Loki sent Cami off with a quick kiss then followed Thor into the command center where new personnel were bustling about. In fact, an oriental woman Loki had never seen before with determined, angry features strode up and delivered a swift, powerful punch that stunned and scattered his senses.
"Was that necessary?" Thor demanded.
"Oh yeah," was her smug reply. "He's getting off easy."
Loki squelched the urge to cover or touch his throbbing jaw. He blinked until his vision cleared from the pain then his frame steeled and breath caught as he spotted a ghost moving through the gaping crowd.
"I think you've made your point, May," Agent Coulson said.
He looked quite solid and alive with his almost smile and cool, confident stare. Loki could even smell his subtle cologne, intensifying the memory of their last encounter, which came flooding back to further agitate Loki's unease.
"How?"
"It's classified," Coulson replied pointedly. He looked pleased by Loki's confusion, but said nothing more over several, uncomfortable seconds.
Steve Rogers stepped up. "Sir, with all due respect, now is not the time for this."
"Agreed," Coulson said, though his gaze remained focused on Loki.
"We have news," Maria Hill reported to the whole room. "First, Clint and the twins have found a huge stash of dynamite and magical artifacts beneath the Jotun capital."
King Odin added, "In the past when the city was under attack, the Jotun sent the women and children into the tunnels to hide."
"And now they have no safe place to retreat," Thor said.
"Which leads to our next problem," Maria continued. "Our scouts in the Jotunheim have seen activity in multiple areas surrounding the capital. It appears that Loki and his mages are preparing something, but we don't know exactly what it is, only that he ultimately plans to kill every last Frost Giant."
"Also, Diani has been injured," Rosner said, his features lightly flushing with color. "We need to convince Queen Farbauti to let a rescue team into the tunnels."
The crowd parted as Odin approached Loki. "Make the plans," he said to the commanding officers, "while I speak with my son on this matter." He took Loki by the upper arm, guiding him out to the edge of the gardens as the sun cleared the horizon to start a new day.
"You want me to talk to Farbauti, to forgive her, but you don't have the right to ask that," Loki snapped, his throat tightening. "She cast me out to die!"
"I can't make you forgive anyone for anything, Loki. I want you to understand the facts that have very recently come to light. There are truths that even I did not know."
Loki stared at him, thinking his open attitude had to be a trick, but not sure what retort to use. So, he allowed Odin to continue, staring at the brightening colors of the grass and flowers as once again everything he knew about himself seemed to unravel.
Odin sensed his doubt at the news. "Agent Barton saw it in a vision," he restated, "and Ashaunti confirmed. Farbauti defied Laufey to save your life."
Loki stepped away from Odin, shaking his head with confusion and disbelief.
"She now knows you are alive and were raised in Asgard by me."
"I'm to be dangled in front of her as an enticement to cooperate."
Odin kept moving forward every time Loki stepped back. He said, "I'm asking for this favor, Loki, not commanding it."
"I don't know what to do." He confessed, "When you sent me to serve the Frost Giants, I was brazenly mean and disrespectful to Farbauti, and she never knew my true reason for hating her."
"If you don't feel you can face her, I will send someone else."
"And if she won't agree?"
"We'll do what we must."
Loki pondered and worried as he accompanied Coulson and Natasha through the bifrost. The Jotun guards at the site were big, even for Frost Giants, and made him feel so weak and small.
Coulson did most of the talking with Natasha throwing out some strong points that finally convinced the guards to pass along their request.
Though Loki had not been identified to the guards directly, Farbauti and her sister appeared to know he was coming before he stepped into the chamber. She sat stiffly upon her throne with Ashaunti seated at her right. "Prince Loki," Farbauti said in cool recognition.
Standing tall in his agency uniform, Loki respectfully acknowledged her. "Queen Farbauti."
"Your friends have not returned from the tunnels, though two of my warriors and the children did."
Coulson said, "Those still in the tunnels are in trouble, Your Majesty," and briefly described what had been reported through Heimdall's contact with them.
"Please," Loki said, "allow us to bring in a team to deal with this threat. If those explosives go off, many could die."
There was a quiet deliberation between the sisters before the queen spoke again. "My people feel I am foolish to allow Asgard and S.H.I.E.L.D. into our borders, especially now that your forces have been spying outside our city. I am placing great trust on the word of my sister and the sincerity of Clint Barton that this story of the blood sorceress and your evil-hearted twin is not a ploy to destroy us."
"I am not known for my trustworthiness or good deeds," Loki admitted. "In light of past events, I am the last person to which you should listen."
"Are you here seeking redemption?"
Yes, he thought, and this is an intriguing group for me to be making confessions.
At the edge of his vision Agent Coulson was watching him, but Loki pushed through rising reservations. "I seek peace with those I have wronged. I also wish to earn some peace for myself as I have done terrible, unimaginable things."
"You have much to atone for," Farbauti said. "Summon your team, but know this, Prince of Asgard, you will face my wrath like none other if you betray me."
- - - - -
Clint was up and pacing again, attempting to keep warm.
Mitzi and Diani were shivering too.
Diani's features were pale and tense with pain from her injuries, which included a possible concussion and jaw, neck and back fractures that forced her to remain still on the freezing floor.
Mitzi stayed close to her, speaking in soft, reassuring tones and trying to share body heat.
At least Mabrun was being kind enough to keep his distance.
Suddenly Clint's communicator picked up the Scottish accent of Dr. Fitz. "Agent Barton, please respond."
"This is Barton," Clint said, amazed that a signal had reached him under the mountain.
"We're using drones to map the tunnels and relay our com signals. What's your status?"
"We secured the threat, but Diani is badly hurt."
"I've got a team heading your way. I estimate their arrival within five to seven minutes."
"I appreciate the heads up. Thank you."
When the sound of rushing, heavy footfalls in the distant passage reached Clint's ears, he stood and drew his sidearm to cover the doorway.
The first man to come into view was Grant Ward, Coulson's specialist. Ward halted, lowering his own weapon, and then continued into the room when Clint holstered his gun and waved him forward.
Tony, Bruce, Doctors Simmons and Lloyd, Volstagg and, to Clint's surprise, King Odin rushed in.
"Yikes," Tony said from within his Iron Man armor. He turned his head, scanning the room while JARVIS began a detailed analysis of the threat.
The doctors got down with Diani, examining her while rattling off questions about pain levels and testing if she had sensation in her outer extremities.
"Agent Rodriguez is dead - fatal wound to the throat," Ward reported.
Bruce and Odin were quickly, yet carefully, gathering the artifacts and placing them in Volstagg's large arms.
"Steve," Tony said through his com, "the path is clear. We're securing the magic stuff. Group One will be out of here in a few moments."
"Have you decided our move with the dynamite?" Steve asked.
Bruce turned to Tony, activating his own com. "I say we go with the ice."
"I agree," Tony said. "Ask the queen to have some of her mages accompany Group Two."
Clint was listening and watching everyone work, trying to piece together their plan. "Tell me what to do."
Odin and Volstagg drew near. The king touched Clint's arm. "You're leaving with us, Agent Barton."
"What? Why?"
"Agent Romanoff insisted," Odin said pointedly.
"Diani is in shock," Lloyd said. "We shouldn't attempt to carry her out of here without a backboard and neck brace."
"We're going directly to the healing room," Odin assured the doctor. "No one needs to move."
A bright, whitish-blue flash hurt Clint's sensitive eyes. When he blinked his vision into focus, he found they were back in Asgard within the stuffy healing room beside the glowing, bubbling pool of water.
Healers rushed forward to assist Lloyd and Simmons with Diani.
Ward pushed up from his knees beside Rodriguez's body, giving Clint a sad, respectful nod.
Sif, Fandral and Hogun stepped into the room, taking some of the artifacts from Volstagg. "We will get these analyzed and to the vault right away," Sif promised Odin and ushered the Warriors Three out ahead of her.
By then, Clint realized that Tony and Bruce had not accompanied them. He stared at Odin, who also started away and hurried to fall in behind him. "Now what?" he asked, his tone a little on edge and desperate to understand as things were happening so fast.
"Preparation," Odin said, walking with quick, long strides. "You might have thwarted the double's plan to use the explosives against the Jotun, but he has other mischief in the works."
"OK. Where do you want me?"
"Loki and Cami have returned. I suggest you meet up with them and your bride in Loki's rooms. I hear there is troubling news."
- - - - -
Cami managed to hold it together while Jorn, Mahlora and Frigga asked her questions then poked and prodded her magic. She was relieved that no one had produced a blood blade, but now the trio stood around Loki's table referencing old books and speaking gravely in Elven.
The queen pulled Loki aside as soon as he cleared the doorway, showing him the books while the Elves explained their findings.
"This isn't fair," Cami called over to them. She was seated on the bed, clutching a pillow to her front. "You're purposely leaving me in the dark. When do I get to find out what is happening?"
Four sets of eyes shifted to gaze at her, all looking concerned.
The bedroom door opened again, this time admitting Clint, Natasha and Maria.
Cami softly swore because the presence of Commander Hill had to mean she was in serious trouble.
Of course, the new arrivals were eager to hear the diagnosis too. Maria stated that she had important things to do and requested that they quickly bring her up to speed.
"The curses came back," Frigga said.
"Jahla cursed her again?" Clint asked with instant anger.
"No," Jorn answered. He searched for more words, but looked to Frigga or Loki to explain for him.
Loki said, "We've discovered that Cami is an adaptive mage. She can access the energy around her, store and alter it for her own purposes. Unfortunately, once she takes in this energy, whether it is magical or not, it becomes part of her."
Cami's chest ached. "You're saying that I'm always going to be cursed."
There was noticeable silence and an exchange of worried glances.
"In a way," Loki said sadly.
Frigga said, "Jahla must have recognized the threat you represented. Your power is very rare."
Natasha asked, "Removing the curses again won't help at all?"
"They would return," Jorn said, "and the ritual is not safe for her child."
Maria's eyes narrowed. "She's pregnant?"
Loki stared down Maria's glare. "Yes, she is. Jahla put a curse on Cami to increase the chance of her conceiving. It is my determination that Bad Loki needs the baby to fulfill Hel's wish to leave Niflheim."
"I don't get it," Clint said, not sounding nearly as angry as he should.
"I think Hel intends to replace the baby's soul with her own."
Cami buried her face in the pillow so she didn't have to see their expressions or let them see her as she took in this news.
Clint promised, "I'm not going to let that happen."
Natasha asked, "Will the bad luck affect the baby?"
"It is difficult to know for sure," Frigga said. "This is not a normal pregnancy. The curse accelerates the baby's development."
"I don't need to hear anything else," Maria said with exasperation. "S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't going to graduate a pregnant trainee who is a habitual underachiever and cursed with bad luck. She's done."
"Now wait a sec," Clint said. "Aren't you being a little judgmental? This isn't all her fault."
"Save me the sob story. She chose to get involved with Loki. Plus, she has always been a liability, and we're not going to forgive her screw-ups any longer."
Cami's burning magic was tethered to the communicators her teammates and Hill wore, and it was tempting to send a vengeful pulse Maria's way, just to see what would happen.
"She's improved a lot. Give her a chance to work out the issues," Clint begged.
"No. I won't waste more time and resources on a bad bet."
A moment later the bedroom door shut with a loud bang, making Cami wonder if it was Hill or her brother that slammed it.
"We'll talk to Fury. Maria..." Natasha began to say when Clint cut her off.
"I know she's your buddy, but you could have jumped in to try and change her mind. Help us out here!"
Cami sat up to take in a deep breath, which did nothing to ease her pain. She saw Natasha's frame stiffen.
"How dare you," Natasha uttered, her lip trembling. "How dare you say that I don't help YOU, Cami or Loki."
Clint realized his mistake and there was deep regret on his features as he reached for her. "Nat, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."
Natasha stepped away, choosing to avoid his touch and avert her gaze as she tugged open the door and hurried out.
Clint turned back to the others, folding his arms and chuffing softly. "We're under a lot of stress and haven't been sleeping well."
"Go after her," Loki urged. "I'll stay with Cami."
With the wedding ceremony planned for that very night, Cami was apprehensive as Clint left. "I think I've been cursed my whole life," she said, acting pitiful and dramatic because, of course, it would be her fault if Clint and Natasha broke up.
Loki came over to comfort her while the others continued to collaborate over the books. He settled on the bed at her side, saying, "You must be so disappointed."
The truth hurt and it took effort to not cry as she admitted, "I figured I wasn't graduating as soon as Fury sent me away. I don't blame him. I suck at being a field agent."
He started to disagree, but Cami shook her head, easily silencing him with her look. She had a lifetime of bad luck ahead of her, if it didn't prove fatal. Why feign optimism?
"We'll address each problem in turn." His arm curled around her. "Don't worry, My Dear. You and the baby will be alright."
Cami's tone lacked encouragement as she said, "Maybe if we invest in a horde of lucky charms."
Frigga's gaze shot up from the book in her arms to Loki and Cami. Her features lit up with surprise and inspiration. "A blessing," she said, as if they should have all be thinking the same. "We'll bless you with good luck. Your magic should absorb it just as it did the bad."
Jorn was equally excited by the plan and translated for Mahlora who was soon smiling.
"You know how to do this?" Loki asked.
"In fact, I do," Frigga said.
- - - - -
Natasha was speaking with Phil Coulson in the dining room when Clint found her. Taking a cue from Phil's quick glance in his direction, Clint waited in the doorway for them to finish.
After a bit, Coulson embraced Natasha then stepped away to address Clint. "I heard about Agent Rodriguez," he said in a soft, regretful tone. "I'm sorry you had to do that."
Coulson would often start a conversation with something poignant and unexpected. Clint didn't want to discuss details. It was going to take time to come to terms with Marcus' death, especially so soon after Brandon.
"Me too," he said simply then cocked his head toward Natasha. "Think it's safe for me to go over there?"
"Yes, but give me a minute of your time first."
Natasha was avoiding his gaze, so Clint focused on Coulson, open to his tidbits of wisdom.
"I realize I don't know all the facts, but I've seen your sister's file. She has a lot of potential."
"She can't pass combat training, Phil, and now she's pregnant."
"I have members of my team that aren't combat trained," Phil said, undeterred. "From what I hear, Cami has great instincts and can easily build rapport with people. More than one of her instructors praised her never-say-die attitude. She also has a natural affinity with technology that impressed Banner and Stark, of all people."
"Hill doesn't see it that way. Cami's had discipline problems and the situation just spiraled with everything that's going on."
"I could harp all day on yours and Natasha's abilities. Even Half Loki is pretty damn impressive," he said with a thoughtful frown. "I truly believe that the Mischief Makers would have raised the bar of excellence within the agency."
"Not that I don't appreciate your compliments," Clint said, "but where is this going?"
"Cami put the team together. She recognized that you and Natasha had the best chance of relating to Loki because of your shady pasts. Fury admitted that it was a great insight."
"She wanted my attention and to save Loki from prison."
"Neither are bad things."
Though none of this sounded like criticism exactly, Clint was tensing. "She's just a sensitive kid. It was dumb luck that Loki came to us in the condition he did."
Phil didn't respond, but the way his head lowered, his mouth pursed and the soft heave of his chest as he took in a breath told Clint that he'd just failed some sort of test.
"I'd better check in with my people," Phil said and moved past Clint to return to the command center.
Clint puzzled as Natasha approached and pulled him tightly to her. He wanted to think through the talk with Coulson, but focused on her.
"Poor Marcus," Natasha said sadly. She was still wiping tears when she asked, "Are you OK?"
"Not so much, I guess, but I shouldn't have snapped at you like that." His fingers kneaded at the tension in her shoulders as they held each other.
"I'm almost over it," she said, offering a forced smile as he leaned in to tenderly kiss her. "Did you get mad at anyone else?" she asked with care. "You know, with Cami being pregnant and all?"
Clint chuckled and shook his head, understanding her concern. "No, I saw the kid in a vision days ago. So, it wasn't such a surprise, I guess. Otherwise, I probably would have gone ballistic."
Natasha's eyes lit up with expectation.
"Oh no. Not going to say a single word more." He said, "What we do affects the future. I probably never should have shared the other visions with you."
"I'm glad you did. I don't want there to be secrets between us," Natasha said.
Though he agreed, Clint distracted himself by openly admiring her form as she pulled him out of the dining room and into the command center to listen in on the team's planning.
Those collected were looking over video footage that their scouts and Fitz's drones had captured of the enemies' activities outside the Jotun capital. As they watched, Rosner and King Odin were identifying the mages, who were all considered powerful spellcasters of varying types.
"They are preparing rituals," Odin said. He named off the elements as he spotted them. "Circles of protection, power stones..." He hesitated as the scene changed to show a towering portal open up in a turbulent swirl of dark purple and black energy.
"Shadow portals," Thor said. "Are they moving an army or summoning it?"
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