Hi again, new chapter. :) There is another little section to this chapter, I was undecided whether to stick it on the end of here or post separately as I sort of wanted a bit of a cliffhanger here and the extra section would have taken that away, so I decided I won't post it today but tomorrow as a little bit before Christmas as I'm not sure when I'll next be posting (it will be this week I just don't know what day.)
So anyway, thanks again for reviews etc and as normal, no beta so all mistakes my own and all rights to Marvel.
The battle had been raging for half a day, night was now falling and the nebulae and stars were paintings on the endless sea of increasing black. Thor looked around him, warriors were standing, bloody, but strong, facing off their attackers. It was as Odin had said, there were only a few Chitauri, and they fell quickly, but he became aware just a short time later that said 'fallen' Chitauri were able to reanimate themselves, meaning that the 100 or so aliens quickly became 200, 500, 1000...infinite. He now found himself battling his way towards the Bifrost's observatory along with his Warriors, Sif, Odin and Loki. They knew of many abandoned planets and realms off Ygdrassil's branches that could be used to house the beasts and so they now fought their way through to open a portal, a portal they hoped beyond anything would work.
Mjolnir was red with blood, scratched and blackened by the collisions with the Chitauri armour, and so was it's wielder. Thor was covered in sweat and dirt, both plastered to his face, as well as turning his blond locks to a horrid brown colour, though thankfully none of the blood was his own. A monster came racing towards him, yelling in rage, one he actually recognized from downing not long ago, mainly because of the arrow sticking from the side of its head. With one swift movement he drew his hammer upwards to crash into the beasts chin, before swinging it a second time into its skull. The loud crack of bone told him its death had come, though his heart fell when he realised the thing would be up and fighting again, somehow, in the next few minutes. This happened for hours, Thor found himself thinking how he enjoyed the thrill of battle, that was until he found himself reliving every death over and over again and fighting a war that instead of lasting half a day would soon turn into much longer; he did not even want to contemplate how long they would carry on like this.
As he was lost in thought (a very dangerous past-time to carry out during a war) something flew past him, making him turn, just in time to see a Chitauri fall to the floor, dagger in chest, mere feet away from him preparing to strike. Turning, he saw the source of the weapon was, of course, Loki; nodding his thanks he raced back over to his father knowing the old king was in need of assistance.
"Father, you need to return to the citadel, you are weakening too quickly. Do not worry, Loki and I have this handled." He needed to shout over the sounds of war but it reached his father's ears non-the-less.
"You know? I am happier than I ever thought I would be to see you and your brother fighting alongside each other once again, you truly do make a whole." Odin smiled at Thor and he could not help but feel a warmth spreading through his stomach, one that he knew would help with the adrenaline of the war.
"As am I. It is good to have him back." He pulled Hogun from a nearby scuffle. "Hogun, I need you to return my father to the citadel, make sure he gets there safely." The silent warrior nodded his understanding and drew his best weapons ready to fight through the crowds and do as his Prince asked.
"Make sure you return safely my son..." Thor watched as Odin moved his gaze to find Loki, and a look of horror filled his face when he finally did. Finding the source of Odin's discomfort was like a dagger to his own heart and he internally screamed 'no'. In front of them, just in the mouth of the observatory, was a group of what must have been at least 10 Chitauri circling an individual, an individual, none the less, than Loki. He was staying strong, but Thor knew he was losing the battle, there were just too many of them, and not one single beast fell. Loki had no magic, it had be restricted from him when all of this had started, meaning all he had to fight with was his daggers- and not an infinite supply as he would usually have with his full powers. No thoughts spared, he flew across the Bifrost, landing next to his brother, going straight into battle.
"Are you hurt?" He shouted over his shoulder as he smashed two Chitauri into each other.
"No." Came the tired and strained voice, followed by a hiss as one of the enemies staff's cut a slash on Loki's cheek.
Thor saw red, quite literally. He had had enough, this was going on for too long and the fun had left long long ago, and so, just as a child would lose its temper when not getting what it wants (a sarcastic remark Loki always used to compare Thor to) he lashed out, hitting and crushing everything Mjolnir came into contact with. It seemed like just a few short minutes before the last one was 'killed' and the two princes were finally free to breath.
"I will not say 'child's temper tantrum' but...well," Loki grinned at him, blood stained teeth not quite white anymore, "...temper temper Thor." In response the elder fondly shoved the younger, a huge smile threatening to crack the face.
"We must not stop, they will be returning soon." Thor turned to check his father was safe, it was important they get him out of the way as well as making their way to Heimdall to open a rip. He locked gazes with his father who nodded a silent 'go on' confirming he was ok. The rest happened all so suddenly that Thor would never know how it occurred. A pain in his right side was the first thing he noticed, not one of a dagger or weapon, but of a collision, as if Mjolnir had barreled into him somehow. He was thrown off his feet, only aware of the wind blowing in all directions and the screeches of men. It was the destruction of the Bifrost all over again, though this time there was no shattering of the bridge, just a gigantic fireball, exploding in all directions and burning men to ashes where they stood. He heard the cry of Loki and the worried yell of Odin as well as his warriors and Sif; please let none of them have been harmed, he thought. Without knowing how, he next realised he was holding on for dear life to the side of the rainbow bridge, his fingers stretched and clawing for a hold. Reaching up he managed to get a perch with his elbows, keeping himself firm and safe from falling for the time being. Odin's form filled his view as he saw him running over, as well as that of the Warriors 3 and Lady Sif, but Loki was nowhere to be seen.
"No. I do not want to go back, please...please no." The fear, anxiety and panic was evident in the words, the voice was laced with terror and Thor did not even need to see the face of his brother to know tears would be streaming down his cheeks. Tentatively he turned his head to find Loki holding on, just as he was, to the side of the bridge, a near copy of himself over 3 years ago- though this time, it was no magical projection. The younger Odinson was deathly pale, with red eyes full to the brim with tears. He knew Loki was not weak, and most definitely proud, making him realise just how bad a situation he was in. Loki had fallen before, and when he had returned he was a monster, a monster created by torture, pain and misery, and it was clear to even the most thick minded of people, that he did not want to fall again. "Not back there...not back there..." Loki chanted like a mantra over and over again, growing more emotional each time.
"Loki, I need you to listen to me..." Thor shouted as calmly as he could (you know, it is damn near impossible to be calm when you're shouting), "...You need to get your elbows onto the bridge, just as I have, then you will have more grip. Can you do that for me?" As he observed, the tips of Loki's fingers were white as they gripped onto the edge and kept slipping from the sweat and blood caked on them. Loki nodded his affirmation and began to pull himself up, only to slip on a pool of blood from an Aesir who had landed bloody and burnt by the side of him. The incident happened all too quickly, Loki's body slammed into the bridge as his arms gave way beneath him before he slipped off and fell, only to catch onto Thor's ankle, holding on with all the strength he had left. Thor lost a bit of his grip but he managed to catch himself- along with the help of Fandral who had jumped forward to latch onto his shoulders for added leverage.
"No. I won't go back. I can't. I can't do it again. Please...please...Thor please don't let me go back there." Thor looked down at his brother, catching his eyes, full of tears, it was an all too familiar site, his brother dangling from the Bifrost, begging. "Brother please."
Those words, the words the trickster god had begged right before he tricked him, right before he stabbed him...right before he last fell. Back then, they had been spoken with no real feeling, only pretense and lies, just what Loki was, but now, now they were true, and real, and oh so full of every emotion not openly shared between the brothers. Fandral, along with Volstagg and Hogun were working on pulling the pair up, but it proved hard work even for them. His heart was beating so hard he felt as if nothing else were real, the rest of his body was numb and only the grip on his ankle, the pain in his shoulders and the drum of his heart were noticeable. And that is why he did not feel the slipping of his boot, the feeling as it loosened its hold on his leg, exposing his calf, and finally, sliding over his foot, to fall completely off his being, his brother along with it.
He screamed as the warriors 3 pulled him safely onto the Bifrost, shouting Loki's name. It took him only seconds to make a decision, not caring for anything other than Loki, his brother. Making sure he was no longer in the hands of his warriors, he stood up, looking to his Father with an apologetic gaze, who figured out just seconds too late what he planned to do. "Grab him!" Odin shouted to the trio, but it was too late, Thor had jumped.