Beth and the Beast

Chapter 9 - We got a problem

No Caller ID, her phone said. Usually Beth wouldn't answer those calls, but after last night it could be someone, she gave her number to, so she answered the call. >>Beth, move your butt over to Stark Tower – now!<< the male voice on the other side exclaimed. >>Sorry, who is this?<< There was a short moment of silence. >>What the heck. It's me, Steve. You need to get here asap. Thor will get you.<< And then the only thing she heard was the beeping sound of the other person hanging up.

Beth left the blanket on the couch and went to her closet to get some clothes. She pulled over a black sweater and a pair of jeans. Thunder rumbled outside and shortly after the doorbell rang. She took an apple, her phone and her coat and slammed the door behind herself.
Thor was waiting outside. >>Hey, what is it?<< she asked nervously. >>I'll explain when we're at Stark Tower.<< Thor said with a slight tone of anger in his voice. Then he grabbed her hand and swung Mjolnir and they flew off.

At Stark Tower, all the Avengers were assembled. It kind of looked like an intervention, but for whom and why? Beth was about to find out. Everyone looked at her when she and Thor entered the room. And none of them looked happy to see her. Tony had a screen build up showing a picture of Loki. >Oh no.< Beth thought. She took a seat next to Steve even though she didn't feel safe next to any of them in that moment. >>So,<< Tony started >>What do you know about Loki?<< What question was that? She knew everything about him and now even more. But that couldn't be the case right now. >>I know he's Thor's brother and he's a bad guy. Is there anything else I should know?<< Everyone stared at her. >>I mean is there anything you should tell us? Are you two meeting? Did he tell you anything?<< Bruce interfered. For a moment Beth had to lay out her words. She knew Wanda would eventually read her mind and she needed to be bloody honest. >>I have no idea what he's up to, but I know he is up to something. Loki told me to find out Tony's weak spot. He came to me after the party, but I didn't find out anything that could be useful for him and even if, we didn't talk about the party at all.<< Beth explained. >>Wanda, read her mind and see if she told the truth!<<, Thor said.

Wanda used her magic and saw what happened with Loki and Beth last night. Beth was ashamed of what Wanda saw in her mind, started blushing and pulled up her hood. >>She told him nothing.<< Wanda said and looked over to Beth. >>We don't know if he might read her mind, but she was honest with us.<< Tony let out a sigh and the others seemed relieved too. For Beth, the situation felt so uncomfortable and now Wanda knew what was going on between her and Loki, she felt caught. She made friends with a villain that could be dangerous to the people she loved and like and he could also be dangerous to herself. A feeling of guilt build up in her chest. Her thoughts circled around the last night with Loki and she started crying. The Avengers looked at her. Steve hesitant laid his arm around her. >>Is everything alright, Beth?<< he asked. She shook her head and looked at him and then at the others. >>I'm sorry. I know I put you, my friends, in danger. It's not so easy to talk about that right now, but I kind of fell for him.<<

There was silence. Steve pulled his arm off her. Wanda and Nat exchanged a few knowing glances. Now Beth felt even more unwanted in Stark Tower. >>I warned you. The day you two met I told you to not get in touch. Why did you do it?<< Thor shouted. Beth buried her face in her hands. How could she? How could she have done it? She didn't know. Then she sat up again and tried to explain. >>He showed up at my place. Almost every night since we met. I can feel what he feels. Loki is desperate. He wants attention, wants to be seen and that's what I did. I saw him. Not as the villain, but as the son of Odin and as your brother Thor. As a "god" and a man.<< Thor had to swallow the words he wanted to say. He was ashamed. >>Well, it doesn't matter whatever you got with Loki. We know he's up to no good and we need to stop him.<< Sam said. Everyone nodded. Tony got up and walked up to a panel. >>So, what's gonna be the plan?<< The guys and girls started to talk to each other about what they were about to do against Loki, so Beth got up and walked to the bar. Whyever there was a bar in almost every room in Stark Tower. She filled her glass with ice and whiskey and watched the Avengers from the distance. >Loki, if you can hear me. Please stay out of trouble. I can't lose you.< she thought to herself.

On the other side of the room the Avengers tried to work out a plan. They needed to know what Loki was up to and if there was any way they could stop them. Some ideas were good, and some were just weird. Weird ideas usually came from Bucky who was just happy to get in trouble with Loki. Then Nat came up with something. >>If Beth would help us, we would have someone close to Loki. She could probably find out some things about his plan and who he's working with.<< They looked over to her sitting at the bar. >>Hey Beth!<< Thor called from across the room. >>Get your ass over here! Now!<<

>>Language!<< Steve said, and everybody rolled their eyes at him. Beth took her glass and walked over to the group. >>Would you help us get behind Loki's plans?<< Nat asked. Beth had to think. Was it worth risking whatever she had with Loki? >>I don't know if I can. I don't have any powers. And I don't know if he trusts me enough.<< she said. >>Oh, trust me girl, he trusts you pretty much!<< Wanda laughed. Beth blushed again. >>I guess I could try.<< After that, they had a few drinks. Beth talked to Nat and Wanda about last night with Loki. It was good to have girls around and trash talk a bit. >>You should've seen him. He looked incredibly good in his shorts.<< she chuckled. Wanda couldn't help but laugh at the thought. They exchanged phone numbers in case anything happened.

In the evening Thor brought Beth back home. At the doorstep he laid one hand on her shoulder. >>Beth, believe me he's not good for you. He's very good at pretending to be something he's definitely not. Promise me you'll be careful.<< It was cute that Thor cared so much. >>Believe me Thor, I'm old enough to know what is good for me. Good night!<<
Was she really? Beth wasn't so sure anymore, but she had to trust her feelings and Loki's feelings now, because that was the only thing she could do.