"Trouble in Paradise"
Chapter 9
Loki contemplated his drink with confusion, but drank it quietly to satisfy his brother, when the explosion, one of many across the resort, set a quake screaming through the terrace.
Tables overturned, sending glasses shattering and large umbrellas flying.
When Thor picked himself from the ground, he called "Loki?" He panicked when there was no answer, but soon saw Loki standing on the edge of the platform overlooking the burning coast.
"Oh no…"
"Loki, what is it?" Thor looked at his brother. His green eyes were darting non-stop across the grounds and sky, and his posture was tall and tight.
Thor followed Loki's gaze. Quickly approaching, were hundreds of black pods, firing weapons whose trajectories were decimating walls and rocks. Behind the first wave of troops, Thor recognized the outline of a large, green dragon, which let out a roar and streak of white flames.
"Fafnir!" Thor exclaimed.
Loki started shaking his head furiously. "This is my fault," he groaned and took off running.
The explosion made Tony stumble back, but it sent Bruce flying.
"Bruce! Bruce!" Tony sprinted around the rubble. He found Bruce on his hands and knees, head down, and breathing very hard. "Bruce, are you okay?" Kneeling in front of Bruce, Tony saw the tint of green in Bruce's eyes.
Bruce swallowed and gasped for air. Tony's mouth fell open, when he realized that Bruce was trying to stop his transformation. By the raw sob that escaped Bruce's mouth and the green that was now spreading across his skin, Tony guessed it wasn't working. Almost without thinking, Tony reached out and laid his hand on Bruce's greening knuckles. "Bruce, relax. It's okay. Let yourself go–"
"Run." Bruce's voice was low and raspy.
"No, I'm staying–"
"GO!" As he roared, Bruce's shirt split, the Hulk unleashed.
Tony scrambled back. Looking up in awe, he watched the green giant stretch and flex his muscles. Tony guessed that Bruce hadn't let him out in a very long, which may be why Bruce wasn't able to control him now. Or, maybe their argument had put Bruce so on edge, that the force of the explosion just had to set him off.
"Bruce–"
The Hulk bellowed and stared down at the billionaire.
Tony wanted to stay with him, but decided that while Bruce was angry at him, the Other Guy may not be very fond of him either. Unenthusiastic to test that theory, he turned to run, as Bruce had asked.
"Jarvis," Tony spoke into the transmitter in his wristwatch, "I need the suit here." Whatever else happened with the explosions, he guessed he would need it to help the others corral Bruce to where he wouldn't cause much damage.
"Yes, sir. Be prepared for its arrival in one hundred seventy-six seconds."
"Yup."
"Sir, may I suggest you stand in an open area, so the suit can more easily track you." Jarvis articulated in its posh accent.
"Will do."
"Very good, sir."
Open area, open area… Tony moved towards the hotel courtyard.
A minute later, Tony rounded the corner to his chosen open area. He saw the suit flying towards him. Then, his eyes grew wide, "Shit…Jarvis, about that open area thing…" he stood stalk still, as a dragon and several weapon-firing ships came towards him. If he ran now, the open suit would get completely lost in the barrage, but if he stayed…well, he could only hope the suit was faster than them. It wasn't looking likely.
"Jesus Christ…" Tony breathed. He braced himself, hoping the entire army was a group of very bad shots.
The suit was close, but the army was gaining and firing, and Tony closed his eyes and hit the ground.
A roar alerted him to the fact that he was not being riddled with bullets or fire. When he looked up, he wasn't sure whether he was thrilled or mortified that the Hulk was taking a wall of flames for him. Tony stood, and the suit clasped around him.
Once the suit was on, Tony flew up to the Hulk's eye-level. Through the mechanized speaker, Tony said, "Thanks…at least one of you still likes me."
A grin spread across the Hulk's face.
"Let's go find the others and have some fun, big guy."
The Hulk and Man of Iron took off together.
Steve had tried to apologize to Coulson several times that morning.
The man had been reading a book on the beach for the past three hours, but each time Steve would approach him to say he was sorry, either he would lose his nerve, or forget what he was going to say, or think that Phil looked too engrossed with his book, or Steve would even get angry, because it really wasn't his fault that Coulson's family life hadn't been the best. He had been under ice for seventy years!
In the end, he had decided on, "Agent Coulson, I am so sorry that I somehow hurt you. I don't believe it was really my fault, because, if I had known about any of the pain I caused you or your family, please know, I would have done anything to fix it. I loved your mother, really respect you, and am sure your father was a wonderful man. If you no longer wish to associate with me outside of work, I understand, but I hope we can at least be civil with one another. Thank you." He hoped the agent would let him get through the first three sentences without punching him.
Coming down from the terrace for the thirteenth time, Steve walked purposefully, staring straight at Coulson, barely trying to stay out of people's way.
He was about twenty feet behind Coulson, when people started screaming around him. He looked up in time to dodge the beam of fire that shot down from the sky.
"A dragon?" Steve heard his voice, about three octaves higher than it normally was.
Coulson, still in a Hawaiian print shirt, was lifting his sunglasses to look in the sky at the monster, and the ships that were surrounding it. "Goddamned vacation," he muttered.
"Coulson!" Steve sprinted to the other man. "You okay?"
"Fine." He stood up and nodded, pulling his earpiece out of his pocket and putting it over his ear, "What do you need me to do?" His manner was very businesslike, and Steve was almost taken back by the lack of resentment in the man's face.
After rolling his eyes, Coulson said, "I'm a professional, Captain Rogers."
"I–yeah, okay. Sorry." Steve stuttered. "I need to get my shield. Message the team to meet me by the pool. I'll be there in five."
"Yes, sir." Coulson nodded again, and Steve took off. "Team, in case you haven't heard, we are in the middle of an alien invasion. Suit up and meet Captain Rogers by the hotel pool in five minutes. Copy that?"
"Yeah, I copy." Natasha voiced, sounding annoyed over the speaker in his earpiece.
"Got it." Barton answered.
"Hulk's out, and we're on our way." Tony's voice sounded especially fuzzy, through the Iron Man mask.
"I will be there as soon as I can," Thor spoke into the small Midgardian wrist-device he found so intriguing upon first receiving.
Thor had followed Loki back to their room, "Loki, what is happening?"
"Fafnir. I made a deal. He would help me gain audience with the Chitauri, and in return, he was promised a portion of the spoils of earth." Loki talked quickly, "I failed on my end of the deal, and it would seem as though he will have his prize whether I deliver it or not."
A look of realization filled Thor's eyes. "Oh dear…"
Loki looked down, "I am sorry."
Placing his hands on his brother's shoulders, Thor urged, "It was a mistake. It will be fixed, I swear." He turned and picked up Mjollnir. Once his hand touched the weapon, his full armor appeared on him. Looking back at Loki, Thor instructed. "Wait here, I must join the others." Thor began to leave.
"What do you mean? I am going with you." Loki half followed Thor, until his brother turned around.
"Loki, no. Stay here." Thor shook his head.
Unperturbed, Loki stood firm. "Absolutely not."
"It's not safe for you to venture out."
"I do not care."
"You have no weapons. You will not be able to fight!" Thor raised his voice.
"I still have my illusions, and I can find something around here. I am sure."
Thor shouted in finality, "No, Loki, this is madness!"
"If you ask me open my eyes and see what I have done, you must let me atone for my crimes!" Loki cried in return.
Thor froze.
"Thor, I am trying to do good, trying to be the man you seemed convinced I am. Please, let me."
Thor opened and closed his mouth and grimaced before responding, "What if Fafnir's goal is to destroy you for failing to uphold your promise? What if you are the target? Loki, you have been stripped of nearly all you powers. You will be completely vulnerable to his attacks. Even if his goal is the world, what happens if you are caught in the crossfire?"
"I brought this on myself. I must at least assist in fixing it."
Thor sighed, "Loki–"
"I am absolutely determined to do this. Whether or not you give me your consent, I will fight as best I can." Loki spoke calmly.
The two held each other's stare for several long moments.
A crackle over Thor's receiver called, "Thor, where are you?"
Thor raised his wrist to his mouth, "One moment, Captain Rogers." He looked up at Loki again to see determination still in the set of the Mischief God's jaw, "Please–"
"Go. Meet them. I will join you soon."