Chapter 8: An Explosive Fight

It didn't take Thor long to finally give into the temptation of sleep, telling himself that while he may not be able to trust either of the other two passengers on the skiff, both had a reason to work with him, rather than against him.

Having realised he'd fallen asleep, Ciara had tried to do the same, keeping her cloak pulled tightly around her to try and warm herself. However, as she moved, the burn on her side woke her, stinging with pain that hadn't dulled. She stood, closing her eyes as she stayed still to let the pain fade. When it did, she let out the breath she'd been holding, and turned to see Loki's sharp eyes on her.

"I figured you'd either really try to ignore me, or kill me when you got out of that cell," she told him honestly, dropping her hand that was still by her side.

"You've made it very hard to ignore you," he replied, looking out past her to continue steering the skiff. "Would have made for quieter times," he murmured, and the corner of Ciara's lips twitched before she took a seat at the side of the skiff closer to him. She was quiet for a moment, staring out over the miserable view.

"How'd you even find that portal?" Ciara asked the question that had been on her mind for a while.

"What did you do to your hand?" Loki fired back a question, and Ciara looked down at her bruised knuckles. They were starting to scab over, but it still hurt to close her hand into a fist.

"I punched a wall," she answered simply, and saw his eyebrow raise.

"You know, punching a person would have been less damaging," he told her as if this was something that she wouldn't have thought of. Ciara sighed, shaking her hand.

"There wasn't anyone else around and I needed something to hit," she defended, embarrassed. When she saw his expression turn more serious, still looking down, Ciara looked down and saw the blotchy bruise around her wrist, and quickly tugged down her sleeve. "How'd you find that portal in the first place?" she repeated her question.

"I spent many of your lifetimes exploring Asgard once I learned of other methods to travel besides Bifrost," Loki said, still looking at her wrist even as Ciara covered it with her other hand. She squirmed a little, unsure of how she felt about his reaction. "I must admit, I was somewhat surprised that Sif threatened you also," his words made Ciara look up, a little confused.

"Why? Thor would have told them that I wasn't exactly on his side with the whole Tesseract thing," she pointed out. "They wouldn't trust me as far as they could throw me. Which is probably a bigger distance that the people who first came up with that phrase," Ciara considered to herself. Loki didn't respond, too used to her random tangents at this point.

"You've been on Asgard for over a year, you train with them, you never left to return to Midgard," Loki pointed out. "Some twisted sense of belonging, perhaps?" his words had a tinge of mockery to them, and Ciara snorted.

"Please," she dismissed the thought easily, but didn't speak past that.

"Volstagg also warned you, did he not? To not betray Thor," Loki was too sharp, having noticed her use of the word 'they', rather than 'she'. Ciara winced, scolding herself for not being more careful with how she spoke. It wasn't the first time he'd noticed her slip.

"Of course," she said, as if it were obvious. "The last time you were free, we did cause a few problems," Ciara stated, looking away as he kept watching her.

"Does it hurt, having them so blatantly tell you that they don't trust you for this task?" Loki's question made her close her hand into a tight fist, focused on the pain.

"Not really. I've given them no reason to trust me, and if they did, they'd be sentimental idiots," Ciara told him, and heard his quiet chuckle. He sat down beside her, and leaned closer.

"Remember, I can always tell when you're lying," his whisper made Ciara shiver, and immediately she scooted away from him.

"I'm not lying. I've known from the start that they don't trust me. Nobody does, and nobody should," Ciara stressed, irritated by her reaction. Loki didn't reply. Despite his teasing comment, he could tell that she believed her own words.

He wasn't quite sure why he was pushing her. Maybe to get her back for the months that she'd stuck around despite him telling her to leave him alone. Maybe because her reaction was fun as their roles seemed reversed, and after everything, he needed that fun to distract him.

"Your...mutant ability is to move faster than anyone can register," Loki's statement caught Ciara off guard as he changed the subject suddenly, and she hummed a confirmation. "How is it that you can pass through solid objects?" he asked. It had been something he had been trying to work out from the first time she'd slipped free from her cuffs when she was his prisoner, and he still couldn't work it out.

Ciara didn't reply, refusing to look at him. Instead, she looked up at the massive ship. It was similar to the ones that had attacked Asgard, but they were worn down from years of disuse, damaged beyond repair. It was a sad sight, and she wondered if any Dark Elves remained who weren't desperately after the Aether. It didn't look like it to her.

"I only ever told one person how I do it," Ciara finally broke her silence, rubbing her wrist in an idle motion. She then lifted her head, and looked up at the man who sat beside her. His hands were still on the skiff's handling system, as he continued to guide it. "Why do you want to know? You've made it abundantly clear that you couldn't care less," she gave him a hard stare.

"Ooh," he gave a mock shiver at the look. "So defensive. And I've been told I'm the one who loves secrets," Loki taunted, and Ciara felt the sudden urge to shove him over the edge of the skiff.

"You are. Too bad you don't get all of mine," she gave a mocking smile back.

"Not yet anyway," his murmur barely reached her, and sent another shiver down her spine. Then he suddenly reached out, grasping her wrist with one of his cuffed hands. It was a light grasp, not tight enough to make her panic, but it still caused her some sort of internal reaction as her stomach flipped.

"Hey-" Loki shushed Ciara as she tried to protest, before there was a small pulse of cold magic that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. A moment later, the pain in her hand was gone, and the stiffness in her wrist faded as well. He released her, and Ciara immediately pulled her hand up to examine it. Her injuries were gone, and the bruising around her wrist had faded as well, completely healed. "Why?" she questioned. He gave a shrug, returning his attention to directing the skiff.

When it was clear Loki wasn't about to give a real answer, no longer looking at her, Ciara looked down at her healed hand and couldn't stop the soft smile. "Thanks," she muttered. He didn't reply, seeming to have decided to ignore her again, and Ciara didn't speak either as she rubbed her wrist.

'Wait,' she froze, hand still on her wrist as her blue eyes widened slowly. 'No, there's no way. No. Right?' she swallowed, and despite her heart starting to race, she tried to keep her breathing quiet and even. After a moment, she dared to look up, watching Loki as he focused on piloting the skiff. As soon as she looked up, his eyes met hers, and she felt her stomach flip again.

"I haven't cursed it to fall off," his words were quiet as he seemed to take her reaction as suspicion. Ciara looked back down just as quickly.

"Eh, what's one hand less really?" she shrugged, playing it off as he watched her warily. He then shook his head and kept going. 'I'm not really this messed up that I have a crush on the guy who tried to kill me, right?' Even with such a question, Ciara knew that it was one thing. Denial.

She leaned back, angling her face up to the sky as she closed her eyes. 'Fuck.'

When Jane finally stirred, opening her eyes, a shiver ran through Ciara's entire body and she turned quickly to the scientist. Her eyes had changed, turning an eerie pale blue, with her sclera having turned black, almost identical to the Dark Elves that Ciara had seen.

"Jane…" Thor, who had woken a few hours before, turned when he heard her move. Jane didn't react, and instead turned to look out in the direction that they were headed. In the distance, emerging through the clouds, was the massive ship that they'd seen in Asgard.

"Malekith…" she murmured, all too aware who was coming right for them.

"Loki," Thor glanced at his brother briefly, who understood what he wanted and immediately started to land the skiff.

"Finally, land," Ciara was out in a second, appreciating the solid land that they'd landed on. They'd been in the skiff for hours, and it had left her on edge.

Of course, what had made her even more anxious was her self-realisation that she really had terrible taste in men. She refused to even look at Loki as he stepped out, and Thor helped Jane to her feet so she could climb out as well. "You were right. They knew we'd come here," Ciara said quietly to Thor as they walked towards where the ship had landed. They stopped at the top of the hill, peering down into the distance. In the sky above, the sun was attempting to shine, but was almost completely eclipsed by the darkness that prevented the lands from growing anything.

"Are they coming this way?" Jane asked, and to her credit her voice was steady. She wasn't about to show her fear. When Ciara suddenly pulled the hood of her cloak up, Jane frowned. "What are you-" before she could finish asking, Ciara had vanished in a ripple.

"For someone so adamant not to be a Guardian, she's certainly happy to use the power it gave her," Thor sighed.

"What is she doing? What if she gets caught?" Jane asked, worried about the speedster who seemed determined to help. Despite her exhaustion, she hadn't stopped paying attention to what was going on around her. When she first met Ciara, the mutant was as arrogant as Thor and just looking for fun. But now she was different. She hadn't gone to the Dark World for fun, not like when she'd broken into SHIELD's camp. She seemed ready to put her life on the line.

"She won't," to her surprise, it was Loki who replied. He'd barely even acknowledged her past his declaration that he liked her, after she'd punched him. Her hand had stung after the blow, but she hadn't regretted it. It was the least she wanted to do.

Down below, by the massive ship, Ciara hid behind a rock. With her magic designed to cloak her in the shadows, it was perfect for a place like the Dark World, where shadows were all that existed. Of course, she wasn't sure how perceptible Dark Elves were to the magic, so she still kept out of sight, counting the troops that emerged from the ship. Leading the charge was the one who had spoken to Frigga, and when Ciara looked at his face, she recoiled. Half of it had been burned to a crisp by Thor's lightning, cast in his rage, and the scarring looked excruciating. By his side was the hulkling who stood a head taller than the rest, wearing a helmet and armour that seemed to have melted into his body.

None of them spoke, following Malekith as he led them straight towards where Thor, Jane and Loki were waiting. Ciara frowned as a shiver ran down her spine, and she immediately ducked out of sight when Malekith looked around. 'Oh shit,' Ciara swore inwardly, and as the Dark Elves passed her, she created another portal through space, materialising beside Jane. The woman jumped.

"Sorry," she apologised quietly. "There's fourteen of them. Twelve soldiers, Malekith, and his beast," Ciara warned.

"What's wrong?" Thor asked, immediately able to tell that there was something else going on. Ciara ran a hand through her hair, and took a breath.

"I'm pretty sure that Malekith is the Guardian for the Aether," her words made Thor close his eyes. Loki's quiet curse was hissed from behind Ciara.

"So he's like you, right?" Jane guessed. Ciara sighed.

"Yeah, I guess," she allowed, not in the mood to argue that she wasn't a Guardian. Even she was beginning to not believe it, and she didn't want the God of Lies making snarky comments about how badly she lied. 'Even if his laugh - no, I am not doing this,' Ciara scolded herself, aware that her face was starting to heat up at her thoughts.

"How sure are you?" Thor asked, watching as Malekith and his entourage grew closer. His anger from before returned, but he forced himself not to leap in without thinking. Not when Jane was there and needed his help.

"About 90% sure?" Ciara shrugged. "I'm not an expert. I've never come across another Guardian before. But considering he's able to wield the Aether without you know…" Ciara trailed off as she looked at Jane. "And I got a weird feeling from him too, when he got close. I think he felt it too," she said, and looked back at Thor. "If he gets the Aether…"

"He won't," Thor was confident in his words. He then crouched low as the Dark Elves grew closer. The others did the same, watching them warily.

"Alright. Are you ready?" Thor asked Jane, whose eyes were still identical to Malekith's. She was growing paler by the minute. She nodded, trying to look determined.

"I am," Loki added, straightening up. He and Thor stood on the edge of the steep rocky hill, looking down. Malekith stopped when he saw the two, looking up with an unreadable expression. Ciara was already starting to feel the urge to move, as the anticipation pushed at her to use her powers. "You know this plan of yours is going to get us killed," Loki warned.

"Yes, possibly," Thor admitted, and hesitated when Loki held out his still cuffed hands.

"You still don't trust me, brother?" Loki asked, almost innocently.

"Would you?" Thor asked him, before finally using the key to unlock the cuffs. Jane watched, nervous. Rubbing his hands together and flexing them to let the blood flow properly again, Loki turned away.

"No I wouldn't," Jane gasped as Loki pulled a dagger out of nowhere and turned back just as quickly, stabbing Thor in the gut. Thor gave a cry, doubling over in pain, before Loki shoved him over the edge. Thor began to roll down the hill, straight towards the Elves.

"Thor!" Jane cried as Loki leapt down after his brother. "No!" she gasped, starting to follow them down. Ciara cursed, and leapt down too, sliding in the sand.

"Of course it had to be sand," Ciara complained aloud to herself as she struggled to move down. It was hard to move at regular speed, let alone using her powers.

"You really think I cared about Frigga? About any of you?" Loki kicked Thor as the man tried to get up. Thor grunted again, rolling along the ground as Loki followed.

"Stop!" Ciara finally reached the bottom and sped in, kicking up dirt and sand as she launched herself at Loki, grabbing for his dagger. However, he held on tight, and when she grabbed it, he caught her by the shirt.

"Please. Like a mortal like you could have the strength ever beat me," Loki tossed Ciara aside, and she landed heavily in the dirt. As she groaned, trying to get back to her feet, Thor rolled over onto his front. "All I've ever wanted…" Loki turned his attention back to his brother. "Was you and Odin, dead at my feet!" he declared. Thor raised his hand for Mjolnir, but as the hammer flew back towards him, Loki was beside him, swinging down so hard with his dagger that he cut straight through Thor's hand.

Thor's scream echoed through the barren wastelands, and Mjolnir flew straight past and crashed to the ground behind them. Ciara collided with Loki, who dug his heels in and laughed as she stepped back. "I already told you that you're weak. Give it up, girl," Ciara cried out as his fingers tangled in her hand and yanked her to the side before hauling her up, forcing her onto the tips of her toes. Jane ran past to Thor, who clutched the bloody stump of his arm as he moaned in pain.

"Let me go!" Ciara grabbed for his arm, before he swung it, tossing her aside again. Ciara stumbled, trying to stay on her feet, but fell again from the force. She looked up at Jane's cry, and found her struggling against Loki as he dragged her away from Thor and towards Malekith.

"Malekith!" Loki roared as the Elves finally reached them. The leader of the Dark Elves was watching every detail of the struggle with a blank expression, unsure of what exactly he was witnessing. "I am Loki of Jotunheim, and I bring you a gift," he threw Jane forwards, and she fell at the Elf's feet. Malekith frowned, looking from Jane, to Loki. "I ask only one thing in return. A good seat from which to watch Asgard burn," he requested. The Hulkling spoke in quiet, rumbling Elvish to Malekith, who turned his scarred face to listen.

"No!" Ciara ran forwards, but Loki grabbed her again, easily holding her back as Malekith walked towards Thor instead. She struggled, and a curse slipped free when it pulled at her side, but kept going even as he kept an arm around her neck to stop her.

"Look at me," Malekith ordered, and when Thor didn't move, the Dark Elf kicked him to force him onto his back. As Thor glared up at him, Malekith raised a hand, maintaining eye-contact with the man on the ground. The hairs on the back of Ciara's neck stood on end as Jane was lifted into the air with a gasp, and Ciara stopped struggling. Everything in her was telling her to run again, and get as far away as she could.

Malekith finally looked away from Thor, and when he turned his attention fully to Jane, her arms lifted and her head fell back. The Aether began to stream from her eyes, nose and mouth, flowing steadily out of her to gather in the air instead. As Jane was unable to do anything, Ciara breathed heavily and tried to move backwards, only for the arm around her to tighten. The Dark Elf's hand then turned, and Jane collapsed to the ground in a heap, leaving the Aether in the air.

"Loki, now!" Thor yelled, and Loki quickly raised his hand. It lit up green, and Thor raised his arm, revealing the bloody stump was just an illusion as his hand returned. Mjolnir flew back into his hand, and immediately sparks began to fly from it. Ciara gasped as she was yanked along and practically thrown to the ground beside Jane, as Loki shielded the pair. Thor raised his hammer with a yell, and lightning shot from it, colliding with the Aether. They shielded their eyes as the light grew blinding, before exploding out in a blast of red energy.

When the dust began to clear, Thor looked around for any sign of the Dark Elves, or the Aether, which had vanished from the air. Jane coughed as she inhaled the dust, while Ciara winced, a hand on her side from the rough treatment she was putting up with. Her upper arm was also starting to ache, reminding her that she'd only had two days since she had been injured last.

For a moment, there was nothing but heavy quiet, broken only by their breathing, and Jane looked around, trying to see Thor. Her energy was already starting to return to her, as she felt far better than she had since she'd first found the Aether.

"No!" Ciara's gasp escaped her before she could stop herself. The uneasy feeling had faded for just a moment before returning full force, but instead of being focused inside of Jane, it was all around her, prickling at her. A moment later, what had seemed like shards started to rattle and raise off the group, starting to shimmer red like broken glass.

Nobody moved as it shimmered and began to float towards Malekith. A moment later, he held out his arms and it reshaped, allowing him to absorb it into himself. Ciara hissed a curse as they got back to their feet. She had been right.

Malekith was the Guardian of the Aether.

Ciara's language really started to get away from me at this point. Like...a lot.

Let me know what you think!