Chapter 7
"Picking Up the Pieces"
"Clint!" she cried as her arms wrapped themselves around the agent who returned it with as much as enthusiasm as she.
"We have to move, this building could collapse any second!" he said as they ran out and met up Captain America and Thor outside. Elsa did a head count and realized they were missing three; her father, Natasha, and Banner.
"Where is papa?" she asked and looked to Steve who was listening to a conversation through his ear piece.
"Then shut it down!" Steve screamed, "Stark those things are still coming!" Elsa was confused at hearing only half of the conversation so Barton handed his ear piece over to her so she could hear.
"I've got a nuke coming in that'll blow in less than a minute… And I know just where to put it." Tony stated and Elsa's heart dropped.
"Stark, you know that's a one way trip?" the Captain asked as he looked towards Elsa.
"Papa! Don't do this! It's suicide!" she finally exclaimed as he flew over them with the missile on his back. They all watched as Iron Man disappeared through the portal and, before the line went dead Elsa heard Tony say, "I love you, Elsa…" then static and the Chitauri fell dead around them.
"Close it." Steve ordered Natasha and Elsa rounded on him.
"No! Keep it open! If that portal closes, I'll never see him again!" she screamed and pounded her fists on Steve's chest. Thor came forward and grabbed the woman around the waist then yanked her away from anyone as she continued to flail and scream then sob as the portal began closing.
Minutes passed and Elsa sat on her knees on the ground after Thor placed her there to calm down. Then the Captain's voice spoke up, "Son of a gun." They all gazed up to see Tony come out of the portal before it sealed up completely.
"He's not slowing down!" Thor exclaimed as he began to spin Mjolnir, but there was no need for Hulk caught the Man of Iron and they landed more smoothly than originally anticipated. The group ran over as Hulk sat up after rolling Iron Man off only to have Thor roll him onto his back and rip his face plate off while Steve stooped down to listen for a heartbeat but didn't find one. Elsa came running and slid behind Tony and placed his head in her lap.
"Papa…? Papa, open your eyes… Damn it papa, I know you can hear me!" she cried as tears fell and Thor stooped next to her and placed an arm around her shaking shoulders. They stood stayed like this for a few moments until Hulk roared in anger and sorrow. When he did, Elsa felt the head in her lap move and her father's gasp for breath as if waking from a nightmare.
"What the hell?! What just happened?! Please tell me nobody kissed me!"
"We won…" Steve stated tiredly.
"Yay… Alright… You know what, let's just not come in tomorrow… Let's just take a day…" the Man of Iron said and sat up slowly.
"Papa, you're alive!" Elsa yelled in joy and embraced her father around the neck.
"Oh baby girl, I'm so glad you're safe!" he smiled and clutched to his girl for dear life.
"It's not over yet…" they heard Captain America state and they all looked towards Stark Tower. When they all arrived, they found Loki on the steps in pain from the Hulk's handiwork of imprinting him into the floor. The god turned to face them and Elsa had to fight the urge to go to him and tend to his obvious pains.
"If it's all the same to you… I'll have that drink now." He said defeated.
The very next day, Elsa found herself, with the rest of the team, in Central Park waiting to send Thor and Loki back to Asgard with the Tesseract. The mischief maker god was shackled around the wrists and had a guard over his mouth to prevent him from speaking. Elsa approached the gathering as the Tesseract was being readied.
Clint and Natasha stood together and as Elsa neared them she heard Nat say, "He looks like a bondage slave." And made Barton smirk. As she stood by herself, Elsa and Loki's eyes met. The contact didn't break as Loki bid Elsa forward with his head. Against her better judgment, the ice princess came towards him and pulled out a manila folder from his robes. Slightly taken aback by this mysterious folder, Elsa reached up and removed the mouth guard.
"This folder contains all the evidence to convict Markson, though I don't think you'll need it." He stated simply as the woman took the folder in her hand and placed it under her arm.
"Thank you…" she whispered and placed the cover back on but as she pulled away, Loki grasped her hands in his as their eyes connected once more. His green eyes seemed to hold the very universe in them and Elsa realized she could stare into those forever and never get tired of it. Thor came forward with the Tesseract in hand.
"Forgive me, Lady Elsa, but we must take our leave." The thunderer apologized and Loki released her hands. She broke their eye contact to hug Thor but turned again to face the trickster before Tony stepped forward, placed his hands on her shoulders, and gently pulled her back. Thor then held the Tesseract for Loki to grasp the other side and when he did the two of them disappeared in a flash of blue light without a trace.
"Elsa, you coming?" Tony asked as he and Bruce got into the car.
"I'll meet you back at the tower, papa… I'm going to go for a walk." She stated then left to find a bench to sit on and opened the folder which was labeled: ICE PRINCESS: TOP SECRET. Her heart sank as she began to read.
A.N.: I'm sorry this chapter is short! I promise I am working on continuing this story so be patient with me! Please review!
