Search for the Soul Gem

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Denmark!" I asked, sitting up sharply, pushing Tony back to sit on the couch.

"Yeah, Thor said it would be a good idea," Tony said cautiously.

"I thought we were going home," I said deflated.

"We couldn't go home. Fury wouldn't allow it," Tony said. He reached up and cupped my face carefully. I shrank back, I'd really wanted to go home.

"Denmark...," I trailed off. I stood up and walked over to the window on the wall. I threw back the curtains and came up in front of French doors. I threw open the French doors and was greeted by a pleasant breeze. The window led onto a wooden deck that ran the length of the room inside. I walked out onto the balcony in a sort of daze. The only thing that arrested my movement was a low wall that came up to my waist and a railing that rose out of it. I leaned over the railing slightly to look down at the street below. Below was a narrow street with a few shipping vans parked in front of the stores. Bikes lined the streets and leaned against the walls. The sidewalks were cobbles and held little foot traffic at this time of the day. To the left was another shopping street with more people walking through them and quant shops and apartment buildings rising up only four stories. To the right was a busy street that was filled with rushing cars and people milling around. If I stretched up on my tiptoes I could almost see over the building in front of me and see the buildings that ran behind it in a labyrinth of corridors. Another breeze blew my hair around my shoulders and with it came the smell of the nearby sea, exhaust, cigarettes, and bread from a bakery down one of the streets. Somehow all these mixed wonderfully to be the most refreshing and beautiful smell I'd ever inhaled. It was alive and new and most of all, free. I gripped the railing in my hands tight as I leaned back, eyes fluttering closed and took a long, deep breath of the free air. It tasted beautiful and made my head feel light and fuzzy. Every so often a rogue laugh would shoot up to me and warm my soul knowing that I wasn't alone. I wasn't surrounded by criminals and people who wanted to kill me. All around me, people were going about their daily lives as if nothing was wrong. And here, nothing was wrong. We were running and hiding from Fury but we were safe. But I couldn't help but think, what if something took this moment away. What if Fury had people watching us right now, waiting. Planning the perfect time to strike. A shiver ran through my body with this thought. I could almost feel the crosshairs lining up on my forehead. I crossed my arms over my chest to try and keep the chill from entering my body. Warm arms encircle the waist, fingers leaving a tingling trail across my skin as they went. I jump slightly, wrenched from my terrifying thoughts of a sniper-trail trained on my forehand.

"Did I scare you?" Tony teased, resting his chin against my shoulder.

"Not you," I murmured back, not looking back at him. I felt him turn his head slightly and his breath fanned over my neck.

"You do know we're safe here, right?" Tony asked, his voice soft.

"But what if we're not," I muttered. Tony's hands were on my waist in a moment. He lightly turned me to face him. The railing pressed into the curve of my lower back lightly. I looked up at Tony. His face was soft and concerned. He brought his hands up to cup my face in them softly.

"Trust me sweetheart, we are safe here for now," Tony assured.

"But how do you know?" my voice creaked with the weight of the question.

"Because, in Denmark, they don't allow extradition if the prisoner will be tortured . The Prime Minister knows S.H.I.E.L.D and refuses to extradite with them. There is a long, annoying process to allow agents on to Danish soil. By the time Fury files it, we'll be gone," Tony assured.

"How are we going to get back into America? We can't be on the run forever," I asked. Tony moved his hands to my hips, his thumbs rubbing circles against my hipbone.