15 The Pit
Loki pulled Sif to his side quickly. "Find the passage to the outside," he hissed in her ear. "There is one that sluices water to the palace – you and Thor can take it to the outside." Dimly he heard her protests that they wouldn't leave the fight, but he never moved his gaze from Kronsteig and Von Bardas. Of all of them, he felt those two were the most dangerous.
"Why did you leave our bed?" Lucia shouted suddenly. "You said you loved me!"
"I had to rescue my friend," Natasha replied smoothly. "No one ever said that was against the rules."
"You left our bed," Lucia repeated. With each word she took another step. "That is against my rules." She spat the word Rules like a linguistic bullet.
Kronsteig's body whirred, moving him closer to block the way to the elevator. At the same time, Zorba flashed a sparkling smile and revealed a long dagger. "Now we're up for some fun," Sif murmured.
Loki felt Natasha balance her body forward, as though she were recalculating the entire scene. With each movement from Lucia or Kronsteig, she shifted to absorb the new angles, the differing threat. "Why did you call me Natasha?" she asked. "My name is 5."
"What?" Lucia rocked back, confused. Kronsteig's treads stopped abruptly, and Zorba threw a quick glance as his one cyber eye unshuttered like the lens of a camera.
"Enough." Doom held up one fist. "This entire group has betrayed signs of revolutionary betrayal. Take them all to your bath, Kronsteig, and you can have your way with them."
The blue creature nodded, and his face split in a ghastly smile. "Excellent."
"Careful, Loki," Natasha muttered.
There was nothing they could do, since Hundred was clamped to Kronsteig's side. Loki held up one palm, perhaps looking for a clean shot, but the group at the lift was clustered around Hundred.
"What will you do with that?" the doctor sneered. "Perspire on us?"
"I have Mjolnir ready, brother," Thor muttered. "But the boy is in the way of these villains."
"Mjolnir," Doom said suddenly. "The hammer of the gods. We are in the presence of greatness, my friends. However, since by definition the weapon weighs more than 50 million herds of elephants, I'd say it's impossible to take anyone of us out without harming the boy."
"Why not just hand him over?" Natasha asked. "He's a small fish in your pond. Am I right?"
Lucia gasped. "And what will you do with him? Take him? Leave? Leave me?"
"Why are you so concerned about her?" Doom asked. "Do you …" His words died out as he looked closely at the cyborg. Perhaps he had just realized the depth of Lucia's desire for Natasha or more dangerously, Loki reflected, that Natasha had interfered with Lucia's programming.
The silence was broken by Hundred's ragged sobs and the clicking of the Spiders in the Pit. "Can you get them out of here?" Natasha whispered to Loki.
"Who do you mean? Doom, Kronsteig, and Zorba? The answer is no, not without the boy…"
"No. I mean Thor, Sif, and Clint. Get them onto the beach. If I'm not there in ten minutes, get them out of the country without me – it means Hundred is dead and I'm compromised." She didn't look at him, and a shaft of cold fear pierced his heart.
"I cannot leave you," Loki began, but Natasha shook her head impatiently.
"Now. Now, Loki. Just do it."
"You had better join me, or I will kill you myself," Loki swore. Reluctantly he raised his hands, summoning the seidr within.
When the magic swirled away he was on the shore of the lake, flanked with his brother, Sif, and the tow-haired man Natasha called Clint. "What the fuck just happened?" he asked.
Loki ignored him, lifted thumb and forefinger to his lips, and blew. "Jormungandr," he whispered as a white mist billowed from his palm onto the lake. "Come to me now. We have a task."
"Are you really calling your son?" Thor's eyes brightened. "A fine idea, brother! He can take this mortal to his dwelling-place."
"No, that's not what I have in mind." Loki ignored him and stared at the lake.
"What, you just brought us up here?" Clint demanded. "And left Natasha behind? You fucking coward! Fuck you! I'm going back in, right now."
He started for the castle, but Loki shot out a fist and grabbed the man's shirt collar. "It was her idea," he hissed. "Of course I didn't mean to leave her behind, but she wanted to get Hundred out safely."
"Who, that little guy in the arms of the big blue metal guy?" Clint sighed heavily and slapped one thigh with his open palm. "If that isn't Tasha all over – risking her life to save some worthless little dude who isn't worth the ground she walks on."
"As it happens I agree with you," Loki said coldly. "I suppose we must have some faith in her, however."
"Oh, well, hell yeah. This is the Black Widow we're talking about here, not some bounty hunter…"
"You are talking about the female warrior you desire?" Sif asked Loki. "She has proved her bravery today, far better than the usual scum you trick into your bed. I suppose I must approve your choice."
"Wait – desire? Bed?" Clint's eyelids narrowed. "She is the Black Widow, and she eats pale Goth types for breakfast. Good luck with that."
Loki laughed shortly. "I suppose I could add a few boasts here, but the few shreds of chivalry that remain to me won't allow it. In any case, please let me concentrate on calling up my son to rescue us."
"Your son? What the fuck is he… Holy shit! Mother of God! What the actual fuck?" Clint pointed to the water.
The surface of the lake bubbled, and the head of an enormous serpent emerged. It reared up, dipped as though it were acknowledging their presence, and spoke in a voice so low it was difficult to hear. "Father," Jormungandr declared. "Why are you on Midgard with this mortal?"
Clint turned to look at Loki, his mouth hanging open. "You are that thing's father?" He cleared his throat. "Sorry, no disrespect. But it's not everyday…"
"Up to a few moments hence you were a huge spider, so you might withdraw your judgement." Loki's tone was still glacial. "Jorm, we'll need to transport the mortal to Symkaria. There is another who will join him. As well you must take Thor and Sif back to Asgard."
"I don't want to go to fucking Sym-whatever-ia."
"We are not leaving you, brother."
"No, indeed – the fun is just about to start!"
Clint, Thor, and Sif all spoke at once, but they were drowned out by the mighty growl of the serpent. "Very well, Father, but I can only wait a short while. The lake is not deep enough to support my body, and if I stay longer the ground will break apart under us."
Indeed, already the stones underfoot were beginning to shake. Loki glanced at the sluice passage, hoping Natasha's bright figure would appear there at any moment. However the portal remained dark and empty. Had Doom overcome her? Was she on Kronsteig's table that very minute?
A few seconds ticked by, and the rumbles increased. "Now, Father," Jormungandr insisted.
"Just give me a minute longer…" Loki headed back to the dark doorway. "I am going to find Natasha."
"Now you're talking my language." Clint joined him, his mouth parting in a grin.
"Wait for us!" Sif pulled Thor behind her, laughing with bloodlust.
"Father!" Jormungandr bellowed. "It will not hold much longer!"
Natasha suddenly appeared at the doorway supporting Hundred in her arms. "Jesus Christ. I told you to wait by the beach. Can no one follow orders? And is that their ride, Loki?"
"Yes." Loki clapped one hand over his heart, feeling the quickened beat under his fingers. "Yes, that is their ride."
The setting sun sent out long, orange rays across the lake as Natasha managed to drag Hundred onto the beach. "Nat, you okay?" Clint frowned at Hundred.
"Yeah." Natasha looked at Loki. "Can you get him out of here?"
Loki pushed Clint aside. "My son will take him wherever you think is best."
"Your son … you are full of surprises." Natasha followed Loki to the water's edge.
"Can you believe this shit?" Clint asked in a stage whisper. "Apparently that jerk is baby daddy to a fricking enormous snake. A snake, Nat."
"Now!" Jormungandr shouted. "It must be now!"
Loki pushed Thor into the water, and Sif followed. "You must do it, Thor. Get on Jorm's back, and I will join you in Asgard. Tell me, Natasha, where is the safest place for the boy?"
"Not a doubt in my mind," she said at once. "Take him to Symkaria. Did my research – they have a liberal civil union policy. But he'll need money…" Natasha removed the pearl necklace Lucia had put round her neck and tucked it into Hundred's pocket.
"He'll need more than that," Clint said. "Someone to take there, sell that enormous strand of pearls, make sure he gets the right treatment…" His voice died down.
"Thank you for volunteering," Loki sneered.
"No way! I'm staying with Nat until…"
Natasha looked at Clint. "Do me this favor," she begged. "I'll meet you in Manhattan in a few days, footage intact and with a successful op to report."
Loki chuckled, and Clint wheeled on him. "Funny, huh? She'll be with me when you're long gone, bro." His face twisted and he added, "Uh, why don't you come with me, Nat? We're done here, right?"
She felt Loki's furious eyes on her. "I have a few loose ends to wrap up," she said softly and kissed Clint on his cheek. "But it's all downhill from here – I swear."
The water began to boil as Jormungandr thrashed and shouted for haste, but Loki ignored the waves and looked at the little island just visible from the beach. Soon he would be there with Natasha, he promised himself. Soon.