Here is the chapter that explains a little more into why Loki attacked New York. If there are any questions/comments/concerns, please don't hesitate to review and share your opinion. If there are any ring ideas for the couple, please let me know. This couple deserves the best.
Previously
Now is time for battle strategies and a renewal of the bond they shared before everything was torn apart from them as well as recovering from the past. That moment is rapidly approaching for them to come clean about how the past 2 years have made everything that much more difficult than housing decisions.
Finally, after a long intake of breath and deep resignation, Loki says, "It's time to tell you everything that happened after Odin sold me to Thanos."
Chapter 17
"After Odin signed the rights to my person over to Thanos, with the help of my ex-wife Sigyn, I was taken to a special unit in their army ranks. This unit specialized in creating new soldiers using Tesseract power as a drug. In the unit are telepaths, empaths, mind readers, and so forth. First, they figured out who I loved the most; you and my three children. That took several beatings and many broken bones before I even thought of you all." Loki says with a dark chuckle, shifting his hold so they are facing each other and so Isabella can read the truth of his words in his expressions and eyes.
"Once they knew how to torture me mentally and emotionally, they proceeded to use images of you and my children against me. They promised me the chance to see you and them over and over, threatening to find you guys and kill you in front of me if I didn't do what they said. I always refused and the torture sessions always grew worse each time. I didn't mind though; I would retreat into my mind and think of you and Sleipnir, Jörmungandr, and little Narvi" Isabella nods at this, smiling at her fiancée's obvious love for those he holds deeply in his heart "which annoyed the hell out of them whenever thoughts of you all strengthened me. Finally, they got their mind reader to find out what it was that was making me resist them so much."
He falls silent, swallowing hard as he remembers the cruel invasion of his mind and how much pain it was to have his whole life rummaged through in the matter of minutes. Isabella notices his distress and holds his face in his hands, turning it so they are eye to eye. "You don't have to tell me everything today. You've told me enough to clear you combined with my own knowledge."
Loki looks at her and nods, shaking as all the memories come back and his throat closes off. It takes him a long moment and then continues, his voice wavering in some parts and strong in others, "I need to continue, if you'll let me."
Isabella nods and smiles reassuringly, her heart breaking at the thought of the pain her unbreakable fiancée must have gone through if he wants to break down in tears at the mere thought of it.
After a few moments time, Loki continues, "Once they figured out what made me resist, they started cutting off the images. The telepath would grab my images and bury them one by one, the empath making sure that I felt escalated pain at the ripping apart of my mind. All they left was the resentful son I was before I met you and my other family members. They took the one thing that made their torture worth it and made me addicted to the Tesseract as a poor substitute. I'm so sorry I was so weak. I should have kept fighting for you and Sleipnir, Jörmungandr, and Narvi. I don't deserve to be here with you when they are still out there, where Thanos and his men might have them and trying to do the same to them what they did to me."
Isabella holds him tightly as he cries into her shoulder, sobbing his pain and memories in different languages, constantly switching through them. She comforts him, understanding most of what Loki's saying and letting him cry himself out like he did for her those three years ago. She tells him, "From what you've told me about their mother, she'll have them safe and sound, probably knowing the knowledge of what Thanos has done to you and making sure that the same thing doesn't happen to them. Your cooperation protected them my soldier, you kept them safe. You kept us safe."
It takes a long while for Loki's healing tears to leave him calmer and able to continue with conversation, but he finally calms down and apologizes in an tired voice that betrays how old his experiences have made him. He sniffles and shakily wipes the tears and snot away from his face, Isabella reaching over and getting the towel from before, helping him clean away his sorrow and some of his pain.
Isa just shushes his apology and says softly in an understanding voice, "Don't worry, you have nothing to apologize for. You went through something horrible and it's only understandable that you can't give everything right away. All anyone else needs to know is about the beatings and drugging with Tesseract power. Anything else is for me and you to know and everyone else to have pieces of, and that's it. As your wife, I'll be your confidante and you'll be mine and together we'll be greater than the sum of our parts. Understand? That is my promise to you."
Loki looks at this absolutely perfect woman and nods. The burden of his time spent with Thanos and the after effects feels like it was cut in half and shared. The growing doubt he had about Isabella leaving him once she found out about how weak he was concerning how fast he gave in is vanquished in his heart, leaving only room for more love to fill it. He thinks to himself, the thought shining through his eyes as they come together in a kiss that strengthens their determination to get through this so they can be together until the end of time, I'll love you totally and unconditionally as long as I live, I promise.
He sees the same promise in her eyes when they break apart.
We are in this together and together is where we'll find our peace.
Avenger's Meeting Place; 4 hours later
The group sits stunned at the information they've received from Isabella about their prisoner. Thor clenches his jaw and realizes how badly he screwed up. My family is broken and it is all my fault.
It takes a long moment but Stark finally regains his composure and whistles saying, "We really are idiots. If you hadn't figured out that he was being controlled, who knows, we might have continued with this little superhero club and destroyed New York, or worse yet, the Stark Tower."
"And that would just be unforgivable," Isa says with a snort as she rolls her eyes. "Loki and I are prepared to cut you all a deal." Isabella says with a smug smirk and evil gleam to her eyes.
"Ha, you'll cut us a deal? You are under our jurisdiction and control, you don't have the room to make deals." Fury growls out, walking toward her and slamming his hand on the table in that overly-dramatic "I'm the powerful one here" way he does. The group except Thor agrees.
"She can help us stop what my father started. I propose we listen to her and my broth- Loki so we can protect Earth from being taken over." Thor rumbles out, looking at Isabella to convey that he understands what he did wrong and is willing to help in any way he can with no ulterior motive.
"Actually, Loki has information you need to defeat the Chitauri, and I am the only one who can make sure the plan comes to fruition. So, please me, you please him and you get to have New York in one piece with an intergalactic army far away from Earth." Isabella says with a shrug and a "You choose" expression. She acknowledges Thor's assistance with an incline of her head, offering no promises concerning Loki.
The group shares a long look as they try to decide if they should trust the engaged couple. With Thor's continued reassurances, they come to a decision.
"We'll trust you, but if for one second you give us any indication that you'll betray us, we'll destroy you." Steve says in his Captain America voice that brooks no argument. Stark rolls his eyes and pops in a handful of trail mix, his mind already returning to his formula for finding the Tesseract. Thor shifts slightly at the voice, adjusting his seat in the chair.
Isabella raises an eyebrow at the movement, smirking as she says, the voice having no effect on her like it had on Thor, "I'd love to see you try. Now, let's get started."
The unbridled glee in her voice causes everyone to shudder and think simultaneously,
What have we got ourselves into this time?
And now our couple is helping the Avengers! There we go! Teamwork!
The next chapter will have the war and then what the Loki and Isabella will do next after this. Stay tuned and don't forget to review! :)
