So it goes with saying that only things I own with any connection to MARVEL I bought on Ebay or Etsy. MARVEL COMICS & MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE are their own creatures and I have nothing to do with either of them aside from the fact I enjoy reading or watching them, and am grateful for the ability to play in their world. I claim nothing, and I receive nothing for this, expect the pleasure of putting something out into the world.
You can also find this story on ARCHIVE OF OUR OWN under the same title and pen name along with a place to post suggestions.
Don't forget to check out the Photobucket album listed on my profile page too. (My apologies. I didn't realize FF removed the links. I have corrected the problem in what way I can, so for those who like the visual additions, feel free to check them out.)
DAY THREE
CHAPTER EIGHTY THREE
THURSDAY, MAY 3RD 2012
1457 HOURS
OHIO STATE REFORMATORY
MANSFIELD OHIO, USA
NORA
"Well, you are wearing it." That sounded so... juvenile. That thought is both hilarious and sad. There was such a young, unskilled quality to that sentence, like a teenager just hearing of the concept of flirting, and pawing desperately to piece together pretty words.
I wonder if he said such a thing to me before. Loki's made it clear we knew each other, but other then saying he didn't know me as a child, which could cover any age, he hasn't told me how old we were when we met. I wonder if he too nervously scrambled for words to enamour me, before we became adults?
My amusement then fades in the wake of that reminder. I have bruises on my skin. There was nothing juvenile about what we did. The marks on my shoulder are gone, I can feel the difference now that the sensation from the stones has faded away, but the rest of them still remain. I can see the bruises on my wrist, and I can still feel the ones he didn't notice, where his fingers gripped the curve of my hip.
I didn't know that would happen. Even in my head that thought sounds so stupid, I mean, what else would happen? We were alone in the room, in the bed, and I let him kiss me. I thought... I didn't think actually. It was strange, the decisions were made without making decisions. Things just kept progressing, bit by bit, until I was on my stomach underneath him, and his hands were holding me down.
The decanter Loki left is beautiful and heavy is it finds its place quickly in my hands. The container is gourd shaped with a slender neck and a curved handle. Its made of silver, and heavily engraved in a design that reminds me very much of something Persian. The carved elephant on it makes that impression even stronger, though the creature under the elephant is a bit unusual. Its head matches an elephant, but the body reminds me more of a long tailed gazelle.
Given that Loki left it, I'm assuming it is some kind of alcohol, that is if precedent still holds. I'm also assuming, as I pluck out the silver stopper and take a tentative sniff, that whatever it contains is something special or expensive, I can't imagine Loki carrying around something that was brewed in someone's kitchen.
The scent of it doesn't mean much to me, reminding me quickly of my lack of experience with alcohol, as I imagine the taste won't tell me much either once I get around to it.
For a moment I hesitate to fill my mouth with the liquid, because my eyes and curiosity are occupied with the tea set. The inquisitive turn of my thoughts slowing down the desperation that was driving my pace. This is a piece of home.
It's a beautiful tea set, the spout of the teapot carved to resemble an elephant's trunk marks it as part of a set. Though, it seems almost rustic in comparison. Not because it lacks decoration, for it too is rimmed in carved silver and seated with stones of coral and turqoise, but for the stained wood that makes up the outer walls of both the sipping cups and pot. It even has a cast iron candle warmer to set on.
That part grabs my attention even more, this time in confusion. Wine, teapot, and warming stand are all here, but there are no candles or matches left for me to use. Loki left everything in the set but what I need to heat it, or maybe he did?
Running my fingers over the cool metal of the iron does nothing, proving my idea that it might be activated by touch to be false. Or at least false when the touch is flesh. When I repeat the attempt by setting the base of the teapot against the stand I am rewarded with the tiny crackle and flickering glow of a flame. So even Loki's tea set is enchanted. There's something adorable about that.
While part of me wants to just uncork the bottle and drink, another part of me respects that if Loki bothered to leave these items behind, I should probably use them. At the very least drinking it warm, the way it seems to be intended, may make the taste less unpleasant.
After I fill the teapot quickly and set it back onto its burner, once again seeing the flame spark up and smiling softly at that I find myself with another question. How do I know when it's warm enough? Though that question quickly answers itself when I notice the size of the flame shrink down drastically after a few minutes. It seems the set isn't just enchanted to create fire, but to control the temperature as well. I don't know if that is complicated magick but to me it's certainly impressive.
Other than the heat I now knew to expect from alcohol I didn't have any idea what to expect from it, not that I cared too much anymore. Though after the first notes of it sank into my tastebuds I was treated to a sensation of warmth that sank into my sore muscles gently, and an aftertaste that reminded me very much of some variety of melon.
After that it was eclipsed for the moment by the taste of one of loki's apples. I intended to drink more, not waste it in the plumbing.
THURSDAY, MAY 3RD 2012
1500 HOURS
OHIO STATE REFORMATORY
MANSFIELD OHIO, USA
LOKI
There were several reasons this location was chosen, while having been abandoned for a little less than a decade, was the secure defensible nature of it, as well as the underground delivery bay that would let us finish assembling the portal machine and prepare it for transport. The one that is most important to me however was the existence of a medical wing, stocked with equipment, even if some of it was slightly antiquated.
Those facilities will be necessary for the ritual, and even as Agent Barton and Dr. Selvig, approach my other doctor is overseeing the sterilization of the environment and equipment. The more 'mystical' aspects of the preparation will be dealt with later by myself.
Another reason this location was suitable is its proximity to one of Midgard's ley lines. Every planet has magnetic grids traveling along its surface, and with the occasional rare exception, these are where spatial anomalies occur most of the time. In a place called Iberia Ohio, about 220 km away from here is one such pathway which connects to a location 42 km from Stuttgart, Germany. Then from Dettingen an der Erms it will be a simple matter of acquiring a vehicle, and ultimately teleporting inside the building.
We could have chose a closer location to the pathway in Iberia, but I decided to keep this base distant on the very unlikely chance S.H.I.E.L.D would consider searching along those lines. Things have progressed far too well for me to fail simply because I assumed the mortals wouldn't consider the metaphysical. After all they were forced to acknowledge the possibility with the 'God of Thunder'.
The ley line will also make it easier for me to project my illusion to the location. The mortals methods of travel take much more time than mine, and I don't want to be kept waiting there forever, also the gala I intend to disturb will not continue indefinitely. As long as one has the destination in mind, an experienced Seidr user can project an illusion great distances. Mother was able to project hers to me across the universe, and this planet is much smaller than that.
THURSDAY, MAY 3RD 2012
1501 HOURS
S.H.I.E.L.D HELICARRIER
INTERNATIONAL WATERS OFF EAST COAST, USA
COULSON
It took Captain Rogers three more guesses at my name before they stopped being just similarities. I knew it the same time Natasha did because of the matching headset in my ear.
That still didn't stop me from swallowing with an uncomfortable combination between excitement and apprehension. It also didn't stop Agent Romanoff from grabbing the opportunity. "Looks like you're up Fanboy." But her jest turned to sympathetic understanding. "You want me to continue the keep away, we have secure rooms to hide in." I hated the idea as tempting. Between Natasha, the size of the ship, and a few instructions spoken via bluetooth, we could have kept the Captain one step behind 'me' with a game of 'you just missed him' for at least another half hour.
I decided not to be a coward though, especially when I noticed his searching gaze had stopped on the location of us as we hung out in the cat walk. Once that happened it was a bit of a relief, because it took most of the decision making out of my hands. The catwalk was walled in nothing but glass, so even if I tried walking the opposite direction now he would just simply change his to meet me, and he was closer to the staircase then we were anyways.
It's a pity the gatorade Agent Romanoff offered me and I declined wasn't filled with something else, because maybe if I was slightly intoxicated I wouldn't make such a fool of myself.
Surprisingly the conversation went rather well. After he reached out and shook my hand, and I successfully resisted the urge to freak out about that, I asked him what he needed me for. That seemed to catch him off guard a little, until I lightly tapped me ear as a reminder of the capabilities of modern phones. Even if the bluetooth isn't invisible, it was on the opposite side of my face, and is still new enough to him that it fell into the out of sight out of mind rule.
The rest of his memory is quite sharp, sharper than mine even. "I'm looking for information on a friend of mine, I remembered you were their S.O last year, as early as May 11?" He even remembered the date, something I didn't until he mentioned it. Oh god, she told him about the don't break Captain America speech!
"I was the commanding officer of a few Agents, Captain, what was her name and rank?" Those details skirt my attention as I divert most of my focus to not blushing in mortification over that last thought, and hiding that intensity beneath a facade of thoughtfulness.
"Agent Elaine, Level 1..." After I regain control of my blood pressure a bit I turn my gaze back to his. "The name sounds familiar, but if she was still a Level one she wouldn't be here. In a situation like this, all Agents under level 3 without an necessary area of expertise, are required to submit themselves for evaluation, and relocation to the nearest S.H.I.E.L.D security center.
The arch of his eyebrow makes me elaborate. "The name sounds bad I know but it's more of safehouse then a prison, I promise." Then before he can ask and in an attempt to buy us more time to rescue her I continue talking with my very next breath. "I'd be happy to track her down for you, but it will take a little time, would you like me to pass on a message?"
"I'd actually like to talk to her personally?" My wince is half genuine, because without the weight of the guilt I still don't like refusing Captain America. "I'm afraid that's not possible." Seeing the tension in his eyebrows makes me add a quick "At least not right now."
"Standard protocol. There is no outside communication until the quarantine has been lifted, it's very unlikely with this situation, but those safehouse store weapons and S.H.I.E.L.D tech too, we can't risk someone from the inside sharing information."
The disappointment is about as clear as a brick, but after a moment I can see him shove it down behind a stern face of practicality. "But she will be okay there?"
"Yes sir. I've been to once before, their Spartan, but you get a twin bed, and footlocker. The bathroom is shared but they room you with an agent of your gender and level, and meals are served every four hours."
For a moment it looks like he is going to voice something, but then the Agent nearest us mutters as he starts the next batch of facial imagery out of Germany and whatever those words were fall silent in the place of a resigned "alright" as the Captain shuts himself back off behind a stern expression and the guarded wall of his arms across his chest.
I have a master's in reading body language, and seeing those ques on my childhood hero is just upsetting. But I don't know what to do about it. I can't tell him the truth, because Fury is standing right there and I know he is listening to every word I am saying, But I desperately want to do something to distract the Captain, at least for a little while, from the thoughts I know are of friendship and sacrifice, but what can we talk about? I know the Hero, I don't know the man.
But I do have my set of playing cards... They might remind him of WWII and just make his painful reminiscing worse but then again, the only other thing we could talk about is her, or things that involved her, so I suppose WWII it will have to be, or at least technically Vietnam. "So did you know the VFW released a set of Captain America trading cards in the 60s?"
NOTES FOR THE READERS:
My original rendition of Coulson in this chapter came out much more childish than the fanboy-ish that i was going for, so I rewrote it and hopefully removed the majority of that. However if any remains I apologize.
My fan theory regarding Coulson's beloved trading cards is this. They were released is a 20th anniversary of WWII / fundraising effort by the VFW during Vietnam when donations were low due to the dislike of the war.
Lastly if anyone is wondering about the Ley Lines, according to Google Earth and the custom map I downloaded for that, there are actually Ley Lines in those locations. Loki uses them much like a road map or a compass when he 'teleports' long distances, and the pathways (thor the dark world) form most often along these energy lines. (I say most often because I haven't checked the locations in the movies for ley lines, and this is my theory, not the MCUs, so this way any science they add later won't entirely cancel mine out.)