ELEVEN

Stone Me

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Amora took a step back to make sure everyone was in front of her. She glanced at the stone still sitting in the cushion, putting her hand out for it.

"I wouldn't," Loki said hastily.

She glared at him. Then she put her thumb and finger to it, as if to lift it. Something tingled, even through the inch of polished amber around it. She let it go quickly. Her hand fell as her eyes went to him. "What you say may be true."

"Honestly - you cannot wield that," he said. "And even if you could, it would negate the need for any of your magic. Is that what you want, Amora? Do you want to give up being an enchantress - the enchantress - to use a stone to do everything? To have everyone know it's not your skill or spells making things happen, but an ancient chunk of reality from the birth of a universe?"

She smiled. "You really are a persuasive one, aren't you?"

He shrugged. "It's up to you. You choose."

Valkyrie went back to the rapidly cooling corpse of Thanos. She ripped her sword free and watched the viscera and blood drip from it. "Can you choose like now?" she asked. "Thanos is dead, and we need to get out of here. There are Asgardians waiting for us on Sakaar."

Amora looked at Angela. "You," she said. "What say you?"

"Me?" Angela said. "I am a warrior, Amora. I care nothing for magic or power stones. Do with it what you will."

"And what if I take this stone so that I may conquer a universe?" she asked.

"Then I would stop you."

"Honest as always," Amora smiled. "And you," she said to Loki.

"Oh I've made my position very clear," he said, his voice low, smooth.

She chuckled. "Which is why I'm not going to listen to you - everything you do, everything you say, is to somehow further your own agenda. I will do what is best for me, thank you."

He waved his hands out. "As you say."

Her eyes narrowed. She turned and went back to the smashed case behind her. Rooting around, aware she was being watched but not caring, she eventually found a small metal ball. She stood up and studied it, finding it a display case. She flicked it open with her free hand and slid the stone into it. Something inside grabbed the stone and held it in place. It shone and teased the eye. She snapped the ball shut hastily and turned to the three of them. "Fine," she said. "Give me the purple stone - the power one. And no tricks."

"Agreed," Loki said. He lifted his hand with the stone it in. "But… I hope you will agree that we need to swap these at the same time. Fair's fair."

She smirked. "Fine." She hefted the ball in her hand, then walked closer. She stopped barely a few feet from him. "No tricks, Loki."

"I give you my word."

"Not good enough."

"Then…" He paused. "I swear on Frigga's immortal soul."

She nodded. "That I'll take." She put her hand up.

Loki proffered the purple stone in his fingers. "You're going to need that cushion."

She put both her hands up. She offered him the ball as her other hand lifted the cushion out to him. "Drop it in the silk nice and slowly, Laufeyjarson."

He got his fingers to the ball, resting them there as he reached out with the purple stone. It hovered over the cushion. "Just… promise me you won't touch this."

"Just hand it over."

He dropped it. At the same moment his fingers fastened on the ball. They lifted as she drew back with the cushion in both hands.

She stepped back, watching the purple stone on its silk-like bed. He inspected the ball then opened it, peering at the shiny amber casing and the Reality Stone within.

"Done?" Valkyrie asked nervously. "I mean, you've both got the right ones, right?"

"It would appear so," Loki said.

"Yes, it would," Amora mused. She looked at the three of them. "You know, I never really expected to get this. I actually believed you were going to double-cross me. Either you, Loki, or you'd somehow get the others to join forces with you and you'd all attempt to overpower me." She looked at the cushion. "But… here we are."

"Yes," Loki said, sounding a little bemused himself. "So…"

"We must return to Sakaar," Angela said. "But you, Loki - where will you keep these powerful weapons in secret?"

A quiet crack of breaking glass, a curse and more noises made them all look behind them, back toward the entrance. Taneleer Tivan was trying to make his way through the results of their epic battle. "May I suggest a new display case, right here?" he called.

Loki smiled. "Your generosity is appreciated, but unnecessary," he said.

"What have you done to my gallery?" he demanded. "This was not part of the deal, sir. Hide, you said - leave before a Titan arrives, you said. What have you done?"

"You will be well compensated," Loki sighed. "And in any case, you have your promised payment."

Tivan came around him, looking at Angela with wide, respectful eyes, then at Valkyrie and finally Amora. "I… see a fearsome foursome, sir. But I do not see my prize."

Loki's hands circled quickly and the metal ball was gone. He turned and pointed twenty feet to his left. "How can you miss that?"

Tivan's hands went to his face. He gasped in awe, in wonder, as he crept closer. "Is this…?"

"Thanos. The would-be universe killer," Loki said. "All yours. Well, with one small alteration."

"You… have… delivered, sir," Tivan managed.

"Yes. Haven't I?" he said with a private smile. He turned to look around at the not so merry band of revengers. "Now then—. Amora, no!"

One of her hands was still supporting the stone - but the other was reaching for it. "I have told you before," she said icily, "I do not listen to your biased viewpoint."

"You can't touch it!" he cried angrily.

"Watch me." She grabbed the stone.

Tivan didn't hesitate - he dived for cover. Valkyrie and Angela stood back but raised weapons. Loki took a step forward.

Amora grinned in triumph as her hand fastened around the stone. Streaks of light, of power, flew out in all directions. Her face dropped as she felt something fastening around her. "What is this?" she whispered.

A shriek, a growing flash of the brightest purple seen by any being - and she was enshrined. It writhed and chased itself over her skin, her hair, the stone itself.

Tivan, Valkyrie, Angela - they all watched, open-mouthed in horrid fascination, as Amora was transformed into pure light and energy. Kaleidoscopic colours - whatever Amora was made of - were hurled around the room.

And then sucked into the stone.

It fell.

Loki threw a hand out and lunged for it. It dropped into his palm as he landed heavily on the floor.

His fist closed.

Everything went very still.

Loki breathed hard as he clenched the stone very tightly in his hand. Steadily, cautiously, he pushed himself up to one knee. He got up and then dusted himself down.

"What… just happened?" Valkyrie asked.

Angela sheathed her sword and came toward him. "What have you done with Amora?"

"Me?" he managed. He looked at them both, his eyebrows up in innocence that was either genuine or very finely crafted. "I did nothing. I warned her, I told her not to touch it. And now look." He opened his hand.

Angela came closer and peered down. "She is… in the stone?"

"It would appear so," Loki said.

"What the Hel?" Valkyrie demanded. She hurried over to look down. There, inside the gem, was a very tiny whirl of purple and yellow, spinning rapidly as if in anger. She gasped. "That's Amora?"

"That almost sounds like a song," Loki said absently.

"But is it Amora?" Angela pressed.

"I believe so." Loki shrugged. "It seems… she was more powerful than she thought."

"Explain," Tivan said, walking around them all to see. "The last person I saw touch that purple orb exploded."

"People normally do," Loki said. "This stone seeks a vessel or seeks to be a vessel. The person you saw, Tivan, was I suspect not powerful enough to need a vessel. Therefore the stone sought to use them as one, with disastrous results. Most people cannot contain the power of this."

"And Amora?" Valkyrie asked.

"She was more powerful - or at least, potentially more powerful - than the stone. It decided to be her vessel, so that it could use her as a power source," he said.

Angela's hand shot out and grabbed the collar of his leathers. He snatched his fist shut hastily as the others stepped back. "Be truthful, Laufeyjarson - did you plan this?"

"Honestly? No," he said, his eyes wide.

Angela drew her sword and flipped it round her hand. She brought it up under his chin to press into his throat. "Be very sure."

He swallowed, his hands up, one still clenched. "I had no idea," he said firmly. "And it doesn't matter if you believe me or not - it doesn't even matter if I planned this or not. She's contained, and she can't use the stone for anything. Do you understand?" he said earnestly.

"You promised," Valkyrie nodded. "You said - you said you'd give her the stone. You knew, right?"

"I did not," he snapped irritably. "A deal is a deal, Valkyrie. I got her to give me the more dangerous stone. I honestly did not know she would touch the damned thing and I certainly did not expect the stone to find her so powerful that it would entrap her! What am I, a bloody Infinity Stone whisperer?"

"A what?" Valkyrie asked.

"It's a—. Never mind," Loki grunted.

"I understood that reference," Tivan said suddenly. Everyone turned and looked at him - just looked. "I have contacts in the Milky Way."

"Whatever," Loki said dismissively. "The fact remains that we're all safe now, so we can all return to Sakaar."

Angela eyed him. "Why should I trust you?"

His shoulders gave just the slightest sag. "What difference would it make?" he sighed.

She made her sword drop, then sheathed it on her back. Her other hand yanked him so close by the collar that she nearly chinned him. Her eyes ranged over his expression, barely inches away, with intent. "I will watch you very carefully, Laufeyjarson. Remember that."

He gave a wide, disarming smile. His head tilted as he looked her face over. "And they say warriors don't know how to enjoy themselves," he said, his voice like three fluid tonnes of honey.

She let him go with a slight shove. He pulled his leathers straight and avoided her gaze.

"How do we get back to Sakaar?" Valkyrie asked.

"First we need a very large bag," Loki said. "Tivan, my friend - would you have a carry case? Preferably one that can chill the contents for transportation?"

"I have several," he said, turning from his inspection of the large corpse still lying spread-eagled on the floor. "For why, sir?"

"There's one thing I need from your prize, and then we'll be off."

"Of course." Tivan turned. "You know, this may not cover the cost of the damage to this place."

Loki looked around, nodding to himself. "Yes. Making this much mess was not part of the deal. I do apologise." He opened his fist, looking at the stone. "I think we owe this gentlemen a rebuild, ladies. Would that be acceptable?"

Valkyrie shrugged. "I don't see why not."

"As long as you put it back as it was," Angela said. "And nothing more."

"Far be it for me to argue," Loki said. He glanced at the stone in his hand. He closed his eyes.

They waited.

A minute - two - went by.

"Uh… any time," Valkyrie said.

"Well if it were easy, you could do it," he snapped, not even opening his eyes.

She opened her mouth to retaliate but a piece of glass by her foot vanished. She looked around and watched, surprised, as glass cases rebuilt themselves as if dragged backward through time. Broken tables glued themselves back together, smashed exhibits found themselves repaired and put back in their cases.

It took less than a minute, but by the time all activity had stopped, the audience were impressed.

"Thank you, sir," Tivan managed quietly. He turned back to Loki.

He was sweating and definitely out of breath. He gasped his eyes open and looked around. "There. Everyone happy?"

Valkyrie put a hand to her cheek. "My face was cut."

"You're welcome," Loki said quietly. She made her hand drop, shaking her head in disbelief.

Angela checked her own face, then came closer to him. "You did not heal your own wounds?" she asked, seeing the cuts and damage to his face still stark against his pale smile.

"I think I like these. I'll let them heal on their own," he said.

Angela put a hand to the side of his shoulder. "They came from… glorious battles."

Loki paused, intrigued. "Yes."

"And this battle to kill Thanos." She patted with her hand and then walked away.

Loki turned and watched her go, a thoughtful frown on his face. Then he jolted as if poked with something. He turned to look at the far entrance. "Tivan," he said urgently. "Did you turn your landing alerts back on?"

"Why?"

Something thin and dark came flying through the air. Loki snatched it before it could hammer into his face. He blinked as he realised he was holding the blade of a long sword. "What the—"

"No-one move!" came a shout. "We've had a really shitty day and I would hate to have to take it out on any of you!"

Angela and Valkyrie drew swords and came to stand either side of Loki. He flipped the captured blade round his hand and held it ready.

"Who's this now?" Valkyrie asked.

Tivan put his hands up for calm. "Wait, my friends - we are all friends here, aren't we?"

"That depends, Whitey - you selling anything to these people?" the voice continued.

"The question is, what are you here for?" Loki called.

A man in a reddish-brown jacket and wearing some kind of metal helmet appeared first, something that was definitely a weapon in his hand. He put a hand up to his ear as he walked forward slowly. The helmet collapsed to reveal a human-looking man with a very concerned look on his face. "Ok - who are you guys?"

"Who are you?" Loki countered.

"I asked you first," he shot back. He raised the gun. "Let's all start talking."

"We have concluded our business," Loki said, his voice polite but definitely unamused, "and we'll be leaving now. I suggest you stand aside."

"No-one's going anywhere until I know what you've bought or stolen from this dude," he said angrily. He looked at Tivan. "Hey, man. Remember me? What's going down right now? You being robbed?"

"Not at all," Tivan said with a smile. "I have been well paid."

"Oh." The man's gun went down a notch. "Uh… ok."

A woman came out from the shadows behind him, a knife in her hand. Her long dark hair and green skin made Loki's head tilt. "A Zen-Whoberian," he mused.

Her head snapped to focus her gaze on him. "Who are you?"

"I'm leaving, as are my friends," he said patiently. "I assume you have business with Tivan that you don't want us to be part of."

"Thanos!" someone shouted. A man, large, bald, covered in swirling red tattoos and cluelessness, came out from behind the woman. He was pointing behind Loki and the Asgardians.

"Whoa," the man breathed, his gun falling to his side, forgotten. "Is that - is that Thanos? Is he dead? Wait - is he dead?" he demanded. He and the woman hurried over to the corpse, looking down at him.

Loki stood back, a hand up to Valkyrie. She lowered her sword but did not put it away. Angela hovered over Loki's left shoulder, watching carefully.

The woman crouched slowly. She put her face in her hands. The man knelt next to her and put an arm round her.

Loki looked left to see another woman come from the shadows. "Hello," she said cheerfully. "I am Mantis."

"Hello," he offered. He waved a hand at her green clothes. "I like your tailor."

She smiled. "Thank you. We have come a long way and I think my friends are all over-excited by our mission." She came closer. "Who are you?"

"We're leaving," he said. "We just have to cut the head off that corpse there and we'll be on our way."

"You killed him," Mantis hissed in surprise. She went over to the fallen Titan, the large tattooed man following her. They stood over him for a moment as the woman continued to be held up the man in red.

"Yes, and this is all very touching, but really, we have to go," Loki said. He gestured to Valkyrie with his chin, before turning to look at Angela.

"No-one's going anywhere," the man said suddenly, lifting his gun again. "Not until you tell us how you did this, and where his fancy glove has gone. Y'know, the one with the shiny gems in it?"

Loki lifted his hand to explain. "Look—." He realised he was still holding a sword. "Whose is this, by the way? Do you want it back?"

"It's mine," the woman said. She got to her feet, drying her face. "And I will have it back." She crossed to him and he waited, sizing her up.

"Why is a Zen-Whoberian crying over Thanos? I thought he wiped out most of your people," he said suspiciously.

"That's her adopted dad," the man in red said defensively.

"Oh. Well they are complicated," Loki allowed conversationally. "I have some experience."

"Give me my sword," she demanded.

He flipped it and the man raised his gun again. But Loki simply offered the hilt to her without preamble.

She took it and sheathed it, looking him up and down. "Was it you?"

"Was it me what?" he asked innocently.

"That killed him," she snapped, folding her arms.

"It was a team effort," he said. "Now if you'll excuse us—"

The man came forward, his gun trained on Loki's face. "Hold up there, Prince Disarming - we have questions."

"Would you please put that down?" Loki asked. "We've all had a rather trying day as well, as you can see."

The man pressed forward anyway.

Loki's hand came up. The man's gun vanished from his hand.

"What the—. What did you do?" he demanded.

Mantis began to laugh. Everyone turned to her. She had one hand over her mouth, her other pointing at the man's belt. "It's back in your holster, Peter."

He looked down. "Oh. Well. Yeah. Ok." He looked at Loki. "Nice. Kids' magic tricks ain't going to distract us though." He pulled the gun again and pointed it at Loki's face.

He waved a hand. The gun again disappeared and re-appeared in its holster. "I can do this all day," Loki said, bored. "Or we can leave."

The man again drew his gun. The woman turned and grabbed his wrist. "Oh will you stop!" she cried. She looked back at Loki. "My name is Gamora. This is Peter Quill, Drax and Mantis."

"Charmed, I'm sure," Loki said. "Now if you'll—"

"My name is Valkyrie," came a new voice. She stepped forward. "This is Angela, and this is Loki."

"Right, ok," Peter said, nodding. "So… what are you all doing here?"

"Saying goodbye," Loki said neatly. He turned to go.

"What went down here? Where are the Infinity Stones?" Peter said.

Loki turned back to him, his face one of utter consternation. He looked at Tivan. "Collector? The deal?"

Tivan came forward with a slight smile. "A few pieces from my collection for the corpse of a mad Titan," he shrugged. "We are done here."

"So where are the stones?" Gamora demanded. "The two stones in the gauntlet he was wearing - where are they?"

"They're coming with me," Loki said firmly. "And I really didn't want to say this, but you can't stop us. So have a pleasant day, because Thanos has been stopped and the universe is now safe. You're welcome."

"Why are they going with you?" Drax asked. He came walking round the side, to flank the three people. "Where are you taking them?"

"To a place where they will be safe," Loki said. "What's it to you?"

"Well there's the small matter of the whole universe out looking for them," Peter said. "And all the people that Thanos had already killed looking for them."

"We're aware," Loki said.

"I don't think you are," Peter argued, stepping closer. Loki edged back, eyeing him. "Whole planets have been wasted, man - Xandar, for one. Somewhere called Asgard," Peter added.

"We are from Asgard," Angela announced. Her sword tip raised slightly. "Have a care what you say next."

"You're from Asgard?" Gamora said quickly.

Mantis grinned. "Then you must know Thor!"

"Just because they're all from the same planet doesn't mean they know everyone on it," Peter sighed, rolling his eyes. He wiped a hand over his face. "Sorry," he said to Angela.

Loki heaved a sigh of defeat, his hands dropping abruptly to slap down to his sides. "Thor is… my brother."

"What?" Gamora said. She looked him up and down. "I don't see the resemblance."

"I'm adopted," he managed. "How do you know of Thor?"

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