Loki stopped at the power-house door. He should have said no. The little monster unnerved him. Such power in such a small vessel. On Asgard, she would be the mightiest warrior due only to her resolve. She would never give up, of that he was sure. He wasn't sure of what he would find once he entered the building. For all he knew, she lied in wait above the main entrance.

By Odin, this would probably be the most exhausting experience of his entire existence. And with a mortal, no less. He didn't know why Paige asked for the girl to be brought to her, but he cursed the day he agreed.

The door creaked when he opened it, and Loki winced and stepped back. No small mortal dropped into his path. He took that as a good sign.

The first thing that caught his eye was a smear of red on the white tiled wall. What had the girl been doing? Surely she would not harm herself. She might be ill, but she was not insane. That much he had no doubt of. She knew precisely what she did and why. Loki glanced around the room and found her tiny body crumpled near the blood-smeared wall.

He gulped. She couldn't be dead. He wouldn't allow it. Paige would kill him if the girl had killed herself. A gash on her forehead presented the source for the blood on the wall. He wondered how hard she had hit it to break flesh. Loki approached her with great caution and reached out a hand to wake her.

Brooke snatched his wrist and leaped up into a defensive position. "Bad Magic."

"You know, I am getting quite tired of hearing that. Just because your precious Avengers said I am a villain, does that make me bad entirely?" Loki jerked his wrist away and stared her down.

The girl tilted her head sideways and stared back at him. "Yes."

"At least you're honest." Loki straightened his shoulders in an attempt to regain control. "Come. Lady Paige wishes your presence for dinner."

"No." Brooke folded her arms and stood up straight, as well. "Not going anywhere."

Loki sucked in his anger and forced himself not to reach for her. "Yes, you are. I promised her."

"Made promise you can't keep." The tiny girl dropped her arms.

He had seen that look in her eyes before. Moments before she jumped him. Loki took a step forward and eyed her suspiciously. "I don't make promises I can't keep. You will be coming with me one way or another, at lady Paige's bequest."

She shook her head. "Not coming."

"Yes, you are." Loki reached for her arm again. Paige had asked it so he would fulfill it. Simple as that. Except... nothing about this little mortal was simple. Her mind worked in an endless loop and processed numerous outcomes at the same time. Her thoughts confused even him. How did she live with it?

Brooke dodged his arm and braced against a wall. "No, Bad Magic! Leave now!"

Loki smirked at her and studied her battle-ready posture. "I shan't."

As predicted, she lunged for him, arms outstretched and muscles ready to subdue. Sadly, he anticipated her move. Loki dodged sideways and brought both arms around her, trapping her arms at her sides and holding her close enough she could not adequately kick his shins. At least he could get her back to the castle like this, even if Paige frowned on it. He shook his head and started for the door. This Brooke girl was more trouble than he thought she was worth. He should have left her with the Avengers.

/

Paige stood over a large, fairly modern stove, situated in the middle of an antique kitchen. Surely the caretakers used it for wedding parties and banquets. On the stove, a skillet of canned pasta sauce bubbled quietly as a pot of water came to a boil next to it. Just as Paige opened an old, and possibly stale, box of noodles to dump in the water, she sensed a new presence in the castle. Apprehensiveness mixed with fear and anger. All blended with confusion and a dash of loneliness. Loki had returned with Brooke. And she wasn't in a good mood, either. Paige took a breath to brace herself and quickly finished preparing their meal.

Loki hefted the small creature into the kitchen. He shouldn't have to avoid her feet and legs so often, and he wouldn't have if he had deigned to use magic. Instead, he had decided to prove to himself he could best her without it. A terrible idea, really. She had more than likely bruised him, which considering his abnormal strength, said quite a few things about her. He took a breath, released the girl, and stepped back.

"Bad, Bad Magic!" The girl whirled at him, fingers scratching for his eyes like a manic cat.

Loki caught her wrists midair and pinned them behind her back, drawing her flush with his abdomen to hold them. He glanced to Paige, busy at the stove or some such nonsense, then focused back on the girl before him. How could he have lost his senses this badly? "You are quite sure of this?"

After a moment, Paige turned and nodded. Yes, this had to happen. She had to let Brooke know she would not be harmed. Paige looked to Loki and motioned for him to release her.

He would regret this. He already regretted this. Yet... whatever his telepath wanted, he would offer her. Even if it meant this insane young woman who he would rather lock away, never to be seen again. Loki shook his head incredulously and released the creature.

Brooke whirled, arrows and lines screaming red. Hard to see, but easy to know. She narrowed her eyes at the woman by the stove. "Mindgames."

Paige slowly held up her hands in surrender, sure not to make any sudden movements. She then brought her hands to herself and made the sign for 'friend'.

Arrows followed fingers, seen and not understood. Words without a sound and meaning hidden in hands. Brooke looked up at Paige's face. "Brain works fine."

Paige nodded. The girl didn't understand her. Maybe she would understand this… Paige opened her mouth as if to speak, but nothing came out. For emphasis, she tried to scream. A small squeak rose to the surface and died away. Partially from the pain and partially to emphasize her point, Paige wrapped a hand around her throat. She shook her head sadly, trying to express the message that she couldn't speak.

"Mindgames talks in head." She shrugged. Voice in mind, not Drums. She could listen to Mindgames in her mind. No more hurting herself.

Loki stepped sideways, attempting to head for the door. He'd rather not be in this girl's presence if he could help it. Besides, he had to check on a feisty little pianist he had picked up. Not that he would enjoy that any more than he enjoyed this, but he would rather deal with sanity than insurmountable craziness.

Brooke pointed a finger behind herself, straight at his chest. She never moved a muscle otherwise, and she never turned to see what he had done. "No moving, Bad Magic!"

Paige smiled at the girl's short sentences. They did make quite a bit of sense. Why could Loki not understand that? Yes, Brooke. I can speak into your mind. Will you let me? No more hurting yourself?

Brooke shrugged. Mindgames better than Drums and Bad Magic. She turned slightly to glare at Loki. "Blue magic bad idea. No touch, no talk."

Now this, he understood. If the girl had ever uttered a coherent sentence, that was it. He wouldn't touch her and he would remain silent, all so one adorable little telepath could have her fun. Thor would call him gullible. Loki didn't know what spell Paige had cast over him, but he did know he couldn't have said no to her if he tried. And he had tried. He nodded once to appease the little fireball.

Brooke turned back to Mindgames and folded her arms. Needed to tell her. Needed to leave. "Wanna go home. Dragon needs help."

Why does he need help, Brooke? She slowly walked toward her.

Brooke remained unflinching, not a muscle moving except her eyes as they followed Paige's stride. Five feet. Four feet eleven. Four feet ten... "Black water. Not good. Flashlights can help."

Paige tilted her head, trying to understand the strange language. What did she mean by 'black water'? The shadows? What about them?

"Dragon falls, black water comes." Brooke tilted her head. Someone else near. Lights and sobs and music. Where? She turned her gaze to the door. Music. Piano. Harmonies. Music room? "Flashlights here."

Page shook her head. There were so many thoughts racing through poor Brooke's mind, she couldn't weed through them to discover the source of the word. Yes. I've heard Drake's new power is shadow control. But they can't reach us here. She looked to Loki. Right?

"Well, of course not! I put up the shadow shields." How dare she insult his abilities? Did she think him incapable of keeping her safe? Of course... there had been that incident at the hotel. But he had learned from it. He wanted nothing more than Paige's safety and happiness. His actions proved it.

"Hey! No talk!" Brooke listened with her head tilted the other way. Yes. Music. Music and lines would lead her to Flashlights. "Flashlights. Only hope. Only way to see black water."

Flashlights... It was beginning to make sense now. She was 'Miindgames', Loki was 'Bad Magic', Drake was 'Dragon', so 'Flashlights' was... Kitania! Is she the one you're referring to?

Brooke turned back to Paige and creased her brow down the middle. So much confusion! "Flashlights. Beasty smash, Flashlights confused. Flashlights here?"

Paige nodded and grinned. Yet another one of darling 'Bad Magic's' kidnap victims. I think he has a thing for women with superpowers.

"I do not!" How dare she insinuate such a thing! Loki folded his arms and huffed.

Brooke smiled. She turned for the door and bolted. Lines and music. Her friends. "Flashlights!"

Loki ignored the girl running down the hall. She would never get out, even if she tried. Instead, he studied Paige. Did she think of him so lowly? Need he explain himself. "They were both unfortunate necessities who happen to have powers."

Paige smirked wildly. So you say. It is quite a coincidence, though. Three powerful women under one roof. You'd better watch yourself, love. With that, Paige turned back to her noodles, which were nearly boiling over by now.

Fine. Let her be that way. He wouldn't complain. He would follow the insane girl and ensure the safety of all involved. He tossed one last sentiment over his shoulder, lest she think otherwise. "I only care for one of the three." He didn't wait for Paige's reaction. She could think on the words any way she wished it.

The piano room door stood open when he arrived, and he smiled at the amusing scene within. The insane girl had launched herself at the pianist. The one who had assaulted him now sat with arms tightly around Kitania's neck.

The pianist glared at him. "I have seen this girl once before, and she was following the Hulk through a smashed police station. Why is she hugging me?"

Loki shrugged. He would not intervene in this battle of wits. Rather, he would watch from afar and see how they handled it. He had a feeling the smallest one might jump him again if he spoke a word. He didn't want to chance that. To keep Paige happy, he would keep these two from breaking things. Odin help him, he hoped he could.

Brooke released Kitania's neck, only to press her hands tightly to the girl's cheeks. "Dragon needs help."

"Dragon? Drake?" Kitania slapped the hands away. "Yeah, I know. That guy needs clinical help. What'd he do this time?"

"Dragon needs your help." Brooke stared into Kitania's eyes like they might tell her something. "Dark water has Dragon, breathing no good. Heart beats black and stings like fire. Drums in his head, Flashlights. Drums in his head."

"Okay, I have no idea what this girl is talking about." Kitania shrugged. "You got anything, Locomotive?"

Loki rolled his eyes and folded his arms across his chest. "I've no idea what she means."

"Bad Magic!" Brooke stood and turned on him. "Told you, no talking!" Her glare meant business, and Loki rolled his eyes and threw up a shield to forestall the coming attack. This could be a very, very long day.