I own nothing from the Marvel Universe
So this the next story in my continuing series, this is the first that it is recommended for you to at least read the previous one, that being All Good Things, to fully understand what is going on. You don't have to but may be confused.
Resounding explosions echoed throughout the city. Tony grinned to himself at the crater that had previously been a group of aliens.
"Tony, try not to blow up the streets."
Natasha's reprimand sounded in his ear a moment later and Tony rolled his eyes.
"Fine, it's not like they're unfixable, though."
He rocketed upwards to survey the battle.
The team had gotten a call from Fury to deal with a group of rampaging aliens in London. Tony had been the first to get there but by now the others had arrived and were working on containing the destruction.
"Do we still not know where they came from, or why they're here, for that matter?"
Everyone was split up into different groups throughout the city. Natasha, Clint, and Steve were fighting off a large group on a bridge near the river, Thor and Hulk were taking on a squadron of them near the London Eye. Tony scanned the city, searching for Sif and Loki, then another explosion sounded.
"Tony!"
"Hey, it wasn't me this time!"
"Right, well just- give me a sec there's another wave coming."
"Need help."
"I think we got-"
Another explosion came from somewhere down the river, this time Tony saw a spurt of green flames accompanying it.
"Again, not me, but I'll go tell a certain God of Mischief to stop being so trigger happy with the explosions."
Tony disconnected the audio and took off towards the green flames. He came to the scene and assessed the situation.
Loki and Sif stood back to back, a large group of the ape-like aliens surrounded them, crackling green flames marked a hole in their ranks. As Tony watched, Sif lashed out at the group with her double bladed spear, downing a swath of the beasts. She retreated quickly as to not be overwhelmed. As soon as she returned to his side, Loki created a ball of crackling green energy, lobbing it towards the creatures and killing a section of them.
Despite their attacks, the pack of aliens didn't falter, instead encircling them tighter. Tony prepared to fly down and help them.
"Alright, Jarvis, let's go down there and help them."
The pavement rushed towards him as Tony blasted downwards, stabilizing last second to land in the space between the gods and the aliens, cracking the asphalt as he did. His appearance stunned everyone long enough for him to fire a blast of energy from his hand into the crowd of aliens.
Pandemonium broke out. The aliens converged on them, Tony soon found himself beside Loki, whose armor was smeared with grime.
"We had everything under control."
"Right, you were absolutely not surrounded and outnumbered."
That earned Tony a grudging nod from Loki, before they were caught up in the fight again. They fought for some time, Tony sometimes catching a glimpse of either Sif or Loki downing the nearest alien with a blade or magic. Eventually the pack began to noticeably thin and Tony grinned triumphantly.
"That's right you ugly sons of bitches, you don't come to our-"
"Sir, behind you."
Jarvis's alert made Tony spin around, but not in time to avoid being tackled by a particularly large alien. Surprised, Tony almost went down. He and the alien grappled for a few moments, then a long blade pierced the creature's skull, coming dangerously close to his facemask. Sif gave him a small nod, hacking at the aliens around them.
"Next time, Man of Iron, perhaps do not get so cocky."
"Yeah, right, thanks for the help."
Tony got back to fighting, now beside Sif. Loki was on the other side of the street, holding his own against the beasts.
Then Natasha's voice sounded in Tony's ear.
"We've pretty much cleared up here. How are you holding up?"
"Loki and Sif were fighting a pretty big group, so I joined in. We're nearly done with them though."
"Right, we'll come meet you and finish this."
"Great, I'll tell-what the hell?"
A sudden shockwave of green energy swept through the street. Any aliens still alive clutched at their chest, then crumpled over. The shockwave passed through Tony, his breath caught in his chest for a moment and his communication system cut out, but the sudden sensation passed and he looked around.
Sif seemed surprised, gazing at the bodies of the aliens. Tony looked to Loki, who was still across the street. He appeared to be looking up at the buildings, turning around quickly and tensely.
"Hey nice job, why didn't you-"
"It was not me."
Loki cut Tony off, startling him. Tony flipped his facemask up and frowned.
"I'm sorry? It wasn't you, then what was it?"
"Who, who was it. The shockwave was magic based, but I do not know who or where it originated from."
Tony walked over to Loki, carefully stepping over the alien bodies. He gave Loki a worried look.
"Do you think it's…you know…"
"Allan, it is doubtful he did this directly. This is an incredibly complex piece of magic, it takes a large amount of energy and knowledge to create such a specific and powerful shockwave."
"So, not Allan, who else?"
"I'm not saying Allan is not somehow involved, we know he has some influence over a number of those able to use magic. But it is doubtful any mortals are more than amateurs, so who…"
Loki trailed off, biting his lip thoughtfully. From a ways away, Sif bent down, picking something up and holding it for them to see.
"This looks…Loki come here."
They hurried over and Sif handed the thing in her hand to Loki. He stared at it for a few moments, Tony caught a glimpse of it, a small swath of golden blonde hair.
"It's just hair, I don't-"
"Damn her. Why would she be…"
Loki' fingers closed around the hair and he let out a low curse.
"Who is "she"? And how can you tell from a little bit of hair?"
Tony frowned at Loki's low mumbling, look to Sif for an explanation. She seemed focused on Loki, who had returned to scanning the street and rooftops.
"Do you believe she left it for you to find?"
"I have no doubt, there would be no other reason for her killing the aliens, she wants to speak with me."
The two gods seemed oblivious to Tony's questioning looks, speaking urgently. Their apparent knowledge only irked Tony more and he raised his voice."
"Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?"
His anger got their attention, Loki placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She is a sorceress, or rather an enchantress, The Enchantress, by the name of Amora. We have…history, so to speak, I have not seen her in years, but she obviously desires me presence. Only a fool would keep her waiting, she will come to me, I suspect, but only when I am alone. I must leave you for a few hours, at most. Sif and Thor can explain more, it would take to long for me to."
"Wait, you're just going to wander off, alone, in search of someone who could be working for Allan. Do you realize how bad of an idea that sounds like?"
Loki nodded, validating his point.
"It does sound foolish, but I am stronger than her…and I honestly doubt she will outright attack me. I also doubt she will be completely following Allan's orders, she would not be subjugate to any mortal, though she might aid or use one. You don't have to wait for me, I will return to the tower once I am done."
Before Tony could respond, Loki let go of him and disappeared into a side street. Tony stared at where he had disappeared. A thud made him turn around, Thor had just landed in the street and, by the look on his face, had noticed his brother's absence.
"Where is Loki? I was told he was with you."
"Well, umm…"
"Amora is involved in this, she did not appear but killed the remaining beasts and left something to tell us of her presence. Loki went after her."
Sif cut Tony off, as he fumbled for words. Thor's expression changed from concerned worry, to surprise, then to a stormy frown.
"Amora…that explains these creatures. But for him to go after her alone, that is reckless, brother would not do such a thing if it wasn't her…"
Thor's words joined the assumptions Tony had already been making about Amora from what Loki had said. He arched an eyebrow.
"So, Amora and Loki, were they…a thing or something?"
Sif and Thor exchanged glances, then Thor hesitantly shrugged.
"If you could call it that…but that was more than a century ago. Of course, they had worked together before than, perhaps sense then, I'm not sure. Amora, she does not have good intentions, whatever they may be, but if she were to not immediately attack someone, if would be Loki."
"Oh, well that's…interesting."
00000
It had begun to rain. Loki let out an exasperated sigh and ducked into a nearby bookstore. A few hours had passed, yet there was no sign of Amora. But Loki knew she would show, he just had to wait.
"You interested in buying, or are you just sheltering from the rain?"
The man behind the counter spoke up, boredly. Loki turned away from the windows, looking at the shelves of books.
"Well, actually I-"
"There you are! You could have called me, just because you can't wait for me outside doesn't mean you can ditch me."
A female voice cut Loki off and he spun around. Amora, donning human clothes, just as he was, and a false smile, bounded over to him and swung an arm around his shoulder. Golden blonde hair hit him in the face as she did. Loki returned the false smile after a moment, placing his arm around her waist as well.
"Sorry, my phone died. But we found each other alright, so it's all fine."
"Mmm…well, we should go eat, like we were supposed to. I'm not letting some snafu with some aliens, earlier, mess with our date."
"I don't doubt it."
They exited the store, false cheer and smiles falling away as soon as the door closed, they stepped apart.
"Amora."
"Loki."
"We have much to speak of."
"Perhaps over dinner."
Amora brought her hand up to Loki's face but he caught it before she touched him.
"I am not a simple minded man for you to seduce and use."
"Of course, and neither am I. So, dinner?"
A small table separated them, both pairs of green eyes inspecting the other's.
"You have changed quite a bit, Loki."
"And you haven't?"
Amora's mouth twitched upwards with amusement.
"Oh…well, at least I am not lowering myself to aiding mortals in their do-gooding."
"Mmm…"
Loki took a sip of the drink he had ordered, earning him a steely look from Amora.
"Why are you playing with the mortals…and you brother? What changed?"
"Quite a lot, actually. It's more complicated then it seems."
"Is it? Are you not merely filling some base desire to belong?"
Amora cocked her head with a coy smile, her finger twirling a strand of blonde hair. Loki remained impassive, eyes not wavering from hers, which reflected an underlying cool anger.
"Is that jealousy I detect, Amora? Jealous of a group of Midgardians."
Loki watched Amora bristle, her coy grin disappearing.
"I do not need mortals to occupy my time."
"But that does not mean you do not work with them."
Silence hung in the air for a few moments after Loki's words. Then Amora reached for Loki's outstretched hand, he did not pull away, if he had to play her game to get information, then he would. She placed her hand on top of his and, after a moment, arched an eyebrow.
"You seem colder than usual, perhaps some side effects of a certain cure for a certain…poison."
It was Loki's turn to bristle, he pulled his hand out from under hers.
"You are working for Allan."
"I prefer the term "amusing myself with". But he came to me, I was quite impressed with his mind, for a mortal. So I decided to listen to his plans and choose what I wish to do about them. But I was right…you are colder than before, is it the blood?"
"That is not your concern and I would suggest you stop implying that."
Loki scowled at Amora's soft, cold, laugh.
"Or what? You've gone soft, you're not going to stop me, not in the midst of a building full of mortals. You should watch your weaknesses, Loki, they are ever so easy to exploit."
With that, Amora stood, running a hand across Loki's jaw as she walked away. Once she was gone, Loki let out a tense breath.
Weakness, exploitation, what Amora could do with Allan's direction…this adds another layer to his complicated web.
00000
"What time is it?"
Tony muttered into the couch cushion, sprawled out with a drink in one hand.
"Three, about, that would mean it's…eight in London, I think."
Steve glanced to his watch.
"So, it's been…four, five, hours now?"
Tony looked up blearily. Then there was a pop and a crash of china. Everyone spun around.
Loki crouched on the kitchen counters, looking a bit exasperated.
"Sorry, long distance teleportation can be imprecise."
"You broke my coffee maker. I just broke it, Pepper made me replace it, and now you broke it, again."
Tony protested but Loki gave him an unimpressed look.
"It's not as if you can't but another. Anyway, we have more important things to discuss."
"Amora?"
Thor stood, looking attentively to his brother, who nodded.
"Yes, we talked, she is working with Allan. I'm not sure how closely, I believe she's flaky at best, but if his plans coincide with her desires, then she will."
"Did she mention a plan, anything?"
Everyone watched Loki, waiting for his reply. There were a few moments of silence, in which Loki ran a hand along his jaw.
"The last thing she said to me was about exploiting weaknesses. It may have been merely to unnerve me, but if it is something to coincide with a plan, then we have much to consider."
"But "weaknesses", that's so vague. We all have tons of weaknesses, how can we know which she would target? If she would at all."
00000
"Sir, The Enchantress is here."
"Let her in."
The young man bowed and exited the room. Allan minimized the hacked security tapes he had been viewing, pushing his chair back to wait for the Asgardian. She swept from the hallway into the room, with a distasteful scowl.
"I detest sulking through these underground passages. It is unbecoming for one of my power to burrow in this lowly place."
"I apologize, but it is necessary for us. We do not have the power that you posses. On that note, I applaud you for your chaos in London."
Amora waved a dismissive hand, although still looking displeased.
"That was simple, boring, I was only I it for the chance to speak with Loki."
"And did you?"
Allan leaned forward, more at ease than most, let alone humans, around The Enchantress. He had experience dealing with unstable people, his dealings with Loki prime among them. Even though The Enchantress may intimidate his allies, her presence was not going to deter him.
"I did, mortal, and I see what you spoke of, his weakness when it come to that team of theirs. And to the Midgardians in general. It is a pity…they have truly made him weak…but it does validate your plan."
"That we could use their weaknesses to create chaos among them, perhaps enough to get what we want without them noticing until it's too late. Yes, I believe it does."
Amora watched small green flames dance across her fingers, as if disinterested by Allan's words. But, after a moment, she nodded.
"And you are sure of where it is, that would be most unfortunate should you be wrong."
"It was moved, but yes I believe I do."
Allan saw the cold desire flash in Amora's eyes when she looked up.
"When your people are in place, which do you want me to go after?"
"Thor's."
AN: So, first chapter, what did you think? I hope it's alright, the first chapter is always my most hesitant, I think. But anyway, I pulled Amora into all this and she will play a role. But there will be no slash, this is about as close as it will come to it. I would love to hear what you thought about it so far. Hopefully the next chapter will be up in a few days.