Harry had thrown a minor fit when his brother dropped several storeys onto hard rock but was soon calm again, willing to go along and leave his injured brother behind.
"By the way, Brian, when did you get here?" Georgina asked at last as they paced the streets outside, trying to find a way out of the endless labyrinth of dingy backstreets. Loki was quiet after his angry outburst while the fangirls whispered about 'Lokina'.
"Oh," Brian said in surprise. "I'm not sure."
"We need all the fighters we can get," Loki said. "I brought him here."
"How?" Emmi asked in surprise.
"Magic." The demigod clicked his fingers and sparks of blue shot into the air, brightening the darkening sky. Coos of appreciation resounded off the walls as the spark faded, the alley becoming dim again.
"So, where are we going?" Delta asked cheerfully.
"A hotel," Georgina said. "We need somewhere to stay because we can't go out walking all night."
"Why not?" Loki frowned.
"Because it's dangerous, Loki," Harry said. "Rough types walk these streets. Drug addicts, criminals..."
"Pepper," Rebecca added to a punch from Sophie but an accompanied giggle.
"My point is, don't go out after dark," Harry said. "It's a dangerous country with no gun laws."
"Ah, brilliant," Georgina beamed, pistols appearing in everyone's hands. Delta grinned and immediately aimed it at Angel who screamed and ducked behind Harry. Brian tucked his into the waistband of his trousers and Harry did likewise. You could tell who had gotten proper training.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" Tobi asked, waving the gun around.
"Hide it," Max said and Tobi nodded, the gun merging with his hand then blending into the surroundings. Max shoved his into his pocket and Delta reluctantly slid hers away while Cleo dropped hers to the floor.
"I'm not having a weapon," she said, looking at the gun fearfully. "I'm a healer, not a killer."
"Sucks to be you," Delta shrugged, going to pick it up but before she could touch the gun it vanished. "Hey! I wanted that!"
"No extra guns if you have powers," Georgina said, starting on her way again. Her pistol was held lightly in a one-handed grip, low by her side. Loki stood still for a second while weapons were hidden on other people's persons and then coughed once. In a second the gun had become a long, curved sceptre. Georgina didn't even have to look back to know what was needed. The demigod smiled and hurried to catch up, his long legs covering the ground quickly.
"Which hotel?" Sophie asked.
"Not the one that we almost died in," Emmi said.
"No, a different one," Georgina agreed. "We'll find somewhere local that's got good reviews."
"Boring," Amalia said, rolling her eyes. "Find somewhere big and brilliant!"
"With stables," Rebecca added.
"And soft beds," Sophie purred.
"And food!" Emmi said enthusiastically.
"And WiFi," Delta chipped in.
"In a nice neighbourhood," Harry said.
"A TV, too," Max said.
"We need room service," Angel said.
"A first-aid kit," Cleo said seriously.
"With good security," Brian said.
"And a good bathroom," Tobi said, running a hand through his blue hair thoughtfully. Georgina looked a little bit overwhelmed and Loki decided to intervene.
"We need somewhere to stay," Loki said firmly. "And that can be anywhere with no specific requirements. So long as there are enough beds, it's fine."
"You two will be sharing, of course," Rebecca said, wiggling her eyebrows. Loki shot a jet of ice at her and she ducked out of the way, shrieking with laughter.
"I will freeze you, next time, you mewling quim," the demigod warned.
"Sure, sure," Rebecca laughed. "But I can still take you on."
Loki's eyebrows raised skeptically and Georgina stepped between them. "Stop," she said tiredly. "We are going to a hotel, eating and then sleeping. Tomorrow we'll get up and go find those alien monsters and possibly come up with a plan. Happy?" There were nods and Georgina sighed in relief. "Good. I don't like this leadership stuff, it's too stressful, but follow me anyway because I'm apparently in charge." She set off again and they walked for miles until alighting upon a half-decent looking hotel that Harry informed them didn't have a serial killer staying in. It also had lots of empty rooms thanks to a mysterious rumour that had somehow started about a wild cougar walking about. The visitors had panicked and all checked out, almost chased away by an auburn cougar that totally wasn't Delta.
"Here are your keys," the American receptionist said, handing over set after set of keys. "Have a nice stay." She was staring at the cougar that was following Tobi around. "Er, is she-?"
"Perfectly safe," Tobi assured her. "She's not going to bite anyone." Delta growled and the receptionist squeaked. Georgina looked to be on the verge of tears and Loki stabbed his concealed sceptre into Delta's side, not hard enough to break the skin but enough to make her whine. She sulked about for a while, following everyone up the long flight of stairs to their rooms near the top of the building.
"Don't lose your keys," Georgina cautioned before unlocking her own door and slipping inside. Loki went after and gently shut the door, taking the key and placing it on a little table by the door. Georgina had sunk down onto the bed and had her head in her hands, hair falling in curtains around her face.
"What's the matter?" Loki asked.
"Everything," was the mumbled reply. The demigod said nothing, simply walking across the room and sitting beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She didn't shrink away from human contact as she usually would but instead leaned against him, moving her hands so that she could nestle into his neck. Tears fell onto Loki's partially exposed collarbone and he moved Georgina's hair from around her face softly, tilting her chin so that she was forced to look at him.
"What is it?" Loki said quietly.
"Too much pressure," Georgina said, quieter still. "I can't do this. I can't be the leader. And I don't want to die."
Loki considered saying 'you've died before' but decided against it. "It isn't fun, death," he said instead. "It's cold, and you're there but not there. Like you exist but at the same time you don't. There's darkness but everything's light, you're grounded but you're floating. The contrast is extreme and messes with your head, stops you from returning. But every so often there will be someone strong, like you, who can come back from the darkness. You have these weird powers for a reason, Lady Georgina. You're too special to die." He kissed the top of her forehead gently and could sense the sad smile on his girlfriend's face.
"I'll take over as leader, if you like," he continued. "I know what we're dealing with and won't let you get hurt in the slightest. Anything that comes near you, I'll destroy it. This will become a full blown battle in a matter of seconds and my main priority is keeping you safe. I'm from Asgard, I'm pretty much immortal. And I have a cunning plan to save us all and rid the world of the monstrous pests. Never fear, my lady, I'll save us all." He raised a fist into the air and acted triumphant, as if he'd already won. It got a laugh out of Georgina and Loki's face broke out into a smile.
"See? You're laughing now, it wasn't that hard," he said, lowering his arm.
"You make me laugh," Georgina said, wiping away the tears that remained on her face. Loki leaned forwards and brushed them away with a slender finger, cupping her face once the remains of misery were gone.
"It is my pleasure to be at your service," he said softly. Georgina smiled slightly but there was still sadness in her eyes and smile. Loki barely had to think of what to do, leaning forwards and kissing her. It wasn't a deep or particularly passionate kiss but it held a promise, a promise to make her better, to make her smile again. By the time the demigod moved back with his cheeks bright scarlet Georgina was smiling properly once more.