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 NINETY
THURSDAY, MAY 3RD 2012
1655 HOURS
28 KÖNIGSTRASSE
STUTTGART GERMANY, EUROPE
LOKI
It is a pity I could not bring her with me, I always knew the possibility was slim at best given the state she would be in after the ritual, but it became impossible when she revealed she had her memories back. She would attract too much attention, whether that was because she looked weak and sick, or because she was trying to skin me alive. She would have prevented the show I have planned.
I think she would have loved to see this place. It is not exact, but for Midgardian architecture I cannot help but see Asgard in it. Gold and polished marble, stone columns and tall windows rounded at the top, and a gorgeous gilded ceiling.
I could have asked her to dance with me, it was never an option before. If I danced in public with a woman, it was expected that I dance with a Princess or some manner of Noble Lady, not my servant. Not that it mattered much back then, since she had strong feelings about any performance meant for the eyes of others. If she danced she did it only for herself.
Still, before she woke, and realized all my lies, I thought about it, I was even fashioning her a gown in my mind for the occasion. Something that would blend well with Midgardian fashion. A black dress with very clean lines, cut as a halter dress with a very thin collar and a slit in her skirt that exposed her leg softly when she moved. Then to contrast the simplicity, a sheer overlay for the sleeves, ornately decorated with beaded embroidery of leafed vines and small blue flowers, as well as the beadwork extending to her belt, a quarter of the black band decorated with the beading so it did not break up the silhouette completely.
She would have been so lovely. Exquisite as she turned her back on her 'friends' and took my hand. I knew they would send someone to try and stop me. The specifics of who did not really matter much to me, even without trying she somehow enamoured each of S.H.I.E.L.D's best. She had the sibling affection of both their 'Hawk' and 'Black Widow', she had the budding love of the 'Soldier' and she even had interest of the inventor to a small degree, though she would have been happy to lose it. Making her choose me in front of any of them would have been a powerful display, one I would enjoy for personal reasons, but also for the fact it would no doubt weaken the stability of the team.
It still will I am sure when it happens later. While it proved impractical for the Gala, it is still something I do, and always have, intended to do. For now it will have to wait until I reunite with her escort.
I let Agent Barton kill the ruined remains of the blond doctor, she paralyzed him so she could torture him as she saw fit, so he was of no more use to me. I wasn't going to waste any stones or energy attempting to fix him. If she was able to incapacitate three soldiers like that she was healthy enough to not need a doctor, just someone with the knowledge of how to maintain an IV.
They called it Ketamine, a substance which has a reputation for a particularly vile use, but would serve my purposes quite well. It would induce a detached, dreamlike state and make it difficult for her to move. While being a born healer meant she had a higher tolerance and was less likely to be affected by mortal drugs, it still was not impossible, and even she could not resist their effects if it was continuously added to her blood one drop at a time.
Before she all but killed him Terrance suggested that completely sedating her would have been the better option, but he only thought that way because of his ignorance. Her abilities have been with her since the day she was conceived, and therefore they exist even when she is unconscious. If we completely sedated her, there was a very high chance her body would continuously burn through her magic in an attempt to heal the 'pain' from the ritual, and when it failed to do that with its own energy it would start looking for a different source, pulling the life out the very men I needed to guard her.
The substance seems to be working wonderfully for now. Even at this distance if I let the connection relax, which I safely can now that she is not actively trying to attack me, I can feel her. She is calm, if not a bit confused from the drug, but most importantly I do not feel any strong sensations of anger or fear. That means she is safe, and nothing has gone wrong.
That information is not the only thing I learn that makes me smile, though the second is from an entirely different source. The cell phone in my pocket, that I took before Agent Barton and his team left to steal the Iridium, just informed me they arrived at Schäfer Sicherheitsdienst which means it is finally time for me to stop being idle and start my performance.
THURSDAY, MAY 3RD 2012
1656 HOURS
SCHÄFER SICHERHEITSDIENST
STUTTGART GERMANY, EUROPE
CLINT
He has me killing innocent people, and the messed up thing is I wish there were more. Me, not the 'thing' in my driver seat.
These guards didn't do anything except work for the wrong company, but I wish there was a lot more of them to kill because that's how I broke free last time. This control he has over me, this shit I volunteered for round two with, it isn't permanent, not by a long shot. It wears off with time and it also seems to wear off quicker when I'm physically active. When I'm murdering people.
That's how it worked before. The flight from P.E.G.A.S.U.S, the attack at her house god bless her for hitting me with me with a pot of soup, both of those seemed to weaken it a little, that blow specifically. It wasn't enough but for a second there I felt like there was a thin spot I could push through. I want to find that spot again, and even if it means I need to kill a dozen more innocent people I think I'm okay with that because if I can break free here, away from Loki, I only have to kill the two mercs he sent with me! I can warn S.H.I.E.L.D before it's too late, I can help Nora, and I can do something other than stand here and wait for him to steal a man's eye!
THURSDAY, MAY 3RD 2012
1732 HOURS
QUINJET CARGO BAY
INTERNATIONAL WATERS
LOKI
Having my feet knocked out from beneath me by the redirection of my own blast left me quite furious when I rose back up, at least until I saw exactly who caused it. They sent him. I could not contain the chuckle, it was almost too perfect an opportunity. The budding love interest.
Arnora was mine, of that there was no question. But Nora, the woman she lived as for the last three years, she was more his than mine. Her phobia prevented it from ever fully blooming, but anyone who observed them could see it, just as I could when Agent Barton told me of their interactions, that if given half a chance their friendship could very easily turned into love.
His presence left me very tempted with the possibilities. I could present him to her, a broken puppet of the man she knew. I could give her all of them, I thought when suddenly I heard a female voice ordering me to stand down. They sent her 'sister' as well.
Though, as tempting as it was, dolls for Arnora's collection was not my true purpose there. I had grander plans, and seeing them through to the end was far more tempting, enough so that I even let two mortals land blows on me. Seeing the soldiers surprise when his blow barely even moved me made up for it a bit.
Though being thrown into a set of stone stairs took away much of that joy. I let my armor absorb that impact instead of relying on her magic. It was not worth the risk of it upsetting her yet, not before she was safely secured by solid walls, not the thin framing of a semi trailer.
The handcuffs they put me in were particularly adorable. The fact that they really though such thin metal restraints could hold an 'Asgardian' was almost insulting.
Watching the red haired woman's features break into an angry frown when they brought me aboard was delightful though. Agent Romanoff, partner to Agent Barton, and 'family' to Arnora. I had stolen two of the people she valued most, and neither were with me. Her silence was the most amusing of all. I expected Miss Romanoff to ask about at least one of them as I offered her a slight bow while I walked up the cargo bay and let them strap me into the seat, but she said nothing in the presence of the other men.
She did not say anything, because he did not say anything. S.H.I.E.L.D was keeping it a secret. They had not told the 'Soldier' I had Arnora. Every second I listened to the conversation continue without her name I was more certain of that fact.
And then the lightning stole my attention. Oh dear.
NOTES FOR THE READERS:
Two apologies.
First, I wrote half of this on Benadryl because ALLERGIES, so if the quality sucks I'm sorry.
Second, if anyone is unhappy with the fact that I just skimmed over an important scene in the movie, that was intentional. This story is about NORA, and well the events of the movie are important, most of them have nothing to do with her situation. Her story just runs a very close parallel to them. So I will continue to throw them in is connecting points from here on out to let the reader know where we are in the movies narrative, but they will be quick and simple.