oOo

Chapter 16

After a while, they had settled back to their chairs but there was a noticeable tension inside the room. Thor and Loki had drifted farther away from the group and nearer to the railing, while Tony moved to sit next to Bruce. Erik was far away from the two gods as possible, near Fury and Hill. Fury made a rule not to butt into each others conversations and just let the whole movie come into play.

They needed facts, and that's what they'll get.

"We just found it."

"Will you show us?"

The kids lead them to a cement truck and the boy walked over to touch the truck with his fingertip. It lifted into the air and started to slowly rotate. Jane gasps in delight as Darcy just looked impressed.

"That doesn't seem right." Darcy muttered.

They ascend a stairwell as one of the kids picked up an old bottle and dropped it over the edge. It fell but then disappeared into thin air. "Where'd it go?" The young girl pointed upwards and the bottle appeared, falling, later disappearing again. It fell for a while and re-appeared until the boy caught it.

"That's incredible." Jane smiled.

Jane picked up a can and dropped it over the edge. It disappeared and never returned. They all stood there, eyes wide as they waited for it to come back, but then again it didn't.

"What happened?" Jane questioned.

"Sometimes they come back, sometimes they don't." The little girl shrugged.

"I wanna throw something!" Darcy grinned. "Jane, give me your shoe."

"At least Darcy is the same as ever." Erik chuckled sadly.

"She's Ms. Foster's intern, right?" Steve questioned.

"Yes, she is."

"Sitwell." Fury called while the others talked. "I want your tech team to note this all down. Once this happens, we have to be prepared for it. Note whatever you could, is that clear?"

"Umm... yes Sir." Sitwell nodded.

"Is this wise, Director Fury?" Hill said. "There's consequences to what we're doing and changing our timelines, is bad. Wouldn't that create like a paradox or something similar?"

"We get there when we get there, Hill." Fury crossed his arms.

Jane picked up the gadget Darcy had shown her at the restaurant and the readings were going crazy. She tried to track it down and saw a familiar reading. "I haven't seen readings like this since… since…" Jane looked up to Darcy.

"New Mexico?"

Jane gave Darcy a look and ran towards the next flight of stairs, trying to track the same reading somewhere in the building. "Don't touch anything!" She screamed at Darcy, disappearing off somewhere.

Darcy turned to her Intern, Ian.

"Give me your shoe." She commanded.

"Is she for real?" Clint laughed.

"At least she's funny." Bruce shrugged.

Loki was just pissed, arms crossed and waiting for something to happen.

The Other was gone again, and Loki couldn't help but feel his mentality decreasing every second. He knew that Thor was there to help him if the need arises but his ego was too strong, and that made him stubborn enough to push away Thor.

"Are you alright?" Thor asked in a low whisper.

"No, I am not."

"Do you wish to go back?"

"And not finish this story, please, you think me pathetic, and you overly protective."

"I am not."

"Just continue watching, brother."

Jane tracked the signal inside the building, and through a corridor, the wind picked up and pulled her towards the dark door. She disappeared and entered a huge dark cavern, finding herself inches away from the edge to a steep drop into nothing. Jane took a deep breath and backed up, looking at the rock in the middle.

"Oh dear." Loki mocked, not even caring.

"Holy shit, that was close." Tony breathed. "Where is she?"

"I do not know." Thor looked worried, seemingly forgetting Loki for a moment.

"Oh Jane." Erik palmed his face.

"That's not good." Bruce shifted on his seat. "It's like she was teleported there."

"Darcy!?" Jane screamed, her voice echoing.

Jane turned to see the stone platform, with a red glow inside. She approached it, and on the ground was the Bifrost marking. She took a look inside to see tendrils floating about with an eerie screech as they shifted around.

She reached in to touch it and it grabbed her.

"Shit!" Clint howled.

"Jane." Thor frowned.

"This is why we handle things professionally." Fury pointed out.

"Damn, now is not the time for lectures, Fury." Tony breathed out. "What's going to happen to her?"

"She's still breathing." Natasha shrugged.

She tried to claw at it, but the overwhelming power took over and she fell to the ground unconscious. In space, the Dark Elf ship, the ark, had fully woken along with Malekith and his army. He stepped out into the balcony leading to the pods of his people.

"The Aether awakens us." He raised his chin. "The Convergence returns."

"Oh look at what she did." Loki voiced.

"You are not helping the situation, Loki." Thor gave him a disapproving look.

"What need have I to help any of you?" Loki snorted. "I have no care for the mortal."

Thor palmed his face, there was no argument that doesn't end up with a few punches or so. He let it slide, knowing that continuing this debate with his brother would be fruitless. Loki just shrugged when Thor had silenced himself. Loki really wished that Thor didn't, because he needed the distraction.

It shifted to Thor entering the newly built Bifrost and questioning Heimdall with the stars. Heimdall shifted the Bifrost to overlook some of them as he explained the convergence that he could beautifully see. Then the time for Heimdall to make jests came into play, leading Thor to question his real intention.

"How is she?" He asked.

"She's quite clever, your mortal." Heimdall answered. "She doesn't know it yet, but she studies the Convergence as well. Even…"

"What?" Thor looked confused.

"I can't see her."

"How convenient that Heimdall happens to not see her." Loki growled under his breath.

"I think this is the typical movie convenience." Natasha turned to him with a smile. "For the plot."

Loki did not like that smile.

"How utterly convincing." Loki mumbled.

"What are you doing, Nat?" Clint leaned towards her to whisper.

"Monitoring him and trying to be nice." Natasha answered. "Do you see the way he looks everywhere?"

"Yeah, I thought I was the only one seeing that."

"Well, you're not. He's being pretty obvious about it."

"Not very Loki-like, right?"

"Exactly."

"Jane!" Darcy ran to her. "Where the hell were you?"

"Tell me you didn't call the police?" She said, looking a little pissed.

"Well what was I supposed to do?"

"Not call the police?"

"I've been freaking out!" Darcy exclaimed.

"You call the cops, they call the Feds." Jane screamed. "Next thing you know we have SHIELD crawling all over the area as if they're running the place."

"She still has a tough time handling Shield." Erik explained. "Since the day you confiscated her belongings and our entire equipment."

Fury just gave him a stare, that made Erik chuckle awkwardly.

"Jane!"

"We had a stable gravitational anomaly!" She breathed. "We had unimpeded access! Our only competition was ten year old's!"

"Jane!" Darcy got her attention. "You were gone for five hours!"

"What?"It was raining, but none of it was hitting them. They continue to argue until they notice the strangeness around them Jane reaches out to the circle of rain that wasn't falling on them.

"What a grand entrance." Loki sighed.

"It's actually pretty cool." Tony said. "We didn't know you could do that."

"We've only just met." Thor replied cautiously. "That battle in New York hardly showed everything about me."

"That's weird." Darcy muttered.

Jane turned to see Thor standing there in the distance, she ran to her and the umbrella Thor created followed her. It left Darcy vulnerable and the rain drenched her from head to toe.

She hugged herself and said, "Typical."

Jane slapped Thor on the face.

"She has spirit." Loki turned to Thor.

"Not a word." Thor growled.

"Oh, but look at it this way, Thor." Loki grinned. "It is not the first time you have been slapped on the face for being gone for too long."

"That didn't happen." He tried to forget.

"Keep telling yourself that."

"I was right here where you left me." Jane breathed. "I was waiting, and then I was crying, and then I went out looking for you… You said you were coming back!"

"I know, I know." Thor said. "But the Bifrost was destroyed. The Nine Realms erupted into chaos; wars were raging, marauders were pillaging… I had to put an end to the slaughter."

"As excuses go, it's not… terrible. But I saw you on TV, you were – you were in New York!"

"Jane I fought to protect you from the dangers of my world but.. I was wrong." Thor held her close. "I was a fool. But I believe that Fate bought us together. Jane I don't know where you were or what happened, but I do know this..."

Jane swooned. "What?"

"I know."

"You do?"

"Do what?"

"What?"

Loki felt jealousy spike inside of him. He did not like how Thor was holding Jane by the neck, he did not like that Thor had replaced him with a mere mortal. Oh Loki did not mind that Thor was in love with her, he didn't care about that. He cared about the fact that Thor had abandoned him as a brother, and replaced him for someone else to care, was what got to him.

And it hurt.

"It is like watching two children kiss for the first time." Loki grimaced.

They lean to each other for a kiss but Darcy runs over and tells them about the cops. Jane side stepped and told them to wait while she dealt with them. Thor stood there awkwardly with Darcy by his side. Tapping his upper body and smirking.

"Look at you, still all muscly and everything!" Darcy smiled. "How's space?"

"Space is fine." Thor smiled.

"I find her annoying." Loki commented.

Erik was about to say something when Thor interrupted.

"Will you stop talking, Loki?" Thor leaned on his chair. "It is getting annoying."

"Bite me."

"Ohhh!" Tony called that one out. "I think I may be a bad influence on your brother. Or Earth is a bad influence since he's getting sentences over here."

"I have you know I am still perfectly capable of killing you." Loki turned to him.

"Bite me." Tony joked, causing Loki to snarl.

"That's enough, shut up!" Fury sighed loudly. "Stark, if you mind?"

"Not at all." Tony grinned.

"I swear I will lock you up with him."

"That is a wonderful punishment." Loki rolled his eyes. "Lock me up for an eternity, hearing only the sound of Tony Stark's annoying voice. How very tempting and ill considered."

"You make it sound like my voice sucks." Tony pouted.

"It does."

"Enough." Thor sighed. "Quiet, Loki."

Loki just shrugged and felt his spine tingle. There it was again, this time looming over another Agent called Sitwell. Loki really did not like these so called apparitions. If he had full use of his magic, then he would have located where the Other was hiding inside the Helicarrier. What Loki really wished, was that the Other wouldn't dare go down to Earth.

And that he would not do anything horrible to their counterparts.

There was already a huge amount of damage, and Loki did not want the same thing happening to the others.

He was cold, but he was not heartless.

oOo

Loki had drifted off from the movie. He knew that somewhere in the line, they began discussing Jane and the Aether and Thor bringing her to Asgard to get checked up on. Loki recalled that Jane was lying on the table while the healers took a look at her, but everything during that became foggy to him. All he could hear was his heavy breathing and a screeching noise from the sides.

"I grow tired of this little charade."The Other mocked. "Should I make myself known?"

Loki did not bother to answer.

He did not want to, and he was sure if he did, everyone would question him as to why he was talking to himself. And Loki really did not want to explain himself to anyone. He just sat there and pretended to watch as Odin strode into the room and openly mocked Jane comparing her to a goat.

"She does not belong here in Asgard any more than a goat belongs at a banquet table." Odin retorted.

It was an amusing insult, which he heard Selvig and Thor protest to, but other than that, Loki's mind remained foggy.

"Her world has its healers, they're called doctors, let them deal with it." Odin shouted. "Guards! Take her back to Midgard!"

"He's pissed." Clint muttered. "Why aren't we allowed in Asgard?"

"Because it is no place for humans who do not understand our world." Thor answered.

"No I wouldn't..." Thor was too late and the guards were thrown feet away. "Touch her. Jane, are you alright?"

She only groaned in response.

"It's impossible." Odin spoke.

"The infection, it's defending her?" The healer questioned.

"No. It's defending itself." Odin sighed. "Come with me."

Loki ignored the rest of the events taking place as Odin annoyingly repeated the history of what happened to the Dark Elves, the Aether and Bor. Loki really wondered why there was a need to re-explain it when it was already explained in the beginning.

But that, he would not know.

"Having difficulty thinking?" The Other mocked.

Loki remained silent.

"There's so much I can do in this place, with the strength bestowed upon me."

The Other, with his speed, interrupted a few Agents with their work, causing some of them to scream. Loki then allowed the silence to overwhelm him as the movie was paused at Fandral and Volstagg, bringing in new prisoners. And all eyes were on him now. Oh, so they think it was he who did it, how typical of the mortals to point fingers when they know nothing at all.

Suddenly, a fire extinguisher went off from the wall.

"So that's what it does."The Other hid again in the shadows.

"Loki, is this you?" Thor turned to stand.

"No. I'm not doing anything." Loki stood up and guns were at him from every side.

So each Agent had one.

"Better speak fast. I grow tired of playing."

"I suggest you stop whatever you are doing, Loki." Fury called, voice in a serious tone. "I thought we had an agreement that if you make shit happen, you're going back into that cell of yours with handcuffs."

"Ugh, I don't think it's him, Sir." Clint's trained eyes focused.

"Say that again?"

"There's something else here."

Something dark grey and blue zoomed past them, causing some papers to fly at a nearby desk by the controls. It caught everyone's attention, making it difficult for them to narrow the answer down.

"That's not natural." Natasha muttered.

"Oh crap." Tony cursed.

Tony wanted to hit himself for not telling anyone about what happened to Loki in the bathroom. Maybe it was that thing that was haunting Loki before, with the voices and shit, but Tony wouldn't know for sure. Loki didn't exactly say much. He was only told to keep his mouth shut and now, he was regretting that decision very much."

"Maybe it's just a false alarm, guys." Tony piped. "Maybe that fire extinguisher was rusty."

"I don't think that's possible." Bruce answered.

"With a ship this brand new, I doubt it." Steve replied.

"How would you explain the papers?" Clint joked.

"Air conditioning?" Tony replied.

"Or, someone from the other end of space came through the portal." Natasha clicked her gun at Loki. "What's your answer?"

"I don't know." Loki breathed.

"Loki?" Thor turned to him in concern.

"There's something he's not telling us, Sir." Natasha confirmed.

"Better start talking." Fury narrowed his eyes.

"Tell them what you see."The Other mocked. "Tell them what you know instead of wasting your time watching your petty future!"

"I am not doing anything." Loki breathed. "Just, let me stand. I need air."

Something zoomed past them.

Loki was having a hard time breathing and soon everyone was in disarray. Something zoomed past them again, but was too fast to see properly. The guns that aimed at Loki were now aiming all over the place. One Agent misfired and shot one of the bulbs above them.

"Hold you fire!" Fury shouted. "What's going on here?"

"I think we may have unwanted passenger." Steve answered. "Do you see anything?"

It zoomed past them again.

"Did you see that!?" Clint pointed. "I thought I saw..."

"It's a dull grey..." Bruce narrowed his eyes, unable to tell.

"Loki? What is happening?" Thor turned to see Loki pale as a sheet.

"What was that?" Hill pointed.

The computer panels started going haywire.

They were erratic and buzzing.

"The Chitauri." Loki mumbled, as Thor listened to him. "They are trying to get past your defenses."

"Loki, is there a way to stop this?"

"I don't know." He turned. "The Chitauri are an advance race with advance technology. They have a mother ship that controls them, exactly like the one Stark destroyed when he entered the void. It's..."

"Is there a way to stop it?"

"I told you, I don't know!"

As soon as Loki finished that sentence, the Other appeared by Loki's side, grabbing Loki by the waist and his other hand trailed to Loki's head, inching it to his neck and caressing it ever so gently.

"Ah!" Loki gasped.

Everyone saw him and the horrified look on Loki's face when the younger god looked over his shoulder.

"No... no... no... no..." Loki cried.

"Greetings, humans." The Other merely grinned at them.

"Who the hell are you!?" Fury questioned.

"A friend." He tightened his grip on Loki.

"Oh god, it's like Star wars." Tony took a deep breath.

Natasha had her gun aimed straight at the Other's head, while Clint's arrow aimed at the same spot. Bruce looked like he was going to go green at any minute if it wasn't for Tony, who was sweet talking him into calming down. The rest of the Agents, though badly aimed, were targeting the Other as well as Steve and Thor were just ready to pounce at him.

"How the hell did you get into my Helicarrier?" Fury asked, gun pointed as well.

"Oh, my master took it into his hands to show me the way instead of himself. It took a while for my master to bring me here, draining his energy to activate the tesseract, but I assure you it will not take long before he has recovered."

Loki began to struggle.

"Stop child."The Other hissed.

"UNHAND ME!" Loki screeched.

Loki knew he could do something in the situation and pry himself away, but again, he was in shock. He hadn't realized how vulnerable he was until the Other had managed to sneak up on him rendering frozen yet again.

"Hush." The Other gritted its sharp teeth.

"Shoot him!" Loki had frozen. "Shoot him, I don't care!"

"Tsk tsk... patience."The Other whispered to him. "I am only here to make a statement. If you do not want your world to perish again, I suggest you hand over Loki to us. Willingly."

"That will not happen." Thor growled, mjolnir raised. "Tell Thanos that he is messing with the wrong people."

"You dare insult my master!"

"I dare battle him."

"ARE YOU INSANE!?" Loki screamed. "You cannot hope to fight him alone."

"The young one is correct. He has tried for so long, and now look at what he was reduced to. A cowering dog that obeys his master for petty treats and compliments."

"Unhand me." Loki hissed.

"Put Loki down!" Steve called. "Trust me, you don't want a fight."

"Ah establishing trust, I think not."

"Yeah, bad call." Tony shouted. "You're just one person, with one hell of a speed, but you're taking on all of us if you don't put Loki down."

Loki could feel the darkness and the control swaying him, whispering soft nothings at him. They were so pleasant, easy to drift away with, but Loki fought. He struggled not to be drowned by those thoughts again. He knew what would happen if he continued to allow himself to be played with. He knew what he would become...

He would be a mindless puppet again.

And he didn't want that.

Not again.

"Let me go." Loki begged tiredly.

"Ah, but are you sure I really am here?"

The Other's plan had worked.

He had hope to please his master by terrifying all of them without even doing anything harmful. And this gave the Other another chance at breaking down the walls Loki had built again. It was only a matter of time until he fulfills it, he would just have to be cautious about it.

"Surrender him willingly or death will be numerous." It hissed. "Either way, the master will be pleased."

"That's not going to happen." Steve answered.

"Suit yourself."

The other disappeared, causing Loki to double over and embrace himself, falling to his knees. Thor strode forward and knelt by his brother's side.

'I am sorry I did not listen to you, Loki."

"Don't care." Loki mumbled.

"Was that him?" Thor cradled Loki's body, pulling him up to stand.

Loki nodded.

"Damn!" Fury shouted. "Find him! Wherever the hell he is, I want his signature readings plastered to every phone and a team to narrow down the search. We can't let him get off the Helicarrier. If he gets off this ship, it will make our lives difficult to search for him where we're not wanted!"

The Agents scrambled to do their jobs.

Fury, Hill and Erik were talking about the tesseract, and hoping they might lock it in.

"Romanov. Barton." Fury called. "Your work, handle it."

The two Agents nodded as Fury left with Hill and Erik to check the lab where the tesseract it and hope that it's secure. The rest of the team stood there, unable to process the situation.

"What the hell was that thing?" Bruce breathed.

"He looked creepy as hell." Tony blinked.

"You knew." Clint said in disbelief. "You knew he was here and you didn't tell us."

"I'm sorry!" Loki's wandering eyes trailed, panic in his eyes.

"Why didn't you tell us?"

"I couldn't... I just couldn't."

They have never seen Loki this deranged before.

"This isn't some sort of plot against us is it!?" Clint screamed, lowering his weapon. "And here we thought you were different!"

"How was I supposed to know!?" Loki shouted back, trembling. "I was sure I was delirious! I am not in the right state of mind! And I've only since been okay by trying to keep my composure!" Loki turned to Thor. "Now unhand me, you foolish oaf!"

Loki threateningly pushed Thor away.

Natasha and Clint's weapon were raised back up.

"Loki, stop this." Thor warned. "We're trying to help you."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I couldn't..." Loki's eyes trailed to the shadows. "I just couldn't."

"Thor, back up." Natasha addressed.

"No." Thor glared.

"We're not finished yet." She growled.

"I will not have you interrogate him at this moment!" Thor screamed. "Loki had every reason to keep silent. You know what had been done, but the extent of his torture, you know nothing of!"

"You know this is on you, Thor."

"I care not."

"Oh god, this is stressful." Tony snapped his fingers. "Guys, chill."

"He freaking lied to us, Stark!" Clint itched to shoot Loki. "You're not at all angry at him!"

"Don't you dare say I don't care!"

"I'm not saying that."

"You are! You're just phrasing it differently." Tony lowered his voice when he noticed Bruce turning a little green. "Look, I don't want to start another argument again."

"Are you sure about that?" Clint pressured. "Loki could be tricking us."

"He is not!" Thor shouted.

"That's enough." Steve ordered. "Thor and Loki aren't the enemies here. Now tell us, Loki. Who is he?"

"Thanos' servant, you know him. He's the Other." Loki mumbled, eyes unfocused and watering. "He commanded me, whispered things into my ears and manipulated me. He gave me compliments, and things to ease the pain."

"A friend." Clint turned to Natasha.

"He was acting as Loki's safeguard, trying to be nice." Natasha explained. "Only so you would be goaded into thinking that he's a friend, when in fact he's the devil in disguise."

"I knew who he was from the beginning." Loki sneered. "I just so happened to take advantage of his short comings."

"Guys, that's enough." Bruce muttered. "We shouldn't be taking our anger out on Loki."

"Take me out of here. " Loki turned to Thor. "I want to get out of here right now."

Loki could feel the shadow and touch creeping up on him, like ink spreading quick and wildly. Loki's eyes were of a dull green by now, and it was blown wide. Sweat drenched from his forehead as his hands trembled. Thor stared at him, unable to say anything at the moment. He hadn't seen Loki this before.

He was confused, frightened and panicked.

"NOW! I WANT TO LEAVE!" Loki screamed, hyperventilating.

"You mind telling me what's going on with him?" Clint whispered.

"PTSD." Bruce turned to him. "The effects of his torture must have..."

"Discuss this when we are not here." Thor answered, finding his voice.

He walked up to Loki, who was standing there embarrassed and shaking. Loki wanted to die right at this moment, because of the humiliation he was put in. A god doesn't just freeze in the heat of the battle, and that's what made Loki more disappointed in himself. He was shameful. Loki clutched at Thor's arm, breathing deeply, staring at nothing but Thor's chest plate while his brother held him close into an embrace.

"Get me out of here." Loki cried.

"Are you sure?"

Loki nodded.

"Excuse us." Thor pulled Loki out.

"You're taking him back to his cell?" Natasha turned to him.

"I am making that known now." Thor glared at them. "Handle what you must and do your job. My job is to keep Loki safe. Track the Other, prevent him from taking the tesseract, and I will do what I must to keep him away from Loki."

With that, Thor was dragging Loki out of the room, and Loki willingly complied.

"What about the movie?" Clint asked after they were gone.

"Save it to the same spot we left off." Steve commanded. "We continue it when we know it's safe."

"We've only been a few minutes in." Tony checked his watch.

"Right." Steve nodded. "I should go and help out with the search."

"You can come with us." Natasha offered. "Clint and I are heading out when the researchers get the readings."

"Um..." Bruce stood there. "Maybe I should check up on Thor and Loki."

"Bad Idea." Clint answered.

"What should I do then?"

"Stay in the labs with Stark." Natasha suggested. "I think you two need a breather."

"I have something to explain to you guys." Tony said, taking a deep breath before blabbing. "I'm sorry I kept my mouth shut about it, but now I just can't hold it in. Something happened before Thor, Loki and I went out of the infirmary room. And I think the Other, as they call it, was responsible."

"You're in big trouble Stark." Steve said.

"I know." He hung his head.

oOo

TBC.

Please review and tell me what you think.