Chapter 6

"Hand over the book, and I'll let you and your friends live," the armored man said from behind a scowling mask.

Loki chuckled. "You, a mortal, think to threaten me, the God of Mischief?"

"I am Doctor Doom, ruler of Latveria, master of magic and technology. This is your last warning."

Though his soldiers looked like men in the same suit as their master, they were robots.

"From one lover of green to another," Loki said, "that hooded cloak makes you look either like a beggar or an old lady."

Tony landed next to him in his Iron Man suit. "My nana has one just like it."

"Stark," Loki admonished him, "this is not your fight."

"If it's on my building, it's my fight." He looked at all the robots. "Nice. I've been thinking about creating my own little army."

Doom kept his gaze on Loki, but spoke to his robots. "Go."

As one, they turned and flew off the building. Stark followed them down, destroying as many as he could with his repulsors and missiles, but there was no stopping the deluge. Small explosions and shattering windows filled the air.

"We'll see if you change your mind when the girl is in my possession."

Jane.

Loki threw a couple daggers at him, but the mortal constructed a force field that blocked the blades.

"Pathetic," Doom said as he extended his arms. A steady stream of energy shot out of his palms.

Loki teleported behind the mortal, but the man spun around with a punch that knocked Loki back a step. He tested his jaw and smiled. "Asgardian children hit harder."

"Give me the book."

Duplicating himself, Loki encircled the sorcerer and infused his voice with the power to influence. "Call off your robots and leave this city."

When the mortal did nothing, Loki tried again with more magic, not caring if it caused damage.

Doom grabbed his head as his knees wobbled. He shouted, and a burst of energy radiated off him, knocking Loki to his back.

"Fool. You cannot overpower me." His boots fired up and lifted him into the air. "I am Doom."

Green lightning exploded out of him to strike all over the roof. One hit Loki and lit up every nerve ending in excruciating pain. He clamped down his teeth and smothered the scream trying to claw its way out.

Then, the agony vanished and Loki opened his eyes to find a circular shield covering him.

Captain America strained against the force pushing down on him. "Looks like you could use a little help."

Loki bit his tongue. As much as he didn't want anyone's help, especially this ragtag team of mortals, he wasn't an imbecile.

A boom of thunder vibrated the ground. Peeking out from under the shield, they saw Thor fly straight into Doom with Mjolnir leading the charge. The two disappeared out of sight.

They stood, and Rogers nodded to him before running back to the stairs.

"How does Jane fare?" Loki called.

He stopped long enough in the doorway to say, "The Big Guy is protecting her. Bucky, Stark, and Rhodey are fighting the Doombots while Sam and I evacuate the building. Romanoff and Barton are on their way to give you a hand."

This Doom character was strong, far stronger than any mortal he'd encountered thus far. Thor would underestimate him, just as he had. It was their hubris, but hopefully not their downfall.

The God of Thunder crashed onto the roof and skidded to a stop. He jumped to his feet and reached out a hand for his hammer.

They waited for its inevitable return.

Seconds passed, and still nothing.

"Brother?" Thor asked, concern creasing his brows.

"This mortal is unlike any being I've encountered. He has magic equal to mine and technology that surpasses Stark's. What more, he's somehow melded the two."

Mjolnir sped back to Thor, causing him to smile. He stretched out his fingers to grasp the handle, but the weapon did not slow its approach. It slammed into him and knocked him to his back with a crunch that made Loki flinch.

The hammer sat on Thor's chest, pinning him to the ground and refusing to budge no matter how much he struggled to free himself. A shimmer of green encased Mjolnir that gave Loki pause.

As Doom landed on the rooftop, the God of Thunder hurtled insults at him. "What kind of enchantment is this?"

It was as he thought. Midgardian magic modified with some kind of special tech gave Doom the ability to control Mjolnir.

"Did you not think I'd come prepared for the Mighty Thor? For all of you?" His dark eyes found Loki's. "My patience is wearing thin."

The book's magic whispered promises of glory to the God of Mischief's mind. He could use one of its spells and erase the mortal's existence from history. It would be easy.

But it would be wrong.

Calling forth his spear, Loki stepped into a fighting stance and baited Doom with a look.

The armored man marched to him with stomps that shook the ground. "You will submit. One way or another, the book will be mine."

Loki spun and struck him across the ankles, but Doom stayed upright like a mountain. His mask showed no hint of the laughter coming behind it.

"You are weak, Laufeyson."

Thrusting the butt of the spear up under his chin barely made him move, neither did the swipe to his head, or the jab to his abdomen.

Doom snatched the spear with one hand. "Are you done?"

Loki made the weapon turn into a snake that slithered out of the mortal's grasp, wrapped around his eyes, and transformed back into its metal structure, like a golden blindfold.

They fought hand-to-hand. One unseeing and the other crippled by his new inability to do whatever it took to win. It didn't slow either of them down, though. Both had reflexes that made them look like a whirlwind of limbs and magicked objects. Strikes came from punches, kicks, telekinetic bursts, and chunks of the building.

Each block Loki had managed vibrated his arms with enough force to rattle his eyes. His breaths were ragged and piercing. His fists grew more numb every time he hit Doom's armor, which covered his entire body.

Thor encouraged him on between grunts of pain from the weight of Mjolnir slowly crushing him.

An arrow sailed straight to Doom, but even blinded, he plucked it out of the air as if it had announced its position.

More came for him, timed between Loki's strikes. Some managed to get through the mortal's defenses but did nothing penetrated his suit.

The God of Mischief removed the blindfold and yelled for Barton to aim for the eyes.

Romanoff jumped on Doom's back and wrapped her thin arms around his head, doing her best to keep him still for a well aimed arrow. Her stun cuffs crackled with a burst of electricity.

Nothing happened.

Before she could free herself from him, his suit erupted in tiny sparks that made her go rigid and fall to the floor. Barton's yell was cut off by Doom's energy beams striking him in the chest and knocking him backwards.

"Surrender," the mortal commanded.

"Never."

"Then watch Jane Foster die."

Two of his robots flew up from the side of the building carrying a struggling astrophysicist. Her brown hair whipped about with her frantic movements.

Loki's breath caught in his lungs as his heart stuttered off beat.

They placed her next to Doom, who seized her by the throat and hoisted her a foot off the ground.

"You win," Loki said.

He lowered her and moved his hand to her arm, allowing her to cough and gasp for air. Red marks lined her neck and ignited his rage.

"Don't do it, Loki." Her voice was thick and gravelly.

Doom squeezed her arm with a punishing grip, causing her knees to buckle. Her eyes watered and she grimaced, but she stayed on her feet.

Holding out the book, Loki said, "Her freedom first."

Instead of Doom releasing her, he gestured to his robots, and they marched to him.

Jane's eyes closed as she steeled herself. The God of Mischief tensed and went to yell for her to not do whatever she was planning. But it was too late.

She pressed the clunky charm on her leather necklace, and both she and her captor vanished into the Void. Loki felt the after effects of her bridge's remote activation, and jumped in after them.

He landed alone in the desert under a blistering sun. Grumbling, he followed them to another location, a city with a giant ball on top of a tower, then to a snowy cliff on Jotunheim and a forest on Vanaheim. Each stop left him more confused than the last. He didn't know if she was trying to lose him or if she simply couldn't find her way back home.

It took several more excursions through the Void before he sensed a pattern. The lead might be false, and it might even make him lose their trail, but it was one he had to take.

Asgard had to be the next destination, more specifically, the Bifrost.

A large broadsword nearly took off his head when he materialized in the golden dome.

"Loki," Heimdall said, placing the tip on the ground. "I expected the Midgardian Magi."

"And risk Jane's life?" His tone was harsh and chastising.

"Nay, my blade would have gone over her short stature."

Loki raised a brow, but changed the subject. "Do you see them?"

"Aye, she is clever. She struggles to free herself and lose him in the Void, but his hold is firm." He raised his glinting sword. "Ready yourself."

Loki steadied his breath and focused on the spot the Gatekeeper stared at.

The instant they appeared, Loki ripped Jane out of Doom's grasp as Heimdall's blade swung overhead.

He shielded her with his body and tuned to find the mortal's magic holding the sword at bay. The Gatekeeper struggled against it. His frame trembled from the effort.

Loki charged Doom and pulled them into the Void.

As they hurtled through the blackness, tumbling end over end, the mortal clung to him with one hand while lashing out with the other. Every time the God of Mischief managed to dislodge him, Doom would latch back on.

Loki had no destination in mind. They drifted into the Unknown, fighting but neither gaining the advantage. He thought of Jane and her peaceful look when she would stare up at the stars, the set of her brows as she studied, her sharp laugh that settled into a sweet chuckle. He envisioned the blush that would sometimes tint her cheeks when he was near, and recalled her unique scent that soothed the constant ache in his chest.

Closing his ears to Doom's shouts of protest, he opened his eyes to the end of the World Tree and saw only Jane's smile.


Author's Note: poor Loki. His character arc is finally complete, though. He's the good guy. Mostly.

Just two chapters left. I've enjoyed writing this story. Hopefully, you're enjoying it too!

So, I mentioned that I was going to write another long story. Thankfully, I came to my senses. I did keep the idea, though, just shortened it to a one shot. My sister is demanding that I continue it, but I want to see if people are even interested in the first place. It'll be posted as Truth and Lies.

Up Next: Jane POV.

P.S. My sister is awesome, but you already knew that. :)