Wow you guys! Over 100 reviews and almost 9,000 views! That means so much to me. Here is the much awaited Avengers chapter, I hope you like it. Sorry it took so long, I wanted to get it just right. Once again, I love hearing what you think so let me know. Thanks for reading! =D
I felt like I had just done a trust fall and nobody had caught me; I landed with a thud on my back on what looked to be a glass table. I sat up and rubbed the back of my head; I really need to quit landing on tables, it is very unpleasant. I looked around to see a group of very familiar people staring at me. Bruce was staring at me in amazement, Tony was just grinning at me and 'Tatiana' looked like she couldn't believe I was there and Thor had a look of delight on his face. Wait, I'm missing someone.
Before I could say anything, two large hands gripped my shoulders and turned me around. I looked up into deep blue eyes.
"Anna?!" The very shocked face of Steve Rodgers studied mine; he started beaming at me, before he picked me up and twirled me around. I was surprised to say the least. Once again, before I could get a word out, someone else beat me to it.
"Hey, get your hands off my sister!" Suddenly all the attention was on a very outraged Tony. The shock on everybody's face intensified with his declaration. Thor coughed.
"Lady Anna is your sister?" Tony glared at him. We both spoke at the same time.
"She's adopted."
"I'm adopted." Tony winked at me, and then returned to glaring at Thor.
"Yeah, she's my sister. How do you know her?" Thor smiled.
"Lady Anna spent time in Asgard. I came to know her then." Before Tony could interrogate me, Bruce spoke up.
"That's very nice. Now Captain why don't you release Anna, hmm?"
Steve who still had his arms around me, swiftly removed his hands and stepped back. Both Tony and Bruce visibly calmed down. I jumped off the table and being the clumsy person I am, I almost face planted. But a strong pair of arms caught me before I could fall. I once again looked into big blue eyes.
"Uh, hi. I don't believe we've met." If a person could look any more shocked, he did.
"What do you mean? We were…" He trailed off and looked me right in the eye, and seeing my confusion frowned. "You really don't know who I am, do you?"
"No, I'm sorry."
I knew who he was, but this was the first time I'd met him. I felt bad I couldn't tell him differently, the look on his face was heartbreaking. A growl and someone clearing their throat interrupted whatever he was going to say. Steve, who was still holding me upright, looked up to see Tony and Bruce glaring at him. He quickly let go while leveling his own glare at the two. Well this is awkward.
"Lady Anna, it is so good to see you again!" The mini glare fest was broken by Thor's booming voice. I smiled at him.
"It's good to see you too big guy." Tony who'd had enough of the chit chat, came over and hugged me; after pushing the Captain out of the way.
"What took you so long Lisey?" I hugged him back and laughed.
"I missed you too T." A soft 'Ahem' got both of our attention; I saw that my favorite doctor was standing just behind Tony. I let go of Tony and ran over and attacked him in a hug, most likely sending all of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents watching reaching for their guns.
"I told you I would see you again, didn't I?" The next part I said where only he could hear. "A girl needs her dad, you know." He grinned at me.
"I'm glad to see you too Anna." We jumped apart when a certain redhead appeared right in front of us. She just looked at me for a minute.
"It is you." I smiled at her.
"Tatiana, I would recognize you anywhere."
"Actually it's Natasha." She gave me a small smile. "I kept them." What…oh the scarf and gloves. I smirked at her.
"Good, they were a gift. And it really made your eyes pop." It was a perfect moment, all the people I cared about in one room, excepting Betty and Pepper. Thor just had to ruin it.
"Lady An-"
"What did I say about that?" He chuckled.
"Anna, then. There is something you must know." His face grew dark. "Loki is here; he survived." Everyone tensed at the mention of Loki. Tony reacted the worst.
"What does Lisey have to do with that maniac?!" Before Thor could say anything, I snapped at him.
"Don't talk about him like that!" Tony looked flabbergasted at my reaction, everyone did. Except Thor, he sighed and bowed his head.
"Anna, he is not the same. His mind has been poisoned by his hatred."
"I refuse to believe he is beyond saving. He was there for me when I needed him; I will not desert him." A new voice startled us all.
"Good to know, maybe you can get something more out of him. Agent Romanoff already interrogated him, so if you can get anything more…" All of us turned around to see Nick Fury staring us down. "You must be Anna. We have quite the file on you; but it has some gaps, so I need you to come and answer some questions first." At this Tony, Bruce, Thor and Steve jumped up and stood in front of me. Nice, but unneeded guys, I can handle it myself. Steve was first to speak.
"I don't think that will be necessary, director." Tony jumped in, not to be out done.
"No way! You're not sticking her in a tiny room to be interrogated for hours!" Thor just stood there looking imposing; Fury glared at them.
"We just need to ask som-" Bruce interrupted him.
"You heard them." His eyes flashed green. "Anna doesn't have to go anywhere." I came and put my hand on his arm.
"Geez dad, overprotective much." He looked at me and his eyes returned to the soft brown I was used to.
"Very touching, but Stark and Dr. Banner need to get to work." I smirked at Fury.
"Well if these two eggheads are busy, I want to see Loki." Before anyone could protest, Fury cut in.
"Fine. Captain if you would show Anna to the holding cell, Agent Romanoff escort Dr. Banner and Stark back to the lab." Then he turned and left, signaling we were dismissed. Tony scoffed and turned to me with surprised eyes.
"Dad? You call the guy who turns into a giant green rage monster dad?" I scowled at him.
"Yes Tony I do. And I hear you call him a monster again you're going to regret it!" I frowned at him.
"I don't want to fight with you; I just got here." He sighed and smiled.
"Okay Lisey; you can pick whoever you want to be your family. As long as I'm still your favorite." I laughed.
"You will always be my favorite brother Tony, now I've got to go." He gave me the puppy dog eyes.
You could come and hang out with us in the lab, if you want." I just gave him a look.
"That worked a lot better when you were four, but nice try." He sighed.
"Okay, just be careful." He looked at Steve and narrowed his eyes.
"Keep your distance Capsicle." I rolled my eyes. Boys.
"Alright then, let's go." Tasha left with Tony and Bruce, leaving Thor, Steve and myself just standing there.
"Thank you Anna, I think he might listen to you." Thor smiled at me. "I must go, I want to know more about where they put Jane." He walked off to find Fury. I jumped when I heard Steve speak.
"Can I start over? I mean I didn't make the best first impression." I raised a brow at him.
"Um, sure…" He smiled sheepishly and stuck his hand out.
"I'm Steve Rodgers, pleasure to meet you ma'am." I looked at his offered hand for a brief second, then shook it.
"Annalise Harrison, but call me Anna. And don't call me ma'am, that makes me sound old." He grinned like I had said something funny.
"Alright then, just Anna. Call me Steve." I smiled at him.
"Now Steve, how's about you show me where Loki is?" His face fell and he sighed.
"If there's no changing your mind?" I narrowed my eyes at him. "Okay then, follow me." We started off down one of the numerous hallways, to reunite me with my best friend.
I left Anna after she entered a heavily guarded door; she insisted that I didn't need to go in with her. I wandered down the hall to see if I could find the lab where Stark and Banner were. I'm still can't believe that she's really here, I thought I'd never see Anna again. And she looks just the same! But why doesn't she know me? We went through so much together…I thought we were… Maybe something she said would help me figure out why she doesn't remember me. What was the last thing she said to me? It was when I was on the HYDRA ship…we were talking on the radio. She told me I would see her again, but it would be different. Did Anna know this would happen? I don't know…I do know that I can't lose her again. Just having her here is amazing. I may not be able to make her remember, but I know this time I won't mess up. Coming out of my thoughts I found the lab just in time to see Stark poke Banner with something. Is he crazy!?
After convincing Steve I didn't need him to come in with me, I went in a door guarded by at least eight agents. There was a huge see-through cylindrical cage in the middle of the room, and inside with his back to me, was Loki. I just looked at him for a moment, I hated seeing him like this. He must have sensed someone was in the room because, without turning around he spoke.
"Have you come to mock me? How juvenile." I smirked and walked closer to the cage holing my friend.
"No, that wasn't my intention, but I can if you want." The speed he turned around at was dizzying. The look of shock on his face was comical. Had I finally struck him speechless?
"A-Anna? How did…what are…" His eyes fell on my bracelet and a look of understanding flashed across his face.
"I thought I would never see you again." I smiled softly.
"I missed you too Loki." Then my voice grew sharp and I scowled at him. "But if you ever do that to me again, you'll be in big trouble mister! Do you know what I went through?! Watching my best friend be sucked into a big spacy hole of darkness, it was heartbreaking! I had no idea what happened to you, and then I had to leave…"
He winced, actually looking regretful.
"I'm sorry Anna." The corners of my mouth twitched.
"You'd better be." I cracked a grin. "I kept practicing you know, I'm quite proficient in Asgardian, reading and writing come much easier now." He smiled at me.
"Good, I'm glad you kept up with it." He looked at me and frowned, noticing the bags under my eyes.
"Anna, when was the last time you a good meal and some sleep?" Well…I didn't eat the day before the experiment (I was too nervous) and I certainly didn't sleep the night before. Medicated sleep doesn't really count, so…two and half days ago.
"Well…about two and a half days ago?" He sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Still up in the clouds little dreamer? So much that you forgot to take care of yourself again?" I shot him a playful glare.
"Well, I didn't have you around to remind me."
And it was true, in Asgard I would often loose track of time and forget to eat; when I was particularly busy (or nervous) I would forgo sleep as well. When I finally started to take my lessons from Loki seriously I would study late into the night and totally forget about eating and sleeping. I would only remember because Loki knocked on my door to remind me to go to sleep or come out to eat, sometimes he would just magically appear and scare the living daylights out of me. He got a kick out of it, that's for sure.
"I'm here now though." I eyed him incredulously.
"Yes. In a huge glass cage." He just smirked at me.
"Why yes. I does look that way." Too many people in my life talk in sarcasm, good thing I speak it fluently.
"Why don't you tell me what you did to get put in there, hmm?" Right as he opened his mouth to answer, a huge explosion rocked the Helicarrier knocking me down.
"Anna! Are you alright?" I shakily stood up and wiped the blood off of my busted lip.
"Yeah I'm fine. What was that?" His eyes flicked from me to the doors.
"Our ride." Oh okay th…wait what. Our ride? I looked up and was met with a shock. Loki's eyes! They had been gray-green, but now they were a bluish color. Something is wrong with him. His face contorted into a vicious sneer, but before I could say anything he disappeared. Right as I was about to say something, I felt a hand cover my mouth and pull me into the corner of the room. I turned around to see Loki snigger and look at the cage; one of his magical duplicates was standing in the open cage. Thor had come in and seeing that the door was open ran for 'Loki' and went right through him; the real Loki (well I think it was the real one, I'm not sure maybe the one standing with me was the real one) then went to the control panel and closed him inside. If the situation hadn't been so serious I would have laughed; Thor trapped in a big fish bowl was kinda funny. I stepped forward to tell him to stop, but I realized that I couldn't see myself. Darn him, he turned me invisible! Why, is the question though…
"Are you ever not going to fall for that?" He moved to drop the cage into the air. "The humans think us immortal. Should we test that?" His silky voice sounded wrong, sinister almost. It wasn't the same voice that could trick me into believing that the sky would turn colors for a special Asgardian holiday, or fooled me into thinking that his and Thor's birthdays were celebrated throughout the entire realm.
Right as he was about to send the cage plummeting to the earth a voice halted him. We all looked to see Agent Coulson standing in the doorway, holding a huge blaster of sorts. I had met him briefly on way to see Loki. He was trying to be very subtle about his fanboying over Cap, it wasn't really working.
"Move away please."
Loki stepped away from the controls. Wait, Coulson! Loki's gonna…kill him. I can't let him do that, he's not in his right mind.
"Do you like this? We started working on the prototype after you sent The Destroyer. Even I don't know what it does."
I turned around to tell him exactly why this was wrong in every way possible, but he wasn't there. The sound of Colson charging the gun grabbed my attention. Invisible or not, I have to do something.
"Do you wanna find out?" I ran to where Coulson was standing shoved him right as Loki materialized behind him. The impact pushed Coulson to the side, not enough for Loki to miss him, but enough to save his life. He still fell to the ground, Loki got him pretty good. Thor who was still trapped, saw everything and assumed the worst.
"NO!" The look Thor gave Loki was full of disappointment, betrayal and sorrow at his brother's deeds. Loki completely disregarded him and proceeded to drop the cage into the air, despite my invisible tugging on his arm. He turned to Coulson when the fallen agent spoke.
"You're gonna lose." Loki smirked at him.
"Am I?" Even though he was on the floor bleeding, Coulson still had razor sharp wit.
"It's in your nature." Loki almost laughed at that.
"Your heroes are scattered. Your floating fortress falls from the sky. Where is my disadvantage?" Coulson smiled grimly.
"You lack conviction." Loki raised a brow.
"I don't think I…" The end of his sentence was cut short when a blast very similar to the Destroyer hit him in the chest, sending him flying into a wall.
"So that's what it does…"
I glanced over at Loki, trying to determine if he was okay. Yeah, he'll be fine, Coulson on the other hand... I ran over to where he lay on the floor. The bleeding was pretty bad, so I ripped off part of my shirt (once I'd ripped it off it became visible) and tried to stop the bleeding. As I was still not visible, I startled the man.
"Who's there?" I pressed the piece fabric to the bleeding gash and put pressure to it.
"Coulson, it's me Anna. Loki put an invisibility spell on me, that's why you can't see me." I moved his hand onto the rag. "I need you to press hard right here." He complied and did I said.
"You know him right?" I nodded, but quickly realized he couldn't see me.
"Yeah, we're friends." Best friends…no matter what. I ripped another piece off my shirt and started to wrap it around the stab wound. I bet it looked like I was wearing some awful crop top, not that it mattered right now.
"Then do you know why he's doing this?" I finished and tied up the make-shift bandage.
"I don't know, I think something is wrong with him. His ey-" I was cut off by Loki grabbing my arm and hauling me to my feet. He glared at me and snapped his fingers, I was now visible. For one second I could swear that his eyes returned to normal.
"Time to go Anna, we have places to be." I scowled at him, and ripped my arm out of his grasp.
"I'm coming." I leaned down to Coulson and whispered something.
"You're gonna be fine, just keep pressure on your chest. And…tell them where I am, would you?" He gave me a slight nod and closed his eyes.
Loki took hold of my arm again, I felt that familiar rush of magic and we disappeared.