"Well I guess, it's worth a look…"
An Avengers Fan Fiction
Four: Visitor
LOKI
For the first time since I stepped on Earth, I was finally given a decent place to call my own quarters. Of course, it had only become possible since the glass prison wasn't much at working capacity due to the attack. It wasn't at all different from being treated like a convict what with all the guards outside my room and the gauntlets on my wrist weighing me down by the hour; however, I was given more privacy. The prison wards of Asgard were of a very different kind. Compared to the treatment I had received on Earth, imprisonment here was of no heavy treason. I have seen guards sully their broken blades into the sides of the Asgardian dungeons, one could even barely sit on one's cage let alone find a comfortable position, enough to beat the limping as time passed.
Luckily, I was not at Asgard and practically saving Fury's life had also given me the privilege to get more involved with the situation at hand and even if most of them still regarded me as a threat, I couldn't risk my chances of being left astray when clearly my presence was needed.
I sat atop of the bed they had provided me with my legs outstretched and straightened and found myself in deep contemplation as I tried to trace the markings around my wrists where my cuts began to heal. They were very strange. The lines were not of an Asgardian sort nor were they the universal text of the humans. The markings looked like minute and twisted lining the runes created were indistinguishable with the curvature of a combination of linguistics. As I had recounedt my confrontation with the demon and how my enchanted shackles had reacted towards the thing, I am reminded at how the markings rapidly embedded around the hard metal. No, not embedded, more like melted or…drilled in fire which made me wonder where the Asgardian-smith had gotten the material to make it from.
It was not like I had much ill feelings towards my adoptive father, however, I would not think that he had it in his heart to sentence me to such a slow death as torture. I was also beginning to doubt if he had knowledge about the its very nature and if he did, why would he chose such intrepid materials to punish a son he claimed as his own? Because I am not his son.
My concentration was torn. I had to think about the demon attacks, the vision and how it all ties down to the doctor and at the same time, find an answer to the poison behind the chains. Maybe it really was fate that brought this untimely reunion or maybe I am just another fool, left to hope for something that will never come. The links around my wrists prick my skin like searing irons. I bite my lip to help myself from letting out a ghastly yell of pain. I would've given anything to keep my mind out of it but I would not have such chance.
Stark and Fury had utilized the rest of day by restoring the moving base into stable ground. The eerie frost unlike Jotunheim's own and the weight of the demons had caused relatively much damage that it was imperative for them to initiate the recovery for us to sustain our flight.
Romanov and Barton were ordered to take command of maneuvering the craft while my brother had set off with Agent Hill to contact his Jane and see to her safety. Typical of him. Thor was always attached to things. His throne. His honor. His hammer. His control. His possessions. He always kept them near and grounded, despite the consequences. I should find it most admirable and yet, I don't exactly agree with this methods.
It was no surprise for the doctor to take no minute to waste and volunteered to see to the state of the men injured during the attack, of course, the patrioticity of the moment could not escape Rogers as he had volunteered to assist her. I wouldn't be surprised if he felt an unmistakable attraction to Dylan Sinclair. Her physicality would give any man the inclination to make second looks however, there was always something more to her than meets the eye. Something pleasing and…fearsome at the same time.
I've been meaning to talk to the doctor regarding the effect that the demons had endured from the gauntlets and how she had affected me whenever she was within my presence. But how was that even remotely possible when things were just taking place all too fast and growing more complex?
The doctor…I hardly say her name. Whenever I try, my mouth fills up with a sweet and intoxicative mixture of pain and delight. It was as if I was not laudable enough to utter the words of the woman clearly beyond any of our powers…Then again, it is unlike me to feel neither intimidation nor inferiority.
A hand raked through my hair as a habit whenever I was deep in thought. The weight of the enchantments grew heavier that the small gesture made me cringe. But my meditation was soon brought to a pause when I heard a knock from my door. It was odd. No one, not even my brother took time in the evening to see me for whatever reason. He was of a forthcoming-sort, but on Midgard, he would not speak long with me. I didn't stand to open the door and instead waited for another knock to confirm what I had heard. It came unfortunately, and this time the knock was blended with a voice, "Ma'am, I don't advise you to-" it was one of those guards talking to the my visitor. Had they sent Romanov or Hill for an interrogation?
The voice answered in a rather authoritative manner, "I believe that's mine to decide. Thank you, I can take it from here," before I could rouse, the door had slid open revealing a lady wearing a long-sleeved navy top and dark trousers that matched her boots.
It was the doctor at the door. She had changed from her bloody clothing and let her hair land loose on her shoulders. She had her back to me as she dismissed the guards and as if my manners had given me a kick, I swung my legs from the side of my bed and straightened up. The door clicked to a close and she looked at me now with calm eyes, "Sorry, I don't mean to disturb you,"
I took a few steps towards her and inhaled, "N-not at all, please," my mother had always taught Thor and I to behave like proper courtsmen especially in front of noble women and the times when we were to act all highborn and well-bred, felt exactly like them whenever she was present.
She approached me now, slowly and cautiously and I in turn gestured for one of the seats made available in my quarters on which she politely declined. I had to be careful with the way I acted, she was always calculative and observant and a woman of such mystique could create an impression of trust if I could play my cards right.
I took a moment to glance at her and made the effort to relieve ourselves from all informal arrangements, "What brings you here, doctor? If I may be so blunt to ask?" my tone lifted itself from impatience and shifted to utter curiosity.
She gave me a rueful smile as she let her lashes caress her cheeks as she looked down for a moment, "I just came to check on you," her tone was steady. She walked towards me now and positioned herself only a few feet away from where I stood. She was shorter than I was and I had rewarded myself with the delight of towering over her as it gave me an advantage to observe her more closely without any suspicion. I merely shrugged, "I am doing well," she was looking at me directly now, "Surprisingly your medicine worked," her eyes flicked a tad bit wider at my statement, "I-I didn't mean any disrespect," I honestly didn't. What was this unseen force making me stumble for words? I found myself rather articulate, afterall.
Her mouth slightly curved to the side, swiftly revealing a sincere beam of interest as she nodded, "None taken," her eyes traveled from my hands to my face,"Can I see?" I didn't argue with her request and gladly held out my wrists. She lifted my wrists closer and intently gazed at them and I was left out of words as I felt her delicate fingers trace around my wounds. I can hardly feel the gauntlets, "That's strange…" She lifted her chin up but still kept her hand entwined around my hand, "Do you still feel any pain?" I shook my head and continued to stare. At the moment, I really didn't feel anything but still the brooding feeling from within myself couldn't hide much longer.
True enough, the doctor yielded the same unsteady façade, "They have traces of demon blood on the sides," I was horrified by her observation as she tilted my wrists. I hadn't the nerve to clean off my dirtied hands, "Did you-?" She looked doleful which I rewarded with a chagrin.
The doctor didn't need to finish the sentence for me to narrate what had happened, "I was attacked inside my…" I searched for a more appropriate word but I couldn't find anything within my vocabulary to make light of it, "…cell, a demon had lunged itself at me and by some…weird force, the shackles had reacted against its skin and melted through its skull,"
The doctor pursed her lips, "And these markings?" she lifted one of my hands where the demon blood had stained the shackles and pointed towards the strange markings that had glowed and embedded itself in the metal. The tips of her fingers brushed against the sides of my palm and for a minute I felt myself slightly quiver.
I blinked a number of times as I tried to wipe off the juvenile look I etched, "They appeared after I hit the demon, are they familiar to you?" She let go of my hands now and looked furtively at my eyes momentarily and took a deep breath, "The text is written in what is called Enochian and based on what you told me, I think they're some sort of protective seal…" she paused to edit, "Where did your gauntlets come from?" the blue in her eyes looked expectantly up at my green,
"I haven't the idea where, you had better ask my brother," I said as one of my hands slightly clasped hers. She didn't seem to mind the minor gesture but I had retreated the motion anyway fearing that she would feel discomfort at such. I didn't even know why I've done it. What was I even trying to achieve?
"I see." She gestured for us to sit,
I cleared my throat, "Are you familiar with these Enochian writings?"
She gave me a hesitant nod, "Quite, but I believe I will tell you more about it once everyone is present. It seems that the material used for forging those things on your wrists may not be coincidental," She gave me a look of concern and as much as I had wanted to lift her from any concerning thoughts, I knew I had to provide her with more of my experiences if I wanted her to help me.
"There is also one other thing," her worried expression faded into coyness as she awaited my speech, "Usually," I had flexed my hands and opened my palms to soothe it from the pain from the weight earlier on, "The gauntlets would literally weigh me down, but for some reason whenever you are within close proximity…" I placed my eyes on her to assess how she was reacting to my revelation but no matter how absurd my explanation was, she remained composed and unjudging, "I felt an instant relief… it was as if you were saving me from such pain that I-" I had stopped myself from speaking as I saw her mouth slightly part, "Forgive me, I've spoken too much,"
She gave me a wry smile as her blue eyes turned glassy in the light of the room that I was taken aback, "Asgardian men really do have a way with words," she quipped and for the first time in the longest time since I've been in close presence with a woman, I felt myself flush.
I lifted my stare and couldn't bring myself to look at her expectant face, "I didn't mean it as a flirtation or-"her brows shot upward and her smile grew wider, "I was merely stating the fact of my experience…" I heard my own voice fade as she had shifted her sitting position into a cross and her smile turned to a grin, "Well in any case, I'm glad I could be of help but honestly, I don't really know how to explain what you just said,"
A crease had formed at the side of my mouth as I tried to hide a smile. I was not used to conversations like this and I was feeling more and more out of character the longer she had stayed inside my quarters. What was happening to me?
She cleared her throat, "Fury said, you found me?"
"Yes,"
Her hands rested on the table set between us now, inches away from my own, "How exactly did you-?" she squinted her eyes at me.
"I honestly have no definitive explanation for that," she blinked and let out a breath, "Long story, I get it. But in any case, I guess I was really meant to meet you in the long haul, considering," she tapped lightly on one side of my wrist, "Considering," I dourly said.
There was a short silence as she eyed the inscriptions on my wrists, "Did my brother send you?" I had finally asked.
"Your brother has mentioned to me your…troubles but, I came here out of my own will if that makes the slightest sense?" She began to fix herself for her leave now, "Were you expecting him to talk to me about your situation?"
"No- I hadn't really had the chance to discuss this with him. As you can observe, we are not at the best of terms,"
She tucked her hair behind her ear and cocked her head to the side, "He cares about you,"
"Apparently not enough…if my brother didn't send you then-"
She cut me off, "Then what?"
"Then… why are you trying to help me?" my voice was half-pleading half-stern.
The doctor gave me a look of heed, "You think I'm trying to help you?"
My hand clasped into a balled wrist, "Are you?"
She sighed in defeat, "I guess so, and I guess, I am what you call a...firm believer of second chances. It's written in my oath," I closed my eyes momentarily and struggled to find the words to repay her kindness but I could not find the courage within me to coat my formality with sweetness. She turned to make her way towards the door and I blindly went to her side to escort her out, "I believe you can manage a few hours without my presence to ease your pain? After all, they were made for a purpose, if I may say so," her statement did not offend me for they were just and having knowledge of the events that had transpired in the past, I too couldn't blame the price I had to pay for the lives that I took.
The door had slid open, "Thank you, doctor," I tried to sound as sincere as I could manage even if that was really what I had wanted to project. She gave me a small nod and looked at me in kind respects as she let out a scoff, "Don't thank me yet,"
The lights within the corridors began to flicker and a rustling sound from the engines had invaded the silence as the craft slightly tilted. Unaware of such occurrence, the doctor slightly lost her balance and budged on her side right at me. I was able to lean against the door as I caught her shoulders in time before she could fall. Surprised by the incident, I froze as she began to regain her balance, "Sorry! 'lil malfunction!" It was Stark's voice that echoed. The doctor merely rolled her eyes and for a moment ducked her head just below my chin and laughed, "Well that was unexpected," she quipped as I let go.
"If there's anything-" she shook her head and crossed her arms at her back, "Don't get too comfortable, I still have my eye on you," she made a small distance between us and eyed me sinisterly.
I snarled, "And I, you" For a moment I was lost in the tranquility of her eyes that I could no longer mutter anything sensical to say to her. It reminded me of the free galaxy lightyears away from Asgard. Of a beautiful abyss.
Noticing this, the doctor positioned herself sideways and signaled some guards to take her place, "Goodnight Loki," here voice was serene.
And I had thought that all this time she had known me only as the rebellious Asgardian god.
The doctor had felt restless for what was the remainder of the day that she could not bring herself to retreat to her quarters. She was left wandering around the wreckage of the craft on her own, pacing back and forth specifically at the foyer of the control room.
She was overwhelmed by the complexity of the situation especially now that Loki's gauntlets were products of the world she had feared would be made publicly known. She knew the language inscribed in his gauntlets, it was the language of her people and it was strange that another realm called Asgard could ever possess such forbidden artifacts that her lineage were sworn to keep hidden. The demons words felt like fire that fueled her anxiety. It talked about her blood… her life, her worth and her fate that only at present, she was to keep as burden. If the truth about her identity was revealed, the Earth would change drastically and she could not fathom living in a crumbling world caused by her own ill fate.
"What is the matter little dove?" the doctor's pacing had halted as a deep, eerie voice crept from behind her neck. She had recognized the cold atmosphere instantly that her hand went straight to the hilt on her leg where her blade rested, "Don't worry, Nephilim, it's just you and me tonight…"
"Show yourself demon," she hissed in a low tone as she made her way down the steps of the foyer, eyeing every corner of the pad intently. The demon's thunderous laughter kept ringing in her ears but she was unnerved and kept calm following in her minds-eye the waves of demonic energy only to lead her at the entrance of the infamous cage of the Hulk and the Asgardian menace. Inside the cell stood a young looking man in a clean gray suit and gelled salt and pepper hair. He gave the doctor a wide, menacing smile as his glassy raven eyes squinted at her, "Hello doctor, I don't believe we've met, my name is Mephistophiles," the doctor was about to charge at the strange man but was halted by his signal, "ah-ah doctor, don't you want to know why I'm here and what I came to do?" he sneered.
The doctor's eyes narrowed, "Demons are all the same to me, and I know exactly why you are here!"
Mephistophiles used his index finger and thumb to wipe the sides of his mouth, "Ah yes… of course you do," he laughed, "Then I guess we should just get straight to business then. Shall we?" the demon had gestured for her to approach.
"And what makes you think that I'll come with you? Considering the fact that you put up my bounty?"
The demon took a step forward, "Me?" the demon said in a sarcastic tune, "No-No. I am but one of those who piqued interest in your bounty." The raven-demon clasped his hands in a tight knot, "The man behind it, well… I can't have him have you now can I?"
"Is this some sort of joke?" She gripped her dagger tightly now, "What are you gonna do? Try and kill me?" she challenged.
He titled his head sideways and let out his tongue in between his devilish rgin, "I'm just here to eliminate those in my way and that includes your new set of friends here and maybe then, I could dispose of you well at least until I get you to do a little something for me," he laughed, "Afterall, Earth's gonna need a savior once well, for lack of a better phrase, Hell hath no purges all humans,"
The doctor gritted her teeth, "Or I could just dispose of you," in an instant she had moved in an untraceable speed as she lifted her hand and directed her dagger towards the demon. Her blade was inches away from his heart when he had dispersed into a black cloud and the cell opened and welcomed her fall. The doctor reflexively readied her position as she landed with one knee planted firmly on the ground and her hand positioned in support.
"Ahahahahahahaha! What is this love for mortals that you and your friends share? We are the better race and cohabitating with our kind could save more lives than you know," Dylan swerved and found the demon reforming in front of her, "Don't worry seed of Raziel, we'll have plenty of time to dance later. For now, let me give you a little advice, careful who you trust doctor. A woman of your stature shouldn't fall captive into the wrong hands,"
"Am I supposed to swoon over your sentiment?" her voice was filled with steel now.
The demon repeatedly clicked his tongue and showed his sharp teeth, "Actually, I expect you to swoon over our sentiment. Believe me Sinclair, if I can't have you, others will…and for an old friend who possesses the scryer finding you wouldn't be much of a chore," The doctor took the dagger and quickly threw it towards the demon. The demon had turn to mist and disappeared, "See you in England,"
The blade dropped and created a loud noise like falling metal. The doctor's vision was momentarily blurred by the temper she was withholding but as her sight began to clear, the silhouette of Nick Fury began to surface, "I think it's about time you tell us your story doctor," she began to calm as she caught her breath but didn't look at the S.H.I.E.L.D boss.
Dylan's hand ran through her hair out of frustration and marched towards her blade, "First, we have to pay someone a visit,"
Fury gave the doctor a look of disdain, "A friend of yours?"
Her fingers went idly towards her neck and the teardrop jewel shone as it caught light, "Not quite,"
AN: That concludes this chapter. Confused? Killed by suspense? Tell me what you think and leave me a review Thank you for reading, I intentionally wrote a longer chapter since I'll be back for my senior year at University starting next week so, I can't say that I'll update in the same pace as the first three chapters. I had to cut this chapter, it was originally around 20+ pages, but I can't have you scrolling with tired eyes now can I? So yeah, expect an update early next week or maybe even this weekend. (Also, yes, the double line at the end of Loki and Dylan's conversation is indicative of a third person narrative, but you guys know that already).
I have based Mephistophiles on Goethe's work (try and search about it yourself, I can't tell you much specifics since it will ruin the story but hey, guess away!).
Oh yeah, as for a cover-photo or whatnot for the story, I am currently working on it and thinking of commissioning an artist or something, anyway, thanks for your time and please do drop me a review!
And as always thank you to Tom H.'s dazzling voice narrating the whole story inside my head XD
Much love,
LVS
Dylan Sinclair © LVS
The Avengers © Marvel