A/N: I'm back with this new chapter! Thanks so much to everyone for your support. Your favorites, follows, and reviews are what keep me going. And so I'd like to take the time to reply to your reviews. Thanks so much again :)
19irene96: Thank you :) I hope you'll continue to enjoy this!
Minimonstrosity: I'm so happy you liked Solitary! And that you like this one too. I'll work hard to continue to impress you!
Bookcrazysongbird: Yes, out of all the four planned in the series, I think this concept is the most original. Thanks for reviewing!
And thanks to everyone else who has favorited and/or followed this story. It really means a lot to me.
Now, enough of me... onwards with the story!
His first reaction when he hears the explosion is to press himself to the floor, covering his head to protect himself. Everything from then on is just a matter of routine. He mentally checks his weapons, regretting not bringing his arrows, but knowing that he has a gun in his holder that will suffice. His next step is to get a good view of the situation, preferably from above, to assess the event and find out how everyone else is. He gets up, and from there the routine is bungled.
He cannot move.
The smoke clears up enough for him to see a blue glow around his feet. That can't be good, he thinks. He tries his best to stifle the cough that is rising on account of the smoke, but can't help but let it out a couple times. He tries once again to take a single step, but finds that he can't. He curses again, and instead tries to take a good look from where he is. He sees the hazy silhouettes of his teammates, except for Tony and Bruce, standing like he is, confused. The smoke clears more every second, and soon it is gone.
From the corner of his eye, he can see a figure standing a couple of meters from where they are. Immediately, he reaches for his gun, only to find that it is not there. Although he knows that it is impossible for him to have gotten confused, he tries his other pockets. They're not there either. Romanoff has the same trouble, he sees, not being able to find any of the many weapons she always carries, most of them hidden in unknown places. He knows he has a hidden knife in his boot, but can't risk bending down, in case whoever has done this notices and takes that away too. He carefully moves his foot around and feels the metal holder still in place.
A man clothed in golden armor and a scepter comes up to them. He looks familiar. Much too familiar. Barton's breath is caught in his throat. The man takes a step nearer and Barton can see that although their costumes are the same, he is not Loki. Still, a chill runs down his back at the memory of him.
"Hello, my dear friends," the man begins with a wide grin. "I've been waiting for this day for a long while."
"Who are you?" Fury asks, also imprisoned in the same gear and weaponless.
"And why are you impersonating Antlers?" Tony adds, finally having stood up after much difficulty. The glowing object around the legs makes it difficult to move around for someone not too fit.
"Antlers? Ah, I see. You are referring to Loki," the man says in a calm, deep tone. "I am not impersonating him. I have merely taken up his task that he must finish. And that you have prevented," he says, looking at each of them with an angry expression. Brainwashed, Barton thinks to himself, remembering not too happily his own time under the spell. But then he notices that the man's eyes are still brown, not blue. Mad man, he rectifies. One can identify them by their long speeches.
"And why do you feel the need to finish his plan?" Barton tries asking.
"He was going to make the world a better place. But you stopped him from doing it. And so I must finish what he has started. I've planned this for a while now. I know each part he did wrong, each variable in the equation. This cannot fail," he finishes, again with a smile. Yes, a long speech indeed, he thinks. Now they just need to find a plan…
The man steps forward with his scepter in front of him, interrupting his thoughts. "Now, now," he says, "the troublemaker first, or the easiest one?" He surveys Bruce and Barton with a hungry stare. Barton feels another chill thinking of all the things he had done... It can't happen again. It just can't.
"Barton, it's going to be alright. He's not going to do it," Romanoff says in a low voice. "You're going to be ok." As always, she can know what he's feeling at a glance. But this time he has difficulty believing her.
The man advances towards Barton. "I'll start with you," he says.
"Over my dead body," Barton growls, tensing his muscles.
"Oh, I'm sure that's only a matter of time. It should be easier the second time round. You remember how this goes," he says, bringing the scepter a bit closer. Barton wants to move, he needs to move, but can't. The scepter approaches ever closer.
And it stops a foot in front of his chest.