Notes:
This is the last chapter before the battle, so no trigger warnings yet, just angst.
Battalions of warriors stood in their lines on the tarmac waiting for orders. The avengers were grouped near the transport ships with the Wakandan generals, listening to Steve and T'Challa outline the plans and contingencies they'd laid out.
Steve was speaking, pointing to a map of rough battle lines. "If any Chitauri ships show up then we'll need the anti-aircraft guns, so position them here-"
A burst of falling refracted light interrupted his instructions, blinding them all for a brief moment before it dissolved, revealing two figures.
Loki stood in the center of the scorched pattern. Korg stood at his side, his hands raised to the guns and spears that surrounded them.
"Ey, don't shoot, we came to help. I might be made of rocks but I still have feelings."
"Peace, I am not your enemy." Loki said, raising his hands to show they too were empty for the moment.
"Loki." Steve said grimly, "We defeated you in New York, why should we trust you now?"
For the briefest moment shame flickered in those green eyes. "I have made… mistakes. That is in the past." With a slight shake of his head, he returned to the point. "We have a common enemy. Thanos has been the cause of many of my deepest regrets, and he murdered my brother, now he threatens the peace of the few survivors of Asgard. I am here because Heimdall saw the ships."
He pointed up at the streaks of smoke in the sky and the others followed his movement, not seeing the green smoke drifting across the ground, lapping gently at his feet.
"Trust my vengeance, for I loved my brother." He finished.
Steve looked at him, trying to read the truth in his eyes, Loki returned the glare and they seemed locked in a battle of wills.
"He's telling the truth." A small voice filtered through the legs of the circle.
Steve smiled and dropped his gaze to see the smoke now glowing gold around their feet, the spears were lowered, though the Dora still held their positions.
Loki saw the flickering light and froze. He was always shielded; his mind wrapped in layers of armor ever since the scepter had twisted it. And no one but Frigga had ever been able to read anything in his face. His thoughts, secrets and fears were safe behind the mask he wore, so he'd thought. Now a sliver of an awareness that was not his ran down his spine. It retreated, leaving in its wake a strange warmth. Compassion.
"Where is this witch?" he asked gesturing at the retreating light, wondering who wielded such magic.
The Dora parted to reveal an ordinary woman, sitting cross-legged on the ground next to a magnificent wolf. The golden eyes of wolf and woman studied him.
"I've heard a lot about you, Loki." Shay said, smoothly rising to her feet.
Worried looks passed between Cap and some of the others. The seven behind her raised their weapons as Loki studied her. She wasn't especially tall, nothing in her figure denoted any extraordinary strength The way the others watched her, like she'd break under his gaze, spoke of some inherent weakness. No extraordinary strength or power evident in her, nothing except: the unnerving look in her eyes, and her complete lack of fear as she faced down a god of legend.
"I ask that you not judge me by the accounts of others." he grinned, trusting to his natural charm to cover the shiver of insecurity.
"I won't." her eyes still pierced his. "Your actions will prove your measure, as will mine." And with that pronouncement she turned away, dismissing him utterly and directing attention back to the map. "Where did you want those anti-aircraft guns Steve?"
Discussion continued, and coloured dots for Loki and Korg were added to the frontline.
"Current estimates have the ships touching down here on the western edge of the dome."
"Thank you, General. We will take our positions on the hill here, hold the reserves on this ridge and watch the flanks." T'Challa straightened up, his solemn eyes passing over his people. "If any of you do not wish to fight, you may stay without shame, I will not condemn you. We face a battle against a great enemy, and we fight, not only for our nation but for our world and for all worlds. We will stand firm together, and if we die, we will die with honour."
A thousand men crossed their arms. A rhythmic chant began. Troops marched in time up the ramps and the first several ships sped away. Loki and Korg joined T'Challa and the Dora on one transport, and the assembled Avengers took another.
Few words were spoken. Even Peter was uncharacteristically quiet. There was no time for what they needed to say to each other, to find the words to express how each person mattered to them.
Steve broke the stillness first, wrapping an arm around Bucky and Sam's shoulders. "It's been a-"
Nat cut him off, eyes blazing, "don't you dare say goodbye Rogers."
"I… I love you guys." Steve said, emotion simmering just under the surface.
"Ok, great, but could you love us from somewhere else? You're gonna get sweat stains on my suit." Sam joked, pretending disgust even as he returned the steady pressure.
Warmth like the sun after a long winter wrapped the group as they exchanged hugs, patted each other on the back and shared looks of understanding, of courage and love.
Bruce had hung back at first but Nat dragged him in whispering. "You can run as far away as you want, but you will always belong here with us."
Too soon the ship was slowing, and they leapt from the deck as it slanted to offload them.
Bruce jumped, and landed as Hulk, shaking the ground.
Masks, helmets, weapons and shields were raised, coms activated. Emotions that had struggled to break free moments ago were gone, replaced with a calculated determination as they stepped into position on the field.
The purple-cloaked warriors positioned themselves around Shay again as she knelt before the wolf. Communicating in softly spoken words in a language none who listened knew, she made him understand. He was to patrol behind the battle lines and take any wounded to the safety of the shielded medical teams just over the ridge.
One hand over her heart, the other against the quivering grey chest. His beating in time with hers, golden eyes locked.
Shay pressed her forehead to Pippins, closing her eyes and breathing in the comfort of him. Be safe, heart of my heart, protect those I love. For the space of a breath, they were both illuminated against the darker figures of the seven.
