The Dream
I threw myself down on my bed, so consumed by my thoughts that for once I didn't even feel guilty about the mess in my dorm room. I was utterly, utterly torn at my discovery. Part of me was convinced that I was an idiot for not putting it together sooner. That formal speech, devious mind, otherworldly aura. How could I have been so stupid. But I also remembered reading the sincerity in his soul. I remembered him telling me that I would hate him when I discovered who he was. That if I wanted to fully understand Hydra's plans, I'd need to discover who he was. He'd known. That bastard. He'd known that it would come to this.
I tugged on the chain around my neck and gave a loud disgusted snort at myself when I realized that I'd given God of Mischief a piece of my soul. Jesus, I was older than anyone else here, excepting Thor. How could I have been so willfully blind. I thought about when I'd seen him last and the memory got me hot and bothered. I tried to convince myself that he'd made me do it. That he'd made me feel that way with his God Mojo, but truthfully, I knew that it was all me. Then something dawned on me.
“Son of a bitch!” I blurted. Loki didn't have his power! He'd done no illusions, no sorcery. He'd had the crap beaten out of him by a bunch of thugs in an ally, he couldn't have power. I scrambled up, and after a brief search that left my space twice as trashed, I found the dossier that Nick had given me on all of the Avengers when I'd left Shield headquarters.
I plopped down on the bed, and while my foot bounced restlessly, I reviewed the information within. The pages on Thor revealed that when he had first landed in New Mexico, He'd stripped of his powers by his father. Odin, as punishment for Thor's behavior toward the Jotenhiem had taken Thor's power and banished him to Earth. I pulled a face. Bit harsh, I thought. But then, I wasn't anybody's father. I wondered if Odin had stripped his other son of his power as punishment for trying to take over the world.
When Loki had attempted to invade earth, he had done so with an army gifted to him by a mysterious somebody. That somebody who had also given him the Mind Stone, hidden in a scepter, which he used to control both Clint and Selvig, among others.
Who and where he'd obtained this power from was unknown, Loki had been given up for dead, since he apparently fell to his death from the Bifrost Bridge. So him appearing out of nowhere 'burdened with glorious purpose' was a shock to everyone.
Unsatisfied with the amount of hard information, I grunted and launched my soul from my body. I projected myself into the systems and reviewed the more comprehensive data found within. I located and memorized every single byte of information. Witness reports, and reports from the avengers themselves. Old news footage, videos that had been taken by bystanders on their phone. I saw photos, film, pages and pages of written reports regarding the invasion and Loki's master plan. When I withdrew and synced back into myself. While I almost certainly knew far more than I had, I was left even more confused. A lot of things were not adding up.
I found it very hard to believe that a God who'd had rule over Asgard truly wanted to rule earth. Seemed like a major drop of the bar to me, and I didn't think that Loki was the type to ever lower his standards and settle. But after being busted by his brother trying to commit genocide, he'd fallen into an abyss and then popped up on earth, quite some time later, with a sallow face, greasy hair and a bunch of stray aliens in tow. Did nobody ever wonder what in the bloody hell had happened to him during the time that he'd been floating through time and space? Or who on earth might have wanted the Tesseract so badly that they were willing to give an army to a space mad god of lies who'd just tried to blow up the entirety of his own race? Nobody even noticed that he was willing to backslide from a throne on Asgard to one on Earth.
I was beginning to feel like the Avengers were very 'punch first, questions later' types, which was a real shame because there was just so much going on there that should have been addressed.
Loki had proven to be devious beyond understanding. But there were a few things that were just off about the whole scenario. I ground my teeth. I did not like being unsure. I didn't like not knowing what to do. He'd told me he was the bad guy, and history certainly backs that statement up. But he'd gone into Hydra for me when he'd barely known me. He hadn't been lying when he said that he wanted redemption. I swore loudly and threw the file. Papers exploded into the room and floated downwards, settling and adding an extra element of chaos to my room.
I dramatically threw myself backwards on my bed again, feeling lost. Soon, despite the turmoil of my mind and emotions, my lack of sleep caught up with me. I slept the open-mouthed, drooling sleep of the dead-tired.
The land stretched out before me. My eyes adjusted to the inky blackness of the night. The landscape was familiar. The smells. The sounds. I turned, searching, wanting to hear her, hold her, see her. She wasn't there. She wasn't ever there. I was alone. I knew this dream. I had it often. Shira was never there. No matter how much I searched, or called her name or begged and sobbed for her, I remained alone. As I deserved. A change rippled across the landscape. A change that I could not define.
I stood. And indescribable clarity coming to me. I had always known, in some small way, that I was dreaming, but in an instant, it changed. Now I knew, completely and resolutely, that I was dreaming, I was lucid and aware, instead of helplessly lost inside the warped memory.
“Well, color me... intrigued.” A cool and frustratingly familiar voice commented and Luke- no wait, -Loki, strolled into my line of sight, looking avidly at his surroundings. I frowned, This was not the status quo. It wasn't supposed to go like this.
“Where's Shira?” I asked him. Since this dream was obviously different this time, maybe she would finally appear to me. I looked for her, and when I didn't see her, my gaze returned to Loki who had his eyebrows raised and was looking politely puzzled.
“Just us I'm afraid.” He said and I blinked at him. He looked so clear and real that I felt as though if I reached out to touch him, I would actually feel him under my palms and not just in my head. I became wary. This new clarity whilst I slept, this unnatural consciousness, had to be his doing.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded. I was not feeling too happy with him at the moment. I'd only just figured out who he was and I was not at all sure that I wanted anything to do with him, and yet somehow he'd infiltrated my dream. I just knew that the Loki standing before me was not of my creation.
“Perhaps I did not wish to wait until you sought me out again. There is far too much time between your little visits and they are getting so interesting.” He murmured, a suggestive gleam in his eye. Despite myself, I thought about what had happened when we last saw each other. To my horror, my dream-scape changed. The world slipping away like sand running down the dune, and Loki and I fell with it. We landed in that little shabby room above the bar. I was naked on the bed, and Loki was on top of me, shirt open and chest bared. An exact reenactment of the memory. My hands were touching his bare skin again and I froze, his face just centimeters from mine. He broke into a grin.
“While I confess, this has been on my mind, it's not quite what I meant.” he purred, and dropped a lingering kiss on my lips before the scenery changed again. Now we were sitting, very appropriately, at the little table in that old hotel room, where he'd been staying when I'd had to heal him. It was even littered with the band-aids and antiseptic supplies he'd been attempting to use at the time. Our clothes matched the memory, for which I was extremely grateful. I flicked my gaze about and noted that the the view from the window was the original landscape I'd been dreaming about before this intrusion. Loki was watching me with an amused smirk.
“I wanted to see you because Strucker has a new ally, and I cannot stress enough how dangerous she is. She is, how do you put it, ah, a game changer.” He looked at me very seriously for a moment, reaching out and touching my hand. At the brush of his fingers, a part of my brain noted that I finally had the reason for why he always seemed so cold. I withdrew my hand and looked at him reproachfully. How could he be walking in my dreams when he had no power?
“Thor arrived today.” I said, ignoring his words. He tensed and looked at me sharply, but said nothing. “The way he speaks, the way he phrases things. Reminded me of you.” I saw a sadness touch his features, but then it was gone. Now his was a face that I hadn't seen before. I feared that I wouldn't see my friend Luke again. The man sitting before me, was Loki.
“I've always considered you to be a clever mortal.” He said coolly, “I don't expect that it took long for you to put the pieces together.” I tried to search his soul, but found that I couldn't in my dream, which was disconcerting.
“I knew from his third sentence.” I tried not to come across as smug. “What's the Orb of Agamotto?” I asked and gave a bitter laugh.
“It's an artifact that hides the use of magic.” He spat, “One of the items stolen from Odin's Trophy Vault, along with the Elixirs of Renewal, and the Tesseract. I believe that there may be more but the information is being kept from me.” He looked extremely put out. “I do not think that the Baron will ever fully trust me. Apparently my reputation as the trickster god is to blame.” He finished with a grim smile.
“So you don't look too happy, and yet you're here with your powers back. What's with that?” I earned a beaming look from the God.
“So clever.” He said, with a touch of pride, which rankled because it wasn't like I was his puppy who'd just learned a new trick. His face twisted into an expression of distaste as he continued, “Amora, the fool, stole these things. The Baron wanted my powers restored, believing them to be useful, so she arranged for the necessary items to be acquired. The Elixirs to renew my sorcery, and the Orb to hide its use. She failed to realize that the moment I try to hide myself from Heimdall, my father will rain fire until he has me in his custody again. I am under very specific orders.”
“Which are?” I asked, holding out my hand, waiting for the obvious, “and I'm guessing Amora is the game changer?” He made an impatient gesture.
“My reasons for being on Midgard have very little to do with the Baron's plans,” He replied evasively, clearly reluctant to tell me the truth. I narrowed my eyes.
“Loki!” I said sharply, and he glanced up at my first use of his real name, “Tell me. I deserve to know.” He knew I did too. I could see it in his eyes. He sighed.
“Odin stripped me of my powers and banished me to Midgard. If Thor finds out about my existence, I will be hunted down and executed. If Heimdall loses sight of me, I will be hunted down and executed. If I try anything that might even resemble world domination, I will be hunted down and executed with all of the might of Asgard.” He recited in a monotone. I frowned.
“Ok, ok, so I'm assuming that Heimdall doesn't know you've got your power back. How's that work? Also you're working for Hydra, how are your old man and Heimdall ok with that?” I pointed out. Loki shrugged.
“Hydra wants global chaos. You can't rule chaos. And Amora is using the Orb to hide herself, So Heimdall could not see her restore my powers. As long as I don't use them, Heimdall will know nothing.” He said, sounding bored. I suspected that he was moderating his behavior to seem nonchalant. But I couldn't blame him. Maybe Luke would have admitted to being a bit upset at his predicament, but not Loki.
“Ok, point. So how are you doing magic now without Heimdall seeing it?” I circled my finger, meaning the controlled dreaming that Loki had created. Certainly I never had as much control on my own. He grinned.
“We are merely dreaming, and dream-walking is more soul work than sorcery. The amount of magic needed for it is almost inconsequential.” His eyes turned hard for a moment
.
“It must suck, having your power back and being unable to really use it.” I mentioned, earning that bitter laugh.
“You would notice that.” His face grew harder and colder. My discovery of his identity had changed his demeanor. I couldn't decided which projected persona was the act. Loki, or Luke? I wanted to feel bad for him, but knew that he would find that unacceptable. Instead, I ensured that my guard was still up and changed the subject.
“So, onto Amora. Some details would be nice.” I said, inspecting my nails as though there were nothing out of the ordinary. This was just an average conversation with the God of Mischief inside a memory that's happening inside my dream. Nothing suss here. Loki got up and began to pace again. I hid a smile. He might change the way he regarded me, but his habits remained.
“She's also known as The Enchantress. She has protector, Skurge, though he is usually known as The Executioner. The Baron managed to obtain her help. I know not what he has promised her. I know Amora, and she wouldn't do anything out of the kindness of her heart. She specializes in sorcery as I do, but where I am mischievous with my magic, she is downright dangerous.” He told me. I frowned.
“Yeah, invading with an army of aliens is just mischievous.” I said with my eyebrows up. Loki looked at me, darkness in his eyes.
“You know not of what you speak!” He spat, “Do not presume that you know my motivations.” His voice was cold and I eyed him resentfully. I decided that I liked him better when he was Luke.
“So enlighten me.” I said, steel in my tone. If he wanted to drop our generally friendly attitude, then I could do that. He sighed.
“Now is not the time, and I fear you would just assume that the God of Lies is, of course, lying to save his own reputation.” He murmured, surprising me with the hopelessness in his face. I immediately softened.
“You might be surprised on what I'm willing to believe.” I had more than a few suspicions of my own regarding his invasion and intended to pump him for details to help me confirm them. But he was right. Now wasn't the time, “So The Baron has made new friends, how am I supposed to get the rest of the Team to learn this without giving you away?”
Loki scowled. “I don't care how you get your team to find out.” He snarled and I rolled my eyes.
“Don't be a prick. I need them if I'm going to destroy Hydra, I can't do it by myself. I get that you hate them, I even get why. Sort of. But dude, they're my friends so ease up on the open loathing yeah?” I said, fidgeting with the band-aids on the table. Loki elected to ignore my words entirely.
“How is it that you dream about Hala?” He asked, completely off topic, referring to my dream-scape, which was of the Kree home world. I tilted my head. I hadn't thought that Asgardians might know of the Kree. Certainly it made sense for them to since they knew of Earth and other realms. I wondered if, once I was done with Hydra, maybe I could get to the Kree after all. Definitely something that I was going to have to give a considerable amount of thought to.
“That's where I spent most of my life.” I said, “I was one of their human pet experiments. How do you think it is that I can do what I do?” I raised my eyebrows at him and he shrugged, gaze sliding away from me.
“I did not give it much thought.” He looked out the window, disinterested in my response.
“Well, now you know.” I muttered. What I wouldn't give to have a radioactive spider bite as my origin story instead.
“Who is Shira?” He asked quietly, and I tensed
.
“Nobody.” I said vaguely, “She's nobody now.” My dream began to shiver and I stood, alarmed. Loki turned from the window, glancing around. “I must go. Something is happening on the other end of our dream.” His eyes slid over me and I saw a twinkle in them that I did not trust, “As always, it has been interesting.” He was suddenly standing in front of me and I let out an alarmed squeak just as his lips descended on mine. His cool lips were forceful and demanding, and seemed to ignite every nerve in body. I didn't mean to enjoy it, but I absolutely did. He pulled his face away from me.
“Dream of me.” He said silkily, as everything faded away. I was left where I started. On the dark, remote plains of Hala, my fingertips on my lips and outrage in my heart. I felt the fury bubbling under the surface. So he thought he could just go flirting with me and I'd be totally cool with it? Not a chance!
“Goddammit, there'll be none of that you cheeky bastard!” I yelled at the vast nothingness. A delighted laugh echoed about the land and then faded into silence.
***
“Shira! Run!” I screamed, as the blue skinned Kree warrior advanced on us. He was part of a group that were approaching steadily in a semi-circle formation, coming around to flank us. I knew that there would be another group of warriors approaching similarly from behind, attempting to trap us. Shira stubbornly planted herself behind me, facing the rear group.
“I won't leave you!” She declared and I felt my heart constrict. I didn't want her to leave me, not truly. But she was so much more fragile than I. No matter what the Kree did to me, I survived. Shira, despite being a magnificent warrior, did not have the abilities that I had.
“You must! I am their prize, they will not pursue you.” I pleaded with her but she shot me down in a single glare flicked over her shoulder. I tried to remember all the tactics we'd used in the arena. We'd fought this number of foes before, but not alone, and not trained Kree warriors. I tried not to feel as though we were doomed, but I could not help the doubt that filled me.
They attacked us then and we had to simply fight. So quickly our lives were once again hanging in the balance. A flash of weapons, blood, screams, crunches. The sounds of annihilation. I glimpsed Shira, her ebony skin gleaming with sweat. I sank my clawed hand into a vulnerable side and tore it back out. The soldier falling to the ground clutching at his bleeding body. As soon as he was down I aimed a powerful kick at his face. His head snapped back and he fell limp.
We were tiring quickly and I found myself at Shira's side. She was cut up and bleeding profusely, My own body shook slightly as I healed the worst damage that I had sustained. I felt the drain acutely. Shira held her side as she crouched readily for the next approach. The remaining Kree had completely surrounded us, and were staying just out of our reach. I lay my hand on Shira, healing her wounds. They knew that they had us, and so did I.
“No! You must not waste your energy!” She exclaimed, shoving me away. I fell into the dirt and looked helplessly at her. The Kree made no move. My insides churned and despair overcame me.
“We are defeated.” I said to her. Hopeless. She snarled at me, beautiful in her savagery.
“I will die before being their toy again!” She fell to her knees and a sob escaped her. Her spear hit the earth. The Kree advanced on us. They contained us and took us back to the arena for punishment.
I watched Shira walk ahead of me. I'd done this for her. For the only person I'd loved. For the person who taught me about humanity. Taught me what it meant to be a person and not a thing. She inspired me with her stories of a land where she was loved and revered. She taught me to feel, to want and to dream of more than what was. I wanted to be better for her. To give her better. We'd had a taste of freedom, but I wasn't sure if I believed that it was going to be worth it. Our punishment would be harsh. It was always harsh. Shira would be terminated. Runaways were not tolerated. But I couldn't die. I didn't know what they would concoct to discipline me with. It would not matter. Shira's death would surpass anything that they could come up with.
The Supreme Intelligence did not ponder for long. My usefulness on Hala had reached its end and since I could not die, they had to find another use for me. I was to be sent to one of their observatories on Earth, and used in their continuing studies on human societies. To ensure my cooperation, they used Shira as a disciplinary tool. Any indiscretion from me, and Shira would be severely punished. Since she was the only thing in the world that I cared for, I hung my head and meekly accepted judgment. We were put into stasis and sent through a wormhole into Earth's solar system.