Mischief Makers Ch. 05

"Cami!" a voice yelled, accompanied with more banging. All the noise was coming from the suite door.

She climbed off the bed, feeling achy and weak. Her head spun as soon as she was on her feet, forcing her to sit back on the bed.

"Tony, something must be wrong. Get it open now!"

Cami recognized the voice as Steve Rogers, but she didn't feel capable of making it all the way to the door. Instead, she waited for Tony to bypass their security measures. Soon afterward, the door opened and she could hear them moving around inside the suite.

"She's in here," Steve said from the bedroom doorway. He sounded relieved.

"You must sleep like the dead," Tony said as he stepped into the room. "We were knocking forever."

"Guys," Cami whined, "it's too late for a social call."

Tony crossed to the bed, pushed her hair out of her eyes and examined her features in the lamplight. "You look terrible. Have you been drinking?"

"No," she said, but couldn't remember what she'd been doing earlier in the evening.

Steve frowned deeply at her and the books scattered on the floor around the bed.

Cami growled and pointed at the clock. "Why are you here at this hour? Your friends are in Italy; didn't you get the memo?"

"Not all of them," Tony said, smoothing her hair. "You're our friend too, Frizzy. Operation 'Salvage Natasha's Party' is underway, and we're here to pick you up."

She stared at Tony stupidly for a bit. Then she looked at Steve. "Translate, please?"

Steve looked a little amused by her lack of understanding. "Tony has been planning a big surprise birthday party for Natasha before she headed off to Greece. Well, now that she's in Italy, it's doubtful she'll fly all the way back here just for a single day."

"Yeah, makes sense."

"So..." Tony jumped in, "we're taking the party to her and crashing Hill's mission in the process."

Cami forced herself to perk up a little. "What? We're going to the health summit party?"

"They invited me months ago," Tony said. "I made some sizable donations to a few new research studies. So, I called the committee up, told them I would be in the area after all and asked for permission to have some guests come with me for the event."

Cami was still having trouble keeping up. "How did you get this past Director Fury?"

"We can explain on the plane," Steve said. "Put some extra clothes together for you and Sif, OK? I'll grab some for Loki."

"I'll find clothes for Clint," Tony said, moving for the door. "Is Natasha packed for Greece already?"

"Um, I think so." Cami pushed to her feet again, calling after him, "Hill's going to hate us, you know."

"I don't care!" Tony yelled back, sounding almost too happy.

"You are really unsteady on your feet," Steve said, taking her gently by the shoulders. "What happened to you?"

Cami looked up at him, feeling a flutter of an emotion that could have been fear, she wasn't sure though. She read the candid concern in his eyes. "Honestly, Steve, I don't know."

- - - - -

The time difference was a killer. Agent Hill's team arrived in Naples around five o'clock AM local time, which was six hours ahead of the helicarrier. The team was picked up from the air strip by private vans and driven to the hotel where they checked in and promptly fell into their beds, the guys sharing one room and the girls another.

Clint's alarm clock went off at eleven and it took every ounce of his will to get out of the bed. Mike lounged in his own bed, stretching and rubbing his face while Clint grabbed some clothes and dragged himself off to the shower.

"Time to get up," Clint said to Loki as he passed the couch where he'd chosen to sleep rather than share a bed. Clint didn't get a response, but he didn't wait around for one either.

Clint managed to keep his shower short, so there would be hot water left for someone else. He dried off, pulled on his boxers and uniform pants and vacated the bathroom.

Mike was sitting at the end of his bed, staring at Loki as Clint emerged.

"Uh, Clint, he's not waking up," Mike said.

Clint stepped over to Loki and nudged his shoulder. "Hey, Loki, it is time to get up already."

"I tried that... and shaking him," Mike said with an edge to his voice. "He did this in Arizona too, remember?"

Clint frowned. "Are they up next door?"

"Yeah, someone is. I heard their shower."

Clint stepped into the hallway and rapped on the girls' door. Maria answered in a field agent uniform, but with no makeup. Her dark hair was down around her shoulders and still damp.

"I need to talk to Nat," Clint said.

"Tasha," Maria called over her shoulder, "it's Clint."

Natasha padded up to the door still in her pajamas. "Is something wrong?" she asked as soon as she saw Clint's expression and lack of a shirt.

"Come here a sec," he said and led her into the other room.

Only after he'd shut the door behind them did he gesture to Loki and explain. "We can't wake him up. Did Cami tell you there was anything wrong with him sleeping or waking up lately?"

"No. She hasn't said a word."

Natasha knelt down beside the couch so she could examine him a little more closely.

Clint collected his com device from the side table, slipping it into his ear and activating it. "This is Agent Barton, I need a line to Trainee Barton."

"It's only five o'clock there," Natasha pointed out. "I doubt she's up."

"Uh, Sir," the operator said, "Trainee Barton isn't on board."

This news surprised him. "Then where is she?"

Director Fury's voice broke into the line, "Clint, she's on a classified mission with Stark and Captain Rogers."

"You're kidding right?" Clint asked, trying for a tone of levity, despite his frustration. "I'm a top level agent," he reminded Fury. Very little was above his security clearance any more.

Nick didn't explain further. "Hang on the line. I'll see if we can patch you through to her."

While he waited, Clint informed his companions about the unexpected turn of events.

"Seriously?" Natasha asked, looking equally annoyed.

Finally a new voice came on the line, but it wasn't Cami. It was Tony. "Hey Clint. Your sister is asleep right now. Is this urgent?"

"Yes, it is," Clint said pointedly. "Who the hell gave you permission to drag Cami off on some mission without checking in with me? She's in training; that is why she isn't here with us right now."

"Whoa, try taking it down a notch. Steve and I thought she could use some distraction since you guys took off and left her alone with Evil Loki Look-a-Like on the loose. At least she's under our protection right now and getting some girl bonding time with Pepper."

Oh God, Clint thought. We did leave her alone. What the hell was I thinking?

Surely Fury would have said if something had happened.

Clint asked, "You took your girlfriend? What sort of mission is this?"

"I'd like to tell you, but it's classified," Tony quickly responded.

"Bullshit, Stark. Stop wasting my time and put Cami on."

It still seemed to take forever for Cami to pick up the line. She sounded groggy. "Hello?"

Clint decided he'd better calm his tone. "Hey. We have a problem with Loki."

Cami's response was quick and animated. "Oh no! He's asleep, right? I totally didn't think about this when you guys left. I should have told you."

"Geez, how often has this been happening?"

"Every morning since the snake incident," she admitted guiltily. "Loki never wants to talk about it. He's annoyed that everyone knows his business all the time."

"OK. Tell me what to do?"

"I don't know. I just touch his face and talk to him. Sometimes I cuddle up and give him some kisses. It always takes a while though."

Clint frowned at Natasha. "I'm definitely not doing that."

"I don't know if he'll wake up on his own," Cami insisted. "Someone has to try. Ask Nat or Sif."

Clint pulled the communicator out of his ear and passed it to Natasha. He said with agitation, "Here, you talk to her."

Natasha took the com, placing it in her ear. Then she told Cami to fill her in.

"Go ahead and get your shower, Mike," Clint said. "Cami says this could take a while."

Mike grabbed his stuff and went into the bathroom.

Natasha found Loki's communicator with his gear, set it and carefully placed it in his ear before climbing on the couch and stretching out on top of him and his blanket. "Alright," Nat said, sounding skeptical. "He's got his com. Let's give this a try."

Clint sat on the edge of the bed, watching as Natasha gently caressed Loki's face and intermittently ran her fingers through his hair. Clint knew she had done far more with complete strangers on some of her missions, but this felt completely different to him. Right then, all he could think about was how badly he wanted it to be him underneath her powerful body, her soft touches on his flesh and her breathing against his cheek. He wanted it very badly, more than anything else he had wanted in years.

There was a knock at the door. Clint took a moment to collect himself then opened it just enough to see it was Maria. "Um, we're kind of having a team thing," Clint said in response to her questioning look. He did not want to have to tell Maria that Loki was pulling a Sleeping Beauty during her mission.

"Why? What's going on?"

"It's OK. Nat and I will handle it. We're his immediate supervisors," Clint said, hoping she'd think Loki was just throwing a tantrum or something similar. He certainly did not want her to see what Natasha was currently doing.

"We have work to do," Maria reminded him sternly.

"We know," Clint said, nodding in agreement. "Just give us some time here, OK?"

Maria was none too pleased. "Sif is done in the shower. Tell Natasha she can have it when she's ready."

"Thanks. I'll let her know."

Clint promptly shut the door again. As he turned, the envious thoughts came rushing back again at the sight of Natasha with Loki. He could only imagine how angry he'd be feeling right now if Loki was awake and reciprocating those touches. At least she wasn't kissing him as Cami had suggested.

Trying to distract himself from the scene, Clint continued getting dressed, but it was hard not to look.

After awhile, the water turned off in their shower and Clint was dreading what Mike might think or say about this situation when he came out.

"Cami," Natasha said suddenly into the com, "I don't think this is working." She listened then slowly climbed off Loki, pulling the communicators from both his and her ears. She dropped Loki's com device with his stuff and held out the other to Clint.

"Hill says you can have the shower now," he told Natasha, taking the com from her.

She nodded. "I've got to get ready. Let me know if we're saying anything to Maria or Sif."

Natasha let herself out.

Clint jumped back on the line with Cami. "Sorry Sis. I don't know what else to do unless I try slapping him around."

Right now, I bet I could manage it with minimal guilt, he thought.

"OK. Is Nat still on the line?"

"No, she had to go."

"What room are you in?"

"Why?"

"JARVIS got the hotel address from S.H.I.E.L.D. Tony says he can fly me there in about thirty minutes, but you can't let anyone else know we're coming."

"Do I want to know where you guys are and what you're up to?"

"It's a surprise. Please don't blow this for Tony. He's putting a lot of effort..."

"OK. OK. Whatever. We're in room 156. Just get here."

When the girls were ready to head over to the restaurant, Clint sent Mike with them, promising to drag Loki along once he was ready. Luckily, he avoided letting Hill see into the room and his co-conspirators were great at distracting her.

Cami arrived at his door within minutes of their departure. Clint noted that she was dressed in casual civilian clothes and trying to tame her windswept hair.

Clint let her in, returning the hug she offered in greeting. "Stark didn't really fly you across the world in half an hour, did he?"

Her answer was soft and tired. "No, we jumped out of a moving plane though. That was pretty terrifying."

Clint chuckled before he realized she was serious.

Cami walked over to Loki, tossed back his blanket and quickly got comfortable on top of him. "Time to wake up," she said, cupping his cheek with her hand and kissing him softly. "Come on; we can't keep doing this or you'll be grounded soon too."

Clint knew he should probably go shave and leave them alone, but that thought was overridden by his curiosity. If this worked, he wanted to know why Cami could manage to wake Loki, but Natasha couldn't.

Cami continued to speak softly to Loki, making promises and downright begging between the kisses and the caresses. "You're making me look bad," she accused playfully.

"Are we screwed?" Clint finally asked when too much time had passed in his opinion.

"No, I think I'm slowly getting through," she insisted. "He always takes a deep breath before he opens his eyes. Once he does that, I'm outta here. Best to not let him know I was here at all."

Clint stared at her, trying to understand her logic. "OK. If you say so, but..."

Cami had returned her attention to Loki. She slid down, lifting his shirt to kiss at his scarred abdomen above his waistband. "Fine," she suddenly threatened, "I'm going to suck your cock and you'll miss out on all the fun."

"Cami Rae!" Clint exclaimed. He was beyond shocked and expected their parents to strike them both down dead from embarrassment.

Just then Loki took in a big breath of air and, true to her word, Cami bolted from the room.

- - - - -

When Loki opened his eyes, he was convinced that he'd see Cami there, but she wasn't. For a moment, he even thought he could feel her warmth and kisses and smell the scent of her shampoo. Finally he remembered that they'd left her on the helicarrier and his mood darkened a bit.

Clint was standing nearby with an odd expression of discomfort. He said with authority, "Let's go. We're running late."

By the time Clint and Loki got to the restaurant, the others were finishing up. Natasha had ordered them some sandwiches to go. So they ate quickly while the team climbed into the vans for the drive over to the consulate.

Every time Loki caught Maria looking at him during the ride, she was frowning and giving him dagger-eyes. He hadn't said more than a few sentences to her since they left the helicarrier and none of them had been impolite. He had to assume she was angered by their tardiness earlier among her other reasons to dislike him.

When they arrived, Hill got them through security. Then they were met by a member of the consulate staff.

"The party officially starts at seven," the older, dignified woman said, walking them into the kitchen area. "The caterers will arrive at six and the musicians right after that." From there, they continued into the immense ballroom where there were two large staircases leading up to a long landing. At the other end of the ballroom was a decorative stone arch with the main entry hall beyond.

"We'll have guards at all entry points," the woman said. "There are a lot of offices, storage rooms and such on the second level so patrolling guards will help keep guests in the ballroom area."

Hill thanked the woman for her help then turned her attention to the group. "Natasha and Sif, head over to the caterer's and do a thorough inspection on the food, employees, vehicles, the whole thing."

"Yes, Ma'am," Sif said, accepting some paperwork from their escort.

Natasha's sole comment was an excited whisper to Sif about free samples.

"Clint and Mike, take a walk around the building and the neighborhood. Check out security measures and the guard placement for tonight. Make sure everything is sealed up tight."

The men nodded.

"Loki and I will confirm the background checks on all the guests, musicians and consulate staff."

Everyone took off to handle their assignments.

Loki and Hill walked up to the security office where all the camera feeds for the building and grounds were being monitored. The room had several computer terminals set up and they were each assigned one. Once they were assured they had the most current lists of names, Loki and Maria got to work.

Loki lost himself in the task, flexing his mental muscles and newly acquired knowledge to the point that he completed his lists ahead of schedule and moved on to help finish up Hill's.

"Oh," Maria said, suddenly breaking the hours-old silence, "Tony Stark is on this list."

Loki looked over, reading her screen. "Why is that surprising?" he asked. From what he knew about Stark, he was considered quite the celebrity and humanitarian.

"I guess it's not. They have Anthony Stark and five guests listed here. How am I supposed to do a background check on five unidentified people?"

"Is he daft enough to bring strangers to a function such as this?"

"Well, we are talking about Stark," she answered with a look of disdain.

"What do you suggest?"

She gave it some thought. "We'll have to do spot checks when they arrive then. The team can keep an eye on Stark's guests until we give them the clear. Of course, he might not show at all. That would be typical of him too."

The team rotated out to the hotel in couples so everyone could get ready for the party and still have someone managing things at the consulate. Loki and Maria were the last ones to leave and return so they were walking into the consulate as the first of the guests arrived.

Loki wore a white tuxedo jacket and dress shirt with black pants, vest and bow tie. Maria wore a backless, curve-hugging, white dress with a long, revealing slit up her thigh.

"Everyone report in," Maria said into her com, rushing through the kitchen for the ballroom.

Loki kept close, but at least a stride behind her. He was amused that she was moving so quickly in such a tight dress and uncomfortable looking shoes.

"We're on the landing near the hall to the bathrooms," Clint answered. "The guards are all in place."

"We're near the tables of hors d'oeuvres," Mike replied next. "Sif says she recognizes all the catering staff. Oh, and she is already breaking hearts in this spectacular gold dress."

"Hey, why do you think I'm hiding Natasha up here? The sharks are circling already," Clint joked back.

With an audible sigh, Maria stopped in the doorway of the ballroom and turned to wait for Loki. "We're going to stroll by the orchestra first and make sure we recognize everyone. Did we inspect the instruments as the musicians arrived?"

"Yes," Natasha said, "and we had the security staff match the musicians against your records already."

"Oh, good," Maria said, once again coming to a stop while she tried to decide her next move.

A distinguished, older man's voice announced the arrival of more guests, during which, the orchestra stopped playing. Then the music resumed once they had stepped through the stone arch to enter the ballroom.

A waiter offered Loki and Hill a selection of finger foods from his tray. Maria shook her head, but Loki took one when he recognized they were serving his favorite food, gravlaks, with a yellow sauce on a thin cracker.

Maria rolled her eyes at his apparent appreciation of the food.

"Shouldn't we mingle and try to look like we're guests here?" Loki asked.

"The party just started. I'm not ready to let my guard down so soon."

Loki said with scathing sarcasm, "Let us just stand here. That won't look suspicious at all."

She glared at him in response.

The orchestra started into the first dance of the evening and Loki spotted Sif and Hopper walking out to the center area of the room with a handful of other couples. While he watched them dancing, his mind drifted to Cami.

She would have loved this and been far better company than Agent Hill, he thought.

Over the next hour, Loki followed Hill around with irritation, swiping gravlaks at nearly every opportunity and graciously accepting hand-offs of champagne from his teammates, who apparently thought he would need the alcohol to get through the rest of the evening.