King Loki

Chapter 16
"You have 10 minutes," Loki said to Cephera just outside Tony's room door.
"10 Minutes!" Cephera had woken with hope in her heart at the prospect of finally speaking with her friend. She was now shocked that all she would get was 10 minutes. She had so much to say, so many things to explain and that small timeframe wouldn't cover it.
"Considering you could use a longer time here to conspire against me, I think I am being generous to allow you to visit him at all." Loki didn't sound angry, but his voice was firm. "I am no fool to be taken lightly. I am well aware that Stark is not as powerless as he may appear and given the right opportunity he just might be stupid enough to try something drastic."
Cephera wouldn't argue. Tony was known to do things on a whim and sometimes they worked, other times they blew up in his face. Cephera never doubted Tony would be trying to find a way out of all this, however, Pepper was most likely what urged Tony to have been such a good boy for this long.
"I'll take whatever I can get." Cephera finally replied waiting for Loki to open the door. He did so lifting his arm high to allow Cephera to walk under it. She stepped into her friends room to hear Tony throwing a witty remark at Loki.
"Just can't get enough of me? It's alright, I know I'm awesome." Tony turned and Cephera saw the instant disappointment on Tony's face upon seeing her.
"As always Stark, your fantasies regarding my visits are a little farfetched." Loki told Tony. Cephera felt a shiver run up her spine when Loki's hand came to rest on her back. "I will be just outside the door, 10 minutes, no longer." He told her.
He removed his hand and Cephera turned to see him close the door shut behind him leaving her alone with Tony.
"Dammit Pipsqueak," Tony breathed running a hand through his hair. Cephera would normally smile at Tony's friendly endearment for her, but not today.
"Tony, I only have 10 minutes and I have so much to tell you, but no time to explain it all." She bit her lip. She hadn't anticipated the time limit and was unsure what was paramount to tell him and what wasn't. She could waste time easily and not mean to.
"Good to see you, missed you, wish you weren't here. Alright, pleasantries are over let's skip to the real issues. Has he hurt you? What's he got you doing for him?" Tony adjusted to their predicament quickly.
"He hasn't hurt me. He has me fighting for him, or at least he plans to." She replied knowing this would raise all the other issues she had yet to admit. "Tony I'm about to lay a bombshell on you and you need to just accept it now and when we get time I'll explain later." She took a deep breath.
"Hit me," Tony said, agreeing to her terms.
"I'm an alien, sorry I never told you before. I have powers and Loki is using me for my power to help him subdue the inhumans running around who appose him." Cephera couldn't get over how awkward the truth sounded.
For a moment Tony stared at her. "I knew you were hiding something." He sniffed and nodded to himself. "How long have you been here?" Tony asked suddenly looking confused.
"Months." Cephera frowned. "I need your help Tony." Cephera had finally walked closer to her friend who seemed to be in deep thought. He turned abruptly and began tapping away on his keyboard.
"I don't get it. Why hasn't JARVIS seen you? Why didn't he tell me?"
"There is no trace of Miss Fair-O'lite within this building until this very moment sir," JARVIS replied. Cephera was used to the computer speaking from the walls around her in Tony's old home, but now he spoke only through a small set of speakers hooked up on Tony's messy desk.
"He's on to us. He has to be." Tony furrowed his brow. "The bastard doesn't trust us." Tony didn't sound surprised.
"Tony you can try to figure that out later. I don't know what I'm doing. This world is ruined, it'll never be the same. If Loki is defeated war will break between factions looking to take his place. Right now this world can't handle another war." Cephera was desperate for a way out.
Tony gave her a scrutinizing look. "You think it's better we side with him?" He asked.
"For now." Cephera admitted.
"That's the worst idea I've heard all week, granted it's the only thing I've heard all week, unless you count JARVIS."
"I'm not saying it's ideal, but Tony what other options are there?" She felt like she was pleading.
"The Hulk," Tony replied confusing her.
"The who?" She asked.
"Right, I forgot you weren't around for any of this. Bruce Banner, he's a nice guy until you get him angry. There is no way the New York explosion killed him and I doubt he's laying low. He's the muscle you need to pummel the boy king out of the spotlight. We take over this tower and we make sure our other enemies know a new rule is in town." Tony grinned.
"If you don't even know if he's alive, how am I suppose to find him?" Cephera frowned.
"Through Loki. If I were a betting man, and let's face it I have enough money to be, I'd say Loki has Dr. Banner locked away somewhere." Tony looked like a kid on Christmas who just unwrapped the best gift ever.
"Loki doesn't trust me and isn't going to just let me snoop around or outright tell me." Cephera shook her head.
"You'll have to find a way to get closer to him." Tony shrugged. "How's your relationship with that other idiot?"
"It's over," Cephera replied eyeing her friend. This wasn't the time for catching up.
"I'm not saying it's a good idea, but it's not a bad idea...," Tony began to think again.
"What?" Cephera urged.
"Well you are a single woman, and the King seems like a very lonely man...,"
"Tony!" Cephera was appalled at the implication. "I will not sell my body for information or the chance to gain it." Her face flushed scarlet. She'd given her body for shabby reasons before and that hadn't ended well, Cephera didn't want to make those mistakes again.
"I'm just saying if something like that should happen that maybe you should take advantage of it." Tony looked amused more than sorry.
"It's a horrible idea. He's not stupid enough to not be suspicious of the girl who is friends with his enemy throwing herself into his bed."
"Hey, I tried to get Pepper to, but she wouldn't take one for the team,"
"Tony!" Cephera scolded right before the door opened and both of them turned in surprise. 10 minutes sure do go quickly.
"Times up," Loki informed them and held the door open as a sign for her to exit.
Cephera turned and quickly hugged her friend, wrought with an sudden sense of sadness. "I'll return someday." She promised.
"He's not bad looking," Tony whispered and Cephera ended her hug and glared at him. Tony would never stop being that annoying, yet loveable man.
XxX
"I hope you enjoyed your visit," Loki said to her halfway down the hallway. "Good behaviour may earn you another," he added, piquing her interest.
"And what am I to do now?" Cephera asked awaiting his command.
"I have sent the good Captain out on a mission, so today you will follow me around like when you were my attendant." Cephera held back her sigh. Even without a personal babysitter Loki found ways to keep her occupied.
"Stark can be infuriating at times," Loki said making small talk.
"I know," Cephera replied.
"You didn't sound very impressed with him with what I heard at the end there." Loki turned his head and looked at her.
She shrugged. "He says inappropriate things." Cephera played nice and continued this awkward conversation.
"Is that why your face is so red?" Cephera knew she blushed further, but it was doubtful Loki could tell.
This time she didn't reply and Loki chuckled and looked away from her. Cephera had a feeling he was enjoying her discomfort and so she glared at the back of his head while remaining quiet all the way to the throne room.

Notes