Watch What You Wish For

Chapter Five - Rescue Mission

That lunch time they all congregated in the dining room to share a meal and discuss things again. It was later that afternoon as Loki was sat with Clint and Steve producing a map of Thanos's home world from the details Frigga had uncovered that Jane Foster and Erik Selvig arrived with their equipment. As they started to set everything up Clint wondered over to Erik "how are you these days?"

Erik looked back over his shoulder to where Loki was sitting mapping out with Steve "better but I wasn't sure about this whole coming here thing. I just hope he keeps his distance."

Clint sighs "I know it's not ideal but as someone who underwent the same as you I'd just like to say take it easy on him. I've spent many months now letting memories from that time come back to the front of my mind and I've begun to remember more than I thought I would."

"What do you mean?"

"I've started to see things that are actually Loki's memories not mine. He doesn't know why or how it happened but instead of just controlling my mind somehow his memories of being tortured by Thanos got passed to me too." Clint looks at Loki shaking his head "combine that with the fact that Odin lied to him his whole life about the fact that he is part Frost Giant and only adopted by Odin and Frigga and..." he pauses "what I guess I'm saying is I sort of understand where his anger was coming from now. Plus the way it's been explained by Thor he was more in control than they thought he was and manipulated the situation as best he could so that we would win."

"Thor has told us that too but still it makes me uneasy to be this close."

Just then Loki looks over and quickly back down at the papers on the table "maybe if you just acknowledge each other" he shrugs "it's a start at least then by the end of all this you may find he grows on you too. If he comes over just don't ignore him."

After he gets back to the table Loki looks at him "I'm glad he agreed to come without his input this won't work."

"I know you feel like everyone hates you for what you did but you should understand while we are mad as hell at you since we've all found out the truth we no longer hate you. Let's face it from what Thor has told us it could have been a lot worse with this Thanos guy and hey the fun part is I guess we get to meet him anyway now."

Loki smiles at him "I am grateful to all of you. When I was imprisoned in the dungeons I had thought that was the last time I would ever be able to walk freely in any realm or be given forgiveness by anyone who knew of my crimes. Then when I tried to help Thor on Svartalfheim last year even though it was only a partial success he managed to get Odin to keep the sentence but instead of the dungeons my chambers were to be my cell. Much more comfortable I assure you and for that I was thankful, to know that most of you although wary of me and my actions accept me for who I am is but another bonus."

"You're welcome and who knows after this little escapade if all goes well you may get even more freedom."

"Your optimism is contagious but I fear what we will find when we get there. Olivia may not be fully mortal but we do not know that she is immortal either I worry that we will find her badly injured as I have seen in my nightmares. I have not been able to bring myself to tell Helblindi of the fact that she appears to be getting more injuries by the day."

*****

Olivia was starting to lose hope, by her rough calculations she had now been a prisoner here for six days or maybe more and other than minimal food intake she was surviving on the liquid they were giving her. The problem was the beatings she was receiving were on such a regular basis it meant that although her body could heal quickly it wasn't quick enough. The only time when she had longer than an hour break to heal was over night but by then her body was so bruised, battered and broken that even after seven hours it was no where near better.