The Absent Prayer (Comics Canon: The Past)

[he_that_stands_it_now]

It's been a bad day.

Honestly, it's been a bad week.

Between the mess on the beach the other day and the hulking monstrosity of Nazi engineering making it's way towards him with massive flailing flaming limbs, Bucky Barnes has started to wonder if his bad temper, his foul mouth, and his flippant treatment of authority hasn't gone all the way up the line to the Big Guy Himself and gotten him attention he really didn't want.

Nonetheless, if He got him into this mess than maybe He can get him out, so he spends a couple of precious seconds in between when he lands and when he jumps again to get off a silent prayer.

Dear Whoever Is Listening, I promise I'll never talk at the movies again if you just get my backside out of the frying pan here!

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[godofbadideas]

"Well, most of you lot these days are monotheists with a fixation on a deity who never bothers to show his face, so I can hardly fault you or that."

[he_that_stands_it_now]

"Never had much truck with any god," he admitted as he offered his meager bunk for a seat. Thankfully, Cap was off getting debriefed and Toro was off with Jim, so he had the tent to himself for the time being.

[godofbadideas]

Loki settled on the bunk like it was a solid gold throne.

"Not many people have the nerve to offer to negotiate, you know," he said approvingly.

[he_that_stands_it_now]

"You're giving things away for free, I figure there's room to talk," he admitted as he sat on one of the supply crates he shared his lodgings with.

"Can't hurt to ask either. I mean, if you're askin' for a long term deal."

[godofbadideas]

"Ah, my young Mr. Barnes-" yes Bucky he knows your name "-nothing ever comes free. Whether the price is paid now, or later, by your or another... Nothing comes free. But," he continued. "I think I like you enough to want you for a devotee."

[he_that_stands_it_now]

The guy's a god. There were carnival charlatans that could tell you his name, and it's not like he wasn't well known at this point. The Bucky more than the Barnes, but all the same...

"And what would that entail, exactly? Not that I'm sayin' no or anything."

[godofbadideas]

"A bit of mischief and mayhem, not that I think you'll have any trouble with that," Loki replied. "The occasional offering would be nice; blood is traditional, but kind of icky, and not really necessary unless you want to jump into the priesthood."

[he_that_stands_it_now]

"Does it have to be my blood? Or would a few knocked out teeth work for you?"

Because that's an offering he can give in spades.

[godofbadideas]

Loki laughed, and flashed a grin at him.

"Oh no, it doesn't need to be yours at all."

And he'd be an even bigger liar than he already was, if he said that the idea didn't appeal. It would appeal to any god, much less one like him.

There was trying to be a better person, and then there was saying 'no' to blood sacrifice.

[he_that_stands_it_now]

"So... what you're lookin' for is trouble, disobeyin' orders, and me knockin' the #%$# out of people on the regular?"

He gives a wild grin.

"I don't see how I'm losin' in this deal. But the question is; what're you offering?"

[godofbadideas]

"Well, that depends on your level of devotion," Loki replied. "Knowledge? Power? Invulnerability? Quicker wits than you already possess? I can give you any of these things, and any number of other things, for that matter."

[he_that_stands_it_now]

He leaned back on his seat.

"What would you recommend?"

[godofbadideas]

"I would recommend that you choose wisely, and not offer more than you can afford to give," Loki replied. "But as in all things, the more you give, the more you get."

[he_that_stands_it_now]

"The question is: would a wise man be makin' deals with a guy who's the god of tricks? Give me advice for a real idiot."

[godofbadideas]

Loki's lips quirked up a little, and he leaned in closer.

"Stand on your own feet. Ask for no more than you need. But remember that you can never know too much, be too invisible, or have too many knives up your sleeve."

Beat.

"And even though it may seem like being unkillable would be great, there are many, many things worse than death."

If it seemed like he was pathologically incapable of giving a straight answer, well. God of lies.

[he_that_stands_it_now]

Bucky nods, like it's nothing he didn't already know, and considers his answer.

"How about this, then?

"For every time you help me sneak into a place, I promise I can get some blood. I'll knock out a mook, pick em off with a rifle, spray with an automatic. I don't manage to get you anything, I'll get you a milkshake. How's tat sound?

[godofbadideas]

Loki nodded. It was pretty standard, as these things went.

"Agreeable. Here--" He produced a dagger, small enough to be easily palmed, weighted for throwing, the metal black as night, save for a faint glimmer of green and gold in the runework.

"Take this. It's a sign of my favour: it will conceal you, protect you, and in a pinch, cut nearly anything, even cheese, or week old mutton."

[he_that_stands_it_now]

He doesn't take the dagger quite yet.

"Thing is about what I do," he says slowly, "is sometimes, @%$# comes up unawares. How do you feel about temporary bonuses for the promise of extra bodies?"

[godofbadideas]

"That's fairly standard, actually," Loki replied.

[he_that_stands_it_now]

"And what do I gotta do to make sure I get the credit for the, uh, blood? Nothing too out there or anything, right?"

[godofbadideas]

"A prayer will suffice," Loki said. "Or use the dagger; I forged it myself, and so I will know."

[he_that_stands_it_now]

"Use your knife or make sure I say it's for you. Got it. Totally doable."

He leaned back.

"Last bit, and then I'm happy to take that pretty piece off your hands...

"Where's the exit if either of us aren't happy with this arrangement?"

[godofbadideas]

"Willingly discard the knife, and state that you are doing so," Loki said;

[he_that_stands_it_now]

"Fair enough."

And without a second thought after that, he reaches over to take the knife in hand.

[godofbadideas]

There was a feeling not at all unlike a joint snapping back into place, and Loki grinned.