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Blegh. Just blegh. This has really not been a good week for me, hence why it has taken so horribly long to write and upload this chapter. I'm very sorry :( It's also been a very complicated one to write as not a vast amount happens, but it all needs to be there to set other things up; plus I've had to do a awful lot of figuring out relative times and time zones and how long it would reasonably take to get things and people together and … urgh, lots of thinking required!

Thank you also for all the well wishes for my health :] Unfortunately my physical health problems are an ongoing thing which I've had for the past 10 years, and probably will have for the rest of my life :( Having a bit of a flare up at the moment, and seeing as two of the 3 main symptoms are brain-fog and fatigue it makes writing a bit of a bitch :( Add to that my anxiety and depression, and well … blegh! So thanks again, and please just be patient if it takes me a little longer to get things up every now and again! All your support is just amazing and it really keeps me going! Hopefully it won't take me as long to get the next chapter up!

o

Chapter Nineteen:

Arrival at S.H.I.E.L.D.

The journey took several hours and was spent mostly in silence. Efanna had collapsed several times, but Loki had been unable to ask what her Visions had contained due to the suspicious stares she was already getting in abundance whenever she lost consciousness. Evidently the first had detailed Agent Romanoff's fate as she had shot up from her slumped position with a relieved cry of "She's safe!" a few minutes before this was confirmed by Fury's voice over the radio. The looks she had received from the others on the jet has been surprised to say the least, and Efa had be forced to wave away another tirade of questions. Loki agreed that it would be sensible to wait to tell S.H.I.E.L.D. of her abnormalities, recalling his own violent reaction to the knowledge that she had Seen his entire life.

Efa was slumped against his shoulder when Barton announced their imminent arrival at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s floating airbase. She shifted slightly, nuzzling her head against his arm, earning a raised eyebrow from Stark, before turning her pale eyes up to meet his. There was a gentle warning in them which made Loki's jaw tighten slightly as he wondered what she had Seen. She pushed herself upright again, giving his arm a gentle squeeze as she did so, and looked around. On noticing the looming runway of the Helicarrier she sat up a little straighter and sucked in the corner of her lip once again.

On disembarking they were met by Fury, and several armed agents, all of whom had their weapons firmly pointed at Loki's chest. Loki didn't know whether he should be flattered or annoyed that he was treated in such a way even in this useless mortal form.

"The guns really aren't necessary, you know," Efa noted as they were escorted towards the Director, "I've said over and over, we're not going to do anything."

"Given what happened the last time Loki was here, I think I'd rather take the precaution," Fury told her, "And what the hell is a dog doing on my airbase?" he added, somewhat disbelievingly.

Efanna sighed slightly.

"This is Pip," she explained, "I won't go anywhere without him. Don't worry though, he's friendly and very well trained; pretty much the opposite of Loki. And as for Loki, you have a fair point I suppose, but I promise you, this time he's not going to cause you any harm."

"And you know this, how?" Fury asked, his eyebrow raised, evidently ignoring the dog for the moment.

"Because he knows I'll kick his skinny arse if he tries anything," she said with a smile, "That or cover him in paint."

It was quite obvious that no one but Loki had any idea how to respond to this. If the general population of eyebrows rose any higher they were in danger or running out of forehead. Loki couldn't help but smirk at the effect Efa's offhand confidence and general strangeness was having on the assembled S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives.

"I take it you are 'Efanna' then?"

"Yup, that's me," she confirmed cheerfully, "Nice to meet you at long last. Although, I say that, but to be honest, I'm rather glad we haven't met sooner. Is Thor here yet?"

Her sudden, unexpected, question seemed to throw the Director for a moment.

"Should he be?" he asked.

"Well, if he's not here now then he will be soon. Like I said, I get my whens a bit mixed up."

"And why is that?"

"I persuaded Loki to call for him. This current situation is a lot bigger than you realise, we're going to need him."

Loki ground his teeth as everyone else processed this information.

"That wasn't what I was asking," Fury pointed out.

"I know."

Efanna smiled in her infuriatingly innocent way and looked around. Her eyes suddenly brightened and she darted through the ring of agents, too suddenly and deftly for anyone to stop her, her dog bounding along at her heels. Loki's eyes followed her path and narrowed as he spotted the cause for her unexpected distraction.

"Steve!" she cried, delightedly flying into his arms as she had Barton's.

Half the soldiers around Loki turned their guns to her at her movement, looking to their Director for some idea of what they should do. Although her actions annoyed him, Loki couldn't help but be amused by the effect they were having on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s finest. Captain America stared at Efa for a moment before looking towards them in confusion, his hands on her shoulders.

"Exactly what are you doing now?" Fury asked sounding half amused, half incredulous.

"Does no one know what a hug is?" Efa replied with exasperation, pulling back from Rodgers and turning to them.

"We know what they are, Ginger" Stark informed her from behind Loki, "Just not why you're giving so many of them."

"Because hugs are a good way of saying 'I come in peace and want to be friends'," she explained with a grin, before turning back to the Captain, who still looked rather shell shocked.

"Hello by the way," she added, "Was that a bit too forward? Sorry."

"Uh, no ma'am, it's fine," he replied, sounding somewhat unsure, "I think."

He looked over to the group of baffled agents, Loki standing with his arms crossed flanked by Barton and Stark, with Fury overseeing everything with his one eye. Efa followed his gaze, her expression expectant.

Everything seemed to pause for a moment as the bizarre nature of the situation settled in, then S.H.I.E.L.D. jumped into action. With a few brief words and gestures they were being escorted along corridors through the giant base Loki was struck by a sense of déjà vu, only this time he didn't want to be here. He and Efa were separated by several agents. Efa had sighed at this, but hadn't otherwise complained, so Loki had kept his own tongue to himself. He thought it best to simply follow her lead. She still seemed to give him a gentle warning whenever their eyes met and appeared to have some idea of what she was doing, which was considerably more than he had. Instead he occupied his mind trying to find ways in which he might be able to survive this encounter relatively unharmed. He had been considerably injured when last held captive by S.H.I.E.L.D., even though he had been in his true form at that point in time. If he made a wrong move here things would not be pretty.

Eventually they stopped in front of a door, which opened to a familiar sight. A large room containing a round glass cell. The soldiers at his side shoved him roughly and he sighed as he was once again locked within their cage. He looked back to see Efanna still being held in the corridor before the door closed, leaving him in the room with Barton and a handful of soldiers. The agent crossed to the control panel and looked back at him, letting his fingers brush over the buttons.

"You know I'm really hoping you give me an excuse to press this," he said, his voice low, "There are more satisfying ways of killing you of course, but I think I'd settle for this, just so I know you're well and truly gone."

Loki held his hands up and crossed to the small cot, sitting down and leaning against the glass behind him.

"Efanna promised I wouldn't try anything."

"And you're gonna stick to that, are you?" the agent asked disbelievingly.

"She would not have made such a promise had she thought that I would not keep it."

Barton grunted in disbelief.

"What the hell have you done to her?" he asked angrily.

As he strutted up to the glass wall of Loki's cell his fingers once again reached down to his gun. When Loki replied that he had done nothing whatsoever to Efanna, Barton scowled.

"Bullshit. She stood in front of a gun for you. Who would ever do that willingly?"

Loki sighed, a small twinge of regret plucking at his heart. You see Efanna, he thought, everyone else thinks me impossible to love. What is it that you see in me? On thinking of her his eyes trailed back to the door of the room. Where had they taken her, he wondered? And what was to be her fate when she got there? His eyes hardened as he remembered Barton's cold suggestion of torture.

"Perhaps that is something you should ask her, and not me?" he said, trying to keep his tone calm.

"Oh, I'm sure we will," the agent responded coldly.

"If you harm her…" Loki started, his tone matching Barton's.

"You'll do what?" he interrupted, "One wrong move and you're falling thirty thousand feet, remember? Not even you were able to escape this cage without … help."

Barton bit off the last word bitterly and Loki could only imagine how much the agent must hate himself for the damage he had caused his own organisation whilst under his mind control.

"Why the hell do you even care anyway?" he asked bitterly.

The question stalled Loki for a moment. It was one he had asked himself, over and over. How had Efanna managed to wriggle so firmly beneath his skin that he sought to defend her in such a way? Even after she had led him to this place, to be imprisoned in such a way? Anger crossed his mind briefly as he thought of the idiotic promise she had made him. How could she have possibly thought she would be able to change whatever fate S.H.I.E.L.D. had in store for him?

Before he was able to voice any answer though, the door once again opened and Efanna was led in by Fury, escorted by Stark and Rodgers. She gave Loki a smile and he was surprised at the relief it brought.

"Are you sure about this?" Rodgers asked her as he led her to the door of Loki's cage, Fury walking over to the control panel.

"Of course," she replied calmly, "He's not going to do anything to me."

Loki's brow furrowed as the men exchanged a long glance, and Fury nodded.

"What's going on, sir?" Barton asked as the Director keyed in a code and pushed a button, causing the door to the cell to open.

"She's going to stay in there with him," Fury explained, his tone brooking no argument, "She wouldn't accept any other alternative, so until Thor arrives, as she assures me he will, that's where the two of them will stay."

Loki looked questioningly at Efanna as she calmly walked in with her dog, the door closing behind her. She merely smiled at him.

"What? Sir, are you sure that's a good idea?" Barton protested, but he was quickly silenced.

"She maintains that she will be safe. Rodgers will be on guard duty in case anything does happen."

Loki let his eyes travel across the room as Efa came to sit on the cot next to him. The faces of the men in the room ranged from angry, to disbelieving, to distrustful, to simply worried. Clearly no one could understand why anyone would voluntarily choose to spend time in his company. Loki was having a hard time adjusting to the idea himself. Whilst they had been in Wales she had had little choice, but here there were many people she could spend time with and talk to, many even of those whose lives she had Seen. Why was she choosing to stay with him?

"Don't forget, you promised I could have some water for Pip," Efanna called out as all but Captain America moved to leave the room.

"Get her damn dog a bowl," Fury instructed one of the soldiers before leaving the room.

Said soldier saluted and left, plunging the room into a sudden silence. Rodgers sighed and moved a chair closer to the glass, obviously taking his job of watching over them seriously. Efa smiled at him and pulled her legs up, leaning back against the glass like Loki. Loki watched her carefully.

"Why are you here?" he asked finally.

"We're waiting for Thor before I tell them all my big secret," she replied cheerfully, "Although we'll have to wait for Natasha too. Luckily Bruce is already on base, like Steve. It seems they had everyone on high alert after the weather suddenly changed, and my phone call was strange enough to bring them together."

Loki wondered whether she had deliberately misinterpreted his question.

"But why are you here?" he clarified, "They weren't going to lock you up by the sounds of it."

Efa turned her smile to him.

"I promised I wouldn't leave you, Loki," she told him earnestly.

Loki raised his eyebrow.

"I remember no such promise."

"I haven't promised that yet?" Efa asked, confused, "Oh, well, here, I'm promising now – I won't leave you, Loki."

Loki shook his head slightly, and forced the strange feelings her words evoked to one side. He doubted he would ever understand this strange mortal.

"Although you did promise you would not let them imprison me," he reminded her archly.

"This is only a temporary arrangement," she told him, poking her tongue out, "Once Thor gets here and confirms that you can't do any real damage I'm sure they'll at the very least move us to more suitable living quarters. This bed isn't really big enough for both of us. But I'm hoping they won't feel the need to lock us up at all. I'm confident they'll decide to trust me, and by extension they'll have to trust you, or at least trust my trust in you."

Once again, his stomach seemed to clench at her words.

"Do you really trust me, Efa?" he asked softly.

"Of course I do, Loki," she assured him, nudging him playfully on the shoulder, "I thought you knew that?"

Loki's eyes met hers and held them for a long time. There was not the slightest hint of falsehood or deception in them. Once again, she fully meant what she said.

"How are you doing?" she asked carefully after a few moments had passed.

Loki knew what she was alluding to and his body tensed. How was he coping, once again finding out that his entire life had been a lie? The confusion, the sense of dislocation, his anger at Odin; all bubbled up inside him for a moment, but again he firmly pushed them aside. Now was not the time to consider such things.

He only realised that his thoughts had taken him completely away from his surroundings when Efanna gently touched his shoulder, jerking him back to reality. Her eyes searched his, but she didn't say anything, seeming to understand his emotional turbulence.

She gave his arm a quick squeeze, then turned her gaze back to Rodgers, engaging him in small talk, which he didn't seem to have much idea of how to respond to. Loki got the strangest notion that she was doing it deliberately to let him think.

So, was it okay? I'm really not that confident about this one, but my head's too foggy to try and make it better. Also apologies for any spelling/grammar mistakes in this one – brain-fog makes it particularly hard to spot them. It was going to be longer, but I thought Thor's arrival probably needed a chapter to itself! Hopefully you won't have to wait so long for it as you did this one!

Much love to you all, thanks for all your support! xXx