Into the Unknown

It's the Fear

A month goes by without another letter from Loki. I know "no news is good news" but with Odin, that isn't likely. And now Christmas is almost here. I've already done my shopping for Thor, Finn, and Kari and now I'm looking for something for Loki.

Do you want to know how incredibly hard it is to find the perfect present for a boyfriend who is a prince and a god? Very. Seriously, what am I supposed to get him? I'm sure he wouldn't care for some little trinket. And that's even if I get to give him his present. I'm hoping that he'll be able to come back on Christmas. That would be the best present for me.

I enter another clothing store and head to the Men's section. There's got to be something I can give him. I study each article of clothing they have but nothing seems to click for me. I'm about to give up when I turn my head and pause.

There, along the back wall is THE perfect gift. I walk up to it and reach my hand out to feel it. It's soft and feels really comfortable. It's a dark blue hoodie. Loki has a lot of clothes but they're all "fancy" clothes. I don't think he owns anything that he can just lounge around in and wear for comfort. I've only ever seen him wear dress pants and button down shirts when he wears Earth clothes.

I then realize that I don't know his size. I frown. But this is so perfect. I reach up and take one down from the rack and look at it.. Then I get an idea. There is a mirror nearby so I walk over to it and hold the hoodie up to me. It reaches to the hem of my pants. Nope, not this one. I take it back and grab the next size. If I don't know Loki's size then I'll just have to guess then. And if he's back by Christmas then I can always bring it back.

The fourth hoodie reaches to my upper thighs. This seems about right. I look down at the price tag and nod. It's reasonably priced too. Even though I don't have to pay rent, I'm still careful with my money. I take it to the nearest cashier and pay for it. With a smile on my face and weight off my shoulders I exit the mall and head towards my car.

As I am putting the bag into the trunk my phone goes off. I take it out and answer it. The only people who have this phone number are the Avengers and Fury. Tony had to give me a new phone after Hydra took me as they had smashed the other one.

"Hello?" I say as I close the trunk.

"Hello, Sweetheart."

My heart thuds and fear runs through me. I look around the parking lot while my free hand goes to my dagger.

"Rumlow." I say.

"Aw so glad you remember me." He says.

I take a deep breath. "What do you want?"

Loki I think. My hand squeezes around the hilt of the dagger.

"I want some payback you little bitch!" Now he sounds angry.

I try to put on a brave front. "Was I right? Did you burn? I hope it hurt."

Steve and Sam had already told me everything that had happened and that Rumlow did indeed get caught in the Triskelion so I already knew I was right.

"Not as much as I'm going to hurt you." His voice goes from anger to deadly.

I look in the backseat of my car to see that it is empty.

"You kidnap me again, Rumlow, and it won't be just Steve and Sam you'll have to fight." I open the car door and get inside. I need to get to the Compound now.

My hand shakes as I start the car.

"I'm better now, Sweetheart. They won't be able to touch me." Now his voice is dripping with arrogance.

"Everyone who believes that, stand on their heads." I pull out of my parking spot and drive.

Loki! I need you!

Brock lets out a chuckle. "I'll be watching, Sweetheart." He cuts the line and I throw my phone into the passenger seat.

I make it safely back to the Compound. Brock isn't dumb enough to try anything here. I grab the bag with the hoodie and make my way inside. I place the bag inside my room and head towards the lab.

Tony is there and I sigh in relief. I also see that he is working on building the Glove.

"Hey, glad you're here." He steps away from the Glove and holds out a photo to me. "Know anything about him?"

I look down at the picture and gasp. "Peter? He's got his powers already?"

"Welp, that tells me everything I need to know. What do you know about him?"

I look up at Tony.

"Peter is Spiderman and he is an absolute cinnamon roll and the definition of sunshine." For a moment I forget about what had just happened.

Tony makes a disgusted sound. "I mean about his powers."

"Oh yeah, so he can climb up walls and he needs to make his own web fluid and he has an extra sense called "Spidey Sense" that lets him know of danger, and he is super strong."

"And I'm assuming he becomes an Avenger?" Tony asks.

I nod and then my smile fades. Tony raises an eyebrow at me.

"What is it?"

"I...just remembered something. Were there any casualties in Sokovia?"

Tony frowns. "Yes, there we-"

"FRIDAY I need a list of casualties during the attack on Sokovia!" I interrupt him.

"Right away Miss." The AI responds.

"Gryffindor, what's going on?" Tony asks now stepping closer to me.

I look at him and frown. "I need to see if the third Captain America movie is going to happen."

It doesn't take FRIDAY long to give me a list and send it to my phone. Thankfully it isn't a long list. I'm not sure how many were supposed to die in the movie but I think it was much more than this. I scroll to the very bottom of the list and my heart sinks.

"No." I whisper.

Tony looks over my shoulder. There on the list are the names of the wife and child of Baron Helmut Zemo. I look up at Tony.

"Where's Steve?"

"In the gym, calm down-" He starts to say but I run out of the lab and towards the gym.

I enter the gym and find Steve punching away at a punching bag.

"Steve!" I yell and run up to him.

He looks at me in confusion at first but then worry.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He asks.

"We need to get Bucky!" I gasp.