, but there was no denying the identities of the two standing calm amidst chaos. Moriarty stood in front, a childish grin plastered onto his face. Standing behind him watching the fighting passively… was Loki.