- Chapter 14: Returning to Darkness, a Blue Glow in the Shadow -
The three days passed in a flurry of calculating, constructing, and a feat of engineering that even Tony was proud of. He spent those days locked away in his lab, visited only briefly by Bruce and Steve on occasion, who would offer their assistance. Mostly, their assistance became bringing Tony food and coffee, as Pepper appeared to have quit that particular part of her job. Tony would go to his empty bed exhausted and always in want of Loki, but the god never appeared, as was the plan. An idiotic plan, he would think every time he woke, expecting Loki to be beside him and finding himself still alone.
When he next saw the god, after those three long days, the god made a subtle appearance in the grand living room at the top of the tower. Tony, Bruce and Steve were partaking in a pre-battle breakfast around the bar, consisting of oatmeal for the super soldier, some toast for the gamma radiation man, and a nice glass of scotch and a granola bar for the playboy genius. If asked, Tony would have said that was what he always had for breakfast. No one had asked. In truth, he really just needed to calm his nerves for the ordeal ahead.
Steve and Bruce appeared to see the shining, armored vision just out of the corner of their eye, since they immediately sprung to their feet, prepared for the god to unleash his fury upon them. Tony lazily looked between the two parties, two in their regular Avengers outfits, and Loki in his long, lavish leather coat that hung so gorgeously over his strong shoulders, golden helmet glinting in the early morning sun. His green cape hung heavy behind him over the many layers of armor.
Loki smirked at the reaction, spreading his palms in a peaceful gesture. "You really need to start trusting me, Rogers and Banner." Tony fought the urge to simply walk over and snog the fuck out of him as he stood there in his leather straps and metal fastenings. "I am your ally in this endeavor."
Instead of making a royal fool of himself, Tony managed a pleasant, "Good morning, Loki. Welcome back to the tower. Please," he shot a sharp glance at the other two, still standing unsure, "make yourself comfortable. The other Avengers should be here soon."
Pressing a palm to his chest and nodding his head in thanks, the smirking god sat grandly on one of the lavish low couches in the center of the room, removing his helmet as he did so. As if on cue, the helicopter carrying the remainder of the Avengers swept overhead, the agents and the director soon walking through the glass doors of the balcony. They stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the fully-armored Loki sitting in the living room like a common guest.
"Relax," Tony waved their worries away, though Clint did not take his hand off of the stashed bow at his side. "You guys want breakfast?"
The director sent him a look angry enough to shut him up for the time being. "Since when has he been here?"
"I just recently arrived, Director," Loki supplied calmly. "I figured I would save you a trip down to the dungeon by coming here instead."
Nick shook his head and Agent Romanoff stepped in, arms crossed and looking particularly ready for a heavy mission. "Did you get clearance to take us?"
Tony saw a flash of annoyance flicker behind Loki's eyes. "My father was reluctant, to make a long story quite short. It took quite a bit of negotiation, but after insisting that all of the nine realms were at stake, he made an exception, just this once." He met Fury's suspicious glare head on. "I am still not allowed my power while on Midgard, so your realm is safe from my, what did you call it? Oh, my 'psychotic, manic, mass-murdering, and deranged' godliness." He appeared to ignore Tony's look of warning. "Regardless of what you may think of me, I am here to help. Trust me as you will, because without me you cannot begin to hope of ever reaching the Chitauri."
"A valid point," Natasha conceded, approaching the god with daring steps. She offered him an outstretched hand. Eying it briefly, Loki took it and they shared a solid, single shake. "It is good to have you on our side this time."
"If you really want him to warm up to you," Tony interjected, "say that we are honored and humbled to be receiving the aid of the most powerful of deities."
Loki shook his head, rolling his eyes at his friend. "I am flattered, Stark."
Director Fury spoke up then. "Get us there and back in one piece and I might consider not locking you up next time. That's about as much trust as I can give you."
Loki turned a meaningful glance at Fury. "If you can promise me that, then you have little to fear from me."
"It's that little bit of fear that makes me cautious," Nick replied sternly.
"As you should be. I am still a god of Asgard, after all."
Steve, who had taken his seat back at the bar, addressed the gathered Avengers and Loki. "Since we are all here, I would like us to go over the plan once more before we depart. Director?"
"Perhaps we should let Loki explain his plan first," Fury suggested rather reluctantly.
Brightening at the invitation, Loki readily supplied it. "Very well. It is more efficient for me to transport you if we all go at once. Mr. Fury, I am of the opinion that you alone will be left behind."
"That's why they call me the Director." His lack of an eye was also a concern of his, but there was no way he would let the Norse god know of that. Tony gave him a knowing look.
"Indeed," Loki continued. "Once we are all there, I will retrieve Thor from Asgard. After that, the plan is up to you, Director." Tony could sense Loki kissing up to Fury, trying to gain his trust and also putting himself below the director in the hierarchy of order. It was a wise move, and appeared to work as Fury nodded in appreciation.
"You will remain together as a unit and search every room for Stark's machines. If and when you come across Chitauri soldiers, you will strike them down. Don't ask them for directions; they will most likely lead you to your deaths." At this, Loki nodded. Nick continued on with the plan. "Find the suit and the gun. I would prefer it if you could bring them back here, but if that isn't possible, I expect them to be destroyed beyond all repair." He stared at Tony, looking for some affirmation.
"Don't destroy them, if possible," Tony replied to the look. "I could use the analysis on them."
Bruce gave him a skeptical look. "Don't expect that from the Other Guy."
Tony clapped him companionably on the shoulder. "He'll be too busy smashing mini-Godzillas."
Fury rounded on him. "Tony, I know what happened when you returned to Afghanistan. I expect you to not lose your head and go about exacting revenge for your imprisonment this time. This mission is to retrieve your tech, not to start another war."
"I think Loki did a fair job of revenge already," Tony replied quietly, looking to the god, trying to gage his expression. It remained unreadable as the Avengers turned their attention to him.
"Loki," Steve addressed the god, "do you have any last advice on the Chitauri that we may not know?"
Those green eyes were dark, Tony catching just the slightest shadow of a haunting memory in their depths. "Do not get captured by them." He swept a glance at each of them in turn. "A mortal would not survive what they put me through, and that is the exact treatment that you will get."
"Good to know," Clint replied, hand finally relaxed away from his bow.
Fury continued with the plan. "After you find the tech, Loki, you will transport them all back here."
Loki nodded, the haunted look gone. "Assuming we are all still in one place, I will take us back here all together, just as before. Just know, if my energy is too spent, I will not be able to go back for stragglers. It would take me a number of hours to recover enough in order to retrieve you, and by then you may already have fallen." He swept his gaze about the room once more, face set in all seriousness. "Do not fall behind."
"I appreciate the forewarning," the director nodded. "Are we all clear on the plan?" After a general consensus, he turned back to the god. "Loki, are you prepared?"
He stood, replacing the golden horned helmet on his head. "I am."
Tony spoke up, "What do you need us to do?"
"Suit up, Stark," Loki said shortly. "I trust you were able to upgrade your system."
"Better than ever," Tony replied with a satisfied grin. "Be right back."
Soon, everyone, including Tony, was properly suited up and surrounding Loki in the center of the large room.
"There needs to be tactile contact for this to work," Loki explained. "It would be best for you all to hold me, but it can also work if you are holding on to another who is connected to me somehow."
Tony, mask not flipped down just yet, stretched an armored hand out and clapped it gently on the god's shoulder. Loki flashed him the briefest of grins. The rest of the Avengers followed suit, pressing a hand to the god's shoulder or back, but also connecting securely to the Avenger beside them.
Director Fury stood a few feet away and addressed the interwoven group. "Avengers, I expect everyone to come back alive. And don't do anything stupid."
Loki nodded and swept his gaze about all of the Avengers. "Are you all prepared?"
There were some tight nods. Tony lowered his mask, the screen flickering to life as it latched securely shut. "Beam us up, Scotty."
There was a rush, not unlike the one Tony experienced when riding Sleipnir, though this time his heart was not failing and he was securely in his Iron Man suit. His screen flickered, Loki's face dark but still visible before him, brow set in concentration. His feet found solid ground, and suddenly gravity was upon him again. His screen flickered once again, then steadily regained focus.
"Jarvis?" Tony ventured.
"Systems are fully functioning, sir."
Tony looked around. The Avengers were regaining their bearings, also staring around the cavern-like hallway, lit with those damned green and orange lights. Tony looked to Loki, whose eyes burned with hatred at the place.
Tony did not take his hand off of Loki's shoulder, as the others had done instantly. "Loki," he said steadily to the god, "go get Thor. We will wait here for you." He stared up at him, though he could not see Tony behind the mask of his suit. Loki nodded and gently pushed Tony's armored hand off of him.
"I will return momentarily," he said shortly, and was gone.
Steve, or Captain America as he was now, took a sweeping inventory of their location. "We appear to be in a cave. I can see two directions that we can head in." He turned to Tony. "Can you scan the area for your tech?"
Tony shook his head. "I can't scan through this rock. We'll just have to pick a way to go, or ask Loki if he knows the way when he-"
Suddenly, a burst of red cape swirled around, and Thor, the God of Thunder stood in their midst, Loki at his side.
Thor swept his gaze about the group, grin broad. "My friends! It is good to see you again." His eyes came to rest on Tony. "Stark, it is even better to see that you are well." He clapped a massive hand onto his armored shoulder.
"We must move," Loki urged them down the tunnel to their right. "Follow me and stay on your guard." Readily obeying, the Avengers followed in the god's wake as he led them through the windy corridors constructed out of sharp, twisted rock, and found them to be quite destitute of enemies.
"How many of the Chitauri did you leave alive?" Clint asked of Loki, bow ready with a knocked arrow at his side.
"Enough to still be a formidable problem," Loki replied tersely. "This is a mostly unused passageway. We will be coming upon the armory soon enough, so be prepared."
Thor was next to question his brother. "This is where you stayed after you fell into the broken Bifrost?"
Loki sighed. "For the most part, yes. The Chitauri freely roam about the space between realms and I happened to find one of their colonies. With some… negotiation, I was able to stay." Whatever kind of negotiation that was, he was not letting out.
"That's how you know these passageways," Bruce said, his voice tense.
"No," Loki said shortly. "This is not the colony I found. I became acquainted with this area quite recently. This is the path they would take me when I was imprisoned with Stark. I came to know the twists and turns well, even blindfolded." That left the Avengers in a tight silence. None wanted to bring up the implied fact that this was the path the god had been taken in order to get tortured. They moved in silence, the only sound coming from their footsteps. The tunnel suddenly opened into a broad cavern, dimly lit with those eerie orange and green lights. The porous rocky walls gave way in areas to show a dark sky shining with brilliant stars, though it provided no moonlight. Tony was not sure if they had moons in this area of space. There were several passages along the wall, and Loki chose the one just to the left. They continued on, and Tony grew suspicious that there were no Chitauri to be seen. The tunnel suddenly opened into a broad, open area with the sky spreading wide overhead. It was surrounded by tall, jagged rocky walls, and Tony saw a very familiar glint of crimson and gold piled in the far corner. On the opposite side of the wide rocky area, atop one of those stone tables Tony knew so well, that accursed gun that he had constructed sat.
Tony could have grinned. "Well that was luck-"
There was a savage, hissing cry and all Hell broke loose.
They were surrounded by raging Chitauri that seemed to appear out of nowhere. They frothed around them, boiling in from various cavern entrances hidden behind the jutting rock. The Avengers immediately sprang into action. Tony could hear the cacophony of bullet shots from Natasha, the whisper of arrows from Clint, the clang of Steve's shield, the ring of Mjolnir from Thor, and the hiss of throwing knives from Loki. He added in his own repulsor blasts to the mix, trying his best to fend off the overwhelming flow of creatures wielding those damned taser spears or other wicked-looking weapons. He saw the huge, raging form of the Hulk tearing the creatures limb from limb, using the dead ones as clubs on the still living.
It was chaos, in that bleak landscape. They were barely holding their own against the onslaught of Chitauri. More than once, Tony had to come to the aid of a fellow Avenger, and in turn, he was aided if he was struck to the ground, which was too often for his own liking.
At one point, he found Loki at his side, tossing out knives that seemed to appear out of nowhere. With a quick analysis, Jarvis confirmed them to be made of ice. Frost giant, he reminded himself.
"How are your systems holding up?" The god called over the echoing noise of battle.
"Like a dream," Tony replied, sending three Chitauri flying backwards with a double repulsor attack. "The upgrade appears to be working just fine. Nice ice thing, by the way."
He saw Loki grin out of the corner of his vision, and they were separated once again. It was Captain America who found his way to Tony's side next.
"There is no end to these things," Steve called out, bashing one of the creatures full in its lizard-like face with his shield.
"You getting tired, old man?" Tony quipped, sending out more blasts from his glowing palms.
That brought a grin to the good captain's face. "Not on your life."
They fought on for what felt like hours, their enemies slowly dwindling in number, their corpses piling up on the stone floor. Tony was silently glad that they did not meet up with any of those huge whale creatures – Leviathans, he remembered – in this battle. That was just one less nuisance to deal with.
An ear-splitting cry of what appeared to be amusement caught the Avenger's attention. When Tony turned, he saw a hooded and half-masked figure enter through one of the far cavern entrances. A deep fear jolted through him as he saw just what it was holding: the blue glowing scepter last seen wielded by their very own God of Mischief. How they got it out of the S.H.I.E.L.D. vault was anyone's guess. The staff was pointed at the gathered group, who tensed as the minor Chitauri backed away, jeering at them. The Hulk charged forward, but was easily blasted away with a bright blue beam from the staff. The room grew silent as the leader stepped menacingly forward.
It spoke in a voice that screeched in amusement, crimson teeth flashing. "Loki, you return to us but now against us. Fickle god, you are. When will you switch sides again?"
Loki stepped forward, tense and ready to fight. "You will not speak to a god in such a manner, huglausi dýr."
"Who is this, Brother?" Thor asked deeply, Mjolnir raised and ready.
"The Other," Loki growled.
"The bastard who imprisoned us, no doubt," Tony added, aiming his repulsors at the creature, charging them for a precisely aimed blast. He was rewarded with a blue blast exploding over his armored chest, sending him flying backwards to crash heavily onto the far wall. He looked up in time to see Loki lunge forward. The scene appeared to unravel in slow motion.
As Loki leaped at his foe, The Other raised the scepter, point aiming just for Loki's chest. The god's green eyes widened and he tried to pull himself back, but was far too late. The tip barely pierced the leather of his armor, glowing bright blue. He convulsed once in silence and fell to the stone floor.
The Other laughed once again. "See the fickle god turn once again."
Tony watched in horror as Loki raised himself from the ground and turned on the Avengers, eyes now glowing a bright blue.
End Notes: Holy crap, Loki'd again! Or would this be Other'd?
Old Norse translation: Huglausi dýr – cowardly beast.
I hope you guys are enjoying this! Only two more chapters to go. If you haven't reviewed, you should! It really makes my day.
Next chapter will be up on Saturday, my lovely readers!