Chapter 26
This was probably the stupidest thing he was about to do, but Harry was getting desperate. He knew Fury would send in someone to try and get information out of Loki, and he knew he was the last person on that list, but he had to try. He had to figure out Loki's play, know where Clint was, and see if their magic might be compatible. If he were honest, it was actually a little thrilling to find someone who could do magic like this.
He let Bruce give him an injection of something (he didn't ask what) before he left. He felt better, the ache in his chest felt duller, but it was only temporary. The cube was being tracked and Bruce had time to play with his science to see if he could help Harry, and Harry had nothing else to do.
So Loki it was.
Harry came up to him as Loki was trailing his fingers across the glass on the opposite side of the cell. He didn't bother trying to be quiet, though it still disturbed him that Loki turned to smirk at him as soon as he got close enough.
“I didn't expect for them to send you.”
“They didn't.” Harry found a nearby chair and picked it up, carrying it up to the ledge. “I came for my own reasons.”
“I've always wanted to be tortured by my own kind.”
Harry tensed as he sat down, arms crossing over his chest. “What do you mean by your own kind? I'm no god.”
“Perhaps not, but the same power flows through our blood.” Loki stalked toward him and pressed his hand against the glass. “Admit it, you came for reasons other than finding out where Barton is.”
“If I did, they're my own reasons.” Harry wanted to lean back, away from the hands pressing against the glass, but he forced himself to keep still. “I just want to talk.”
“Talk.” Loki's hand slid off the glass and he stepped back. “Talking is not what you really want to do. I know you, I know what you can do.”
“You know what you pulled from Barton's mind. Like a parasite who can't function without someone to feed off of.” He leaned forward in the chair, resting his elbows on his knees. “Tell me, Loki, who did you attach yourself to before you came here? Thor? A parent?”
“I fed off of no one.”
“Here I thought you were the God if Lies.” Harry looked away from him, frowning. “I want to know where Barton is. And maybe I want to know how you tick.”
“I am not a clock.”
“It's a figure of speech.” Harry shrugged. “Barton?”
“Doing his job.”
“Where?” Harry asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.
But Loki just grinned and settled himself on a bench on the other side of the cell. “Elsewhere.”
Harry narrowed his eyes and stood, stepping closer to the glass. “I can find out from you if I need to.”
“Sir,” Edwin said in his ear, words barely a whisper, “I've been trying to scramble the video feed, but I haven't been able to. Please remember that Shield and the others can see and hear your conversation.”
That wasn't what Harry wanted to hear and he scowled at the cameras. Within the cage, Loki laughed again, leaning back and looking relaxed. Harry wanted to shoot him or hex him or something more than what he was doing now.
“My this is interesting. Are you so sure you can find out with how weak you are right now?”
“I am hardly weak.” Harry took a deep breath, letting himself calm down. “Though maybe you're just talking this big because you're the weak one. Since when did a god like you need an army behind him?”
Loki gave nothing away from that statement and Harry had to admit that he might be out of his element. He could back talk to Death Eaters, and he could verbally spar with Draco, but this was worse. He was under watch here, to be who he built his life to be. Sure, Tony Stark was known to be an asshole and have snark, but Harry was too tired and too stressed to really get it out.
Talking to Loki was definitely a bad idea.
“What are your plans, Loki? To start a global war? Or to just come here and cause as much destruction as you could possibly do?”
Loki stood and walked toward Harry. His voice, when he spoke, was low and it sent a shiver down Harry's spine. “You can't begin to comprehend exactly what it is that I want. You, who has had his life handed to him. Who might have grown up wanting more, but never knew what to do with it once he had it. You who does not know how to reached out and take. I have taken, and in return I have had things taken from me. I merely wish to have them back.”
“I don't--”
“I have lived thousands of years, you pathetic mortal, and have lost more than you can imagine.”
Harry didn't doubt that and he suddenly felt very small next to Loki. “So this is a temper tantrum?”
Loki smirked. “You would know considering you have had your share of them.”
“Excuse me?”
“How many died by your hand, imposter?”
Harry tensed. “I--”
“How many between the war you have already fought? How people did you have to watch die as they fought for you against an evil they didn't even dare mention?”
Harry stepped back from the cage, immediately regretting the move when Loki smirked. He squared his shoulders and tried to salvage this. “Afghanistan--.”
“I am not speaking of a pathetic country that doesn't know how to play nice with its toys. I am speaking of Hogwarts.”
That had been what Harry feared he was talking out, but it was different hearing the word come out of Loki's mouth. “How...?”
“I know much about you that even Barton doesn't.” Loki stepped closer, trailing his fingers across the glass. “Orphaned as a baby, cherished in a world nobody but those special enough to get in know about.” He paused, turning to face Harry fully. “Your parents dying movements as they tried stupidly to protect you.”
“I'm going to ask you one more time, Loki. How the hell do you know about that?”
Loki pressed his hand completely against the glass, leaning in until his nose almost touched it. “I am the God of Mischief, you petulant boy. I am the God of Chaos and Destruction. Did you not think that I would know about my dear Lord Voldemort and his pitiful attempts at ruling the world?”
Harry stepped back again, feeling his chest constrict. This time, at least, it had nothing to do with the reactor. “You...”
Loki laughed, stepping back so it echoed around the cage. “Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived. Now I suppose he is the Boy Who Masquerades. Tell me, is it fun to make a play as a smithy? Do you enjoy standing there in a life that is not your own? Did my dear servant ruin you so badly that you had to flee? Was is all that bad?”
“You have no idea what you're talking about,” Harry snapped, feeling his control slipping.
Something sparked on the control panel and Loki smirked again. “Ah, but you do. Think of what we could have accomplished together, Potter. You could have been just like him, just as twisted, but you are not. Riddle was never good enough for my following, but you...”
“Shut up.”
“You are perfect.” Loki pressed up against the glass again. “Join me.”
Harry took a deep breath and forced himself to step closer. “Fuck off, Loki. I killed Voldemort, I can kill you too.”
He turned and left the room, Loki's taunting, “I highly doubt that,” following him out.
Harry ran, ignoring the startled looks of Agents as he passed. Coulson came into view and he dodged down a different hallway to avoid the man. It took longer for him to get back to Bruce's lab, but it was better than having to talk to anyone.
Loki knew everything, and he had just told everything to Shield. He shouldn't have gone there, shouldn't have tried to talk to someone like that. He knew Loki would be difficult to handle, especially after what was said in the jet and after his mock fight with Thor.
He leaned against the door to the lab as soon as he got there, staring wide-eyed at Bruce. “It's bad, isn't it?” he asked, fearing the answer.
“Fury's probably looking for you, yes,” Bruce agreed. “You shouldn't be exerting yourself. The poison--”
“I'm fine.” Harry waved him off and glanced behind him to the door. “Can we lock this?”
“Afraid not.” Bruce frowned and pulled off his glasses. “At least stand with me. I doubt Fury will try too much bodily harm if you've got the Hulk with you.”
“You are not hulking out on me, buddy.” Still, Harry walked over to Bruce, rubbing his chest. “Okay?”
“I make no promises, but I'll try.” Bruce nudged his shoulder. “Come on, let me show you something before they decide to barge in here. Edwin and I have been looking through a few things.”
“Called him, didn't you?”
“I missed the old guy.” Bruce smiled and handed Harry some papers.
Harry took them, glad for the direction until Fury or some other Shield agent would certainly arrive.