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The only sound that can be heard in the room is that of computers and machines buzzing and Tony and Bruce typing and of course Thor's angry pacing and complaining. So much has happened…
After being shot by a dart, he doesn't know what had happened Bruce, Steve and Thor had told him everything though. Steve is in the other room right now but none of the people in the room right now are thinking about him, they're too busy. Steve had decided he would need his sleep and since he knows nada about technology he had known he'd only bother them, apparently Thor hadn't got the memo though.
"It's been two days how can you not have found the base already? If it takes one more minutes I will search every inch of earth myself!" No reaction.
"I should have stopped them, I have failed my brother!"
Tony's pretty sure he's going to have a headache. Thor hasn't stopped complaining and raging ever since Loki practically got kidnapped by that irritating S.H. .D. Oh how badly Tony wanted to get his hands on Fury he will put on the suit and go a few rounds with the annoying leader of the most obnoxious and arrogant organization that has ever been made.
Ignoring Thor and concentrating on his work he sighs, they had been working non-stop, coffee had been their savior but Tony knows he can't keep on like this for much longer, Tony may be a super hero and all of that, he still needs sleep to function. Bruce next to him had taken a break a few hours ago, no one had known what effects could be concerning the other guy when Bruce was too tired to properly function, maybe he'd lose control or something but really, nobody wants to find out anyway.
They had found decoys, layers of decoys but not the actual base; Tony wouldn't admit it out loud but he's impressed, S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't totally incompetent when it comes to technology after all. Tony's still Tony so he'll find that base no matter what security measures S.H.I.E.L.D. has taken, it will just take some time, time that Thor wasts by ranting and raging to himself and the two scientist in the same room as him. Suddenly an energy spike is monitored, coming from… the desert?
Tony narrows his eyes,
"Hey Brucie take a look at this."
Tony points at the screen, having used a satellite to zoom in on the location. In the middle of the desert there's giant hole as in like some sort of tunnel. Suddenly the satellite starts to malfunction, a bright blue flash illuminates the screen and for a second both scientists are blinded.
When Tony finally finds another satellite which can give the footage of the sight smoke is rising from the hole.
"What's that?" Bruce asks pointing at a very small shimmer of light inside the dark tunnel.
Tony zooms in the best he can, both avengers stare at the screen. There's no mistaking it, the small blue light and the glow emanating from it.
The Mind Gem
"Thor?" The thunder god looks up immediately and stands by their side in a matter of seconds.
"We found your brother but we aren't the only ones."
XxXxXxXxXx
The signal has been sent, there's nothing he else he can do right now, using his magic to perfect the machine had cost him much more magic than he had anticipated, that and getting the sedative out of his body, it had drained him.
He's aware of the fact that his breathing is getting labored and that he's fucking three hundred and not two thousand he can't expect his body to be in top form after being sedated for two days.
Only now he's aware of the fact that the shooting has stopped, hesitantly he peeks above the machine and the concrete wall that has been protecting him and the sight that meets him is almost enough to make him give up. The two agents are surrounded by Chitauri warriors, directly in front of them stands the Other and Loki doesn't even have to look at the eyes of the mortals standing after the Other he can feel the magic which is strangely familiar, the Mind Gem.
Loki must admit he hadn't expect Thanos to send his second in command with the Mind Gem, a weapon like that, what if the Other loses it, after so much trouble to get it in the first place. Loki sincerely hopes Thor has seen his signal because if he hasn't than Loki's as good as dead.
He ducks back hoping against all hope that the alien hasn't seen him, yeah right like that's going to happen, with Loki's luck it would be a miracle if he hadn't seen him.
Normally Loki would have been prepared but right now there are several problems stopping him from coming up with some brilliant plan.
Problem number one: Loki has no magic reserves, literally none, if he tries to use his magic when he's in a state like this, it would be just as dangerous as just going with the Other right now and presenting himself to Thanos.
Second problem: He is exhausted you'd think that after sleeping for two days he'd be pretty awake but he isn't, the sedative has exhausted him, his body and his mind, actually his vision is swarming right now, black spots occasionally appear out of nowhere. He blinks a couple of times, he can sleep later, or so he hopes.
He really thinks they're screwed right now but then people are shooting at them again and it's not the Chitauri, Loki really doesn't know whether to be happy about this or not.
XxXxXxXxXx
This is something Nick Fury does like: shooting some ugly ass aliens, he really enjoys this. He knows agent Romanoff and Barton are there but they're grown-ups they know how to handle things like this, next to him two other helicopters are shooting as well, Maria Hill is obviously enjoying herself as well.
They have been giving clear instructions, the moment Fury had seen that the Mind Gem was involved and that some of his agents had been compromised he had ordered to shoot with darts to knock everyone out, including Chitauri scum he prefers shooting their alien butts full of lead but he can't kill his own agents, none of them can.
He can see every hostile fall like flies, a flash of red tells him Romanoff hasn't been hit and is neutralizing enemies as well. Barton seems fine as well because Fury can see him collect arrows from the corpses of the Chitauri warriors he's killed.
Fury is really enjoying himself with this, perhaps they can even take the Other out. He just hopes they haven't gotten their filthy claws on Loki yet because he really doesn't know the situation down there, communication had been cut off, oh he hates these alien so much.
Everything's going great, and just when he thinks maybe just maybe he can defeat them before… the skies suddenly start rumbling and dark clouds cast large shadows on them, lighting flashes in the sky that had been perfectly blue not a few seconds ago.
What had he been thinking anyway
And then the Thunder God lands right in the base, roaring and swinging his hammer like a maniac, calling for his brother all the while.
XxXxXxXxXx
For once the thrill of battle is not what has drawn him here and also for once he doesn't properly enjoy it.
"Loki!? Brother!" He yells, one swing with his hammer in the face of one of the Chitauri, the force makes him fly backwards, taking out some of his comrades in the process, a fist in the face of the next, an elbow in the stomach of the other and then another mighty swing from Mjolnir.
"Loki? Answer me where are you brother?" He roars, still crushing enemies like it's nothing, he can vaguely hear the Man of Iron blast his way in and the Hulk smashing other enemies.
Thor has noticed there are mortals fighting them as well, he tries to be gentle with them, knocking them unconscious trying not to damage them too badly.
"Thor!" He swirls around at the sound of his brother's voice and sees him peeking from begin a small cement wall, he looks horrible and Thor's anger rises, it makes his chest hurt and he's not so gentle with the mortals anymore, how dare they?
He runs to his brother swatting away enemies like flies he doesn't waste any time when he gets there and hugs his brother, picking him up with his left hand, right hand still fighting.
"Put me down Thor!"
Loki can still complain that means his brother isn't hurt too bad, a grin forms on Thor's face and suddenly he can enjoy battle again. He ignores his brother and Loki huffs in annoyance but keeps quiet but still glaring at his brother.
Honestly the fight doesn't last as long as expected, suddenly the Chitauri retreat, disappearing in a portal transporting them to their ship.
Not all of them leave though, and suddenly all the mortals, even the ones who had been taken out stand up as if driven by an invisible source.
The Mind Gem
They line up and no one moves, it's eerily silent. A few Chitauri are still standing and line up too and the Other raises the scepter, grinning at them like he's won the battle.
"Thunder god, remember this day for this is the day you shall see, you cannot protect your precious brother forever."
The All-Tongue makes Thor understand him but even with this ability Thor knows that this language is different, even the All-Tongue seems to have a problem with it, the words are unclear which should not be possible, the All-Tongue makes every language sound like it is your mother tongue!
The second in command turns his attention to Loki, ignoring everyone else in the room, Loki's been following the movements of the Mortals with his eyes carefully.
"You cannot hide forever Liesmith, Thanos will get what he wants."
Loki doesn't react he just stares but Thor can feel him shake whether because of fear or anger he doesn't know.
Only then turns the Other around to talk to the mortals, he directs his attention to Director Fury in the helicopter, smiling widely.
"Mortals, this is a message from Thanos, the fun and games are over, time to pay the price for your defiance, you pitiful humans."
Thor doesn't know what he had expected but what happens next is not on the list. Loki seems to have anticipated it though, he turns his head away, shaking it.
The other raises his scepter a little and then the Chitauri fire, all the Chiaturi leave through the portal, the Other goes last, leaving behind the smoking corpses of every S.H.I.E.L.D. agent that had been under his control.
XxXxXxXxXx
Steve cannot believe they just forgot about him! He doesn't have time to be angry about that however because just as he makes a move to leave to the coordinates Jarvis has given him the others arrive.
Steve is very relieved when he sees Loki, Thor is holding him and Loki isn't moving, he's sitting upright but he doesn't move.
Only then Steve realizes there's something wrong, every single one of them does not look like they've won a battle, they look like they've lost one…
None of them wants to tell him what has happened except for Natasha, she grunts out the big picture and Steve understands, they don't look like they've on a battle for they have lost one.
The meeting room is full of people yet no one talks, every single one of them looks beaten down, faced with the truth: Thanos is so much more powerful than they are, the only reason they're not dead yet is because of the very simple fact that Thanos had only been playing games with them to perfect his plans. How can they expect to beat an enemy as strong as Thanos is?
All of them just stare into nothingness even Tony doesn't open his mouth to lighten the ood because no one can. The silence lasts a long time and when it's broken all of their heads turn to the speaker, Loki.
XxXxXxXxXx
"Thanos will not stop at this." He says, Loki feels their stares but they can't just sit here and do nothing, while they're sitting here, discouraged and wallowing in self-pity Thanos is preparing yet another attack or plan to take Loki and this time Loki knows it's for real.
"He will strike again, this time if we do not stop him, it will cost you more than the lives of your agents alone."
"Why would we listen to the likes of you!" Nick Fury grits out, his one eye is closed and when he opens it, it's filled with anger.
"You are the one who caused all of this, Earth doesn't want this kind of trouble yet you Asgardians keep popping up!"
Thor stands up abruptly slamming his fist on the table with a big BANG.
"How dare you! Asgard has helped earth, has come to your aid and you abducted MY BROTHER, locked him up like an animal, sedated and didn't even give him FOOD!"
His grip on Mjolnir becomes very obvious and his other hand balls into a fist.
"We didn't have a choice Thor!" Natasha counters, she looks relaxed but Loki can see she's nervous, angry and so much more, she is a difficult woman to read.
"Do not take me for a fool Lady Romanoff, because of your foolish actions you not only endangered my brother but your comrades as well, you were warned!" He yells.
"We did we thought was best!" Nick Fury bites.
"So the best was to lock him up in inhuman conditions in an underground base in the desert after kidnapping him and threatening us?" Bruce's tone is calm but everyone backs away a bit.
"Yes, at the time it was best."
"No" Captain America interrupts. "You did what you thought best and you didn't bother checking with us or even think about the possible consequences!"
"It was not some impulsive action, captain I assure you, we calculated the risks and decided that it was our best option!"
"It's not your choice what happens to MY brother, he is a citizen of Asgard, HE is a PRINCE of Asgard and my brother! Midgard does not have the right to make decisions about his fate like this without MY consent!"
"Asgard? You talk about Asgard but where are your Asgardians Thor? This is war and in war we need to make the hard decisions to protect our planet!"
"You lost more agents by taking this path than you would have taking another, wiser one!"
"Do not-"
"-NO! Nick Fury of Midgard. This was a crime, a crime against Asgard."
Fury seems to lose it but he doesn't get the chance to yell back.
"SHUT UP!" An energy wave hits them all and all of them turn their head to look at Loki again.
"You bickering fools! What do you think this bantering will accomplish? What happened in the past is gone now, face the consequences and think about all of this for a second you morons!"
Finally he has their attention, these mortals why do they make everything so complicated, can't they understand that there are more urgent matters at hand? Like the destruction of all life in the entire universe for example?
Thor nods.
"My brother is right there are more pressing matters at hand." He turns to Clint, Natasha and Fury.
"But I will not forget this, Asgard will not forget this."
Loki wants to strangle all of them, didn't he just say they should shut up? He slows his breathing down, exhaustion making itself known again, he won't be able to keep this up for much longer.
Loki cannot continue because agent Romanoff decides to join the conversation in a cold voice.
"Forget or don't forget whatever you want Thor, right now, you need us and we need you. You can hate me and S.H.I.E.L.D. as much as you like after all of this is over."
Finally it's silent as everyone contemplates what has been said. It's the truth.
"Thanos could have sent a bigger force, I hope you all realize this?" Loki's voice sounds loud in the sudden silence, the healer nods.
"He sent a warning, a message." He answers.
"He killed more than fifty specifically trained agents to send us a warning?" Fury snaps.
Loki ignores him, and continues.
"Thanos will strike again and this time it'll be for real."
"Yeah," Tony pipes in, after a suspiciously long time of saying nothing, "because the attacks from the last weeks were nothing but bee stings."
Loki has to suppress the urge to roll his eyes, when are these mortal going to get it? Thanos is a power they cannot dream to defeat if they do not take action soon then Thanos will win.
"To Thanos: yes, they were nothing, he has an army stronger and moe lethal than you could ever imagine."
"So the only reason he hasn't unleashed this force yet is because he need the Tesseract Energy inside of you, correct?" Bruce asks, Loki nods, everyone tenses again, this conversation is going the exact way another conversation had went a few days ago when S.H.I.E.L.D. had decided to kidnap Loki.
"So basically we're all doomed?" Fury bites.
Loki shakes his head and smiles weakly.
"Not entirely," now he really has everyone's attention, the next few hours, he knows are going to be critical, he's had more than enough time to ponder about all of this in his nice cell in the S.H.I.E.L.D. base, Thanos will not attack immediately, Loki had thought, because the Tesseract Energy inside of him is too valuable, if anything happens to it, it could ruin Thanos' plan. If Loki has to guess (and he does) Thanos will attack in maybe three to four days and not before. Loki doesn't know how he knows but somehow he knows how Thanos will act, not for 100 percent of course, the mad titan is still unpredictable at times but Loki only has to think what would I do?
And until now, Thanos had acted almost exactly like Loki would have, strategically, letting the mortals think they have won then crush all hope they might have and exterminate them all, really it isn't even that hard.
He opens his mouth and starts explaining and prays to anyone who will listen that he's right about all of this, if he isn't than he's not only signing the death warrant of whole Midgard but of all the Nine realms
VERY short I know, I'm having a small writer's block, I know where I want to go with this story I just don't really know how to get there, please review/comment. Also, I read in some reviews that you wanted Tony to kick them out. The reason Tony, Bruce and Steve haven't said much is very simple: everyone is uncertain, this is not some naïve little group we're talking about and their suspicions are still there. Also they need agent Romanoff and Barton to win this upcoming war.
XxTheAlgea