₣łⱤɆ฿ɎⱤĐ

Chapter Forty-Four: Evolution

╟╫╫╫╫╢

For some reason, people really liked to throw things at Loki.

The moment we stepped inside Clint's house, a dart came whirring past my face, planting itself in the wooden doorframe less than an inch from Loki's head. Laura stormed over next, cocking back her hand and delivering a clean slap across Loki's face. I let that slide. He deserved it for what he'd done to Clint.

But I placed a hand on Steve's chest, holding him back when he began to approach Loki.

"I know you hate him," I said lowly to Steve, "Believe me, I do too. But he's willing to help, and we need all the help we can get."

I looked around at all of them. "He won't try anything, otherwise his father is really going to give him hell." I looked back to Loki, "How does imprisonment on the Dark World sound?"

"Not favourable," he answered with a small smirk.

I looked back to Steve. "Please. I'm not asking you to trust him, to be nice to him, to like him. I'm just asking you not to kill him. Let him help."

Steve looked down at my hand, which I then realized was still planted firmly against his chest. I sheepishly lowered it, my face colouring. Steve smiled a little, then looked up at Loki.

"Try anything—"

"Let me guess," Loki said, stepping forward with his arms folded, "You'll kill me?"

"I'm not in the business of killing people," Steve said.

"But I am," Nick cut in from the other end of the room, looking down his nose at Loki, "If you put so much as one toe out of line—Let's just say that I'm not above killing sons of bitches that deserve it."

"Watch it, boss, Steve doesn't like that kinda talk," Nat said from where she was seated at the table.

"You know what Romanoff—" Steve rolled his eyes, turning and lifting a finger.

"Yes, let's all keep it PG for Steve, it's impolite to swear in front of your elders," I jested, before turning to Nick, "What did I miss?"

"Well, a hell of a lot of fighting thanks to your brilliant idea of employing the last global catastrophe to help fend off this one," Nick answered, "Otherwise," he nodded his head toward Bruce, "Banner might be onto something."

"I think Ultron's next move is going to be in Seoul," Bruce explained to me, "There's a geneticist there called Helen Cho, who's leading the U-GIN research group. I think Ultron is... Evolving."

"What does that mean?"

"That vibranium he got from Klaue?" Nat said to me with a raise brow, "We think he's using it to build himself a new body. With the help of Cho's technology."

I gnawed at my lip. "Well, that's not what you want."

"And my scepter," Loki said, stepping forward, "Where exactly might that be?"

"First of all, no," Tony said, glaring pointedly at him, "We are not going to be letting you anywhere near that thing. Second, your scepter is currently in Ultron's possession."

"Is he going to use it to build his new body?" I asked.

"He's going to try," Tony answered me.

"So, when do we leave?" I looked between their faces.

"First thing tomorrow morning," said Steve.

"If you're all sleeping here, you're going to have to double up," Laura said, before glaring at Loki, "And he sleeps in the barn."