Disclaimer:

I own nothing, all rights go to Marvel and Disney.

oOo

Fuel to Fire

oOo

Chapter 8

The darkness was overwhelming.

He was hiding. It was so dark, that he couldn't even see his hands in front of him. He didn't know why he was hiding, but even though he couldn't even see himself, he felt exposed. He didn't breath, he didn't move. He didn't even know if he could move.

'You have disappointed me, my son.'

The voice sounded in his head. 'I will find you and bring you pain like you have never known before.'

A bright flash of blue, of hands piercing his body, stripping him of his skin and flesh. And he screamed in silence, and he remembered why he couldn't see or speak or breath – he'd had his eyes scratched long ago, his lungs had been ripped from his body and his tongue; he'd ripped it out himself.

'You are nothing. Nobody searches for nothing. You are alone.' He remained still as the voice disappeared, leaving him alone with nothing but the words ringing in his head.

In the darkness, in a hole so deep he couldn't see himself let alone his enemies, he couldn't do anything but agree. He didn't breath and his lunges screamed for air. But he refused to give in. Instead, he dug deeper and deeper, so that the voice may never find him again. The only thing in his mind was that he had to bury himself deep beneath the Universe and hope the taunting voice would never, ever, find him again.


"Thanos is after the Infinity Stones."

Thors voice was deep, and grave. He stared at the table in front of him, his fisted hands turning white with the words.

"This is ill news. I will need to bring the Tesseract and Loki sceptre to Asgard as soon as possible. There the gems can be safe until the threat of Thanos has been fought off by Asgards armies. I will need to.."

Tony raised his hand, snapping his fingers to get Thors attention. "Hey! Yeah, don't think Fury will let you do that." the engineer informed, his voice sceptical. Thors face grew dark, as he stood up.

"Do you not understand what danger we are all in? If Fury keeps the gems from me, I will take them by force. Them being here, on Midgard, brings all humans at an immediate risk. They cannot remain here with Thanos on the move!"

Tony threw up his hands. "Hey, time out! I'm on your side, Point Break! The sooner we can get the weird stones off Earth the better, but that doesn't change the fact that Fury won't let you leave until he has what he wants."

"Do you think that you can keep them from me?" Thor asked, the thinly veiled threat in his voice quite clear. Steve stood up, his posture relaxed but his eyes focused and alarmed.

"Thor, calm down. We will help you. It is in Earth and all her inhabitants best interests that you get the stones back to Asgard as soon as possible. However, there is something I don't understand – what is Lokis part in all this? If Thanos wants the stones, how come Loki had the Mind Gem? Where did he find it?"

"I guess we'll have to wait and ask him when he wakes up." Natasha said, her eyes turning from Steve to Thor. "You know something." she inquired, looking at Thor. "I know you do. I saw Loki whisper to you just before he passed out. What was it?"

Thor hesitated, before turning his attention to Clint.

"Friend Barton – when you were under Lokis spell, you were freed when Natasha punched you hard in the head, is that correct understood of me?"

Clint nodded, his face growing dark with the memory. They hadn't actually talked about that yet, in the group. The others fell silent, as they waited for his reply

"Cognitive Recalibration. Knocks some sense into you." he said, voice curtly. He then frowned.

"Why do you ask?"

Thor looked devastated. "Before Loki fell unconscious, he whispered that to me - cognitive recalibration. I am sure. I fear that Thanos has Loki under the same spell as you were, only instead of the Mind Gem it is the Reality Gem. It would explain why he can't remember all these events correctly – Thanos is altering his memories, his reality. When friend Hulk -" Bruce shook his head at the name, a faint smile on his face "- hit Loki, it had the same effect as when Natasha hit you, friend Clint. It released him from the stones power, for a moment until he fell unconscious."

They all stared at him, in various states of disbelief and shock.

"No way, that's insane!" Clint spoke, standing up, leaning over the table, looking Thor in the eyes. The archers eyes were practically glowing with resentment. "What purpose would that even have? What would Thanos even want with a nut job like Loki? Where would he even have met Loki, didn't you say that Thanos was banished from the Universe?"

"The Void!" Natasha shot straight up in her chair, as the realisation hit her. "That's what Loki said, just before he grabbed me – 'He found me.' - he was talking about Thanos, I am sure!"

"Didn't you say Loki was terrified?" asked Steve, confusion in his voice. "If Loki is helping Thanos, why would he be afraid of him?"

"I am not so sure it's voluntarily." Natasha said darkly, as she looked at Thor. "Remember what Thor said about Thanos' daughters? How he seeks out and enslaves those he deems strong or expendable to his cause?" she looked at Steve. "What it that's what happened to Loki? What if Thanos found him in the Void? What if Thanos resuced Loki, only to enslave him and use him as a pawn?"

Thor looked positively horrified with the idea, while the rest of the avengers varied from Clint's doubtful expression to Steve's thoughtful.

"But -" Bruce said, speaking up "- didn't Thanos get the Reality Gem after Loki arrived here on earth? If Thanos only got it into his possession earlier this week, that can't be what controlled Loki."

Thor looked relived, and Natasha looked uncertain. "That doesn't explain why Loki said somebody found him in the Void." she pointed out, her expression doubtful.

"Thanos could've found him in the Void, even without the Reality Gem." reasoned Tony, tapping his finger on the table. "None of us knows anything about that place, but if I understand it correctly, the Void is another version of a black hole. Once you're in it, you can access it from another point of the universe – it bends. Say Thanos is still banished – he can't get back in, but he is able to reach into the Void because it is not a part of the Universe, it is beyond its walls. Wouldn't that be possible?" he ran a hand across his face, looking at Thor with a tired look.

The thunder god nodded. "Your understanding of the Void is correct. If Thanos has learned to reach into the Void, it is entirely possible that he can have found Loki. Though I dread to even think about it."

"So, Loki's been under the influence of the Reality Gem, making him remember differently – big deal. I can't exactly see why that even matters." Clint argued. Thor growled in his throat, but Clint continued unfased.

"It wasn't Thanos who attacked Earth – it was Loki. It wasn't Thanos who killed all those people, it was Loki. It wasn't Thanos that controlled me, it was Loki! Are all of your forgetting what he did?!"

Thor eyed Clint darkly, fingering slightly with his hammer. Steve sighed.

"We wont know for certain until Loki wakes up. But I think that you're getting your personal vendetta against Loki cloud your judgement, agent Barton." he said, his voice leaving no place for argument. "You've heard what Natasha and Thor has said, and we've all seen the interviews. You've seen Loki smash his hand to pieces, completely terrified of something we couldn't see, and still you claims that nothing has changed? A lot has changed since New York, and I'm beginning to get the feeling that we'll learn a lot more when Loki actually wakes up."

Clint didn't reply, he merely stood up and left the room. Natasha looked after him, her eyes worried but she didn't go up to follow him.

"He'll be fine." she reassured Steve. "It's difficult for him. He'll come around once his head is completely back in order."

"And I understand that." Steve replied, turning to Bruce. "Any idea when Loki will wake up?"

Bruce shrugged. "Hard to say. He heals faster than any one I've ever seen, but he is weak. It could be days or even weeks."

"So while we wait for him to come about, how 'bout we get to the other matter – the Infinity Stones currently here on Earth. I agree with Thor, I would much prefer to send them far far away as soon as possible." Tony said, earning a grateful smile from the god.

"I can take us to shield headquarters for you to meet Fury and ask him." Natasha said, standing up.

"I have a feeling it's a subject best handled face to face. Or, in this case, god to human."


Natasha had piloted the Quinjet to Washington DC the same night, to the shield headquaters, carrying Thor, Steve, Tony and herself. Bruce remained behind to look after Loki and Clint had disappeared. They had left him instructions to where they'd gone, and hoped the archer would either return to Stark Tower (or Avengers Tower as Tony had dubbed it on their flight) or meet up with them in DC (Tony and Thor didn't seem to understand that normal people without magic hammers and iron suits couldn't transport themselves several hundreds of miles in a matter of minutes).

After they had landed, Natasha had showed them in. The looks they got would've amused Tony, had it not been on such a serious matter. He looked around curiously. He, of course, knew everything about the headquaters (having poked around shields ridicously insecure systems when he had trouble sleeping or hiding from Pepper), but it was still impressive to see in real life. The sheer amount of people. Normally looking office women and men, carrying around their little sad briefcases. It was easy enough to spot the agents from actual office people. They didn't stop up and stare as the group of super heroes walked casually through the lobby.

Tony shot Thor a look through the corner of his eye. The god looked worried, and didn't seem to notice the amount of stares he was getting. Lucky chap.

"This way." Natasha let them to the elevator, once having explained to Thor that it would be considered rude to use Mjölnir to fly up to Fury's office. They all went in, and Natasha cleared their acces. The doors closed, shutting away the many staring eyes.

They rode the elevator in silence. When the door opened, Thor was the first to walk out, the others following closely behind.

"Well, this is a surprise." Fury's voice sounded as they strode into his office. He stood up, his back to them, overlooking the city. When the visitors stopped, he turned around. His expression was not very friendly.

"A pleasent one, I hope?" Steve replied, as they walked towards the shield director.

Fury snorted. "The remains to be seen. I have this feeling, that each time any of you are near me or my property, trouble follows you closely behind."

Tony could only nod to that, he had noticed a similar pattern. "Close, but no cigar." he replied with a smirk.

Fury croaked an eyebrow. "Thought not. What can I do for you? Did the medic I sent not do her job satisfactory?"

"She did." Thor answered, his voice tight. "Loki is not in any danger now. Banner is with him."

Fury barked out a laugh. "Banner? I would've thought you'd keep him a little further away from your brother after that incident, not make him nurse and caretaker."

"Bruce is nothing of the sorts, director. Bruce is our doctor, and most qualified to make sure nothing happens while Thor is here." Steve replied, nothing bothering to sound angry. Fury knew all this.

"Mhhmm." Fury nodded, looking at Thor. "And why are you here, Thor? Since it's a request that obviously couldn't be dealt with over the phone, I guess it's not good."

"Give me the Tesseract, and Loki's staff. I have to return them to Asgard." Thor said, his voice demanding. Tony almost slapped himself. They kept forgetting that Thor was a prince, and used to not having his orders questioned.

Fury stared at the asgardian prince, not backing down.

"That was not what we agreed." he remarked, voice dry.

"I am aware of that director, but things have changed. A powerful foe is after both the Tesseract and the staff – should they remain here on Midgard it will put you people at great risk."

Fury nodded, walking around his desk. "And who is this great foe, pray tell? One of you brothers friends?"
Thor's gaze grew dark, and Fury noted the grave expressions of the other avengers.
"His name is Thanos, and he is worse. Much worse." Thor replied.

"So, let me see if I understand this correctly." Fury summarised as he and the avengers stood in the elevator bringing to their destination.

"You believe, that an intergalactic warlord pulled Loki out of the Void, tortured him and forced him to go to Earth, to get the Tesseract whom this Thanos somehow knew was located on Earth. Thanos have then proceeded to use another of these infinity stones to mess with Loki's head, and sending him one a one way trip to insanity?" When Thor and the others nodded, Fury whistled.

"And here I hoped the reason for you visit was that you wanted me to pay your bills."

"It's on its way in the mail." Tony said. "I got Pepper to mail it. Didn't know how to do that, but I thought it would be delightfully old fashioned – you seem to like old. This elevator, what two years old? Come on Fury!"

Fury stared at him, and Tony stared back, smirking. Fury decided to ignore him as the elevator opened and he exited, the others following him.

"If what you think is true, I would want the staff or the Tesseract to remain on Earth for much longer. You sure Thanos won't come for Loki?"

"We doubt it." Natasha explained. "Thanos seems to mess with Loki's head from a great distance. What ever he tasked Loki to do, Loki failed. Right now, Loki's an abandoned solider, maybe a traitor. I'm sure Thanos would love to get his hands on him, but he can't reach him. Thanos wants the stones. Loki failed to get them, which means Thanos will only get another to go fetch them. They will only be safe in Asgard."

Fury turned to Thor. "So, if I give you the two stones, you'll take them to Asgard, but leave Loki on Earth?" he asked as they walked down the empty corridor.

The Thunder god nodded. "That was our agreement. I can't deny that I would much prefer to have him in Asgard where our mother could help him, but it will have to wait. He will remain here, as agreed."

"Good." they stopped in front of a locked door.
"Fury, Nicholas J."
"Voice scan complete. Welcome director."

The door swung open, and they entered.

"I wan't give you the Tesseract or the staff." Fury then said as he walked over to a container. He opened it, to reveal the Tesseract. Thor looked at him with a frown.

"But," Fury gently lifted the Tesseract out of its holder into a transport case. "Should it simple vanish, there isn't much I can do about it." the director offered the case to Thor, who accepted with a small smile.
Fury walked further down, and opened another cabinet, the avengers following him. They expected to see the staff, but the cabinet was empty.

"Where is it?" asked Tony. "Where's the staff?"
Fury swore, and quickly dialed a number. "Agent Hill? Washington, now!" he barked, slamming the cabinet shut again, before walking quickly towards the door.

"Where is Loki's staff? Have you lost it?!" Thor exclaimed, anger in his voice as he walked quickly up besides the director.

"I have not lost anything!" Fury barked, not looking back at Thor. "It's been stolen."

"Great." Tony muttered as he, Steve and Nastasha followed. "I thought only one super villian was a little too easy."


Bruce kept a close eye on Loki. The god looked like death, but in reality Bruce knew he was healing, and healing fast. The speed worried him. He knew Thor and Loki was close in invincible to what humans would describe as deathly wounds. But it had to take a massive toll on the gods body, no matter his abilities. Or else he wouldn't be still like this. There had been absolutely no sign of consciousness the entire time the others had been away. Bruce hoped nothing would happen until Thor got back. He could deal with an unconscious Loki, but a mad, terrified, screaming god was not on his list of personal favorites.

"Bruce? Oh my god, Bruce, what happened?!"

He looked up, to find Pepper in the doorway. She looked shocked, and yet not as shocked as he would've expected.
"Loki and Hulk had a disagreement." he replied tightly, before offering he a weak smile. "He's unconscious."

Pepper cautiously walked into the room, towards the bed and Bruce who was in the middle of changing his bandages.
"Oh my lord.." she whispered. "Is he alive?"

"Oh yes. Out like a light, but alive."

Pepper didn't respond, she merely looked at the pained expression of the unconscious Loki.

Bruce worked on, not really sure what to say.

"Where's Tony?" Pepper then asked, looking at the doctor.

"DC." Bruce replied, finishing the bandage. "He, Thor, Steve and Nastasha went to see Fury."

"And the last one – mr. Barton?"

"Somewhere in the city. He needed a break from asgardians. He'll be back."

She nodded and watched Bruce pack up his things. As Bruce turned his back, she returned her gaze to Loki's face. The skin was pale an bruised. She could see the veins stand blue against the whiteness. She froze. Blue eyes stared right back in her own. Loki was awake. She opened her mouth to alert Bruce, but then stopped. This man in front of her, he was a terrorist. A murderer. He'd tried to kill Tony. To conquer her home plant. He was insane, unstable. She'd seen him destroy his own hand, laughing like maniac.

"Bruce.." the name sounded oddly distant in her own ears. She vaguely registered Bruce turning his attention to her and the patient. She stared at Loki, and he stared back. Pepper knew her face was shocked, perhaps even afraid. Which was why she couldn't comprehend why Loki looked completely and utterly terrified.


I feared Thor's demand would be too OOC, but I actually believes that he would slip into his old ways (minus the recklessness and arrogance) when a situation is serious enough. He is, after all, a trained soldier and a leader of his people.

I'm so sorry I completely disappeared on you guys. Told you updates would be irregular.
I hope the wait haven't been too long. I ran into some stress/breakdown problems a few months ago which caused me to push everything else away. But, my energy is slowly returning now and I'm back to writing! Hurray! I didn't realize how much I missed it.

I can't tell how long until next chapter will be posted. But as always, your lovely reviews and faves sure helps the process :)