Interlude Clint
Clint just walked into Stark's living room after talking to Nat. She kept saying she was fine already. However, he did not believe her. Mind control is not a pleasant experience! It has just been reported that Loki took Sylvie. Fury didn't know that yet, and Nat wanted to question Thor. However, Clint knew something that he did not tell anyone. Neither Fury nor Nat nor anyone. He should have said it. While Loki was in flesh in the Stark Tower, an hour after his escape, his illusion came to him. Clint fired an arrow immediately. The arrow passed through him and Loki's smile widened.
"Nice to see you again, Agent Barton," Loki said politely.
What Clint hated most about him was the fact that he was always polite and sensible. If he wasn't a murderer and a madman, Clint would have thought that he might even be a better boss than Fury. Of course, he would never say that to anyone. Fury was too limited at times. Loki was the opposite. He listened and cared for his people. The scary truth was, Loki controlled only a few. He, Selvig, and someone else. Clint didn't remember surnames. However, most people agreed with Loki's idea. They decided that it was worth fighting for. Clint refused to admit it was deep inside he wanted it like others. He has been a spy all his life. It was a dangerous job. He needed security for his newly founded family. There were foreign governments and enemies of the Shield that could hurt his beloved Laura, Cooper, and Lila. Somewhere at the bottom of his heart, there was the thought that if Loki, this one the powerful God of Mischief would have won and had Clint on his side, his family would never be threatened again. However, Loki was not only mad and drunk with power. He was also weak. His ideas for invasions were childish. If Asgard was a warrior kingdom then Loki should know all about strategy. He did not do this. He released an army of innocent people! Civilians! Without a goal!
Madman. Murderer. Tyrant.
Clint was afraid. He was afraid of Loki's revenge. He could be weak. However, he was strong enough would to break the necks of his wife and children. Because Loki knew about them. Loki had access to all his memories. He knew where they were hidden.
"Leave me!" Clint growled.
"A rude greeting. I was hoping for better manners," Loki replied.
"Shouldn't you be plotting some kind of revenge on the Hulk right now or something?" Clint said through clenched teeth.
"I'm planning it. But now I wanted to visit my favorite servant. I have a gift for you," Loki said.
"I don't want anything from you!" Clint shouted.
"I am a merciful God of Mischief, Barton. I appreciate it when someone is useful to me. Take it." A green ball appeared in the air before Loki's illusion.
"What's this? The Asgardian equivalent of a bomb?" Clint asked.
"As if the gods of Asgard would use something like that. They prefer to kill face to face. Have blood on their hands, battle frenzy in their ears. Ask Thor, he knows all about it," Loki said.
"And you do not?" Clint asked.
"Unfortunately I was never a suitable Prince of Asgard. I'm finally adopted, as my brother politely noted," Loki replied.
"I heard. Wait. Nat told me you were locked in a cage back then. You couldn't hear it," Clint replied.
"I have sharpened senses. We have a saying in Asgard," Where there are wolf's ears, wolf's teeth are near. " It means to be aware of your surroundings. Which iabsurd, because my people are, by nature, gullible fools. A trait that I, the God of Mischief, exploited time and time again simply by listening. "My teeth were sharp, but my ears even sharper, Agent Barton," Loki replied.
"Be careful you don't break those teeth on the Hulk again," Clint replied.
"I'm not going to. Take this ball. It will be useful to you. It's magic that you mortals will never be able to have," Loki replied.
"Yes, of course, I'll take a bullet from the would-be Earth King, or Midgard as you call it. Answer me the question, why do you need power?" Clint asked.
"It's the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation," Loki replied.
"Same crap again as in Germany?" Clint asked.
"Maybe I'll add one truth to them that my father taught me," Loki was saying.
"You mean Odin?" Barton asked.
"Of course. He is my father," Loki replied, surprised that Clint was asking him that.
"Nat mentioned that you don't identify with this family anymore," Clint replied.
"Perhaps I had a change of heart. The truth my father taught me is: Whoever doesn't rule everything doesn't rule anything," Loki said.
"And what is this power?" Barton asked.
"Power? That's an interesting question. Maybe it's the power to control others or control yourself. Choose for yourself. What is real power? When are you the shadow of the golden brother? Or maybe a puppet of alien cosmic entities, without your knowledge? Play a role until you notice strings, "Loki said.
"You must always say in this way, right?" Clint sighed.
"I am the Silvertongue, the Word Weaver, the Lord of Story. These titles oblige. But we should come back to the topic. Take this ball," Loki said.
"I'm not going to," replied Clint.
"Even if it would help your family?" Loki asked.
"Don't you dare talk about them!" Clint shouted and drew his bow again, even though it was useless.
"You are still afraid for them. When you were under my control, you thought about them almost constantly. You tried to hide it. I never mentioned them. Not a single word. I never meant to hurt them. I was silent and protected them "Loki replied.
"Shut up, snake!" Clint grabbed his head.
"I know you don't trust me. However, this bullet is compensation. Smash it in front of your house. You and your loved ones will have my protection," Loki said.
"I won't," growled Clint.
"Why?" Loki asked.
"Because it's a trap, a trick, your revenge!" Clint was saying.
"Ask Thor how our mother protected us in childhood and you will find out all about this ball" Loki's illusion vanished. The ball stayed.
Clint took it with him. He still had it in his pocket. Maybe he could ask Thor about it? Then Thor entered the living room. He was still agitated by the conversation with Loki. Natasha was getting ready for Thor's in-depth talk about Loki's powers. Clint decided to ask before Nat came.
"Hey Thor, I have this question. How did your mother protect you and Loki during your childhood?" Clint asked.
"Why are you asking this question, Friend Barton?" Thor wondered.
"It's just nothing, I was thinking about my mother and yours, by the way," said Clint. Natasha would laugh at him for such a stupid lie. She always lied better than him. Clint was mostly good for killing.
"It was kind of you to think of my mother. She is really special. She made blue orbs out of her magic. We had to have them with us all the time. It was enough to break them, and my mother knew immediately that she was supposed to protect us. But she had to stop doing them when we started leaving Asgard to go on adventures, "replied Thor.
"What if you smash such a ball in front of someplace, for example, a house? And when it is safe, without any danger?" Clint asked. Loki could still be lying. It could have been a trick.
"Friend Barton. Then all members of the house will be safe. If anything bad should happen to them in or out of the house, the person who created the ball will immediately appear to help them, "Thor replied.
"And can such a ball be faked?" asked Clint, becoming more and more nervous.
"Only Loki could do that, after all, he's famous for being false, but he would never," Thor replied.
"Why?" Clint asked.
"This ball is a mother's invention. Loki can be mad. But I don't believe any madness would destroy his love for our mother. He could never so insult her invention. Make it better, yes. But to twist its meaning to wreak havoc? He would never do that. Even in the deppest madness" replied Thor.
The green ball felt heavier in Clint Barton's pocket