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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[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.

[he_that_stands_it_now]

He slipped his finger around the loop at the end and gave it a thoughtful spin.

"Aren't you pretty?" he asked the knife quietly.

[godofbadideas]

The knife pulsed warmly in reply, the runework glimmering briefly.

Loki's grin ticked wider; it was always nice to see one's work appreciated.

[he_that_stands_it_now]

He looked over at Loki.

"Any reason she's a throwing knife? Only... I don't wanna lose her."

[godofbadideas]

"I like throwing knives. And you needn't fear losing her; she will always return to your hand. You need only want her to."

[he_that_stands_it_now]

The grin on his face was razor sharp.

"Sounds just about perfect."

[godofbadideas]

That was a very good grin, and Loki liked it rather a lot.

"She also doesn't need to be sharpened, and never rusts."

[he_that_stands_it_now]

"Not surprised the lady can take care of herself, classy dame like her."

He let his fingers wrap around the grip with a warm grin.

[godofbadideas]

"I'm glad you like her." He really was.

"...do you have a map?" he asked suddenly, as the thought hey self, you're in northern Europe popped into his head.

[he_that_stands_it_now]

He looked up and pointed over to the map pinned up in Cap's corner of the tent.