Mischief Makers Ch. 08

Natasha had her own room next door, but for the second night in a row she appeared and crawled into bed with Clint. She snuggled close, tucking up against his side with her head resting on his shoulder and lightly scratched at his chest with her fingernails as the bedside candle reflected in her stunning green eyes.

"Do you think humans are ready for all this?" she asked, finally saying something after the stealthy entrance. "I mean, ready to be active members of the cosmos?"

"Probably not," Clint admitted. His focus shifted a bit as he continued. "Odin knows that the team is going to have to do some serious traveling and interacting if we're going to get the intel we need. With a culture shock of this magnitude, at least one of us is bound to stir up trouble in some way."

Natasha was quiet again for a while, urging Clint to ask what was on her mind.

"This is magic and monsters all over again and we're still not trained for it. We're going to be on the front lines against a more powerful Loki. What if...?" Emotion flooded into her voice as she struggled to get the words out. "What if he actually succeeds at killing you, one of our friends, or all of us?"

To see genuine fear in the eyes of the highly disciplined Black Widow was profoundly disturbing.

Clint turned toward Natasha, gathering her against his frame before softly kissing her forehead, temple and then earlobe. His hands slipped under the back of her sleep shirt, caressing and rubbing at her silken flesh with devoted tenderness and skill.

She accepted his caresses and kisses, but didn't initiate anything herself. Clint didn't mind, because her warmth and smell were more than enough for him. He kept her close, kissing and kneading away her tension until she was limp and drowsy in his embrace. Then he carefully untangled from her long enough to scan the room one more time and blow out the candle.

In the morning Clint woke with a headache right behind his eyes and to find Natasha had already slipped away. He climbed out from the light covers to sit on the edge of the bed, rubbing at his brow and groaning softly. Headaches were becoming common for him now, at least one a day, it seemed. He was actually thinking he might need to have his eyes checked in case some change in his visual acuity was attributing to the problem.

Oh geez, Clint thought. How degrading would it be if he had to actually start wearing contacts or glasses? He would opt for surgery first if possible.

He got ready for the day and decided to visit Cami at the healing room. Dr. Lloyd had reported that Cami's burns were already showing considerable improvement. Unfortunately, he and the healers had no guess as to when she would actually regain consciousness. Apparently she was in a deep coma state.

Loki was sleeping on a bench beside Cami when Clint arrived in the healing room. There were no healers around right then and only minimal light from the few braziers they'd left burning through the night and the soft glow off the pool of water at the room's center.

Sif had told him that the water had magical properties and they used it for making medicines. As he recalled this fact, he patted down his pockets to find that he'd distractedly left his painkillers somewhere back in his room.

There was plenty of soft seating for him to choose from if he decided to hang out awhile, but Clint actually moved toward the pool, lowering himself to one knee on the hard stone at its edge. He studied the water with its golden luminescence, wondering if it enhanced the body's natural healing ability or held a secret ingredient of its own.

Clint tentatively reached out and slipped the tip of his fingers into the water. He was surprised to find that it was so cool despite the warm, almost stuffy temperature of the windowless room. He withdrew his fingers and studied the water on his skin as it ran down and dripped from his hand. It didn't look any different than tap water to him.

He heard the door open and Odin offering a friendly greeting as he moved into the room. Clint stood and crossed to stand by the king as he looked over the sleeping couple. "It's a good thing you're able to help Loki," Clint said casually. "I don't know what we'd do without him. He processed four times more reports yesterday than Brandon or Bruce. He's practically a machine when it comes to that stuff."

Odin nodded, looking deep in thought.

Clint waited a few moments then decided his presence was interrupting. "I guess I'd better go find everyone. We've still got tons to do."

"Wait," the king said softly, shifting his gaze to Clint as he froze. Then Odin looked away, scanning the room as he turned. "Come out, Loki," he said sternly. "I can feel you here."

Clint pulled his sidearm, holding it at the ready and also took in the room with its many shadows. With the rush of adrenaline that hit him in the next second came a stabbing pain and crushing pressure in Clint's head, which made him grimace and curse as it blurred his vision. He blinked hard and rubbed at his eyes with his free hand.

"It was an innocent test to see how close I could get," Bad Loki's voice said from Clint's left, but when he turned that way he could see nothing through the blur, not even a hazy patch of color to distinguish a form from the tapestries or walls.

"Come out," Odin said again. "I'm in no mood for your tricks."

"Well, if you can't pinpoint me at this distance, I see no reason to actually comply. Did you ever imagine that I'd become powerful enough to elude the All-Father?"

"What can I say that will convince you to end all this madness?" Odin asked. "Have you no higher purpose than to cause pain and suffering everywhere you go? Can you gain no satisfaction otherwise?"

"Such eloquent words and profound questions," Bad Loki said in a tone that teetered on condescending. "I have no desire to ponder them. I simply do as I want, when I want and to whomever I want."

Clint continued to try to track him by sound alone, realizing that he wasn't just circling the room, but jumping from one side to the other randomly.

"This is not the attitude of a king's son, born to great power and entrusted to nurture and protect his people," Odin said, his voice a building rage.

"The irony of your words astounds me, being what I am. You have HIM, poor, weak, GOOD Loki, as your stolen son. Let him grovel for your forgiveness and serve the endless demands of the Asgardian people. I'll have none of it."

Clint kept shaking his head, blinking and wiping his eyes. He still could not make out the details of the room, but a quick flash of clarity showed him not what was before him, but outside the room. Natasha, Kotter, Stott, Sif, Queen Frigga and a handful of palace guards were running urgently down the corridor when suddenly the interior wall exploded, crushing and tearing into them with deadly force. It was a momentary glimpse that distracted and perplexed, then fleeted away, leaving Clint effectively blinded again.

"If you will not see reason, then you leave me no choice," Odin warned, reverting back to an eerie calm. "For the good of the nine realms, I sacrifice myself to your destruction."

"No!" Clint screamed, overwhelmed with an urgent, undeniable providence. He threw himself toward the blur of gold and felt the impact as he collided with Odin's broader frame and the floor next. His senses caught the king's undignified growl of surprise, Bad Loki's laughter, a slight rush of air past his head, multiple footfalls in the corridor outside and the slight creak of the door as it opened and blurry forms invaded the room.

"Where's Loki?" Natasha was yelling. "Was he here? Heimdall said he couldn't see into this room."

"He's gone," Odin said, sounding bewildered and cross all at once.

Clint tried to sit up, but his head swam with pain. He covered his face with his hands. Each rush of blood into his head made it feel like an inflating balloon.

"Clint," Kotter asked, "are you alright, Man? Are you hurt?"

"No; just... get the doc for me, OK? Hurry. My head feels like its going to explode."

A confusing and debilitating disorientation came over him. He saw nothing. Sounds and smells hit his senses like mini sledge hammers, driving him mad. In time something cool and wet rested on his forehead. He felt the temporary squeeze of a blood pressure cuff on his arm and the terrible, piercing hiss it made as it deflated. There was a lot of sound, seemingly directed at him, but he could not discern the purpose of it, so he groaned and shook his head in return. Something small pinched the crook of his arm and gradually the pressure eased in his forehead and around his eyeballs.

The familiar-sounding voice of an older man drifted through the remaining chaos. "Sleep now, Agent Barton," it said with authority, issuing an order that Clint couldn't have defied if he'd wanted.

- - - - -

For hours the team worked on the inquisitor reports and compiling the missing persons list as Clint had requested the previous day. They kept their talking and distractions to a minimum until the queen arrived and insisted they pull themselves away to get a decent meal. She then reinforced this request by having servants deliver large trays of appetizing food directly to the command center.

"Walk with me," Natasha said, handing Loki a sandwich before grabbing one for herself and steering him toward the outer doors.

Loki didn't feel that hungry, but ate anyway as they strolled quietly toward the gardens. Loki assumed she would want to talk about Clint's situation, now that they'd discovered he was also a Sensitive.

Natasha spoke first, though she sounded less assured of herself. "Maybe we should have Odin intervene with Cami and Clint."

"Have him suppress their magic?" Loki clarified.

"Yeah, before anything else happens."

"I suppose," Loki said, but he wasn't convinced he had the right to make that choice for either of them or if that was what he really wanted.

"We care more about them than anyone else here," she continued, seeming to have read his mind. "Clint and I..." She struggled with the words, finally admitting as she looked away, "we're together now."

Loki nodded, noting the change in her tone that hinted this information was to be considered a close-kept secret.

When he didn't comment on her suggestion, she continued her argument. "Clint has a successful career in S.H.I.E.L.D. with plenty more years ahead of him. He doesn't need magic."

"I understand, but if a spirit mage could help him."

"No. I think you prefer that solution because you miss your own powers."

Loki gave a loud, irritated sigh. He wanted to believe his intentions were less selfish than that, but he actually wasn't sure what motivated him to disagree with her wishes.

He gazed into the sky to avoid her critical eyes, seeing dark clouds on the horizon above the West Forest. He naturally thought of the threat of rain first before two dark, distant forms against the sky caught and held his attention. The two winged creatures were different in size, color and even species, yet flew side-by-side.

"Birds?" she asked.

"No," he said with a knowing smile, "not just mere birds." He stepped away from Natasha, letting out a loud whistle and held up his bent arm in front of him. "Put up your arm," he said. "Let them land."

Natasha obeyed, but with visible worry.

Loki whistled again and the birds went into a controlled dive for several dozen feet then evened out as they slowed. The larger of the two birds was a female great owl of white, brown and gold coloring, which landed heavily on his arm. She screeched a greeting before leaning close to gently touch the side of Loki's face.

The other bird, a female black and white hawk swooped in to perch upon Natasha's arm, tilting her head in thoughtful consideration while Natasha watched cautiously.

"It is so good to see you," Loki told them, fondly caressing the owl's feathers with his free hand.

The owl jumped away, transforming its entire body mid-fall so as to land upon humanoid feet. The hawk followed, also changing form. The sunlight shimmered upon their now long, golden hair and lit up their Elven features as the women offered Loki enthusiastic hugs.

"We were so pleased to hear you'd returned," Mitzi, the slightly taller of the two women said. Her tone sounded like she was smiling, yet Loki couldn't see her features with her face pressed up against his chest.

"It's been a while," he admitted, holding them tight.

"Shapeshifters," Natasha said, her eyes growing brighter with understanding.

"Yes, it's a talent that runs in their family. Mitzi and Diani are Rosner's twin daughters," Loki explained. "I don't see them very often, but I've known them since they were children."

"We've come for assistance," Diani said, her expression turning serious. "We were traveling through Alfheim with our father when we received the King's request. There are rumors of a spirit mage in the Zovodna Clan of the southern province. So, we headed there directly to investigate."

"We ran into a Jotun raiding party on the way," Mitzi added. "They tried to capture us. Father held them off while we escaped."

"Then you do not know his fate?"

Diani answered, "No, we came straight away through the secret passage you showed us in the Home Wood."

Loki called into his communicator for Heimdall, grateful that the gatekeeper had agreed to use the S.H.I.E.L.D. technology to interact more easily with the team. "Rosner has been attacked by Jotun trespassing in Alfheim. Can you see him? Is he alive?"

After a long pause, Heimdall reported, "Rosner is in a Jotun village near the crossing into Alfheim. He is being held as a prisoner in their pit."

Loki shared this news with the others. "We should report this to Odin," He said, leading the group urgently back toward the palace.

Natasha activated her own communicator as she fell in step behind them. "Kotter, pull the team together in the command center for a briefing," she ordered. "We'll be right there."

The king was waiting with the team when Loki and Natasha arrived with the twins. After quick introductions, everyone was apprised of Rosner's situation and they began to discuss their options.

How effective is diplomacy going to be with these Jotun?" Dr. Banner asked.

"Likely not at all," Odin answered. "These particular Frost Giants are on the outskirts. They are used to being out from under Queen Farbauti's ruling thumb. At least with her, we could attempt to negotiate."

"Will you demand his release?" Sif asked Odin.

"We do not know what has caused the Jotun to take these aggressive actions," the king said. "Perhaps it was a simple act of opportunity." He turned, setting his gaze on Dr. Montoya. "Any suggestions?"

The psychologist's eyes momentarily widened. Clearly she hadn't expected the question. "You're right. We need to find out their motivations. Is there anything they might need that we could offer as a trade for the spymaster?"

"Nothing comes to mind. They are highly self-sufficient and used to taking anything they want."

Natasha asked, "Could we attempt a stealth option? A jailbreak?"

"If they catch us," Loki said gravely, "the situation will become much worse. We must be cautious."

Odin paced and stroked his beard.

"Perhaps the Zovodna could give us information," Mitizi said. "They sometimes hunt in the Jotunheim."

"Zovodna embrace their connections to nature and animals more than some other clans," Loki said. "Politics are a fleeting concern for them at best. Even an appearance from Odin could vex more than impress them."

"While that's true," Odin said, "Asgard has had good relations with them in the past. If the Zovodna have a spirit mage in their village, then we do need to speak with their leader."

"Are we going big or small group for this?" Kotter asked. He eyed the twins with apparent interest. "I wouldn't mind a little 'cultural exchange' with the Elves."

Diani stared back at Kotter, studying his amused features as she appeared to ponder his words. There was no change in her own expression as she told him, "They will see us coming no matter how many we number. Zovodna are at home in their forest and protect their borders well."

Loki said, "I heard once that it is better to approach with your weapons visible rather than hidden."

"True," Mitzi said.

Diani concurred. "They don't like surprises."

"Sounds like the team might need a crash course in Zovodna etiquette," Natasha suggested. "I don't much like surprises either."

Odin gestured for everyone to find a seat or otherwise get comfortable for what could be a long briefing.

- - - - -

As Cami hung in limbo within the cold, shadowed hall of Niflheim her thoughts streamed along predictable paths. There were enough bad memories to fill volumes, but every dip she made into that pool of misery eventually led to something hopeful and happier like living with the Murphys, reuniting with Clint and meeting Loki.

This is a test, Cami decided. Hel wants to see if the loneliness will break me.

Hel had taken her from everyone she loved and needed, and as she thought about the people in her life, Cami came to the conclusion that either her brother and friends didn't know she was in Niflheim or they couldn't save her. This possibility sparked a small, yet powerful flame of purpose within her core. Instead of cringing away from the overpowering cold, Cami ventured in, clearing her mind and casting aside her uncertainty to explore the totality of the situation.

Cami soon discovered that the cold was comprised of the collective woes of innumerable souls. Loki had told her that people didn't come to Niflheim on purpose, yet so many spirits dwelled here, feeling lost, forgotten and, in some ways, cheated and angry. Cami could almost feel them as individuals - mothers, fathers, sons and daughters all without the comfort or promise of hope. It was heartbreaking.

Suddenly a great force latched onto Cami, yanking her consciousness back through the dense cold into the hall. Hel stood before her without the hood and cloak to hide her shocking appearance. The firelight from the nearby brazier flickered on her skin, revealing every fine or grisly detail.

"What were you doing?" Hel asked heatedly.

Cami tried to muster up her anger and assimilate Hel's frightening expression at the same time. Finding words was difficult, but she finally answered with a vehement, "I'm going back to my body as soon as I can figure out how."

Cami's mind seemed to shudder and suddenly she was in a bright light which rapidly dimmed to more of a twilight gloom to reveal she was no longer in the hall surrounded by the serpents. In their place stood masses of decomposing corpses as far as she could see in every direction, all with their rotted faces turned toward her.

"You don't approve of my hall. Perhaps you will like this better. This is what my father sees every time I pull his soul here," Hel said factually from beside Cami. "This exact spot is where I put him on display for my subjects"

Cami searched the gazes of the nearest souls with trepidation, already sure that this was far worse than the snakes.

"Why put Loki on display?" she asked uneasily.

Hell said, "Tell me what you want from him first."

Cami caught the implied accusation. "Only his company."

Hel drifted a few yards away above the heads of the crowd. "He has been a wealthy, powerful and influential man in the past. Perhaps someday he will have that back."

"You think I care about that stuff, but I don't," Cami insisted, feeling unnerved by Hel's interrogation and the silent audience. "I like him the way he is right now."

"Strange, I almost believe you," Hel said, facing her again.

"Now answer my question. Why do you put him on display?"