Special Agent 2: The Dark Soldier

Chapter 59

Loki gripped the steering wheel tightly as he drove toward the Bradendale Mall. Only McGee's warning to not speed kept him from flooring it. He could practically feel McGee's stare, burning into the back of his head, silently reining in his speed. Beside him, DiNozzo was uncharacteristically silent, staring out at the road ahead.

They passed a speed limit, stating the numbers forty-five in bold black letters, like McGee was giving him a reminder. Loki's eyes flickered down to the speedometer, the needle hovering a smidgeon over the forty-five mark. Any faster, and McGee would scold.

"Gibbs would say I could go faster," Loki finally stated, breaking the silence. He glared into the rearview mirror. "Isn't it a personal rule to always listen to Gibbs?"

"Gibbs isn't here," McGee told him forcefully. In fact, Gibbs was nowhere near – they had all taken different routes, to keep as low a profile as possible.

"Which means I've got seniority," DiNozzo said.

"So can I speed?" Loki asked, glancing at him.

"Sure, why not?" DiNozzo shrugged.

"Loki," McGee said warningly. "Don't."

Loki exhaled through his nose, his grip on the wheel tightening. It was like his entire life was falling to pieces and he couldn't control any of it, not even how fast he wanted to drive. "Fine." He flicked his gaze to the rearview mirror, narrowing his eyes as the car behind him suddenly pulled out into the opposite lane, accelerating at the same time. "Hold on. What's that car doing?"

DiNozzo glanced over. "He's passing you."

"Why?"

"Because he thinks you're going too slow."

"That's it," Loki swore, pressing the gas pedal down as he gritted his teeth. "No more Mr. Slow Guy."

"Loki!" McGee snapped, leaning forward. "You were going the speed limit, not slow. It's not your fault he's in a hurry."

"Yes, and it wasn't my fault when Thor broke Mother's vase, but I was implicated all the same," Loki retorted, continuing to increase his speed. He was now matching the other car's speed, preventing them from passing back into the correct lane. The car honked at him but he ignored them, gritting his teeth as he continued to match their pace. "This measly mortal is not going to get away with passing a god."

McGee sighed in exasperation as DiNozzo watched the car alongside them, Loki keeping pace with them. The car increased its speed but Loki matched it, preventing them from getting in front of him. Ahead of them, a truck appeared, heading toward them at quite the clip. The car hit the horn again but when Loki still didn't let up, slammed on its brakes and swerved in behind him, just in time to avoid getting smashed by the eighteen-wheeler.

"That was the most irresponsible thing I've ever seen," McGee gasped, his eyes wide. "You could have killed that guy."

"It wasn't my fault he wasn't listening to the speed limit," Loki retorted. "Aren't drivers supposed to do that? I just taught him a lesson."

"That wasn't the reason you did that and you know it," McGee challenged.

"No, but it was fun all the same."

Shortly after, they pulled into the parking lot of the Bradendale Mall, Loki parking in the midst of the crowded space to not draw attention to themselves. The three agents got out of the car, starting toward the entrance to the sprawling shopping complex, DiNozzo and McGee keeping their hands near their hidden holsters.

At the wall of sliding doors, they saw Romanoff, a hood up over her distinctive red hair, Torres, dark framed glasses hiding his eyes and a leather motorcycle jacket over his shoulders, and Hailstohm, disguised as a human female with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes. Without missing a beat, Romanoff seized DiNozzo's arm playfully, looping it around her shoulders as she cinched her arm around his waist. The Italian agent laughed, pulling her into him as they sauntered into the mall, easily losing themselves in the crowd. The other four fell into a loose configuration, a casual grouping of friends. Loki supposed it would look probable; they all looked like badasses anyway, with the exception of McGee. McGee was a badass on the inside.