Title: A Lane to the Land of the Dead chapter 9/14
Pairing/Characters: Teamfic. No Pairings. Loki, Thor, Avengers, Original Male Character. Brief non graphic mention of OMC/OMC
Tags: Gore, violence, strong language, angst, self harm, torture.
Summary: 5th part of the Teamwork series, but this is written like a standalone fic, so if you haven't read the others you will still be able to understand it.
Loki has been an Avenger for two years, but as a new threat pushes him away from the team, they begin wonder just how much they can trust him.
~0~
Chapter 9
~0~
"So William was here again last night?" Tony asked JARVIS the next morning, as he sat on a stool in his workshop.
"Apparently so, sir, although I can find no record of his presence in any logs," the AI responded.
"Do the logs indicate any tampering with your code or systems?"
"No, sir. My firewall is intact. The Intrusion Detection and Prevention System indicates that there were no malicious activities or attempts to violate security policy," the AI replied.
Tony sat back in his chair, twirling a pen between his fingers as he thought. "So you saw absolutely nothing strange at all last night."
"No, sir. All conditions were normal, until the fire broke out."
Tony tapped the pen on the desk. "So you can see his actions, you just can't see him?"
"My cameras showed no signs of fire, however the temperature in the room rose so quickly that it triggered the automatic fire system."
"So it wasn't even you that set that off?"
"No, sir," JARVIS replied. "I detected nothing unusual in the room."
"Other than the fact that Loki was talking to thin air?" Tony asked, clutching at straws.
"Mr Odinson frequently talks when there is no one in the room, sir. I would not rate that as a unusual occurrence."
Tony raised an eyebrow, and said, "Play one of the video logs."
"I'm afraid that would violate Mr Odinson's privacy, sir. I am not a-"
"JARVIS," Tony interrupted. "Unless you want to spend the rest of your life as the AI of my toaster, I suggest you show me the video logs right now."
"Of course, sir," JARVIS replied as a holographic screen flickered into life and showed the interior of Loki's room.
There was the sound of clumping as Loki paced the floor in heavy boots, and finally moved into frame with his fingers knotted into the hair on either side of his head.
"They will never like you! Stop hoping that they will ever like you, you imbecile! You should never have come here!" Loki ranted as he moved across the screen.
"Is this from last night when he was talking to William?" Tony asked as he watched Loki pull at his hair.
"No, sir, this video is from approximately one week after Mr Odinson first arrived in the tower."
"Show me something more recent. He can't still be that nuts," Tony said with a frown.
The video flickered and changed to a different angle, and Loki could clearly be seen sitting on the edge of his bed, with his shoulders hunched over.
Tony could hear a voice, but couldn't make out the softly spoken words. "What's he saying?"
The volume suddenly increased, a hiss of static filled the room, and Loki quietly said, "You will never be good enough. You should not lie to yourself."
"OK, turn it off," Tony snapped. "Was that one from last night?"
"That video was from approximately one week before William arrived, sir," JARVIS replied curtly.
"Did you deliberately show me the worst video files?"
"No, sir, they are all like that."
"That's… disturbing," Tony replied.
"Sir, director Fury is in the lobby. He wished all Avengers to assemble in the conference room immediately."
"Tell him I'll be right there," Tony said, as he headed for the door, "and if I ever ask to see those files again deny me access."
"I will, sir," JARVIS replied.
~0~
~0~
As the Avengers sat at the table Fury kneaded his brow, sighed, and said, "So we have a suicidal demigod on the loose, hell bent on destruction until we take him out?"
"Pretty much," Tony replied. "I have to say though, I'm not all together comfortable with the idea of suicide by Avenger, even if he did stab me."
"I will not allow you to kill my child," Loki said sharply.
"OK… What about binding his magic? We did that to you with the manacles. Would it work on him?" Fury asked.
"And if you did that what do you think he would do first?" Loki asked. "He would climb to the top of the nearest high building and fling himself off it! I will not allow it."
"He killed 24 last night at the club and the police reported finding another 6 dead criminals this morning. We can't stand idly by and allow him to continue this rampage. What do you suggest we do?" Fury asked.
"Let me talk to him. Let me persuade him to come home."
"He came home last night," Clint pointed out. "How did that little chat work out for ya?"
Loki glared at Clint and then glanced at Thor when he felt a large hand fold over his wrist and pat it comfortingly.
"I hate to say this, Loki, but killing him might be the only way to stop him," Natasha said. "I know he's your kid, I understand that you don't want to see him hurt, but if we end up in a situation where he's threatening someone and I have a clear shot, I'm going to take it. I don't have a choice."
~0~
Things were tense in the tower for the next few days, even though the only evidence that William was still in the city were the morning news reports of the bodies of criminals found in alleyways and dumpsters.
Everyone was content to avoid Loki, and the feeling was mutual as he spent most of his time hidden away in his room, but when Tony bumped into Thor in the kitchen one evening his curiosity got the better of him.
"Where's Earth's Mightiest Sulker?" he asked, and Thor looked at him in confusion. "I mean Loki. How's he doing?"
"He refuses to speak to me so I am unsure."
"You too, huh?" Tony said.
Thor nodded. "I am worried for his state of mind. I have attempted to speak with him, but he will not listen."
"Right, that settles it. I'm off to have a chat with him."
"Would you like me to accompany you?"
"Nope, big fella, I can manage this one on my own," Tony said, and he headed off down the corridor.
~0~
When he arrived outside Loki's room he knocked loudly at the door. "Loki, I know you're in there, probably listening to some emo song and being all 'Woe is me, nobody loves m-'"
The door flew open and Loki stood, blocking the entrance. "What do you want?"
"I wanted to check you were OK."
"I am, and now you have checked you can stop disturbing me while I am attempting to rest."
"Really? It looks like you haven't rested for days," Tony said, and Loki rolled his eyes. "Stop sulking and come watch some TV with me. Animals Do The Funniest Things is probably on. Guy getting kicked in the crotch by a Kangaroo, come on, you know you love that shit."
"I am busy, Stark. I would appreciate it if you would leave me be," Loki snapped. He slammed the door in Tony's face, and placed magical wards against it, making sure he would not be disturbed for the rest of the night.
"What did he want?" William asked as he reclined on the bed.
"Nothing important," Loki replied. "Stark is unable to keep himself from prying at times."
"Come back here," William commanded as he pulled back the bed sheets. Loki obediently followed the order, climbing into the bed, and laying with his back against his son's chest.
William slung his arm over Loki's body and whispered into his ear, "You should not get so attached to Stark, after all, he will die by your hand when you take over this realm."
"I do not believe you," Loki said.
"The rest of the Avengers too, you killed them all during your second attack."
"I do not believe you," Loki repeated. "My ambition is little now. I do not wish to rule this realm or any other."
"And it was such a shame when you killed uncle Thor and grandfather, but they opposed you, so it had to be done."
"I know you are lying." Loki said, as he twisted in the bed, aiming the words over his shoulder. "You have already told me once that Thor was king in your time."
"I told you what you needed to hear, this is the truth. You killed them for me."
"No. No, no. I would not kill Thor, not now."
"Loki, Loki, king slayer, kinslayer," William taunted. "I hear the doubt in your voice. You know it to be true. Thor will die by your hand, just like your real father before him, and your fake father after him."
"I know why you are saying this. It will not change my mind."
"You know what you are capable of. You've done it before, and you can do it again, kinslayer."
Loki wanted to wipe his face, but didn't want William to realise that the four nights of lies that he had whispered into his ear were starting to have an effect.
When he had appeared back in his room the night after setting fire to it Loki had not raised the alarm in hopes that spending time with him would allow him to talk his son around, to make him realise that he had a choice, and did not need to die. Loki attempted to make him see that he was loved and wanted, that he should go back to his own time where his future self would be waiting with open arms to welcome him back home, but as the nights wore on William's words began to claw their way under his skin.
The boy wove endless tales of death and destruction yet to come, how Loki would be abandoned by those he loved, and how he would rise again to take over Midgard. Once Midgard was his he used it to launch an attack against Asgard, and he won.
Could it possibly be true? Would he one day be king and murder his whole family and friends in order to take the throne? He had sworn two years ago that he would not allow himself to think such treacherous thoughts ever again, and yet here he was, wondering what it would take to turn him against the ones he cared most about.
William said he had done it for him, and while his heart ached to get through to the boy, to keep him safe, and to make him well, he still couldn't imagine turning on his friends after everything they had been through.
He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, attempting to block out the ceaseless murmurs and endless deceit.
~0~
~0~
Loki woke the next morning to an empty bed and the sound of an alarm blaring.
"JARVIS? What is happening?"
"I am sorry, sir, but your presence has been requested in the Quinjet hanger. There is an emergency which requires the presence of the Avengers."
Loki's stomach lurched. In his heart he already knew the cause of the disturbance, and he knew he would once again face his son on the battlefield
~0~
"Holy shit," Clint said as the Quinjet came in to land, slowly descending into the street, and they saw William stab a construction worker on what would be the 14th floor of a skyscraper, which was currently a metal skeleton of beams, and push his body off the edge of the platform.
William caught sight of the Quinjet and grinned, then vanished as he teleported away.
"Where the hell did he go?" Natasha asked.
The Avengers moved forward, peering out of the cockpit window, hoping to spot the boy, and then a voice behind them said, "Good morning."
"Shit!" Tony shouted as he turned and saw William standing in the back of the Quinjet. He raised his hands, preparing to fire, but Bruce was in the way.
Tony pressed his hand against Bruce's back, trying to push him down so he could get a clear shot, but it was like pushing against stone. He tried pushing again, confused for a second, but when he heard the sound of tearing cloth he knew what was happening.
"Not here! Not here!" Tony shrieked, as Bruce, shocked by the sudden appearance of their enemy, started to transform into the Hulk within the confines of the small craft.
As his muscles began to expand, and his body began to grow the Quinjet began to list badly, and the Avengers found themselves trapped behind his massive bulk.
"We're going down!" Clint shouted, struggling to control the jet with the extra weight that had suddenly appeared and knocked the ship off balance.
"Come on then," William said, beckoning the beast towards him.
Hulk snorted, unable to stand upright inside the craft, shuffled a few steps closer, and pulled his arm back. He punched William so hard that his fist connected with the ramp at the back, knocking it open. The sudden rush of wind blew Hulk and William out of the jet, and Thor grabbed Loki by the waist as he screamed, to prevent him from throwing himself out after them.
With the weight gone the Quinjet bucked violently in the sky, almost flipping over, and with a screech of collapsing metal it smashed into the ground at the base of the building framework.
"Everyone OK?" Steve shouted as he hauled himself to his feet.
"Fine," Tony replied.
"You're bleeding, brother," Loki said as he held out a hand and helped Thor up.
Thor ran his fingers over his forehead where he felt the thin trickle of blood and pulled his fingers away red. "It is just a scratch."
They moved out of the wrecked jet and towards the Hulk's position, where he was standing, looking down at something that lay on the ground.
"Is that… his foot?" Natasha asked, as she peered at the puddle of blood and tattered flesh where a boot lay abandoned with a stump of broken bone stuck out of it.
"Oh, that's gross," Tony complained. "He just left his foot?"
"He has no need of it, he can simply regenerate a new one," Loki told him.
"We need to clear this area, now," Steve said. "If we can keep his attention on us there'll be less civilian casualties. Everyone move out."
They headed towards the construction site where Steve, Natasha, and Clint started ordering people to move away, while Loki, Iron Man, Hulk and Thor began rescuing people who were trapped on the upper levels.
"Have you seen him?" Loki asked over the comm link, as he teleported down to the ground and released a workman to safety.
Tony opened the door of a crane that stood on the 12th floor, checking that it was empty, and replied, "Maybe he hobbled off somewhere to cry." Tony turned and found himself face to face with the grinning killer. "Oh shit!"
Loki looked up and saw Iron Man raise his repulsors to the face of his son who simply stood, not moving to defend himself, and Loki unleashed a bolt of magical energy, which hit Tony in the side and knocked him from the building.
"What the hell did you do that for?" Tony shouted over the comm link as he stabilised his flight.
"I-I apologise, I was not thinking," Loki said, and then he was knocked to the ground when William appeared out of nowhere and landed on him, his knees straddling either side of his chest, pinning him to the floor.
"Good morning, father," William purred. "Did I not tell you that Stark would die by your hand? You did not believe me, and yet here we are. Believe me, this is just the first such blow you will strike against him."
"Loki!" Thor shouted, he raised Mjolnir and ran towards his fallen brother, but Loki held his hand up. Thor was halted mid stride when he crashed into a barrier of magic, he raised Mjolnir, bringing it down onto the impenetrable bubble, and a haze of green sparks made him fly backwards.
"Loki, what the hell are you doing?" Steve shouted.
William leaned down till his face was just inches away from Loki's then he turned to look at the Avengers who had gathered outside the shield. "Do you see it now? You would choose me over them, your friends and comrades, even your own brother. One day you will burn all the nine realms and I will stand by your side laughing."
"Lies," Loki whispered.
William sat back up, and barked, "I speak the truth!"
"You will not turn me against them," Loki said.
William smiled a lopsided grin. "I think I already have, or perhaps they will turn on you first."
"You waste your time with threats and lies when I am here, willing to help you."
"You will never give me the help I want, you have made that clear enough," William said, then cocked his head towards the Avengers, and continued, "but perhaps they might."
"I will not allow them."
William hummed. "With the right incentive all things are possible. Tell me, father, what do you think would happen if I ate your heart?"
"What?" Loki gasped.
William conjured his familiar long narrow knife into his hand and pressed the tip of it to his chin. "That really would be the end of you, wouldn't it? If I ate your heart."
He moved the knife down to Loki's cheek and trailed it along the healed skin, then down his jaw line to the open neck of his tunic. "Would I simply blink out of existence or would I conceive a magical child? Would it be more powerful than either of us?"
"I suspect it would be more insane than both of us," Loki said.
"Tsk, tsk, father. So judgemental," William said, then he raised his hands, grasping the knife tightly between them and snarled, "Why don't we find out?"
Loki closed his eyes as the knife began its descent towards his chest; he lowered his hand, allowed the magical shield to fall, and instead of the sharp point striking his skin he felt the weight lifted from his body.
Loki turned his head, opened his eyes, and saw the crumpled body of his son lying a few feet away from him. He sat up as Thor walked towards him, calling Mjolnir back to his hand, and placed the hammer on William's chest, then turned back to face his brother.
Loki raised a trembling hand and ran it through his hair, as Thor knelt next to him, and asked, "Why did you do that? He could have killed you."
"I can't stay here," Loki croaked, as he tried to climb to his feet, and fell onto his knees. "I can't stay. I have to go."
Thor took Loki's hand, helping him up. "You must stay and help us, brother. Eventually William will listen to you."
"That's just it, Thor, he will never listen, and I will get one of you killed before this day is through, I know it."
"But, brother."
Loki smiled, his eyes red and brimming with tears. He held a hand to Thor's cheek, said, "Sorry," and teleported away.
Next chapter will be up about the same time tomorrow.