Annnnd we're back! Things are heating up and the plot is getting messier (as is typical). I do not own anything Marvel, only my OCs and plot twists! And a Happy Thanksgiving for those who celebrate it~!
Now, let's get this show on the road!
Arianna paces frantically outside the healing ward, worried sick as the healers fight to save her best friend's life. Frigga is in there too for the last blow the behemoth had delivered but the healers are far more optimistic about the survival of their queen, even if she is in a coma. Thor and Jane watch her worriedly, occasionally trying to engage her in conversation but Arianna ignores them completely. It takes exactly twelve paces for Arianna to walk the breadth of the hallway, which she counts idly.
One, two, three- she'll be fine, she'll be fine, it's Inez she's always fine, it's okay she's not dying or anything-! Oh god, oh god, Inez please be okay! Please, you're my best friend I can't have you die on me, I can't-!
Her breathing comes faster and faster as she starts to hyperventilate. Her talent stirs but she clamps down on it, knowing if she unleashes it she could accidently kill everyone beyond the doors.
"-anna? Arianna? Are you alright?" Jane asks her loudly, breaking her out of her thoughts.
Arianna gives the scientist a tremulous smile- a weak effort but there none the less.
"N-Not really. I-I know I shouldn't stay here, waiting for her, but she always waited for me and I hate that she's in there and I can't be with her-!" Arianna starts to ramble.
Thor and Jane exchange glances and Thor tries to calm her down.
"Lady Arianna, I'm sure we can arrange for you to stay at her bedside if you are this distressed." He assures her.
Arianna shakes her head, tightening her arms around herself.
"No, no, no, I can't go in there-! If I lose control, I could accidently kill her-!" She whispers.
Jane and Thor stiffen in confusion. Arianna almost wants to laugh at their expressions. She forces herself to speak clearly, despite how much she hates talking about the most dangerous aspects of her talent.
"My talent doesn't just affect energy in objects. If I keep it going around living c-creatures, they'll suffer cardiac arrest. Plants, animals, people- they all die if I push too hard. And that's when they're healthy." She emphasizes.
Thor pales and quickly grabs her- Arianna doesn't mind too much, relieved that he is making her get out of there and not obsess over Inez's condition. Jane follows and they end up in the study again. Arianna internally smiles at all the books before nodding in thanks to Thor.
"Thank you for doing that. I needed someone to drag me away before I became more of a nervous wreck than I already am." She admits.
Jane watches her with a combination of scientific interest and wariness.
"How does it work? Your talent, I mean." She asks.
Arianna sighs, sitting in a chair.
"… The best way I can describe it is my talent is linked to my aura- anything within its boundaries is affected. The paranormal energy tailors itself to all the energy signatures in my vicinity and creates counter-point signatures to neutralize them. Inanimate objects and ambient energy are the easiest to flat-line while living creatures are harder. I can weaken someone into falling unconscious if I am not touching them or make them lethargic if they're stronger and if I don't do it for very long. But if I touch someone while I have my talent active or expose someone to it for too long-" She hesitates for a moment before speaking again.
"They could die or be permanently damaged. But, controversially, I can also be more targeted in what I dampen which is what I did for you, Jane." She explains.
Jane nods thoughtfully while Thor looks lost. Arianna is too tired to care if he understood or not. She goes and curls up on a padded bench off to one side, yawning. Jane sits (bravely) next to her and Arianna smiles sadly at her.
"You don't have to force yourself." She whispers before falling asleep.
…
Thor is tense as Odin stares down at Frigga and then Inez's unconscious forms before he looks at Thor.
"The mortals-" He starts to say.
"Jane and Lady Arianna do not deserve to be locked up!" Thor retorts heatedly.
"What would you have me do?! The Dark Elves will attack again for the Ether and only that Jones woman can suppress it! We cannot allow them to get their hands on the Ether and that is final!" Odin barks.
A muffled groan interrupts Thor and they both look to see Inez blinking blearily at them.
"Ruidoso…" She mumbles.
"Sweetwater! You are awake!" Thor cries and Inez flinches.
"Thor..?" She questions him, frowning at him.
He nods, becoming somber.
"You almost died, my friend. But I must thank you for saving my mother-"
"Save? She sleeps, unresponsive and yet you thank this woman for saving her? Do not make me laugh! Come, Thor! We must plan for the next attack!" Odin commands, sweeping out of the healing rooms.
Thor tenses, his fists clenching.
"Go."
His head snaps up to stare at Inez.
"What?" He blinks.
"Go. Your people need you." Inez tells him, closing her eyes.
"But I can't just-!" He starts to protest but Inez glares him into silence.
"You can and you will. Go protect your home. That's what you need to do right now." She dismisses him, closing her eyes.
Thor wavers, glancing between her and his mother before his face hardens with resolve and he leaves.
…
Heimdall arches his eyebrow at Thor, Sif and the Warriors Three.
"The Bifrost is closed, by your Father's command. How do you propose to take Jane out of Asgard?" He asks Thor.
Thor looks at Heimdall with a wry expression.
"There is more than one way off of Asgard, as you very well know."
"Wait- you don't seriously mean to-!" Fandral protests but Thor silences him with a look (inwardly Thor is surprised copying Inez's glares is so effective).
"He knows how to get off Asgard without being caught- and he can heal Mother and Sweetwater." Thor reminds the group.
Sif frowns.
"It's dangerous to trust him!"
Thor smirks darkly.
"Whoever said I trust him?" He asks.
…
Loki is laying on his couch, flipping through a book he had reread many times before without really taking in the words on the page. He is bored again. That mortal, Arianna Jones, was interesting. Polite yet cutting- no, she's a mortal. Mortals are not anything special. Huffing to himself, Loki tosses the book aside and folds his arms behind his head as he frowns at the ceiling. Reluctantly, Loki admits she was the most entertaining thing that happened to him in ages.
A rustle outside his cell catches his attention and Loki quirks his eyebrow at the guard outside his cell.
"Your Highness, I bring news of the Queen."
Loki stills, tension flooding his body.
"Very well, speak." He says flippantly, feigning his lack of concern.
"Her Majesty was injured in the attack and has not awoken. The healers are unsure if she will ever open her eyes."
Loki feels his face pale at the words. Frigga. Injured. In the attack he had willingly assisted because he wanted Thor- perfect, golden Thor- to suffer. His throat closes up as emotion overwhelms him but he manages a dismissive nod. The guard, thankfully, leaves him alone. Loki's face twists and his magic explodes out of him as he takes out his worry, rage and self-disgust on his surroundings.
…
"So, how does it work?" Jane asks, looking at Arianna.
Arianna quirks her eyebrow.
"What work?" She asks.
"Your talent- ability! How does it work? Is it passed down, does it just manifest randomly-?" Jane starts to babble.
Arianna laughs, the sound raw but heartfelt. Jane stops, pouting at Arianna.
"Hey! This is a serious scientific inquiry here! Do you have any idea how this changes things?"
"I do, I'm sorry for laughing, it's just- you ask the same questions we have been asking ourselves for gods know how long." Arianna apologizes.
Jane brightens and inches closer, eagerness in her body language.
"So..? What did they determine? They must have done research!"
Arianna nods, grinning slightly.
"They have…"
"And..?" Jane drags out, staring.
Arianna leans close.
"It's a secret." She whispers in her ear.
Jane pouts full on.
"That's no fair!"
The cooler shrugs, leaning back in the chair.
"That's how it has to be. Inez wasn't joking about the witch hunts. Humanity has rarely reacted well to that which it doesn't understand. Not that the governments of various countries haven't tried to replicate paranormal abilities."
Jane groans and flops back on the couch, leaning her head back. Arianna starts to break apart her guns for maintenance when a spike of energy startles her. She snaps her head up and sees Jane, eyes pitch black, staring out the balcony. Moving fast, Arianna pulls on her talent and touches Jane's shoulder. The Aether fights back but Arianna is insistent, soothing the frequencies until it is dormant again. Jane gasps, her eyes flickering back to her normal brown.
Arianna frowns at her searchingly before slowly removing her hand.
"Thanks." Jane says lowly.
"You're welcome." Arianna answers.
Abruptly the door slams open and a trio of Asgardian soldiers marches in.
"Jane Foster, Arianna Jones, you need to come with us." They order.
Arianna steps slightly in front of Jane, keeping her expression mild.
"And where might we be going?"
"A more secure set of rooms." A guard answers.
Jane nods and starts to follow while Arianna sighs mentally, quickly grabbing her weapons before following.
…
Thor stands in front of Loki's cell, expression calm. Loki sneers.
"Thor. After all this time, now you come to visit me." Loki comments, arms clasped neatly behind his back.
He leans forward, a menacing frenzied glare transforming his face.
"Why? Have you come to gloat? To mock?" Loki hisses.
"Loki enough. No more illusions." Thor cuts him off coolly.
Loki's eyes widen- then the room flashes with the tell-tale green of Loki's magic as it reveals the devastation. Everything upturned or broken, scuff marks on the walls of objects thrown and Loki, more rumpled and wrecked than Thor had seen in years. Loki dispassionately stares at Thor from his position crumpled against the wall of his cell.
"Now you see me, brother." Loki murmurs softly.
Thor walks around the cell to be closer to Loki while the trickster watches.
"Did she suffer?" He suddenly asks.
"She sleeps but does not wake. I do not know if it is suffering to exist in such a way." Thor answers.
"The healers have failed her?" Loki inquires, an angry glint in his eyes.
"They have attempted to wake Mother. They failed. But I did not come here to share our grief, instead I offer you the chance at a much richer sacrament."
"Go on."
"You seek vengeance just as much as I do. Help me escape Asgard, heal our mother and I will grant it unto you after we leave this cell."
"You must be truly desperate to come to me for help. What makes you think you can trust me?" Loki asks.
"I don't. Mother does. You should know that when we fought in the past, I fought with the hope that a glimmer of my brother was in there, somewhere. That hope no longer exists to protect you. You betray me, I will kill you."
"When do we start?" Loki grins.
…
Arianna sighs as Jane fidgets, anxiously wringing her hands.
"Calm down Jane."
"Calm down? How can I calm down? We're under house arrest!" Jane protests.
Arianna nods, conceding the point.
"Yes, but at least they are not actively treating us like POW."
"POW? What is a POW?" Jane asks, confused.
"Prisoners of War- it's an acronym." Arianna answers, tilting her head.
The door opens and a guard comes in with two meals. Jane brushes it off.
"Not hungry." The scientist mutters.
Arianna sighs in exasperation at Jane's attitude.
A sudden slam alerts the pair as the guards collapse unconscious, Sif standing over the bodies.
"Good, let's go." She orders.
The trio quickly leave, Jane yanking on a jacket while Arianna secures her guns in holsters. Up ahead are Thor and Loki, who is in handcuffs.
"You..!" Jane says, shocked.
"I'm Loki, you may have-" Loki starts to say when Jane bitch slaps him.
Arianna hides her amusement.
"That was for New York!" Jane snaps.
Loki smiles, looking over at Thor.
"I like her. Ah, Miss Jones, how nice to see you again."
"You as well, Loki." Arianna says cordially.
Sif shoots Arianna a glare but the cooler pays no heed. Footsteps echo through the halls as soldiers approach rapidly.
"Go, take them! I'll hold them off!" Sif orders Thor.
"Thank you," Thor tells her before leading Arianna and Jane away. Loki goes to follow when Sif holds her sword to his throat.
"Betray him, and I'll kill you." Sif informs Loki.
Loki chuckles, turning to look at her.
"It's good to see you too, Sif."
Soon they all see the Dark Elves ship, still in the middle of the palace. Volstagg stands waiting with his ax.
"I'll give you as much time as I can." He states.
"Thank you, my friend." Thor gives his gratitude before making for the ship.
Jane gives Volstagg a nod while Arianna gives him a warm smile.
"Our thanks." She says simply.
Volstagg smiles back before suddenly holding out his arm, stopping Loki.
"If you even think about betraying him-"
"You'll kill me? Evidently there will be a line." Loki quips.
Volstagg frowns before letting Loki pass. Once aboard, Arianna looks for something to strap herself and Jane into, being more fragile than the Asgardians. Meanwhile, Loki and Thor are snapping at each other.
"I thought you said you knew how to fly this thing?" Loki asks.
"I said, how hard can it be." Thor retorts, hitting more buttons.
"Well, whatever you are doing, I suggest doing it faster brother." Loki warns.
"Shut up, Loki." Thor snaps.
"You must have missed something." Loki points out.
"I didn't, I hit every button on this thing."
"Don't hit it, just press it, gently."
"I am pressing it very gently! It's not working!" Thor snarls, only for the ship to wake up.
"Ha ha!" Thor laughs triumphantly.
Arianna sighs at their insanity. The ship rumbles as Thor turns it around, smashing through many of the remaining columns.
"I think you missed a column." Loki snarks.
"Shut up Loki!" Thor snaps.
Asgard's defenses start shooting at them as Thor maneuvers them between and around the buildings.
"Look, why don't you let me take over, clearly I am the best pilot!" Loki urges.
"Oh right. And out of the two of us, which of us can actually fly?" Thor snarks back.
As more join the barrage to hit their ship, Jane collapses from the strain, Arianna barely catching her.
"Oof! Jane, I am not a big strong man so please don't swoon in my feeble arms!" Arianna grunts.
"Oh dear, is she dead?" Loki asks as Arianna lowers Jane to the floor.
"Jane?" Thor demands, worry obvious.
"I'm okay," Jane waves off their concern.
"No, you're not," Arianna says softly.
"He needs to focus." Jane argues just as softly.
"You're a moron." Arianna sighs.
The ship abruptly shakes as multiple hits land, throwing off Thor's original path and he accidently cuts through a building.
"Not a word." Thor warns Loki.
"Thor, do try to not hit anything else- I doubt this ship was meant to be a battering ram." Arianna calls from the back.
Loki smirks at Thor who glowers back.
"I didn't say it."
"Shut up." Thor growls to Loki.
"Now they're following us." Loki comments.
The ship groans as Asgardian ships land shots, making it vibrate in an unnerving way.
"Now they're firing at us!" Loki shouts.
"Yes, thank you for the commentary, Loki, it is not at all distracting!" Thor yells.
As they dart into a tunnel, Thor slices off the head of one of the two statues.
"Well done. You just decapitated your grandfather!" Loki mock praises him.
Flying out of the tunnel, Thor has to dodge a new barrage before flying them down near the supports of a bridge. Arianna keeps an eye on Jane, checking her pulse while Loki starts to rant.
"Okay, this is wonderful. This is a tremendous idea. Let's steal the biggest, most obvious ship in the universe and escape in that! Flying around the city, smashing into everything in sight so everyone can see us! It's brilliant Thor! It's really brilliant!" Loki yells at Thor.
Thor, fed up, defenestrates Loki out the window. Arianna arches an eyebrow at Thor as Loki's scream fades.
"I sorely hope you don't intend to do that to us. Humans are rather squishy." She informs the Asgardian.
Thor shakes his head and cradles Jane in his arms while Arianna jumps onto his back like a koala. Thor quickly escapes the Dark Elf ship and leaps down. They land upon the small vessel Fandral has been driving, who is chuckling at Loki's sprawled form.
"I see your time in the dungeons has made you no less graceful, Loki." Fandral comments.
Loki scowls as he scrambles to his feet, affronted. Arianna jumps off Thor's back and settles in a seat, enjoying the sea spray. The ship they escaped on flies off ahead, more Asgardian ships in pursuit the gambit still holding for now. Thor settles Jane next to Arianna, who holds her hand and soothes the Aether back.
"You lied to me. I'm impressed." Loki compliments Thor.
"I'm glad you're pleased. Now do as you promised. Take us to your secret pathway." Thor demands.
Loki grins wickedly as he takes the wheel, speeding up as he turns towards the mountains. Abruptly, more blasts sound out behind them as another vessel has spotted them. Loki dodges the attacks but Thor looks to Fandral.
"Fandral."
"Right," Fandral grabs a rope.
"For Asgard." He jumps off, swinging like Tarzan.
Arianna claps for Fandral's dramatic exit.
"Seven out of ten. Good line, nice jump off, needs more whoa factor." Arianna comments.
Loki takes that as his cue to sharply turn the boat- right for a mountain.
"Loki?" Thor calls, obviously worried.
"If it were easy, everyone would do it." Loki smirks.
"Then I hope you are not 'everyone'." Arianna says dryly.
"Are you mad?" Thor yells.
"Possibly!" Loki grins widely.
"Don't you know, Thor? All the best people are a little mad!" Arianna laughs.
Thor shoots her an incredulous look but Arianna ignores it. They get closer and closer to the mountain, seemingly ready to crash when Arianna spots a hole. A hole that seems just big enough for their boat. Loki steers right into it, the sides of the vessel scraping against crystals lining the walls until suddenly there is an overwhelming gleam. A surge of energy erupts and Arianna has to clamp down her talent to keep from interfering. Next thing they see is a dark world of black sand and barren rock.
"Ta dah!" Loki says as they land.
They continue to sail and Arianna takes in the sights. The sun is perpetually eclipsed and she wishes for her camera. Loki steers them through a mass of broken ruins, perhaps space ships or buildings- Arianna isn't sure.
Thor glances at Arianna at one point before speaking.
"Lady Arianna, I must ask you to stop completely blocking the Aether for this plan to work. You have my thanks for keeping Jane alive."
Arianna waves off his thanks.
"Sure, I can do that but please call me Ri- Lady Arianna is a mouthful and far too formal since we're on a death-defying adventure." Arianna grins.
"And what of me? Did I not earn the chance to call you your pet name?" Loki asks from the helm.
Arianna tilts her head, pretending to think.
"Oh, I suppose you may have, for such excellent steering!" She teases.
Loki huffs in amusement before his eyes land on Jane, being tended by Thor.
"What I could do with the power that flows through those veins."
"It would consume you."
"She seems to be doing alright. For now."
"She's stronger in ways you don't even know. And she has Lady Ri to help her."
"Say goodbye." Loki urges.
"Not this day."
"This day, the next, a hundred years, it's nothing! It's a heartbeat- you'll never be ready. The only woman who's love you prized is snatched from-"
"And that'd satisfy you?"
"Satisfaction is not in my nature."
"Surrender is not in mine."
"The son of Odin." Loki scoffs.
"No, not just of Odin. You think you alone who loves Mother? You have her tricks but I have her trust!"
"Trust? Was that her last expression? Trust? When you let her be beaten into a coma she might never wake from!?"
"What help were you in your cell?!"
"Who put me there? Who put me there?!" Loki screams.
"You know damn well, you know damn well who!" Thor yells back, slamming Loki against the side of the boat.
There is a pause when it seems like Thor is going to pummel Loki- only to pull back.
"She would not want us to fight." Thor grits out.
"Well, she wouldn't exactly be shocked." Loki points out pragmatically.
They smile at each other- tentative, after all had happened, but still warm despite the betrayals.
"I wish I could trust you." Thor tells Loki wistfully.
There is a pause then Loki finally answers Thor's unspoken question.
"Trust my rage."
"Well, I trust you both are suitably skilled to do damage to your enemies." Arianna comments, making them jump.
"We can only hope, Lady Ri, we can only hope." Thor chuckles after gathering himself.
Loki scoffs, looking away. Arianna debates for a moment then offers a tidbit.
"Frigga outwitted Malekith. She used her magic to misdirect and she had at him at her mercy until his giant appeared. I don't think Malekith can tell the difference between illusions and reality. So, trickery will be the way to go if you're going to confront him."
Loki blinks, staring at her with a frown. Thor nods, a grim look in his normally bright eyes. A long while later, Jane stirs and Arianna feels the Aether spike. Jane's eyes open and Arianna tenses at the pale blue irises and black sclera.
"Jane?" Thor asks as Jane starts moving around.
Jane stares out and in the distant clouds, they can see a ship descending.
"Malekith." Jane murmurs, almost in a trance.
"I think they have accepted your invitation, Thor, Loki." Arianna says dryly.
It doesn't take long to find a high vantage point to view the Dark Elves. Jane's eyes remain the eerie state she woke in, showing the Aether is more active than before.
"Are you ready?" Thor asks Jane.
She nods, shivering.
"I am ready for my part." Loki comments.
Arianna thinks of something and murmurs to Loki.
"Might I bother you for an illusion to hide my presence?" She asks.
Loki arches an eyebrow at her.
"And what do you think you can do down there? You are no warrior."
Arianna laughs softly, not wanting the sound to carry.
"A warrior? No, I am not a warrior. A monster is a better term for what I am."
"You, a monster? Doubtful."
"And what do you know of monsters, Loki? The most dangerous are also those most frequently overlooked by others. I should know- after all, I do not appear to be someone that can kill without a trace." Arianna says quietly.
Loki frowns but nods grudgingly, waving his hand. Arianna vanishes as she gets ready for her part. Loki stands next to Thor, easily visible to the Dark Elves below.
"You this plan of yours is going to get us killed?"
"Yes, possibly." Thor admits.
Loki holds out his shackled wrists. Thor gives him a look.
"Still don't trust me, brother?"
"Would you?" Thor asks as he unshackles Loki's wrists.
Loki rubs his hands together, casually not looking at Thor.
"No, I wouldn't." Loki admits.
Thor is stabbed through the stomach and kicked off the hill while Jane screams for Thor. Arianna barely stops herself from yelling, choosing to pursue instead. Loki stalks up to Thor, predatory glee in every move.
"You really think I cared about Frigga. About anybody?" Loki asks, kicking Thor in the face.
"All I ever wanted, was you and Odin, dead at my feet!" Loki snarls.
Thor tries to summon his hammer, only for Loki to slice the offending hand off at the wrist. Thor screams in pain, clutching his maimed arm to his chest. Arianna almost breaks her cover- only to frown. For all the screams and groans, Arianna cannot smell any blood. Slowly, she inches closer as Loki starts to bargain with Malekith. He offers up Jane, who stares shell-shocked at the leader of the Dark Elves. After a quick discussion with his hulking second, who Arianna is happy to see is lacking a hand still, Malekith kicks Thor over.
"Look at me." Malekith orders.
Thor groans as Malekith extends his arm towards Jane, who floats into the air. Reddish liquid starts to stream from her eyes, mouth and nose towards Malekith. Gradually a floating cloud of quicksilver like vapor forms and starts gliding to the leader of the Dark Elves. Jane abruptly is dropped on the ground, empty of the Aether and Thor takes that as his cue.
"Now, Loki!"
Loki gestures at the illusion breaks, revealing Thor whole and hardy with both hands and Mjolnir. Loki dives on top of Jane as Thor attacks the Aether directly. Arianna sneaks to a better position right behind a Dark Elf, knife at the ready. She doesn't have particular faith that the Aether can be blown up permanently.
Sadly, she is proven right when it reforms and attaches itself to Malekith, who immediately turns to leave. Rolling her eyes, Arianna slices the throat of the first elf then moves to the next, striking quickly. She manages to get her second target but the others catch on, firing at her position. Instinctively, Arianna pulls her talent, precisely countering the energy frequencies in the blasts to stand unharmed. Pulling a gun, Arianna fires at the remaining elves while Thor chases Malekith only to be waylaid.
Seeing Loki surrounded, Arianna jumps in, shooting the elves with long range weapons first while Loki dealt with the close-combat ones. Loki, seeing her work, gives her a curt nod before spotting Thor being pummeled. They exchange glances and Arianna nods, loading another clip and snagging one of the Dark Elves' guns. Loki takes the gun and uses it like a bayonet, stabbing the giant in the back.
The giant pauses, then turns to attack Loki but Arianna simultaneously leaps on the giant's back, dangling from his neck. She wrenches hard with her talent, weakening his life force rapidly. He staggers and flails, trying frantically to throw Arianna off but she hangs on grimly as the giant, with increasing speed, weakens. Vitality, strength, power; all fading fast.
Soon he can't stand, his body no longer able to support both of their weight as Arianna continues using her talent. As a last attempt, he tries to grab her but Arianna gives a final push, snarling. His heart, which had been laboring harder and harder, finally stops. The giant slumps, dead and Arianna wheezes from the effort, staggering. Loki catches her, shooting a confused glance at the mortal. Arianna waves off his nonverbal questions.
"I'll be fine, just tired…"
"Lady Ri, that was-" Thor says, an unspoken query in his words.
Arianna nods, a grim smile on her face.
"Yeah… We need to get going if we're gonna catch up to Malekith." She points out.
Loki nods, a perturbed look on his face. The quartet make their way to a cave to shelter from a storm. Thor and Jane start having a conversation, blaming themselves for everything, while Loki and Arianna sit off to the side quietly.
"… When you said you are a monster, did you mean it?" Loki asks her.
Arianna blinks up at him before sighing, eyes distant.
"When you're told, over and over again, that you are a monster it is hard not to take it to heart."
Loki frowns at her answer.
"That's not an answer." He retorts.
Arianna rolls her eyes at him.
"Then yes, I consider myself a monster but, to quote a very wise woman, 'monsters are people too, even if they scare people witless.' Plus- I have Inez, who just- who just doesn't care I can do stuff like that. So, there's that."
"How odd. Then again, she's a monster herself." Loki mutters.
"She is, but she owns it. Her words, not mine." Arianna huffs.
"And you don't?"
"Different people react differently. I hate killing but staying alive and protecting others occasionally necessitates taking another's life. Inez made her peace with it; I struggle with it." She shrugs, uncomfortable.
There is a long pause and Arianna relaxes against the rock, tired mentally and physically. Loki breaks the hush between them, keeping his voice down so it doesn't carry to the other two.
"… I meant to say it earlier, but you have my thanks, for distracting the beast."
"You're welcome, Loki." Arianna smiles at him.
He smirks back at her as they listen to Jane and Thor's banter.
A truly horrible ringtone sounds out, utterly jarring and loud. Arianna jolts, pats her pockets for her phone only to realize it isn't hers.
"What is that horrible noise?" Loki complains.
"It's not me," Thor comments.
"Not me either," Arianna confirms.
Jane pulls out her phone and answers. Awkwardly, Arianna and Loki listen in on the conversation as Jane is asked on another date while right in front of Thor. Jane gets excited and heads further into the cave, finding a keyring. A soccer ball, cans, bottles and oddly enough shoes litter the ground making Arianna tilt her head in confusion.
"Did this cave become a garbage can?" She mutters to Loki as they follow Jane.
"Why are there so many shoes in here?" Thor asks before Jane yanks him through a portal.
Loki blinks at the portal then at Arianna, offering his arm.
"Well, that's convenient. Shall we?"
Arianna laughs and nods, taking the offered arm.
"We shall."
They pop through and follow Jane to a truly wrecked car. Arianna pauses, realizing something.
"You need a disguise." She tells Loki.
"I beg your pardon?" Loki sneers.
"She's right, brother. The people of Midgard have not forgotten your recent attempt to take over their world." Thor tells him.
"Well, it seems your doctor has forgotten you long enough to have arranged to dine with another." Loki snarks.
Arianna quickly steps between the two, exasperated.
"Stop goading him." She says to Loki.
"But it's so easy, I can't help it!" Loki complains.
"And? We have other things to do like deal with Malekith." Arianna points out.
"My apologies." Thor sighs.
"Fine, I will hold off- for now." Loki grumbles.
"Are you coming? We need to go!" Jane yells.
"Coming!" Arianna yells back, jogging up.
Thor gets in first while Loki and Arianna have to get into the back.
"So, who's Richard?" Thor asks.
"Really?" Jane asks, exasperated.
"Clearly her lover, brother, did you not hear her arrange a romantic rendezvous?" Loki teases.
"What happened to holding off?" Arianna hums to Loki.
"I lied, obviously. It was too good to pass up." Loki scoffs.
Thor tenses up, his grip on Mjolnir tightening. Arianna drives the heel of her fashionable booties into Loki's toes unapologetically and smack's Thor's head while smiling brightly at Jane in the rearview mirror.
"Don't mind them Jane- men are idiots and do so love belittling each other's egos." She says brightly.
Jane huffs a weak laugh while Thor rubs his head, glaring at Arianna in the mirror.
"Why did you punish me and not Loki?! He started it!"
"Correction, you did, Loki just added to it. And who says I didn't do something?" Arianna tilts her head innocently.
Thor sputters, Loki smirks deviously while Jane sighs, rubbing her forehead as she drives. Eventually they arrive Jane's apartment and Loki is pulled to the side, out of sight of cameras, to transform. Loki decides on a female version of himself in a green sweater and black dress pants with a coat. Arianna gives her nod of approval and they rejoin Thor and Jane as Jane walks in.
"Hey," Jane calls.
"Jane! You can't just leave like that! The whole world is going crazy and all the stuff we saw is spreading!" Darcy exclaims.
Thor hangs up his hammer while Arianna wipes off her shoes politely, Loki copying her.
"Did you go to a party? And who are those two?" Darcy wonders.
Arianna smiles and holds out her hand.
"Arianna Jones, I ended up in Asgard by accident." She introduces herself.
Darcy looks at the disguised Loki.
"Who's she then?"
"Sigyn of Asgard." Loki lies smoothly.
"You're an Asgardian?" Darcy blinks.
'Sigyn' nods.
"I am assisting Prince Thor in defeating the Dark Elves." Loki explains to Darcy.
Meanwhile, Jane and Erik are getting reacquainted.
"Erik!" Jane cries.
"Jane! How wonderful! You've been to Asgard!" Erik comments.
"Where are your pants?" Jane asks.
"Oh, uh, he says uh it helps him think." Ian states
"Oh, well I'm gonna need everything you've got on this. All the work on gramametric anomalies, everything!" Jane adapts easily, focused on science.
"Okay!" Erik nods.
"Are you well, Erik!" Thor asks.
"Ha! Your brother's not coming, is he?" Erik asks suddenly wary.
"Loki is back on Asgard." Thor says awkwardly, pointedly not looking at the disguised Loki.
Loki has to hide a smirk at the blatant lie.
"Oh thank god!" Erik whispers.
Thor gives him a look while Erik laughs awkwardly then hugs Thor. Arianna pointedly arches an eyebrow at Loki. Loki shrugs and mutters.
"I might have ensorcelled his mind to further my plans."
"Perhaps not torturing the good scientist would be an excellent start," She murmurs back.
"Malekith is going to fire the Aether where all the Nine world are connected." Jane states, getting the group on track.
"Amplifying the weapon's impact. For each additional world, the power will grow exponentially. The fate would be irreversible." Eril summarizes.
"Yes, but the alignment is only temporary. He must be in exactly the right place at the right time." Thor adds.
"Well, how do we know where that is?" Darcy asks.
"We follow the directions. This has happened before, thousands of years ago, the ancients were there to see it! All the great constructions! The Mayans, the Chinese, the Egyptians, they made use of the gravitational effects of the convergence. And that gives us a map! Stonehenge. Snowden, Great Orme, they are all coordinates taking us here." Erik taps the map.
"Greenwich?" Ian asks.
"The walls between worlds will be non-existent, physics is going to go ballistic, increases and decreases in gravity, special extrusions, the very fabric of reality is going to be torn apart!" Jane exclaims.
"I'm gonna get my pants." Erik decides.
"Thank god, that was awkward to behold." Loki mutters to Arianna.
"Shush, you messed his mind up and now you get to deal with the aftereffects." She scolds him.
Loki pouts but can't argue without blowing his cover.
…
Arianna, who had quickly swung by the London branch of J & J to pick up supplies and a catnap, comes back and takes several of the stakes to hammer into place with Loki's obnoxious company.
"I don't understand how a pair of scientists intend to thwart the Aether with these strange devices." He complains as Arianna hammers the stake in place.
"They know their fields better than you or I. Let them do the heavy thinking on that, yes?" She pants.
"Are you implying they are smarter than me?" Loki demands, affronted.
"Did you or did you not make use of Erik Selvig during the Invasion of New York to make a portal?" Arianna dead pans.
"That's beside the point-" Loki argues only to be interrupted.
Screams fill the air as Malekith's ship appears, arriving right in the middle of the campus at Greenwich.
"The guest of honor arrives," Loki mocks.
"Six out of ten. Shock factor and impact were good, but not original. Too gloom and doom. Plus we've seen it twice already." Arianna decrees, tsking.
"Shall we go give our greetings?" Loki offers.
"Let's finish our task before murdering more Dark Elves." Arianna decides.
"Fair enough."
It doesn't take them long to finish hammering in more stakes and regrouping with Darcy and Ian.
"Everything set on our end." Arianna reports.
"Thank Ri, don't know if we could have gotten to that side otherwise." Darcy says.
"And how exactly are these stakes supposed to help?" Loki asks.
"Well, they're supposed to help control the gravitational shifts-" Jane starts to explain.
"Jane, now would be a good time to test that out." Arianna interrupts.
Jane works her science and several of the Dark Elves vanish.
"Fine, the scientists have some use." Loki grumpily admits.
"Oh shit, Jane, there's more-!" Darcy says in a panic.
Loki rolls his eyes, ready to quip- only for the four of them to teleport to another street.
"What just happened?" Darcy asks, looking around.
"We teleported." Arianna replies, pulling out her gun.
"Why do you have a gun?!" Ian yelps.
"Why wouldn't I have a gun when facing a hostile species?" Arianna asks, exasperated.
"Oh, that makes sense." Darcy nods, pulling out her taser.
A sudden slam of a Dark Elf hitting a car abruptly is their cue to run- Arianna pauses and fires twice, dropping two of their pursuers. The quartet split up, Arianna and Loki drawing more attention from the Dark Elves than Darcy and Ian. Loki happily stabs several Dark Elves while Arianna plays defense, laying cover fire. A sudden surge in energy catches their attention.
"We better go," Arianna yells over the noise.
Loki nods and they make their way towards the ship looming over the college. In the center of the green, a vortex of red and black energy is forming, tendrils of malevolent energy reaching upwards. Arianna spots Jane and Erik with several stakes, staring at the vortex with frustrated glares.
"What happened?" She calls out.
"Thor and Malekith were thrown through one of those portals but Malekith made it back. And now he's trying to use the Aether! And we can't get close enough to stop him!" Jane exclaims.
Arianna nods, considering the vortex.
"I can get myself and one other person in there. Let's go!" She barks, starting to race across the green.
Loki swears and grabs the stakes, sprinting to keep up with Arianna. As she runs, she pulls out a small mirror and channels her talent into it. Loki catches up in time to see the Aether smash into an invisible sphere surrounding Arianna. He glances around, intrigued, as the Aether surges around them like a storm hitting a glass bubble.
"Well, this is impressive." He comments.
Arianna grunts, focusing on keeping the shield intact as they move forward. Loki spots Malekith first, floating in the middle of the storm.
"And there he is."
"Great, murder the bastard please." Arianna grits out as the Aether slams harder and harder on her shield.
"With pleasure," Loki hums, readying a stake.
"Loki, Lady Ri!" Thor suddenly bellows from behind them.
Arianna nearly fumbles the shield in surprise while Loki makes an unimpressed face.
"And there's the oaf." He groans as Thor charges up beside them.
"Are you ready to end this brother, Lady Ri?" Thor asks.
"Sooner rather than later so do save the grand speeches!" Arianna snarls, holding up the null zone with an effort.
Loki needs no further encouragement and throws the first stake, striking Malekith's arm.
"There is no point, Asgardian- the Aether is eternal!" Malekith scoffs.
"But you are not." Thor retorts smugly.
Malekith frowns then panics as his arm is ripped off his body. Thor throws the next, hitting Malekith's other arm and Jane repeats the feat. Armless and increasingly panicked, Malekith slams the Aether harder and harder against Arianna's talent. She holds her ground with an effort, blood oozing freely from her nose as the strain increases.
"Hurry!" She groans.
Thor takes the last stake and sends it cleanly into Malekith's chest, smashing Mjolnir into it with a thunderclap- the leader of the Dark Elves vanishes in the shockwave. At the absence of the Aether, Arianna finally stops using her talent and collapses half-conscious, blood still dripping freely. Thor also collapsed, leaving Loki (still disguised) standing over the pair.
"Oh dear, sleeping on the job already?" Loki asks.
"Mrph." Arianna moans.
"Your ability is quite interesting for a mortal- the applications are intriguing, to say the least. I wonder if-" Loki ponders.
"Thor! Oh my god! Ri?!" Jane yells, spotting the fallen duo.
"How inconvenient." Loki sighs at the interruption.
As if to emphasize his words, the Dark Elf ship cracks and starts to fall straight towards them. Jane frantically tries to shift Thor while Loki simply teleports Arianna and himself out of the way. Idly he watches at the multiple tons of metal collapse, wondering if this would actually be the end of Thor.
"That would be an anticlimactic death- but it could be amusing." Loki hums, watching.
Sadly for Loki, Erik uses the stakes to teleport the falling wreckage and saves Thor and Jane. Rolling his eyes, Loki scoffs.
"Of course he survives by the grace of others."
"Shhhh, my brain hurts…" Arianna whispers, clutching her head.
Loki tilts his head at Arianna's prone body.
"Your ability has limitations, it seems."
"Shhhhhh, no complicated talk." Arianna hushes him again.
"Hey, is she alright?" Darcy yells.
Arianna clamps her hands over her ears with a pitiful moan.
"Loud…"
Loki pastes a fetching smile on his face.
"Just worn out and overstimulated, no worries!" He reassures Darcy.
Darcy frowns as she walks closer then pales.
"Uh, I dunno what Asgard's definition of 'fine' is, but bleeding that much from the nose is not a good thing for a human!" Darcy snaps, kneeling next to Arianna.
"Shhhhh, Darcy, shhhhhh…" Arianna shushes Darcy.
"Okay, Ri, how're you feeling right now?" Darcy asks Arianna.
"Mhm… head hurts. Too much…" Arianna vaguely flops her arm around.
"Noise? It's too noisy?" Darcy deduces.
"Uh huh." Arianna smiles weakly.
"Gotta use sneaky voice…" She whispers.
Darcy and Loki sweat drop.
"Yeah… hospital is probably a good idea." Darcy decides.
"I can do preliminary healing." Loki proposes, kneeling next to Arianna.
"Lady Ri! L-Sigyn! Are you alright?" Thor bellows, Jane walking alongside him.
"Shhhh!" Darcy hisses, shushing Thor.
Thor pauses, baffled.
"Darcy? What is wrong-"
"What is wrong is you are so loud that Lady Ri is in even greater pain than before, you oaf!" Loki snaps.
"Ugh… Noisy…" Arianna mutters, trying to curl tighter around her head.
"What the Asgardian chick said." Darcy concurs, crossing her arms.
Loki shoots Darcy a glare but refocuses on Thor.
"She has exhausted herself and needs rest- not you bellowing at the top of your lungs like a blandersnipe!" He hisses.
As Loki berates the other god, he casts a green toned spell towards Arianna who falls asleep under its influence. Darcy crouches closer, inspecting the glowing magic and trying to poke it with a stick. Loki slaps the stick away without looking at Darcy.
"Stop that."
"Aww, but it's glowing and pretty!"
"And yet you poked it with a stick."
"Hey, I have some self-preservation." Darcy says proudly.
Jane face palms while Erik and Ian shift awkwardly. Thor rubs his face tiredly then looks at Loki.
"We need to return to Asgard to heal Mother."
"Of course, Prince Thor- we should not tarry in such a task." Loki agrees, standing.
Thor looks at Arianna and then at Loki meaningfully. Loki barely refrains from rolling his eyes and scoops up Arianna. Thor beams at Loki, who coughs to cover a scoff.
"Whoa, you've got muscles Sigyn!" Darcy gapes, wide-eyed.
Loki almost fumbles his grip on Arianna, struggling to stay in character.
"Ah, yes, pardon me Lady Darcy but we must be going-"
"But wait! I wanna post about the hot Asgardian lady who deadlifts like a champ!" Darcy whines, pulling out her phone.
"Can't wait, terribly sorry-!" Loki deflects, walking faster.
Thor barely holds back his laughter at Loki's predicament before looking squarely at Jane, completely serious.
"I will see you soon, Jane. Heimdall!" He vows before calling on the protector of the Bifrost.
The rainbow bridge opens and the trio vanishes, leaving the Bifrost mark on the soil and stone. Upon arriving, Loki dispenses with the illusion, knowing Heimdall had seen him don the disguise. So Thor and Loki are swiftly greeted with a platoon of Asgardian soldiers and Odin, staring at them disapprovingly. Arianna is fast asleep, happily ignorant of the brewing tension.
"Father-" Thor starts but Odin holds up his hand, silencing Thor.
Odin turns his gaze to Loki, focusing on his adoptive son while disregarding Arianna.
"Can you heal her?" Odin asks coolly.
Loki blinks, somewhat surprised by the bluntness of the question but having expected something of this vein.
"And then what? I heal Mother and go back to rotting in a cell?" Loki scowls.
"Your punishment will be reconsidered, in light of your actions to preserve the Nine Realms." Odin tells Loki.
Loki's eyes narrow, picking up the loophole.
"Reconsidered does not necessarily mean 'changed'." He scoffs.
The tension rackets up until Thor can't take it any longer, stepping between his father and brother.
"Could this not be discussed after Loki heals Mother?" Thor questions, glancing back and forth.
Odin and Loki relax, marginally.
"Indeed, it can. Come." Odin commands, leading the way.
…
Inez is idly watching the healers in the healing ward flit from one soldier or civilian to another ceaselessly. The healers had been kind enough to allow Inez to sit up with support but refused to let her have any of her weapons. Sighing to herself, Inez glances at her neighbor.
"Well, the world hasn't ended and a healer told me the Convergence has ended- so odds are Ri, Thor and Loki figured shit out." She gossips to Frigga.
There's no response, but Inez isn't expecting one. Vaguely she recalls that speaking to coma patients can help them wake up, so that's what she does- talk. Not her favorite activity but needs must. Shifting slightly in discomfort, Inez stares at the nearest healer. A younger healer scurries over, radiating nervousness, and Inez has to work to not scrunch up her nose at the scent.
"Y-Yes?" The healer stammers- visually she seems younger than the other healers.
"Water please." Inez requests simply, ignoring the increase in anxious spoor.
"Oh-! Right away!" She stammers, hurrying away.
Inez glances at Frigga.
"Really, why are they so skittish of me? I'm just laying here." She huffs.
The doors to the healing room abruptly are slammed open, startling the patients and healers alike. Inez palms the scalpel she swiped and readies to roll off the bed. But a familiar annoying voice clears the room of all save Inez and Frigga. Odin sweeps in, sending Inez an unfriendly glance. Inez doesn't bother to hide her eyeroll.
She is surprised to see Thor and Loki follow Odin, Loki carrying Ri in his arms like a damsel in a fairytale or some shit. Amber eyes narrow as she watches Loki approach her and Frigga, depositing Ri on a bed near Frigga. Odin looks severely at Loki, standing beside his wife's bedside.
"Heal her." He orders.
Loki sneers at Odin but lays his hand on Frigga's temple, the green glow of his magic flaring. Thor, and Odin to a lesser degree, wait with bated breath as Loki works. Inez frowns, wanting to waft away all the tangled scents pouring from the three males. Not long after Loki begun Frigga starts to stir, moaning. All the tension triples when Frigga blearily opens her eyes.
"Loki?" She rasps, reaching out to touch him.
Loki, arrogant and narcistic Loki, kneels to make it easier for Frigga. An uncharacteristically soft expression on his face as he stares at Frigga.
"Mother." He murmurs, a wealth of hidden meanings buried in the single word.
Odin rushes to Frigga's other side while Thor awaits his chance, nearly vibrating with impatience. Inez ignores the further family bonding time, her concern for Ri only growing when she doesn't stir at the noise. Loki detangles himself, awkwardly standing next to her bed and looking anywhere but her. Inez arches an eyebrow at him, bemused.
"Do you enjoy looming over people?" She asks dryly.
Loki snaps out of his mood, shooting her a glare. Inez smirks back, readjusting the pillows. He silently catalogs her injuries (those visible at least) and frowns.
"Why are you here, Sweetwater?" Loki demands.
Inez tilts her head, a playful smirk on her face.
"Is that concern I hear? Do my ears deceive me?" She quips.
Loki full on scowls while Inez chuckles softly only to cough, wincing.
"You're injured- why? Unlike the oaf, you don't take opponents head on." Loki comments critically.
Inez snorts.
"An insult to your brother wrapped up in a compliment to me- should I be flattered?" She deadpans.
Loki's scent spikes with irritation and anger- Inez considers teasing him more but Frigga takes the choice out of her hands.
"Inez. Thank you for protecting me." Frigga says, looking more like herself.
Inez resists the urge to make a face, settling for merely nodding.
"You're welcome." She says sincerely.
Frigga was nice and had handled all the insanity with aplomb- all the props to her. Especially dealing with Odin, Loki AND Thor. Loki freezes then glances between Frigga and Inez, realization hitting him.
"You protected her." He says flatly.
Inez hums, nodding.
"Yup."
"Why? Why would you-?" Loki trails off, confusion and relief coloring his scent.
Inez tilts her head before deciding to be blunt.
"Frigga is a BAMF- and I appreciate smart sassy women who aren't afraid to throw down."
"What is a BAMF? I do not know this word." Loki grits out, unhappy to admit his lack of knowledge.
Inez looks him dead in the eye.
"It's an acronym for 'Bad Ass Mother Fucker'- and coming from me, that's fucktastically high praise."
Loki wrinkles his nose at the crassness but Inez doesn't care.
"What happened to Ri?" She returns fire.
Loki shrugs.
"She complained about her head hurting and it being too noisy-"
Inez jerks upright, inner alarm bells going off.
Danger, Will Robinson, Danger, Danger!
"Was she using her talent before that? How long? Was she injured or hit her head?" Inez rapid fires questions.
Loki blinks, befuddled but for once doesn't screw around and answers promptly.
"She was- I think no longer than ten minutes at the longest. And no, she did not hit her head that I am aware. Why does that matter?"
"Because I can rule out brain injuries- anything else stick out to you before she passed out?"
Loki rolls his eyes but answers.
"Well, her nose was gushing blood." He snarks.
Inez deadpans at that.
"Dammit Ri… Okay. Lots of rest, iron-rich foods and drinks and no using her talent for a week should help." Inez sighs.
Loki arches an eyebrow.
"You seem familiar with her symptoms." He says leadingly.
"She's my partner." Inez states flatly, not giving anything else away.
The unspoken 'duh' is clearly understood given Loki's stiffening body language. Before he can retort, Odin interrupts them.
"Come. We have much to discuss." Odin orders.
Thor and Loki grimace while Frigga sighs.
"If he chooses to difficult, feel free to let me know." Frigga tells her sons.
Thor nods, relieved, while Loki pointedly looks away- the tips of his ears red. Inez remains quiet while they head out before sighing loudly.
"Can someone get a cup of water- please and thank you."
Frigga chuckles as she relaxes.
…
A week later, Inez and Arianna are finally taken back to Earth with Thor as an escort 'so they don't cause trouble' to quote Odin. Inez is just happy to get away from the Asgardians and back to semi-predictable humans. Arianna had also recovered nicely, to Inez's quiet relief, and happily chatters at Thor and Heimdall as the Bifrost opens.
"Are you ready?" Thor asks the pair.
Inez quirks her eyebrow at him, amused.
"Obviously. Double-checked our luggage and everything." She jests.
Arianna sniggers, bouncing on her toes.
"What Inez means is 'I am done with being around people, take me back already'." She translates.
Inez nods, unapologetic.
"Exactly."
Thor laughs while Heimdall cracks a smile.
"Well, let us be off then!" Thor announces.
Heimdall takes his cue and fires up the Bifrost. Thor is the first one through with Arianna second and Inez in the rear. There is a dazzling impression of light, stars flashing past them and all hues of the rainbow as the Bifrost labors. A loud blast signals the end of their journey; Inez sighs with relief then tenses when she recognizes the location.
The Avenger's Tower.
Arianna, on the other hand, has no qualms about looking around.
"Oh! Inez, didn't you come here during the Invasion?" She asks.
Inez gives in to the inevitable questionnaire, shooting Thor a baleful stare.
"Yeah."
Arianna tilts her head at Inez.
"Won't you introduce me to your teammates?" She teases.
Inez rolls her eyes, striding past Arianna and Thor.
"Have Thor do it." Inez retorts.
"Hold, Sweetwater! There is a matter I must discuss with the Avengers and Father was insistent both you and Lady Ri attend." Thor thunders, smiling sunnily at her.
Inez twitches, her limit for Asgardian shenanigans long since surpassed.
"Why now?" She groans, utterly exasperated.
Thor continues to smile, though it dims.
"Father felt both of your versions of events concerning the Convergence would be a great boon in the coming talks."
Inez and Arianna's intuition twinge with foreboding.
"What talks? Why would Odin need us to add anything to a discussion concerning Asgard?" Inez grits out.
"Why, it's about Loki spending a portion of his sentence here- on Midgard." Thor states solemnly.
Arianna covers her mouth, eyes wide with shock. Inez looks completely done with life.
"Your father is an ass." Inez informs Thor flatly, already not looking forward to the coming conversation.
Thor nods, subdued.
"I know. My apologies."
"Please don't apologize for someone else, Thor. You are not beholden to their actions nor responsible for them." Arianna reminds Thor sharply but kindly.
"My thanks for your kind words, Lady Ri. Now, let us not tarry any longer! Forward!" Thor perks up, striding inside.
The two partners exchange glances and Arianna grins cheekily.
"At least I finally meet your temporary teammates~!" She hums.
Inez just sighs as they march to their doom. Who's? Inez doesn't know yet.
Annnd cut! At last, a chapter almost two years in the making is done and out! Huzzah! Please review and comment and have a happy holiday!