oOo

Chapter 3

They had left Loki to his own world, staring at nothing. Deep inside Thor wanted to see Loki, but the thought of betrayal kept him away. They all agreed that Loki will stay there for the remainder of the time until they were really desperate to get back home.

So far, the universe where there aren't any superheroes was pretty normal.

It was strange that there were no "superheroes" at all. They were regular people doing what they can to live. Shield doesn't exist, and there were no villains, only normal criminals.

After a few arguments, they decided to look into the videos, or at least the one they were all suggested to watch.

It was Tony's idea.

The window area of the room was closed, and they allowed the screen to kick in, making the main control room look like a movie theater. The Avengers almost laughed, it was so stupid yet so natural for them.

While Steve was looking into own matters that concerned them all, he dared not tell them the information he found. It was too haunting to share it.

Not until everyone was ready.

He pressed the tab to close it, before it disappeared from the screen the words, Captain America: Winter Solider was written on it.

The next tab was also closed with the title, Agents of Shield.

He was only able to read the titles and wasn't able to delve into it further, but he knew that was important.

"Would you start the video please?" Fury sighed sarcastically.

Tony pressed the video and it began to play.

Everyone stopped what they were doing since the ship was left on auto-pilot and they were also hidden from sight. They wanted to see this and it was to interesting to pass up.

The avengers were seated, watching and left to judge the video.

The camera showed the entire city of New York from an angle above, and then turned to a moving motion to show the perfect sky and beautiful structures of the buildings. With its untamed beauty towering over others, it was interrupted by a voice.

"You were made—" And countless civilians watched with horror. "To be ruled."

"Oh shit, that's Loki." Tony watched.

"It pains me to hear him say such a thing." Thor muttered, distressed and unhappy of the scene taking place.

A villain Loki was made to be.

Cars exploded while the SWAT teams and Police fought for the safety of innocent lives. They all ran, screamed and yet it was too late.

"In the end—"

The camera changed, from an Agent's footsteps, to Loki's unmoving body kneeling at the portal.

"It'll be every man for himself."

"The bastard." Clint clenched his fists.

"Loki's tired dark eyes stared with every intention to fight, it was empty but threatening.

He attacked.

Cars exploded one after the other and a lot of men and women including children ran for safety. The darkness swallowed the entire screen.

"Is this really a trailer?" Bruce adjusted his eye glasses.

Nobody answered him, everyone including the Agents were too fixated on the screen, curious to know what else happened that they weren't aware of.

"It's our movie and everything that happened to us." Tony bit his lips, watching intently. "Amazing, it's just purely amazing that they captured us like this. It doesn't have that perspective view, but to see it take place at different spectacular angles is just, weird."

Everyone agreed.

The scene showed the base where Loki had attacked first, one of the helicopters dropped off and Agent Coulson waited on the ground.

"What should we do?" Coulson asked.

Director Fury dropped down the helicopter and eyed the place. The camera went for a close up as he held onto the two way radio.

"We get ready."

And the music began to play, as the suspense went on.

Agent Sitwell would look at the rest of the Avengers and eventually glance at Director Fury, but he masked his nervousness well. The tension in the room was clear, they all knew who Coulson was and it was a big topic on the Helicarrier.

He was a good man.

"Cat's out of the bag." Steve whispered.

The screen showed Coulson thumbing a device, blacking out to Bruce and Steve walking through the hall with Natasha leading the way.

"There was an idea—"

Steve entered a room and it focused on his Captain America suit and shield. "To bring together—" As Thor appeared, holding his hammer. "—a group of remarkable people." Bruce slammed his hands on the table as Steve knocked the punching bag to the floor. Thor used lighting and Natasha stood as the background exploded.

"So when we need needed them—" Fury explained.

In time, Clint released his bow and Natasha turned to a grinning Loki, walking down the hall with armed guards. "To fight the battles that we never could." It showed Tony looking serious and his armor flying and rocketing himself to the side.

"This doesn't seem like the worst of it." Hill spoke out. "They're promoting it."

"Of course they are." Tony laughed. "Who wouldn't want to watch the Avengers?"

"Who would ever want to watch people get killed?" Steve said, earning a glare from Tony. "And it's our lives."

"No one asked you."

"I was expressing an opinion."

"So was I, Steve." Tony shook his head. "I don't care, our lives are always interesting."

"But that doesn't make it good for people to enjoy our misery."

"Gentlemen." Fury growled. "If you want to continue, do this outside. We have work to do despite it just being something to watch. Got it?"

"Yes Sir." Steve nodded.

"Goodie-two-shoes." Tony muttered, crossing his arms.

The trailer was played again for the sake of everyone who was watching.

The next scene showed them gathered in a room. "Gentlemen, what are you prepared to do?" They all readied their suits and weapons and the disaster began.

"No offense but I don't play well with others."

"Big man in a suit of armor, take that away and what are you?"

"Genius, Billionaire, playboy, philanthropist."

Leaving it with Thor laughing at them as the scene changed.

"Oh no." Bruce palmed his face.

"You know," Tony pointed out, unable to keep his mouth shut. "This trailer just attacked our way of thinking. It's messed up. Thor didn't laugh at that part."

"It's why it's called a trailer." Natasha pressed her lips into a thin line.

"And it's just a teaser." Clint huffed.

Tony was then chasing after a missile while Fury attacked with a rocket launcher, the Captain was running and jumping around, and Hawkeye fought with explosions as the music continued to blare through the speakers. One part showed Tony being thrown out of the window by Loki as Steve and Thor fought below.

"If we can't protect the earth," Tony said. "You can be damn well sure we'll avenge it."

"You spoke with him." Thor stared.

"You talked to Loki." Fury turned to Tony, as all eyes were on him.

Great, Tony hated this kind of publicity.

"Yeah I did." Tony rolled his eyes and joked. "Did you think I dropped down to my tower to have a staring contest and end up being the winner so I get thrown out my own window?"

"He must hate losing then." Clint chuckled, clearly amused.

"Information is vital. You never mentioned talking to him, Stark."

"I doesn't matter because it wasn't even important, Fury."

"We'll discuss this later."

"The trailer ended with the Avengers sign, only to go back to a scene with Tony and Bruce talking to each other.

"Dr. Banner, your work is unparalleled." He shook his hands. "And I'm a huge fan of the way you lose control and turn into an enormous green rage monster."

Banner transformed into the Hulk and screamed loudly, cutting back to Bruce awkwardly smiling and turning away saying "Thank you."

"Despite the Gamma Radiation, some people still care." Erik laughed. "Doesn't seem so bad, does it?"

"Not really." Bruce smiled.

"I owe the Hulk, he saved my life." Tony exaggerated. "You saved my life, Banner."

"Thanks."

"No, thank you." Tony smiled. "So what else did you guys find?"

oOo

Loki had managed to bring himself on the bed with the little dignity he had left. The wave of pain continued to attack him and all he wanted to do was to lay there and wait for death to claim him. The Other was speaking in his mind over and over and wouldn't leave Loki in peace.

He was so tired.

"What's wrong supposed King?"

"Do you not get tired of berating me?" Loki mumbled through his thoughts.

"On the contrary, your pain amuses me,"The Other's laugh echoed in his mind. "As much as it will amuse my Lord."

"Can you not find a different approach for your torture?" Loki closed his eyes. "As amusing as this sounds to you, I rather you leave me be."

"Where is the fun it that?"

"My own peace of mind?"

"You know we cannot allow that. Your failure expresses such grave consequences. You lied to my Lord, you promised they were cowards. And yet we lost."

"I expressed my own thoughts towards you." Loki argued. "You and your master chose to heed my words. Something you should know by now, is ill wise."

"And you are a talented liar. Even in pain do you express your trickery."

"Only to escape with your rule." Loki laughed triumphantly. "And to think that your master has lost another gem, ah, such a shame."

"He is also your master." The Other hissed, and Loki could feel burning on his chest.

"A monster such as myself has an even worse monster for a master, how civil."

"The Lord expresses great anger upon you, and when he reaches you, you will feel sorry and beg him for mercy. Just as you did before, when you came to us."

"Never again." Loki clenched the sheet of the bed.

"Tick tock, master's pet."The Other laughed. "The void welcomes you once more."

Loki opened his eyes and shots up from the bed, he tried to embrace and stop himself from shaking but the shackles on his wrist prevented it. Sweat trickled down his forehead and his eyes were blown, hiding the green of his eyes that were shaded with a hue of blue.

The blue was now residing, emptying itself from his green eyes. He wanted to empty his stomach, but too bad there wasn't anything to empty it with but stomach acid.

He allowed himself to crawl to the corner of the bed, leaning back on the corner wall.

He stared at the metal door, hoping that someone will be smart enough to end his misery, even if it was for revenge.

Loki will gladly accept it.

"Fools they all are." Loki thought. "And no one gives a damn to explain anything. Not even my so called brother."

oOo

Tony was scrolling through different things and found out a very valuable piece of information. While everyone was too busy looking at themselves or a way out of this world, Tony was looking for something that might help them understand why Loki did what he did.

He kept it to himself of course, but not until he had concrete evidence that it was true.

"What is Fanfiction?" Thor blurted out.

"How did you get there?" Bruce wondered.

"I do not know." Thor shrugged. "I was merely looking for my brother and I and I ended up in this site. It is strange, there are stories of us. Really strange stories. And it covers incest at most."

"Oh, now I'm interested." Tony looked up from what he was doing.

"Fanfiction?" Steve questioned. "What's that?"

"It's a bunch of fans making stories about their favorite characters." Clint shrugged, frowning at everyone. "It's just some silly stories."

"It's not silly." Tony gestured to Thor. "Pop it on me."

Thor did as he was told and sent the Fanfiction site to Tony, unsure of what the man wanted to look from there. Everyone else dropped what they were doing and was slightly curious. Even the Agents pretended to do something to listen in.

"We also have this in our world," Natasha blabbed. "—for our own movies, series or book characters."

"See for yourself." Tony popped up a screen for everyone to see.

"Stark, this isn't useful." Fury palmed his face in exasperation.

"It could be something Director." Hill said.

"To ease the tension. And besides, Thor found it and we might as well see it." Tony said. "There are a bunch of stories in here that could get us to understand how this world works. And these fans know what they're talking about."

"I agree." Natasha immediately said.

"You too?" Fury raised an eyebrow.

"The fans do know what they're talking about," She shrugged. "Even if they do make made up stories, it's still possible."

"Is that what I think it is?" Bruce pointed at the screen.

"BlackHawk?" Clint laughed. "ClinTasha? This is priceless! Hey what if we call it BlackEye?"

"Did you just add our codenames together and our own names?" Natasha laughed.

"Correction, they did." Tony said.

Now everyone was curious, even though it was goofing off and straying far from the topic, Agent Hill and Fury decided to let it slide. They figured there could be important information in there.

"Oh god!" Clint laughed so hard he snorted. "They ship Science Bro's!"

"Tony and Banner?" Steve said. "But, isn't that— ships? They make ships based on our names?"

"No." Bruce interrupted. "Ships in stories don't literally mean boats or transportation. These ships are also known as pairings."

"You pair them to different people if you think they have a thing for each other." Natasha continued for him.

"Like a couple?" Steve asked.

"Duh, Captain." Tony laughed. "They can manipulate them to be with each other depending on the attitude and apparently we all have ships. Even you, Steve."

Tony posted a pairing of Steve and a random avenger, and everyone in the room was snickering and trying not to laugh.

Fury just wanted to blow steam and not lose temper.

"Super-husbands." Tony felt like gagging, and laughed. "They have, ew! IronThunder! That's something I don't want to do with you Thor."

"Who came up with such an idea?" Thor wondered. "My heart belongs to Jane."

"Tony, I think we should get back to topic." Bruce smiled. "Being a scientist, I don't normally look these up."

"I do." Tony grinned. "Only when it perks my interest."

"CaptainHawk?" Steve's eyes widened. "I don't—"

"Oh my god my eyes!" Clint pressed a button and it lit up on the screen to fan arts of him and Loki. "They ship this? Why would they ship this? Shit! Shit! Why?"

"They're probably your fans? And they have amazing art skills." Steve shrugged, a little impressed and weirded out. "This is so strange. We've never had ships like this and men on men. It was despised before."

"We understand where you come from, Steve." Natasha intervened. "This time is different; being gay doesn't mean a thing to half the population of earth. To some it's of equal rights to let them do what they want."

"It's still strange."

"You'll get used to it." Tony smiled. "Look, BlackIce."

"That the best they can come up with?" Natasha smirked.

"GammaFrost?" Hill laughed.

"They ship Bruce and Loki?" Tony stuck a tongue out. "Imagine the big 'green' guy doing it to Lo—"

"I suggest you hold your tongue, Stark." Thor glared. "If you know what is best for you."

"Not talking!" Tony raised both arms.

"I don't want that image in my head, Tony." Bruce said. "Don't mention it again, for my sake."

"Okay, Science boyfriend." Tony went back to searching.

"FrostShield." Clint piped up. "And Steve's the dominant one."

Thor growled in the background, still not enjoying someone talking about Loki being in a relationship. For some strange reason, he was still affected by the sheer name of his brother.

"You're a sick man, Clint." Natasha frowned.

"You people are crazy." Fury let out a huge sigh. "I don't even know why I decided to make you a team."

"Why, because we find humor in this? Since when do we just sit down and talk like this?" Tony stared at the team, sitting there.

"Team is a mess." Erik nodded. "It's a good think you all work together in battle."

"Screwed up shits." Fury said.

"I do not like talking about such pairings for Loki." Thor leaned back, not amused. "I made a mistake with such knowledge, and I do not want to continue further."

"Thor, think of the kinky stuff."

"Stark." Hill warned. "Some of these are made up, yes but they still have the possibility to happen."

"That is what I am afraid of." Thor grunted.

"If we chose it to happen, it will happen." Hill stated. "The real path is the movie, right?"

"Yes." Natasha nodded.

"Oh look Pepperony!" Tony shouted. "It's funny because Pizza. Oh this looks interesting, IronWidow. That's something I like to see."

"Can someone else give a better report than him?" Natasha called out. "I am sick of these pairings."

"Loki and I look sexy together." Tony stared at the screen. "Two ego statistical maniacs with huge brains and have a knack for danger and can keep up with each other in various things. FrostIron, not bad, IronFrost is what I like. I don't receive, I give."

"Both your egos will clash and I can see the possibility." Clint shrugged in disgust. "I question who bottoms."

"Not me." Tony stuck his tongue out. "I am a main man."

"I can't disagree on that pairing." Bruce sighed. "But Thor will."

"Please, stop." Thor sighed. "Even if that is possible, I will not allow it."

"Now that we look into it, Loki and Tony's story seem the same. Except Tony—"

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Hold it!" Tony scowled and glared. "I don't want you talking about me while I'm in here. The similarity is fine but I don't want you to compare me to him."

"Stark."

"Just don't." He raised a finger. "We are teammates, but we're far from being friends. Bruce and I, sure. But us? We're not as cool as you think. So, super-husband, back off."

"Can we get back to the topic?!" Fury screamed.

"Hold on." Tony said. "There's something you have to know. IronFrost or FrostIron, we're only second to the first pairing ever."

"Stark, I hope you are not talking about what I think you are about to say." Thor said, wanting to crush something.

"Incest?" Clint immediately realized. "No! No! You can't be serious, really?"

"Thorki." Tony laughed. "ThunderFrost! And in almost all of it, Loki bottoms."

Fury groaned at the sheer stupidity of the team, some snickered and shrugged in disgust or amusement. They find it funny that the villain was being talked about it the weirdest way possible.

Agent Sitwell was, however, busy monitoring Loki's cell. Loki wasn't an immediate threat, so that was a good thing.

"Loki is adopted yes, but I would never—" Thor closed his eyes. "I do not want to talk about this."

"But you're both Asgardian right?" Bruce asked.

"No. Loki is not Asgardian." Thor said. "Did I not tell you?"

"Tell us what?" Fury walked over to them. "You told us he was adopted. And that's about it."

"I did, but he is not from Asgard. He is a frost giant."

"Giant?" Steve wondered.

Thor used the device and searched frostgiants, and to his relief there were pictures of Jotunheim, the Jotuns and Loki as a jotun on the screen, and everyone was fixated on it.

"Loki is a runt, smaller than the rest of them." Thor explained. "Father found him in the temple, took him in, and proceeded to tell us Loki was born of our blood. But my father had good reasons to lie, I'm sure."

"I knew some of the myths were true." Erik smiled.

"Only some." Thor sighed.

"What else can you tell me besides Fanfiction?" Fury asked.

"There's Iron Man 3." Steve suggested. "We could go watch that."

oOo

TBC

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