So, here's a new fanfiction about Avengers ! I really hope you'll like it ^_^
A huge thanks to my beta, krystal lazuli !
I am running. I am running for dear life. I hate to run. Always has. But there I am... Running as fast as I can. The cold air of the night is burning my lungs at each jerky breath I take. A stabbing pain on my side is slowing me down each step I run. The damp trees around me look threatening, looking as if they are going to harm me, their branches slamming my face as I pass by, looking over my shoulder to see if I am finally alone.
But I am not. I can barely see the tall dark shape of my assaulter through the fog that has appeared but the bare sound of his heavy steps indicates he is still out there. Looking for me. A faint whimper escapes my lips, fear running cold in my veins. I try to run faster but my vision begins to be blurred by my tears.
A treacherous root makes me fall on the ground, my hands go out to brace my fall. I turn back quickly, blood pounding in my ears, waiting for the inevitable. I'm not sure where I am anymore. There is nothing so terrifying to me as being plunged into one of my nightmares while being awake. I just can't remember the last time I had felt such fear and dread. The sound of broken branches resounds in the night, making me know he is close. I cringe. My fear sings loud in my heart, alerting me that I might die soon. And I really don't want to die tonight. My fingers twitch on the wet grass. The hair on my neck stands on edge.
The next thing I know, I am pressed against the ground, its cold humidity quickly soaking my thin shirt. He is on top of me, the weight of his body presses hard on me. His foul breath fanned against my neck as his pointy teeth graze my soft skin. I scream, tears beginning to roll down. The pain is unbearable and breathing becomes hard.
My shriek cut through the cold night. Pure fear mixed with pain. Some birds takeflight making the trees even more alive. This is the end.
Then, silence. Dreadful. Deadly. Cold. Annunciator of something far more worst. I can't scream anymore. I can't do a single thing. I don't even feel the cold wind on my face or his teeth sinking in my neck. He has won. Coldness surrounds me and chills my bones. One last tear escapes my weary eyes as I give up, embracing the darkness.
A white mist surrounds me. It's eerie silent... Nothing moves. I am standing on a deserted frozen place with no idea how I got there. I remember the pain and the darkness but nothing more... And suddenly I am here... in a desert of snow...
This must be a dream. And what a silly dream it is. I am not such a great fan of snow and the immensity of bright white is killing my eyes. But the place seems familiar. Like I have already been there when this place was full of live.
I turn around... And see him. A man I want to know more of. It's like I've known him my entire life but I can't put a name on his face. He is standing there, looking almost desperate. His black hair is a mess and his face white... almost beautifully broken. I want to go to him... because he feels like warmth. Like in his arms I would be safe. His beautiful green eyes don't look away from me and I feel like I could spend an eternity just looking at them.
I have no name for him... But I feel like he is mine. He looks so beautiful... and sad and torn... He shouldn't look like that... He should smile! I have no memory of seeing him smile but I desperately want to...
He lifts his hand, like calling for me... and I know if I take it... he'll be safe. He'll take me out of here... So I walk up to him and take his hand.
A gush of cold wind. The annoying beep of a damn machine. The warm soft blanket around my body. The thoughts bumped in my head like wild rabbits:
What happened?
Where am I?
What am I doing here?
Some people are talking. I cannot discern what they are saying but the discussion seems heated. I don't want to wake up. I just want to return to sweet unconsciousness. My whole body hurts. My eyelids are so heavy I cannot even open my eyes. Something in my nose is itching, as if I have a ventilator. The voices are coming closer to me and I try to stay still but hell, even breathing hurts. A sharp pain on my neck makes me wince and a faint moan of discomfort escapes my mouth without my consent.
« I think the lady is finally awake, » a deep voice announces and I wince again. Why does he have to speak so loud?
« Time to open your eyes, sleepy head » another masculine voice speaks at the other side of my bed. It seems to mock me and I know he is right. Even if the voices seem friendly, fear is creeping through my body and I shiver despite myself. I know I need to open my eyes but I dread what I could possibly see.
Gathering what little of courage I have, I force myself to open my eyes. A bright light blinds me and I close my eyes quickly. A little chuckle resounds near me. Anger rises in my chest and, sighing, I slowly reopen my eyes a little. My vision is blurring. The light is too sharp. Why did someone put a spotlight just above the bed? I bet it must be someone stupid… Like really daft!
A small clearing of the throat makes me jump and I finally open my eyes wide open. I was not prepared to see such beautiful blue eyes, looking at me with infinite kindness. Hypnotized, I cannot look away from them. I'm like imprisoned in their deep ocean colour, worry and relief mixing in these eyes like a strong wave. But, despite my better judgement, I close my eyes again. Because it's not blue eyes I seek. It's not these eyes I want to see. A flash of green plays in my mind and I sigh.
I sit up in the bed and, the handsome blue-eyed stranger comes next to me as if he is worried about seeing me fall or scream. I feel scared, and relieved, and safe. All at the same time... It's a little too much... Tears begin to roll down my cheeks and I feel like I have cried far too much these last days for far too many reasons.
« Are you alright ? » he asked again as a bunch of other men come closer. I feel trapped, with no way out. My voice refuses to work and I stay with my mouth wide-open like an idiot, tears all over my face. I surely look like a mess. Hell, I feel like a mess!
And then, everything just… blurs. I'm vaguely aware of a tall shape rushing to my side, a freaking huge syringe in his hand. They've drugged me… Good… For all, I want right now… is to forget… forget the pain… forget my memories…
God, my head hurts… People are screaming and yelling. Sounds of broken furniture resound. Guessing by the sounds, they are fighting. The sounds are getting louder. Damn my curiosity but I have to see what is going on. With wobbly legs, I walk slowly, following the sounds.
« You have a very nice table » a giant blond man mumbles with a smile, his large head slammed hard on a very massive and beautifully crafted wooden table. The metallic hand of a man oddly dressed in an iron red and gold suit is holding him firmly, making it impossible for him to move. But despite that, he is laughing, clearly enjoying it. Who the hell could enjoy being trapped?
« Why could you possibly have thought that the idea of bringing your brother back to Earth would thrill us ? » the metallic man roares angrily, pressing more firmly the blond head. The trapped man's laughter doubles, making the entire building shakes.
The tall man quickly frees one of his hands and stretched it, a flying hammer – wait, did I really see a hammer fly? – coming to his palm. As his large fingers wraps around the short handle, his grin widens and he flashes a sly wink at his now pissed-off opponent before slamming his hammer on his protected legs. The iron suit cracks under the weapon, forcing the metallic man to kneel and release him. What is going on here ?
« You will pay, Blondie ! » he says between his teeth, pain but also anger written on his face as his iron mask open.
« Come on ! Can't you just let my brother pay for his crimes by helping the Avengers ? As for tomorrow, he will be a good guy ! » the blonde-haired person asks, glee sparkling on his face. But apparently, his question is not answered favourably, the man of Iron quickly trying to slam his fist on the blonde's nose. The tall one dodges pretty easily and hits the giant on his head.
Laughing hard, « Blondie » throws his hammer powerfully at the handsome blue-eyed man I remember from earlier who was attempting to stop the fight from raging. Then, he quickly dodges a slap from a slim woman all dressed in black. Like he can sense an opponent coming from behind, he turnes swiftly, ready to strike.
He barely has time to stop himself from punching when he stops his gesture, his fist at mere inches from a tall man, who was wearing a deep frown on his face. I cannot really see this dark stranger but my curiosity pushes me to continue to watch the scene as if I am hypnotized. Something is drawing me to him. It's almost as if I know him.
« I told you it wasn't a good idea ! », the stranger says with a sigh. The blond man's smile widens but the large wooden table is crashing hard against his shoulder before he can answer. The dark-haired man sighs and pulls daggers out of thin air to help him. He has to dodge a glass from being shattered on his head.
« Enough ! » the dark stranger says, freezing everything and everyone, and I stop breathing, the arrow the archer has fired at him stopping at a mere inch of his face. All is quiet for a moment. With a lazy wave of his hand, people slowly turn back to life and I take a deep breath. What has just happened? Blue-eyed man barely had time to restrain the metallic man as he is about to jump on the magician.
« I know it is not easy for you to see my brother here, » Blondie says with his powerful voice. « But, the Allfather had sanctioned him to help you rebuild your realm… Truth be told, the Chitauri Invasion was not Loki's fault. » Does anybody know what they are talking about ? Who are these people ? Who is this Allfather ? What invasion ?
« Talk about a bloody sanction… » the metallic man mumbles under his breath. « He's sanctioning us, not HIM ! »
« I know my brother has wronged you… » the blond-haired man says with regret, his head down. « But I can assure you he is not to harm any people of this realm ever again ! Loki and I have grown up together and, truth be told, he is not the one who failed me… I am the one who failed him! I failed to notice he was being manipulated. I failed to see he was not in his right state of mind. I felt to see how… »
« I think they got it » the tall stranger who answers to the name of Loki – what a strange name – whispers, absent-mindly playing with one of his knives. « Look, I don't want to be here. You do not want me to be here. Fine by me. I much prefer to be imprisoned in Asgard than rot in Midgard with such low-minded creatures ! »
« I hate to say it » Blue-eyes interrupts « but Thor may be right. If Loki is on our side, then no-one would be able to stop the Avengers! We've got to appreciate the small things in life that make our future better ! »
Thor smiles brightly and puts a friendly hand on Tony's shoulder: « Ah, yes, Man of Iron, my friend. It's time we start appreciating you. » The distressful look on the man in the iron suit's face, an expression mixed with hurt and incomprehension is almost too comical and I have to repress a laugh.
« Yes, » Loki apparently can't help himself from adding another layer on –what is his name again? – Thor's joke. « It's been a loooooooong time since someone appreciated Tony ! »
A loud alarm stops this Tony from throwing a good old-fashion punch in Loki's nose. Can someone shut this down? My head hurts so much! The woman from earlier rushes to the nearest computer, tapping on the keyboard with alarming speed. « We have a 045 » she announces coldly.
« Where ? » Blue-eyes asks bluntly, his face a perfect mask of calm. All in his posture shows how ready he is for whatever this « 045 » is.
« Small town in the north of France » she replies. I must confess I'm impressed how emotionally detached she appears to be. The Red head keeps typing on the computer, her doe eyes scanning the information.
« It's too far away » a small shy man I have not realized he was here before, sighed, ripping the glasses off his nose in a defeated way. « Even with the helicarrier, we wouldn't catch it. It will be far away by the time we get there... »
My eyes scans the room, trying hard to understand what is happening. Lazily watching his nails with what appeared to be great interest, Loki whispers: « If only someone in this room had the ability to open a portal to this place, I bet you would be able to catch your « 045 », whatever this thing is... »
Blue-eyed man is curiously looking at this Thor and, when the latter nods, he announces coldly to Loki: « Congratulations, you're an Avengers now. Can you please open a portal to... »
« Dunkirk. » the Red head identifies the location, her eyes still glued on the computer's screen. Wait a minute, what's an Avenger ? And… Dunkirk ? Why do they want to go to my hometown ? Flashing a sly victorious grin, Loki closes his eyes and focuses, his right hand outstretched. A bright green portal appears in a flash.
And then, my eyes lock with this Loki, the light of the portal illuminating his face. His bright green eyes dives directly in my soul and I know I'm home. It's him… But the next second, he is gone with the one named Thor and the red-head woman. And I feel empty…
« Looks like Sleeping Beauty is up ! » Tony cheers and I realize the light of the portal must have exposed me. Damn!