Mischief Makers Ch. 02

Cami hadn't slept much at all, sharing her tiny bed with Loki, but she hadn't minded because it gave her the chance to relax and think about what she'd volunteered for in taking on Loki's case. Though he seemed vulnerable and had been cooperative with their requests of him for the most part, Cami understood that Loki wasn't just a victim of circumstance. Like anyone else, he had chosen how to play the cards life had dealt to him. Now that he was on Earth, stripped of his powers and 'immortality', he had to decide his strategy, and she guessed he was merely in survival mode right now.

It had been about four hours since they'd left Clint and Natasha to talk in the suite when there was a firm knock on her door. Cami expected to find her brother or Natasha or both on the other side. It wasn't.

The man was dressed in operations blue. She didn't know him or what position he held on the helicarrier. "Trainee Barton," the man said, holding out two ear devices, "Agent Barton requires yours and Loki's attention on line five."

Cami took the communicators, thanked him politely and watched him head down the corridor before returning to Loki who was slowly sitting up on the bed and running his hands through his unruly hair.

"Something is going on." She powered up the devices, set them to channel five and handed him one, making sure he was ready as she slipped her own into place on her ear. With a tap, Cami opened the com line. "Trainee Barton calling in," she said, noting how unsettled her voice sounded.

"Cami, it's Clint," her brother's voice responded. "We have a situation and Fury thinks you two can help. Is Loki on?"

"Yes," Cami said, feeling her stomach knot up a bit. "Where are you?"

"D.C. Nat and I went ahead to start gathering intel. I need you two on the flight deck right away to catch a jet out here to us. Mike Hopper will fly you out. Look for him."

"What should we bring?"

"Hopper will have some files for you and a hand-held computer. Study what's there then call us back for an update. We'll equip the team once we have a plan in place."

"I'm kinda freaked out right now," Cami admitted. "What's happening?"

"Sorry, kiddo." Clint said, his voice softening. "Possible kidnapping and we don't have any time to waste. Hold on to those coms. Remember to call us."

The line went quiet.

Loki slipped off the bed, retrieved his jacket and pulled it on.

Cami eyes shifted from Loki to the picture of her and Clint. It should have been the greatest moment of her life. She was going on a mission, an honest to goodness mission. Instead of feeling elated, her mind was cluttering with doubts. She hadn't been cleared for field duty. Why would Fury think she could help with a kidnapping? Clint hadn't said that he thought she could help.

Loki lightly touched Cami's arm with the tips of his fingers, drawing her back into a moment of clarity. His urgent expression reinforced that they had to get moving.

Cami pulled shoes on and grabbed her uniform jacket from the closet, expecting the flight deck to be cool. Then they left her quarters, taking the shortest route possible to get them up top. Cami matched Loki's pace. The rest had helped rejuvenate him some, but they weren't exactly racing along.

Hopper was waiting at the top of the main lift with a jeep to drive them to the far side of the helicarrier. Only as they pulled up next to it did Cami realize that they were taking S.H.I.E.L.D.'s newest and smallest transport jet.

The 5-80 Streak was a fast and highly maneuverable aircraft with stealth capabilities. After a full year of flight testing, the Streak was only cleared for active use within the last few months.

Cami followed Hopper up the boarding ramp. She tried to take in everything about the ship's design. "This is so cool," she said.

"We need to get there fast and this baby became available." Hopper gestured to the gentleman in the co-pilot seat who was running through the preflight checklist. "This is Agent Dale."

After a nod to Dale, Cami moved to Loki. He was already strapped in and engrossed in a case file. She took the seat across from him where an identical folder and a case for a handheld computer rested. She briefly skimmed the first page of the file, too distracted by the movements of the jet as it slipped into position and took off to get much insight.

"How long will it take us to get to D.C.?"

"About ninety minutes," Hopper said. "That's half the time of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s next fastest jet. Should barely give you time to do your reading."

Cami turned her attention back to the file and tried to focus. The file was vague, obviously thrown together in a hurry. The nanny of some influential politician had gone missing and been tracked to a private men's club whose owner, Victor Drago, was suspected of shady dealings. Authorities had been after the guy for blackmail, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture and murder, but had yet to make any of the charges stick.

She studied the picture of the missing girl, Anna Morroz. She was young and innocent looking, but Cami knew how easily a good girl could get involved in bad things.

She activated her com. "Trainee Barton to Agent Romanoff."

Natasha responded, "This is Romanoff."

"We've looked over the files. Clint said you'd have an update."

"Anna's car was found a few blocks from Drago's club. We talked to a friend of hers who told us she was working days as a nanny, but nights at the club to help settle some hefty debts. Someone at the club called her in yesterday on her day off and she hasn't been seen since. We've got the place staked out."

"How's the plan coming?" Really, she wanted to know how she and Loki fit into this operation.

"We're still talking details with Fury. This club is for private members only. It's going to take some work to get any of us inside without drawing the wrong kind of attention."

"Sorry to interrupt," Hopper's voice broke in on the line. "We're landing in a minute."

"Clint is on his way. He'll take them off your hands, Hopper. Thanks for the help. Romanoff out."

The jet landed at a private strip on government property. Clint pulled up in a dark sedan as Cami and Loki disembarked.

Cami hurried toward him. "We got to ride in the Streak!"

"Pretty cool," Clint said, chuckling at her enthusiasm and waved her toward the front passenger seat. "Have you had dinner?"

"No."

"We'll call for some room service when we get to the hotel. Nat is keeping an eye on our club."

Soon they arrived at the hotel across the street from Drago's, coming in from the back entrance and ascending to their floor in a service elevator to avoid the public. It wasn't a classy establishment, but at least everything looked clean and well-maintained.

Natasha was seated at the window as Clint let them into the room. "I ordered Chinese food," she muttered, not turning or lowering the binoculars she was using. "Hope everyone likes sesame chicken."

Clint checked the computer terminal set up at the desk. "S.H.I.E.L.D. sent us a new data file."

Loki moved past Cami to take the chair. He immediately started reading as Clint pulled up the file.

Cami put her file folder and computer on the closest bed and went to look out the window with Natasha. "That place looks expensive," she commented, eying the sport and luxury cars that were parked around Drago's club.

"Anyone with enough money can get an invitation to the club, but we have a problem," Clint said. "Victor Drago knows me."

"How?" Cami asked.

"I did a few jobs for an associate of his back in the day. Then about three years ago I led a team that busted up a party he was attending. Drago knows I'm not in the crime business anymore. This is a gentleman's fetish club. The members are all men of great wealth and influence. If I can't take lead, Loki will have to do it. Fury agrees."

Natasha asked, "How can he lead when he's not talking?"

"Play him off as being foreign and eccentric," Clint suggested. "You can talk for him, Nat."

Cami thought that was a brilliant idea. "You can both be Russian."

Loki continued to examine the file. Cami watched his eyes skim the content as he moved from page to page. "I think Loki can speed read," she said softly to the others.

Clint and Natasha looked at Loki. Within moments he finished the material and opened an attachment that was full of pictures.

"Loki," Natasha asked in disbelief, "did you read that whole file already?"

His brilliant green eyes shifted between them, studying their expressions. Their interest seemed to surprise him.

"You did!" Cami accused with a grin. "You certainly don't read Tolkien like that. I would have noticed."

Clint joked, "No sane person speed reads through Tolkien."

Hints of a grin emerged at the corners of Loki's mouth at this comment.

Cami was curious what Loki was looking at. So, she moved over to him, peeking over his shoulder and started studying the photographs, which were mainly shots of people coming and going from the club. The men tended to wear business suits and were usually covering their faces as they dove into their luxury cars or limos. The club's girls appeared to only use the back entrance. Their outfits were all tight and revealing. Leather attire was common along with the occasional mask, whip or even studded collar. In some cases, their clothes could be described more as costumes.

"So, am I on surveillance?" Cami asked. They had yet to say why she was here.

Clint's expression steeled and his gaze shifted from Cami to Natasha.

"Actually, we need you on the inside," Natasha said, carefully reading Clint's features. "We just don't have time to set up a solid alias and background for Loki. He's going to have to be impressive and flashy all on his own to get Drago's attention."

Cami felt her stomach tightening again as she got the gist. Exotic dancing was just one of the antics that eventually got her expelled from private school. She hadn't needed the money really, though it had helped with her gadget obsession. Overall, as her therapist had decided, and Cami somewhat agreed, she had been acting out against her brother for being absent in her life for so long then pulling her from a loving foster family just to send her away to school.

She pointed to the pictures on the screen. "I haven't worn these sorts of clothes in a while."

"We know. This isn't really about your dancing," Natasha assured her. "Drago buys and sells young women. If Loki shows up with his own private pet, it should help to gain his trust."

Clint was frowning deeply. His issues with this assignment were evident, which only made Cami more determined to prove to him that she could be helpful.

"I can do it."

"You're not field combat ready," Clint was quick to point out. "In a place like this, the patrons are going to be handsy, and Drago has security too."

"I'll be fine," Cami tried to reassure him and herself. Even Loki was looking concerned. "We're just gathering intel, right?"

"Once we're in there, the situation can change instantly," Natasha said.

"If we happen to see Anna," Cami said, using the missing girl's name, "are we going to take her out of there with us?

"That's a call best made at the time," Clint said.

Room service arrived soon afterward and Cami forced herself to eat sesame chicken and rice despite her nervous stomach.

Loki tried at least a few bites, but stayed in front of the computer, reading every update that came in from headquarters. Clint pulled up a chair and skimmed the news too.

"We've got a lot to do," Natasha said, "and we're running out of time to make our play tonight."

Clint answered a quick call, and then reported, "Hill has arranged the re-opening of a few places for us. You should take these two and get the clothes you'll need. I'll keep an eye on the camera feeds."

Natasha herded Loki and Cami out of the hotel to the dark sedan. Their first stop was a store for formal business attire where a small team of tailors altered an expensive suit for Loki as well as a suit coat and slacks for Natasha.

Their next stop was an adult shop that sold sexy outfits and accessories. Natasha picked out a provocative top to go with her business clothes while Cami searched for her own outfit. She was browsing the racks when she realized that Loki had stepped away.

Cami found him in the back room with a somewhat confused, bewildered expression. She started laughing as she walked into the room to stand at his side. "Asgard doesn't have sex stores, huh?"

Loki glimpsed her direction. He wasn't quite blushing. Cami doubted he was naive by any means. She figured he had just been ill-prepared for what he'd stumbled upon.

"See anything you'd like?"

Loki didn't respond, though his eyes continued to scan the room's inventory, occasionally settling on something that would momentarily confuse or amuse him.

"You know, Nat's birthday is coming up soon." Cami walked along the shelves, knowing that she really didn't want to get Natasha a toy. She wanted Natasha to be with Clint, but how could she wrap that dream up as a gift?

Loki moved to the left, pointing out a small box to Cami as she approached. It was just a box of condoms, but it was a brand with a golden bow and arrow as its logo, which brought her brother's archery talent to mind. She smiled at Loki, feeling a bit astonished that he seemed to be thinking along the same lines as her.

"Perfect, let's get some of those," she said, taking a box.

"Hey!" Natasha called from somewhere in the outer store. "Are we ready to go?"

Cami shoved the condoms and a twenty into Loki's hand. "Please get these for me. I have to pick my outfit and keep Natasha busy."

Loki slipped the box behind him as they stepped out of the back room together. He casually headed to the cashier while Cami intercepted Natasha in the lingerie.

"What have you been doing?" Natasha asked her.

"I was teasing Loki about sex toys," Cami said with a grin. "He almost blushed."

Natasha flashed a casual look of warning. "Maybe you shouldn't take his integration into human society so seriously. Please choose something to wear."

"I don't know which one to get," Cami said. She turned toward a rack of black lingerie. "I usually buy sexy stuff with a particular guy in mind."

"Black is too safe a color. Maybe you should go with something red. It's more daring," Natasha suggested and grabbed some outfits from the red rack.

Suddenly Loki was in their midst again. He looked at the red options that Natasha was holding up to Cami as they looked into a full length mirror. He shook his head and moved away, only to return shortly with a cotton candy pink ensemble.

Natasha took the teddy from Loki and held it up in front of Cami. The thing was completely see-through with the exception of the bra and panties. It also had little pink bows on it.

"Nice," she said. "What do you think, Cami?"

"Kinda kinky. Clint is going to freak."

"Yeah," Natasha agreed. "We just won't tell him that Loki picked it out."

Cami laughed. "Good idea."

"Come on; let's go."

After a quick visit to shoe and jewelry stores, there was one more stop to get the girls' hair and makeup done before the trio returned to the hotel. In an attempt to make Cami appear younger, her makeup was done in more natural colors and her hair had been curled then pulled up into long piggy tails that Loki found amusing.

"I don't know what's so funny about piggy tails," Cami said, "but you'd better be able to focus in there."

Loki stifled his grin and nodded to assure her that he would be fine.

Clint reported upon their return, "Hill's team got Loki an invite to the club. He's going in as Ivan Lukin, a wealthy Russian businessman. The club is expecting him and two guests for one o'clock. What Hill couldn't get was a definite promise to meet with Drago."

Natasha had moved back to the window. She turned to Clint. "I guess we'll have to get his attention on our own."

Cami was the last one to use the bathroom to change before leaving for the club. She knew she looked good because months of training had strengthened and slimmed her body enough to make a noticeable difference from even her dancing days. It was too bad that her confidence in her sexy appearance didn't make her feel more prepared for the mission ahead or even facing her controlling brother.

"Cami, you have to come out sometime," Natasha called through the bathroom door. "I can only distract your brother for so long."

"He's going to be mad," Cami whined. "I'm really not in the mood to be yelled at tonight."

"Clint, promise her you won't yell."

"Impossible. I'm pretty sure it's in my job description to make her life miserable," Clint teased from somewhere beyond where Natasha stood at the door.

"Ignore him, honey. I'm sure you look fantastic."

Her stomach in knots, Cami stepped out of the bathroom and tried not to fidget as Clint looked her over.

"Uh, well..." he began with wide eyes, "I guess that ends the argument about you carrying any concealed weapons on this mission."

Natasha chuckled as she moved over to skim the latest report on the computer from over Loki's shoulder.

"Is that really the whole thing?" Clint pressed. "You didn't lose any pieces on the way back from the store did you?"

"Very funny," Cami said with a scowl. He did look a bit stressed about the outfit, but at least he hadn't had a conniption. Natasha must have been working her magic on him to minimize the fallout.

"Try being her supervisor instead of her brother," Natasha replied to his teasing comments. "Cami looks really good, and you're making her feel self conscious about it."

Looking humbled by the rebuke, Clint relented. "Alright; I'm sorry."

Cami's gaze shifted to Loki, who was lingering at the computer, and wished he would contribute something to make her feel better since Clint wasn't going to be much help.

Loki must have sensed her gaze on him for he turned and also took a few moments to look her over with truly appreciative eyes. Then he smiled and winked at her.

Now that's more like it, Cami thought and returned the smile.

"I saw that," Clint said as a light-hearted warning from his perch at the window. He was connecting the hardware that would allow him to monitor the cameras at Drago's once they had tapped into the system. "And I'll be watching you all night."

Cami met Loki's gaze, cocked an eyebrow and grinned. "Kinky, bro." She wasn't going to let him ruin this for her. The team was going to a freaking sex club. She was going to get some Loki kisses if it was the last thing she did. Why not? This opportunity wasn't likely to arise again.

"Let's not push the buttons right now," Natasha advised the Bartons. "No doubt it will be a memorable night, but we do have a job to do here."

Natasha ran through the basics of their cover one more time. Loki was going to have to act confident and arrogant. Cami had to be submissive and remember to take her cues from Loki. Natasha admitted that she would have quite a balancing act since she would be the dominant speaker, yet still subordinate to Loki.

"Why do we need to get Drago's attention?" Cami asked.

"We'll need access to Drago's computer to find where he has Anna," Clint said, "which means we need to get into his office."

Natasha added, "The easiest way to get into the office is to get an invitation."

"Let me guess," Cami said, "getting in is the easy part. Getting out is hard."

Natasha cracked a smile. "See, you're getting the hang of things already."

"If Drago is so hardcore, isn't he going to know better than to keep records? I mean, the feds are watching him on a pretty regular basis, right? What if we get into the computer and can't find anything?"

"There's never a way to predict how a mission will go, Cami," Natasha said. "We just do our jobs."