Bodega Girl

An Unexpected Guest

"Loki!" Shouts a familiar booming voice from the other side of the door.

"Thor? Thor!" Loki cries out.

Bucky and Gabe lower their weapons as Loki runs to open the door.

"Brother, I have missed you." Thor grabs Loki up in a big bear hug. "Barnes, Lady Michaela," he turns to Gabe. "And who might you be, Midgardian?"

"Gabe, Gabe Jones, Jr. Wow! The God of Thunder himself. This is dope!" he enthusiastically shakes Thor's hand.

"Why are you here, Brother?" Loki asks.

"We must return your fair lady to the compound."

"I will not be locked up in a cage." Mickie protests.

"Nor will you be. Strange has many answers to your questions but most importantly, you are in extreme danger out here."

"I will protect her, Brother." Asserts Loki.

"Your love is strong, and you are an experienced fighter, Brother, but this is beyond your scope. We will need the entire team to protect her. Tony has reached out to the Guardians. Even Fury says he is bringing in reinforcements."

"The Guardians of the Galaxy! Are you shitting me?"Mickie can hardly contain her excitement but then her smile drops. "The Infinity Stones." She visibly starts to tremble. "Thanos is coming." She falls to her knees. "Oh god...mind reading, energy pulses, matter manipulation, the red smoke...oh god, oh god, oh god." She starts to whimper. The men in the room are greatly concerned and wary.

Loki kneels beside her. "What is it, pet?"

"Reality"

"I don't understand darling?"

"I have the powers of the Reality Stone." She looks up at Thor. "I assume the Tesseract is still in Asgard?"

"Yes, Milady." Thor looks understandably confused. Mickie whirls on Loki.

"Don't you touch it! Don't you ever fucking touch it again! Do you hear me?"

Loki is taken aback by her outburst.

"I mean it, Loki. Leave that fucking thing alone. Promise me!"

"I promise, my sweet." He exchanges looks with Thor.

"Good, and Strange has the Time Stone" she mumbles to herself. "Oh no! The Guardians are coming. No, they have to go back to the Nova Corp and secure the Power Stone!" She turns to the confused men.

"We have to go back."
~~~~~~~~~
Thor flies on ahead to let the others know back at the compound that the renegades are returning. The plane ride back is a little cramped as Loki has given Gabe the Ducati as a 'thank you'. He also promised to gift one to Bucky as well. He is still overwhelmed that he is making friends.

Mickie sits silently and looks out the window. Loki strokes her hand. He feels lost and helpless. He wants to take her worries away, but he is powerless.

"Try to get some rest, darling." He says to her.

"I can't sleep Loki." He pulls her into his arms as he now sees she has been silently crying.

"Tell me what you are feeling, pet."

"I can't Loki. I don't know if telling you will make it better or worse."

"You know what is going to happen, don't you?"

"Yes." She looks at Bucky sleeping, his mouth hanging open. She turns back to Loki. "Kiss me."