Turns out I was able to update this week! I know it's short, but hey it's better than nothing...right? I am even feeling so optimistic that I think I may able to update another time this week. If I just keep telling myself I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, it will happen...unless I can't. Oh well, enjoy the chapter. Thanks to all of you who followed, favorited, and reviewed.
Tony, Steve, and I ran down a dark, metal, debris-filled hallway. Natasha and Bruce had been plunged into the lower levels of the ship and Director Fury and Thor had been launched through a window. I felt bad for Thor. Director Fury deserved it. I glanced around again the only light was coming from red emergency lights. The power must have been shut off for this part of the ship. Out of the blue, Tony said,
"I'm on it."
"You're on what?" I asked confused as to what was going on. No one had been saying anything. The only sound came from our feet pounding on the metal and the far off sounds of chaos.
"Aren't you wearing your com?" Steve asked. I sighed I could feel another lectured coming on. He was getting on my nerves lately. I had never had a mom and I sure as hell didn't need one now.
"Obviously not. What are you on Tony?" I snapped frustrated that my question hadn't been answered.
"Crack." Tony smirked. He skidded to a stop in front of an empty hanger. Steve and I slowed down and paused at the door way.
"Engine three, meet you there, Cap." Tony ordered.
"What? Why?" I asked looking between the two, but both men ignored my questions.
"Okay." Steve replied and took off down the hall. I stayed in the doorway wondering what I should do. I had no clue what was going on and the people who knew what was going on were ignoring me. Tony calmly walked into the hanger, pulled his phone out of his pocket and pressed a button. The whole back wall folded open and I saw his Ironman suit. It was weird seeing him and the suit in the same room since the only time I usually saw the suit was when he was in it. Suddenly a terrifying roar snapped me out of me thoughts.
"Banner." I gasped. I took off running towards the detention center. I figured since Loki wanted to Hulk the most logical thing was to go find Loki. I ran through the dark, twisted passageways hoping that I wouldn't run into anyone dangerous like the people who had set off the bomb. I had never actually killed anyone and I was dreading the day when I would have to. I mean, I could easily kill someone. I actually knew many ways to kill people, but I really didn't want their blood on my hands. My hands were still clean and I planned to keep them that way as long as humanly possible. I slowed down before I reached the room that held Loki's cell. Unlike last time, I wanted to sneak up on him…if I could. I took carefully placed light steps and flattened myself against the wall. I slowly leaned out and peered around the corner. Loki was still in his cell. I let out a sigh of relief. Suddenly I heard large footsteps come running down the hallway. My eyes darted around searching for a hiding spot in the empty hallway. I took a deep breathe, my only option was to retreat into Loki's holding chamber and hope to gain the upper hand in there. Out here I was a sitting duck. I ran into the room and flattened myself against the wall beside the door so that I was hidden from the view of the person running down the. I looked at Loki's cage expecting to see him mockingly smirked at me, but the cage was empty.
"Shit!" I hissed quickly glancing around the room. In hindsight we should've known that a cage designed to hold a Hulk would be useless against a magical god. Suddenly, Thor charged into the room towards the cage towards…Loki? I shook my head. Seconds ago there was no one there, but now it appeared that Loki was escaping.
"NO!" Thor bellowed diving at Loki. Loki crouched down into a fighting stance, but instead of being tackled by Thor, Thor went right through Loki like he was trying to tackle thin air. That was when I remembered that Loki could clone himself. The Loki clone disappeared and the (hopefully) real Loki stepped out.
"Are you ever not going to fall for that?" he mockingly asked. I slid along the wall towards the control panel hoping that Loki wouldn't turn around and see me. I kept my eyes trained on Loki barely daring to breathe because I was scared that it would draw his attention. Thor pounded his hammer against the glass. I hoped that it was an attempt to distract Loki…or else Thor was stupider than I originally thought. I mean, he was standing right near us when Director Fury explained that if you pound the sides of the cage then the cage will drop out of the plane and plummet to the ground. Loki chuckled at Thor's futile attempts of escaping. I slowly reached out my hand to press the button that would open the cage door when I was suddenly paralyzed. I couldn't move. Loki turned around and walked over to the control panel. He mockingly patted me on the head like a dog.
"A valiant effort, Ice Child." Loki sneered in my face. I winced when his hot breath hit my face. It was one of the grossest things I had ever experienced. Loki turned away from me and smiled at Thor.
"The humans think us immortal. Shall we test that?" He grinned, hovering his hand over the cage drop button.
"Step away, please." A polite voice commanded. I instantly recognized the voice as Phil. He was aiming one of the phase two weapons at Loki. Loki froze and slowly backed away from the button. Phil bravely walked towards the god.
"Release the girl, please." Phil ordered and I immediately crumpled to the floor. I shakily got up and moved over towards the agent.
"You like this?" Phil asked holding up the weapon, "We started working on the prototype after you sent the Destroyer. Even I don't know what it does." Phil said as he turned on the weapon. Loki warily walked towards him with his hands up. "Do you want to find out?" Phil asked him. Suddenly I heard a sickening squelch beside me. I looked over and Phil had a blade sticking out the front of his chest.
"Oh shit." I gasped. The clone that had been standing near the control panel disappeared the instant that the scepter pierced Coulson's chest. Loki yanked his scepter out of Phil and leaned the man against the wall.
"No!" Thor bellowed pounding his fist against the cage wall again. I held out my hand and gestured for him to calm down as I nervously glanced at the top of the cage. The metal grips that were holding the cage in place were slipping. I took a deep breath and turned around to face Loki. The real Loki, who was dressed in his green and gold Asgardian armor and was brandishing a scepter that was pulsing with energy. Loki picked me up by my neck. I struggled against and kicked my legs but the god just smirked at me. I tried to coat his hand in ice, but he disdainfully threw me aside and shook off the ice. I skidded across the metal grating. Suddenly I was wishing that I had been wearing more than a cut-off and cropped leggings to protect my skin from the metal.
"Foolish child." He spat at me as he walked over to the control panel. I raised my hand and coated the button in ice so that Loki would be unable to press it. He turned towards me chuckling wickedly. With a simple wave of his hand the ice disappeared. I scowled and blasted a ball of ice at him, but with another flick of his wrist the ice ball vanished. My eyes widened in fear. I was powerless. I suddenly regretted cheating my way through the academy. Loki grinned and opened the bottom of the ship. Then he slowly reached out his hand to press the button. I glanced back over my shoulder at Thor. He looked heartbroken and betrayed. He stepped back from the wall of the cage and stood with his hammer dangling at his side. That was what motivated me to do what I did next.
"Stop." I ordered as I slowly up to face him. Loki smirked at me and pressed the button.
"Oops." He disdainfully shrugged as he watched the cage drop out of the ship.
"You little piece of shit." I cursed, scowling at him. I angrily charged at him, determined to punch him in the face or something. Honestly, I didn't really have a plan I just wanted him feel pain. Pain like what he had caused Phil and Thor to feel.
He easily knocked me aside and I skidded across the metal grating towards the drop off where the cage used to be. I stopped a few feet from the edge. I got back ran at Loki again ignoring how sore my body was from the previous two throws. He lifted his scepter, but I stupidly chose to keep charging at him. He spun the scepter around and hit me in the head with the blunt end. I crumpled to the ground stunned. I lifted my hand to the side of my head and when I pulled it back it was bloody. I glared up at him and he just chuckled mockingly.
"Did you really think that you, a mere child, could stop me?" He sneered walking over so he was smugly standing above me.
"I figured it was worth a shot." I sheepishly smirked. Loki's face darkened at my response and he had the bloody scepter poised against my neck before I could blink. I took in a sharp breath Coulson's blood. I examined Loki's stance for any possible weaknesses.
"Kneel." He hissed. I grinned suddenly getting an idea.
"Not today, not ever." I smirked as I jumped up and tried to imitate the jump kick that Steve had used last night. Loki easily caught my foot and left me dangling by my ankle. I flailed my arms in an attempt to escape for a few seconds before giving up. I crossed my arms and glared up at him with as much dignity as I could muster…which wasn't a lot considering the fact that he was holding me in the air with one leg.
"Insolent, naïve, foolish, girl." He condescendingly spat as he shook his head with an annoying smirk on his face. He sounded almost amused, but his green eyes were hard, scrutinizing, and pitiless. I boldly smirked back at him, hopefully masking how terrified I actually was and giving off the impression that I knew exactly what I was going to do. He contemptuously threw me to the ground. I landed hard on the metal grating. I slowly sat up only to find that his scepter blade was once again poised against my neck. I leaned back against the metal railing and sighed. I was done physically attacking him. My body just couldn't do it again.
"So is this the part where you tell me your evil plan or are you just going to inform me of the perks of subjugation again?" I tiredly asked him. He pressed the scepter a little harder against my jawline and I could feel my blood start to trickle down my neck. I involuntarily took in a sharp breath.
"False bravado in the face of death, how…original." Loki mused tracing my jawline with the point of the spear, "I believed you to be above this, Ice Child."
"Would you rather have me groveling for my life? If you're going to cut my head off just do it already. I've had just about enough of your fucking mind games." I harshly replied.
"Ah, but if I ceased to practice my 'fucking mind games'as you so eloquently put it, then I'm afraid that would no longer be able to retain the title of god of mischief…and I rather enjoy being the god of mischief." He smirked. I angrily looked away, but he jerked it back with his scepter blade so that I was looking at him again. I glowered at him and spat in his face. His face darkened and he backhanded me. I was sent flying towards the edge of the grating. I hit the ground and rolled a few feet before finally coming to a stop at the edge of the grating. I was precariously balanced on the edge of the grating. I groaned and tried to push myself into a sitting position as I tried to fight the black spots that were trying to overtake my vision, but my arms gave out. I collapsed back on to the grating. A green blur moved into my vision.
"Loki?" I mumbled, squinting my eyes to try and clear up my vision.
"Goodbye, Ice Child." I heard the green blob sneer. I felt a sharp pain in my side and then I was falling. Then it hit me, I was limply falling to the earth like a stone. I spread my wings and focused all of my remaining energy on flapping my wings, but I wasn't strong enough to actually fly. I had lost too much blood. I was too weak. The last thought I had before blacking out was that I was going to die and I could only hope that it was be a quick painless one.
Sorry for the cliff hanger...I just felt like it was a good stopping point. Who knows if I get a lot of motivation (wink wink) I will update again this week, but I'm leaving for a camp Saturday so if I don't update before then, then you'll have to wait a week.