Loki: Pepper's bodyguard

[moonshadows]

Tony Stark strode confidently into the room, unbothered by the cat he held in both arms. “Pepper?”

“In here,” she called from the bedroom. “Just doing some packing for the trip.”

“Yeah, about that…remember that cat we always wanted?”

Hands on her hips, she gave him a tolerant look of calling his bullshit. “We’ve never wanted a cat. Tony, why do you have a cat?”

“He followed me home,” the billionaire deadpanned. “Can I keep him?”

“We’re not keeping a cat.”

“What about a dog? I could find a dog. Rabbit? Rat? Snake? Parrot? Parakeet? How about a hamster?”

“Tony…”

“Ferret? Something cute and cuddly to keep you company on your trip.”

“No, Tony.” Pepper turned back to the closet, rifling through several suits before selecting one.

“What about an iguana?”

“Why are you so intent on this?” she asked, a hint of impatience in her voice as she laid the suit on the bed and turned back for another one. “I’m going to Russia. Do you have any idea what kind of papers we’d have to get for me to even take an animal with me? And let’s not forget the fact that I’m going to be too busy doing actual work to take care of a pet.”

“Because he can’t be there to protect you,” the cat said in Loki’s voice.

Pepper froze, then turned back around slowly and stared at the white-furred feline with its dark ears and unusual green eyes.

“Loki’s right,” Tony blurted before she could say a word. “I know they’re going to have security, and you’re going to have security, and Moscow’s not exactly Downtown Terroristville, but you’re going someplace where, if something were to happen, I wouldn’t be able to get there fast enough. You’re the most valuable asset in my life, and I would be shattered if anything happened to you.”

Although her eyes and expression softened, her voice was still firm when she said, “No cat.”

“I can pose as your assistant.” The cat struggled slightly until Stark let him jump down where he became a slender, dark-haired woman with strong cheekbones and a small mouth. “Laurel Argentia at your service,” she said, smoothing out the skirt of her ivory business suit. “I get overlooked, take dictation, fetch coffee, and turn assassins into popsicles.”

For a long moment, Pepper just looked Loki up and down, clearly evaluating the situation. Then she grabbed two suits from the closet and held them up. “Which one?”

“The blue one,” Loki said instantly. “The color brings out your eyes while the cut flatters you without reducing the conservative, assertive impact of the material…and Mr. Stark has a tracking chip embedded in the collar. The red one downplays authority by enhancing sexual appeal, leaving you looking more attractive but less effective.”

“I think I like you,” Pepper said, laying the blue suit on the bed and putting the red one back. “You have good taste.”

Loki smiled faintly. “Well, I did date Darcy Lewis for some time. She taught me quite a bit about being a Midgard woman.”

“Okay. Well then…Laurel…could you pack me five days’ worth of good, assertive business clothes and some practical casual outfits while I talk with Tony for a bit?”

“Of course, Ms. Potts.” Loki inclined his head respectfully while Pepper herded Tony out of the room and closed the door.

“Are you sure he can be trusted?” she hissed, hand still on the knob.

“That’s up for debate; he’s a sneaky little weasel. But he’s a sneaky little weasel with a life-debt,” Stark continued, “and for some reason, that means that when it comes to me, he’s disgustingly honorable. He knows how important you are to me, and that makes you important to him. If anything happens, he’ll make sure you’re safe first and foremost. And did I mention he’s asexual?”

The tension that had kept Pepper’s posture rigid escaped as an incredulous giggle. “Are you serious?”

“Cross my heart and hope to die, stick shrapnel in my heart and hope to die.”

“That’s not how it goes.”

Stark waved the criticism away. “Yeah, well, poetry’s never been my strong suit. Anyway, he’s asexual because he’s some weird mix of male and female. And he’s sweet on Darcy. I’ll bet you twenty bucks they start dating again.”

“Wasn’t she dating someone from SHIELD?” Pepper frowned.

“That’s not going to last. I’ve met him. He’s a good guy, he just isn’t made of stern enough stuff to handle her.”

“So he’s really on our side now?”

Tony smirked. “He’s on my side. Unbreakable loyalty until the day I die. That’s still top-secret, by the way.”

Despite herself, Pepper grinned. “You’re appropriating a national secret to be my bodyguard?”

“Too much?”

The hand that was holding the doorknob released and rose to his cheek, to be followed by its mate as Pepper leaned in to kiss Stark tenderly. “Nope.”

His hands moved to her hips, urging her gently closer as he claimed a second kiss she was only too happy to give. “Good.”

 

Three days into the conference, the wards he’d placed around his ‘employer’ went crazy. From his discreet position in the back of the conference room, magic gently discouraging any eye from lingering on him, Loki set about searching for the cause of alarm. The smoke grenades that broke four windows answered that, and he was already launching himself towards Pepper Potts when figures in gas masks followed the grenades. The room was chaos; conference members screamed, choked, and rushed around half-blind while the masked attackers shouted unintelligible slogans or commands. One of them reached for Pepper just as Loki got there.

“You will not touch her!” He flung one hand out, dropping his disguise to appear in his gold-and-green armor, a throwing knife edged in green fire flying from his fingertips to send the figure to its knees. “I am taking this woman!”

The ward flickered and failed; it had never been intended to withstand the amount of material a smoke grenade could spew into the air, only warn of contaminants and immediate threats. Pepper, previously statue-still in shock, now began to cough. Loki scooped her into his arms bridal-style, and in a green-gold shimmer, they were gone.

Pepper’s wracking cough was loud in the cool, dark silence of the deep containment cell. Loki laid her gently on the smoothly-curved floor before banishing his armor and gesturing at the observation window.

“Director Fury,” he announced crisply, “there was an attack on the conference in Moscow. Smoke grenades followed by human-shaped figures in gas masks. I did not stay to find out who was responsible. I would be grateful if a medical team could be sent to my room to check on Ms. Potts while I inform Mr. Stark of this.”

“You got it,” Fury’s disembodied voice said.

“Thank you.” Loki reached for his cel phone and with two gestures, dialed Stark with full video.

“It’s four in the morning, Reindeer Games,” the groggy voice complained.

“There was an attack.”

“What-”

“Pepper is safe. I brought her to my room. There’s a medical team on the way.” Loki pointed the phone at the woman still struggling for normal breath.

“Pepper? Pepper, honey, can you hear me?”

“I-” Coughing. She nodded instead.

“Good, good. You’re safe. Everything’s going to be alright.” He sighed in profound relief. “Loki, I can’t tell you enough how grateful I am to have kicked your blue butt. I feel like I owe you my life.”

“But…”

“Don’t even. Pepper basically is my life, okay? Hey, you hear that, Pep? I love you.”

Lungs still spasming too much for words, although the actual coughing had eased, she propped herself up enough to stare at the phone. Two fingers lifted shakily to her lips, then reached towards the screen. Digital kiss complete, she flopped back over to concentrate on breathing.

“The medical team is here,” Loki announced seconds before the observation window lit up, followed by the lights in the cell.

“Good. I’ll be there soon. If I’m not there by the time they have her in a room, call me and let me know where she is.”

“You got it, Tony.”

“Thanks, Loki. I mean that. Thank you.”

As the hydraulic door hissed and lifted outward, Stark hung up and Loki tucked his phone away. The medical team scurried in, followed by Fury.

“No guards?”

One dark eye focused on him. “No need for them. Systems reported your signature, and Ms. Potts’s. Guards are only for hostiles or unknowns.”

The reminder that he was no longer considered a hostile made Loki’s wit dry up with the warmth of gratitude and tentative joy.

“She’ll be fine, sir,” one of the men in white scrubs announced as two others unfolded a portable stretcher. “We’re just going to take her up for observation and oxygen.”

“Tony’s on his way,” Loki said quietly as Pepper was lifted to the stretcher and carried carefully out.

There was humor in Fury’s voice when he said, “I’ll make sure there’s two beds in that room, then."