Devil's Pact

Chapter Ten

** HAPPY NEW YEAR!!**

**Trigger warning definite peril and threat to life, I can't say too much without giving away spoilers, but I want you all to stay safe as well!**

New York - Bucky's POV

"Ok Sam, tell me what Torres said" I huffed out, standing in his hallway, hands on my hips, as he locked his front door.

Sam sighed as he turned to look at me.
"Come sit down" He gestured as he made his way to the couch and sat down, I followed him reluctantly.
"Torres said there were no prints on the mask, at all" Sam shook his head and sighed again leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and clasping his hands together as he turned to face me.

"So what does that mean?" I grumbled, getting annoyed at the way Sam was dancing around what Torres had told him "Surely you could have said that in the park?" I flopped back into the couch.

"Look man that's not the worrying part" Sam barked out "The worrying part is that the mask was giving off low level gamma radiation, similar to that of the infinity stones" Sam said beginning to get frustrated himself "That's why I didn't want to discuss this in public" He snapped.

"Gamma? Infinity stones? Weren't they destroyed by Thanos?" I questioned my brain, whirling, confused.

"Yeah but that didn't stop the other avengers going back in time to bring them here and defeat Thanos did it?" Sam retorted.

"But... Steve took them all back, when he..." I trailed off not wanting to think about my best friend leaving.

Sam softened slightly, leaning back into the couch as well.
"Yeah he did, but that doesn't mean someone else hasn't figured out how to go back in time and get them does it?" Sam grimaced at me.

"But why?" I shrugged my answer "Why go to all that trouble just to dump a stupid mask on my couch?" I shook my head and leant on my knees staring at the floor trying to work out what the hell all this meant.

"You can't possibly think of anyone that would want the winter soldier back?" Sam asked almost mockingly, I turned my head to glare at him.

"Hydras dead" I said flatly.

"Is it?" Sam raised his eyebrows.

Tonsburg - Freyja's POV

After Loki had finished having his fun 'teaching' me how to ride a horse, he, Valkyrie, and I saddled up to go on a gentle trot, emphasis on gentle, around the coastline and through a wooded area close to the village.

Loki trotted proudly on Leif, slightly ahead of us, looking every inch the royal Prince, on his giant black steed, dressed in handsome green and gold riding leathers. He was breathtaking, not that I was about to admit that to him.

Val on the other hand was on her Pegasus trotting gently next to me and Eir.
"So..." Val said quietly, smirking at me, as she gently rocked back and forth with the horse's trot.

"So?" I questioned turning my head and shaking it at her.

"You seemed to be having a good time riding with Loki before" Val chuckled.

"Good time!" I hissed, my eyebrows almost entering my hairline "If you call galloping around the paddock like the horse was on fire, good then yes, a great time was had by all" I gritted out quietly not wanting Loki to hear our conversation.

Val chuckled to herself again.
"You know he's showing off to impress you don't you?" Val murmured, seemingly understanding that I didn't want Loki to hear what we were talking about.