1 comments/ 5410 views/ 9 favorites Mischief Makers Ch. 02 By: Diezi Cami hadn't slept much at all, sharing her tiny bed with Loki, but she hadn't minded because it gave her the chance to relax and think about what she'd volunteered for in taking on Loki's case. Though he seemed vulnerable and had been cooperative with their requests of him for the most part, Cami understood that Loki wasn't just a victim of circumstance. Like anyone else, he had chosen how to play the cards life had dealt to him. Now that he was on Earth, stripped of his powers and 'immortality', he had to decide his strategy, and she guessed he was merely in survival mode right now. It had been about four hours since they'd left Clint and Natasha to talk in the suite when there was a firm knock on her door. Cami expected to find her brother or Natasha or both on the other side. It wasn't. The man was dressed in operations blue. She didn't know him or what position he held on the helicarrier. "Trainee Barton," the man said, holding out two ear devices, "Agent Barton requires yours and Loki's attention on line five." Cami took the communicators, thanked him politely and watched him head down the corridor before returning to Loki who was slowly sitting up on the bed and running his hands through his unruly hair. "Something is going on." She powered up the devices, set them to channel five and handed him one, making sure he was ready as she slipped her own into place on her ear. With a tap, Cami opened the com line. "Trainee Barton calling in," she said, noting how unsettled her voice sounded. "Cami, it's Clint," her brother's voice responded. "We have a situation and Fury thinks you two can help. Is Loki on?" "Yes," Cami said, feeling her stomach knot up a bit. "Where are you?" "D.C. Nat and I went ahead to start gathering intel. I need you two on the flight deck right away to catch a jet out here to us. Mike Hopper will fly you out. Look for him." "What should we bring?" "Hopper will have some files for you and a hand-held computer. Study what's there then call us back for an update. We'll equip the team once we have a plan in place." "I'm kinda freaked out right now," Cami admitted. "What's happening?" "Sorry, kiddo." Clint said, his voice softening. "Possible kidnapping and we don't have any time to waste. Hold on to those coms. Remember to call us." The line went quiet. Loki slipped off the bed, retrieved his jacket and pulled it on. Cami eyes shifted from Loki to the picture of her and Clint. It should have been the greatest moment of her life. She was going on a mission, an honest to goodness mission. Instead of feeling elated, her mind was cluttering with doubts. She hadn't been cleared for field duty. Why would Fury think she could help with a kidnapping? Clint hadn't said that he thought she could help. Loki lightly touched Cami's arm with the tips of his fingers, drawing her back into a moment of clarity. His urgent expression reinforced that they had to get moving. Cami pulled shoes on and grabbed her uniform jacket from the closet, expecting the flight deck to be cool. Then they left her quarters, taking the shortest route possible to get them up top. Cami matched Loki's pace. The rest had helped rejuvenate him some, but they weren't exactly racing along. Hopper was waiting at the top of the main lift with a jeep to drive them to the far side of the helicarrier. Only as they pulled up next to it did Cami realize that they were taking S.H.I.E.L.D.'s newest and smallest transport jet. The 5-80 Streak was a fast and highly maneuverable aircraft with stealth capabilities. After a full year of flight testing, the Streak was only cleared for active use within the last few months. Cami followed Hopper up the boarding ramp. She tried to take in everything about the ship's design. "This is so cool," she said. "We need to get there fast and this baby became available." Hopper gestured to the gentleman in the co-pilot seat who was running through the preflight checklist. "This is Agent Dale." After a nod to Dale, Cami moved to Loki. He was already strapped in and engrossed in a case file. She took the seat across from him where an identical folder and a case for a handheld computer rested. She briefly skimmed the first page of the file, too distracted by the movements of the jet as it slipped into position and took off to get much insight. "How long will it take us to get to D.C.?" "About ninety minutes," Hopper said. "That's half the time of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s next fastest jet. Should barely give you time to do your reading." Cami turned her attention back to the file and tried to focus. The file was vague, obviously thrown together in a hurry. The nanny of some influential politician had gone missing and been tracked to a private men's club whose owner, Victor Drago, was suspected of shady dealings. Authorities had been after the guy for blackmail, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, torture and murder, but had yet to make any of the charges stick. She studied the picture of the missing girl, Anna Morroz. She was young and innocent looking, but Cami knew how easily a good girl could get involved in bad things. She activated her com. "Trainee Barton to Agent Romanoff." Natasha responded, "This is Romanoff." "We've looked over the files. Clint said you'd have an update." "Anna's car was found a few blocks from Drago's club. We talked to a friend of hers who told us she was working days as a nanny, but nights at the club to help settle some hefty debts. Someone at the club called her in yesterday on her day off and she hasn't been seen since. We've got the place staked out." "How's the plan coming?" Really, she wanted to know how she and Loki fit into this operation. "We're still talking details with Fury. This club is for private members only. It's going to take some work to get any of us inside without drawing the wrong kind of attention." "Sorry to interrupt," Hopper's voice broke in on the line. "We're landing in a minute." "Clint is on his way. He'll take them off your hands, Hopper. Thanks for the help. Romanoff out." The jet landed at a private strip on government property. Clint pulled up in a dark sedan as Cami and Loki disembarked. Cami hurried toward him. "We got to ride in the Streak!" "Pretty cool," Clint said, chuckling at her enthusiasm and waved her toward the front passenger seat. "Have you had dinner?" "No." "We'll call for some room service when we get to the hotel. Nat is keeping an eye on our club." Soon they arrived at the hotel across the street from Drago's, coming in from the back entrance and ascending to their floor in a service elevator to avoid the public. It wasn't a classy establishment, but at least everything looked clean and well-maintained. Natasha was seated at the window as Clint let them into the room. "I ordered Chinese food," she muttered, not turning or lowering the binoculars she was using. "Hope everyone likes sesame chicken." Clint checked the computer terminal set up at the desk. "S.H.I.E.L.D. sent us a new data file." Loki moved past Cami to take the chair. He immediately started reading as Clint pulled up the file. Cami put her file folder and computer on the closest bed and went to look out the window with Natasha. "That place looks expensive," she commented, eying the sport and luxury cars that were parked around Drago's club. "Anyone with enough money can get an invitation to the club, but we have a problem," Clint said. "Victor Drago knows me." "How?" Cami asked. "I did a few jobs for an associate of his back in the day. Then about three years ago I led a team that busted up a party he was attending. Drago knows I'm not in the crime business anymore. This is a gentleman's fetish club. The members are all men of great wealth and influence. If I can't take lead, Loki will have to do it. Fury agrees." Natasha asked, "How can he lead when he's not talking?" "Play him off as being foreign and eccentric," Clint suggested. "You can talk for him, Nat." Cami thought that was a brilliant idea. "You can both be Russian." Loki continued to examine the file. Cami watched his eyes skim the content as he moved from page to page. "I think Loki can speed read," she said softly to the others. Clint and Natasha looked at Loki. Within moments he finished the material and opened an attachment that was full of pictures. "Loki," Natasha asked in disbelief, "did you read that whole file already?" His brilliant green eyes shifted between them, studying their expressions. Their interest seemed to surprise him. "You did!" Cami accused with a grin. "You certainly don't read Tolkien like that. I would have noticed." Clint joked, "No sane person speed reads through Tolkien." Hints of a grin emerged at the corners of Loki's mouth at this comment. Cami was curious what Loki was looking at. So, she moved over to him, peeking over his shoulder and started studying the photographs, which were mainly shots of people coming and going from the club. The men tended to wear business suits and were usually covering their faces as they dove into their luxury cars or limos. The club's girls appeared to only use the back entrance. Their outfits were all tight and revealing. Leather attire was common along with the occasional mask, whip or even studded collar. In some cases, their clothes could be described more as costumes. "So, am I on surveillance?" Cami asked. They had yet to say why she was here. Clint's expression steeled and his gaze shifted from Cami to Natasha. "Actually, we need you on the inside," Natasha said, carefully reading Clint's features. "We just don't have time to set up a solid alias and background for Loki. He's going to have to be impressive and flashy all on his own to get Drago's attention." Cami felt her stomach tightening again as she got the gist. Exotic dancing was just one of the antics that eventually got her expelled from private school. She hadn't needed the money really, though it had helped with her gadget obsession. Overall, as her therapist had decided, and Cami somewhat agreed, she had been acting out against her brother for being absent in her life for so long then pulling her from a loving foster family just to send her away to school. She pointed to the pictures on the screen. "I haven't worn these sorts of clothes in a while." "We know. This isn't really about your dancing," Natasha assured her. "Drago buys and sells young women. If Loki shows up with his own private pet, it should help to gain his trust." Clint was frowning deeply. His issues with this assignment were evident, which only made Cami more determined to prove to him that she could be helpful. "I can do it." "You're not field combat ready," Clint was quick to point out. "In a place like this, the patrons are going to be handsy, and Drago has security too." "I'll be fine," Cami tried to reassure him and herself. Even Loki was looking concerned. "We're just gathering intel, right?" "Once we're in there, the situation can change instantly," Natasha said. "If we happen to see Anna," Cami said, using the missing girl's name, "are we going to take her out of there with us? "That's a call best made at the time," Clint said. Room service arrived soon afterward and Cami forced herself to eat sesame chicken and rice despite her nervous stomach. Loki tried at least a few bites, but stayed in front of the computer, reading every update that came in from headquarters. Clint pulled up a chair and skimmed the news too. "We've got a lot to do," Natasha said, "and we're running out of time to make our play tonight." Clint answered a quick call, and then reported, "Hill has arranged the re-opening of a few places for us. You should take these two and get the clothes you'll need. I'll keep an eye on the camera feeds." Natasha herded Loki and Cami out of the hotel to the dark sedan. Their first stop was a store for formal business attire where a small team of tailors altered an expensive suit for Loki as well as a suit coat and slacks for Natasha. Their next stop was an adult shop that sold sexy outfits and accessories. Natasha picked out a provocative top to go with her business clothes while Cami searched for her own outfit. She was browsing the racks when she realized that Loki had stepped away. Cami found him in the back room with a somewhat confused, bewildered expression. She started laughing as she walked into the room to stand at his side. "Asgard doesn't have sex stores, huh?" Loki glimpsed her direction. He wasn't quite blushing. Cami doubted he was naive by any means. She figured he had just been ill-prepared for what he'd stumbled upon. "See anything you'd like?" Loki didn't respond, though his eyes continued to scan the room's inventory, occasionally settling on something that would momentarily confuse or amuse him. "You know, Nat's birthday is coming up soon." Cami walked along the shelves, knowing that she really didn't want to get Natasha a toy. She wanted Natasha to be with Clint, but how could she wrap that dream up as a gift? Loki moved to the left, pointing out a small box to Cami as she approached. It was just a box of condoms, but it was a brand with a golden bow and arrow as its logo, which brought her brother's archery talent to mind. She smiled at Loki, feeling a bit astonished that he seemed to be thinking along the same lines as her. "Perfect, let's get some of those," she said, taking a box. "Hey!" Natasha called from somewhere in the outer store. "Are we ready to go?" Cami shoved the condoms and a twenty into Loki's hand. "Please get these for me. I have to pick my outfit and keep Natasha busy." Loki slipped the box behind him as they stepped out of the back room together. He casually headed to the cashier while Cami intercepted Natasha in the lingerie. "What have you been doing?" Natasha asked her. "I was teasing Loki about sex toys," Cami said with a grin. "He almost blushed." Natasha flashed a casual look of warning. "Maybe you shouldn't take his integration into human society so seriously. Please choose something to wear." "I don't know which one to get," Cami said. She turned toward a rack of black lingerie. "I usually buy sexy stuff with a particular guy in mind." "Black is too safe a color. Maybe you should go with something red. It's more daring," Natasha suggested and grabbed some outfits from the red rack. Suddenly Loki was in their midst again. He looked at the red options that Natasha was holding up to Cami as they looked into a full length mirror. He shook his head and moved away, only to return shortly with a cotton candy pink ensemble. Natasha took the teddy from Loki and held it up in front of Cami. The thing was completely see-through with the exception of the bra and panties. It also had little pink bows on it. "Nice," she said. "What do you think, Cami?" "Kinda kinky. Clint is going to freak." "Yeah," Natasha agreed. "We just won't tell him that Loki picked it out." Cami laughed. "Good idea." "Come on; let's go." After a quick visit to shoe and jewelry stores, there was one more stop to get the girls' hair and makeup done before the trio returned to the hotel. In an attempt to make Cami appear younger, her makeup was done in more natural colors and her hair had been curled then pulled up into long piggy tails that Loki found amusing. "I don't know what's so funny about piggy tails," Cami said, "but you'd better be able to focus in there." Loki stifled his grin and nodded to assure her that he would be fine. Clint reported upon their return, "Hill's team got Loki an invite to the club. He's going in as Ivan Lukin, a wealthy Russian businessman. The club is expecting him and two guests for one o'clock. What Hill couldn't get was a definite promise to meet with Drago." Natasha had moved back to the window. She turned to Clint. "I guess we'll have to get his attention on our own." Cami was the last one to use the bathroom to change before leaving for the club. She knew she looked good because months of training had strengthened and slimmed her body enough to make a noticeable difference from even her dancing days. It was too bad that her confidence in her sexy appearance didn't make her feel more prepared for the mission ahead or even facing her controlling brother. "Cami, you have to come out sometime," Natasha called through the bathroom door. "I can only distract your brother for so long." "He's going to be mad," Cami whined. "I'm really not in the mood to be yelled at tonight." "Clint, promise her you won't yell." "Impossible. I'm pretty sure it's in my job description to make her life miserable," Clint teased from somewhere beyond where Natasha stood at the door. "Ignore him, honey. I'm sure you look fantastic." Her stomach in knots, Cami stepped out of the bathroom and tried not to fidget as Clint looked her over. "Uh, well..." he began with wide eyes, "I guess that ends the argument about you carrying any concealed weapons on this mission." Natasha chuckled as she moved over to skim the latest report on the computer from over Loki's shoulder. "Is that really the whole thing?" Clint pressed. "You didn't lose any pieces on the way back from the store did you?" "Very funny," Cami said with a scowl. He did look a bit stressed about the outfit, but at least he hadn't had a conniption. Natasha must have been working her magic on him to minimize the fallout. "Try being her supervisor instead of her brother," Natasha replied to his teasing comments. "Cami looks really good, and you're making her feel self conscious about it." Looking humbled by the rebuke, Clint relented. "Alright; I'm sorry." Cami's gaze shifted to Loki, who was lingering at the computer, and wished he would contribute something to make her feel better since Clint wasn't going to be much help. Loki must have sensed her gaze on him for he turned and also took a few moments to look her over with truly appreciative eyes. Then he smiled and winked at her. Now that's more like it, Cami thought and returned the smile. "I saw that," Clint said as a light-hearted warning from his perch at the window. He was connecting the hardware that would allow him to monitor the cameras at Drago's once they had tapped into the system. "And I'll be watching you all night." Cami met Loki's gaze, cocked an eyebrow and grinned. "Kinky, bro." She wasn't going to let him ruin this for her. The team was going to a freaking sex club. She was going to get some Loki kisses if it was the last thing she did. Why not? This opportunity wasn't likely to arise again. "Let's not push the buttons right now," Natasha advised the Bartons. "No doubt it will be a memorable night, but we do have a job to do here." Natasha ran through the basics of their cover one more time. Loki was going to have to act confident and arrogant. Cami had to be submissive and remember to take her cues from Loki. Natasha admitted that she would have quite a balancing act since she would be the dominant speaker, yet still subordinate to Loki. "Why do we need to get Drago's attention?" Cami asked. "We'll need access to Drago's computer to find where he has Anna," Clint said, "which means we need to get into his office." Natasha added, "The easiest way to get into the office is to get an invitation." "Let me guess," Cami said, "getting in is the easy part. Getting out is hard." Natasha cracked a smile. "See, you're getting the hang of things already." "If Drago is so hardcore, isn't he going to know better than to keep records? I mean, the feds are watching him on a pretty regular basis, right? What if we get into the computer and can't find anything?" "There's never a way to predict how a mission will go, Cami," Natasha said. "We just do our jobs." Mischief Makers Ch. 02 Clint said, "Cami, give me the order again." "You're quizzing me? Really?" "Yes. Tell me the order." Cami sighed. "Enter the club. Access the cameras. Search for the girl. If we don't find her, we get into the office. Neutralize Drago. Upload data to S.H.I.E.L.D. Regroup and retreat. Did I miss anything?" "Nope; that was perfect." Clint looked at his watch. "You guys gotta go." He grabbed Cami's uniform jacket off the bed, wrapped it around her and herded the trio toward the door. Before he could push her into the hall, Cami took the chance to grab Clint in a hug. She wasn't going to admit that she was nervous and even a little scared, but this way it felt like they were parting on good terms. Clint might have felt uncomfortable, but he was receptive enough to not break the embrace until she pulled back first. Then Clint leaned close to Natasha and whispered something that probably only she heard. "You know I will," was Natasha's soft reply and she bumped Clint playfully with her shoulder. "We'll do great." It would have been a good moment for some words of encouragement, but instead he told them, "Remember the cameras or I'll be blind." "I'll get it done," Natasha said with a determined nod. The trio was picked up by an agent named Brandon Shale who worked for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s resource coordinator in the D.C. area. For the mission, Shale had acquired a black limousine to transport them to the club. After the introductions, he slipped Natasha and Loki each a fold of cash and falsified passports. He also had a decorative, black handbag for Natasha where the device she needed to tap into the club's cameras had been hidden along with some gadgets disguised as common accessories usually found in a woman's purse. Cami was disappointed that she and Loki didn't get any neat toys, but knew she wasn't a real field operative yet anyway. Agent Shale pulled out into traffic and took a wide berth around the neighborhood to come back from the airport road. Their limo arrived in front of Drago's club a few minutes shy of one o'clock in the morning. Members of the club's security walked up to the limo and spoke with Shale. It was a quick conversation to verify the identities of the new arrivals before he was allowed to exit the vehicle to open the passenger door. Loki stepped out first, holding out his hand to help Natasha. Then he offered Cami his hand. Slipping out of her uniform jacket, making sure to stuff it out of sight of the door, Cami accepted his aid. She was glad that her outfit managed to cover the essentials during the awkward exit. Then she tucked up against Loki's side as they walked in together. The interior decor of the club was currently influenced by the tales of Arabia. The scattering of booths had colorful round couches with over-sized pillows. The chilled air was heavy with the smell of incense. "Charming," Natasha uttered softly, her com transmitting her sarcastic tone to the whole team through their open line. "Pretty bad?" Clint asked. "I'll get you access to the cameras, then you can see for yourself." The patrons had their own areas where groups of scantily-dressed girls pampered and tended to their needs. In fact, various levels of hanky-panky were on display for all to see. The lack of privacy was astounding, but the clientele seemed used to the arrangements. Several of the patrons had noted the trio's arrival, peeking up from their own amusements to get a glimpse of them. Cami realized that Natasha had to be the oldest woman in the place, being somewhere in her late twenties or very early thirties. Their escort led them to an available booth on the second level near the center where it overlooked the large room. He waved a server over to take their order before walking away. Natasha asked for two vodkas, letting her natural Russian accent come through. She took a seat on the end of the rounded couch, leaning back into the soft cushions. Loki declined the drink menu offered by the server with a shake of his head before taking a seat. Then Cami eased onto a pillow near his feet, looking out through the balcony railing at the people below, most of which were girls in some degree of undress. Natasha waited until the server walked away then pulled a compact from her purse, using the mirror to check her makeup and its internal sensor to sweep their immediate area for listening devices. After a few moments, Natasha seemed satisfied. "We're clear," she whispered, slipping the compact back into the purse. "I parked where I have some visibility of the back," Shale reported. "Good," Clint said. Then he asked, "Nat, how are the numbers?" She leaned over as if she was speaking quietly to Loki. "Roughly twenty patrons, maybe fifty girls working the front, eight security guys in view, some cleverly disguised cameras... haven't seen the girl." Cami had barely noted the obscene number of stripper poles throughout the room, let alone the vitals statics that Natasha had collected. Perhaps she'd been a bit distracted by the costumes the girls wore and the dancers currently at the poles. She found herself critiquing their routines and realizing that some of them were pretty good. "I doubt he'd keep her here," Shale said. "Considering his reputation, I think we'll be lucky to find her dead body if anything at all." "We prefer to be a little more optimistic than that, Brandon," Clint responded. Natasha's vodkas arrived. She tried a sip, smiled and offered the second glass to Loki. He took a taste, nodded approvingly then finished it in one swallow. "Bring more of those," Natasha told the server, "and juice for the girl." "So, we just sit here?" Cami asked when they were alone again. "Waiting is often a big part of a mission," Clint said. Loki took hold of Cami's piggy tail, giving it a slight tug. Cami turned and looked up at him, watching as he let her hair slip through his fingers and fall upon his thigh. He wore a bored expression, but it didn't deter from his sex-appeal in the least. Cami thought she could stare at him all night, dressed in his modern style black on black suit. She allowed his touch to calm her nerves, though she couldn't help thinking of the curls he was straightening. More drinks arrived shortly. Cami had a sip of juice, but would have preferred some vodka to help settle her nerves because she was thinking a little bit too hard over what Agent Shale had said about finding Anna dead. "I bet the girls' bathroom is in the back somewhere," Natasha said after finishing her first drink. "I'll take a walk, get a feel for what's behind the scenes and see if I can find a good spot to tap into the cameras." Cami was stealing peeks at the booths around and below theirs as Natasha stood and walked away. Though several patrons had noticed Cami and occasionally looked her way, she didn't find any of them as attractive as Loki. Flirting with them would have served no purpose other than to give herself a distraction, which she figured wasn't good 'pet' behavior. Two girls in harem outfits came over to offer them fresh fruits and sweet sauces for dipping. Loki waved them into the booth, allowing them to snuggle up on both sides and feed him from gaudy golden trays. Cami tried to keep her mind on searching the room and the movements of Drago's security guys, but was distracted by the loud music and the girls on the couch. Loki was doing exactly what Clint and Natasha wanted, but that didn't mean Cami was alright with it, not that she'd admit to anyone that she was jealous that complete strangers were allowed so close to him. "Cameras are up," Clint eventually reported. "Good work, Nat." "Thanks. I tried to sneak a few peeks into the dressing room area, but backstage security noticed me and I had to move on. He's got a lot of muscle around here." "I'm switching through the feeds. Looks like Drago does have a camera in the girls' area. I'll let you know if I see Miss Morroz." "What's the status on back up?" Natasha asked. "We weren't expecting so much security." Shale joined in. "We were going to request FBI assistance if needed, but obviously that will only work if we actually find something worth them raiding the place." Cami listened quietly to these exchanges. She spotted Natasha over by the bar as she said through the com, "I'll look for the manager." "Cami, you're pouting," Clint said a few moments later. "I'm just having so much fun down here," she muttered. Loki tugged on her piggy tail again, causing Cami to shoot him a look of displeasure over her shoulder. Being his pet would get old fast if he kept pulling her hair. Couldn't he tell how tense she was feeling? He took a plump, chocolate-dipped strawberry from the tray and leaned forward to hold it to her lips. Cami took a bite, but couldn't deny that the presence of the other girls ruined the gesture. The way they touched him, running their hands through his long hair and placing his hands on their bodies, just irritated her to no end. If there was something that he wanted her to do, Cami missed it. She did realize that his second drink was in his hand, but the glass was half empty already. Through her com Cami could hear Natasha was introducing herself to the manager, who seemed friendly enough, but wouldn't verify that Drago was on the premises. "Drago IS in his office, and he IS watching his monitors," Clint confirmed. He sounded a little irritated too. "If he's watching, maybe we should make a scene," Cami suggested, lowering her head so hopefully no one noticed she was talking when there was nobody close enough to hear her. In that moment, her gaze fell on the couple in the booth directly below theirs. The girl was leaning into the guy's lap, held forcefully in place by her hair as he thrust deep into her throat. He leaned back into the cushions, lost in the sensations. Then his eyes fluttered open, seeming to notice Cami's attention from above, and he made a kissing motion at her. Right then, Loki caressed the back of Cami's neck, his long fingers gently sweeping back and forth across the sensitive area, causing her to tense and look his way. He gestured for Cami to get up from the pillow, taking hold of her waist and pulled her onto his lap. The harem girls held back, waiting for Loki to indicate what he wanted from them, but he indifferently waved them away as if he was bored with their company now. Though she assumed he was just playing along with this farce, Cami kept in mind the perceptions and antics of those around them. She purposely rubbed her ass against Loki as she turned to the side. The new position allowed her to see him more easily and note the subtle uncertainty in his posture as she settled. Cami soon realized that his eyes and features showed something completely different than the boredom she'd thought before. "You look really tired," Cami said with concern. Even she would have normally been in bed at this hour and she hadn't been hospitalized recently. Cami caught the attention of a passing server. "Coffee?" she asked, trying to sound like the word was uncommon for her. "Sure, sweetie," the girl said with a peppy grin then hurried off in a flutter of flowing material. Cami leaned into Loki, forcing him back into the softness of the couch. She could tell that he was struggling to keep his eyes open. She put her head on his shoulder, feeling the rise and fall of his chest against her side. Considering his condition she actually felt guilty putting her full weight on him. "Maybe the vodka was a bad idea," Cami whispered against Loki's warm neck. She noted with displeasure that she could smell perfume from Drago's girls on him. Clint responded, "Give him that coffee as soon as you get it." They sat there together in silence while the music blared and harem girls moved around them. Loki turned his head toward the nearest dancer, seeming to take in her performance as a focal point to keeping conscious. When the server returned with the coffee, she placed it on the small table and asked if there was anything more she could get for them. Since Natasha was supposed to be their translator, Cami faked a look of confusion, shook her head and uttered, "Nyet." It was one of a few words she knew in Russian. This one happened to mean 'no'. She would suck at faking Russian, so it was a blessing that the girl was immediately called away. Cami took the cup and handed it to Loki, encouraging him to drink all of it as quickly as he could. "The caffeine should help," she promised. Loki let her recline on him as he sipped the hot coffee. His free arm was wrapped around her with his hand curling at her hip. Surely they had to stand out amid the debauchery of their fellow patrons. Loki's touches were a bit too deliberately chaste, Cami decided. She reached up and smoothed his long bangs out of his face then dared to pull back his hand with the coffee to give him a soft, lingering kiss on the mouth, which he not only allowed, but seemed to enjoy. She noted that his eyes brightened with interest as he studied her features, and his grip on her tightened. Cami touched his face, tracing a delicate finger along his pale cheek to his thin lips, which parted just enough to let the digit slip through and rest between his front teeth. Then his lips closed and he sucked the fingertip, flicking at it with the end of his tongue and biting down with his teeth just hard enough to catch her by surprise and serve as a gentle warning. Natasha returned to the booth before they could get much further with their explorations. The club's manager followed her. He was in his late forties with a noticeably thinning hairline, round features and thin, wire spectacles. His suit also looked very expensive. He held his hand out to Loki, not expecting him to stand with Cami perched on his lap. "We are honored that you came by to visit us, Mr. Lukin," the manager said. "I am Arlo Vahdati." Natasha translated all of this into Russian, speaking to Loki directly. Loki nodded, sitting up so he could set down his coffee cup and shake the offered hand. He gestured for Vahdati to take a seat with them and released Cami, allowing her to slide off his lap and cuddle up to his side. Vahdati gestured to Natasha. "Ms. Asmik wasn't too specific about your reasons for this meeting. I can assure you that I am fully aware of Mr. Drago's current dealings. Please, tell me how we can help you today." After the translation, Loki took some time to size up Vahdati before nodding permissively to Natasha. "We heard through our sources that Mr. Drago has access to girls for long-term companionship," Natasha said, keeping her accent thick as she wove extra meaning into her words. "Mr. Lukin is looking for a new girl to add to his household." Mr. Vahdati was slow to respond, though his friendly smile never faded. "I see. Do you mind if I ask who referred you?" Loki's expression still looked a bit bored and somewhat stern as Natasha translated. He shook his head in response. "The list is prestigious, but let's not waste time on such unimportant details," Natasha continued. "Mr. Lukin has had a few tiring days of travel and been gracious enough to come here and wait at your convenience. Can we talk business or not?" Vahdati's cell phone rang and he politely excused himself for a moment, stepping away to answer it. "He's on with Drago," Clint confirmed, probably keeping an eye on both locales on the monitors set up at the hotel. In Vahdati's absence, Loki turned his attention to Cami. He leaned close, pushing aside her piggy tail and pressed his mouth to her neck, kissing her skin with strategic firmness that gave her instant goose bumps and might have caused her to swoon if it wasn't for Clint's sudden, angered warning over the com line for Loki to break it up and get his attention back on the mission. Loki defiantly continued for a few moments then pulled away again, smirking in Natasha's direction as he straightened his suit. He poured some of Cami's juice into the remainder of his vodka and drained it with one gulp. "That's really not going to help if you're so tired," Cami whispered. Loki set his glass down, then placed his hand on her knee and gave it a strong, reassuring squeeze. Vahdati looked pleased as he returned to his seat. He spoke directly to Loki. "I spoke with Mr. Drago and told him of your interest. He is coming into the club to meet you and discuss your specific needs." He gestured to Cami. "Obviously, you have excellent taste." Natasha rambled off a translation for Loki before asking Vahdati, "Is Mr. Drago close by?" "We can expect him soon," Vahdati said. "Would you like some more drinks? I'm sure the girls would be eager to please in any way." Loki was declining these offers as Natasha translated. He touched under Cami's chin, lifting her face to give her a soft kiss. Then he waved Natasha over to him, pulling her into his lap as she drew close and gave her a deep, penetrating kiss that she had no choice but to return. "Ah, yes. You do seem to have your... hands full," Vahdati said with a grin. "I'll check in with some of our other guests, but return to escort you once Mr. Drago arrives." Natasha thanked him and Mr. Vahdati stepped away to schmooze more patrons. "Hey, I'm the one who decides where you're sleeping tonight, Loki," Clint warned, no doubt scowling at the image of Loki cuddled up with both girls. Cami held back the flood of giggles that bubbled up in her throat. At least Clint hadn't completely forgotten that Loki was currently without quarters. Natasha eased out of Loki's grip and settled beside him, looking more collected than Cami guessed she was feeling after Loki's manipulation of the circumstances. "Now that you've stirred the pot, so-to-speak, maybe someone should do another sweep," Shale suggested. "Vahdati didn't go too far. I'm sure he's going to notice if I get up again," Natasha said. "I already used the bathroom excuse." "I don't have a visual of the girl on any of the camera feeds," Clint said. "Though that dressing room is packed." Cami leaned forward, looking toward the main stage. From previous experience she knew the backstage area of any club was always in chaos. "I'll do it," she offered and pushed to her feet. Loki grabbed her arm, gripping it a bit too tightly. His expression was mixed enough to confuse her. He looked sort of mad, concerned and scared all at once. Natasha noticed when Cami grimaced. She reached out, touching her hand to the side of Loki's face. "Relax, Loki," she said in a tone that was nice, yet too firm to not be an order. "Cami is going to be really careful." Cami managed a smile for him despite being on edge. She didn't know what was causing him to react this way. Finally Loki released her arm, leaving a residual sting. There were so many people watching her as Cami made her way to the staircase and headed down to the main level that she doubted she could go anywhere without drawing attention. At the first opportunity, Cami slipped behind the stage and found cover so she could get her bearings. "You should be near the storage area," Natasha was whispering into the com line. "The dressing room is on the opposite side of the main stage." Cami's move happened to correspond with the end of a song and a flood of dancers returning to the dressing room. She was able to use the mob as partial cover to get past one security guard then another who was speaking on his phone. The dancers swept into the dressing area and dispersed to their stations for wardrobe, hair and makeup changes. Considering the immensity of the room and the number of girls, it was obvious to Cami that Drago took the entertainment side of his business very seriously. Mischief Makers Ch. 02 The layout of the room offered nowhere for Cami to hide. So, she let her curiosity show through in her expression and started taking a self-guided tour. For the most part, the girls were too busy changing to give Cami much attention as she moved among them in search. A blonde woman with deep brown eyes and a lot of eyeliner jumped up from her chair and addressed Cami as she came close. "Are you a new dancer?" In her surprise to be face-to-face with Anna Morroz in a black leather catsuit, Cami almost forgot that she wasn't supposed to understand English. At least shaking her head worked to convey uncertainty as she bit back her words. One of the other girls explained, "She came in with that tall Russian guy and the redhead. She probably doesn't understand anything you're saying." The blonde thanked her co-worker for this helpful information and turned back to Cami. "I'm Anna," she said pointing to her chest and repeating her name again. "What's your name?" Cami hesitated, too stunned to think clearly. For the life of her, she couldn't think of a girl's Russian name other than Natasha, which could quickly get confusing for the team. "Maybe she's not allowed to talk," the other girl suggested. "I think I scared her," Anna said with a guilty smile. She slipped a comforting arm around Cami's shoulders and guided her to sit in the chair at her station. "It's OK, Hon. I've had a few days like that myself." Through the com, Clint said, "Cami, confirm. Is that Anna Morroz?" Cami couldn't think of a way to respond to him with so many eyes on her. She couldn't even pull herself together to interact with Anna who was looking her over with such interest. "I don't think you're as young as they've made you up to be," Anna said, sounding wise beyond her years. She touched Cami's curled hair. "Do you speak any English?" Cami held on to her confused expression, biting at her lip and looking around her like she expected to be in trouble for being in here. Back up in the booth, Natasha's com picked up and transmitted the voice of Mr. Vahdati as he rejoined them. He asked Loki and Natasha to accompany him to the owner's office where Mr. Drago was waiting. "Don't worry about your girl. I'll have someone bring her along when she returns." Whether they'd wanted it or not, it appeared that the team was working both forks of the plan. Anna waved her hand in front of Cami's face, snapping her back to attention. "Hello? Are you alright?" Cami was embarrassed to be caught distracted. She didn't know if she could handle the open com while doing this. She looked away from the curious eyes of the girls. "You have a great body for dancing," Anna said, taking her in. "I'd kill for those thighs." Anna turned, checking the clock mounted on the wall then called out across the room, "Three minutes for dancers on the upper stages." Cami watched the reactions of the girls throughout the room to this announcement. It wasn't hard to see that Anna was in a position of authority. Another woman stepped up to address Anna. "New girl didn't show. We don't have anyone for stage three." "Move Mary to three." "What about five? Arlo is going to be mad if we don't cover the Russian's area too." "I think we'll be OK," Anna said knowingly. "I'll walk his girl back up there and stay to give them a little show." Cami had been aggressively ignoring the conversation in Drago's office, but still noticed when it was suddenly cut off and Clint broke in on the line. "We have a complication. Anna isn't to be trusted. Head out and regroup with Agent Shale." It was hard to keep her expression from changing when her system received such a shock. Cami stood while Anna's back was still turned and slipped through the crowds toward the closer of the two exits from the dressing room. "Hey wait!" Anna exclaimed suddenly and pursued Cami out into a small hallway between the rooms. "Let me show you the way," she offered, reaching out to grab at Cami's hand. On instinct, Cami pulled away then watched Anna's friendly demeanor instantly dissolve into the look of a cunning predator. "Is play time over then, Camille?" "Run," Clint ordered. "Run like hell!" She barely managed a step backward before Anna was in motion, kicking her in the chest with the hard sole of her boot. A jarring pain shot through Cami's chest and she doubled over, falling to her knees on the concrete floor. She covered her sternum, gasping as her lungs burned for air. "You're off camera," Clint yelled through the line. "Report!" Cami wanted to scream, cry, do anything, but her chest just hurt too much. "Cleh..." she tried. "Clehhnt..." "Brandon, I'm going in. We need that back up now!" Anna grabbed Cami's left piggy tail, pulling her head up and over to unveil the communicator tucked into her ear. She dug the device out with her long fingernails, threw it down and smashed it with her boot. "Vahdati," Anna said into her own communication device, "have security meet me at the office. I need to return something to Mr. Lukin." Seizing Cami by the arm and the back of the neck, Anna hauled her to her feet. "Be a good girl and I won't do anything that will leave a scar on that pretty skin of yours," she hissed in a guarded tone and pushed Cami toward the back set of stairs. Cami realized she was screwing up big time. Even as she fought to breathe and keep her balance on the stairs with Anna pushing her forward, Cami was getting angry because she'd worked too hard in the last few months to be reduced to being a damsel in distress now. If she didn't reclaim her dignity quick, it was likely that her training as a field agent for S.H.I.E.L.D. would be over. Clint would make certain of it. Cami and Anna met up with two, brawny security guys as they reached the upper landing and two more as their group crossed to the office door and barged in. The security guards spread out around the large office. Natasha and Loki were sitting opposite of Drago, who was at his desk and pointing a gun at them. "I see Anna made a new friend," Drago said, his bleached smile showing drastically white against the dark tan of his skin. "Believe me, Mr. Lukin, or whoever you really are, I would have been more than willing to discuss business if your intent had been genuine." "What gave us away?" Natasha asked, choosing to abandon her accent. Drago pointed his gun in Cami's direction, his gaze wandering over her curves. "Camille did, of course. Clint Barton has done well to stay off my radar since he turned against us. I don't think he knew that his sister was dancing at one of my clubs. I didn't know who she was at first, but when she caught my eye, I quickly found out everything I could about her." Natasha asked, "You wanted to use her for leverage against Clint?" "No. She's beautiful, intelligent, free-spirited and was seemingly alone in the world. I was going to collect her, make her my own. But then she got expelled from school and her brother arrived to take her away before I could act." Drago's confession left Cami feeling cold. She thought back to those days when dancing and heavy partying had been her main escapes from the stresses of school. She hadn't cared much about the people around her then. Her closest friends had only been useful distractions or charmed conspirators in her antics. It didn't surprise her that she hadn't given Drago any thought or notice. Really, she couldn't remember meeting him and decided on the spot not to dwell on what might have happened if circumstances had turned out differently. She had plenty to worry about in their current situation. The strain on her breathing was easing now, though her sternum was likely to hurt for a while with how terribly it still stung. "We were led to believe that Anna was in danger," Natasha informed Drago. "Since she obviously is not, our interest in you and your club is minimal. You should let us walk before our back up arrives." "Would that back up happen to be Clint Barton? I'd really like to settle some old business with him." "I'm sure he's around, Victor," Anna said, tightening her grip on Cami's arm. "Camille was bawling for him before I broke her communicator." Being used as bait to lure Clint into danger sickened her. Enough was enough. She had to figure out a way to take herself out of the equation. "Clint is a dangerous man," Natasha warned. "He isn't going to be reasonable if you hurt his sister." "You are in contact with him, I assume." Drago pointed his gun back in Natasha's direction, though he spoke to Loki as well. "Give me your communicators." Loki glanced at Natasha, following her lead as she slowly reached up with her hand to touch her ear. Right then, while everyone had their attention fixed on the beautiful Black Widow, a terrible shrieking erupted around them, blaring out even the club's music. Cami startled, as did Drago and all of his people. Natasha instantly pushed up from her chair and kicked it toward the nearest bodyguard. She then hurled herself at the next man who she stunned, disarmed and used as a human shield as the first of the gunfire started. Loki also sprang into action. With his long reach, he stretched the width of Drago's desk, grabbing him by his gun hand and dragging him across its surface. Then with a fierce twist Loki dislocated Drago's shoulder before stealing his gun and dumping him on the floor to scream in agony. If Cami hadn't known that Clint was coming, she wouldn't have collected herself so quickly when the fire alarm went off. She twirled her body swiftly to the left. As she hoped, Anna's weaker right hand grip broke easily, though her nails scratched deeply across Cami's neck. The stronger grip on the left was at the wrong angle to stop the momentum of her spin and also broke. Cami dashed through the office doorway onto the landing and ran for the stairs. She didn't dare look back to see if Anna or anyone else was in pursuit. "Cami!" Natasha cried out behind her, but Cami didn't slow down. Clint's earlier orders had been to run to Agent Shale who was supposed to be in the limo somewhere in view of the backdoor. Along with the alarm and music, there were muffled bangs coming from the office and the front club area. Cami decided those had to be gunshots. The backstage area was flooded with panicked, screaming girls. Cami pulled out her piggy tails, running her hands through the curls in an attempt to blend in better, and pushed into the crowd as it moved for the exit. Once the group reached the parking lot, the girls took off in all directions. Cami needed only a moment to take in her surroundings. There wasn't much light in the back, but she was able to spot the limousine at the end of the lot and started toward it, weaving her way around the running girls and dodging cars speeding from the scene. As she ran up to the limo, Cami let herself in the back passenger door, closed it firmly behind her and locked it. "Now what do we do?" she asked, looking up at the driver's seat. To her horror, Brandon Shale was not the man sitting there. "Now you die," Arlo Vahdati said dramatically, lifting his handgun into view. "A gift for your brother from Mr. Drago." There wasn't time to think, only react. Cami dove into the opposite seat directly behind the driver's seat as Vahdati got off his first round. He'd missed her, but probably not by much. Cami reached over her head for the door, hitting the button to unlock it. Obviously, she intended to climb out, but there wasn't time before Vahdati was leaning over the seat with the gun. She grabbed his wrist with both hands, applying as much force as she could to direct the weapon away from her as it went off again. This time, Cami was sure she'd felt the bullet fly over her shoulder and past her ear. Suddenly the car door opened and Cami caught a glimpse of Anna Morroz before she was being pulled out of the car by her hair. The asphalt tore up her outfit and flesh as Cami fell from the limo and was dragged for several feet. She also lost a shoe. "I've got the bitch," Anna yelled to Vahdati. Cami knew she was in pain, but it was partly masked by the adrenaline coursing through her system. She fought, trying to kick at Anna and loosen her grip on her hair at the same time. Anna laughed at Cami as her efforts to get free failed. "I expected more from a Barton." Out of the corner of her eye, Cami saw movement in the darkness. A form leaped at them, going over her and colliding with Anna. Some of her hair ripped out of her scalp before Anna's grip released completely. Cami rolled away then looked to confirm Natasha as her rescuer. Vahdati was struggling to untangle himself from the limo. Anna screamed at him as she exchanged blows with the Black Widow, "Shoot her, Arlo!" Despite her injuries and missing shoe, Cami jumped up and dashed to the limo, ready to throw herself against the driver's door before it could open. Instead, she ended up face-to-face with Vahdati who was a bit quicker exiting the vehicle than she'd expected. "Shit!" Cami swore, cringing as he pointed his gun at her. "Cami, get down!" an unfamiliar male voice shouted from behind her. She dropped as gunfire erupted over her. She heard both men yell out in pain and Cami looked up to see Vahdati stumbling backwards, gripping his bloody hand. He took off running, choosing to leave his gun where it had fallen on the ground. Natasha and Anna battled several yards away as Cami's gaze skimmed her surroundings in a blur. Finally she spotted the dark, prone form beyond the limo and hurried over to kneel beside him. "Loki?" she said, reaching out to touch his face, which was hard to make out completely in the darkness. His eyes were open. He was wincing and gripping the right side of his abdomen. Cami slipped her hand under his suit coat and found it was warm and wet underneath. She looked at her hand and though the darkness made it difficult to make out the color, the liquid on her fingers smelled strongly of blood. "Oh no," she panicked and leaned closer to him, immediately pushing down on the spot. "Help! Loki's been shot," she said into his ear for the sake of transmitting this message to her teammates through his com. Loki shook his head and tried to pull her hand from his wound. "We need to put pressure on it," Cami told him. He continued to be agitated and even attempted to sit up. So, Cami forced him back down, straddling him painfully as she maintained the pressure. "Hold on," she said to him, feeling strong emotion burn in her chest beneath her aching sternum. Tears flooded her eyes and spilled down her face. "I'm so sorry." Loki was too weak and had finally stopped fighting Cami when Natasha ran up. She was panting, talking on her com and looking toward the road where a silver luxury car had just cleared the corner on squealing tires. "I have a visual on the car," Natasha reported, "but still no response from Clint. Perhaps his communicator is malfunctioning." The silver Mercedes pulled up beside them. Tony Stark and Steve Rogers jumped out, along with a pretty blonde woman. "Loki's been shot!" Cami yelled at them as the trio rushed forward. "And Clint's missing," Natasha added. "Agent Shale is looking for him, but there's still armed men in the club." Cami climbed off Loki as Steve bent down to help him up and support his unsteady form. Tony turned to the blonde who looked extremely worried and deposited his car keys into her hand. "Pepper, you have to drive Loki and Cami to the emergency room. Steve and I are going to help find Clint and round up bad guys." "You don't have a suit," she said, becoming emotional. "You'll get shot." "Oh no," Tony said, waving off her concern. He teased, "I'll stay behind Steve. Let him get shot instead." From her look, Pepper didn't think that was funny, but turned without comment to follow Steve as he assisted Loki to Tony's car. Natasha helped Cami stand, giving her a quick inspection. She retrieved Cami's uniform jacket from the limo, tying it around her waist before guiding her over to Pepper too. "I'll find Clint," she promised, "and meet you at the hospital." Cami was still crying and beginning to shake as she climbed into the front passenger seat. She wiped Loki's blood on her jacket sleeve then pulled on her seat belt. Her back, buttocks and legs were bleeding and raw with pain from being dragged across the asphalt by Anna. Her knees and uncovered foot had also not fared well. Sitting was unbearable by the time they got out on the road. So, she turned on her side and stared at the lights that streaked past her window as Pepper drove. If she had been a more religious person, she probably would have prayed to God. Instead, she apologized in whispers to Odin, wondering if he would take Loki away from her if he lived. Cami thought about Clint missing and possibly dying too and the emotion overwhelmed her. She couldn't imagine a more terrible feeling. Pepper's cell phone rang as they neared the hospital. Her voice was uncertain as she answered initially, but she was soon sounding more reassured. "Yes, Director Fury; I understand. Ivan Lukin. I'll remember." Cami got the gist. So she didn't ask Pepper for details. Cami and Loki were separated as soon as they reached the hospital. Cami tried to send Pepper with 'Mr. Lukin', but he was heading directly for x-rays and surgery and the doctors soon sent her back. The businesswoman fielded phone calls from the hallway while a doctor evaluated Cami's injuries. Since agents were apparently given preferential treatment, Cami was fixed up, drugged and admitted to a hospital bed in record time. A dim light and a soft beeping in the surrounding darkness drew Cami's attention as soon as her eyes opened. It was hard for her sluggish mind to focus on the machine beside her with its blurry readouts. It occurred to Cami that she was in pain. She tried to shift positions, only to cause more pain that made her gasp and whimper. "Take it easy," a man's voice said from nearby; and suddenly there was a figure at the railing beside her. Cami stared at him until her eyesight and memory kicked in. It was Brandon Shale. "Hey," she said to him, sounding tired, but friendly enough. "Tell me what's going on." "Someone will explain," he promised. Then he stepped into the hall, calling out, "She's awake!" Director Fury and Dr. Lloyd entered the room, turning up the lights. Though she was relieved to see familiar faces, Cami was bothered that no one else was coming in. Fury stood at the end of her bed while the doctor glanced over the machines and listened to her breathing. Cami could see something in the director's expression that worried her. "Where's Clint?" she asked. "Was he hurt?" "He did get his own share of bumps and bruises" Nick said, "but you'll see him soon." Dr. Lloyd asked about the level of Cami's pain then went to order her some more medication. "How's Loki?" Cami asked next. Fury pulled up a chair and sat at her side. "I really didn't come in to talk about your teammates. We need to talk about you." Cami knew what that meant. She was in trouble. "Dr. Lloyd says your injuries are pretty severe because your outfit didn't protect the softer areas of your body in the back. You're going to be on physical restriction for close to a month and that's only if you don't manage to pop any of your stitches in the meantime." "That doesn't sound good," she said, still waiting for the punch. What he had left to say could only get worse. "As you know, graduation for your class is in nine weeks and you have yet to reach satisfactory marks in your combat courses." Cami managed to nod, but let her gaze drop from his. "If you don't pass in time, I'll have to pull you from the program."