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Haruven sighed as he stood on top of the Avengers Tower. It was almost noon, but the skies were dark. It was as though something was shadowing the Sun.
He swallowed difficultly and placed his hand on his stomach.
He rubbed it comfortingly and raised his head slightly.
They would soon arrive.
The War for Earth would soon begin.
He managed to hide his pregnancy from Thor.
He managed to hide it from Teddy.
He was the only one who knew and no matter how much he was glad it was so, he was also frightened. He knew he couldn't allow them to know. They would insist on him staying behind.
He couldn't.
His eyes hardened as he looked at the horizon.
He had a bone to pick with the Goa'uld. They hurt Thor by making Loki fight against them. They hurt Thor by attacking his home. They made Loki take Ven, and they threatened the whole world.
"I wouldn't fight if the situation was any different, my son." He whispered. His eyes glowed emerald for a second and his magic danced around him. "I don't want to put the both of us in danger. I can only hope that we will both pull through this," a small smile pulled on his lips and he snorted, "and that your father won't be too angry with me when he finds out."
He swallowed difficultly and looked at his stomach.
He closed his eyes and focused inwardly. More than a third of his magic was focused around the child growing inside him.
He nodded as he opened his eyes.
More than enough; it would be more than enough.
His eyes hardened as the wind danced through his hair.
"We will win this." He whispered into the wind. "We will win."
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Haruven and Thor were woken up by loud sounds of the alarm.
"What in the…"
"They're here." Haruven gasped and jumped out of bed, quickly followed by Thor. They were dressed within minutes and even though they were in a hurry, Thor couldn't help but stop for a moment to appreciate the tight black uniform Haruven was dressed in.
Thor caught Ven's forearm, spun him around and pulled him into a kiss. "Remember." Thor whispered against Ven's lips and their eyes met. "Once this is all over, we are leaving somewhere where it will be just the two of us; just like I promised." Haruven's eyes darkened for a second and he swallowed difficultly.
"Just like we promised." He whispered and kissed Thor harshly. "Don't get killed." And they ran out on the hallway.
*Gather in the Conference Room. Please, gather in the conference room.* Jarvis' voice echoed around them and Haruven nodded at Sam, Cas and Dean when they met up.
"This is it!" Dean grinned although his eyes were dark, and Haruven chuckled lowly.
"This is it," he said as they ran into the conference room. Almost everyone was there already, and the screens were turned on.
"Our satellites picked up their signal. They're entering Earth's atmosphere as we speak," Fury said just as Barbara and Dick ran into the conference room suited up and ready.
"We're as ready as we can be," Haruven said and looked around. "Natasha, Clint, Sam, Dean, Cas, Pepper, Barbara, Dick and Wayne. You know your positions. Move out right away." The 9 nodded and ran out of the room. "Everyone else, move to the outskirts of the city, just like we planned. The Chitauri won't attack from the sea. If there's anything we know about Loki it's that he likes head on battle. Be ready for when they attack."
"What about you?" Thor asked and Haruven swallowed difficultly before he looked at the screens.
"I need a way to speak to everyone," he said, eyes growing dull as he tried to think of a way to address the defending armies.
"We can help with that," a new holo-screen appeared, but this time it wasn't Yusuke on it, but Koenma.
"Lord Koenma." Haruven bowed his head at him and Koenma returned equally.
"Step out somewhere high. I'll contact you there," Koenma said and disappeared.
Haruven swallowed and looked around. "We are ready," he said and everyone straightened. "We trained for this. We planned for this. Go. And may the fortunes favor us." Everyone nodded and left the room. Thor hesitated and approached Haruven when the room emptied.
"I will meet you on the battlefield," Haruven said and Thor swallowed before he bowed down and kissed Haruven lightly.
"Take care," he spoke in a tight voice, giving Haruven's arms a gentle squeeze.
"You too," Haruven whispered and Thor gifted him with a small smile before he turned around and walked out of the room. Haruven looked at the three screens. Charles, Hammond and Fury were looking at him with hard eyes.
"Is the Virus ready?" Haruven asked and Hammond nodded.
"Parker and Jackson managed to write it. It's ready. We just don't know how to send it in."
"One step at a time," Haruven said. "I'll think of something along the way." Hammond nodded. At that moment Charles frowned and the other three looked at him.
"There's something going on outside," Charles said and Haruven tensed up.
"Godspeed, everyone." He wished as he bowed at them. "May we live to see the end of this," with that the screens shut down and Haruven apparated to the top of the tower only to lose his breath. He could see a huge space ship in the sky, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw a large holo-screen casting shadows over New York City.
"Loki..."
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People were on the streets. The fear among them was so strong that it was suffocating.
"Masaka." (Impossible.) Ryu Sasakura whispered as he looked up at the holo-screen above Tokyo. 'Potter-san. Tasukete." (Help.)
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"Oh Merlin." Seamus muttered as he gazed up at the smirking face of a man above the town of Hong Kong. "Harry, I hope as hell you're ready."
"People of Midgard."
The man spoke and a shiver of pure dread passed down the bodies of every single human.
"The day of Reckoning has come."
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"This is it," Jack O'Neil said and looked to his right. Spiderman nodded at Jack and they looked up at the sky.
"I speak to you now, offering you a chance to go down gracefully. All you need to do is have the leaders of your countries surrender willingly; your precious Heroes must surrender as well. If they do so, the lives of those who can't fight will be spared."
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"He's just full of shit, ain't he?" Logan grunted and threw his cigar on the ground.
Scott snorted and nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. "For once we agree on something."
"Those of you who think you can defeat me, I address you. You have no chance against me and my army. My brother, I ask you to surrender. You said you will protect Midgard. Protect it by surrendering yourself and your fellow warriors. Stand down and I will spare the humans."
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"Balls." Bobby Singer muttered and cocked his rifle. Rufus snorted beside him and raised his own gun.
"And you thought the Apocalypse was bad," Rufus grunted and Bobby snorted.
"Haruven Sigurdsson, I speak to you. Leave my brother. Join me and I will spare the wizards. They will not fight if you don't lead them. You don't want to fight. You don't want to risk their lives. Surrender, and there will be no unnecessary deaths."
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"He sure is generous." Tony drawled and heard his comrades snicker over the com-link.
"You cannot win. Last time you won because of sheer, dumb luck. You can't be at a thousand places at the same time. I have millions of Chitauri waiting to attack the biggest cities of Midgard. You can only protect one town. Surrender and no one will die. You have one hour to decide."
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Haruven steeled his stance when Loki's face disappeared. He shivered when a warm wind caressed his back and he looked over his shoulder at Koenma.
The Prince offered him a small mirror and an encouraging smile, and Haruven took a deep breath. "The World is waiting," Koenma spoke warmly and Haruven took the mirror from him.
He felt it react to his touch, and it flew out of his hands to levitate in front of him. Ven swallowed difficultly and fisted his hands by his sides. He could hear the screams of panic coming from the streets of New York. He could hear the sounds of honking and the breaks screeching.
He opened his eyes and a wave of raw, uncontrolled power burst from him.
'No, Loki. You lost the first time. You will lose again. That I swear to you.'
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"That's him! That's Harry!" Oliver Wood shouted when the see-through face of his former team and school mate appeared in the sky. The wizards gathered around him cheered as relief spread through them.
"My brothers. My sisters. Some of you know me, some of you don't. I am Haruven Sigurdsson. I am a proud member of the Avengers and the Guardian of this World, and I speak to you now. I ask of you to stand. I ask of you to not fear. I ask of you to Unite, because this threat is not unbeatable."
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The people of Cairo stood rooted to their places, looking up into the sky with wonder on their faces.
"We are not defenseless. Your cities have been protected. Nothing that wishes you harm can enter them. There are warriors ready to fight for this world. We have warned the heads of states that there would be an Invasion and yet they refused to listen to us. They refused to work with us for your safety. Now I tell you. Stay in your homes. Stay where you are. Do not try to leave your towns. Do not panic, and do not fret. We are ready for them and we will fight."
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The air filled with something no one could describe as every single man, woman and child in Moscow looked up into the sky.
"My fellow warriors. We have been preparing for this, and we are ready. Stand now. Stand now and fight for this world. Stand now, pick up arms, and protect what you cherish most!"
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"Ven…" Thor whispered as he gazed up at the face of his beloved.
They stood proud as they gazed up at the sky. They could feel strength fill their bodies as Haruven's words washed over them and their hearts beat strongly in their chest.
"Stand now and do not fear!"
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"Everyone return inside!" Betty Ross shouted at the students. They rushed back into the college building, the other professors directing them in. She looked up and swallowed difficultly.
"Be safe, Bruce," she whispered.
"There will be many and the danger is great, but we will not falter!"
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"Stay calm!" Daniel D'Leigh shouted at his colleagues. "Sasha! Misha! Go to my office!" He called his children over and the two rushed to obey him. He looked up at the sky and nodded.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Mr. Sigurdsson."
"For the sake of all you hold dear, I bid you now – rise and stand your ground!"
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Haruven looked up when the ship he could see on the horizon seemed to glow and his heart jumped in his chest.
"For the sake of all you cherish, for the sake of everything you love, fight! Fight and protect this world against those who wish to take it from us! Fight, and may the Fates be with you!"
The mirror glowed and flew into Koenma's hand. Haruven looked at him and Koenma nodded. In that moment Loki's face appeared above them again, an ugly sneer decorating his usually handsome face.
"You have made your choice." He hissed and vanished.
"They are coming," Koenma said and Haruven nodded.
"Go," he spoke in a tight voice and Koenma narrowed his eyes at the wizard.
"Win this," he said. "I have enough paperwork as it is. Don't make me sign your papers as well." With that said he vanished and Haruven looked at the horizon. He could see the Chitauri leaving the ship and three Leviathans following after them.
He closed his eyes and spread his arms slightly to the side.
His magic burst from him and spread over the city. He felt the runes activate one by one and his eyes snapped open, a pillar of raw magic bursting into the sky.
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"It has begun." Teddy spoke as they watched the shield rise around the town like a shimmering, mercury dome, climbing towards the pillar of emerald energy bursting into the sky from the top of the Avengers Tower.
"Let's hope we hadn't trained for nothing," Neville said and his wand appeared in his hand.
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Haruven took a deep breath as the dome closed above him. He looked behind himself when he felt an unfamiliar energy wash over him, frowning when a teen with bright orange hair and a massive sword thrown over his back appeared behind him.
Beside the teen were two more young men. One was a tall, dark skinned man with his brown hair falling into his eyes. He looked like a mountain with the way he stood and radiated a strong aura. The other had raven hair and glasses on his oval face, and he was dressed in a white uniform with blue details. He had a silver bow in his hand and all three of them were looking at Haruven with determined expressions on their faces.
"And who might you be?" Haruven asked, turning around to face them completely.
"Kurosaki Ichigo, Substitute Shinigami," said the orange-head and Haruven raised an eyebrow.
"Uryu Ishida, Quincy." The young raven-haired man introduced himself with a small bow.
"Yasutora Sado." The mountain of a man grunted before a pretty young woman with long orange locks peaked from behind him.
"Orihime Inoue," she said and waved at Haruven with a small smile.
"We were sent here by Captain-Commander Yamamoto of Seireitei," Ichigo said and Haruven nodded. "We come to join the fight."
"You are most welcome." Haruven shivered as he looked over the shoulder. The Chitauri were getting closer as they spoke.
"We should join your comrades," Ishida said and Haruven nodded. His broom appeared in his hand and he mounted it sideways.
"Follow me. Explain everything as we go!" Ven flew off. Inoue jumped on Ichigo's back as they followed after Haruven with Ichigo flying, and Ishida and Sado jumping from building to building.
"We heard your call over two weeks ago!" Ichigo said. "I informed Captain-Commander Yamamoto and he decided to dispatch us to join your battle! We were sent here! Kyoraku-taicho and Nanao-fukutaicho were sent to Los Angeles! Sui'feng-taicho and Omaeda-fukutaicho to Bruxelles! Otoribashi-taicho and Kira-fukutaicho to Moscow! Hirako-taicho and Hinamori-fukutaicho to Tokyo! Kuchiki-taicho and Abarai-fukutaicho to Hong Kong! Komamura-taicho and Iba-fukutaicho to Cairo! Mugumura-taicho and Hisagi-fukutaicho to Johannesburg! Hitsugaya-taicho and Ragniku-fukutaicho to Sydney! Kenpachi-taicho and Yachiru-fukutaicho were sent to Melbourne!"
Just as Ichigo finished his report they reached the outskirts of New York and landed in front of Thor, Tony, Steve, Neville and Teddy.
"Who are these guys?" Teddy asked, tensing up minutely.
"Reinforcements." Haruven said and looked around. "Is everyone ready?" He spotted Clint, Natasha, Wayne, Barbara, Dick, Sam, Dean, Cas and Pepper on their positions behind the shield, their weapons ready.
"Ready and holding positions." Steve reported and Haruven nodded. He looked away from the city and shivered when he saw the Chitauri army coming at them.
"Spread out." Haruven ordered, and Ichigo, Sado, Uryu and Orihime ran off before Haruven looked at Tony.
"Good luck," Tony said before his visor snapped down and he flew off.
"Take care," Steve said and ran off to his position. Teddy walked over to Haruven and pulled him into a hug, and Haruven buried his face in Teddy's hair and took a deep breath.
"Be careful, son," he whispered.
"You too, dad. I'll see you later." Teddy apparated away. Neville nodded at Ven, receiving a small smile in return before he disapparated.
Ven then looked at Thor and took his place beside the God of Thunder. "You'll stay by my side?" Haruven whispered and Thor nodded.
"Always."
They stood side by side as they watched the Chitauri approach them, the Leviathans casting shadows over them. Haruven tensed up when he felt a disturbance in the shield. His eyes widened when he saw both men and women coming out. Some had wands in their hands, and others were mutants, but one thing they had in common.
They all carried the same determination in their eyes.
Haruven looked at Thor and the God of Thunder smirked down at him. They took a few steps away from each other and Thor spun Mjölnir in his hand expertly. The skies darkened and lightning crashed, and Haruven let go of his magic and his braided hair danced around him.
His eyes glowed and his magic exploded from him, gathering around him in an orb of pure power as his heart burst with strength and determination.
"CHARGE!"
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Yusuke snickered as he looked around at the demons, mutants, shinigami and wizards that stood in a seemingly endless line on each side of him. Tokyo was behind them, and the Chitauri were in front of them.
Yusuke's lips stretched into a shark-like grin as his hair lengthened and the markings of his bloodline appeared on his skin. "Everyone ready?!" he called out and a thunderous roar echoed through the air. "LET'S GET THEM!"
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"This should be fun," Renji said with a grin on his face, and Byakuya snorted beside him. The tall nobleman looked around at the brave men and women who were ready to protect Hong Kong at the price of their own lives.
"I don't know what you consider fun, but I don't think I agree with you." Renji looked to the side at the tall, blond man with three parallel scars on each cheek. His spiky hair danced around his head, and his sky blue eyes stared at the approaching army of Chitauri with a hard glare.
"Naruto-sama." Renji spoke and the Rokudaime Hokage, the sixth ruler of the Hidden Leaf Village, took his place beside Byakuya.
"I never thought I'd see the day when shinobi, shinigami, mutants and wizards would fight together," Naruto said and Byakuya hummed. He drew his sword as the Chitauri and the Leviathans charged towards them.
"Chire; Senbonzakura." (Scatter; Senbonzakura.) Byakuya spoke almost lazily and Naruto smirked.
"Kage bunshin no jutsu!" he snapped. "ATTACK!"
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"Ban-kai! Kokujo Tengen Myo'o!" Komamura-taicho roared and the mutants, wizards and demons fighting for Cairo gaped at the huge Mirage that appeared above them.
"Stay focused! Don't let them beyond the line of defense!" Mukuro shouted as she hacked and slashed through every Chitauri stupid enough to come her way.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Mukuro ducked the green light and glared with her good eye at the grinning redhead that killed the Chitauri that managed to sneak up on her. "Sorry for that! Bill Weasley is the name – EXPULSO! AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Mukuro snorted as they stood back to back. "I never thought I would fight back to back with a wizard." Mukuro grumbled and Bill chuckled.
"Never thought I'd fight back to back with a demon." He drawled and she spared him a glance.
"Touché."
"Stand your ground, men!" Komamura-taicho roared. "Protect this city at all cost!" The Warriors of Earth roared and attacked with even more vigor.
They had to win.
They had to.
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"Bankai; Daiguren Hyorinmaru! Guncho Tsurara!" the Chitauri screeched and froze in place as Hitsugaya swung his sword.
"Taicho! You promised to watch out!" Matsumoto whined as she killed another Chitauri, and Hitsugaya snorted at her. She yelped when a noble-looking demon ran past her, cutting down a few Chitauri easily.
"Yomi! Lead your demons to the west! The mutants need assistance there!" Hitsugaya snapped before he darted into air and Yomi snorted.
"Are all white haired men so commanding?" he muttered but vanished in a second and Rangiku tilted her head to the side in confusion.
She yelped and went back to the fight when the Chitauri attacked her, almost cutting her hair. "Not my hair, you won't! Unare, Haineko! NEKO RINBU!" (Growl, Haineko!)
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"Penetrare caelum! Gehenna Lamina!" (Pierce the Heavens! Gehenna Blade!) Haruven roared as he slashed down a bunch of Chitauri in one swing. He ducked and rolled when Thor slammed his hammer into the ground with a roar.
Ichigo and Hulk managed to bring down a Leviathan a while ago, Sado took down another with the help of two mutants and Ishida was showering the third one with a rain of arrows.
They were holding their ground successfully for now, but the army of Chitauri seemed endless. Haruven could barely keep track of what was going on around him. He noticed a few times that the injured were carried back behind the shield.
Clint, Natasha, Wayne, Barbara, Dick, Sam, Dean, Cas and Pepper were doing a marvelous job of shooting any Chitauri that managed to pass them from their places inside the shield.
They were doing well.
They were doing too well.
"GETSUGA TENSHO!" Ichigo roared and Haruven ducked to the side as a huge wave of dark red energy cut down a whole line of Chitauri. "They just keep coming!" Ichigo shouted as he landed between Haruven and Thor.
"We need to take down the mother ships!" Haruven called back to him. "We have a virus ready in Los Angeles, but we have no way of getting into a mother ship to apply it!"
"Are the ships connected?!" Uryu called out shooting down a few Chitauri before he turned to shoot a rain of arrows on the approaching Leviathan.
"They are!" Haruven caught sight of Hogun, Volstagg, Fandral and Sif and relief colored his face when he saw them fighting off the Chitauri in a seemingly effortless way.
"Then someone needs to find a way for them to infiltrate the closest ship to them!" Ichigo shouted. Haruven's com-link opened.
"Ven! We're handling things here! How's the situation on your side?!" Peter's voice came over the com-link.
"As good as it can - AVADA KEDAVRA!" Haruven roared.
"Dr. Jackson has the Virus ready! He needs a way to get into a ship!"
Haruven growled lowly, trying to think of a way to get this done, but coming up with nothing.
"Maybe I can help with that!" Another voice joined their conversation.
"Nightcrawler?" Haruven asked.
"Ja, mein herr!" (Yes, my lord!)
Haruven's eyes widened at that. "You're a teleporter." He gasped.
"Ven, duck!" Steve shouted and his shield flew over Haruven's head as the wizard ducked.
"Get yourself to Los Angeles! Peter, I need you to bring Daniel to the highest building there. Nightcrawler will come to pick him up as soon as possible!" Haruven shouted. "Congelo aera! Hiemedraco!" (Freeze the heavens! Winter Drake!) His magic exploded around him and a huge dragon made out of solid ice appeared around Ven. It flew off into the Chitauri ranks, his teeth and claws killing them left, right and center, and the freezing air around him turning those he didn't catch with his teeth and claws into ice.
"On it!" Nightcrawler and Peter said, and Haruven concentrated on the task at hand.
A cold wind passed down his back and he shivered. "What in the…"
"It's Loki!" Thor called out and Haruven's breath hitched in his throat. He looked up and found Loki riding towards them on a glider, his face a mask of rage and his eyes shining blue.
He sneered at Haruven as he landed several meters in front of him, the Chitauri moving from his way. Thor ran over to stand beside Haruven while the others went back to fighting the Chitauri.
"Brother. Mage." Loki sneered at them.
"We were wondering when they would send you out." Haruven spoke. A sword appeared in his left hand while the Elder Wand appeared in his right.
Loki frowned at them. "They?" he spoke lowly.
"Do not pretend," Thor growled. "You are not my brother."
Loki's face turned cold for a second before a smirk pulled on his lips. When he spoke again his voice wasn't his own. It sounded like 6 different people speaking at the same time. "So you have figured it out. Congratulations. You aren't as foolish as we thought you were."
"Goa'uld." Haruven spoke lowly.
"That is what you can call us for now. Soon enough you will call us your Lords and Masters."
"Not if we kill you all first," Thor growled, and the Goa'uld laughed through Loki.
"Kill us first? You may win against our Chitauri. You may even kill this puppet, but you will never take down our ships. One button and your pitiful planet will be gone forever."
"Then why bother fighting us?!" Haruven snapped. "Why bother with this war when you can simply destroy us?!"
"Because you humans are useful. We can always make more Chitauri, but you humans are good slaves. If you manage to defeat our armies, which we highly doubt, we will simply destroy a few of your biggest cities with our ships. Cut off the snake's head and the body dies."
"But the head can still bite." Haruven growled and swung his sword. "Go on. Unleash your strongest monsters, fire at our biggest cities, defeat us. But the human race will never falter. It will never serve you. It will never bow to you. One thing you must understand about us." Haruven raised his sword and wand and crouched lowly.
"We never surrender!" Thor roared and slammed his hammer against the ground, sending a wave of lightning at Loki who defended himself in the last moment.
"PROTEGO! EXPULSO!" Haruven shifted from defense to offense in a second, and his attack overlapped with Thor's.
Loki laughed insanely as they fought.
They didn't see the Chitauri ranks thinning as their friends and comrades gained upper hand, both Thor and Haruven giving their all to bring Loki down without killing him.
Haruven cursed under his breath. His whole body ached. He knew he was close to collapsing. He knew that if they didn't finish this soon, his body would give up on him. He couldn't allow it. He couldn't risk his son.
Not more than he already did.
"Haruven!" Thor roared and ran towards Haruven when Loki's attack passed through Ven's shield. They were pushed away and Haruven screamed, rolling away a few meters.
"DAD!" Teddy's terrified cry echoed through the air.
Haruven rose to his knees, clutching his bleeding shoulder, glaring at Loki with burning eyes. "I'M FINE!" he roared and Teddy stopped in his tracks. Haruven let go of the sword he was holding in his right arm and raised his left, pointing his wand at Loki, his right arm hanging limply by his side.
"You're at the end of your rope, Wizard." The Goa'uld spoke teasingly, blue eyes diving in Haruven's pain filled orbs. "You will meet your end soon."
"It'll take more than that to kill me." Haruven rasped out.
Okay, that was just false bravado.
His sight was fading, his limbs were heavy, and he had barely any magic to pull on.
There was no way in hell he would pull on the magic protecting his son. No way in hell.
Thor approached him slowly, positioning himself between Loki and Haruven. He swallowed and looked in Loki's eyes. "Brother, I know you are still in there." He spoke lowly and Loki raised an eyebrow at him.
"What is this? Now you're trying to talk to your brother?"
"Loki, listen to me!" Thor begged, daring a glance at Haruven who was staring at him with wide eyes and lips parted in fear and confusion. Thor turned to his brother again with a pleading stare. "I know this isn't what you want. I know you've never wanted this. Please, we can end this. Please, fight them. Fight them!" the Goa'uld attacked Thor but he managed to deflect the attack.
"We're in the ship." Haruven startled when Daniel's voice came over the com link. "Nightcrawler and I found the main room. Hold on."
"Roger that." Haruven blurted out in a whisper. He looked to the side when Teddy reached him. Only then did Ven realize that the Chitauri were almost defeated. He didn't dare look around. He didn't dare try to assess their losses. He knew he wouldn't be able to handle it in this moment.
"LISTEN TO ME, BROTHER!" Thor roared and slammed his hammer into the ground.
"Hold on, dad." Teddy whispered. In that moment Inoue ran over and Haruven frowned slightly when he found himself inside an orange orb. He looked at his shoulder and his eyebrows met the line of his hair when he saw that his wound started to close, and he felt his strength slowly recovering. Inoue smiled at him and winked before they looked at Thor and Loki.
Thor was trying to reach Loki, but he was constantly pushed back.
They fought an army of Chitauri for Merlin knows how long.
Unlike Loki they were all tired and drained.
Haruven tensed up when sounds of struggle came over the com-link. 'Daniel!' he thought and tensed up.
"What is it?" Teddy asked in panic. Haruven shook his head and reached up to his collar.
"Everyone, listen to me." He spoke into the small mike in his collar. "Thor is holding Loki off, Daniel and Nightcrawler are in one of the mother ships. Hold out for a while longer. It will all be over soon." He received many answers and his heart skipped a beat when Thor was pushed back.
"Thor!" Haruven tore out of Teddy's and Inoue's hands and ran over to Thor, while Ichigo, Hulk and Clark took Thor's place fighting Loki.
"Thor, answer me!" Haruven gasped as he raised Thor up a bit. Thor grunted lowly as he raised his head and looked Haruven trying to smile reassuringly. Haruven's breath hitched in his throat when he saw a deep wound in Thor's abdomen, and his heart clenched with fear.
"I am alright, Ven. Worry not." Thor spoke, gasping for air as he looked Ven over.
"You'll never win!" the Goa'uld screamed when Loki managed to throw Ichigo, Hulk and Clark away.
"Thor, no!" Haruven shouted when Thor darted forward.
"Haruven we made it! The Virus is in!" Daniel's voice came over the come-link and in the next moment he and Nightcrawler appeared beside them. Haruven looked at the Mother ship and then at Thor.
He swallowed difficultly and looked around.
The Chitauri were still attacking but not one of them breached the city. He twitched when he heard the sound of metal hitting metal and looked at Thor and Loki.
"FIGHT THEM, BROTHER!" Thor roared and thunder clashed. Loki was thrown away and Thor fell on one knee.
"THOR!" Haruven cried out and ran forward. In that moment a loud explosion shook the world followed by hellish screams as the Chitauri stopped in their places.
"LOKI!" Thor shouted and Loki's head snapped up. His eyes cleared all of a sudden and he gasped in a sharp breath.
"Brother…"
"Fight them, brother!" Thor shouted. "Fight off their control! Fight them!"
Loki's face became a mask of pain as he fell to his knees and screamed, covering his ears with his hands.
Another loud explosion resonated through the air and they saw the space ship lean towards the ocean as the explosions tore it apart.
"NO! HOW CAN THIS BE?!" the Goa'uld roared through Loki's mouth.
"You messed with the wrong race," Haruven hissed. He heard various calls behind them as they watched Loki's eyes flicker between his normal color and bright blue.
The Goa'uld sneered at them. "If we are to fall…" they growled at Haruven and even though it was obvious Loki was fighting against their control, they managed to grab his staff and raise it towards Haruven.
"HARUVEN!"
"Then we're taking you with us, STARBORN!" a wave of pure power washed over them and Thor pushed Haruven out of the way. A dark void appeared behind Thor and he lost his footing. His head snapped up when someone grabbed his hand and he looked in Haruven's desperate eyes.
With an earsplitting scream Loki fell on the ground in a dead feint, but the void didn't disappear.
"Thor! Haruven!" many screamed as they ran towards them, trying to reach either one of them, but the vacuum around the void was pushing them all back.
"HOLD ON!" Haruven shouted and yelped as Thor slipped further away. He tried to grab Haruven's arm with his other hand, but the pull of the void was too strong. Thor glanced behind himself before he looked back at Ven.
Haruven looked into Thor's eyes and his heartbeat stuttered. "No." He blurted out. "NO!" his grip on Thor grew as hard as it could get.
"Let go." Thor begged in a strained, raspy voice and Haruven shook his head as his eyes filled with tears.
Neither heard the scream that broke through the air as the ship fell into the ocean.
Neither saw the others trying to think of a way to break through the vacuum.
Neither heard them shouting at them to hold on.
Neither heard Teddy screaming for Ven, nor have they seen Neville, Clark, Tony, Steve and Hulk holding back Teddy, Volstagg, Fandral, Hogun and Sif.
"Let go, Ven," Thor said as he slipped further into the Void.
"NO! We didn't get this far just so I could lose you!" Haruven screamed and tears trailed down his cheeks.
"I'll come back to you, Ven! I'll always come back to you!"
"YOU DON'T KNOW THAT!" Ven screamed and slipped. He barely managed to find his footing again and he pulled Thor towards himself.
"Haruven, you need to let go!"
"NO!"
"Haruven…."
"I'M PREGNANT, YOU IDIOT!" Haruven cried out and Thor's eyes widened. Haruven screamed when the both of them were pulled closer to the void, and Thor's grip on his hand grew stronger again.
"What…?"
"I'm pregnant with your son and you want me to let go?!" Haruven screamed, doing everything in his power to pull back.
"You fought…"
"I had to!" Haruven snapped. "I had to! We're fine! We're both fine, but we won't be if you don't fight this!" Thor's eyes widened. In that moment Haruven slipped and they fell towards the void.
"GETSUGA TENSHO!" Ichigo's shout was followed by a loud roar and Haruven gasped when a green arm wrapped itself around his waist and pulled him back.
"NO!" his grip on Thor grew lax and Thor slipped closer to the void. Haruven grabbed Thor's hand with both of his and Thor grunted in pain, and Haruven's breath hitched in his throat. He forgot that Thor was injured.
It wasn't that Thor wasn't trying to fight the pull of the void.
He couldn't.
Hulk roared as he tried to reach over Ven and grab Thor, but he was too big. The outer edge of the void was pushing Hulk's massive arm back every time he would try to reach Thor.
Haruven's right arm was only half way healed. His grip on Thor wasn't strong enough.
"Haruven, let go," Thor whispered brokenly and Haruven shook his head weakly.
"No," he whimpered and Thor offered him a teary smile.
"Raise our son. Love him. Tell him - tell him that I will see the both of you again one day. I swear."
"No. No!" Haruven screamed as Thor relaxed his hold on him and slipped slightly.
"I love you, min stjarna." (my star) Thor whispered.
"No!"
"I love you." His hand slipped from Ven's.
"NO!" Ven screamed as the void swallowed Thor and closed.
Heavy silence settled over everyone. Hulk let go of Ven and the wizard fell to his knees.
His tears stopped flowing.
His eyes were open wide.
His arms hung limply by his sides.
'He's gone.'
His breath hitched in his throat and unimaginable pain filled his heart.
'He's gone!'
The skies darkened and thunder clashed.
'He's gone!'
"THOR!"
cut