The god who would be King
I do own any film in the Marvel franchise
Chapter 2- First Meeting
Author's Note: there will be a bit of AU from the storyline in Avengers, then it goes back to the script of the film.
We often meet people in our lives, who may or may not leave a lasting impression. Some meetings are brief and one-time, here one moment, then gone. Others create life-long friendships, while still others expand family relationships. We never know what kind of meeting these will be until later, sometimes much later. Such was the first meeting between Sarah Martin and Loki of Asgard.
Sarah exited her car, feeling lucky to get a spot so close to her destination. She gathered up her skirts to keep the hem of her new dress clean. It was so bothersome dressing up, but she wanted to look the part of a prosperous scientist, not the poor astro-physicist she was. Not that she didn't have what she needed for her work, she did. But she rarely went out in anything but jeans and a simple top. It was her personal uniform. Occasionally meeting with some of the world's richest entrepreneurs didn't compel her to change her wardrobe too much. In fact, her ticket to this museum benefit was a gift from one of those more generous entrepreneurs.
So here she was in downtown Stuttgart, wearing a long teal-colored gown of the softest chiffon, one that had required she strip her savings to buy, and attending a benefit where she knew no one. But how could she refuse a free trip to Germany. Even her hotel stay was included.
Sarah entered the museum, instantly delighting in the music, and the art sitting randomly around the bottom floor. Although she was involved in things that, if she were successful, would push the world into the next century several decades early, she loved history as well. Taking a proffered glass of champagne, she wandered the building, looking at the valuable relics from humankind's past and present.
She had just come from upstairs, when a disturbance caught her eye. A man dressed in stylish clothing appeared to be attacking Doctor Heinrich Schafer, the host of the evening's gala. Panic filled the room as people fled in all directions, looking for any exit outdoors. Sarah was not far behind. As she ran, she glanced behind her to see the man had also left the museum. But to her amazement, his clothing seemed to morph into something out of a dungeons and dragons game. He was also carrying a lighted staff of some sort, one that seemed to be growing longer with each step the man took.
Crossing the street, he pointed the thing at an approaching police car. A burst of blue energy turned the vehicle on its back. People started screaming now, heading for the square across from the museum. But their escape routes were interrupted by the appearance of several duplicates of Doctor Schafer's attacker. One by one they appeared, blocking the way. But Sarah was more curious about the staff now, wondering what kind of energy it was that flipped the police car over so effortlessly.
Standing in the midst of the crowd, the now frightened physicist waited as did everyone else, for what she didn't know. She glanced around in confusion, when she heard a shout.
"Kneel!" It was the man, the real one she assumed. How did he manage the illusion of multiples, for it had to be an illusion, or holograms perhaps.
Everyone around Sarah knelt in fear. She did so as well, for a moment fretting more about her gown. But then her attention was drawn to the man as he entered the crowd, speaking about the natural desire for mankind to be subjugated. That is, until one older gentleman dared to defy him. He stood and challenged the attacker.
"Not to men like you," the old man said.
"There are no men like me."
"There are always men like you."
In response, the man replied loudly, "Look to your elder, people. Let him be an example."
As she noticed the staff being pointed at the old man, Sarah instantly felt this was not going to end well. She hissed low at the men around her. "Do something! Someone has to do something." She challenged, but no one made any move to intervene. The old man was going to die.
"Wait!" Sarah stood slowly, her hands up and open. She kept her head lowered a bit, all the while staring at the strange man. She felt intimidated, but wanted to impart the message that she wasn't completely in awe of him.
Loki of Asgard tolerantly stared back at her, amazed that anyone would have the courage to defy him. He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head slightly, as he watched her.
"May I approach, please?" Show deference, not fear, that was the way.
The man from another world grinned wide, showing white teeth. "As you wish."
Sarah wound her way through the throng of people, until she was only a couple of feet away from the man. She lowered her hands to her sides.
Loki raised the scepter a bit, interested in what this mortal female had to say. "Don't tell me you're going to appeal to my compassion," he said, smirking.
"I would not attempt to appeal to something I don't believe you have in you," she replied, immediately wishing she hadn't said that. She had no desire to antagonize him. "You're right, you're absolutely right," she said low, aware that most in the crowd would be unable to hear her. "These people are nothing. Therefore, they're no threat to you." She said each word slowly and deliberately, hoping her words would reach him. "Let them go. Let them return to their homes. What have you to gain by killing anyone?"
"I want your fear, so that you will know I mean what I say. I intend to rule you all, saving you from the daily search for a freedom you cannot handle." Loki leaned over as he continued to look the woman in the eyes. "I will be a benevolent king. You will have freedoms, the freedoms I give you. You won't have to struggle anymore. I will guide you in all things."
"I see. We'll be completely and utterly free...to do as you want."
Loki grinned. "Basically."
"The Earth has never been ruled by one person. It's impossible. Many have tried, but all have failed," Sarah told him.
"I won't fail," he replied, with a that same grin that held no graciousness, but seemed more self-satisfied.
"All have failed," she reiterated. "Who in hell are you anyway?" Sarah demanded. She really wanted to know.
"I...am a god," was the unexpected response.
Sarah started to say something, but the words escaped her. Instead, she said, "I don't believe in gods." This was insane. It just wasn't happening. "You obviously don't know human history. If you expect people to bow to you, you have to offer them something. If you try to enslave them, you had better get used to opposition, because they will oppose you."
"Then they will die," Loki said, grinning.
"They will die in any case, either by your hand, or fighting for their freedom. It's the way we live and think. That hasn't changed for thousands of years."
"We will see."
She saw the man smile, almost leer, really.
"Now, if you will step aside..." The scepter lowered slowly.
"No." Angry now, Sarah took a chance, and said, "If you mean to do what you say, then spare the old man, and take my life instead. If you mean to control everything, I have no wish to live in such a world as one ruled by you." She heard the crowd audibly gasp as she made her offer. Someone had even pulled at her gown, trying to get her to stop, she supposed.
Loki felt a momentary desire to put the woman in her place, and do as she asked. He let the tip of the scepter touch her chest, ready to push it deep into her body. Her stare never wavered from his, even as he relented, and pulled back the scepter.
Sarah closed her eyes and released the breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Her entire body relaxed, in fact. So it was more of a reflex due to the end of the tension inside her, but she gave the man a slight smile. Then something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. She looked upward into the night sky. "Unless that's one of yours, we have company." She nodded her head toward a set of lights descending from above.
Loki followed the line upward to see a ship of some sort. It was approaching fast. He continued to peer into the sky as he asked, "Do you have transport?"
"Yes, over there," she indicated down and across the street. "But you've got to blend in. And that..." pointing up at the horned helmet, "...won't fit in my car.
Just then, something exploded near Loki, sending the crowd scrambling for cover. Using his arm, Loki pushed Sarah back and slightly behind him. He pointed the scepter up, sending a stream of vivid blue energy at the craft. It was far enough away that it received only a glancing blow.
Sarah saw a man in an American flag outfit land in the now empty plaza. He was holding up some sort of shield in front of him as he moved toward Loki. She froze in her tracks, unsure what to do. The decision was taken from her as she felt Loki push her away, telling her to run. She stumbled, falling to the ground.
Loki turned to the woman. "Go. Now!" He turned back to his adversary, ready to fight with both the scepter or hand-to-hand, if necessary.
Sarah rose unsteadily. She gathered her dress up around her knees, and ran to her car, unlocking the door as quickly as she could. She jumped in, but didn't immediately start the engine. Feeling relatively safe from this distance, she watched a moment. Had she really meant to help that lunatic escape? And had he intended to save her life?
A ship hovered over the area, but a charge of the blue energy sent it away. The man in the horns was now fighting the man in the red, white, and blue costume. He was using the staff as a weapon, rather than just blast the guy away. Both men fought well, both landing hits as well as getting hit.
Sarah shook her head, and started the car. She just wanted to get back to the hotel. Once there, she rode the elevator to her room, glancing down at the remnants of her beautiful dress, now tattered and dirty. "Damn!" she muttered under her breath. "It only cost me a fortune."
She reached her room, and entered, tossing the small handbag she had been clutching during the entire confrontation with horn-head onto the sofa. "At least something survived." She headed for the shower, and removed the dress. Turning on the warm water, she stood beneath the spray and closed her eyes. What the hell had happened tonight. If she woke up right now, she would have been more than happy to conclude it had all been a bad dream. But she did not wake up. She wondered who the guy in the horns was, and who was it that apparently was after him. Flag man and that ship, who were they?
Sarah dried off, and sat on the bed. She rubbed her hair with a towel, as she tried to push the night out of her mind. She felt the spot on her chest where the metal tip of the staff had been poised, ready to kill her, but the face of the odd man in medieval clothing would not go away. Oh well, I will never see him again, ever!
Or so she thought.