We fly back to SHIELD HQ and Natasha radioes ahead for an escort for Loki. We land and he steps out calmly into a group of armed guards. Natasha has me lead the party deeper into the airship, to the cell meant for one stronger than him. I know because I helped construct it. I also know that the only way to that cage passes Bruce's lab. No way around it. I hope he's busy looking at other science-y things, I don't want Loki messing with his head.
But of course, Bruce just has to be facing the window as we march past. I don't turn to look at Loki but I can see Bruce's expression and his eyes flash briefly with something I can't quite identify, but then it's gone and he stares steadily back at the god of mischief.
We reach the cell and lock Loki inside. Director Fury instructs us to gather in the control room and listen in as he talks to Loki. I bet it'll be mostly threats. Loki will probably laugh. It's just his style. There's a small camera outside Loki's cage so we can watch as he paces the inside. I notice he sees the camera immediately, he's extremely observant and it's making me nervous. He must know who, or rather what, this cell was built for.
Sure enough, Director Fury can't help threatening Loki. He enjoys showing off the death trap that is this cage. Loki seems unperturbed though, instead he looks directly into the camera and calls Bruce a mindless beast. I knew he knew. My eyes immediately flash to Bruce but his expression seems almost amused. This guy has way more self control than I ever will. In fact, I kinda want to punch Loki right in his smile at the moment. Probably a good thing Fury made us leave.
When the interrogation/threatening session is over, everyone immediately begins to discuss Loki. The captain seems to think Loki is the major threat but Bruce disagrees. I smirk when he says Loki's brain is a bag full of cats. Suddenly Stark waltzes in to join the conversation, late, as always. He plants himself right in the middle of all the screens with our info on Loki and I can just feel the collective eye-roll around the room.
Of course the two science geniuses click after Stark spits out some long scientific words. Bruce seems a little disappointed though when Stark brings up his "rage monster".
I could kick Tony Stark.
Fury finally joins us and dismisses the two of them to go track the Tesseract and analyze Loki's scepter. I watch them leave, wishing I could go too. But I have to stay near Natasha, since she's my boss. She keeps going over scans for Barton while I stand quietly in the background. Everyone else has gone about their jobs but I don't really have one at the moment.
She must've noticed me twiddling my thumbs and dismisses me to "do whatever I want" (hell to the yeah). I dart out of that control room and look for Bruce's lab. But before I get there, I notice Steve slipping off into a side hallway. The guy is not very subtle when he wears that uniform and he just seems sneaky, so I follow him. I catch up easily since he's moving so slow (trying to be quiet I'm sure).
"Hey Cap, what are we up to?" I whisper loudly in his ear.
He jumps a mile and I almost laugh out loud. He really was trying to be sneaky!
"Wow Piper, warn a guy will you?!" he whispers back furiously.
"Sorry," I whisper back with a grin. "But why are you lurking around back here? I'm not even supposed to be on this deck."
"I'm just getting suspicious about SHIELD and why they need such a military operation. I saw all those guys when my jet landed, they don't break out this many highly trained troops for nothing." he explains.
"So we're sneaking into places we shouldn't to find out things we shouldn't because you've gotten a teensy bit suspicious?" I ask.
He grins. "Yeah. You don't have to come though if you'll get in trouble with Widow."
But I grin right back. "What? And miss out on all the fun? Lead the way."
*****Author's Note*****
Sorry it's been so long but I haven't quit on this story! Can't believe how many reads it's got! Keep sharing it, and don't forget to vote and comment! Chapter Six coming soon!
