Worthy

Part 30 - Forget About Thor

"What the fuck?" You yell, almost dropping the mug in your hand.

"Charming," Loki smirks, only now do you realise he's chained up to one of the dining room chairs. "Don't suppose you'd be a dear and let me out of this would you?" His eyes crinkle as you notice a slight bruise appearing at the corner of one.

Looking around for someone to help or to even explain you begin to panic a little. "Why are you here?" You take a few tentative steps towards him.

"Ask your boyfriend." Loki tries to wriggle his arms to get out, before turning to you with a wicked grin. "Or are there too many to choose from?" You march right over to him, slapping his face so hard it makes your hand sting.

"Oooh, so fiesty." Loki reacts, a slight laugh leaving him. "Now I definitely know what my brother sees in you!" His grin is twisted as he looks you up and down, fuelling the rage building in you. You make to hit him again when strong arms grab you and pull you away.

"Don't give him the satisfaction Kate," Steve whispers in your ear, making you start to calm down.

"And now the soldier," Loki winks. "My my, your list of admirers grows ever longer Agent Brooks." He chuckles as you try and move past Steve to hit him again - he's silenced by Thor entering the room, dropping Mjolnir onto his lap, and giving him a slap to the back of his head.

"Shut up," He growls. "You're here to make amends, rather than worsen things." Loki rolls his eyes in defiance, as he struggles under the weight of the hammer on his lap, as Thor makes his way over to you. "Kate, we should talk?" He asks. You nod as he gestures out to the lawn - taking one last look at Loki, while Thor leads you out, his hand placed firmly on the base of your back. "I must apologise for my brother, again." He half smiles while looking at you from the side, gauging your reaction.

"Why is he here?" You turn to take another look back to the kitchen as you both make your way over the lawn. Walking around the garden for a while Thor goes on to explain the events of the previous night, including his altercation with Loki on Asgard. "Wow," you huff out a breath as you reach a bench. Thor sits beside you - scared to get too close.

He lets out a large sigh, feeling conflicted. "When I first got exiled here on Earth, all I did was miss my brother, and you kept me going. " he looks down at the ground. "But since Thanos' influence on him, I feel I don't even know him. What he did to your world, I can almost understand his motives. But what he did to us. To you." he trails off.

"I'm sorry for hitting him," You rub your hands together, still feeling the sting from the slap. Thor gives a little chuckle.

"I think it was justified," He nods, reaching over and taking your hand in his, rubbing your palm gently with the other, easing the sting while also sending electricity through your body. "I hit him too," He smiles, and looks at you. Neither of you say anything, just let the air sink in around you both as you get lost in each other's eyes.

Thor slides himself along trying to get closer to you, but in a blind panic, you pull your hand away sharply, and look over towards the lawn. "So," You clear your throat, feeling your cheeks starting to burn with embarrassment. "What's the plan with him then?"

"Hopefully he can help us with these infinity stones," Thor answers, still looking at you but his voice filled now with regret. "If nothing else." He gets up and walks away, frustrated at himself for pushing you too far - but filled with disappointment when you pulled away from him.

You close your eyes, forcing the tears back. Feeling a pain in your heart as you watch Thor storm away.

***

The rest of the team are assembled in the meeting room - while Fury lets out a tirade at the arrival of Loki. Since you're currently benched from all Avengers' activity you're stuck sitting in the communal couch - sneakily still looking at the file Tony had given you while also trying to pick up what's being said in the next room.

You're not the only team member left out - Vision is currently keeping watch over Loki - still tied up in the kitchen. "Miss Brooks?" Vision surprises you, before apologising. "Miss Kate," he smiles before placing a cup of coffee in front of you.

"Thanks Vision," you smile back at him, but he lingers in front of you. "Is something wrong?"

"No," he hesitates, before sitting down on the coffee table in front of you. "I just wanted to extend an offer to you."

"Okay?" You ask, not entirely sure where he's going with this. You had never had any problems with Vision, but there was something about him that unnerved you; the mind stone definitely worried you, but mostly it was because he sounded so much like JARVIS.

"I can't pretend to understand every facet of the human condition," he sighs. "But I know enough to see that the last few days have taken a toll on you." He leans over and places a hand over yours. "But if you ever needed someone to talk to, I would very much like to be that person." You appreciate the concern; wondering at the back of your mind if he's picked up on your hesitation around him. "I am an excellent secret keeper." You chuckle as his attempt, knowing that he had picked it up from Tony.

"Thank you Vision," you smile at him. "I'll remember that." You tap his hand before turning your attention to the coffee he brought you. After a sip you hesitate; the coffee is foul but you can't let him know that. Swallowing it down you nod to the kitchen. "How is babysitting going?"

He looks confused, before finally understanding your meaning. "Yes, it's..." he searches for the correct words. "Interesting. But he seems harmless enough."

"That's because he's tied up," You scoff, earning a smile from Vision.

"He reminds me a little of Mr Stark," he turns and looks to the meeting room door, listening to the argument coming from the other side of the door. You look at him with a raised eyebrow. "Likes the sound of his own voice."

You can't help but burst out laughing, actually bringing tears to your eyes - the first real laugh you've had in a long time it feels like. Vision smiles to himself, happy that he's been able to make you laugh; a feat he hasn't accomplished with many.

The energy and laughter is stopped as the meeting room door flies open, Fury marching out and heading in your direction. "Glad you're having fun Brooks," he gestures to your smiling as you wipe tears from your face. "But you win." He starts heading towards the door.

"Excuse me?" You ask, staring at the faces that are emerging from the room behind Fury.

"You wanted the trickster god here," he points to the kitchen. "I hope fixing your relationship with Thor is worth it if he causes chaos again." He turns to you. "Get comfortable Kate," he sighs. "You and Loki are now partners - and I want EVERYTHING on Thanos and the stones." Again he marches out, but this time you chase after him.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you were the one who sent me to Asgard in the first place." You yell as he continues walking. "And it's not my fault that they turned my words against me."

"I don't care Brooks," Fury keeps walking - you continue to follow him straight to his car before he finally turns around, staring at you. "I hired you to do a job. I looked past the fact that you were considered bat crap crazy because you were ruthless at your job, always determined to make sure you crossed off all the information - so that you didn't make the same mistakes you did as a kid." He rolls his eyes, sighing. "But since those damn Asgardians came along you haven't been the same. I can't help but wonder if I've made the wrong decision."

"Are you regretting hiring me Nick?" you ask.

"Not if you do your job. Find out about Thanos, the stones. Forget about Thor. Forget about finding your brother; I know that's what's really at play here. He's long gone from this world." He looks up to the sky before starting to get into the car. "THIS world needs your full attention Kate, start acting like it matters more than yourself."

Your eyes never leave his car as he drives away.