"I was planning on driving, kid, but the feds called dibs," Tony Stark told Jak as she wheeled her suitcase into the lobby of the Compound. When the billionaire mentioned the feds, she expected to see Jimmy Woo waiting for her, but instead it was a tall, forgettable looking man standing in the lobby with a pleasant smile.
"I'm Agent Feuer," he said, "Can I take your bag for you?"
"The FBI doesn't trust me to get to Manhattan on my own?" She asked, holding tight to her suitcase handle. On her back-and-forth trips for the past week, Mr. Stark, Rhodey, or Happy Hogan had been driving her to the city. It seemed odd that all of a sudden the government wanted to escort her.
"There's been a change of plans," the agent said apologetically, "The board wants you to stay at one of our facilities while this whole thing is sorted out."
"They already approved my stay at Stark Tower," she protested, looking to Tony for help.
"They've got all their paperwork in order," he shrugged, "I already called your lawyer, but even she says it checks out."
"Fine," Jak huffed. She'd already been in a poor mood before she got to the lobby and now the FBI was making it worse. Without asking a second time, the agent took her bag from her and collapsed the handle. He picked it up by the side and carried it to the doors.
"I'll just put this in the car and then be back in five to collect you," he nodded at her.
"I have done nothing to violate my probation for the past three years," Jak said to Tony, trying to keep her voice from whining, "Why do they still treat me like I can't be trusted?"
"I think they're trying to cover their asses," he replied, frowning, "A lot has happened with your case in the past month. You requested a transfer, then there was a kidnapping attempt, then you wanted your powers back, then you started dating an intergalactic warlord, and then there were more kidnapping attempts. And now the thing with the bones is spooking them. They want to be extra careful."
"I was looking forward to being back at the Tower," she grumbled, "Now I'm probably going to be stuck in some musty old FBI dorm room."
"Just remember, they aren't imprisoning you," he patted her back, "I'm still coming to the city. We'll have fun out on the town when they aren't questioning you."
"Thanks," she tried to smile, but she felt like a beach ball that was leaking air. The feeling only worsened when she looked around the lobby and did not see Loki ready to say goodbye. She'd already said her goodbyes to Wanda and Agent Romanoff earlier, so she wasn't expecting them to send her off. Steve was there and offered her a firm handshake.
"Good luck," he told her, "I'm sure we'll be seeing you soon."
"I hope so," she tried to smile at him, but it was weak. "Don't get into too much trouble without me. Who else is going to clean up the messes in this place?"
"We'll do our best," he chuckled, "You just focus on the investigation."
"Alright, are you ready?" The FBI agent appeared again, narrowing his eyes at Steve. This made Jak dislike the agent more than her first impression had. What kind of federal agent looked at Captain America as if they hated him? Even if the super soldier had caused countless problems for the government, he was Captain America. Even people who hated freedom and justice still respected Steve Rogers.
"Um, yeah, I guess," she looked down the corridor, hoping to see Loki. He wasn't there. She hadn't realized that she had offended him so much. It had just been a small thing. She'd had a reflexive reaction to hearing him talk about Bucky. It wasn't like he knew that she used to have feelings for James Barnes. How could he know that? No one alive knew that except her and maybe Bucky himself if he remembered anything after Hydra and her mother had scrambled his mind. It would be hard to remember one small kiss and a few stolen embraces after seventy years even without the brainwashing… though it was still fresh enough in her mind to muddle her feelings.
"After you," Agent Feuer gestured to the door and she headed out.
As soon as they stepped outside, Jak felt her feet leave the ground as she was lifted up, firm arms around her. She gasped in surprise, but soon found herself smiling when she saw that it was Loki who had scooped her up.
"I was worried you weren't going to say goodbye," she gripped the front of his jacket and stared at him. She was pleased to see that familiar toothy grin on his face, even if there was trouble in his eyes.
"You aren't getting away that easily," he told her, leaning in close, pressing his mouth near her ear, "After all, I have to remind you why you need to come back, don't I?"
Before she could say anything, he was kissing her. His lips were all over her face and just under her jaw in a matter of seconds. If they hadn't been in public, she suspected his mouth would have moved even lower than her neck, but the agent cleared his throat before things got too exciting. With one last, fierce kiss on the lips that Jak returned, weaving her fingers into his hair, Loki finally set her down. His hands lingered around her waist, holding her close to him and she was reluctant to back away.
"You'll think of me," he said, not as a request, but a statement, "You'll think of me every moment you're away."
"Well," she replied breathlessly, "I should probably spend some time thinking about the parole board too."
"Then dream of me every night," he whispered in her ear, his chest rumbling as he spoke.
"Dream a little dream of me…" she sang softly and then laughed, embarrassed at her own voice, though she'd had several vocal tutors when she was younger. Her mother had thought a young lady ought to know how to sound pretty, but she'd always claimed Jak's constant warbling was nothing more than an annoyance.
"Don't spend a moment longer than necessary away from me, elskan mín," he told her firmly, studying her face with intensity that made her nervous.
"I'll be back soon enough," she nodded and tapped the dampening cuff on her wrist, "Where else will I find a magic teacher?"
"That reminds me," the agent said loudly, putting a hand on her shoulder and pulling her a step back away from Loki. The Asgardian's smile turned into a scowl. "Colonel Rhodes holds control over your ability, correct?"
"Yes. Why?" she replied, afraid she knew what was coming next.
"You understand that we must turn the cuff back on while you are staying in our facilities. For the safety of everyone."
"Pardon?" Loki hissed. "You know there is someone actively threatening her and attempting to kidnap her and you think it is a good idea to take away her best defense?"
"She will be perfectly safe from any 'kidnapping' attempts while in our custo- while in our care," the agent assured. The sarcasm in his tone made Jak feel less than safe.
"You don't believe there's an assassin trying to kidnap me?" She asked, crossing her arms. "Did Mr. Stark not show you the footage? You don't believe Captain America? Or Thor?"
"How are we to know you didn't arrange for these little incidents yourself? You could be trying to get away from your probation. Or fake your own death so you can start over again."
"So sorry," Loki grabbed Jak's shoulders and pushed her behind him. He took a step closer to the agent and sneered. "Jaklyn will not be going with you to the city. I cannot trust you with her protection. She will go with Stark as originally planned."
"Jaklyn, does he often try to control you like this?" The agent asked. He shook his head sadly and smiled at her. "We can get you out of an abusive relationship if you need help. Even from someone as seemingly powerful as him."
"Watch your tongue, Agent," Loki seethed, "It might get you killed."
"Are you threatening a federal agent, sir?" Agent Feuer grinned at him, his hand not-so-subtly going to his hip and the gun holstered there.
"Loki, hey, calm down," Jak put both her hands on his shoulder and turned him back to face her. "It's okay. He's an asshole, but I'll be fine."
"You are certain?" Loki asked. He clutched her hand and threw another menacing look over his shoulder.
"Yeah. I've met worse federal idiots than him. I'll be okay. I'll call you as soon as I get settled in the city, okay?" She attempted a smile and almost managed to make it look genuine.
"Fine," Loki sighed and gave her one last hug before turning back to the agent. "If I find out anything has happened to her while she is in your care, I will not stop hunting you until your head is on a pike. Understood?"
"From the sounds of things, she'll probably be safer with me than with you," Agent Feuer gave Loki one last smile and then roughly grabbed Jak's bicep, all but dragging her to the SUV parked in the drive. He tossed her in the back seat before she could say another word to Loki and then locked the doors. Jak felt a spike of fear in her gut when the doors locked her in while Agent Feuer went off to find Rhodey and get control of her cuff. He'd left her alone with the driver of the vehicle, who she assumed was another fed.
"Yikes, must be a chore to work with that guy all the time," she tried to joke.
The driver said nothing and continued to stare ahead.
"That's okay," she muttered, "I'm not feeling chatty anyway."
He grunted.
She absently hummed the rest of "Dream a Little Dream of Me" as she waited.
Five minutes of watching Loki pace back and forth outside the car later, Jak saw Agent Feuer return. He nodded his goodbyes to the handful of Avengers and ignored Loki, who tried to trip him. The bland looking man easily hopped over the foot and opened the car door on the opposite side of Jak. He slid into the back seat next to her and told the driver to go.
A terrible feeling sunk into Jak as she watched the Compound grow distant behind them. She knew she'd be back. She knew she was only going away for a little while. But there was an illogical fear in her that neither of those things was true. The fear only intensified when Agent Feuer entered a code in his phone and she felt the power dampening cuff cut off her magic.
"Better safe than sorry," he smiled at her. His voice sounded slightly different, almost familiar, but she couldn't place it.
"Yeah, wouldn't want me to use my scary magic on you," she continued to stare out the window, "Even though I have been nothing but cooperative for the last three years."
"You really ought to get your attitude under control," Agent Feuer scolded. "How unbecoming."
"Directions, sir?" The driver asked and Jak felt a chill run down her spine. That voice, she definitely recognized. Every muscle in her body felt like ice, but she still managed to turn her head back to peer at the rearview mirror. Cold blue eyes looked back from under dark brows
"That ought to be obvious, Sergeant Barnes," Agent Feuer adjusted his suit jacket and leaned back, "We'll be taking Winnet home."
She drew a sharp breath and gaped at the man next to her. "You… you're the one who sent my mother's bones!"
"Correct," he grinned at her and opened his mouth to say more, but she was already frantically trying to open the car door. When it wouldn't budge, she slammed her fist on the window. If she still had her magic she could have shattered it easily, but her bare hand was no match for bullet proof glass. She unbuckled her seat belt and tried to use the metal end to smash the window, but it had little impact.
"Now, now, I thought you would realize that I'm on your side," Agent Feuer reached over to her and placed his hand on her forehead. She tried to slap him away, but he dug his fingernails into her skin and orange energy built up on his hand, flowing to her head and making her suddenly drowsy. Her eyelids felt heavy and lifting her arms suddenly became a strenuous activity. Slowly, her limbs relaxed and her neck drooped as she blinked a few dozen times, trying to keep her eyes open. Her fingers twitched, but quickly went still as her breathing slowed and the backseat became more and more comfortable.
"I hate having important discussions in vehicles," the agent said, his voice hardly more than a blurring of sounds. "Once we're home, I'll fill you in on all the details. In the meantime, all you need to do is sleep."
The word instantly affected her. She could no longer focus on anything except how tired she was and how wonderful it would be to take a nap. So she did. Her head would have lolled painfully to the side, but the man had moved closer and allowed her to use his shoulder as a pillow.
"Is she alright?"
"Drive on, Sergeant Barnes," the man said softly, "We had best get both of you back, before she wakes and before your mind finds itself again."
"Yes, sir."
A note from the author: ...
Special thanks to JackpumpkinQueen and CrimsonWitch008 for your reviews!