A/N: Hi everybody! I'm not sure what exactly has happened to me, but I think my plot bunnies are starting to come back home, now...To celebrate, here's another chapter! The reviews I've been getting have been really encouraging. Thank you so much!
jaquelinelittle: I guess I spell it as Jormagundar because that's the way I first read it. (also, I don't know how to put the umlaut over the "o") It has since become a habit for me. I hope it doesn't take away from the story-line for you. I know how misspellings (intentional or otherwise) can distract from a story. As for how many times Loki's met Hela, it's been three times, two within the story so far, and once before the story takes place (I'll cover that in a flashback in an upcoming chapter.) As for Loki's reaction to her presence, he's not adverse to her, just the fact that she wants to harm his brother. He may be a horrible father, but at least he'll admit it, whereas Odin wants everyone to think he's perfect, and that all is well.
Loki sat back against the cell wall, his mind completely blank. Sure, he was normally the one who had a plan for everything, but this was beyond anything he could've foreseen. All he could think of at the moment was Thor's safety. Was he okay? He stood up, unsure of where he was going. It was useless, he knew, there was nowhere to go, but he had to move around, or else he felt he might go completely insane. A movement outside the glass box caught his attention. Tall, dark skin, eyepatch…
"Ah, Director Fury. A pleasure to see you again." He said with a sarcastically cordial smile. Fury was not amused.
"I wish I could say the same. What's your game this time, Loki?"
"There is no game, Director. I no longer have my sights set on world domination. I'm quite harmless at the moment."
"You disappeared with Thor a week ago, and now I discover that you turned him into a kid?"
"Believe me. It was purely accidental."
"Oh, so you intended to kill him?"
"No…well, at the time yes, but something happened, and I really need to see him."
"I don't think so." Loki balled his hand up into a fist, and slammed it into the glass.
"Let me see him! I need to know he's safe. Please." He pleaded. Fury watched him, his face a stony mask. With a twitch of his hand, he gestured for the guards to bring in Thor. Loki nearly melted in relief when Thor was carried in. The little boy wriggled his way free of the agent's arms.
"Loki!" he ran over to the cell, pressing his hands flat against the glass.
"Are you all right, Thor?" Loki asked. Thor nodded, his confusion evident. "Everything's going to be fine."
"Thor, what is your brother doing here with you?" Fury asked. Loki glanced up at the director.
"Don't do this." He whispered. Fury clenched his jaw.
"Well, Thor?" the director insisted.
"He's keeping me safe." was the simple reply.
"Safe from who?"
"Hela." Fury looked back up at Loki.
"Tell me, who is Hela?" Loki gritted his teeth.
"My daughter." the trickster replied. "She's even more serious about her attempts upon my brother's life, which is why I need you to let me go. Thor's safety depends upon my freedom." Fury appeared to consider this for a while.
"Like I said, not a chance." He turned to the guards. "Stay here with Thor." He turned and left, melting into the shadows of the hall. Seconds after he left, Jane and Darcy came in.
"Loki, I swear I didn't tell anyone…" Jane said as she sat down. Loki shrugged.
"They must have caught onto the residual energy signature from the Bifrost."
"But they never…" Jane felt her heart sink. Her research into energy and the Einstein-RosenBridge had probably led them straight to it. "Oh my god…" She felt so betrayed. Thor sensed her hurt, and climbed onto her lap, putting his arms around her neck. Darcy merely sat with her back against the glass of the cell.
"Loki, what do we do now? Darcy and I can't keep Thor safe."
"You think I don't realize that?"
"You have to turn him back. They'll actually listen to him if he's an adult."
"I can't. Not now. Before I can change him back, I need to defeat Hela, so that nothing like this happens again." Not the real reason, but close enough. "If anyone questions you about harboring me, tell them I forced you to. You shouldn't take the blame for my actions."
"There's no need." Agent Coulson remarked as he appeared in the doorway. He silently typed in his passcode, and the cell opened. Loki watched him warily. Phil looked up at him.
"What are you waiting for? I'm trying to help you. I'm supposed to be taking Miss Foster into custody, but I know why she helped you." "You're helping your brother." was the unspoken ending to his sentence.
"Thank you." Loki said, trying to believe what he saw to be his good fortune. Norns only knew how quickly that could change.
Phil turned on his heel and left.
"By the way," he said over his shoulder as he walked away. "You've got fifteen minutes to get out of here before I report your escape." He stopped for a moment, actually turning around to face him. "And don't think I've forgotten about the incident on the Helicarrier. I'll have words with you later." Loki nodded mutely.
"Yes, of course." He gathered Thor into his arms, and teleported the four of them away from the base. Coulson watched them disappear, wondering if he'd done the right thing in letting Loki get away.
Time would tell.
The foursome reappeared just outside of town. Loki watched as both women dealt with the after-effects of teleportation. Darcy looked half-ways used to such means of transportation. Perhaps a little dizzy, but even Loki felt that way. Jane however was shaking and pale. She turned to Loki.
"Don't. Ever. Do. That. AGAIN!" She raised her hand, and looked like she was about to slap him, but she wavered and started to tip. Loki caught her with one arm.
"Well, I wish I could promise you that, but I'm afraid I can't." He started to walk off into the darkness.
"Where are you going?" Darcy asked. "Jane's apartment is that way." Loki shook his head.
"We're not going back to the apartment. SHIELD will undoubtedly still be there, and I can't risk getting caught by them again." Jane nodded, looking sad.
"I can't believe they lied to me like that. After they gave me the lab and stuff, I was starting to trust them a little." Loki let out a harsh laugh.
"They may be the 'good guys', but even good guys can't be trusted." He said.
"Why is it, then, that you're pretty much a supervillain, and I trust you more?"
"I have no idea." He replied, completely taken aback by her confession. Jane trusted him? Why? He had killed her boyfriend (albeit, temporarily) and attacked her realm with the intent to enslave or slay all who stood in his way. Darcy tapped Loki's elbow.
"Uh, are we expecting company?" she asked. Loki shook his head, taking a quick glance around at the surrounding desert.
"No, wh…oh. Wonderful. Four more people I did not want to see." They were too far away for mortal eyes to see, but Loki recognized Sif and the Warriors Three.