I got this done as soon as possible, an extra special treat for my wonderful readers, sorry it's not very long. Beware, sadness and angst ahead. Let me know what you think :)
A Promise: ch. 9
"Loki is after the hulk," came the announcement to the team from Natasha's interrogation with Loki. Jane and Thor exchanged a concerned glance and rushed the rest of the way to the lab. When they stepped inside Tony immediately ushered Jane over to the table. She was shocked by the somber manner of her normally fun seeking cousin. Beside the table stood Bruce and Steve with faces tight and arms crossed.
"Did you know about this?" Tony asked and gestured toward a large gun lying on the lab table.
Jane shook her head.
"What the hell is that?"
"Apparently S.H.I.E.L.D has been using the Tesseract to make weapons," Steve explained. "I found this while I was…exploring."
Jane could barely contain the instantaneous rage she felt at his statement.
"Are you kidding me?"
"Did you know?" Tony asked again.
"No, of course not!" Jane exclaimed. "I was brought here to study the Tesseract and its transporting abilities. Not to build guns for S.H.I.E.L.D."
Fury and Natasha walked into the lab and Fury was ready for a fight. Tony's bug had been discovered and the director was furious. It was not but minutes later that the crew erupted into a torrent of insults and harsh words. Tempers flared and one could not tell who was arguing and who was defending harmful actions that could not be understood by those who do not know war. The verbal fight soon feel into silence as Bruce Banner stood center stage, scepter in hand. Thor pushed Jane securely behind him and held out his hand, ready to summon Mjolnir at a moment's notice. She peered around his shoulder to watch Bruce struggle to breathe. His hands shook and he looked from person to person, from each hand that covered a ready weapon. Bruce's gaze finally landed on her and his eyes drowned with a sorrow she could never understand. They stayed in that silent connection for a long moment until a beep from the nearby console startled them all.
"Sorry kids, I guess you don't get to see my party trick." Bruce set the scepter down gently and disembarked from the group to check his alert. Tony moved to join him.
"That can't be right," Tony murmured. Right before the explosion.
It had not taken her long to figure out what had happened. Loki's troops were everywhere, leaving death in their smoking trail. Jane had lost sight of Thor after she had fallen through the floor and landed a level above Natasha and Bruce. She shivered involuntarily at the image of Bruce's rage-filled transformation. She watched as her new friend disappeared and a mindless beast replaced him. Jane wanted to help, to try and talk back the man that was trapped inside, but Natasha screamed at her to leave. She hated leaving the young spy to face the monster alone but Jane knew she was not trained enough for such a dangerous task. But there was something she could do. Jane reloaded her pistol and headed to the cell area.
Jane crept up slowly, keeping her footsteps light like Natasha had taught. Her heart thumped rapidly, threatening to burst out of her chest but still she could not breathe. She had arrived at the cell area unnoticed only to find Thor trapped inside Loki's one time cage with Loki taunting him on the outside.
Loki was still unaware of her presence and she moved closer, praying she remained undetected. Jane reached for the pistol at her waist when she noticed Thor's gaze on her. His eyes widened in fear. Too late. Loki had noticed as well. He spun around at the same time she raised her weapon to his head. Loki's lips quirked up in a malicious smile.
"Hello, Jane." He slowly raised his hands.
"Move away from the console, Loki!" She ordered and stepped closer to him. Her arms shook from raw nerves but she was proud of herself for keeping the gun and her voice steady. Loki shook his head and stayed in his current position.
"You cannot stop me, Jane," Loki informed her. His green irises sparked in mania and his voice turned dark. "If you surrender I will let you live."
"I think you misunderstand, Loki. I am the one pointing the gun at you."
He did not have a chance to answer. An explosion rocked the cell area sending Jane flying off her feet. She landed hard on her back, the wind completely knocked out of her lungs. Her ears buzzed from the explosion but she could vaguely hear Thor shouting her name. She sat up, ignoring the screaming protest of her muscles and reached for her weapon. Four armed men ducked through the hole created by the explosion. Jane recognized them as Loki's turned allies. She did not want to shoot them as they had once been good men of S.H.I.E.L.D but she had no choice. Jane aimed and dropped all four men within moments. Smoke now covered the entirety of the cell area and Jane was blinded to Loki's new location. She spun about, frantically, coughing and waving smoke out of her face. She could not see a thing.
"Jane, move!" Thor shouted and Jane turned to see a barely visible Loki charging at her with his scepter in hand. Jane dodged out of the way, just missing the deadly blade at the tip on the scepter. Jane rolled a few feet before hopping off the ground and dropped into a fighting stance. Loki growled and charged again nut Jane was waiting for him. She recited the lessons silently that Natasha had given her and time slowed as Loki drew near. He swung his scepter at her head but she ducked and kicked out, hitting him straight in the knee. He dropped the scepter and cried out in pain. Jane kicked the weapon out of his reach just as he grasped her arm and yanked her down. They both jumped off the floor and Jane swung her fist aiming for his face but he caught her swing and knocked her away. She rushed at him and this time his fist collided with her jaw and she fell to the floor, dizzy with pain. Her view was blurred but she could see Loki's shadow bending down to pick up his scepter. She shook her head to clear her gaze but was overwhelmed by the searing pain from Loki's blow. She saw him turn and point his weapon at the cage Thor was trapped in. If he fired the weapon Thor would probably die in the resulting explosion.
"No," she tried to scream but it came out more as a muffled moan. She slowly stood shakily to her feet and moved as fast as she could manage towards Loki, intending to tackle him away from Thor. Before she could reach him he suddenly faded away, completely disappeared, catching her by surprise.
"What the hell?" She shouted and looked around.
His laugh echoed behind her.
She spun and found herself mere centimeters away from the poisonous tip of the Tesseract's scepter. She glanced up from the tip to meet Loki's sinister glare. His teeth showed through as his lips curved up.
"You have lost, Jane."
Thor banged on the glass of the cage and Jane looked over at him, pained by the distraught expression on his face.
"Leave her alone, Loki! This battle is between you and me."
Loki craned his head and snarled.
"You are in no position to make demands."
"I am begging you, Loki. Please don't hurt her." The pain in his voice rang through her soul.
Loki laughed.
"I am not going to hurt her." He returned his sights to her. "I am going to show her the Truth."
Jane shook her head and managed a whisper.
"You don't have to do this."
"Oh but I do," he reasoned. "My brother has always gotten whatever he wanted. But he will not have you."
Thor banged on the glass in fury.
"I swear to you, Loki, if you do this…I will end you," Thor threatened, his voice deep and dangerous.
Loki did not care to heed him.
"Say goodbye, Thor."
Jane looked over at the cage and caught eyes with the wonderful man she had fallen for. His blue depths drowned in tears as a single wet trail slid down his bronzed skin. She ached to hold him, one last time. Jane pictured the feeling of safety she always had whenever in his arms. She held that feeling tight; it would be with her always, no matter what Loki did to her.
"Jane…," he whispered and palmed one hand against the glass.
Jane's lips turned into a sad smile.
"I love you," she said, her voice watery and sincere. His eyes widened first in delight and then in rage. Loki did not give him a chance to respond in kind. The last thing Jane heard was Thor's agonizing scream as Loki touched the tip to her chest. The world faded to black and a foreign coldness washed over her. She could no longer feel her limbs. She could not control her actions. Jane had been locked inside a box in a tiny part of her mind and Loki had the rest of her.
"Come, Jane, we have work to do." Loki waved his hand forward and Jane felt her legs begin to move. She screamed, but her mouth did not work. It was her nightmare come to life. Her body dutifully followed her new master; like a puppet attached to chains. She willed her head to turn. It moved slowly, painfully towards Thor. He raged against the glass, screaming curses at his brother. A sharp, unbearable pain struck her brain like an ice pick, punishing her for her willfulness against the master, the Tesseract.
Loki stopped at the console and without a second look, pressed the button and released Thor's prison into the atmosphere. Inside, Jane cried.
