Hayes didn't consider himself as a very aggressive human being. He wasn't the kind of person letting people walk over him and he had been involved in some fights, but he wasn't seeing red all the time.
Still he had a hard time not to wrap his hands around the man's neck to strangle him. His imagination had already shown him how the face of the god would turn pale, how his body would convulse.
On any other day he would have felt ashamed of these feelings, but not today. Not with Loki. Who probably had fantasies like these by everyone he met. The only thing keeping him from harming the god, who he would never find weaker than now, was the fear it would affect Aella. After all, their minds were melted together now. They both were lying motionlessly, one on the bed, the other on the ground.
Hayes could only guess what influence this would have on Aella. Loki had violently invaded her thoughts, her mind. She hadn't given him permission to do so, in fact, she'd specifically told him she did not want him to do such a thing.
And what had Hayes done to protect her? He'd let that stupid god bluff him. Loki had claimed he was the only one who could bring her back, but in the meantime she was unconscious for at least an hour and she still didn't wake up.
Whatever Loki was doing, he wasn't helping at all.
With a cramped face he turned to Thor and Brunnhilde, who he had called a while back. "Isn't there anything we can do?"
Thor pulled a not very brainy face. "I do not know much about those matters."
Hopefully Hayes looked at the Valkyrie. In her eyes a fierceness was burning that had to be a reflection of his own anger. She too would love to take advantage of Loki's vulnerability.
"I'm afraid we will only cause her harm." The Valkyrie crossed her arms. "But this behavior is crossing the line, Thor. Even for Loki. Will my mind be the next he invades? Or yours?"
"I did not even know he was capable of this," Thor muttered. It sounded like an apology. "Certainly not without hypnosis."
Hayes pressed his lips together. He had to do something. "Can't you bring her back with a little jolt or something? You're the god of thunder, right? After all, it was lightning that brought her all this misery in the first place."
"I don't know what effect that will have."
Hayes stood up and paced through the room, as he'd done at times since the two were unconscious. And he called himself a god? He couldn't do a damn thing! Of all people it was Loki who showed godly powers and the powerlessness was driving Hayes crazy.
He wished he could do something himself, he was craving for some kind of power with which he could protect Aella from that insane dickhead. For it was clear Loki wouldn't leave her alone anytime soon and he had the feeling Aella didn't realize what horrible things he was capable of. She was so keen on finding answers she would step right into an abyss.
Someone gasped for air. Hayes turned around immediately. Aella had widened her eyes and jumped up. Wildly she looked around.
Hayes ran straight to her, "accidentally" kicking Loki's head on his way over. The god was still passed out.
Holding his breath he observed Aella, expecting her to collaps again, or her eyes starting to bleed or that Loki's voice would come out of her mouth– or whatever other horror.
She panted, her eyes shot through the room and rested upon Loki.
"Loki?" She jumped off the bed and dropped on her knees next to him. "Loki?" Her voice cracked as she shook his shoulders.
Blood glided out of his nose, found a way out between his lips.
"What happened?" Thor stepped forward, his face worried.
Hayes exchanged a look with the Valkyrie. Their thoughts followed the same path: exactly what he deserves.
"Is he dead?" Hayes asked, a little too hopeful.
A breath brushed her ear. "Would you like that?"
Shocked, Hayes looked over his shoulder, staring right into Loki's face. His glance was cold as ice. Hayes' stomach twisted painfully.
Aella turned her head aside as she heard Loki's voice. He didn't know what expression dominated her face: anger, indignation or relief.