JLK: You are such a kind person darling, you make my heart swoon at your words. I do not know if I should be considered an author at this point(because I make stories,) but I do love to write. *blushes* My my... such compliments are enough to mend my fragile heart. I will finish this story, and I will finish it proudly.
Thank you for the lovely reviews. You encourage me fully to try and finish this story and I will not disappoint you. Enjoy!
oOo
Chapter 21 - A Hundred Excuses
Malekith fell but the ship had caught him.
It wasn't over.
It is never that easy.
The ship disappeared, hiding itself through the clouds as it swiftly glides towards the convergence where all would see the destruction that is waiting for them. It was too silent, and Malekith found himself enjoying the silence.
It was the calm before the storm.
"Loki?"
"He is troublesome." Malekith glared. "You said he was weak at the moment."
"He has always brought us trouble." The Other paced. "It took him long to break, long for him to submit. What did you tell him to rile him so?"
"His mother."
"A thorn on our side." The Other growled at him. "The Queen's death pleases my Lord Thanos. Had you not spoken to Loki of his mother, the Aether would no sooner be yours minutes ago."
"I have it." Malekith gestured his army to get ready. "It matters not of the time. There is still plenty to rule the realms. The convergence is only the beginning."
Malekith could see it.
It was so beautiful.
The realms were just waiting there for him to take.
"I will drop you and your army under the convergence." The Other hissed. "And this ship is ours for the taking."
"Have it your way." Malekith grinned. "I have no need for a ship if my ruling will be everywhere. The darkness will consume the realms and none will stop me."
"Lord Thanos might."
"Is that a threat?" Malekith threatened him back with the Aether.
"Enjoy this while it lasts, Dark Elf." The Other glared. "For your ruling will only last moments till the Lord arrives. Our deal breaks off from here. You are on your own. You have what you believe is yours, and we will get what we came here for."
"Claim your tesseract." He prepared himself. "And claim Odin's youngest. It matters not to me. Now hurry and be on your way."
"The deal breaks off." The Other grinned.
No sooner was Malekith silently dispatched on one of the roofs of the university, hiding and waiting as he watched his army drop off from the ship, alerting Thor and the warriors.
"Thor, look." Sif pointed at the ship approaching.
"It is Malekith's ship." Fandral squinted.
"What do you propose we do, lad?" Volstagg readied his axe.
"Spare none of them." Thor shouted, throwing his hammer at one of the dark elves that dropped down. "If you see Malekith, kill him."
"I like that plan." Fandral ran, sword at the ready.
"Seconded." Hogun ran.
Malekith watched the scene unfold, laughing silently, for Thor knew nothing of him obtaining the Aether from Loki. Thor must think it would be that easy, but no, it would not be the end of him.
There will always be a sacrifice made to fit every situation.
oOo
"We're too late." May announced.
They were all at the command controls, watching the live footage of Thor and the others fighting the Dark Elves. They were diminishing rapidly, especially since Jane, Erik, Darcy and Ian were doing their best to make Erik's creation work.
"Whatever they're using, it's working." Simmons turned to Fitz. "They're using the convergence's gravitational anomaly to their advantage."
"But it'd be too dangerous for us to get near." He answered back. "Simmons, look at that technology. It's unstable, and let us say they are just lucky."
"Dangerous, we already know that." Coulson said. "Alright, is there any way to get near them?"
"None." Simmons breathed. "It's too dangerous."
"We will be trapped." Fitz said.
"Not to mention killed." Skye rolled her eyes.
"I don't like this, Coulson." May sighed. "I'm not risking all of us, just to get near that thing. This isn't even our fight."
"Not even our mission." Ward frowned at Loki, who sat on the counter without a care in the world. "We have to find something else."
"We have to find Malekith." Loki muttered.
"But you kicked him a thousand feet down." Skye laughed. "He wouldn't survive that."
"He is not an easy foe to defeat with such a drastic move." Loki swung his feet childishly. "Check again and look for him."
"Ward." Coulson ushered for him to do it.
"You're serious about this?" Ward turned to Loki.
"I am never wrong." Loki replied casually.
"I doubt that."
Ward frowned and walked over to the controls, dragging his finger down to search the area for the signature they have of the Aether. And BINGO, they managed to have a lock exactly north of Thor's location.
"Look at that." Ward pointed on the roof.
Malekith was getting ready to unleash hell upon the realms, and was taking time to get used to the overwhelming power of the Aether. Malekith had a technique to control it, and Loki wondered what it was that made it so easy for him to control.
"He survived the fall!" Skye shouted. "How did he survive?"
"Simple." Loki shrugged. "Someone caught him."
"I don't think your brother knows he's up there." Fitz turned to him. "What are you going to do?"
"I know not."
"Wait." May focused the feed elsewhere, and pointed. "Look at that."
"What is that?" Simmons scowled.
Loki curiously got off the counter and looked at the screen intently, trying to make out what the fuzzy object that was secretly passing into the portal of Asgard.
"It's Mal's ship." Loki stared at it with disdain.
"It's headed to Asgard." Coulson said worriedly.
"The plan he recklessly told me of, the Other means to take the tesseract from the vault while Asgard is distracted. We must stop him."
"How are we supposed to drop down there? The convergence could lead us into one of those portals."
"You don't." Loki said dryly. "I will teleport there and talk to Thor."
"You can't go in there alone." Ward said.
"Fine, what do you propose we do?" Loki glared at him. "Perhaps your strength alone would be enough to push through such a gravitational pull."
Ward glared back at Loki.
"There's not much we can do to fight, we're not prepared for this." May answered. "The plane could take only a few damages, and most of our equipments are already gone. So what do you say, Coulson?"
"Loki can take it from here." Coulson replied.
Loki clenched his fists, hoping that he was ready. He knew it in himself that he was already capable of fighting on his own again. He had proven that earlier with his battle with Malekith, and his strength was enough to do it.
"You can do it, can you?" Coulson asked. "You can tell your brother that we said hi?"
"Of course." Loki smiled. "I thank you, Agent Coulson, as well as your team."
"Thank you for healing and saving us." Coulson shook Loki's hand.
"You're just going to fight them?" Skye intervened. "Just drop there and start fighting!? You're serious about this?"
"I've done far more foolish things in my youth." Loki shrugged.
"In that get up?"
"Who said this is what I will be wearing?" In one swift flick of his wrist, Loki was in his armor without the helmet.
"I think I'm in love." Skye grinned, pulling Stark's phone out of her pocket. "Here, this is yours."
"Keep it."
"Really?"
Loki nodded. "I should take my leave."
"Good Luck, Loki." Simmons smiled at him.
"Yeah. Good Luck." Fitz nodded.
"Be careful out there, Loki." Coulson told him. "It's dangerous out there, and we don't want you to get hurt. I especially, don't want another incident to happen like last time. You know, your trial?"
"I'd rather not have a repeat performance." Loki grimaced but turned to smile at them. "I do love to keep people guessing."
With that, Loki just left.
He vanished with a trail of green light and disappeared.
"I don't like him." Ward said. "I just don't trust him."
"You're just jealous he has super powers." Skye grinned at him, making him calm down immediately. "And that he's cool like Thor."
"Whatever."
"I hope we meet again." Simmons said, swooning.
"If that's your reaction all the time." Fitz frowned. "No thank you."
"Don't be jealous, Fitz." She told him. "You can be as... muscle-like as him."
"Muscle-like?" Skye laughed. "I like Simmons this way, she ends up a little weird for my taste but hey, Norse god."
"I don't like it." Fitz scowled. "I like the old Jemma back."
"Admit it Fitz, you love his voice."
While the four were busy in the command controls, May and Coulson went back to pilot area, as May turned the plane around to get away from the convergence. They were sure that Fury will be pissed at them once they have a lock on the coordinates, but they didn't care. They knew that Fury would have them do clean up to ensure that no alien tech will fall into the wrong hands.
"What if you never see him again Coulson?" May questioned. "How will you question him about the stab wound?"
"Now isn't the time." Coulson frowned. "We've got bigger things to worry about than a cut on my chest."
"It wasn't just a cut."
oOo
London~
Jane was running with Erik while Darcy and Ian went their separate ways. Jane was tapping the controls every second a Dark Elf came near them and it transported them elsewhere. The two scientists managed to hide behind one of the pillars and stay as quiet as possible.
"Erik... we have to do something!" Jane whispered.
"Like what?" Erik said in panic. "We're already doing everything we can to help them out. The gravitational anomaly is everywhere, and we're trying to control it but it's not working."
"But... we have to try."
"Lady Jane?"
"Ahhhh!" Jane squealed and turned around in fright.
Loki was able to grab her hand before she could transport him somewhere that Loki would not have liked. Erik just stared in awe as Loki stood there in front of them with his armor.
"Apologies."
"You scared me!" Jane pulled her hand out of Loki's grip. "And OH GOD you're okay!? Loki, it's you! Are you okay? You're not dying are you!? How did you get here? Did you teleport here or something? Are you... you look fine, why do you look okay?"
"I need to speak to Thor."
"He's... Loki, come on." Jane breathed. "You're here. You're not supposed to be here. You're okay, right? Last time we talked you almost died with that stunt of yours in Svar- in that world. Thor's worried sick about you."
"You look fine to me." Erik watched Loki.
"I am better than what I used to be." Loki smiled sadly at them. "Please, where is my brother?"
"He's fighting Malekith, I think. Thor thinks he saw him, and I think he's right. He's not going to stop at this."
"I have to tell him something." Loki looked at her frantically. "The Other means to take the tesseract from Asgard by using Malekith as the distraction."
"You mean they betrayed each other?"
"No, they had a deal." He shrugged. "Perhaps the deal was rendered moot."
"Loki, the Aether." Jane said worriedly. "You shouldn't be here. If Malekith gets the Aether then it's over. It's okay that Thor's fighting Malekith but-"
"I don't have it anymore."
"What?"
"Mal took it."
And the same moment, a storm of red began to overtake the entire area, as dark matter cluttered together and seeped through the portals slowly. Loki ran out suddenly that Jane and Erik were screaming behind him for him to come back because it was dangerous.
Loki stared at the roof where Malekith was at, and Thor was there, stopping him from creating more chaos.
"You think you can stop me?" Malekith laughed.
"What did you do to my brother!?" Thor punched him in the face, which Malekith retaliated at and back handed him into the stone railings.
"Oh, I gave him a good beating, that is what!" Malekith chuckled darkly.
"How dare you!?" Thor tackled him.
"THOOR!" Loki called from bellow.
But his brother couldn't hear him with all the rage.
Thor was able to distract Malekith enough to destroy his focus on the attempt to bring darkness to the world. It brought them enough time, especially when Thor sent Malekith flying with Mjolnir.
"THOR!" Loki called again, even more desperately than before. "THOOOR!"
"It's Loki!" Fandral happily said as he heard him. "He's here!"
"What?" Sif and the others turned.
They could see Loki watching Thor's fight, as Jane desperately used the controls to redirect the Elves that were headed towards them. Loki however, was focused on thinking of a way to help Thor and tell him of the problem.
"But he does not look happy." Volstagg scowled as he slammed his axe on the dark elf's head, turning as he threw it right at Sif's aggressor. "Are you alright, lass?"
"Thank you, dear Volstagg." Sif nodded.
"Trouble." Hogun grimaced, knocking an elf down.
Thor was suddenly sent flying to the other building and knocked down the windows. Loki screamed his name in fright that his brother might get hurt and began to run to the building, across the other field while the warriors were on the other side.
"LOKI STOP RUNNING!" Jane called after him as Loki ran to follow Thor's movement from the roof. "You won't be able to do anything!"
"Try me." He glared.
Loki sent a blast of magic at the Dark Elves and sent them flying, while Loki ignored her, watching as Thor propelled out of the window but was attacked by the Aether, sending him tumbling to the pillar back on the roof again.
"Damn it, Thor!" Loki cursed.
"How did he get here?!" Fandral wondered, kicking another one.
"I believe he has a lot of questions." Sif said, calling for Loki. "Loki! Over here!"
Momentarily distracted, Loki broke his attention from Thor and ran to Sif. Sif was in the middle of attacking an Elf when she was tackled from behind. She immediately twisted her body, and grabbed for the Elf, stabbing him off her.
"Loki!" Sif walked to him. "You look slightly better."
"Is Thor alright?" Loki questioned as he sent a ball of fire flying at the attacker that ran towards them. "You all look terrible."
"Speak for yourself, my Prince." Fandral grinned, giving him a wink.
"You should have left Fandral off to die."
"You wound me!"
The jest was simple, but Loki wasn't here for fun. He was here to help out and relay a message, and he had no time to explain everything that had happened to him. He caught Sif's eye, trying to make her understand without words alone.
Sif cautiously eyed him, getting the point. "Why did you come here?"
"As you've seen, the Aether is no longer with me." Loki frowned.
"But you still came."
"To warn you."
"DUCK!"
Loki did duck as Sif attacked the elf behind him, and Loki pulled Sif out of the way to knock out the elf behind her with a single punch. Sif turned to him in shock as she gave him a dagger to help out with.
"Are you able to fight?"
"I can, if you will allow me." Loki nodded, accepting the dagger.
"I'm surprised Loki, you're getting better, aren't you?" Sif breathed worriedly. "Thor's worried about you and I'm not sure about this. What is it that you have to tell us that you risk yourself in battle?"
"I really shouldn't be here." Loki grimaced.
"We need all the help we could get!" Fandral stabbed another one. "You being here is somewhat a relief."
"Aye." Hogun and Volstagg agreed.
"No, you're wrong." Loki turned to him, throwing the dagger at one of them. "Malekith's plans are still the same, but the Other has a different plan. While you were all distracted, he used Malekith's ship to invade Asgard. He's headed to the vault to take the tesseract as we speak."
"How did you know this?" Hogun questioned.
"He told me."
"We cannot let that happen." Sif turned to the others. "We need to tell Thor."
Thor was backhanded into another pillar, as Thor sent Mjolnir blazing with lightning at Malekith, causing the man to scream at the burn he received, and the Aether relented to protect him from the blast.
"THOR!" Jane screamed and they turned to her.
"Jane wait!" Darcy and Ian ran to her while they were being followed by more Dark elves. "We're the ones in need of saving! NOT HIM! Use your control thing!"
Jane used it and it sent the Elves somewhere.
Darcy hugged Jane, while Ian panted at the sideline from running too much.
"RAHRGH!"
Suddenly Thor fell in between Loki and Sif, and his eyes widened when he saw Loki standing there. Thor didn't know how to face Loki and to see him in his armor was a shock.
"I guess luck is on our side." Sif smirked.
"Loki?" Thor breathed.
"Excuse us." Sif said to Thor, giving Loki a smirk.
Fandral followed Sif giving Loki a wink, while Volstagg patted him on the shoulder and Hogun just gave him a look. Loki watched as they ran forward to attack the Elves who were ready to attack Jane and the others. Jane and Erik were struggling with the controls, and were thankful that Sif managed to deflect the blows headed the mortals ways and protect them. Malekith was still up on the roof, trying his hardest to envelope the world in darkness yet again. The warriors four did their best to distract Malekith by throwing things at him.
"You are here." Thor breathed hard, pushing himself up to sit. "You look better."
"You look horrible."
Thor almost cried, but chose to laugh at that. He felt tears sting his eyes, but held it back. He missed Loki, and wanted no more than to hug his little brother.
"Allow me-" Loki pulled Thor up to stand. "Are you harmed?"
"No." Thor exhaled painfully. "I am well."
Loki stared at Thor, whose lips were bleeding and Thor had scratch marks on his forehead. There was swelling on his left arm, and bruises riddled the rest of his body. Thor's side was also bleeding from a stab wound, and Loki noticed that Thor favored his left leg.
"Thor." Loki mumbled.
Loki immediately disagreed with Thor, that his brother was not fine as he said he was. Thor looked like he was attacked by a raging Bilgesnipe and survived. Thor came closer and grabbed Loki's hands.
"I'm sorry, brother." Loki looked away. "For worrying you."
"Don't." Thor noticed the distress in Loki's features, that Thor simply smiled at him.
Thor had expected Loki to run to him and embrace him, to half cry and scold him for leaving him. But that did not come, and not one of them expected the sudden tension that rose so drastically.
"Are you-?"
"Do not worry about me." He tucked the strand of hair from Loki's face behind his ears. "This does not hurt much, so do not feel sorry for me brother, whatever happened, happened."
"It was my fault." Loki's lips quivered. "Had I been more cautious-"
"No, do not blame yourself." Thor cupped Loki's face. "It was not your fault and I do not blame you. Malekith was bound to get it, so stop yourself there. And calm down. I am here."
Loki nodded.
"I won't ask how you got here, for there isn't any time." Thor embraced Loki swiftly and kissed his forehead. "But I am glad you are safe and you are here by my side. Are you hurt? Did Malekith harm you?"
"No." Loki shook his head.
"Loki? Please do not lie-" Thor was about to apologize when Loki interrupted.
"Thor, the Other is headed to Asgard." Loki frowned. "I fear for what he might do if he obtains the tesseract. Asgard is already vulnerable from the attack before, and now that they are distracted with the Aether befalling them, they might not make it."
"Father." Thor breathed heavily. "How are we going to get there?"
"I am not sure about the paths, they are scattered because of the convergence."
"What are we to do?"
"I have a plan, brother."
"Alright." Thor nodded without hesitation. "I trust you."
"You... do?" Loki blinked, half expecting Thor to scream at him. "You trust me?"
"It is about time that I listened to you properly and heed your words. I've been so foolish, and I know you do not want to speak about this, but, I am sorry for every lie I've ever spoken since my promise."
Loki stopped him right there.
"Then... then allow me to go to Asgard."
"What?" Thor immediately regretted agreeing. "That is dangerous."
"Everywhere is dangerous, Thor. Look around you, this is war. Your place is here, Thor. My place is in Asgard, to help there. Allow me this, brother."
"Alright." He swallowed. "But promise me you can do this."
"I know I can." Loki breathed.
"How can I help you?" Thor wondered.
"Just... distract Malekith, stop him with all your might. The Other belongs to me, I will fight him or try to drive him away. Just allow me this, Thor. We've no time to fight about my condition, or my sanity. Just allow me this. I am fine and I swear to you that I can fight."
"Alright but-
Suddenly Malekith was upon them, and Loki shielded them with his magic. Thor pulled Loki behind him as the warriors four began to run towards them, but Thor stopped them before they could part with the mortals.
"No!" He shouted. "Protect Jane and the others. I trust this to you!"
Sif and the others nodded.
Malekith immediately tackled Thor, and sent tumbling into the path and disappeared.
"THOR!"
Loki's eyes widened as he ran forward in panic, disappearing as well. Loki felt his feet touch something soft, and he tumbled to the ground, propping himself up on his elbows.
oOo
Jotunheim~ London~ Vanaheim~
Loki sat on the cold soft now, eying it and bringing himself to look up to see the beautiful icy palace of Jotunheim in the distance.
Jotunheim was glistening and shining, he could see the lands rebuilt and were prospering beautifully and only then did Loki notice that they were far away from the actual palace to do harm, did his heart sober in relief.
"Norns." Loki's eyes widened. "They were not kidding when they said it was restored."
Thor attacked Malekith, punched him as they wrestled in the snow together. Thor could faintly see Loki, standing there, eying the distracting sight that captured Loki's interest. However, Thor wanted Loki to focus his attention on helping him, and having Loki distracted was not something he liked, no matter how beautiful Jotunheim was.
"LOOKIII!" He called.
Loki turned, questioning what he should do at this point. Thor managed to land a few more punches on Malekith's face until Malekith used the Aether to blasting everywhere.
Loki used his magic to make the ice slippery, causing Malekith to fall on his ass.
"You are distracted." Thor grunted.
"Forgive me for being in awe!" Loki pulled Thor up, and they began to run. "Now hurry! We cannot let him destroy this place too. I cannot burden Helblindi and Byleistr anymore with problems."
Loki changed into his Jotun form and willed himself to command the ice, and bring forth a wall that would block Malekith. Thor gaped at his brother, who was now blue and commanding ice. Loki grabbed at Thor's hand and pulled him into another run.
"What are you doing!?" Thor called, watching as Loki's skin changed back to his pale color. "We cannot leave him there!"
"He cannot do anything if he is far from the convergence." Loki turned around saw Malekith destroy the block of ice. "Damn."
"Allow me." Thor walked forward.
"No! Save your strength!" Loki picked up some snow, throwing it straight at Malekith's face, who did not anticipate that stupid attack.
"This is what you had in mind!?" Thor gave him a look. "Truly!?"
"Don't look at me like that!" Loki knew what he was going to say.
"Throw snow at him!?"
"Shut up, Thor."
"This reminds me so much of before." He said dryly.
"Shut up!"
"I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THE TWO OF YOU!" Malekith shot the Aether at them, causing both Loki and Thor to propel towards a rock.
"Ow." Loki grimaced at the pain on his shoulder.
Loki could feel darkness and fear corroding his body, making him freeze from his spot but he swallowed it down and gritted his teeth. He would not revert back into that weak pathetic crying Loki ever again. He was going to fight, and he will die with honor if he had to. He brushed off the pain that hit his shoulders and dismissed it, letting the adrenaline kick in his body. He had to fight, because there was no other choice.
"Ugh..." Thor coughed up blood. "Lo- loki-"
"Thor!" Loki shouted in worry.
"I'm fine." He wiped his mouth.
Malekith grabbed at Thor's hair and threw him in the middle of the snow, leaving Loki to whimper in pain as his shoulder ached. He watched as Malekith pinned Thor down and started punching him in the face.
"ROOOARRR!"
"Damn." Loki cursed.
Loki felt short of breath when he saw a huge creature running towards them from the cave near them. Loki's legs went on automatic as he began to pull himself up into a run towards the edge.
"THOR!? BEHIND US!" He shouted, running past them.
Malekith's eyes widened and got off Thor, running off to where Loki was running. "COWARD ELF!" Thor shouted at Malekith. He pulled himself up for a ran as well, trying to catch up to Malekith and Loki. Loki saw this and shot Malekith with a ball of fire, sending him tumbling to the ground.
"Loki, keep running!" Thor shouted, as he tackled the Elf.
Loki ran and disappeared through the path again, and found himself back in London at the university.
"What?" Loki's eyes widened. "How did I-?"
"Loki! You're alive!" Jane called.
Loki saw that they were safe and the Elves had diminished rapidly thanks to the support they had from the warriors four. But this battle was far from over. Loki had to figure out the correct path to go to Asgard, otherwise, it will be too late. He realized what he was running for, and when he heard a distant and faint roar, he started to run again.
"RUN AND DO NOT LOOK BACK!" Loki said, pulling Jane and Sif while the others followed blindly.
"Why are you running!?" Fandral shouted, staying on his spot.
"OH MY GOD!" Darcy screamed, turning around. "RUN! RUN! RUN!"
"What?!"
"Because of that, my friend!" Volstagg pointed as the huge creature appeared behind Fandral, who turned around to see the creature face first.
"Oh my."
"Must you be such a damsel?" Hogun pulled Fandral into a run, as they all ran for cover. The huge dog like creature began to tear at the pillars and rammed its huge teeth at the cars parked nearby.
"What is that thing!?" Ian ran faster.
"Is that thing from Jotunheim!?" Sif screamed. "How did you get that here!?"
"Don't look at me, Sif! Just keep running!" Loki used his illusions to distract the creature, sending it into another portal to god knows where! They stopped, and began to pant for breath. Loki looked around, wiping the sweat off his brow and noticed they were back at the other side of the university, near the lake.
"We're safe, finally." Loki breathed. "Wait.. Where's Thor!? Did you see him come through?"
"There!" Darcy pointed.
Thor and Malekith appeared from the sky as they continued to wrestle each other. They fell into another portal and disappeared before they hit the water. Thor's hammed wasn't lucky and fell into the lake, before shooting itself to the sky.
"Where's it going?" Erik questioned.
"To follow Thor." Sif said. "He must be transported elsewhere."
Thor and Malekith re-appeared in Vanaheim only to fall off cliff and be transported back to where Loki and the others were in the middle of the field.
"There they go again." Darcy whistled. "And there goes mew mew again."
"Stay with them." Loki ordered the warriors.
"Loki, are you sure you do not need help?" Sif questioned.
"I'm fine." Loki smiled mischievously. "Consider this another one of our ill adventures."
"Ill adventures." Fandral laughed.
The warriors three all nodded, and Loki gave them a grin.
With that, Loki was running back towards Thor, who managed to get Mjolnir back and shot lightning at Malekith, and sent a car tumbling towards the Elf. Malekith dodged the car and the portal sucked them all in, sending them back to Svartalfheim.
oOo
Svartalfheim~
Thor managed to grab Loki before they fell and dropped his hammer.
Thor grunted at the impact when he felt his back touch the ground. Loki was on top of Thor, protected in his brother's arms. Mjolnir was only a few feet away from them. Loki groaned and pushed himself up and got off Thor, looking at him with worry as Malekith pushed to get the car off him. Apparently, the car tumbled on top of him when they fell through.
"Loki..." Thor whimpered as Loki tried to heal him. "About mother."
"Thor I do not wish to speak of it." Loki ducked when Malekith shot at him, distracting him from helping Thor. "Now is not the best time."
"But-"
Suddenly Malekith was shooting at Loki, who shot magic back at him. Loki gathered his energy and shot a huge blast that sent Malekith rolling down the cliff.
"Will you look at that." Loki saw the car and walked up to it, pushing it with a single finger and watching it chase after Malekith.
Thor watched as Loki snickered mischievously at the sight.
Loki ran back to Thor, who was still lying on his back painfully coughing. "Get up, Thor." Loki pulled Thor up, who groaned at the aches in his body. "You have to keep Malekith distracted. I'm helping you, but at the same time, I'm looking for a way to get to Asgard."
"Then we need to head back and find the path."
Thor wiped his bloody lip, and ran down the cliff to Malekith with his hammer, slamming it at the Elf's face.
Loki stood there at the top, watching as the two battle each other from below. Loki heard something roar in the distance again and turned around as he saw the huge creature was running towards him and up towards the cliff.
Loki sprinted.
"THOR!" Loki screamed in panic.
The huge creature was after Loki this time, and Loki scrambled to get away, almost tripping. Thor saw red as anger boiled in him. He directed his hammer at the creature and shot it at him. Mjolnir was thrown to the side, being blasted into the portal again, and appeared by the warriors and mortals side, only to propel itself into the sky again.
"It's mew mew!" Darcy pointed.
"They're in danger." Jane turned to Sif. "Is there any way you can help?!"
"No." She answered. "If those two are together, they can do it."
Back in Svartalfheim, the creature was effectively knocked out by Thor's hammer and tumbled even faster towards Loki. "YOU IDIOT! HOW WAS THAT A GOOD IDEA?!" Loki screamed as the body rolled towards him.
Thor was about to apologize when Malekith jumped on his back and began to put him into a headlock.
"Pathetic son of Odin!" He hissed.
Again, the portal sucked them all in, but this time, they were falling from the sky towards one of London's tall towers. The creature's body fell to the glass window of one of the towers, alerting the humans in panic while they continued to fall down towards the street.
And Mjolnir was looking for them.
"I hate you for this!" Loki screamed as Thor grabbed his waist, turning himself around so he would be the one to break their fall. "Thor, don't! You'll injure yourself over me!"
"It might be too late to mend this!"
Skulls broke their fall.
Malekith groaned as he hit rock solid at one of the concrete as Thor grunted at the pressure of skulls cracking under him.
They were in Helheim, in one of Hela's domain.
oOo
Helheim~ Alfheim~
Desolated place, full of skulls of dead creatures, the heat of lava in the corner and dead bodies everywhere. And worse of all, there was a fog.
"DAMN! DAMN! Such an ass!" Loki continued to curse as he pulled himself up to sit. "Is it too much to ask the NORNS to be transported to ASGARD!" Loki screamed, almost pulling his hair.
"Shhh..." Thor pressed his hand to Loki's mouth. "Quiet."
"Uu... shmup..mid... mI...hdio..t..." Loki rolled his eyes. "whamm.. ishmh... mwaw?"
"You do not want to wake more creatures running after us, do you?" Thor glared at him, and Loki innocently shook his head like a child. "Good." Thor released him and patted him for it.
"Maybe we could ask Hela to kill Malekith."
"It is not that easy." Thor groaned as he stood up, feeling a broken rib somewhere in him. "We have to get back."
"I cannot feel the portal."
Somewhere, they heard Malekith groan and stood up, crunching the skulls he stepped on. Thor and Loki couldn't see where it was coming from, thanks to the echoes and the fog. Loki grabbed Thor's arm, and shakingly turned around at every sound.
"Shh... I have you." Thor whispered, and thought of what to say. "Loki, about mother. We cannot prolong this argument anymore. I know this is random to say... but..."
"Shhh..." Loki covered his mouth. "Quiet."
Crunch.
Step. Step. Crunch. Step.
Thor could feel Loki's trembling hand upon his lips.
Crunch. Step.
Step. Step. Crunch.
Thor pulled Loki's hand down and whispered to him. "I need to get this out of my head Loki, because it is already a distraction. I am sorry-"
"I do not want to talk about this." Loki hissed in panic. "Not now."
"But Loki, later might be too late."
"I told you I do not want to talk about this!" Loki screamed, power erupting from him and blasting the fog away. "This is all your fault. Had you not kept it secret, I might have done something!"
"FOUND YOU!" Malekith wildly screamed.
"Damn!" Loki clenched his fists.
Malekith spotted them and when Loki felt the portal spike up somewhere near them, he pulled Thor and re-appeared in the palace of Alfheim. The room was empty, and both Thor and Loki stopped to take a breath, hoping that Malekith would not follow.
"Alfheim. We are in one of Freyr's desolated ball rooms." Loki panted. "No guards, because no one comes here unless there's an event. We're closer to Asgard, Thor. The Norns must have heard me. How thoughtful of them. Pesky creatures."
Still no response from Thor.
"Thor?" Loki turned back to him with a scowl.
"Say that to me again." Thor grimaced. "Tell me if I had not kept it secret what would you have done?"
"Something. Anything." He answered, unable to think of anything else.
"In your condition?" Thor said, looking rather offended.
"You could give me a hundred excuses Thor, so why must you always use that excuse against me!?"
"But it is true! What hope were you in your state of mind?"
"Find another excuse that doesn't involve that, brother."
"What was I supposed to say?"
"I don't know!" Loki shrugged. "Perhaps the truth?"
"I am sorry, Loki!"
"Sorry would not bring mother back!"
"What was I to do!?"
"Why did you withhold the truth? Why must you lie to me when you had promised for the better. When you promised to no longer lie in my face, then this happens. Must you be cruel? You are no better than Odin himself! And yet look at how foolish I am to save my kidnapper."
"Do not talk of Father that way, he is trying. And Loki please forgive me from the pressure I was feeling!" Thor shouted back. "You know I cannot hope to lose you again! You know this!"
"Then what is the point if you will lose me now?"
"Do not say that." Thor swallowed, embracing him. "You cannot blame me for that. I was in distress, a lot was happening and you cannot fault me for that, Loki."
"Perhaps mother's death was the push that I needed." Loki pushed back and stared at Thor. "Trust, Thor."
Green eyes blinked at the blue ones.
"Oh." Loki bit his lips and chuckled sadly as he watched Thor stand there in awe. "Is that not in your vocabulary, brother? Had you only trusted me more, perhaps a lot of things would differ."
"How was I to know, Loki?"
"If you cannot trust me, why must I bother to fight you in this argument when the truth is already displayed for me to see. After all, I am nothing but the coward who hides behind his brother. Why must I help when lies are forged through comfort. I am not doing this to betray you, Thor. Or make you worry more than you should, but is it wrong to prove himself to someone who deems you weak?"
"I do not think you weak." Thor said.
The portal opened again and Malekith came through.
"I've had enough of this." Malekith panted. "I will bring darkness in the realms and you will not stop me! I will kill you and I will make you pay."
Malekith was stuck in his monologue.
"I trust you." Thor spoke to Loki without turning to him.
"What?" Loki questioned.
"Run. As fast as you can." Thor readied himself. "You know the path connecting from Alfheim to Asgard. Go! You might find Freyr in the halls and if you do, ask for his help to send you to Asgard through the paths."
"I will not leave you here to die."
"If you do not go, then we will all perish and Asgard will burn. Your real brothers would no longer have the home they have rebuilt. You said so yourself, Malekith is mine and the Other is yours. Protect Asgard, do not let him take the tesseract and I will take the Aether from Malekith. I have a plan. Now Hurry!"
Run. RUN. Do as you are told.
"Be safe!" Loki gave Thor once last embrace and made a run for the door.
Do not look back.
Malekith shot the Aether at Loki which Thor blocked with his body, almost crippling him, sending him on his knees inpain.
Do NOT look back, Loki.
Loki did not.
He couldn't.
Save them... last hope.
You're their last hope, so save them.
All he needed to do, was to find Freyr and get to Asgard to warn Odin.
Save them and you'll save Thor.
Easier said than done. Once Loki turned to the corner where he believed King Freyr would be in this time and delicate situation, he found himself correct. The Elf was standing there, looking at the skies in his elvish cerulean and golden robe. Loki ran and continued to run to the figure, who had turned his head towards Loki.
The Elf was clearly surprised to see him.
"FREYR!" He screamed. "You must help us!"
"Loki?"
"Please!"
"How did you get here!?"
"I beg you." Loki embraced him. "I have to go, but you have to help me." He pulled away from Freyr and began to pull him and drag him along like a child would his parent. "Hurry, please. Mother's dead because of him. Because of what they did and Thor- Thor's- Thor's in danger, all of Asgard is in danger! The convergence and the enemies- surely Alfheim has heard of it. Please, I beg you Lord Freyr- help us."
"Is something the matter?" Freya stood at the side, being ushered by Freyr to leave, but Freya just watched as Loki continued to convince Freyr. She watched as Loki had stopped tugging on Freyr's hand, and just held him there and cried.
"Please. I do not know what else to do." He sniffed.
"HUSH. Hush, child. Calm down. Shhh... it is alright." Freyr pulled himself out of Loki's grip and wiped Loki's tears away. "You have time to spare. Tell me everything."
And Loki did.
oOo
TBC.
This chapter "killed" me. I'm completely drained, my brain is out of juice and I am exhausted and I don't know anymore.
PLEASE REVIEW, it helps me post the next chapter faster.
TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK and please be nice~ :D