Mischief Makers Ch. 07

After some observation, Loki decided Dr. Lloyd was agitated by the number of people lingering in his infirmary, yet he remained civil while managing his staff and the few patients present.

Loki stepped forward, eager for news, when Frigga came out of the back room where Cami was resting.

"She has yet to regain consciousness," the queen reported, "but we have given her a thorough inspection and do believe she is our Cami."

"Her samples all matched," Dr. Lloyd agreed, holding up his copy of the DNA report.

Clint was visibly baffled and overwhelmed. "How can that be? She was using abilities that Cami never had."

Odin came through the doorway. "I think I can address that question. Is there somewhere more private where we can talk?"

Dr. Lloyd offered them the use of his office.

Fury, who had just checked back in, also joined them.

Once they were seated, Odin turned his full attention to Clint. "There is a term we use for individuals born with a natural attunement to magic. We call them Sensitives, and in many cases they are identified and trained at a young age in the traditional rituals and spells of their people."

Loki understood this information, but also knew where the conversation was heading. It wasn't going to be a pleasant dialogue. He noted that the worry had yet to leave Clint's expression, like he sensed it too.

Clint clarified, "Cami is one of these Sensitives?"

"Yes, I believe she is," Odin said, "and because she has had no magical training, it's quite possible that she's aged beyond the ability to proficiently harness and use her power."

"That's not promising," Nick Fury said. "It sounds dangerous, actually."

"It can be," Odin said. "We unintentionally exposed her to various forms of magic during our interactions with her. If she'd never come in contact with us, not been tainted, I doubt anyone would have ever realized she was gifted."

"I get that this is really bad," Clint admitted, "but what are we going to do about it? Can this condition be fixed?"

"No."

Loki scoffed. "Now that isn't true. Is it, Father?"

Odin met his gaze, but said nothing.

"Could you suppress her magic;" Clint asked, "like you did to Loki at his trial?"

"I could try," Odin admitted, stroking his beard and looking apprehensive.

Loki said bluntly, "This is not a decision to be made by any of us."

"This discussion will have to happen eventually," Fury said. "We should be prepared for the worst."

Loki said, "We have to give Cami the chance to control her power herself. She doesn't need anything more needlessly taken from her."

"Her seizure knocked out every electrical device we had in that section of the ship," Fury pointed out. "The cost of repairs aside, I cannot endanger the lives of my crew. What if she has a more destructive incident when we're in the air?"

Loki turned away, too agitated to continue the argument. He let himself out of the office, crossed to the back room that had once been his own, and approached the bed. He noted that Frigga had loosened Cami's braid and smoothed out her long hair on the pillow. Even though she slept, there was a frown on her features.

"I will give you some privacy," Frigga said, slipping out of the room.

Loki sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand. "I'm sorry, My Dear," he muttered. "I'm sure most of this is my fault."

The pattern of Cami's breathing changed and slowly she opened her eyes to look at him.

"I'm in trouble again," she said in a soft, regretful tone. "I didn't mean to..."

"I know."

She turned her head to take in the room. "I'm in the infirmary, yet I still have a headache. That's not a good sign."

"I have something important to tell you," Loki said. "It appears that you were born with the ability to use magic, but had the unfortunate luck to live in Midgard where magic hardly exists anymore."

Cami stared at him like she wasn't sure what to make of this information - or even if she believed he was speaking the truth.

"You are what they call a Sensitive."

There was a spark of recognition in her eyes. "Jahla called me that when they took me to the ice caves to be healed. She seemed upset by it."

"Really?" It didn't make much sense to him why Jahla would be concerned.

Cami nodded, taking some time before asking, "So, what's the bad news?"

He wondered by what means she had come to this conclusion. Had she read something in his expression or voice?

"It's OK. I'm used to constant problems," she said. "You told me I'm a mage, and I immediately doubted that I would be heading to Hogwarts."

Loki let his frown take full form. Besides him not understanding what she was saying, her sarcastic tone was bordering on rude.

Cami sighed at his expression. "Just tell me."

He carefully explained how important it was for Sensitives to be trained at a young age to manipulate magic. "Their concern comes from the fact that you are so old and have never been trained," Loki said.

"Asgardians live for a really long time. How can they compare my measly twenty-one years against that?"

Loki had no answer for her and that saddened him. "Tell me what you want," he said. He would do anything to ease her burden.

"I just need a chance to breathe," she said sadly. "I think I never should have climbed on this roller coaster."

Again, Loki didn't have a reference, but he could understand her underlying meaning.

It was a short while later that Nick Fury, King Odin and Dr. Montoya walked in together.

Cami asked immediately, "Are you sending me away?"

"Do you think we should?" Fury asked.

"No." Cami sulked.

"We have to take your safety and that of the crew into consideration," Dr. Montoya said. "This is a highly stressful environment for you to be in, Miss Barton."

Nick said, "With everything that has happened, wouldn't you prefer to get away?"

"No," Cami repeated. "I want a chance to graduate and actually contribute around here. Important things are happening."

Loki stood, turning to address the trio. "Let me try to train her."

"Son," Odin said, his expression grim, "even with Hel watching over you, Cami could still unwittingly cause you serious harm. We'll take her to Asgard and see what can be done."

Loki raised his voice in agitation. "She hasn't hurt anyone."

This fact didn't appear to change their thinking.

"He needs me or he'll get trapped in Niflheim," Cami said. "You can't make me leave him to that."

Montoya telegraphed an 'I told you so' look to Director Fury.

"What?" Cami asked, staring down the psychologist. "You don't believe that he needs me?"

"Actually, I don't think you two are capable of keeping work and your personal lives separate," Montoya said firmly, "but my opinions and concerns have already been disregarded." With no further comment or even a glance at those around her, the doctor left.

Fury closed the door. "The Council is very concerned with the whole Bad Loki and Jahla situation. They've authorized me to work in conjunction with Asgard to investigate their activities, determine their location and deal with them in whatever manner we can. So, in the interest of good relations and cooperation, I am reinstating Cami to the Mischief Makers and temporarily reassigning the team to Odin's command. You're heading back to Asgard."

"Heimdall isn't going to like this," Loki said, mindful of the gatekeeper's tendency to hold firmly to the laws of the realm.

"Yes, well... there have been some recent changes back home," Odin said. "I've got troubling reports coming in, my inquisitors are spread thin and I've spent too much time on Midgard as of late."

Fury added, "Clint has gone to tell Natasha. The team needs to submit their equipment requests right away so we can pull together what you'll need for the flight to New Mexico."

Loki asked Odin, "Is it a good idea to transport Midgardian technology through the bifrost? Or into Asgard at all?" He was fairly certain it had never been attempted.

Odin's reply was unconcerned. "I do not foresee any problems."

"When do we leave?" Cami asked.

"In the morning," Fury said. "Get yourself cleared through Dr. Lloyd then report to your supervisors."

"Yes Sir," Loki and Cami said together then exchanged troubled looks.

- - - - -

Clint found Natasha in the team suite. She was sitting on her bed and unpacking her suitcase.

"So much for the birthday retreat, huh?" he said.

"I never should have hoped," Natasha replied with a sad, yet accepting smile. She patted the mattress beside her.

Clint took the offered spot, leaning into her as she put an arm around him.

"Any news?"

"I don't know where to begin. I've really messed up."

"She is Cami?"

"Yeah. She's supposed to be some kind of natural born magician. King Odin says she could be dangerous."

"Why?"

"Some bullshit about her being too old to safely learn magic. It's just going to be another point of contention."

"What do we do?"

"I don't know." Clint pressed his palm to the ache forming in his forehead. "Maybe she won't even talk to me."

"You have to give it time."

Clint accepted this as good advice.

"We've got a mission. Fury is sending the team to Asgard to help Odin run his spy network and organize intel a little better. Apparently, there's been an influx of trouble in some of the realms and he needs help determining what all can be traced to Jahla and the Bad Loki."

Natasha responded, "You know, I should be excited about this opportunity, but..."

Clint could relate. "I know. It's a bit daunting and not exactly a welcome relocation right now, but we've gotta do it. Oh, and Fury put Cami back on the team. I think Odin insisted."

"Well that's something," Natasha admitted.

Clint indicated her open luggage. "We'll all be swapping out for gear and uniforms."

Then a small box, partially wrapped in bright, colorful paper beside the suitcase caught his attention. "Is that a birthday present?"

"Ummm... yeah, actually. Security found it in Cami's luggage during their search. Hopper brought it down, along with this," she said, pulling a receipt from her pocket and holding it up for him to see.

Clint skimmed the tiny print. "Condoms?"

Natasha pointed out the name of the store. "Cami and Loki bought these in D.C. at the sex shop before the Drago mission. Look at the box."

As soon as Clint picked up the box and slipped it out of the wrapping, his gaze fell on the bow and arrow logo and he started to laugh.

"Yeah," Natasha said with a smirk. "Not subtle."

"We really could have used these this morning."

Natasha avoided his gaze, quickly changing topic. "I inspected Loki's room when I got in," she said. "The cleaning crew did a good job. I think they must have thrown out most of his books though."

Clint got up, heading to see the room for himself.

His first impression was the strong bleach odor, which he could smell before he had the door completely opened. The walls had been scrubbed to a bright white, the carpet was obviously new and the bed had fresh linens and blankets. As Natasha mentioned, the books that generally littered the bed were gone. Only Loki's shadow grimoire remained, resting on the corner of the desk.

Clint expected to feel anger as he stood in the doorway of the room where his sister had been viciously tortured, but he determined it was guilt he was feeling overall. It wasn't long and he had to step out of the room.

The team met up for dinner in the mess hall later. Clint and Natasha had already started an equipment list and Loki had some ideas of his own after a quick look over of the agency arsenal and supply inventories.

"Are you going to say anything?" Natasha asked Cami, who was slouched in her chair, staring blankly at the tabletop. "Some input would be nice."

Cami's words were laced with restrained anger when she muttered, "I want my gadgets back." She picked a bit at her salad before adding, "Shouldn't my restriction be lifted soon anyway?"

"Yeah," Clint agreed. "It's been about two months, you're right."

Cami chose not to look at him, which shouldn't have been a surprise.

"We'd better request some parts for her," he said to the others. "So she can tinker."

Natasha pushed the computer over to Cami. "Add what you want."

Clint watched Cami's eyes settle on the screen and then almost instantly glaze over. In fact, she looked tired and on the verge of tears.

"How's the migraine?" Clint asked softly. He'd taken a few pills for his own headache a short while ago.

"Bad," Cami uttered. Then she rose from the chair. "Never mind the stuff. I don't want it after all."

Loki reached for her, but Cami stepped away, moving quickly to leave the mess hall. He said, "Apparently there is something I do not know."

"Before you arrived, Cami got busted stealing parts from the tech workshop. She was kicked from the class and put on a two-month restriction," Clint explained. "The kid really likes gadgets. So, it's been hard on her."

Loki picked up the abandoned computer. "Do you know what she'll need?"

"Not really," Clint admitted.

Natasha shook her head. "I use gadgets, but I don't know the technical stuff like Cami does."

"Who was her instructor?"

"Dr. Bohini," Nat said. "He runs the workshop."

Noting that none of them had been eating for several minutes, Clint asked "Are we done here?"

"I believe so," Loki said. "Can I take this? I want to visit with Dr. Bohini. Then I'll submit the list for approval."

"Fine with me," Clint said. "Just get it in as soon as possible."

Everyone had stuff to do. So, when he found himself alone, Clint decided he'd better talk to Mike. As his second-in-command, Hopper would have to take over Hellhound business again while Clint was away.

Clint inquired of Mike's location and was directed to his quarters. As he approached along the long corridor, Clint spotted Sif already standing at Mike's door, looking forlorn as she waited for a response to her knock.

He'd been told that Sif was returning to Asgard with them, but hadn't thought far enough ahead to realize the couple would be separated. Clint stopped, watching as the door opened and Sif was allowed inside. He readily chose not to burden Mike with work-related stuff at the moment.

People in the corridor were giving him strange looks as Clint stood there, trying to decide where to go. Unless he came up with something else quick, he knew he was likely to end up at the range. There was always paperwork of some sort awaiting his attention, but Clint loathed using his time up in that fashion, especially when it wasn't likely to keep his mind off his troubles.

"Agent Barton," a voice said through his communicator.

"Yeah?"

"Trainee Barton is requesting to make an out-of-agency phone call."

"To where?"

"The residence of Robert and Joyce Murphy."

"Those were her foster parents," Clint said, since the operator probably didn't know that.

"Can I authorize this call?"

"Yeah. Go ahead."

"Shall I patch the feed through to your communicator?"

"No. I think I know pretty much how that talk is going to sound. Barton out." Clint deactivated his com. Obviously, if the switchboard had to go through all of that over a phone call, the security office still had a flag on Cami's records. He thought he'd better take the initiative to pay them a visit and get some details worked out.

- - - - -

Loki was seated at Cami's desk when she arrived at the suite after midnight. He looked up from the pages of the grimoire with tired, red eyes.

"Why aren't you in bed?" Cami asked.

He sounded too tired to be cross. "I can ask you the same."

"I needed to keep moving. It helps... sorta."

"You haven't packed and we are leaving early," Loki reminded her. He put the book on the desk, pushed to his feet and drew close. "Are you angry with me?"

"No." Cami couldn't meet his eyes. So, she just allowed him to hold her.

"I want to understand," he said. "I want to help."

There was too much going through her head to explain, and she suspected the words wouldn't help ease him anyway. She asked, "What do I need to pack? Is there a list or something?"

There wasn't an exact list. S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't tell her how many pairs of socks to take, for instance, but Loki did help focus her wandering thoughts so she could complete the task. Then they climbed into bed for a few hours of rest.

Natasha woke Cami promptly at four.

It took Cami about ten minutes to wake Loki before pulling him into the bathroom where they succumbed to bouts of kissing and soapy caresses while sharing the shower. Unfortunately, there wasn't time for much fun because of the team's quickly approaching departure.

They shuffled around getting ready and hauling their bags out to the living room. Cami also grabbed her training staff.

"Nice," Natasha said to Loki, eying the new leather jacket he was wearing instead of his usual uniform one.

"We got it from a specialty leather store," Cami said factually. She was truthfully a little jealous of the coat, especially since Loki looked so sexy in it.

Sif stood off to the side, dressed in her attire for Asgard with the addition of a slender gold chain around her neck, which she was fingering distractedly. Cami hadn't seen her wear the chain before.

Clint came out of his room, looking as exhausted as the rest of them. "Give me some strong coffee and you've got an instant pilot," he joked. He set down his bag. "The jet is prepped on the flight deck. Do we want to try and eat at this hour or just pack something and get on our way?"

Natasha said, "I think Mike was going to meet us for breakfast."

Sif nodded. "He said he would try."

That settled the issue quite nicely. Once they handed off their luggage to be stowed on the jet, the group met up with Hopper for stuffed french toast with strawberries, Sif's favorite Midgardian breakfast.

They also ran into Tony, Bruce and Jane who had yet to go to bed since their collaboration on the magic detection device had started the previous day. Luckily the kitchen had prepped a wide selection of coffee.

"Hey, keep my boys and girls out of trouble," Hopper requested of Sif as they said their farewells on the flight deck.

"I will try," Sif promised and gave him a long hug.

Cami didn't know how Sif managed not to shed a single tear, because she was certainly sniffling over the possibility of Mike and Sif never seeing each other again.

They boarded the jet soon afterward when Clint was informed that an inbound aircraft needed their spot. All-in-all it was a smooth take off and flight to New Mexico during which the girls were dozing in and out a lot.

"Why don't you close your eyes?" Cami asked Loki. "You know I'll wake you when we get there."

"I'm not so interested in seeing more of the wintery wastes of Niflheim right now," he answered with a wan smile.

Cami asked gently, "How is Hel? Did you speak with her last night?"

He considered her for a moment, appearing to lose even more enthusiasm at the prospect of having this particular conversation.

"No. She is angry with me, I imagine."

"Not a good relationship, huh?"

Loki stared off, choosing not to reply for so long that Cami thought they were done speaking.

When he did continue, his voice was low and distant. "She's trapped in Niflheim, appointed queen to the spirits of the unworthy dead who were refused a place in Valhalla. There is a barrier of energy that surrounds her domain and usually anyone who crosses it becomes trapped as well. No one purposely goes to Niflheim - at least, not after I ended my visits centuries ago and before my double went to make his bargain with her."

Though Loki had her attention and sympathetic ear, Cami did notice that Natasha and Sif were listening now too.

"What is she like?"

"Only half of her body lives and is beautiful. The other half is dead, slowly decomposing over the centuries. Hel is powerful, shrewd and so very, very stubborn."