AN The "borrowed" character shows up briefly in this chapter, and it is the start of the MCU plot changing a little. It'll probably still have some things or mentioned. I'm not sure yet.
Disclaimer: I owe nothing
Chapter 18 The Start Of A Battle
Saphira hated waiting. She never had patients for it; yeah, she waited on Loki for a century. But that was Loki, and they stayed in contact with each other, and she did find ways to spend her time while waiting, but right now, while sitting on top of Stark Tower, watching Erik Selvig play around with the tesseract was so dull, Saphira thought she might go nuts from it. Selvig was talking explaining things to her, not that she was paying attention or could even understand a thing he was saying; if she did, she wasn't the goddess of intelligence. That title belongs to her sister, ironic considering Enid was blonde and on Midgard blondes were stereotypically viewed as dumb, not that was true in any way, just on television or movies mostly. People often were surprised when Enid spoke or proved how intelligent she was.
Saphira did miss her sister, so hopefully her and Loki's planned work, so she could see her, she planned to talk to Loki about Enid and Thor's role in their lives if they won Midgard; Saphira knew Loki was ticked off at Thor right now, but she had this idea that Thor could still become King of Asgard, Enid would be Queen once they finally got to have their wedding, and they join the two realms together, make peace treaties and help each other out when their kingdoms needed help. Maybe they could even reach out to Alfheim; Saphira would love to see her grandparents and uncles again. It was always so fun when they visited Alfheim as children; after their Mother had made up with her parents for running off with Bard, they wanted to see their grandchildren and be a part of their lives. They went a few times but then when they got older, the visits stopped. Saphira never understood why.
Saphira looked down at her wedding rings and decided she needed to stop letting her mind wander and focus on what she was supposed to be doing now; her mind was always doing that, never staying on one topic, it annoyed her sometimes, and she often wondered if that meant she might be a little crazy. It's why her father never liked her. She not only couldn't control her thoughts, but she also couldn't control her mouth either, always having to say something, never able to keep quiet about anything. Saphira never had a problem with how she was, proud of not letting people walk over her and showing she was better than most others. Still, she spent a lot of time thinking about it locked up on Asgard; maybe if she did control herself some, her father would have loved her like he did Enid, but that just wasn't Saphira, and she shouldn't have to change for anyone to like her, not even her father, he was dead now anyway so, it didn't matter. Loki loved her like she was, so did Enid she couldn't be all bad. However, her father would sure be mad if he was alive to see her married to Loki. The thought made Saphira smile for a moment.
Saphira wished Loki would show up now, she didn't care much for battles and fighting, but she would welcome it right now, just for something to do. She was ready for it, in a new battle outfit; it was not of her usual colors; instead, she was wearing Loki's, it was like her other one, but black, with gold vines with green leaves, and a bit of sparkle and diamonds all over. Saphira decided if she and Loki were going to be fighting together to rule this realm, they should match, but she had to add a little bit of her to it.
Selvig said something to her as he walked by, bringing Saphira out of her thoughts, though she didn't hear what that was, so she looked towards him. Even under the control of Loki's scepter, the man was annoying, always getting smart with her about one thing or another.
"What?" Saphira demanded, frowning; Selvig turned back to her as he passed to get something out of a toolbox.
"I said it's getting close to being done, and the portal is starting to open," Selvig said, turning back to his toolbox. "Loki better get here soon if he wants his war."
Saphira didn't answer, and she turned to the tesseract with a frown. The thing did seem to be glowing brighter, and the longer she stared at it, the more the cube appeared to be calling to her, wanting her to come closer. So, Saphira stood and walked slowly to it; Loki had told her it was like his scepter and had one of the six infinity stones in it, and Saphira could feel the power coming from it. Not that she ever really cared for that kind of power, but for some reason, like the scepter, she couldn't pull herself away from it.
When Saphira got up to it, she tilted her head to take a closer look; she didn't seem to be able to take her eyes off it as if she was in a trace like before, with Loki's scepter. Saphira reached her hand out slowly, feeling the need to touch it; the closer she got, the more powerful it felt. Unknown to her, her eyes were now glowing the same blue color as the tesseract and the cube glowed brighter the closer her hand got to it.
"I wouldn't touch it; you don't know what it might do," Selvig called to her as he digs around in his toolbox.
Saphira barely heard what he said as she got closer, almost hypnotized by it. She reached her hand into the glowing light coming out of it, she could swear she heard that bird noise again, and unfortunately, Loki was not here to stop her from touching the dangerous, powerful object this time. As her hand barely even touched the cube and Saphira barely heard Selvig scream out her name, when she was suddenly sucked into the tesseract by either it or some unseen force.
Saphira was very confused and frightened she found herself floating on her back in the middle of what she was pretty sure was out in space; it was dark, and stars surrounded her; Saphira thought she was by herself, until she heard it again, that noise like a bird. Then a shadow fell over her, as a giant firey bird appeared above her, or more like a bird made of flames, or flames in the shape of a bird; Saphira didn't know what it was, just that it was flames in the form of a bird and that she didn't like it; she felt fear just looking at it. As she looked closer, Saphira noticed it was holding some glowing reddish thing in its talons. The object, like the bird, was throwing out large amounts of power; she decided she didn't like it either.
Saphira wanted to escape or scream, get out of here, but she couldn't move; she had never felt so frightened before. Saphira could feel nothing but raw power coming from the bird of fire; she had no doubt whatever it could take her out easily even if she could move, mainly since most of Saphira's powers relied on her being on the ground; Saphira suddenly realized it was what pulled her through the tesseract, Saphira didn't like it, as the giant firey bird stared down at her with fiery eyes. As if surveying her, trying to meager her worth.
Saphira felt like she was floating in space, staring at her capture for eternity. While she could feel it going through her mind, she was powerless to stop it. Then it seemed to make a decision; Saphira felt like she had been chosen for something as it raised a bit, let out that loud screeching noise, then seemed to get bigger, and brighter then came right at Saphira; she thought it was going to kill her, but instead, it flew inside her, and Saphira's body burst in flames; while memories and thoughts rush through her mind, some hers and some, not hers; knowledge of things she didn't understand; If Saphira could see herself, she would see that for just a moment her eyes had turned the same reddish color of the thing the bird had in its talons, as did the flames surrounding her.
Then as quick as it started, it all stopped, the memories, flames, and red glow as the bird left Saphira's body, flying off into the distance. Still making that screeching noise, the red thing no longer with it, Saphira didn't have much to think about what just happened as she suddenly felt like she was being thrown back through the tesseract and landed back on the roof of Stark Tower. Stunned and terrified about what just happened. Saphira laid there breathing heavy, shaking, with her head feeling funny.
"I told you not to touch it, didn't I?" Selvig demanded; Saphira sat up and looked around, confused; she felt off, her body didn't feel right, and that scared her when she caught sight of the tesseract, she gasped out and moved away from it as far as Saphira could, huddling in a corner, shaking like a leaf, she took a few deep breaths trying to calm herself. At the same time, she vowed never to go near that thing again.
"You keep that damn thing far away from me," Saphira demanded as she brought her knees up and hugged them; she felt like a child scared of the monster under the bed. Still, she didn't care; Saphira knew she didn't just imagine what happened, she knew that firey bird did something to her, it dragged her through the cube and done something, didn't know what it did or what it wanted or what it was planning, and that terrified her.
"I told you not to touch it; you didn't listen." Selvig snapped; Saphira just wished Loki would hurry and get here. She needed him; maybe he would know what that thing was. He was smart; he read a lot, he knew a lot about otherworldly beings and stuff.
"Hey, you okay?" Selvig suddenly asked as he took a good look at her.
Not wanting to even look at the tesseract, Saphira didn't answer. Instead, she put her head on her legs and felt a shiver go down her back. Selvig walked toward her and reached out to touch her shoulder but was blasted away from her by some unknown force.
"Don't come near me." Saphira cried; Selvig frowned at her in confusion as he laid there. Just then, Loki appeared on the roof next to them, smiling; his smile fell as he looked at Saphira huddled in the corner, scared and Selvig standing up from being knocked down.
"Darling?" Loki asks, rushing to her; Saphira watched as he kneeled in front of her with a worried look on his face as he laid his scepter on the ground next to him. "What happened?"
Saphira just stared at him, not knowing how to explain what happened to her, Loki reached out to touch her, but to his surprise, she flinched back away from him.
"Don't touch me, please." Saphira cried; she feared if he did, she might blast him away like she did Selvig. Or something did Selvig; she was starting to believe whatever that glowing thing was, that bird had somehow put it inside her.
"It's just me, love." Loki said gently, "You know I will not hurt you."
"I might hurt you," Saphira said in a voice barely above a whisper; Loki gave her a gentle smile.
"You could never hurt me, sweetheart," Loki said, then he reached out and laid his hand on Saphira's arm; when nothing happened, he laid his other hand on her other arm and gently rubbed them. "See, nothing. Now, tell me what happened? I have never seen you so scared; you are shaking."
"I told her not to touch it." Selvig turned to Loki and said. "Maybe next time she'll listen."
"I swear if he says that one more time, he'll be nothing but ashes when I am through with him," Saphira warned Loki chuckled.
"Now, that is more like my Saphira," Loki said; he stood, then helped Saphira to her feet. "Tell me, please, what has you so frightened? I swear if someone has done anything to you, I will kill them."
"Just keep it away from me, please," Saphira answered. She put her arms around Loki's waist and buried her face in his chest. She was starting to calm down; Loki was helping, but she still felt freaked out.
"Keep what away, darling?" Loki asks, putting his arms around her, trying to comfort her.
"The tesseract." Selvig answered, "She came over here while I was getting a tool, touched the thing, and swish; it sucked her right in it. She came back out like that."
"What?' Loki demanded; he pulled Saphira away a little and made her look at him. "Where did it take you?"
"Space," Saphira answered. "I'm not sure where I was, but I was floating in space, I couldn't move or speak, or anything. At first, no one was around." Loki sighed in relief and pulled Saphira back to him. "Then came the big fiery bird thingy."
"Bird thingy?" Loki asked, confused; Saphira explained to him what happened; he had been relieved that it hadn't been them that had gotten hold of her, but what happened to his wife didn't sound much better, after the fight, he was going to have to do some research, whatever that bird was, he didn't like the sound of it or what happened with Saphira, it had frightened a goddess he always knew to be fearless and strong, heck she took out two Frost Giants by herself without a sweat on Asgard, to see her like this now greatly concerned Loki.
After a moment of them standing there hugging each other, Saphira sighed and looked up, and smiled a little at Loki. He leaned down and kissed her before pulling apart, but Loki kept her hands in his, she had stopped being so shaky, but he could tell even though she tried to hide it, Saphira was still a little scared.
"I'm guessing everything went as planned while in SHIELD custody?" Saphira asked; Loki smiled.
"Of course." He answered. Something was different about her; he could sense it; she had much more power coming off her than she usually did. It didn't feel right. Loki didn't like it. "I was looking forward to having you by my side in battle, but if you are not up to it. In fact, after what happened, maybe you should sit it out."
"I'm fine." Saphira insisted. "I want to be by your side; help us win."
Loki went to say something, but something in the sky caught his eye, and he looked up to see Iron Man flying towards them. "Damn it, not now."
"I'm fine." Saphira repeated, looking up," I can fight." Loki looked at her with a frown.
"Are you sure, love?" Loki asked.
"Yes, I want to help you; I'll be fine," Saphira answered. "I was just a little shook up, but I am okay now."
"If you are sure, then, would you like to go taunt Iron Man with me?" Loki asked. Saphira looked up toward Iron Man, who had gotten closer, and grinned.
"Of course," Saphira answered. Loki grinned, picked up his scepter; Saphira put her arm through his, and they both turned and went inside the tower. And down to the large sitting area, Saphira climbed onto the bar and sat, picking up a fashion magazine that had been sitting on it and started flipped through as if she was bored, while Loki walked out of the enormous glass doors as Iron Man flew by. Moments later, there was a loud bang, and the building shook.
"Oh, dear, I do believe Stark tried to destroy the tesseract," Loki said. He winked at Saphira. She smiled at him, and then Stark came walking in the room, not wearing his Iron Man suit.
"Please tell me you are going to appeal to my humanity," Loki said, grinning, amused as he walked back into the room.
"Uh, no, actually, I'm planning on threatening you," Stark answered.
"You should have left your armor on for that." Loki laughed.
"Yeah, it's seen a bit of mileage, and you have the glow stick of destiny." Stark turned toward the bar and frowned when he saw Saphira sitting there. "Do you mind? Get off; that's rude."
"It's also rude to threaten your guest," Saphira answered, flipping a page in the magazine.
"Guest? Is that what you two are?" Stark demanded, walking behind the bar, "In that case, would either of you like a drink?" He held up a bottle of liquor. "Wouldn't want to be rude, now, would I?"
"Stalling will not change anything," Loki told him; he gripped his scepter tighter and frowned; he didn't like how close Stark was standing to Saphira, especially with how she was sitting on the bar; she had her back to him; Loki didn't trust him.
"No, not stalling, threatening," Stark replied. "No drink? Are you sure? I'm having one."
"Is this a Midgardain thing?" Loki demanded. "I have never heard of offering an alcoholic beverage when one is threatening another."
"I have always done things differently," Stark replied, taking a drink.
"You are doing it wrong." Loki told him, "You are not supposed to offer drinks or act this friendly while threatening someone."
"Excuse me," Stark said. "Sorry, I have never had the pleasure of threatening an all-powerful God before." He took another drink. "So, are you offering to teach me lessons?"
"No, " Loki answered, "But if you are not trying to stall, and obviously, you are, and not threatening anybody. Then you are up to something. So, what are you up to?" He narrowed his eyes at him.
"Nothing." Stark denied, "I was just a bit thirsty after my long flight."
"Sure," Loki replied, not believing a word Stark said.
"You know," Saphira spoke up. "Whoever this, " She closed the magazine and looked at the name on the address label. "Potts, Virginia is, going by the outfits she marked in the magazine, she's got terrible taste in fashion."
"Really? You're going to criticize my girlfriend's taste in clothes when your boyfriend dresses like that?" Stark demanded, waving his free hand at Loki, who rolled his eyes.
"I'm her husband, actually." Loki corrected. Saphira just smirked, tossed the magazine behind her, where it came close to hitting Stark in the face, and hopped down off the bar.
"I believe I upset the Iron Man." Saphira laughed, walking over to Loki and putting her arms around his waist as he put his arm around her shoulders.
"I believe so." Loki said, smirking towards Stark, "Guess he does not like someone to talk about Virginia."
"Apparently, fashion isn't the only thing Virginia Potts has terrible taste in," Saphira remarked, making Loki laugh. Stark got mad, though.
"Hey, leave Pepper out of this," Stark demanded, which only made Saphira laugh again, this time at someone being called Pepper.
Stark slammed his glass down and walked out from around the bar and toward them, making Loki push Saphira behind him and hold the scepter out towards Stark.
"Do not come near her," Loki warned.
"You two can make fun of me all you want, but leave Pepper out of this," Stark warned.
"Or what?" Loki challenged.
"You'll regret it," Stark said. Loki grinned, and Saphira wandered over to the enormous glass doors and looked up into the sky, trying to see if the portal was close to done, but of course, she couldn't tell.
"The Chitauri are coming. Nothing can change that, plus I have Saphira by my side." Loki said. Saphira looked over at him and smiled. "What have I to fear."
"The Avengers." Stark answered, "That's what we call ourselves; we're sort of like a team, "Earth's Mightiest Heros" type thing."
"Yes, I've met them," Loki answered.
"Yeah, it took us a while to get any traction. I'll give you that one." Stark smirked, walking closer to Loki, "Let's do a headcount here: your brother the god of thunder, a super-soldier, couple of master assassins, a living legend who kind of lives up to the legend; a man with breath-taking anger management issues, and you big fella, have managed to piss them all off." Stark walked past Loki and looked toward Saphira. "I forgot one, oh yes, an old flame of Thor's, your sister, I believe, what's her name?"
"Enid?" Saphira demanded, turning to look at him. "She's here?"
"On her way with the rest of the team," Stark answered. "And she's not happy with you. And going by how she was able to hold her own up against the Hulk, she's the last woman I would want to be on the bad side of."
"She fought the Hulk?" Saphira asked, even more, confused and a little concerned.
"Yes, with Black Willow's help, as I said, my team is earth's mightiest heroes." Stark replied, " When they come, and they will come, they'll be coming for you, both of you."
"We have an army," Loki said.
"We have a Hulk," Stark replied.
"And I have Saphira," Loki said.
"You seem to be missing the point." Stark said, "There's no throne; there is no version of this where you two come out on top. Maybe your army comes, and perhaps we lose, perhaps it's too much for us, but if we can't protect Earth, you can be damn sure we'll avenge it."
Saphira couldn't help it; she burst out laughing. Loki and Stark turned to her when she didn't stop, Stark looking at her like she was crazy; Loki looked at her with a concerned look on his face. He was fearing she was going into shock.
"Darling?" Loki asked; Saphira took a few deep breaths to stop herself from laughing and walked over and stood next to him.
"Sorry, I just found that funny," Saphira explained.
"Yes, A novelty t-shirt if there ever was one," Loki remarked, a smirk playing across his lips, causing Saphira to laugh again.
"My girlfriend might have bad taste in fashion," Stark spoke up. "But at least she isn't crazy."
"Watch what you say," Loki demanded, turning back to him and pointing at Stark with his scepter again.
"Did I hit a nerve?" Stark demanded. "Well, it doesn't matter, my team should be getting here, and we'll put an end to all this."
"How can they?" Loki demanded, "They'll be too busy fighting you?" He got closer to Stark and touched him with the point of his scepter, but nothing happened.
"This usually works." He tried again, but nothing, Stark smirked at him, but Saphira had noticed the metal cling sound when Loki touched him.
"It's because he's wearing some metal thing," Saphira explained; she put one hand on Loki's shoulder and reached around him with the other and lightly knocked on Stark's chest. "Unlike our friend, Barty, Starky here has no heart."
"Maybe Loki is having performance issues," Stark suggested, stepping back away from them. "It's not that uncommon, one out of five..."
"You think you're funny?" Saphira demanded. "I know what you mean, and believe me, Loki has never had any problems performing for me. He keeps me quite satisfied."
"One, I didn't need to know that." Stark said, making a face, "And two, going by everything I know about you, you're the kind of woman it wouldn't take much to sat.."
Stark didn't get to finish what he was saying; as Loki angrily walked to him and grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off the ground.
"Did I not just say watch how you speak to my wife?" Loki demanded. Then tossed Stark across the room. "Saphira is not only a goddess but also royalty; she is far above you, any of you."
Loki walked over to where Stark was getting back up and kicked him hard on the side; Stark grabbed his ribs and groaned as he rolled over on his back; Loki then reached down and grabbed him by the neck again.
"Time you learn how to talk to a lady," Loki told him.
Loki then tossed Stark back across the other side of the room. He slowly got to his feet, holding on to his ribs, with a painful look on his face. He glared at Loki.
"I would." Stark gasped out. "If there was a lady here."
Loki snarled, rushed forward so fast, Saphira barely saw him move; he grabbed Stark by the neck again, and kept going on, taking him with him, then pushed forward and sent him right out the window; moments later, one of the Iron Man suits went flying by and out, after him, Saphira walked over to where Loki stood looking down; she looked in time to see the suit attached itself to Stark.
"I guess I can admit that suit is handy to have, especially when being thrown out a window by the God of mischief," Saphira said; Loki grinned and turned to her.
"Indeed." He said, reaching out and pulling her to him. "Guess we now know what he was up to; Stark must have been fooling with something behind the bar that called his suit to him. I have to say between him and Hulk, Midgardain technology and science is interesting."
"Thor thinks magic and science are the same," Saphira said.
"He becomes more of an idiot every time he opens his mouth," Loki replied. Then looked at Saphira. "How are you feeling now?"
"I'm fine." Saphira waved away his concern. "Hardly remember my little scare."
"You sure, love?" Loki questioned. "Because we are about to have our big battle."
"Of course," Saphira assured him; she wrapped her arms around him and leaned in to kiss him; Loki wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back. Their moment was interrupted, however, when Stark flew up to the window and interrupted them.
"Oh gross, not in my tower," Stark said, causing them to pull apart; as he raised his laser blast and pointed it at them, Loki pushed Saphira out of the way, and the shot struck him, knocking him back.
"Loki." Saphira cried; as Stark flew away, the portal opened up, and the Chitauri started passing through, and Saphira helped Loki to his feet.
"I am fine, do not worry," Loki told her. "It will take more than Stark to put me down."
"Guess we're even now," Saphira said. "We both have pushed each other out of the way and taken the hit." Loki smiled a little, pulled Saphira to him, and kissed the top of her head. As he looked out at the Chitauri flying around.
"They are here," Loki said. "Ready for battle, my love?"
Saphira frowned out at the city, she still felt off after what happened earlier, and she didn't have a good feeling about this, but she would do what she could to help Loki.
"I'm ready," Saphira answered after taking a deep breath; there were already sounds of explosion and battle going on.
"Well, darling," Loki replied, just as Thor landed outside on the ledge. "Let's go to war."
AN Hope this chapter was good; I had to rework it and add few things to make it longer, but I liked how it turned out, the character I mentioned, I had to add a little something to her to make my story work, and what happened to Saphira and what it means will be explained later, in a few chapters.
BTW Loki's remark about a novelty t-shirt says that in a comic I read not too long ago. I don't remember who or what they said, but I found it funny and wanted to add it.