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On Liv's desk — yes, she actually gets a desk now — was a somewhat fierce note written in dark ink: 'We need to talk. Bring your charge. The one with the crossbow. - Director Carter' and that was it. It had been there since 7 this morning, probably well before Liv was ever in the office. Peggy's light is on behind her door so, clearly, she's been in the office the whole day and is still there. She might actually be waiting to leave or do anything else until the moment she, Liv and Barney can have that conversation. The moment there is a knock at her door, she calls, "Come in."
In the often messy, slightly over crowded office, Peggy sits behind her desk that seems over run with papers even more so than usual. But then, the phones have barely stopped ringing since the Ed Sullivan show. The world is going nuts. She's currently got an autopsy file open on her desk — one of the creatures that they killed at the studio. Pregnant or not (and she definitely is, all her suits let out and shirts of the empire waisted variety), it seems she does not have a weak stomach. They are not pretty pictures. "Sit down. Both of you."
*
This was a conversation that Liv knew was coming. She's only surprised it's taken this long to happen. Once she'd found the note on her desk that morning, it was almost a relief.
The amount of time it had taken to find Barney, however, had been less of one.
But Liv is here now and, once she's knocked and heard Peggy call out the 'come in', she doesn't need to be told again. She makes her way right into the office and heads for a free chair, inclining her head towards Peggy on her way.
*
Barney most definitely does not have a desk. He just got a damned apartment, one that he can call his own. And a place for a hot shower. And a coffee pot that isn't his but came with said apartment.
He does have that aforementioned crossbow with him, however, the case looking pretty inocuous for what it actually holds within. Barney follows quietly in behind Liv, a scowl threatening to take over the neutral expression. Barney's dressed down; jeans, shirt and a jacket overtop, finishing with a pair of boots. This time, a pair of sunglasses sits upon his face, obscuring blue eyes while mussy, 'getting longer' hair gets tucked behind an ear. Looking at the chairs, Barney does a little 'which chair to grab' dance before he sits down.
Not a word.
*
"Shut the door." Peggy Carter is just giving no shits right now. Where as her voice was once warm, a touch motherly, protective as it was fierce, she is now all business. Perhaps someone can only be choked out so many times in a month before losing all patience. Once she is certain they are in relative privacy, she sits up and closes the autopsy files, setting them aside and grabbing, instead, Louis King's file. She sets that down at the top of her desk, in reach of them both.
"…So… someone threw a whole lot of alcohol on the fire already. Someone who is from your home, Agent Sigrunsdottir. What can you tell me about this man?" Her dark eyes flicker over the scruffy Barney for a moment or two, but she's making no bones about the fact that she considers Liv the intelligent agent and Barney a tool to mostly be used.
*
Once Barney's inside, Liv makes sure the door's closed before she moves to claim her seat. Peggy's brusqueness is almost a relief — it's like ripping a band-aid off instead of being all timid about it. She glances briefly towards Barney as she gets settled and folds her hands in her lap, but once she starts to reply to Peggy, the director is where here eyes are focused.
"Loki. One of the Allfather's sons, so… a prince," Liv explains, and there is a certain tightness around her eyes that might be unexpected. There is color commentary lurking behind her eyes that she is trying desperately not to say, not right now. "He's serving as a 'defender of the realm' for Midgard — for Earth."
After a moment's pause, Liv adds in a very dark, very quiet mutter, "And he is an arrogant ass of monolithic proportions."
*
Barney catches more pictures than words on the autopsy files and only barely before Peggy closes it. He's seen a good bit, though, and it's good that his eyes are shielded from view, at least for the moment.
With the addressing of Agent Siggie there, it gives Barney that chance to reach over and take the file on Louis King and browse it, looking for all the little pertinent parts. It's a quick read, moreso because he's simply picking out bits rather than reading the real juicy 'what he did's in it.
He listens to Liv's response on the matter and chuffs a soft breath as he leans over to toss the file back onto the desk. Once done, Barney clasps fingers together and leans back, letting his hands lie flat against his stomach, just listening. (Or does he have his eyes closed behind those sunglasses?)
*
While they talk, the pair might notice the director is just a bit stiff. Sore, perhaps, and those bruises around her neck? Well, there's a fresh new ring of them, green and yellow with the nasty colors of brand new bruising on top of old bruising. Peggy doesn't bother to hide it with make up. She watches as Barney takes the file, brows arching a moment, but she doesn't stop him. Liv gets a slight, redlipped smirk, "…Arrogant ass? Yes, that is putting it mildly." She clears her throat slightly.
"And he's certainly doing an awful shite job of being any sort of defender for this realm, considering the hundreds or thousands of more people this panic is going to get killed. I thought most Asgardians were intelligent. If he could not see another route than what he did, I cannot call him an intelligent man. In fact, I would consider him nothing more than a very dangerous liability. One that needs *handled*." And her eyes level on Barton for a moment
*
"I told him as much," Liv mumbles, folding her arms across her chest. "He and his brother both. I told them that all this is going to accomplish is getting scores of people killed, the ones they're ostensibly trying to help, and they didn't even ca— " She stops abruptly, blinking once and flicking her eyes between Peggy and Barney.
"…handled," Liv echoes, her brow furrowing. "Handled how? I don't… in theory, I don't disagree that something needs to be done, don't misunderstand me there…"
*
It was in the summons, honestly. Barney's experienced plenty of these. Sometimes invited into the office, oftentimes met upon a road with a name and an envelope, and a burn number that migrated through many different exchanges before it lit upon the correct person at the correct time. This one, however, had to be a 'big' one. He's got a file set down, and the Director had made sure he could get at it.
There was the target.
Unless he was wrong?
Barney lets the conversation flow over him; how each woman responds will tell him a great deal about the potential 'target'. One one end, an almost rabid desire to see the mark removed. And in the other? Barney turns his head to watch Liv do her own version of stammering as she tries to get words out.
*
"Handled. Killed. Removed from this planet. I… don't know enough about your people to know if that is actually possible *or* what sort of diplomatic incident it will cause. That is why you are here. I need your help to figure this out and that man is one of the best versed at pulling the trigger on all sorts of diplomatic situations, so he'll assist you in this. But… there is the first question. Is it even possible?" It's a dramatic leap of faith and trust for Peggy Carter, that Liv will be more loyal a SHIELD agent than she is an Asgardian. Hell, it might even be a test, Peggy Carter does few things without multiple motivations.
*
Slowly, Liv leans back in her chair and runs a hand over her jaw, not bothering to hide just how troubling she's finding the situation. (To be fair, she looked plenty troubled before Peggy introduced this new wrinkle into her day.)
"We're not immortal, if that's what you're asking," Liv says slowly, her eyes sliding over to Barney. "But — and this is not intended as a slight towards you, Barton — but Asgardians are very difficult to put down. Even if you could, I wouldn't recommend it. His brother is not known for his cool temper, nor is their father."
She pinches the bridge of her nose. "I wish I could say that just telling them to leave was likely to work, but that would necessitate they not be so full of themselves."
*
"Wait.. wait.. assist?"
Now Barney untangles his fingers and sits forward again. Surprise, he's been listening!
"First question I have is, 'Can he die?'. If he can, then I can go and find his weakness. Everyone's got one." And right there, the answer to his question. He's not concerned with the fall-out. That's someone else's department.
His?
"Yeah, well, there's a first time. If the guy is as arrogant as you say, he might figure there's no way anyone could get him." Which means that Barney's got at least an even chance at taking the guy out. "And there's always a way."
*
If Peggy is worried about this, or the repercussions, she's not showing it. Her expression remains cold and neutral. "Unless we can get some sort of controls on him, someone with that power, arrogance, and position cannot be allowed to continue, Liv. You understand thousands more lives could be at risk. Look at what he's done already? Do you *see* that? Do you actually comprehend the danger he presents to this world and it's people?" Peggy asks, sitting up a bit straighter, her dark eyes shining and fierce with the protective anger beneath them.
SHe doesn't really look at Barney, she's too worried about convincing Liv, but his commentary gets a single, quiet nod of approval. He probably just gained several points in Peggy Carter's estimation.
*
"Any danger Loki presents alive is dwarfed by the danger Asgard as a whole presents if you assassinate an heir to the throne," Liv replies, trying very hard to keep her voice even as opposed to ever-so-slightly defensive. It isn't entirely working. "Of course I comprehend it! I wouldn't have barged into his home and called him a monster to his bloody face if I didn't. I don't know what he's thinking, but an attempt to solve it with violence would only make a bad situation worse, whether you succeeded or not."
*
Barney isn't looking for brownie points, he's not. This is his job and, frankly, his life, and he's good at it. Everything depends upon good intel. This isn't a job where he can go in fumbling, making it look as if he's some errant guy in order to look over the place and/or mark. Nope. All this is from afar, and some base knowledge is necessary.
His face turns to one lady and then the other, very much like a tennis match. Brows rise over the responding volley and he shifts his jaw and settles back again, resting elbows on the arm rests.
*
Skeptical, barely tempered dislike crosses Peggy's features as Liv tries to press home the point about assassinating the heir to the throne. "…That is why *we* don't do it. An independent contractor does. A mad man. Loki clearly brought it upon himself. We had nothing to do with it." Peggy insists quietly, though she's waiting to see if Liv has a response to the way that governments have had people killed for ages — without getting their own hands dirty at all.
She then turns her dark eyes towards Barney, studying his thoughtful look, well, what she can see behind the glasses, with a slightly lifted brow. "And do you think you are up to it, Barton? If you fuck this up, it's all of us…" She also has gone back to slightly doubting his capability in this area. Especially with what Liv is saying.
*
"…how can I explain this," Liv murmurs quietly, looking down at herself for a moment before she raises her gaze again — not just towards Peggy, but towards Barney, as well. "When the people in the halls out there look at me right now, they see an Asgardian. There are no finer distinctions being made. That is all that matters when feelings of suspicion and distrust are this profound."
She gestures helplessly with one hand. "So it wouldn't matter what agency an assassin did or did not work for, Director Carter. All that would matter is that they were from Earth, and that is where the retaliatory strikes would be targetted. Not towards one man, not for an attack on the throne."
*
Barney looks to Liv, watching her before he says simply, "Told you I'm not an agent, darlin'."
A soft exhale comes from the crossbowman as he shifts back over to Peggy, a ghost of a smile touching his face. "If I fuck it up, I'm dead. Then, at least I'll have the rest of the world with me. But, I'm not ready to die yet. I'm kinda interested in knowing how this guy could die." Not immortal. That's what Agent Siggie said. Is he listening to Liv's warnings?
Not his department.
*
Barney has partially disconnected.
*
While Peggy doesn't look happy, she is remaining quiet enough to actually let Liv say her piece. She takes in a slow, schooling breath through her nose. "Liv…what he did… On national television? Declaring and displaying power like that on national TV is an act of terrorism. He's not just hurting his chances here, but all the Asgardians. If your people cannot get him under control… We will have to, do you understand? I don't want to order this, but he cannot be allowed to continue." The graying brunette doesn't look thrilled to be saying that, but at least she's giving a small inch. Seeing if, Maybe, the Asgarians will handle it. "He threatens all of your people's safety and welcome here."
Then it's back to Barney, nodding in quiet follow up to his comment about how the man could die. "…as am I. Even if the order isn't given now. We… need it for the file."
*
Barney has partially disconnected.
*
Liv gives Barney a rather patient look. "We die the same way anyone else dies. Deal enough damage that we can't heal from it. The problem is dealing it in the first place," she says tightly, her eyes sliding back over to Peggy. "If you're dead set on this course of action as a realistic option, I would like to be on the record stating that it is a profoundly stupid idea that I tried desperately to talk you out of." A pause. "Ma'am."
She pinches the bridge of her nose, silently working her jaw. "Talk to Doctor Strange," she finally says, tossing her hands up into the air before allowing them to fall into her lap. "He's the Sorcerer Supreme for Earth, which is the closest thing to an interdimensional Ambassador as you presently have, as far as I am aware. Get his counsel. He and Loki have worked together before, maybe he can talk some bloody sense into him."
*
'Even if the order isn't given now..'
Barney scowls at the words and sinks back into his seat. He's back to listening to the tennis match, waiting once again when, and now 'if' his particular speciality is going to be needed. He honestly doesn't care about 'right' and 'wrong' in this instance, or any instance, and his lack of input about the morality of all should sing out loudly.
"No offense, Agent Siggie," yes, Barney did actually just call her that! "But what's the point of being a kick-ass international agency if they just go runnin' back to some guy who calls himself 'Sorcerer Supreme'? Might as well just hand over the whole fucking world." He shrugs and settles back into his comfortable silence. Just is two-cents. In case anyone really wanted a taste of his wisdom.
*
"Yes…that is the problem. How *do* you deal enough to someone like that. Someone who can appear and disappear on a whim. That is what we need to figure out. I am convinced that we now need to be the better people than the Asgardians — a massive show of fear and violence in response to one probably will not help, but I still want the fall back option. We may need it." Barney's commentary about handing over the world, and his casual nick name for the agent, draws a slightly fierce look from Peggy. "Barton. You are dismissed. You will receive your orders when we have need of your services. For now… we will try to be the better people. But *someone* must get control of this Loki." Then her eyes are back on Liv, "You have a week to give me a proper proposal as to how he can be handled — be it by your people or ours."
*
All 'Agent Siggie' earns from Liv is a brief roll of her eyes. "He doesn't call himself the Sorcerer Supreme. He is the Sorcerer Supreme. In matters like these, what you need is expertise, and he has it." She grunts quietly and folds her arms. "There is no shame in consulting with experts when you don't have the necessary information yourself."
Liv does blink a bit when she's given her orders, however relieved the rest of it had her beginning to look. "I… my people aren't going to listen to anything I say. On Asgard, I'm nobody at best, or a deserter at worst. I really do think speaking to Strange is the best option you have. And since the last time he spoke to me, I was there for Loki… I don't know if I'm the right one to extend their hand to him."
*
"Right.."
Barney pushes himself up off the chair and smiles thinly, the expression far from amused. Reaching over, he picks up the case he'd brought in, and nods at the pair of ladies. He knows the way out, and he pulls the door open and slides through wordlessly, closing it behind him.
*
The director, for the first time ever, is looking less than pleased with Liv. She had been so proud of this agent, but the woman isn't giving her the best solutions she needs right now, so her temper is short. She takes in a slow breath, trying to temper her impatience. "…And what of Thor. Does he have any control over this man? You might not be able to do it, but you can give us all the information you know. Relationships between people. Power dynamics. You can sketch out a few good plans, though I will take speaking to Srange in consideration. I have met him once. I'd still prefer not to bring in outsiders. This is an Asgardian mess. If we will cause too much trouble cleaning up, it's the Asgardian's duty to do so."
Barney's departure is barely noticed. She does not need him and he's taking orders, so that's all that matters.
*
And for the first time, Liv is looking less than pleased with the director. "You'll only cause too much trouble cleaning it up if you try to do it with an act of war," she replies, a note of pleading coming into her voice. "For God's sake, Peggy, just an attempt on Loki's life would bring the literal wrath of God down upon all of Midgard. You musn't consider that your peoples' only option."
Liv rises to her feet, but not to depart. She needs to pace, it helps her think. She cups one elbow in her hand, letting the other anxiously rub at the nape of her neck as she studies the floor. She is so far outside her expertise right now that it is ridiculous.
"Thor is… they're brothers. Do you have siblings?" Liv asks, glancing over towards Peggy. "And Loki is… a special kind of arrogant. An appeal to his vanity might work, but I need you to understand that I don't know these people. I'm not a royal, and I've been aware for hundreds of years."
*
"…My brother died in the war. And while we fought, he would never… EVER even contemplate doing something like that. He was one of the best men I ever knew." Peggy clips out, a bit more stiff at the fact that woman would dare bring up her brother, even if that wound is so much older than so many others. It was the first wound, in truth. The first thing that ever taught Peggy true pain. So, it still stings.
SHe doesn't stop the woman from pacing, her dark eyes tracing Liv as she goes back and forth, thinking. "…You said you spoke to Loki after all this? I take it he was no more repentant than he was when I spoke to him?"
*
That, at least, gets Liv to stop pacing. She offers Peggy a genuinely pained look from where she's stopped, raising one hand. "I didn't know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it in that way," she says gently. "Only that 'control' is not really a factor between most brothers or sisters."
Looking down, Liv runs both hands back over her hair. "No, he was not. Thor was there with him and seemed to be backing his play, which is… troubling. I don't think they even comprehend how horrifying Loki's actions are, how damaging even his intentions are." She drops her arms to her sides, her eyes drifting back to Peggy. For a moment, she hesitates. "When you spoke to him. Did he…" She trails off and just wordlessly gestures at her own neck with her fingers, an eyebrow lofting.
*
Nothing more is said about Peggy's brother. Just the cold look of a woman who has locked away a lot of emotions in her life, and that one is probably shoved at the deepest reaches of that box. She listens to the rest of the words, giving a faint tilt of her head about brothers and sisters. That's the only other acknowledgement of that bit.
But then Liv goes on about Thor backing the play, and Peggy gives a low, unhappy groan. She shakes her head slowly, "…that…is not good to hear. If we cannot get this Thor of yours to come around, there will be… open war declared against Asgardians. Humans, right now, are scared. Mutants haven't outright threatened us on national television. Asgardians have. How do you think this will go?"
*
Peggy says, "…and yes. He did."
*
The confirmation that Loki had anything to do with the bruises on Peggy's neck brings an immediate response from Liv. Her jaw goes tight and her blue eyes flash as a palpable rage floods through her.
But it isn't directed at Peggy. Liv squeezes her eyes shut and forces herself to breathe, wordlessly flexing her hands at her sides until she's able to calm herself down.
"If we cannot get them to see reason… poorly," Liv finally replies, her voice stilted and tight. "Strange is one avenue, and I think he is a good one. Another… another might be the Lady Sif," she says, slowly opening her eyes. Bluntly, she states, "Thor loves her. She might be able to appeal to his better nature, convince him that his brother is doing more harm than good."
*
"…This Lady Sif is not one I know of, or have met. I… would not complain about going that route, if you could arrange a meeting. And yes, Loki…felt that I needed to be silenced, it seems. I did reach for him, but not violently. He retaliated." Those are all true statements. Peggy's reach had been far more demeaning than it was violent. His response, clearly, was something that was on the edge of collapsing the director's wind pipe. It's a miracle she can talk today, but that's what tea is for.
"You see… how out of control he is. He would do this to a woman with child. He has no care of the human people, none in the least. All he says about being our guardian? Those are lies."
*
Barney has partially disconnected.
*
"She'd like you," Liv says confidently, though her smile is still tinged by leftover anger. It doesn't quite reach her eyes. "I'll try to get ahold of her, and see if she would be willing to speak with you. Or with me. With somebody. Somebody has to talk to somebody, that's all I know," she sighs, rolling her eyes towards the ceiling.
For a moment, Liv hesitates. But then she takes a cautious step closer to Peggy, slowly extending a hand towards her shoulder. It is the easiest thing in the world to avoid, and any sign that Peggy wishes to would see Liv immediately withdraw.
"You do not need to convince me that Loki is behaving recklessly and unforgivably," Liv says softly. "And if he is doing all of this with the Allfather's blessing, I… I truly don't know that I could ever look my own people in the eye again. They've left me feeling nothing but shame for being associated with them."
*
The director doesn't exactly lean *into* the touch, but nor does she pull away or stop Liv. She lets the woman rest that strong, warm hand there, Peggy's shoulder surprisingly tough beneath the softness of her suit. She keeps herself muscled and trained, despite the softness of pregnancy. This is a woman who would fight up until the day they drag her into the hospital room. She breathes out slowly, dark eyes staring up into Liv's, something softening, for just a moment.
"…Then help us, Liv. I know…know that you were not any great nobility or power among them. But you are one of them. You at least have a connection we do not. But… know that you are one of us. Work with *us*. Back *us* up… we are your people now. SHIELD is a family. It's not about humanity. It's about protecting humanity. That's why we are SHIELD. We are the Guardians. Not this mad prince."
*
Liv gives the other woman's shoulder a very carefully measured, reassuring squeeze. "I intend to. I made clear to Loki that I would have no part in what he was doing, and I meant it." Her mind is only now beginning to catch up to what, exactly, she had mustered up the courage to do there. It hasn't fully sunk in.
"I will do everything that I can to be sure this place and its people remain safe," Liv promises, her jaw set. "And right now, that means counseling you towards the high road and some kind of diplomatic solution. I am not a diplomat. Strange has served as one. He will be more help here than even I could be."
*
A single, soft hand comes up from the desk and rests overtop of Liv's. It's the first touch that is almost motherly, protective, since this whole mess. There is still that inspiring, warm Peggy somewhere in there. She's just checking out a lot more these days. She gives Liv's hand a small squeeze. "I still want all of this in report form. Just in case… Something… Happens to me." Two attempts on her life in two weeks? Peggy is now starting to believe in insurance.
"But yes. We… will try your way. Arrange this meeting with this Lady Sif for me. I will seek out the one who calls himself Strange and see what he says. We will give it a few days and see if a less violent solution can be found. If not… well… That's what Barney is here for."
*
"I can give you Strange's address, if you don't have it," Liv offers, a great deal of the tension she'd been holding in her shoulders relaxing as soon as Peggy's hand rests over hers. There she is. "And if you think telling him that I suggested you seek him out, please do so. Just make sure that he also knows my position on what Loki is doing. He'll need a full picture in order to act."
Finally, Liv withdraws her hand, briefly puffing up her cheeks before letting out a tired sigh. "I'll type it up," she says quietly. No empty assurances that nothing will happen to Peggy. They're both too old and experienced for that. "And I'll reach out to Sif. Try to get you a meeting."
*
One last squeeze, and Peggy lets Liv's palm go. She nods in approval to the woman's words. "The address will be helpful, though I suspect it's that strange shop with all the eastern hoojoo in it." No one said SHIELD was entirely politically correct. Just more open minded than most. She gives Liv a half smile and then sinks back in her chair, letting out a quiet breath.
A moment later, there is a slight catch to her breath. Just a pause, one hand going to the side of her stomach. It's not exactly painful, just odd, like some thought has occured to her. She makes no comment on it, but gives Liv one last nod, "You have your assignment then. Dismissed."
*
Politically incorrect though it may be, the descriptor makes Liv chuckle. "That's the one. You're fine, then."
Liv doesn't do more than just watch Peggy carefully when the woman's breath catches, a very small smile tugging at one corner of her mouth. But she doesn't comment on it, either. "Yes ma'am. Thank you for listening. Many leaders wouldn't," she says wryly, turning to head for the door.
Before she's out, thought, she looks back over her shoulder. "And for what it's worth… I'm sorry. For all of this."
*
The sorry just gets a small sound from Peggy's throat and a wave of her hand. "*Go*. Work. Sorry means nothing. Work is what carries us on." She clips out, but it's more of a pep talk than a lecture. "And shut the door behind you. Those bloody phones are driving me up a wall." And with the flash of a half smile, she moves back to her own work.