Aria fell back on her ass with a small groan. She sat up quickly and surveyed where everyone was. Tony and Steve were in the door way also on the floor. Banner and Natasha were gone. Thor and Fury were opposite of the other two and she was up against the wall in the middle.
"Hill what the hell was that?!" Fury yelled out as he got up, gripping his earpiece to his ear.
"Go put on the suit," Steve ordered to Tony as they helped each other up.
Aria got up and rushed over to Thor, kneeling down to help him up. "Thor, you need to go check on your brother. I'm gonna go find Banner and make sure things don't get messier than what it is."
He looked around before focusing on what she had said and nodded mutely. Not wasting another second, she stretched her senses out as she got up to locate the familiar feeling of Banner and Nat's auras. Feeling them below she quickly made way to the gaping hole in the middle of the room. She looked over and saw Nat pinned down by a beam. Across from her Banner seemed to be struggling with something not there.
Why would he be struggling if...HULK. Aria's eyes widened before she pushed herself off the edge. Signaling energy to rush to her legs to absorb the impact and let her land quietly, she made quick work to free Nat from her prison. Sending energy into her arms to lift the beam, Aria gritted her teeth at how heavy it was. She scrunched her brow in surprise to see Nat's leg still in one piece as she crawled out from under it. She quickly sat up to nod at Aria before her eyes snapped towards Banner.
"Is this what you were afraid of happening?" Aria whispered as she shoo-ed away some random workers from where they were at.
"Well considering we have the smartest man in the world with a very feisty temper," Nat spoke calmly even though her body was shaking in what Aria assumed was fear, "yes it was."
"Go help the others, I'll take care of Banner."
"Okay but don't kill him. We kinda need him."
"I may seem like a mindless killer but if I was I don't assume I'd be on this side of world domination," Aria snapped back, her eyes trained on Banner watching as puffs of green began to flourish along his skin, "go before I leave you in charge of this."
Nat hesitated slightly before running off. Aria sighed as she did so. How could she not have seen this? It was either provoke her or the big one. Since mind controlled-Loki didn't get her reaction, he decided on the bigger one.
Well sometimes bigger isn't always better Loki, she smirked at her thought before thinking what to do with Hulk.
The giant was now out of the confines of Banner. He roared before throwing what Aria could only say was a small tantrum as he started throwing punches everywhere. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a group of workers huddled behind some machinery. Of course, there would be people here of all places and of course they would just stand still when she had motioned to leave with her hand. This was gonna get messier before being able to get cleaned up it seemed. She'd have to keep his attention on her and only her.
Someone worthy of our power...finally to release some stress, his voice stood out among her thoughts, the savory tone a little bit distressing.
Just be ready. Quick question, what power did that scepter leave on me anyways?
Oh darling, I'd love to tell but if you don't start paying attention we'll be punched out of the helicarrier in about four seconds he chirped cheerfully before Aria felt a punch connect with her gut.
She flew backwards through some glass panel looking things and the glass flying scratched her skin and clothes. She landed harshly, rolling to a stop in front of some box. She groaned before spitting out some blood, wiping it from her lips as she looked up to see the Hulk advancing on her. Quickly. She looked around and saw a missile sitting close to her. Sending energy into her arms, she picked it up as she stood to her feet. Twisting back around, she swung with her enhanced force and hit the Hulk straight in the face that knocked him a few steps to the left. Not letting him recover, she brought it back and hit him again in his shoulder forcing him back even more. She jumped back to put some space between her and him, watching him turn to look at her with a rage unparallel to anything she'd seen before. She dropped the missile in favor of grabbing her daggers.
"I don't want to fight you but if I have to I will," she called out wearily. In return, she got a roar and him rushing her.
So be it. He can't die in this form right?
Aria began to regulate her energy to flow through her whole body. His attacks were relentless. No matter how many enhanced punches, kicks, and stabs he received he just kept going. Aria knew she wouldn't be able to use her mother's spell because he wouldn't stay still long enough for it. All that mattered was his attention was on her, even if it meant that he was trying to kill her it was better than the alternative. She dropped down quickly to avoid one of his punches but didn't expect the kick that followed. It connected with her stomach and blood poured out of her mouth as she flew back into a plane. Breathing raggedly, she pulled herself out of the her-size dent of the plane. She had no time to think before jumping to the right to avoid his fists coming down on her. She rolled over and jumped up to throw out a kick, a small relief blossoming in her chest when it connected to his chin.
The relief was short lived as his huge hand gripped onto her ankle and threw her to the wall closest to him. She dropped her daggers as she crashed into it. Stars crossed her vision briefly but she had to get back up quickly to avoid another jumping take-down from him. Aria repositioned herself a couple feet away from him, her lungs on fire with every breath she took. Blood trickled down her nose and mouth but she didn't care. Her weapons were behind the raging beast and now she'd have to rely on hand-to-hand combat. He roared once again, his chest puffing up out of anger. Cuts littered his body but he seemed unphased. Aria knew she was strong but she didn't know how many more hits from him she could take. She had to play this smarter.
Or we can just play dirty...the stone in the scepter isn't the same as the Tesseract child.
And that helps me how?
She huffed out as she dodged a punch intended for her head, pouring energy into her fist as she threw on of her own. It connected with his chest and pushed him back a step. She flipped back and moved the energy into her foot, kicking him in his chin to send him flying on his back. She caught herself with her hands before pushing up to land on her feet.
It is called the Mind stone. Some of it's power is now in our system. Your petty little mind tricks are no longer petty anymore.
And you're barely saying this now? A couple hits ago would've been nice.
You had your hands full, what else can I say Hati jeered snidely at her.
She knelt down and stretched her senses out, his aura nothing like before. It felt ravenous and vile, anger bubbling all around it. She began to plant small seeds of the calm she could picture when one was watching a sunset but it was cut short as he advanced towards her. She didn't have time to dodge his strike so she crossed her arms over her head and directed a large portion of her energy into them. His roar disturbed the hair around her face and a pained scream ripped itself from her throat as his fists made their mark. The ground beneath her began bending and she sunk into the metal slightly, his fists now just resting against her arms. Shocks of pain bursted in her arms and travelled down her whole body. She whimpered before mustering the courage to begin pushing herself up. Aria looked up and locked eyes with Hulk.
Alright, make yourself know. We'll make this a fair fight.
With pleasure.
Energy surged through her whole body, this time stronger than the various others. Aria assumed it was because of the stone's emergence with her but she didn't care. While Hulk may be on the same side as her, right now he was just the enemy. She stood up easier, his fists still placid against her arms. He blinked rapidly before trying to push her down, grunting as he did so. However, Aria wasn't going to be pushed down so easily as before. She smirked as all the pain disappeared and stared at the Hulk. Right before she directed a portion of the energy into her fist, to which connected to his jaw. The blow sent him up into the air and straight through the roof of their level. She directed energy into her legs as she prepared to jump up to meet him.
He was laying on the floor in the new level grasping his head with one hand as the other propped himself up. He groaned before shaking his head vehemently. He looked up as she landed in front of the hole in the floor. She smirked wickedly at him, raising her hands up in mock surprise. Unknowingly to Aria, wisps of energy started to become visible as it crackled around her as fire would in a pit.
"Is that all you really have to offer Hulk" Aria spoke venomously. Before she proceeded, she stopped dead in her steps.
Did you just speak using me?
Of course not.
I didn't give you permission last time and didn't give permission this time. What did that stone's power do to our little agreement?
Once we survive this I'll explain.
Fine.
Aria blinked rapidly before focusing back on Hulk. He was still just sitting there looking at her dumbfounded. She found humor in the fact that one of the strongest on the team also happened to be the most underdeveloped of minds while in his beast form. He just looked like a poor, kicked puppy. Aria hated that she had to harm him, she wanted to do nothing but become close with the man. She knew though that she'd have to put him down in order to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. She looked down at her hands, a theory formulating in her mind. She put her palm out towards the beast before closing her eyes and forcing an abundance of energy to leave her palm. Surprisingly, she found her control over it was better by a small bit but nonetheless better. And the energy moved out faster than before. Maybe she could put him down without hurting him further.
Sorry you have to play guinea pig Banner. Now tell me what kinda power I can tap into the mind stone storage we got?
Just think of what you want him to think. Kinda of like how you can implant feelings through touching someone's aura, except now it'll be faster, easier and a clearer thought.
Okay I can do this pretty easy then right?
Perhaps. Or you could just kill him...I'd be delighted by having his blood all over us-
Okay that's enough you blood-hound.
Aria sighed before closing her eyes and imagining a meadow that was sunny with a small breeze. Her skin prickled as she all but seemed to feel the dream she was thinking of. Her eyes slowly opened to see that her energy was warped around the giant's head. His eyes in a strange daze. She started to feel giddiness envelop her chest at her accomplishment before closing her eyes and humming in approval. Sunny sky, soft breeze, a meadow blooming with life. Tranquility. Everything Banner might hope for in his world instead of dealing with the stabs that real life jabs at him. Aria felt that she wanted that too again, for she had that before when her mother and brother were alive. When they had lived in the cottage that was a small walk away from a small town. Where their world was made of nature and each other, nothing more.
In this made-up world, a strong breeze swung through that rustled the tall grass and trees violently. Panicked, Aria began to scrunch her brow in regaining control but found she couldn't. No amount of picturing that perfect summer day seemed to stop the cold wind from blazing through the dream. Along with the wind earth quakes seemed to litter the ground and the meadow quickly changed from warm and welcoming to a war-torn picture. Aria's feeling of accomplishment diminished quickly and the panic surged through her whole body. Unknowingly, she fell to her knee's but couldn't feel it over the mental fight she was putting up to replace the horrible image being conjured. She also couldn't notice the Hulk being stirred from the daydream either.
While you may have control over us physically and may have a grip mentally, the mind domain you share with me. And I am not one who gives control away so easily.
Suddenly, in the dream the meadow was being torn to pieces by the Hulk. The beast was in a fit of anger, upheaving tree's and pieces of the earth. The wolf materialized as well, tearing into the earth in a similar fashion. Aria could only look upon the destruction helplessly, her will of a peaceful vision unable to be brought back up. The wolf then turned his demonic gaze towards her before his mouth opened up and closed around her. Aria gasped before she opened her eyes in fear before seeing the connection between her and the Hulk a vibrant blue instead of white. The energy surged between them a couple times before slamming back into Aria, shoving her into the air and a few feet away from the beast. She crashed into something and slammed hard into the ground, her vision becoming blurred from the impact.
"N-no," she breathed out harshly, staring in shock as the Hulk began to awake from the induced daydream turned nightmare.
He shook his head and began to look around in a crazed fashion until his eyes landed on her. The stare he gave her sent a cold chill down her spine, anger clashing with fear. Aria tried to slowly heave herself up but was only confronted with pain. Looking down at her stomach,, she found some kind of beam embedded into her left side with scarlet liquid beginning to drip down. She looked back up at the Hulk quickly, formulating plans to escape what she deemed a dangerous situation. In his mind he probably thought that she contorted that nightmare after putting in place a soothing idea. The roar that came from his chest confirmed it. As he started to move, Aria sent energy into her arms to pull out the beam and began to push it to her side to help heal it faster but everything seemed to slow down.
God if I die because of you I will fucking kill you!
She braced herself for a world of greater pain to meet her, her eyes closing tightly. But nothing happened. After a couple seconds, she risked opening her eyes and was met with an empty space. Bewildered, she looked around. Aria was so sure that she was about to be pounded down by the raging beast but nothing happened. Then she heard his devastating roar, but followed closely was a boisterous laugh. She finished pulling the beam out with a sickening squelch and a pained shout before scooting her way to the edge of the hole in the floor.
"We are not your enemies Hulk! Just think for a moment!" Thor's voice boomed below.
He's supposed to be guarding Loki! Dumbass, Aria thought wrirly as she grimaced at the pain that shot up from her injury. That's not healing as fast as I would like it to be right not
"Thor! Loki?" She shout down in hopes of him hearing her.
"My brother is still contained in his make-shift prison Lady Aria. You're lucky that I came when I did!" He yelled back while preparing to take on the Hulk, "Go! I will contain the mindless beast."
Aria rolled her eyes at the comment. He wasn't mindless, he was enraged. It didn't help that her venture into his mind to calm him ended in failure thanks to her companion hijacking the moment but nonetheless Loki was more important. She sent even more energy to her injury as she moved to a stack of crates to help herself up. Thor was a formidable ally and one she trusted to be able to placate Banner's alter-ego. If what she read about the red-cladded God was anything to go by.
She pushed her senses out as she ungracefully crashed into the doorframe, closing her eyes to focus on what she was receiving. Tony and Steve were at the edge of everything, everything being all the other people she didn't care to memorize, and for some reason couldn't find Loki anywhere. She groaned in pain and annoyance before trudging forward as her hand gripped her healing wound.
Loki paced his prison furiously. Was his control over the agent compromised when the woman cleared his? He assumed not considering she had only absolved him from the titan's control. So that meant that the plans he had set with the agent were in full go. Still the what if of the whole ordeal still made Loki feel uneasy. He just wanted to get out of this measly cell and put an end to the curve ball that was thrown his way. As much as he hated to admit it, Loki knew that the peculiar women would have to be killed in order for his plans to work accordingly. He scowled as the thought flittered through his mind and it deepened more once he realized he didn't fancy the idea. He also came to realize he didn't even know the woman's name.
He was thrown off balance as the ship immediately dipped down to the left. Smirking, he now knew that his control over his people was still there. That meant that Barton would be coming to release him in any moment. It also meant that it was getting closer to the moment he would have to go search for the woman and kill her. Loki's stomach churned at the thought and he scowled at the feeling. She was of Midgard; he shouldn't be worried about what happened to her. Loki glared at the slight reflection of himself he could see in the glass prison. He was not about to be spelled by a mortal like his stupid brother.
There was just something mysterious about the woman that he couldn't quite place. She seemed wise beyond her years and also knew pain that most Midgardians seemed to be sheltered from. On top of it all, she was powerful. Loki presumed that she was holding her true power back but couldn't fathom just why she would. Was it whatever was in her head? He had come to the conclusion that there was something lurking within her head that made her second guess every action she took. It was confirmed for him when she had been still for about eight minutes in front of him when she had cleansed him of manipulation.
Thor walking through the doors silenced his thoughts completely. He sighed in annoyance as he stared at his brother wondering why the fool was here instead of helping the others with whatever Barton caused of destruction.
"Loki enough games! What do you think will come of this mess?" Thor bellowed as he through his hands down in exasperation.
"Oh brother, tit for tat. How could I stop playing if I'm all but confined to this vile little hell? If you'd just press that button to open the door then maybe it can be a different story."
An enraged roar echoed quietly through the room. Thor and Loki locked eyes, the former scowling and the latter smiling. Loki had secretly wanted the woman to be the one losing control but the beast would do just the same.
"Oh no, seems to me that you have an infestation of a raging beast what ever shall you do?" Loki teased at Thor, knowing that he wouldn't be able to just stand and do nothing.
Thor looked back and forth before groaning and running back out the doors. Within ten minutes of him leaving, an agent walked through and nodded his head at Loki. The door opened and Loki stepped out towards the control panel. The moment he did his foolish brother ran into the room, the illusion working perfectly. While his strength was the greatest Loki had seen, his wit was all lacking. Despite figuring that the beast would keep him busy enough for Loki to slip away, Thor beat his expectations and cleared him quickly. Probably also due to the woman. Regardless, everything was going according to plan.
Aria heard what she thought to be a machine gun whirl into existence before a pained roar echoed through the halls. She trudged along, having to disarm various agents the whole way. The wound was almost healed but every time she had to fight it opened up more which proved it to be obnoxious. She stopped and breathed raggedly, gripping onto her still bleeding wound. Had she been a normal human an injury like that would've killed her. Thankfully she wasn't a normal human. Pushing herself off the wall she continued forward, pushing her senses out to find him.
Is this your doing? The slow ass healing?
Considering that you didn't take my offer of killing the beast, partially yes.
God your so awful. Just heal it already, you've done enough wrong today. She reprimanded before stretching out her senses.
Shock hit her when she felt Thor's aura right by Loki's. Walking faster she went the direction that her senses told her. She rounded the corner and entered the room just to see Loki stab the agent that had gone with Natasha to recruit her. She looked forward and saw Thor was now in the prison, a ghastly look covering his face. Loki turned to her slowly, a malicious smile gracing his features.
But I cleared the mind control?! Why is he doing this?
The wolf's cackle racked through her head, disgust at the sound appearing blossoming in stomach. Oh you so wished him to be moral. You wished that someone who resonated with you to be just so that you can compare yourself to him. Compare yourself now child.
Aria's eyes teared up against her will, her mouth slightly open at the realization that the monster was right. She had desperately hoped that the mind control was what was making Loki act the way he was doing, but now she knew it was just him. And if he could do this after all the suffering and hatred that he endured, what could become of her?
"The sorrow on your face cannot be for this man's life. If not for him, then for what?" Loki spoke softly, slight stepping forward towards her.
Aria gulped hard, words being caught in her throat. She had thought she had fixed it, that this wasn't going to be a problem. That Loki wasn't going to become a problem. But yet she was wrong. She was wrong about her uncle and it got her family killed. She was wrong about S.H.I.E.L.D. and that could've cost her life. She was wrong about Loki and this man plus others died at her mistake. Every time she felt confident about her reasonings, she was proven wrong by the death of someone else. She narrowed her eyes as pangs of guilt hit her full force before anger rose up quickly.
"The sorrow isn't just for the man, but for the various others who also die because I make the wrong call..." Aria spoke sullenly, her eyes shifting towards the agent on the ground, "I gave you a chance at redemption when I should have just killed you when I had you in my grasp. Now I will not be merciful."
"Unfortunately for you, killing a God is no easy task."
"Then I will make it the greatest accomplishment in my life for killing you."
She leapt forward and pulsed energy into her hand before striking air where his shoulder should've been. Her eyes flicked over to see his arm moving to stab her in the side that had just barely finished healing. Aria forced herself to fall left and only was welcoming the pain of a small gash, before rolling to the edge of the platform. She looked down warily, the small amount of space to fight him in becoming painfully obvious.
"Aria! Watch out for his trickery!" Thor shouted from the prison before beginning to bang on the prison with his hammer.
"Ah brother," Loki said mockingly while moving towards the control panel, "these mortals think us immortal, shall we test that?"
"NO LOKI!" Aria blurted out as she got up as quickly as she could to try and stop him.
He smiled viciously before pressing the button, the prison falling down faster than Aria could blink. Rage flew through her veins as she gripped the railing, staring down the hole Thor went through. How could he do that to his brother? Aria would kill to be able to hold her brother one last time, to ruffle his shaggy curly hair again. She breathed in and out hoarsely, her emotions bubbling everywhere. She knew she'd have to get them under control otherwise the faucet would weaken and Hati would be able to surge his power through. The last thing she needed was his bloodthirst to couple with her anger.
"How could you?" She rasped out.
"How could I what? Get rid of someone who had been casting their shadow over me? Someone who was loved no matter the mistakes he made?! Someone who was cared about by everyone?! By Odin!" Loki snarled as he threw a dagger at her.
Aria jumped back and watched it whizz by her face, her eyes moving to watch Loki. His face was ensnared by anger, his sickening grin bringing nothing but disgust to her stomach. She growled under her breath. "No, for doing something so awful to the one person who believes in you! Your brother!"
"HE IS NOT MY BROTHER!"
Anger boiled her blood at his stupid words. Every chance she had to kill this bastard and it was shaken with her misplaced faith in him. He was a monster as she was, except he allowed the bloodlust to control him where as she fought vehemently against it with every fiber of her being. However, that fight was beginning to lose with the thought of having Loki's blood dripping down her arms. His heart pulsing in her palm. The thoughts invaded her mind quickly, she blinked before shaking her head knowing it to be the monsters visions entering her mind. Her control was weakened due to her emotional distress all caused by him. She didn't have her daggers anymore courtesy of Hulk but if she could just get her hands on Loli's thrown one…
She summersaulted backwards quickly, going to where she thought the dagger to be struck. Loki wasted no time in moving forward, his other dagger in hand. She stood up and wrapped her hands around the blades hilt, pulling it out in time to clash against his. She gritted her teeth at his strength, pushing back with all of hers. She smirked before letting her hands fall down, her body following, before she scrunched up to kick her feet out while her right hand held her up to complete the motion. It connected and he went back a couple steps. Aria wasted no time and pushed herself towards him, clamoring up to to straddle his hips and push the dagger against his throat. With widened eyes he stared at her and Aria could've sworn she saw a glimpse of pleasure in his pools of emerald. His smile came back but before Aria could question him, the Loki beneath her fizzled away in a green glow. Her skin prickled and a nagging feeling started up in her chest, akin to the one she had when she was near the stones, before pain engulfed her whole chest. With a loud groan she looked down to see the scepter piercing through her sternum.
"It seems to me I have won two of our fights. Unfortunately, your quest of an accomplishment shall never be fulfilled," Loki whispered in her ear, retrieving the blade quickly, "I'm sorry to have your talents wasted but I believe to give you peace now. Go be with your brother, if you so ever make it there."
Aria grasped at the lethal wound, angry at her stupidity. Her stupidity in this fight, her stupidity with her family, her stupidity with Loki. And all for what? To be killed and alone and…afraid. She always thought that death wouldn't scare her, but she was wrong. She could only imagine how her brother had felt. Or how her mother. She longed to be held in that moment, wishing that her mother could wrap her arms around her and say it was okay. Aria began coughing, warm liquid dripping out of her mouth with every heave. Her eyes became lead, heavy to keep open.
Now child it is not the time to fret…let me take control…you can rest for awhile as I heal this devastating wound…no tricks, for I don't want to die yet and I feel neither do you…
I…you know I can't…
Shh…your life is fading quickly…just let me take it all away…we can muse on your thoughts later….
But…Aria's eyes flitted closed, her unfeeling to her body hitting the cold floor. Unfeeling to Loki kicking her off the platform into the hole. Unfeeling to the race of wind against her as she fell down through the air.