Loki is following a woman. Her name: Maria Hill. He vaguely remembers her from two years ago, but he can't be sure. He guesses she sure remembers him. She keeps giving him this look. I saw what you did. And I don't trust you one bit. Tony who walks beside him, gives him a sympathetic look. As though things will get better with time. Something he knows is very short at the moment.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is very different than from what he remembers. Of course, he had been seeing through different eyes then. He can see that new walls have been installed and much newer technology creates a calm hum in the air. It is only when he looks at the people around him, does he feel any discomfort.
He had managed to get Thor to bring him another amulet, so he feels better for that at least. He knows that his jotun form is more than accepted at home but...is that what Stark Tower is now? A home where he can relax and be free? Of course, it is. He didn't know it before but he sure does now.
But anyway, what was he thinking? Oh yes. His appearance. It's apparently quite unsettling to see a blue skinned, red-eyed man walking down the street. The fear of demons runs deeply in these mortals. But he has chosen to live among them, so he must deal with it.
Now as he walks, he sees not disgust in their eyes but horror. Why might you ask? Oh, he simply murdered 80 of their brethren in cold blood and then tried to enslave their entire race with the help of a bunch of scary looking extraterrestrials. He knows he shouldn't make light of what he has done, but where is the fun in being reformed if you can't reminisce about what you were and try to make the best of it?
Two of the men he passes recognize him almost immediately. They both look to one another in confusion. Then, they run off down the hall, most likely going to tell their superiors of what- or who- they have just seen.
The woman leads him to an apartment like room. It's small, but he's not here to stay is he. He's just grateful that they didn't put him in a cell. He's grown quite tired of them believe it or not. He smiles to himself again, quick to hide it when Tony looks at him. He takes the other man's hand and winds their fingers together.
Fury is still looking at the latest report when Coulson comes storming into his office. The man is normally calm and mild natured, but something's got him riled up. He's been working harder than he has in years and it shows. But he still makes tired and angry look good in his neatly pressed suit. They exchange greetings before getting down to business. That's always a good sign.
"Director, with all due respect, I think you've gone too far this time. Things have gotten out of hand and if we don't do something soon, then all hell is going to break loose." The man takes a look at the folder in his hands and sighs. The pictures inside are gruesome and he snaps it shut with disgust.
"Alright. You handle him. I think he'd like that. They both would," he suggests. Coulson snorts, a sound Fury thought he would never hear him produce. Life is full of surprises as they say.
Ian looks around at the two people across from him. Thor and Jane are sitting on the couch, awkwardly watching tv. As a matter of fact, he feels a bit awkward himself. He leans closer to Darcy.
"Hey uh...don't you think we should have our own house to go to?" Ian asks. The woman frowns.
"No. I like it here. With Jane. She has good food." the woman insists. He sighs.
"Well, I thought that since you said we'd be spending time together...then we would be spending time at my place. Or your place. You know. Maybe going out. Somewhere else," he tells her. Darcy takes a moment to think about that. 'Maybe he's right,' she thinks. She looks at the couple across from them and groans softly.
"Ok. Thor, Jane it has recently come to my attention that I may be a bit too clingy with you guys. So I think it's best that we leave," she says. The woman looks over at them with raised eyebrows. Thor shakes his head, ever so optimistic.
"Nonsense Lady Darcy. Your presence is most welcome-" Jane elbows him in the stomach.
"Well, if you feel that way then we wouldn't want to make you feel like you have to stay. You two go have some fun," she insists. Darcy takes the hint and pulls Ian along. She makes sure to close the door behind her. Once they're in her car she turns to him, a wide smile plastered across her face.
"So choir boy. Ever smoke pot before?"
Tony sits, holding Loki's hand in his lap. He's still a little upset about the whole situation they're in. And a little confused but whatever. They haven't spoken for the whole time they've been there but that doesn't matter. They both know it's going to happen eventually so why rush it?
The door opens and closes with an almost inaudible click. The inventor doesn't even have to look up to be able to tell who it is. Actually, he's lying. He can kind of see the stylish and professional school boy haircut out of his peripheral vision, but who cares. He's Tony Freaking Stark.
"Hey Dead Man. You look good. Nice color too. Been to Hawaii lately? I hear it's wonderful this time of year." A small frown graces Coulson's otherwise stoic features. The look Loki gives him says it all. 'Shut up and let me work my magic.' Tony really doesn't think that there's any kind of magic powerful enough to get them out of this kind of trouble, but he's happy to sit back and watch...Loki that is.
"Good evening Agent Coulson. I trust you're here to question me?" the god asks. The man looks like he hasn't slept in days and is flat out annoyed with the world. Tony can relate. He knows the feeling all too well. But then Coulson turns to him and gestures toward the door.
"Stark, I'd like a private moment alone with Loki. If you don't mind," he says carefully. Tony raises his eyebrows in surprise. He hasn't been kicked out of a room since 1997, and he had been drunk then. So much for staying sober. He can see that Coulson isn't joking around and gets up.
"Yell if he tries to take advantage of you. I'll be right outside," he says. Loki nods with a smile as the man leaves. Once the door closes, Coulson sits in the opposite chair.
"Ok, cut the bullcrap, Loki. Things are getting serious out there. Take a look at this and tell me if you're still smirking then." The man tosses the portfolio at him and begins speaking again.
"It's clearly a message. We can only guess it's for you specifically, Loki. So why don't you tell us exactly what else is going on, because according to these, it looks like more than just you is involved in this." The agent gestures toward the photographs and the god reluctantly takes the folder.
Loki sighs and drops the folder in front of himself. When it lands on the table, out slide seventeen glossy HD photographs. Each one is more gruesome than the last. He turns away. He was never one for excessive gore. Tony takes a peek and manages a curse or two. 'Well,' he thinks, 'that's one way to brighten your day.'
In each photograph is a human body, brutally displayed as if it were a hunted game animal. In the last photo, an alien female with blue skin stands over the body. Loki recognizes her instantly and he suddenly has the urge to stand. The breath leaves his body with a heavy gasp.
"Her name is Nebula...a Luphomoid. And she is a daughter of Thanos. I met her once. It was a long time ago, though."
"You've already told me that," Coulson says. The door opens and Tony quickly enters the room. He tiptoes over to them, as if he can't be seen.
"Sorry, sorry. Forgot my wallet," he says when both men look at him. He picks up the brown leather square from the seat he had been sitting in, shooting Loki a wink. When he straightens up, he catches sight of the pictures.
"Holy shit. What the hell is that? Looks like someone got a little shredded there," he says with a low whistle. Loki relays the information to him, much to Coulson's annoyance.
"So you pissed off daddy and now his little girl is coming to collect," Tony says quietly. When Loki nods he groans tiredly. This is just too much for one day. Out of morbid curiosity that can't be helped, the inventor begins to look through the photos again. It's even worse the second time around. Loki keeps his gaze averted as to not catch sight.
"Her appearance now must mean that Thanos is much closer than I realized. She is his liaison. I think..." It's the nicest way he can put it without getting too in detail. Coulson sighs.
"Tony..." Loki groans. The inventor holds up his wallet.
"Found it. Think I might order a pizza now. You guys want anything? Anchovies? Pepperoni?" The silence he receives says it all. Tony figures it isn't funny anymore and decides to head out again.
"Well, what does she want with you?" Coulson questions. Loki sighs heavily.
"Isn't it obvious? I betrayed her father and now she is out for revenge on his behalf. Though I cannot understand why. They haven't exactly been very amicable toward one another in the past centuries. Then again, perhaps they have had a reconciliation of sorts," he tells him.
"Let's pray it doesn't last long," he adds quietly. He throws the papers back onto the table with a loud slap. A hand tangles itself in his hair and stays there. He's shaking his head in disbelief. His hands are shaking and he needs something steady to hold onto.
"Loki, you must know that this- all of this- is completely insane. You've got to give us something to work with. How can we allow one person do all of...this and still call ourselves S.H.I.E.L.D.?" he asks. The god isn't sure why it's funny, but it doesn't keep him from smiling.
"Well, she is Thanos' daughter." The agent gives him an incredulous look.
"This isn't funny, Loki. People are dying. Essentially, because of you. Because of Thor. Our world was quite peaceful until New Mexico." Loki frowns. He's never really seen that side of things before. He guesses he can't be exempted from all of the blame.
"It's not important how Nebula and I met. We have never seen eye to eye, but I admired her. Once. No matter what can be said about her, she is quite ruthless in her endeavors. But, too unrefined for my tastes as a prince of Asgard. We could have never been friends back then if given the chance. Now..." Loki shrugs lightly. Coulson grimaces at the implication.
"Why would Nebula help Thanos if she's his enemy?" the agent asks.
"I never said she was going to help him. I'm hoping she won't but then again..." In the background, they hear the door open again. Tony gives a slight whistle, summoning their attention. He grins.
"Hey, everything ok? It's been like two hours. Can I come in now?" he asks politely. Loki sighs heavily, but Coulson doesn't give him a chance to say another word.
"Stark, we're not finished yet, so please give us a few more moments," Coulson tells him. The inventor nods and closes the door again. The inventor has actually been on his best behavior for the past few hours, letting Coulson breathe a sigh of relief. He continues on with his questions, having now completely disregarded the other man's interruption.
"As far as I'm concerned, it seems as though you're trying to mislead us. S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't look upon that very highly. So, please enlighten me." Loki scowls at the accusation. He keeps going.
"Power," Loki says carefully.
"That's what it is. What they are all after. Thanos, the Other, Nebula. There are more worlds than the Nine Realms. Much more than can be counted. It is only a matter of time before someone figures out where all of the power needed to control them all lies. In the combination of the Infinity Stones and the Gauntlet." Coulson nods slowly. The conversation is starting to pick up.
"Alright. Now we're getting somewhere. Now tell me this. Where is the Tesseract?" he asks. The god hesitates. He should have known that this was coming. He did know in fact.
"The Infinity Stones are best left apart, Agent Coulson. You must know that wielding that much power can only corrupt a person, even if they mean to do good with it. Did you see what happened to Jane Foster? She is a mere mortal and the single Infinity Stone she did come into contact with almost ended her life." Loki runs a hand over his eyes. He's tired. He looks at the clock and realizes that they've been talking for over six hours now.
"Imagine what could happen if someone like you tried to harness the power of them all. I have an inkling of what you plan to do with the Tesseract. I know of Phase Two. It won't work. It is unfathomable. Even I wouldn't dare to be so bold. I can't even be certain if there would even be a Midgard to return to should you do just that."
"Yeah, well imagine if someone like Thanos got ahold of them. Maybe Nebula. There'd be a lot more of this," Coulson stabs at the papers with his index finger, "if that happened. Entire worlds would shatter from the force. Is that what you really want?" Coulson counters with a harsh tone. Loki stares down at the table, quietly thinking.
"Then perhaps leaving them where they lie would be would be the better of two evils," he says quietly. Coulson's eyes widen with shock. He clears his throat.
"So you would rather let the world remain defenseless and open to destruction than providing us with a proper chance of survival?" Loki smiles widely. He likes this new change of tactic. It's an interesting play.
"Your mind games will not work on me, Agent Coulson. I am a thousand years older than you and have used them all. Even if you don't agree with what I am doing, I did not say that I would allow the realm of Midgard to perish. This is my home now and I intend to do what is in its best interests," Loki tells him. Coulson nods slowly. He knows he shouldn't, but he tries again.
"Yeah, well we know that you love Tony. What's he supposed to do when he's going up against a being that's more than powerful enough to command an entire planet of aliens on us in the blink of an eye? Maybe next time he goes into a portal, it's a one way trip for real this time. Think about it, Loki. Is that really what you want?"
The god only watches as the agent gets up and walks out of the door. The pictures are still lying on the table, creating a glaring scene of horror. In the hall, Coulson comes face to face with Tony. The inventor is leaning against the wall, watching the door. He springs to life when he sees the other man.
In the hall, Coulson comes face to face with Tony. The inventor is leaning against the wall, watching the door. He springs to life when he sees the other man and begins to bombard him with questions.
"So, what happened? You're not going to keep him are you? " he asks. He continues on with his questions until the man stops him. Coulson continues on as though he hasn't spoken.
"You're free to go. But we'd like to keep going for a bit. There's still information that Loki holds that could prove useful for us." Tony nods and watches him walk away. He turns around and goes into the room. Loki stares at him as if seeing him for the first time.
"What am I doing, Tony? Am I wrong for not telling them? Should I just...give in?" he asks. Tony places a hand against Loki's cheek and the god leans into his touch.
"I think you're doing what feels natural. You know what the Tesseract can do. You've experienced it in ways none of us probably ever will. It's a dangerous weapon. To help or destroy. In the end, it has to be up to you and Lorelei whether or not you guys go and dig it up from wherever it is." Loki nods and takes a deep breath.
"You hungry? I sure am. You know on Asgard, I never once saw a piece of pizza anywhere. You up for some?"
Author's Note: Hey there fellow readers. I still don't know if I like this chapter or not. But I was mainly trying to convey the ruthlessness of S.H.I.E.L.D. The desperation that they as human beings might feel if there were a huge war coming for them even bigger than the last. Hope I'm not getting too out of context here. Or OOC with the characters.