Chapter 21 ~ Seven Devils (8)
Do It Like a Dude – Jessie J
Loki stayed awake all through the night. Darkness gave way to dawn and revealed a sleeping Tony under a blanket with Tiny Hulk curled on his stomach. The light reflecting off the sea woke Tony up and he bumped Tiny Hulk to the floor. "What time is it?" Tony asked with a groan as he sat up.
"Sunrise." Loki said flatly.
Tony looked at him through sleep clogged eyes. "You stay awake all night?" he asked, resting his forearms on his legs.
Loki moved his head to look at Tony. "Yes… and I will continue to stay awake until Lady Lithia returns." He said, all emotion gone from his voice.
Tony nodded. "Remind me to get a new couch." He said, standing and stretching. "This one is not sleep friendly."
He stumbled into the kitchen and returned with two large, steaming mugs of coffee. He handed one to Loki who accepted it slowly. "I spit in it." Tony said as Loki took a sip.
Loki chocked a bit but swallowed. Tony was instantly in his face. "I know you have feelings for Lithia. Whatever they are, you had better treat her like a princess. Or, so help me, that Point Break of a brother won't be able to stop me from ripping your thumbs off and shoving them down your throat." He warned, his voice low and harsh.
Loki stared back at Tony who left his space and took another gulp of coffee. Thor emerged, yawned widely and flopped down onto the couch. Steve came out, a sleek black phone pressed to his ear. "Yes sir, I have Stark and Thor here. I'll inform them right away." He said before hanging up.
"Who was that?" Tony asked.
"Director Fury. He's sending Romanoff and Hawkeye here to pick us up. We've got a situation." Steve said.
Tony set his coffee mug down. "Suit up." Steve said.
"Loki, get dressed." Thor said, standing. "You must come with us."
"No." he said, standing. "I will stay here and wait for Lady Lithia to return."
"No Brother, you will come with us." Thor said. "Lady Lithia will understand."
Loki huffed and left to get dressed. He donned his Asgardian attire. Emerging, he was greeted with the sight of Tony, Steve and Thor in their suits and heading out the door. He slowly followed them and saw Romanoff and Hawkeye meeting them. "The hell is he doing here?!" Hawkeye asked bitterly, his keen eyes landing on Loki.
"Loki is harmless and in a state of grieving." Thor said. "Let us journey to Director of Fury so that we may return quickly."
"Who are you waiting for?" Romanoff asked as they boarded the jet.
"My daughter." Tony said quickly as pre-flight preparations were under way.
"A daughter isn't in your file." Romanoff said, the engine's roaring to life.
"Get with the times Natasha." Tony said as the jet took off. "I'm a family man now."
The jet ride was quick since the helicarrier was hovering over the ocean. Landing, the Avengers and Loki were shown in and greeted by Fury. The imposing man nodding in greeting but his eye widened in shock, confusion and anger at the sight of Loki. "And why is he here?" he asked, pointing to Loki.
"Loki no longer has his powers and is not a threat." Thor explained.
Fury narrowed his eye but allowed the disgraced god into the conference room. "We've got a situation." Fury said, pulling up a crude picture of a floating flat circular thing.
"What is that?" Steve asked.
"We have no idea but it looks remarkably similar to Chitauri tech." Fury said, zooming in on the picture.
"Why is this a situation?" Tony asked.
"It seems to be disrupting the ocean's current and tides." Fury said, pulling up some map that showed the fluctuation of the ocean. "And we think there is a tidal wave in the works that could wipe out the entire state of California."
"Sir, we've got bigger problems." Agent Hill said and pulled up live video footage.
"Being like those that waged war in New York have come to California but they are not alone! Giant, blue beings have joined their rakes and are freezing everything in sight."
"Frost Giants…" Loki breathed, fear entering his eyes.
"Get ready!" Fury shouted before striding off and barking orders.
The Avengers only took a moment to get ready to fight when Tony asked, "Where's Banner?"
"No time!" Romanoff said as the Chitauri and Jotans started attacking people.
Ignoring the lack of Hulk power, the Avengers sprang into action.
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Lithia awoke to the quiet of no wind, sitting up she stretched her worn muscles. Her fire had died in the middle of the night so she woke cold. Sighing, she picked up her silver staff and left her cave for more wood. She had to go farther into the woods to find the proper woods… and that's when she heard the sound of far off screaming. Dropping her wood, she ran toward the top of the valley wall. Her mountain home had a good view point of her town and she saw smoke rising from it.
Lithia bowed her head before looking up. Being in her safe place had made her do lots of thinking. About Loki, about herself, about her past and about her future. She realized that giving up her voice and having a reluctantness to forge bonds had given her power to those who had tortured her for so long. She used Jenna to find out what was happening within her town. "Chitauri forces have joined with Frost Giants in a siege on earth." Jenna replied.
"Where's Bruce? They could use his help." Lithia asked, starting toward the city.
"Doctor Banner was unable to be located at this time." Jenna replied. "He is not with the Avengers."
Lithia stopped. Where could Bruce have gone? "Jenna keep me informed on the events of the city. I'm going to find Bruce." She said before turning around and jogging back through the forest.
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"Do not let the Jotans touch you. Their ice bodies will burn your skin." Thor called as he engaged a few Jotans.
He used his hammer to crush skulls and bones, rendering the Jotans dead. He smirked before rushing off to engage some others. Tony used his blasters to take out most of the Chitauri and his thrusters to dodge the Jotans attacks. His mind was barely on the fight so he made sloppy mistakes. "Keep your head in the game Stark." Steve's voice said over their com. "Lithia wouldn't forgive you if you died."
Tony remained silent but got his act together. Steve partnered with Romanoff with keeping civilians off the streets and stopping the mad rush of Chitauri and Jotans. She had taken a Chitauri weapon and was using it against them while Steve went off, using his enhanced speed and agility to fight his way through. He managed to hit a few Chitauri with his hand gun, but mostly he was fighting them off with a combination of combatant and shield fighting.
"More Jotans and Chitauri on the move, closing in." Hawkeye's voice informed them from his perch.
"We don't have enough power as it is." Steve replied exasperated.
"Somebody ask for backup?" A soft voice said as "Do It Like a Dude" starting playing in everyone's coms. "Because I brought the great green Calvary."
The Hulk's thunderous roar echoed through the cities building. He burst through a building and instantly went for the Jotans, knocking many down. A glimmering silver broadsword cut through the air and beheaded a Jotan before returning to sender. Lithia appeared, astride Virgil and caught her sword. The unicorn was covered with metal armor and Lithia was still in her mountain garb. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail but some had escaped and whipped around her face. Catching her sword, she sent Virgil into a fast gallop and drug her sword tip across the ground and numerous rock and metal golems rose up and engaged the rival army. Turning the unicorn, Lithia trotted over to Steve and Romanoff. They were joined by Thor, Tony and Hawkeye.
"What's the plan Cap?" she asked, halting her mount near them all.
"How long can those golems fight?" Steve asked, pointing to the metal and rock beings.
"They regenerate if they are destroyed." Lithia explained, turning her sword back into her silver staff and dismounting.
"Good, they'll take some slack off." Steve said. "Okay, Hawkeye, I want you back up on your perch and keep us informed of their movements. Hulk is smashing so he can keep doing that. Thor, you keep at those Jotans and Tony take on both the Chitarui and Jotans. Help Thor out but at the same time, keep the Chitauri in check. Romanoff and I will also engage the Chitarui and the occasional Jotan. Lithia, you keep those golems fighting but stay out of the fray yourself."
"Steve—" Lithia started to protest but Tony cut her off.
"You listen to him Lithia." Tony said, blasting off.
Lithia sighed and remounted. "Thor, where's Loki?" she asked before the god could fly off.
His facial reaction made her heart sink. "I'm going to find him." She said, kicking Virgil into a fast gallop.
Her eyes raked through the rubble of destruction for his familiar form. She saw him being cornered by three Jotans. She quickly dismounted and whispered, "Get him out of there." To Virgil. The unicorn whinnied softly in response.
Lithia gripped her staff and converted it into a sword. She ducked into a side alley and crept forward silently. "Our master has been looking for you Odinson." One of the Jotans said with a dark chuckle. "How the great Thanos will reward us for bringing you to him."
"Not today Frosty." Lithia said loudly and launched out from the alley, embedding her sword into his knee. The Jotan gave a roar of pain and swiped at Lithia but she dodged the arm and cut his arm tendon. Using his momentum, Lithia leapt to his throat and cut it, spilling his black blood. Unable to stand their comrade being killed by a mere mortal girl, the other two Jotans advanced quickly. Taking a defensive stance near Loki, Lithia waited until Virgil galloped over and all but threw Loki on. "GO!" she shouted, smacking Vigil's flank, sending the armored unicorn into a frenzied gallop.
Turning her attention back to the Jotans, Lithia rolled her shoulders and rushed them. Despite their great height and superior strength, Lithia managed to render them useless with only one being able to inflict damage on her. He had managed to dig an ice blade into her thigh before taking his last breath. Lithia hissed as she pulled the blade out of her flesh and threw it onto the ground. Limping away, Lithia started jogging after Loki on Virgil.
Loki grasped at Virgil's reins and pulled hard on the unicorn, making him skid to a halt with a rear. "We're going back for her." He ordered and Virgil turned and galloped back. Loki had no idea what he would do once he got back to Lithia but he was going to help her. The pair barely made it three strides when a blast knocked both steed and specter off their balance. Virgil gave a scream before shrinking and shattering. Loki scrambled to the now broken toy. Picking up the pieces, he held them in his hands.
"Virgil!" Lithia screamed and jog limped over, falling to her knees.
"Lady Lithia I am so…" he started but she shook her head.
"I don't want sympathy." She said, taking the pieces and folding them into her sword. "I want blood."
"Lady Lithia—"
"They came to my home, attacked the people I care about and killed my first friend Loki!" She yelled, her voice filling with pain. "I want them to bleed."
Loki understood her pain. He stood. "Lithia… it was that anger that led me to my actions. You cannot allow it to destroy you like it did me."
Lithia's eyes softened and she stood. On impulse, she stood, reaching forward and touching his cheek with her fingers. It had been too long since he had felt a comforting touch. His shoulders sagged and his eyes shut in seeming bliss. Lithia's hand started to pull away from his cheek but his own hand shot up and caught her wrist, keeping her hand in place. Lithia inhaled slowly as his other hand found its way to her lower back and pulled her forward until she was pressed against him. "Lithia…" Loki breathed, opening his eyes and holding her gaze.
"Loki…" Lithia said softly, the gentleness in her voice sending a shiver through his body.
"Say it again!" he demanded, earning a confused look from Lithia. "Say my name…please…" His tone much gentler this time, barley above a whisper.
A gentle, understanding smile spread on Lithia's lips. "Loki…" she replied, spending another shiver up his spine.
Unable to restrain himself any longer, Loki released her wrist to cradle the back of her head and pressed a kiss to her lips. Lithia was startled for a moment, but then she stared to respond. Her hand on his cheek crept to his hair, tangling her fingers in the silken onyx strands, while her other flew up to rest on his firm shoulder. The kiss grew more heated when Loki took Lithia's supple bottom lip between his teeth, giving it a gentle nip. Lithia moaned lightly as her hand went flying from his shoulder to grasp the nape of his neck. The electric shock of the contact caused Loki to draw her closer, pushing her body flush against his own. He arched over her to compensate for the height different, but the position also allowed for a deeper intimacy. He deepened the kiss, pouring out every pent up emotion he had been holding back. Love, desire, passion and desperation. All seeped from his lips into hers, filling her with sensations she had never experienced before. He felt her blunt nails dig into his skin, heightening the kiss even more.
For the briefest of moments, their pulsating hearts beat in unison. Nothing it seemed could pull them apart, until the need for oxygen became too great. They instantly broke contact, their breath intermingling with the other as they drew in the precious air. Their eyes remained closed as the pressed their foreheads together in sheer bliss. Loki was the first to open his eyes and only had to wait a moment before his emerald eyes were met with hazel ones.
"Lithia—"
Before he could even begin, Loki was cut off as Lithia was suddenly jerked from his arms. She was taken into the sky as his anguished voice cried out her name. "LITHIA!"
"LOKI!" Lithia called and struggled against the Chitauri but, as they flew farther away, speeding through the sky towards Thanos, he over powered her. Sagging lightly, tears started to well in her eyes as Loki's figure grew smaller and smaller.
Brushing off the shock, Loki charged forward to pursue them, but his path was blocked by the appearance of three Frost Giants. The beasts snarled down at him, clearly angered by the former demigod's assassination of Laufey and attempt destruction of Jotunheim.
Having no weapon of his own, Loki grabbed Lithia's fallen staff and readied to defend himself.
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Lithia struggled against the Chitauri once more but was still unable to break his hold. They flew to the circular object that Fury had worried about. Landing, two Jotans appeared in front of the Chitauri, jagged ice spears pointed directly at Lithia. The Chitauri pushed her forward and the Jotans poked her with their spears, making her stumble a bit from her leg wound. She managed to stay up and hobbled toward the center where a tall throne was situated.
A large being was seated, a strange looking Chitauri (The Other) at his left and an imposing Jotan on his right (King of the Jotans). A golden gauntlet was on his right hand and he thrummed his fingers on the arm rest of his throne. He had a thick jaw line and a sinister smile on his face. "Thanos…" Lithia hissed as the Jotans knocked her to the ground.
"You bring me a mortal when I asked for Loki?" Thanos asked, his voice deep and reminding Lithia of the man from her worst memory.
"Great One, she killed three of the Brothers defending the runt." One of the Jotans said, bowing. "The mortal means something to Loki."
Thanos raised an eyebrow and stood. Descending from his throne, he approached Lithia and grabbed her throat and pulled her to eye level. "Do you mean something to Loki mortal?" he asked, slightly squeezing her throat.
She chocked a bit but managed a reply. She spat, her loogie hit Thanos in the eye. Startled, Thanos threw Lithia to the side and wiped his eye. "You have fire." He said looking to the Jotan near his throne. "Take her bellow and cool that fire."
The Jotan nodded and formed a spear and forced Lithia up. "The Avengers will defeat you!" She called to Thanos.
The Jotan back handed her, knocking her to the ground. Her left cheek burned but was cold. It hurt to move or touch her cheek. The Jotan force her up and moved her into the belly of the throne ship "Such fire indeed." Thanos said softly before another smirk crossed his face. "Contact these… Avengers." He instructed The Other. "I wish to give them a message." He quickly dashed to do his master's bidding.