AUTHOR'S NOTE: Gotta say thanks for all the follows and reviews! Every time I get that alert email it reminds me to keep working at the next chapter.
DURING
Chapter Four – No One Ever Plans for that Kick in the Head
It was Loki's arrogance that did it in the end, his need for theatrics, for Thor to see him destroy his comrade. He dropped the illusion as he jabbed the staff into Coulson's fragile, human heart-
Or he would have, if a dark-haired woman hadn't caught his head from behind with a sweep of her foot. The staff pierced Coulson's shoulder and he gave a shout of pain, stumbling but not falling. Loki was immediately too busy trying to fend of the quiet, efficient furiosity of the other agent to keep Coulson from staggering to the control panel for the cage. The Asguardian Prince of Mischief felt a rare flutter of nervousness as the door slipped open and his brother was freed.
Things were not going quite according to plan.
"May!" Coulson grunted, struggling with the gun he'd briefly discarded. It was difficult with only one working arm, but he managed to half kneel and steady the gun on the floor between his leg and his good arm long enough to pull the trigger. It was an impressively accurate shot considering the circumstances. May dove out of the way at his warning and the glowing ball of energy clipped Loki's shoulder, knocking him off his feet. The staff fell to the ground with a clatter.
Thor leapt after Loki with a roar, intent on delivering a much-deserved punch to the nose. Loki groaned and rolled out of the way just in time as Thor's hammer slammed down where he'd been laying a moment before. The metal beneath it crumbled.
"Don't destroy the ship!" May barked. The helicarrier had already seen more than enough damage; they didn't need Thor punching holes in it too. She kept an eye on the fighting Asguardians but after carefully picking up the staff, she walked away from them to Coulson's side. He hadn't gotten back up off the floor. His face was pale and drawn, but she was relieved to see that his eyes were still sharp.
"We need some help down here," she said into the comms. Coulson grunted as she pressed her rolled up jacket firmly against the mess the staff had made of his shoulder. Blood loss was her top concern, but the small part of her mind that wasn't completely focused on what was happening right then couldn't help but wonder whether he'd ever be able to use that arm properly again and what that might mean for his future.