Chapter 11
By the time I reached New York City the Chitaru were already beginning their attack. I nearly flew down the streets and over a few cars. I stopped by Captain America and Black Widow.
"Good to have you back. You settle for grand theft or something?" I shook my head.
"It is being loaned to me by a kind family from Michigan!" I lashed out at a Chitaru and the lioness wove herself at my side. She attacked another one as I wove my nightsword and attacked, seeing Barton on a rooftop and then Thor flying through the air and chasing multiple enemies. Hulk himself was doing what he did best, smashing things.
I ducked under the Captains shield and threw a small lightweight dagger through a group of the Chitaru.I was forced to move the bike to a more secure location and then returned to see the Tesseract resting on the top of Stark Towers. Loki was nowhere to be seen.
Hellfire
"Shit! Look out!" I leapt to the side in order to dodge a falling Hulk and shot anothern of the aliens in the face. I dodged under the Captains shield and fell on my back, my balance still a bit off. A black streak passed by my head and I stood after anothern followed. I saw Darcy with daggers flying around her, some of them remained immobile while others flew towards intended targets. In each hand she held a black sword. One dagger flew towards me and over my shoulder, striking one of the things in the face.
"You might want to watch your back Hellfire!" I laughed and kicked one of the creatures in the face.
"Hey Darcy! What did you call these things?!" She swung one of the swords and decapitated one. I noticed a wolf fighting with Thor.
"They are called the Chitaru!" She ducked as one of them threw a steel pipe at her. I felt one of them wrap its arms around me, pinning my arms to my side. I yelled and tried to pull free but only succeeded in pissing it off. I felt a ripple of warmth under my skin and allowed it to surface. The fire began on my arms and progressed outwards, frying the one who had ahold of me.
The Chitaru began to back away from me as the portal above began to close. I ran at them and they all scattered. Thor and the rest of the Avengers picked them off and finally took care of all stragglers.
"Woo! Hellfire! You are on fire!" I laughed and Thor looked at Tony.
"Why do you state the obvious? Clearly her skin is on fire" Skin? I looked down. Luckily the fire was covering me quite well. "Hellfire. Go into the alleyway. Darcy will join you with something for you to wear." I nodded and slipped into the alley, the fire remaining.
After a few minutes Darcy returned with a slick black suit and leather jacket. "Nice clothing options."
"They all claim to be fireproof. Along with the boots." She brought up her other hand to show me a pair of knee high boots with a silver flame pattern rising from the bottom. The same pattern covered the sleeves of the one piece and the fingerless gloves that were hidden in the pocket of the jacket.
"Thanks." I took them and she left, allowing me to dress in peace.
Shade
I stood in the corner of the room and watched as Hulk grabbed Loki. "I am a god! I will not be treated in such a wa-" He was cut of when the Hulk viciously slammed into the floor a few times. He finally dropped him and growled in a low voice.
"Puny god." I growled and leapt forwards, sinking my claws into his back. He roared and tried to grab me as I dug my claws deeper into his flesh and pulled downwards. The cuts healed as quickly as I created them but I didn't care as long as I got to at least annoy him. He grabbed me by my neck and threw me to the ground, keeping a tight hold. I closed my eyes and bit down hard. He only yelled and threw my into a mirror where shards of glass caught in my wings.
"Stupid goddess." I growled and lunged forwards as he grabbed my throat again. I dug my claws into his skin as he tightened his grip. My claws sunk deeper as the black spots clouded my vision. Finally I released and he growled at me.
Hellfire
I walked in with the rest of the Avengers and saw the hole in the floor where Loki was sitting. He held his head in his hands and looked up at us. "I think I'll take that drink now."
I laughed and looked up to see the Hulk holding what appeared to be a rag doll in his hand. I walked up to him, expecting to see a Chitaru thing. Instead I saw Shade hanging like a small childs toy. I grabbed Hulks hand and spoke calming to him while trying to pry his hand open. He finally released her and she sucked in a long deep breath before turning on him.
"You ignorant green brute!" She growled and I stepped between them as Hulk de-Hulked back into Bruce.
"Why did you attack me?!" She simply growled and walked over to where Loki was sitting, a glass, with what I would guess as Bourbon in it, in his hand. I just rolled my eyes and led Bruce from the room before he Hulked again.
Shade
After Hellfire and Bruce left I sat on the edge of the divet within the floor and watched as Loki stood and walked over to me.
"Are you alright?" He nodded and I looked at him, seeing the Loki I once knew again.
"I am fine." I shook my head and then glared at him.
"You threw me from the Avengers air ship." He finished his drink and lowered his head.
"I am sorry about that my friend." I shrugged and then turned to face him, crossing my legs on the floor.
"Are you yourself now though? No more grudge against the All-father?"
"I wish he would have told me sooner. But no. No more grudge. I will go and face my punishment." I stood and helped him to his feet.
"I have a feeling I will be in trouble as well. I attacked an Avenger." He looked at me and then began to laugh.
"That is the Shade I grew to know." I smiled and laughed as well.
"Especially something as stupid as attacking the Hulk. He heals even faster then we do." I reached up and touched the slight red mark on my neck. He removed my hand and looked at the mark.
"What happened to you?" I shook my head.
"It does not matter. Simply a misunderstanding." He watched me for a moment before I threw my arms around hum, hugging him close. He hesitated for a moment before hugging back. "I truly missed you my friend."
"And I missed you as well." I heard Hellfire and Bruce re-enter the room.
"Just kiss the girl already!" I heard a few snickers and my face turned bright red.
"Be nice Hellfire." I turned around and mouthed the words 'Thank you Bruce' and 'I'm sorry for attacking you.' He simply smiled and grabbed Hellfire by the back of the jacket and dragging her over to the corner and speaking with her.
"Hellfire's right!" Tony yelled. "Kiss her! Kiss her!" The chanting spread throughout the group and soon even Thor and Darcy were yelling with Stark. I blushed an even deeper hue of red and looked up at Loki. He was shaking his head.
"Come on you two!" I rolled my eyes and threw a small piece of debris from the floor and threw it, hitting him square in the chest. It bounced off of the outer rim of the thing in his chest and dropping to the floor. He laughed and continued to yell at us.
I rolled my eyes and walked out with their chants following me. I heard swift footfalls behind me and turned. "Mortals are so annoying. As well as Thor." Loki laughed and nodded in agreement.
"Yes. He always has been." I smiled and sat in a chair, tilting my head back and feeling the sun through a hole in the wall. "I messed up terribly." I turned my head towards him as he sat beside me.
"Why do you think things such as that?" He looked at me and I noticed small black scratches appear within his eyes.
"I nearly killed my closest friend." He grabbed my hand and looked down at the ground.
"But I am here. And alive. That must count for something." He looked up at me.
"Surely you do not believe that." I smiled.
"Yes. I do believe that." I recalled one of Hellfires jokes. "And my name is not Surely." He looked confused and I laughed slightly.
"Hellfire taught it to me." He smiled again and I felt like my stomach flew away.
"You are good friends with her. Are you not?" I shrugged.
"I have come to like her jokes from time to time. She is most unusual."
"I could tell. She has strange qualities as well." I nodded.
"Still. She is a fun mortal to be around when she has had a little too much to drink." We both laughed and I sat up. He leaned over and whispered into my ear.
"And you are fun to be around as well if you have had too much." I laughed a bit louder and then hid my face, a light blush on my cheeks.
"You will never let me forget that will you?"
"No. Because I cannot forget it. I still don't know how you managed to get to your room. You could hardly walk." I blushed further and shook my head. "Fandril was happy though." I groaned and let my head drop into my hands.
"Shade! Where are you going?" I turned to Loki and Thor, who were also near as drunk as I was.
"I'm going to find Fandril and give him a great big hug! This is some good ale!" It was the third time he had brought ale back when he visited another realm. Each time I had been forced to stay in case something happened. I was allowed out most of the time. But that was when the Jotun threat was most potent.
"We're coming with you!" They stood and followed me. We each had to lean on one another in order to stay upright. Soon we ran into Fandril. He hadn't drunk as much as we had and was laughing at us. I steeped away from Thor and Loki and fell forwards, accidentally knocking Fandril over and kissing him.
Everyone began to laugh and Thor fell, dragging Loki down with him. I laughed as well because at the time it was funny. I somehow managed to stand again and leave the room. Everyone's howling laughter following me until I reached the door and fell face first onto the bed.
"You know something Loki. That was good ale." He laughed again and I smiled a bit. "You were drunk that day as well. You can't forget when Thor fell and dragged you down with him."
"That was Thor's fault." I shook my head and stood, heading for the window.
"I'll see you later. I have to return a bike to it's owners." He nodded and joined me.
"Then I shall see you soon." Still smiling I leapt onto the window and then jumped down, opening my wings and gliding towards the motorcycle and landing gracefully beside it. I looked it over for any damage and climbed on after finding none. I started it up and dove off, stopping at a small gas station just outside of New York city. After I paid and filled the gas tank I sped off, heading for the small house in Michigan.
