Tony and Loki quickly made Pepper special bracelets in case Ms. Rushman had less benign mission objectives than watching Tony. Since they didn't have much time before she would get suspicious as to why she hadn't started work they had to finish the bracelets quickly. Tony put in a small signal generator which Pepper could activate if she got in trouble. Loki's addition was a shield spell that would activate when the signal started. It was tricky setting a spell to activate in response to an electronic action, but he managed. It was yet another example of how well he and Tony worked together. It also showed how much Loki cared for his shield sister and Tony for his beloved. Pepper smiled after they explained.
"These could come in useful even after this current mess," Tony suggested.
"True, but remember gold doesn't hold magic as efficiently as the jewel I told you about. This means the shield won't last for too long. I will also have to refresh the spell after a few months," Loki cautioned.
Pepper nodded while Tony watched the bracelets wistfully. Tony had clearly been interested in seeing Loki do magic. Once all these messes were resolved Loki would show his friend more magic.
After a few days Loki went to visit Pepper. He approached the desk where Ms. Rushman sat working. She looked up.
"You must be Mr. Noen. I am Ms. Rushman, Ms. Pott's PA. Please let me know if there is any way I can be of assistance," she greeted him.
Very efficient but an opening for me to take interest in her. She is very attractive which is meant to be noticed and she uses as a weapon. I don't think I've ever faced a dissembler this challenging. This is going to be fun.
"Thank you for the introduction Ms. Rushman. If such a situation arises I will make sure to get in touch with you," Loki replied suavely.
He could use attractiveness as a weapon too. He was wearing a suit which emphasized his slender build and elegance. He made sure his voice sounded as smooth as silk. He noticed her notice him as she noticed he noticed her. She would think he noticed her attractiveness but did not, yet, see her as anything but an employee of a friend.
As Loki made other visits to Pepper, or Pepper brought Ms. Rushman when seeing Tony, Loki let Ms. Rushman get closer to him or what she thought was closer. She was subtle about it. Each time she saw him she said hello to him. Then she started making the occasional conversational remark. These remarks were 'obviously' only meant to make sure she had a pleasant acquaintance with him to show respect for her employer. After that she made remarks which began to go from workplace conversational to purely conversational. This was done so smoothly that Loki having coffee with her one day was natural. Then they moved onto coffee every day. If she wasn't a threat Loki would be tempted to be smitten with her for her skills. There was no trust, so he allowed no attraction, but he acknowledged the possibility. This woman could bring Asgard to its knees.
The coffee dates were more like sparring matches. They paced each other looking for ways to sneakily learn the truth of the other. She was so good that Loki could barely discern when it was that she began to suspect he was trying to learn who she was. As it was the coffee breaks became even more interesting because she exercised more caution. What Loki found intriguing was how she did so without being obvious. Anyone observing them speak would think they were asking questions as a prelude to dating. Loki could feel she was hoping to get him on a date in hopes of making him vulnerable somehow. Since he couldn't learn what he wanted either he decided to take the challenge.
That was how he ended up having dinner with Ms. Rushman at an expensive but somewhat isolated restaurant. It was quite an enjoyable fencing match in terms of what they said and in preventing attempts to drug his food. After dinner Loki was amused when someone attacked them as they walked. Ms. Rushman played the independent but embarrassingly helpless female most adequately. Loki downed the attacker without showing he was a skilled fighter. Ms. Rushman's distress made an invitation to his room at Tony's mansion for a drink the only acceptably chivalrous course of action. As Loki had a taxi take them there he held back a grin. A riddle wrapped in an enigma. You play this so well that I'm going to have to do something else beyond fence with you. It's actually time for partial truths. I've never met anyone who mystified me this completely. I think you, and the group you represent, don't mean Tony harm. Beyond that I know nothing of you. If I could trust you I would be interested in you for that ability to evade me. Alas, I am loyal to my shield brethren and you to your employers. Plus, you may already have a mate. They would be interesting to meet for surely you would pick someone exceptional.
"Are you sure Mr. Stark won't mind?"
"Tony doesn't stand on ceremony. Plus, he is out with Ms. Potts tonight," Loki replied as he opened the door for her. He approached Tony's bar and pored them drinks. She watched thoughtfully as he made it clear he wasn't drugging anything. Not to say he couldn't have with magic, which she wouldn't have training to see, but she didn't know that. All she saw was Loki being abundantly trustworthy which had to mean something was going on.
"I enjoy fencing with you Ms. Rushman, but I have other tasks to accomplish. One of these tasks is protecting Tony," Loki informed her.
Her eyes went from recovering from panic to professionally blank in a moment.
"You're a bodyguard," she guessed.
Loki sipped his wine.
"No, merely a friend who is as effective as one. Believe me on this, my dear, if you do not believe me on anything else. I am working to keep Tony alive. If you, and those you represent, mean to do the same then this focus on each other is a waste of time."
"Those I represent," she stalled.
Loki gave her an annoyed look.
"Your employers at SHIELD," he said casually. He was still not totally positive that was who she was working for but willing to bluff it.
Her eyes barely narrowed but it was discernible. The way they narrowed was confirmation of his hunch. She frowned.
"You're far more than you appear Mr. Noen. How do we know we can trust you?"
Trying to turn the tables? No, that will not work. If I was so arrogant as to believe all mortals were ants beneath my boot you would play me. You're like a very deadly spider: drawing people in until you can strike and topple them utterly.
"You don't. All you can see is that I haven't harmed Tony Stark. I've had plenty of opportunity as I'm sure you know. So either you waste your resources keeping an eye on me or you don't. There is also, however, the matter of you keeping an eye on Tony at all. He finds your presence obnoxious," Loki replied casually.
"He allows yours?"
"Yes. We understand one another. Your organization, on the other hand, are interlopers," he replied.
"If you could keep us away then you wouldn't be playing things this way. You're trying to get me to reveal things. I won't because things don't work that way," she retorted.
"Is this the part where you fight your way past me? It won't work."
She got up and looked at him narrowly.
"I may surprise you," she replied.
She moved with a grace that she hadn't showed thus far. Loki shook his head. What he was about to suggest was incredibly dangerous, and would earn his shield brethren's ire, but he saw no other choice. He had to try to learn more about this agency and its purpose.
"You could try but it would be a waste. How about you introduce me to your employer Mr. Fury? Perhaps we can negotiate something," he suggested.
"Perhaps you'll use it as an opportunity to gather information."
"That is a given," he stated dryly.
"We are at an impasse," she observed.
Loki pointedly sat down. She raised an eyebrow and touched a choker she was wearing.
"You got that," she asked someone.
A normal mortal's hearing would not hear the response. Loki's hearing caught all of it.
"We need to keep an eye on Stark. We have to make sure he figures out a way past the palladium poisoning. Noen could block us and he has been an unknown. We're at an impasse, so this is the only option. You've approval to bring him in."
Natalie Rushman, he would think of her as that until he learned who she was, gestured him out the door.
"After you," she offered.
Loki started to walk in front of her and then suddenly ducked, grabbed her wrist and then caused her to drop the dart she had been about to fire at him. He pursed his lips with a hiss.
"I am going with you, alone, to this SHIELD where even JARVIS cannot find me. Drugging me on top of that? I suppose I can't blame you for trying to seize one more advantage. I'm quite proficient at defending myself, but making me do so could be quite costly."
"We like to be in the shadows. You seem like someone who would appreciate that," she challenged.
It was Loki's turn to narrow his eyes. She knows I'm evading someone's attention even if she can have no clue as to whom I'm evading.
"JARVIS, tell Tony I'll be back later won't you," he requested.
"I have already informed him. He and Ms. Potts are not happy with your actions," JARVIS somehow showed he wasn't either.
"They understand my reasons," Loki stated determinedly.
They also know I can get myself out of this if needed. It would be costly but I could.
Ms. Rushman and Loki walked outside and a van pulled up. Inside was a driver Loki could not see and a man so ordinary it had to be an act.
"Agent Phil Coulson. A pleasure to meet you Mr. Noen."
"Call me Loki. I'm sure your superb agent here has told you just about everyone else does," Loki replied in greeting.
By introducing the topic of his nickname he made it appear to be of no consequence. If he wanted to avoid it he obviously wouldn't bring up…
"Why is that exactly," Coulson asked.
"I am good with words and I have a mischievous sense of humor," Loki replied casually.
"You pull pranks. Justin Hammer a favorite target," Coulson inquired.
"Perhaps, he is rather annoying," Loki told him.
Coulson was so hard to read, so bland, that Loki was shocked. He could discern the blandness was the result of conviction. This man was determined to not give anything away. His success showed willpower and that came from determination and strength. This man believed in his work and would die doing it if he had to.
Coulson's conversation and the driver's maneuvers would keep an ordinary man from keeping track of where they were going. Loki also knew that a machine in the van was neutralizing the tracker Rhodes had given him. It had been a gesture of trust that Loki would only use the technology to stay safe and not do something nefarious like sell it to another country. Loki would ask Tony to fix it later. His shield brother was a sorcerer when it came to machines.
Fortunately, Loki had other means of knowing what was going on. A spell cast on Tony's house allowed him to know where he was in relation to it at all times. He had not dared to cast a spell on Ms. Rushman, and would not on her building, in case they had some way of detecting magic there. These people had been able to hold Tony, JARVIS and Loki himself off and he was not about to underestimate them. He was sure, however, they had no portable way of detecting magic hence no way of detecting a spell on Tony's house.
Eventually they pulled into a nondescript building. Ms. Rushman hopped out and held the door for Loki. Loki gave her a smile and a mocking 'after you' gesture. Loki could tell this place was merely a safehouse and not a headquarters. It was disappointing, but not surprising. They were not underestimating him any more than he was them. He would be able to come back here later, but he would find nothing. He would not waste the time. Coming back later could be detrimental because it would give away his tracking abilities. That meant the only possible benefit of this trip would be if Mr. Fury was intrigued enough to make an appearance.
"Mr. Noen," came a new voice Loki had not heard before. Loki held back a triumphant smile.
"Mr. Fury I presume."
"We'll make this short. Just what is your interest in Tony Stark," Fury demanded.
"As I am sure you know he approached me. He has a certain charm and it is flattering to be appreciated for one's abilities," Loki commented calmly.
"Listen to me Noen. If you care about him you'll continue to let us have some access to him," Fury ordered.
"I will," Loki asked innocently.
Fury did not like being questioned so irreverently.
"Quit playing games. His life is in danger."
"I know. The question is whether you are a help or a hindrance," Loki murmured and let his determination to protect his friends shine in his eyes.
"Stark doesn't need to know everything and neither do you. Agent Coulson, get the temporary restorative."
Loki raised an eyebrow.
"If whatever you and Stark are doing stops working this will keep him clean for a short time," Fury explained to Loki.
"I'm sure you won't mind if Tony and I double check your work," Loki replied.
"Do what you must," Fury allowed nonchalantly.
"Why do you want to help him," Loki decided to ask. Will I get an honest answer?
"Did Stark mention the Avengers Initiative?"
"Even if he did I wouldn't tell you. You might find it upsetting if he had," Loki hedged.
Fury was getting annoyed but he held his temper in with effort.
"The Avengers Initiative is a group of men and women formed to defend this planet from threats no one else can."
Loki thought of Odin. Not only did Fury only have one eye, but it looked like he shared other characteristics as well.
"You want to use him," Loki declared in a voice just short of a hiss.
"If there's a threat big enough that we need him then it would be in his own interest to work with us," Fury replied in a way that showed Loki's displeasure didn't worry him.
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. I will not have him forced to help because he feels he owes a debt," Loki vowed.
"Did that happen to you once upon a time?"
"I see no use denying it did. How would you be able to find the circumstances? I will not allow my friend to be manipulated by you or anyone else," Loki promised with steel.
"You're an enigma. I don't like it but we both want Stark safe. The next move is his. If he allows Agent Romanov to keep working for him then he gets protection for Ms. Potts. You get to focus on helping him save himself," Fury suggested.
Trying to reduce me to a messenger boy? You don't like being outplayed do you…though giving me the injection, and a name that is perhaps Rushman's true name, could be signs of a truce.
Loki took the injection and carefully placed it in his coat.
"I will discuss the matter with Tony," Loki said as he walked away.
"Agent Coulson take Mr. Noen home. Mr. Noen know that there is such a thing as an alliance."
Loki turned back to give Fury a levelheaded glance.
"I know of alliances and you'll know if I think you are offering one."