5. An Unsung Hero
Loki sat on the small balcony outside the room where he slept, remembering the dream he shared the night before. The instant he saw Natasha among the leaves of Yggdrasil, he knew any move towards seduction or even flirtation would chase her away and he would lose her forever. Not only was the Russian assassin in his flickering visions every night, not only did she hold him in thrall so all he could think about was the next time he could caress, kiss, and lie with her, she was also the key to his plans – his eventual escape from the rooms where he was imprisoned. Their affair was a move towards his eventual redemption. And when I do regain my rightful place as a true prince of Asgard, he mused, what will I do then? Will I try to wrest the throne away from my father and brother, or will I turn to other pursuits? As always, he had no idea where his fitful, tortured plans would eventually take him.
One thing was certain, however. As soon as Natasha appeared in Asgard he meant to win her for his own. The mere thought of the flame-haired beauty in the arms of another made him gasp with fury, want to strangle someone in order to vent his temper. No, in his mind he had already decreed her to be his, and thus it would be until the end of her maddeningly short lifespan.
Therefore, he had allowed his tongue to spin her soft tales, revealing another side of his nature and creating a bond between them stronger than any fierce bout of lovemaking. Just sitting next to her on the huge tree and seeing her slender fingers reach for a pawn to move it on the board made him ache with desire. His younger self would have reached for her, brushed away her protests, glamoured her until she yielded for him. Perhaps the events of the past few years had taught him to be more patient and wait for the larger prize: that of Natasha's fealty and undying devotion. Yes, he would have her heart, body, mind and soul – and with them his freedom as well.
It was difficult not to think of her red curls tumbled across his chest, her lips opening for his tongue, the smooth skin of her inner thighs. Those memories would drive him mad with lust and longing; already he could feel himself grow impossibly hard.
He could go and create an illusion to lie with and thus pleasure himself… but he discarded the notion as quickly as it entered his mind. At that moment, he only wanted Natasha's lightning wit, that tantalizing secret smile of hers, and her body under his as he thrust inside her again and again, all night long, until they both shuddered with the force of their release.
He looked up from the small book he held in one hand to look out with unseeing eyes over the small plot of greenery where he was allowed to walk. "Make haste, darling," he murmured, and his thumb caressed the worn, leather spine of the volume in his lap.
Natasha found being with Thor and Natasha was very soothing. She watched as they investigated Loki's map of Asgard and set up coordinates; they murmured together while inputting directions and setting up something called time difference variants. "We could arrive here…" Jane said, pointing to a spot on the screen.
"My love, that takes us directly through the Boiling Plane. It is too dangerous for you and the Lady Natasha."
"Oh, you're right. Sorry, didn't notice. Okay, what about this? We'd have to time it a bit later, but…"
Their voices flowed over her, and Natasha opened the long report hidden on her phone to check the contents. Fury had come through, giving her full access to the entire Ealing Affair, although certain spots were noted with comments such as "Darkhold: could be spurious" and "Chthon: no evidence of existence." Still, with a bit of hacking, she thought she could rework the report and dress it up enough to present to the All-Father himself or at least his council, if he had one. She cut and pasted parts, rewrote others, and saved it to the hard drive of her phone ready to access even in another realm.
That done, she leaned her head on her folded arms and watched Jane and Thor. Their heads were bent together over the screen, and the illumination lit them up like a Caravaggio portrait. Jane caught her eye and gave her a wink; Natasha smiled back and closed her eyes. The lack of sleep from the night before was starting to catch up with her.
She slid into a sort of haze, where she saw the familiar black-haired figure sitting on a small balcony overlooking a green field. "Make haste, darling," Loki said to her, his voice just as hushed as the whispers between Jane and Thor.
"I will," she promised. "We just don't want to arrive in the Boiling Plain, apparently."
He laughed. "No, you certainly should avoid that. Bid my brother to travel carefully and not be a fool."
"We're in good hands," she assured him. "Jane is …"
He stood up and strode towards her. "I cannot wait another day," he interrupted. "You and I belong together – I know it, and so do you, in your heart of hearts."
"I…" she started to say, but Jane put one hand on her shoulder.
"Natasha? We should head out now, according to our calculations. Are you ready?"
Shaking away her dream, Natasha jumped to her feet and checked quickly for her hidden weapons – at least three in one sleeve, several more strapped to her thighs – and the photo in her pocket. Her phone went inside her jacket. "Yes, I'm ready," she declared.
They had to travel to an open space for the only method of travel available, what Jane called 'The Mjolnir Express'. Luckily she had a truck available, courtesy of SHIELD. As Natasha perched in the back and Thor heaved himself into the seat beside Jane, the scientist said, "This was my bonus when I was recalled from Tromso. It was new, but one too many thunderstorms…"
The floorboards were torn up on one side, and Natasha found, as Jane started the car and headed north, her seat was unstable. It tended to float, especially when Jane took a wide corner quickly.
She was thankful when, several hours later, they arrived at a spot just south of the Fingerlakes. "It's not perfect," Jane said as she climbed out of the truck and locked it, "but it will do, since our time is short. I'll just text Erik and have him pick up the truck if it's still here in a few weeks."
"The good doctor will indeed have to return for this chariot," Thor grinned, "if I have any say in the matter. Were things were left to me…"
"Things are not left to you." Jane caught Natasha's eye and grimaced. "I still have to run my lab here on earth, Big Guy."
Thor immediately began to protest, offering her what he called large Temples of Science within the palace itself. After a few minutes, Natasha cleared her throat and said, "Shouldn't we get started?"
"Yes." Jane came close to Thor and wrapped her arms around his waist. "You hold onto both of us, Natasha."
"It is a good plan. You must grip very tightly, both of you, since I must wield Mjolnir with all my strength." He looked down at the two women and grinned. "This is a fine adventure! Are you prepared?"
Jane nodded. "Yes," Natasha started to say, when the wind was knock out of her. The world spun around them and disappeared – all she could see was Jane's calm face and Thor's dazzling smile.
An instant passed, and the three of them landed with a thump. Natasha, having seen Thor 'stick his landing' several times, was prepared and braced herself in a kneeling position when the whirlwind around them stopped.
Jane staggered slightly, and Thor's arm tightened around her. He looked up and swept a mighty arm towards a forest spreading as far as Natasha could see. Overhead, clouds billowed in long spires and fantastic shapes; behind them were two planets.
"Is that the Cavern of Time?" Jane asked, peering at a dark void at the edge of the forest.
"Don't get too close, my love – I would hate to lose you to another age. Time, it is said, is the stream where Aesir and Vasir alike can be swept away. The place is highly unstable. Come, we can now transport to Asgard and the palace." Thor held out his arms again, and Natasha clung closely to him and Jane.
"This is crazy!" Jane couldn't keep a smile of excitement off her face as the now-familiar whirlwind whisked them away from the forest and the Cavern of Time.
At the palace, Thor beckoned them to follow. He led the way through several beautiful gardens, choosing the ones that had the most overgrowth to creep through. "I want to see how things lie at court first," he whispered, "before…"
"My son!" The shout came from a tall, imposing woman in a gown made of cloth-of-gold. She wore long earrings, and her hair was looped back from her handsome face. "Why are you skulking throughout the lesser gardens thus?"
Thor gave up his attempt at tiptoeing, sighed, and stood up. "Queen Frigga, I must explain my actions."
She waved an impatient hand. "I already know you entered near Vanaheim by the Cavern of Time; I could sense it straight away. And I suppose this is the girl from Midgard you always speak of to Volstagg."
"Um, hello," Jane said. "I'm really more of a woman than a girl – but we can – oh, heck, it's really nice to meet you."
The queen turned to Natasha. "But who is this? Do not tell me you mean to collect several wives at once, Thor."
"No, no," Natasha said quickly. "This hasty arrival is my fault. I asked your son to help me, and he and Jane were kind enough to agree to it. So, if anyone is going to be chucked into a dungeon, it should be me."
The queen did not smile, but her lips wavered for a moment. "No one will be 'chucked' anywhere. In truth, I must thank you – I sorely missed my son, and you both have brought him to me for a time."
Another cheerful grin split Thor's face, and he seized the queen in a bear hug, swinging her off her feet. "I must thank the Lady Natasha as well!" he roared. "Her request has convinced my own lady to follow me to my home."
"Well!" The queen regained her footing, smoothed her skirts, and nodded to Natasha. "I take it you have a request or perhaps some information to share, but I must warn you we shall make very merry in the palace this night."
"I do indeed have a request." Natasha followed the queen as she led them out of the garden. "I hoped to show you a report from our latest case load…"
"Report? Load?" The queen looked at her with keen intelligence.
"Yes. That is – I wish to – to tell you a tale, you know."
"Ah!" A look of understanding filled Frigga's stern, beautiful face. "Tales are always welcome here in Asgard. Does it have much bravery and bloodshed? And is there an unsung hero? Those are my favorites."
Natasha felt her lips spread into a smile of satisfaction. "Indeed there is, Queen Frigga. That is, Your Majesty. In fact, the unsung hero is none other than your son, Prince Loki."
Frigga stopped and put one hand on Natasha's arm. "Loki – the hero of a tale?
"But it is true, and I have the proof – all in here." Natasha felt in her jacket pocket and produced her phone. "It's on the hard drive. I'm pretty sure AT&T doesn't reach out here."
The queen shook her head in a bewildered manner. "Hard drive! AT&T! Thor, your friends speak in words filled with mystery. Can you make sense of it?"
He shook his head. "No, none at all."
"Look." Natasha gestured to a stone bench, carved with dragons and intricate runic symbols. "May I show you?"
"This should be interesting," Jane commented.
The queen sat next to the Russian agent and peered at the screen. "What an amazing magical device! Lady Natasha, please show me the tale of my younger son; if he was indeed a hero, I should dearly love to know of it."
"Here is a little of what he accomplished in Midgard during his imprisonment there." Natasha accessed the file and showed it to Queen Frigga. "First, he set up a system of medication for a hostage – er, that is, he rescued a sick maiden and procured her a potion to cure her of her illness. Then – oh, you will understand this one easily – he protected me from the Elder God Chthon, and put himself under a curse by using a page of the Darkhold in order to save me from an enchanted maze."
"I knew naught of this!" Thor exclaimed.
"Yes, you were frozen at the time in the SNAKE headquarters. Oh, I nearly forgot – he rescued Thor, as well as several of our agency – I mean warriors, you know. And he saved the passengers on a plane, that is - voyagers on a vessel who were also bound by the curse."
"Loki did this?" Jane shook her head. "I just can't wrap my head around it. Talk about out of character!" She shot a look at the queen, but Frigga was too intent on Natasha's phone.
"What wonders you have shown me! However, I do not think I can …"
"There is more," Natasha interrupted. "Before he left, Loki presented me with a charity. It is a legion of knights who do good deeds. These knights go and rescue maidens from being bought and sold in slavery. Not only does this legion rescue the girls, it seeks to give them education and housing. Dwelling places, I mean."
"What?" Thor was purple. "Loki did this? How?" His disbelief was echoed by both Jane and the Queen.
"Well, he turned out to be a whiz, I mean a wizard, with computers. Magical devices, your majesty, much like this phone. With the aid of his own magical device, he set up the legion, now known as the Petrovitch Foundation." Natasha gave her phone to Frigga and added, "It was sort of in my honour – a parting gift from him when he was told to leave me and return to Asgard."
"Your honour!" Frigga gave her a long, searching look before she bent over the phone again and discovered she could scroll the text on the screen. "This is – what does this button do? Have I broken it? The words have disappeared."
"Here." Natasha showed her how to access the report again. "You may keep that phone if you like, although eventually it will run out of power. I doubt we can recharge it here in Asgard. Maybe with magic…"
"I shall show this to my husband this very day." The queen tucked the phone in her sleeve. "In the meantime, we will prepare rooms for you all. Clothes too," she added, glancing at Natasha's jeans.
"Actually, would you mind very much if I first paid Loki a visit?" Natasha murmured. "We – there was a great deal we needed to say to each other, but we ran out of time when he was whisked back to Asgard."
The queen stopped again, thoroughly astounded. "Visit? Loki? Are you certain? He is subject to extreme fits of violence, as you know and may threaten you."
"No, I'm good. I know exactly how to handle him." Natasha shook her head with complete confidence. "But will the All-Father allow it?"
"Leave it to me." Frigga smiled. "To use your words, I know exactly how to handle him."
Loki's rooms were at the far end of the palace, sealed off with a clear pane that looked like glass but was, Frigga explained, powerful enchantment. "I will give you a rune to allow you passage through it. And if my son does threaten you, just say my name aloud and I will remove you from his presence."
"I'll be fine." Natasha was anxious to confront the prince, to thank him for her gift, give him the flimsy photo he requested, and perhaps go over a few points of the last case that she still didn't understand.
"Very well." The queen pressed one finger to Natasha's wrist; a tiny, spiked R appeared in green on her skin. "This will allow you through the seal. But do take care."
"Yes, okay…" Natasha put her wrist to the clear seal and felt a pressure, like that of a membrane snapping around her as she stepped into the rooms beyond and waved goodbye to the queen.
Inside the magic seal was a wide, stone hallway with arches overhead. Several doors led off it, all closed. The entire place was silent as a coffin and seemed deserted.
Despite her reassurances to the queen, Natasha felt her stomach contract as she put her hand on one door handle. It turned easily, revealing a huge chamber with a massive bed banked with pillows and fur blankets. A fire burned in the corner hearth, and a velvet robe richly embroidered with dragonflies lapped over the arm of one large chair. Hurriedly she closed the door again.
The next was a dining room with large windows looking over the garden Loki had showed her once in a dream. Both were also deserted.
Perhaps I should just return to the queen, Thor, and Jane, Natasha thought. This is starting to get silly.
Her ears pricked up at a tiny sound, the whisper of dry parchment. Gritting her teeth, she opened the final door.
Within, she found a large library, flanked with tall cases of heavy volumes. Prince Loki stood at the far end of the room, studying a long scroll he held in one hand.
He looked as solemn as an aesthete or a young knight intent on his devotions. Loki might have been pondering how to square the circle or counting the number of angels that could dance on the head of a pin. The long black coat he wore, severely cut with white at his collar and cuffs, enhanced the illusion. Natasha felt frozen, as though she had walked into something sacred.
Taking a breath, she edged backwards without making a sound. She should never have come – the entire thing was a dreadful mistake –
Loki looked up from the scroll and caught her trying to escape. His mercurial face changed from seriousness to surprise, followed by a flash of utter lust and longing as the scroll dropped onto the rich, crimson carpet. "You…!" he said.
"Sorry, I see you are busy. I didn't mean to bother you." Natasha turned to leave, but with three strides he reached her, captured her waist with one arm, and closed the door to the library firmly with the other. The next moment she found herself clasped to his chest, her face hidden in his shoulder, his own pressed into her hair, as he embraced her so tightly she could feel his heartbeat. Several shuddering sighs ran through his frame, and he cradled her head with one hand to hold her closer to him. There was a loosening sensation throughout her body, and she couldn't help letting a tiny sob escape her.
At that he let go of her, thrust her to his long arms' length, and looked down into her face with wide eyes. A wicked smile crossed his face. "Valhalla, you cannot do without me, darling." Very gently, he wiped a tear from her cheek.
"Keep your pride in check," she ordered. "I wanted to see you, but don't allow it go to your head."
His smile widened, and she couldn't help glancing at his teeth, so white and even against the pale skin. "Everything goes to my head." He raised his eyebrows and tipped up his chin to look down at her. "And just how did you arrive, may I ask?"
"Mjolnir, of course. I suppose we could have asked Heimdall for a ride, but I didn't want to announce to the entire realm I was visiting you."
"Why?" Anger darkened his face, and his black brows descended in a frown. "Is it such a disgrace to do so?"
The corners of her mouth turned up slightly; she had forgotten his sudden changes of mood. "No, but I didn't want to be interrupted more than necessary during my visit with you."
The frown disappeared, replaced by a dazzling grin. "Your secret smile," he breathed, and he touched her lips softly with one hand. "You plagued me night and day, Natasha, do you realize it? There was no relief. I am more glad than I can say to – oh, Hel, darling – I cannot disguise my joy to have you by my side again at last, and that is the truth of it…"
He made a small sound like a whimper in his throat. Before Natasha could answer, Loki pulled her into his arms once more and fastened his lips on hers.
NOTE - Many thanks to Moriarty-assbutt, thephoenixandthedragon4ever, and one guest who left reviews. Dear Guest - I completely agree with you - I really love Natasha and Jane's friendship. Here's to friends of all kinds - they make life wonderful!
