(Author's Note: Alright guys, I'm not going to lie, this chapter is a doozy. I actually cried writing it. This may be the most important chapter in the whole darn thing. So brace yourselves. And as always, enjoy. :)
Chapter 23
Loki picked Emmeline up after Thor ran off to fight Thanos and what was left of his army. Now that Thanos had acquired the power gem, he would be much more difficult to defeat. But Thanos was not exactly at the top of Loki's worrying list. No, at the very top was the woman in his arms. She looked up at him with sadness and apprehension; still shocked that Thanos had taken her power so easily. Loki looked down at her with a semi-reassuring look. He wanted to comfort her; despite he was just as worried as she. He carried her off the battlefield where they wouldn't be bothered by war, and set her down on her feet. She huffed.
"…Dammit! I was so ready to stand my ground; I was being brave and everything! And he just…took it." She sighed. "And now I'm all dull and colorless."
"Your beautiful red hair…" he said, mourning the loss of her golden auburn locks as well.
"You still love me right? Even though I look like a dead person now?" Loki took her in his arms and chuckled.
"Emmeline of course I do. You could be gray with blue streaks and I would still love you." Emmeline giggled.
"Is that a challenge?" she said playfully. Loki smiled and kissed the top of her head.
Just then, the Man of Iron flew down to them and his red-gold mask retracted, revealing his face. His eyes widened when he saw Emmeline.
"Red, you're not red anymore!"
"I know! Don't remind me," she said, throwing her face in her hands. Stark put his hand on Emmeline's back in comfort, and Loki glared at him.
"Take it easy Reindeer Games," said Stark. "I'm just trying to make her feel better."
"That is my job," Loki replied coldly.
Just then, Odin rode up on his eight-legged horse that Loki knew by the name Sleipnir, and Loki, Emmeline, and Iron Man turned to look at him. He looked tired, Loki noted. Although Odin was the most skilled king in battle anyone had ever known, he was growing old and was not as strong as he once was.
That is probably why he chose Thor to be king after him, Loki thought, to carry on his legacy. Because he knew I couldn't do it…
Don't think like that! Emmeline suddenly scolded in his head. He had forgotten about their new telepathic connection. He looked at her and she raised her eyebrows. You must think yourself worthy, Loki. He looked away from her; kind of wishing she didn't know the depths of his soul. She always knew exactly what he felt, and in a way it was good, but Loki did not like to appear weak. Especially not to the one he had to protect.
Iron Man must have noticed their facial expressions to one another.
"Am I missing something?" he asked. "Can you guys read each other's minds or something?" He chuckled, and Emmeline smiled.
If he only knew.
"We are retreating from the current battle," Odin said. Loki immediately turned his attention to the king in shock.
"What?" he said.
"We have killed all the soldiers. All that is left is Thanos, but he now has the gem of power. He is much more dangerous than before, and we need time to rest and think of further tactics."
"What makes you think he's not just going to destroy Asgard when you're on your little break, Odin?" asked Loki. Odin did not seem affected by Loki's coldness.
"We have made an agreement that during our leave, he may gather more troops. We have taken them down easily enough today; we can do it again. We are retreating to the palace for three days." After that statement, Odin rode off on Sleipnir, leaving the three on the outskirts of the battlefield. There was a short silence that Stark was the first to break.
"Well good; I'm pooped. I'll see you guys on the flip side." With a flash of white light, the Man of Iron flew away with his metal suit. Loki looked to Emmeline.
"…I suppose this is good," he said. "We have time to think about what we are going to do." Emmeline said nothing; she just stood there with a gloomy look on her face. Loki held her hand. "Do not be troubled darling. We will figure something out." She leaned her head on his shoulders as they walked back to the palace.
When all had made it inside the palace, Loki took Emmeline to his chambers. She sat on the bed and crossed her arms. With her power gone, how was she to fight? How would she get it back, if she could at all? It was all very depressing. Not to mention her bright and colored look had gone with it, leaving her now a dull, drab mess. She could see it on Loki's face that he was trying to figure out what to do and she appreciated that about him. He sat next to her and she laid her head on his shoulder and sighed.
"I'm sorry Emmeline," he said. "You should rest now, and I will speak with Thor on what to do."
"I don't wanna rest; I'm too frustrated." She lifted her head and turned to look at Loki. "Can I make out with you? That'll make me feel better." Loki smiled.
"If you wish," he said. Loki leaned toward her and she put her hands in his hair as his lips met hers. Emmeline fell onto the bed and Loki lied over her, letting her take control. She opened her mouth and entwined her tongue with Loki's, making him open his eyes.
"Oh, you want it that way, do you?" he said with a smile. He kissed her harder, until he had her against the wall. She moaned softly and ran her hands roughly through his hair. She wanted to forget what just happened, and Loki was so hot that forgetting was possible.
When their kissing became more subtle, Emmeline was in Loki's lap and he was running his hand along her neck.
"I'm so lucky to have you," Emmeline said. "I mean it. I look like a swamp monster and you still love me. You rock." Loki smiled down at her.
"Emmeline, you do not look like a, er, 'swamp monster', and you are my wife. I will love you until the end of all days." He held her close to his chest and buried his face in her hair. Emmeline breathed in his musky scent; he always smelled so nice, like a man. She closed her eyes.
Suddenly, Thor busted into the room.
"My apologies for intruding, but Father needs to speak with both of you at once," he said. Emmeline whined.
"Thor, we were cuddling…" she said, letting go of Loki and looking at the golden-haired god.
"I understand and I am sorry, but Father demanded that I fetch the both of you." Loki growled and stood up, Emmeline standing with him.
"Very well," he said.
They followed Thor to the conference room where Odin was standing at the table; his fingers on his chin as if he was deep in thought. He didn't even raise his head when they came in.
"Father," Thor said, finally getting Odin's attention.
"Ah yes, Loki and Emmeline," he said. "There is an urgent matter of battle I need to discuss with you."
Emmeline's heart sank. He was going to say that she was of no use to them now. Although she knew she was, it felt like crap. She was about as useful as a rock without her power. She wasn't very skilled with weapons, even if she had any. She looked at the floor and prepared herself for the Allfather's words.
"We will need to send Emmeline to the front, alone."
WHAT?
That was not what she expected at all. Emmeline gave Odin a look of shock as she processed what he just said. We need to send Emmeline to the front, alone. Well, he was old. Perhaps he was going senile.
"Hell no," Loki said before Emmeline got a chance to say anything. "You fail to understand Odin, that I love this woman. You're sending her in there to be killed!" Emmeline spoke up.
"Yeah, no offense your majesty, but I'm going to have to side with Loki on this one. I'm about as useful as a brick right now and I don't think I want to die yet."
"You should be dead now," Odin said. Emmeline tried not to be offended. "Taking the power gem from a mortal like you should have killed you, but it didn't. You were born with the gem inside of you; therefore you still have the natural ability to wield the gems of the Gauntlet."
"What, so you're just going to send her up there hoping she can take the Gauntlet from Thanos in time before he manages to kill her?" said Loki.
"Yes."
No one said anything. Loki, Emmeline, and Thor all stood there in silence and shock. Emmeline was afraid. She had no more confidence now that her power was gone. Surely Thanos would take her out before she had time to do anything. But then again, the fate of the whole world was on the line…
"I'll do it," Emmeline suddenly blurted out. Loki looked at her in disbelief.
"Emmeline, wha—"
"—This isn't just a small battle Loki. This is life or death for the entire universe. I'd be kind of selfish if I didn't at least try. …And the way I see it, this is pretty much our only hope." Loki sighed in frustration.
"I just…I can't lose you. Not again. Not after everything we've been through and all I've done to protect you." Odin spoke up.
"I would not send her out there if I did not believe in her abilities to succeed," he said. Loki still looked unsure.
"See, even your dad believes in me," she said. "I have to do this. For you. For all of us." Emmeline saw something in Loki's eyes when she said that last part. She put her hand on his face in comfort.
"I'll be fine." But she herself wasn't completely sure.
Once the timeout for the war was over, Emmeline and the rest of the army set out to meet Thanos on the battlefield. Emmeline had suited up with more armor then she had worn before, just in case. However, she doubted that would help her much. Loki stayed at her side, fear written all over his expression. Emmeline thought he looked more afraid than she was. But when she saw Thanos in front of her, backed by hundreds of new soldiers, she doubted that. Odin stepped in front of her, in order to speak to Thanos before the war resumed.
"You have taken your leave Allfather, and I have brought my army," Thanos growled. "I hope you have prepared yourselves for your deaths."
"Actually, I think we prepared a little more for kicking your ass," said Tony from behind Emmeline. Thanos said nothing. He turned around and lifted his arms. At the gesture, his Chitauri army rushed forward and the battle began. Loki threw himself in front of Emmeline and stabbed a soldier coming at her.
"Do you have the daggers I gave to you?" he asked.
"Yeah," said Emmeline.
"Just do as I do," Loki replied, keeping her behind him.
Suddenly, Emmeline heard Thor yell from a few feet away.
"ENOUGH!" He held Mjolnir up to the sky and summoned lightning. A whirlwind of clouds circled above him as the electricity struck the hammer and Thor slammed it into the ground, knocking down most of the soldiers and killing them as well. Emmeline couldn't believe it. There were only a few hundred soldiers left and the Hulk was smashing several of them to smithereens. Why hadn't Thor done this before?! She looked at Loki.
"Why didn't he do that before?" she asked.
"There were too many. It would have backfired," he replied.
The battle raged on for a while longer, the remaining soldiers getting slain quickly. The battle from three days ago had better prepared them for killing more soldiers quicker this time. Emmeline wasn't necessarily skilled at using Loki's daggers, but she managed to survive. It grossed her out though, because their blood would splash onto her hands and face. She didn't understand how Loki could do it so easily, like it was nothing. It made her feel nauseous.
Just then, she saw Thanos advance toward her and Loki. Emmeline elbowed Loki and he turned to her, soon seeing Thanos as well.
"Keep your position," he whispered to her. "I will protect you."
But Thanos pushed past her. Instead he stood in front of Loki, the Infinity Gauntlet outstretched. A flash of memory crossed Emmeline's mind as she remembered the vision the Tesseract had given her of Thanos ripping Loki's heart out. She suddenly became very afraid. But now she could do nothing.
Loki stood confidently as Thanos glared down at him. He felt his muscles tense up as Thanos extended the Gauntlet toward him.
"This is for your betrayal, Frost Giant," Thanos said, the gems on the Gauntlet beginning to glow. Everything suddenly happened so fast. Just as the Gauntlet was about to strike Loki and he prepared himself for the impact, he heard Thor's voice nearby.
"Loki!" he yelled, and suddenly jumped in front of his brother, pushing him aside before the Gauntlet could reach him. Loki tumbled to the ground and when the dust cleared, he opened his eyes to see Thor a few feet away, lying on the ground with a massive hole in his chest.
"THOR NO!" Loki screamed as he got to his feet. Everyone around him was fighting and Thanos was blasting people with the Gauntlet. Thor lied in the dirt alone, blood seeping from his mouth. Loki ran and knelt beside his brother.
"Thor, you bumbling idiot!" Loki said, tears welling up in his eyes and his voice shaking as he looked at his brother's wound. He put his arms under Thor and lifted him into his lap. He looked at Thor with horror, trying to think of something to do.
"L-Loki…" Thor stuttered.
"Why did you do that?" Loki asked desperately. Thor tried to smile, and coughed up more blood. Tears streamed down Loki's face as he realized that his brother was dying. And it was his fault. Thor raised a shaking hand and rested it on Loki's shoulder.
"You…you are my b-brother," he said. Loki nodded and buried his face into Thor's shoulder, crying.
"Brother please!" Loki cried. "Please don't..." He sat back up. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Thor. Please." Thor just looked into Loki's eyes blankly.
"No…NO!" Loki exclaimed, clenching his brother's clothes. The wound was gruesome. It was a gaping hole in his chest; the one Loki would have had if Thor hadn't saved him. He heard Sif's voice in the distance.
"Thor!" She rushed over and knelt next to Loki. He looked at her; not bothering to hide the tears staining his face. Sif looked at him with horror.
"Loki, you have to…fix this! Isn't there a spell that you can…" Sif choked as she started to cry as well. Loki searched his mind, although it was foggy from all the happenings. He managed to remember one spell he had read about when he and Emmeline were in the library. It was a spell for fatal wounds. Loki looked down at his brother.
"Stay with me, alright? Please Thor…" Loki blinked as more tears fell and he began reciting the spell. It greatly pained him; as the spell was more draining than even Hardol's Spell, but he had to perform it now before it was too late. The words rolled off of Loki's tongue quickly and he put all the power he had into the magic, and when he was finished he opened his eyes. Thor hadn't moved. The light in his aqua blue eyes was gone, and he had gone cold in Loki's arms. Loki looked at Sif, and she looked sadly back at him.
Loki closed his eyes and screamed as loud as he could. The scream was long; full of pure agony and pain. It burned his throat as he let out all his rage, and it felt as though the entire battlefield had gone still. He looked back down at Thor one last time.
"I'm sorry Thor," he said. "So sorry… No one will forget what you've done. I will make sure of that." Loki choked back more tears as he closed his brother's eyes and set him back on the ground. He stood up and wiped his face with his sleeve.
Emmeline ran over to him and started to say something when she saw Thor. Horror washed over her face and she turned back to Loki. When she saw his tear stained face she understood. She burst into tears and Loki pulled her to his chest, crying with her. It was his fault. Everything was; this war included. And as he looked at his hands stained with Thor's blood, he thought back to all the times he'd made his brother suffer. All the terrible things he had said to him. Thor died thinking Loki hated him. But there was nothing Loki could do about it now. He was gone.
PLEASE DON'T HATE ME! I know this is a cliffhanger and you want to stop reading right now and never come back, but...anger management people. I promise you I have a master plan. If this story didn't have a happy ending, I would be a cruel, sick person. But I'm not. So just sit tight, don't cry, don't hate. Just breathe and the next chapter will come soon. :)
