Life in a Gilded Cage
Chapter 9
Loki spent the rest of the day in the public library, an interesting Midgardian building full of so much information in paper and digital formats. It was wondrous to him to have easy access to so much free data in one go, he couldn't spend months in this one room perfectly content. Unlike on Asgard, no one here looked at him strangely for reading, nor did they tease him about his studies. It was quite a refreshing change. Loki wondered if Thor had known about these wondrous buildings when he had sent his brother here. Midgard could turn out to be a very interesting banishment.
Searching weather patterns and formations he had four possible sites for the other two sisters of Thor. One was Greece, two were in the USA and the last was in England. They all had very high and unusual amounts of rain and storm activity. All four of which were strong contenders, he would have to try and narrow them down as fast as he could. The more time he wasted trying to locate the women, the more chance that he would be discovered or captured.
The librarian looked over his shoulder as she tidied away some volumes he no longer required. "Are you researching freak weather patterns?" she asked.
Loki looked up at the pretty young thing, "Unusual storm patterning, or something of the such yes."
She laughed, "And you put England on that list?"
Loki looked confused, a charming expression on his sweet face, "Should I have not?"
"There's nothing unusual about the weather there, they have maybe 300 days of rain out of the whole year. So maybe 65 days left which are 40% snow, 20% cloud, and if you are really really lucky you get 11 days of sunshine a year. I should know I was born there!" she answered.
"Really?" Loki asked, this was very interesting indeed, what could mess with a countries weather so very badly? "Thank you for your advise my dear." he said with a charming smile.
She laughed, "No problem, wouldn't want you wasting your time now." She bustled off to help someone else.
So England always had strange weather, and Greece had storms and floods in the dry season. Then these were the two places he would visit and investigate first. He wasn't yet sure of what he was going to do with the children once he found them, or if he was going to leave them where they were until he was ready to act. He would have to plan carefully his next actions.
Realising that night was falling fast outside, Loki took his leave of the library and headed onto the street. People were few and far between at this time of day. He walked down the near empty street looking in the shop windows at the fashions. Making sure his attire was still correct and proper. He would hate to betray himself by his clothing. He could never admit it, but he was very vain towards his state of dress. He always had to have the best of everything. A God must be draped in finery as he met this people.
Then again was he really a God anymore? Homeless, helpless, and alone in this distant planet so far from those he knew. The depression and pain hit Loki again like a wave and he felt like draining another bar. The only thing stopping him was the thought of turning up to face the Avengers tomorrow with a hangover.
The day would be hard enough already! He'd be lucky if Fury didn't throw him in another cell. He knew that he wouldn't survive a secondary imprisonment. He'd had too many dark days in that place already. Hid brother had saved him just in time, just two more days and the poison he had been magically developing would have been ready for him to end his own existence. His brother who knew so very much had known about that as well! How? Well that Loki didn't not know, he had done it in secret late at night when he ahd thought that no one had been looking. Clearly he ahd been wrong, his skills rusted by the long confinement.
Loki passed a fine Italian restaurant, a wave of the scent of pasta and cheese sauce came from the doorway. He suddenly realised that he was very hungry. He tried to think when had been the last time that he had eaten, he couldn't remember. Except for those strange bars yesterday, he'd been turning his food away untouched from his cage for so very long now. No wonder his brother had been so concerned.
He entered the restaurant and allowed himself to be seated at a small out of the way table, he didn't want to be observed this evening. The server brought him a rich red wine to taste, which was more then acceptable. When he was asked for his order though, he didn't know what to say. The menu was full of items he had no idea what were. "Perhaps you could bring me what you think I would like?" he said with a little magically push to make sure he was obeyed.
Two glasses of the fine wine later, he was presented with a bowl of creamy pasta with mushrooms, garlic bread, fresh dough balls with a selection of dips, and a fresh salad with grated parmesan. He looked it all over rather dubiously as it looked nothing like the lavish foods of his home. Tentatively Loki took a piece of the pasta and chewed it delicately, it was quite enjoyable. Flavoursome without being too highly spiced, unlike a lot of the foods he was used to.
Taking a piece of the bread, he sampled the dips until he found a butter and herb mix he found most pleasing. It was a most enjoyable and private feast, he ahd to with strain himself from rushing the meal he was so hungry. So that he could savour these delights properly.
Several bottles of the wine, and more plates of food then he cared to mention later, a dark shadow crossed his vision. An image he already knew far too well. He looked up, "My dear Captain, would you join me?" he asked, realising that the wine was starting to get to him.
Nervously Steve sat and allowed Loki to pour him a glass of wine. He sipped slowly, trying to take in what he was seeing. "So the God of mischief has a passion for pasta?"
Loki smiled, "It has certainly been a pleasurable experience exploring the foods of this realm."
Steve leaned in closer under the pretence of stealing a dough ball. "Fury knows you are on Earth, he has half of SHIELD out looking for you." he said quietly.
Loki sobered instantly, "I thank you for the warning, perhaps I should make myself scarce?"
"I still think we can make this work!" he insisted.
Loki felt around them with his magic and cursed himself. "I allowed my guards to slip, I shall not do so again. They are here!"
"We can walk out of here right now, you and I!" Steve said.
Loki glared at him, with a sudden realisation. "You lied to me? This was all a trap to get me back in that cage! You tricked the God of Lies!" he exclaimed standing in a hurry. He was shocked and disgusted with himself for falling for it. "I should have known that goody goody act was just a game to toy with me, there is no redemption for a lost soul like me! All there is for me is a glorious death in battle, and the hope that I will end up somewhere better in death then where I am now!"
Steve rose too, "Its not like that, SHEILD still uses the facial recognition soft wear. It located you the second you arrived. I want to help you, you are better then this!"
"I do not believe you!" Loki said making for the exit. People shrieking as his clothing turned into his Asgardian armour. The staff elongating in his hands ready for battle, the other hand reaching down to his belt to check his daggers were all in order. An arrow flew through the air towards Loki, who plucked it out of the air and threw it away before it exploded. He wouldn't be caught like that again! "The Hawk!" he growled, storming towards the door.
"Loki, don't do this, you know you are better then this. No one has to die today and certainly not you!" Steve warned, realising just how dark the pits of the God's soul were.
"They will never leave me in peace!" he snapped, "Not until they or I am dead. There is no other way!" He slammed out of the door to be met by a dozen SHIELD agents with guns and Hawkeye right at the front holding an arrow right at the God's chest. "Do your worst, I promise you all it will be the last thing that you do!" he snapped.
Steve dived in front of Loki before the Hawk could release the bolt. "This man is under my protection, he is not to be harmed. I state on my life that he will be no trouble to any of us!"
Hawkeye raised an eyebrow, " I have my orders, Loki of Asgard is to be executed before he can do any more harm to anyone."
"I won't allow it!" Steve said firmly.
Loki was a little surprised when Steve defended him, so much so that his silver tongue was silence and he just stood there watching the situation unfolding. The depression was on him fully now, almost bowing the shoulders of the great man, under the weight of his crimes and his responsibilities. Hundreds of years of torture in that room and it was still not yet over. His crimes would never be expunged, he thought of the Black Widows words, he certainly had red in his ledger and he didn't think that it would ever be wiped out.
"You can't stop me, I have my orders." the Hawk replied.
"Take us back to head quarters to talk to Nick Fury about this." Captain ordered, "Loki is to not be harmed until we sort this out!"
Hawk touched his ear piece and relayed what was said to Fury, "He says yes, but if anything happened you are responsible."
Steven sagged in relaxation that he had done it, so glad that he ahd a chance to get things fixed. He turned to Loki, "I WILL fix this, I promise you. You will not be locked up for long."
"I will not stay in a cage!" Loki insisted, "Not again!"
"I promise you that I won't let you down, but I have to ask you for that weapon. I'm really sorry, this wasn't how I wanted this to play out." Steve said.
Reluctantly Loki handed over the staff. "One day, I will give you a single day and then if I am still locked away I will kill everyone between me and my way out of there." he promised.
"One day, or I will let you out myself." Steve promised as he took the staff.
Hawkeye threw Loki into the black car, "Give me a reason and I swear orders or not that you are dead!"
"Give me one birdman and I will smear you all over the pavement!" Loki snapped as the door was slammed on him.