Lyanne opened her eyes and shifted stiffly against the uncomfortable rock she had been sleeping on. She winced in pain as she straightened, being careful to stretch slowly as she exited the small cave where she and Loki had slept the night prior – or, rather, while Lyanne slept and Loki sat quietly outside the cave to keep watch. He had hardly spoken to her since their initial teleportation to wherever Loki had chosen they would hide this time, but she didn't press the issue. He looked paler than usual and had an air of distraction about him; she was frightened one poor choice of words could set him off and lead him to abandon her again.
But that's not why he left you in the first place, her brain logically tried to argue, but she pushed the thought away and nursed the still-fresh wound he had left in her when he had pretended to betray her. She knew it was bad to go mentally poking around in dangerous emotional territory, but like any other ordinary wound she found she could not leave it alone.
Having successfully crawled out from their hiding hole and stood, Lyanne placed her hands on her hips and began twisting gently while examining their surroundings. It looked like a normal enough forest, with rolling hills in the background and foliage so thick that it was nearly dark beneath their canopy. Patchy carpets of verdant green ferns coated the forest floor, and cheerful birds sang above them merrily. A cool breeze shuffled the leaves above and for the briefest second Lyanne could smell the impending autumn – the barest hint of dying leaves and cold earth was both familiar and comforting, and she looked forward to the cooler nights ahead. She wondered if Asgard had seasons like Earth and thought about asking Loki, but realized she hadn't seen him yet. Her heart raced suddenly in fear, but she needn't have worried; Loki was just cresting a small hill in the distance, his slight, dark form just barely distinguishable between the trees. Despite everything that had happened between them, Lyanne still felt that squeeze in her heart every time she saw him – she hoped she always would. Loki's pace was brisk and his long legs carried him quickly back to where Lyanne was standing, her hands crossed over her stomach.
"I suppose you're hungry," he muttered, not looking up at her.
She lunged forward and threw her arms about him, catching him off guard and forcing him to drop the food he was carrying. After a moment he wrapped himself about her in return, burying his nose in her hair and breathing deeply. She smelled of the river she had bathed in the night prior – like leaves, earth, and something slightly salty, but not unpleasant. It reminded him of home. He pulled himself away to pick up the food that had dropped when she had embraced him, not looking up. Lyanne bent to help him, but he had finished his task quickly and brushed past her wordlessly.
"Loki," she called, worried. "What's wrong?"
He didn't respond, only placed the food down on a cloth he had and wrapped it like a transient's bindle.
"Loki," she called again, incensed. "Talk to me."
He sighed.
"Let me finish this," he nearly whispered. "Then we will go."
"Go where?" she asked, relieved he had finally said something.
"What does it matter?" he suddenly snapped, straightening quickly and glaring.
"What does it matter?" she mimicked aggressively.
"You're with me, yes? You said that's all that matters."
"Well yes, but..."
He glanced her way in exasperation, his eyebrows going up in impatience.
"But what?" he huffed.
"You've been so stand-offish," she whined slightly. "I thought I had done something wrong."
"Don't be neurotic."
She glanced at him sadly and he suddenly felt his heart pinch. He softened a little and approached her.
"Alright," he started, his voice softer now as he took her hands in his own. "I'll be honest. You not getting any information from SHIELD has left me – us – in a very tight spot. I cannot teleport within their headquarters or take control of a soul there – the use of such power from the gems at once would almost definitely be sensed, and now they will be more prepared for us than last time. I now have a need to ask for help – but I must take you there, as well."
Lyanne felt a little relief, then hesitation.
"Take me where?" she asked cautiously.
"To him," he said, "And her. Thanos and his mistress, Death."
"Where are they?" she asked, trying not to sound nervous at the prospect of meeting the villainous creature who had bound Loki to him.
At this, Loki chuckled.
"In a place unfathomable for those from your realm," he laughed. "At least, for most, it is."
Lyanne felt a little shiver run up her spine, but locked her hand into Loki's and nodded.
"Of course I'll go with you," she breathed.
"It hadn't been a question," he said quickly, before suddenly she felt her body squeeze uncomfortably and the familiar iridescent lights flashed by in a dizzying display. She shut her eyes but, as always, it was over before she knew it. On all fours, Lyanne gasped for air, her hands splayed out across some form of rock. She opened her eyes to take in her surroundings, and her heart leapt in panic for a moment before she realized she was, and had been, breathing just fine. Loki stood beside her stiffly, his figure framed by the innumerable stars surrounding them and the large, dark blue platform on which they stood. As her vision became more focused, she could make out deep pock marks and holes in the stone ground and stalagmites, with soft blue lights that emanated from some and even a glowing staircase that swirled up to another platform, concealed by more rock formations. Lyanne righted herself, Loki giving her a sideways glance as she tried to take everything in in amazement.
"You have returned, Trickster," a deep, powerful voice boomed from above them. Lyanne glanced up to the top of the glowing staircase to see a very broad, muscular figure in otherworldly armor beginning to step down. She reached for Loki's hand again, but he stepped forward to greet the intimidating man. When he had made his way down the stairs, Lyanne noticed his eyes glowed with the same blue as the surrounding stones, and that his purple skin had deep crevasses at his chin. He smirked coldly as he glanced her way, and as his eyes met hers she felt her skin crawl. She understood now who he was – Thanos.
"I hope you bring good news," the titan said slowly. "From what we've seen, however, it's doubtful."
"And what have you seen?" Loki asked silkily, his voice taking the same smooth, smug tone it did when he was being particularly mischievous or cunning, as though he was mocking someone for not seeing the humor in something he did.
"Enough to know that your progress is hindered," Thanos grumbled. "Do you come to ask for more favors? Your debt to us is substantial enough already. You were to lessen the amount of effort, not burden us further."
"I have brought good news enough," Loki countered, though less smugly than before. "These three gems," he opened his palm to reveal the purple, blue, and green stones, "Were likely the most difficult to obtain, and yet most useful – for now. Only three remain to find – we are halfway. And I believe I have news on a fourth."
At this Thanos cocked his head slightly, not believing him, yet intrigued all the same.
"What news? The gem of power?" he asked greedily.
"Unfortunately, not so lucky," Loki scowled. "Though this gem is absolutely worth the effort."
"Which is it?" he bellowed, losing patience.
"Precisely one you might need most," he smirked. "Time."
"You lie," he sneered, turning away in disgust. "There is no being in the universe who would not need to use such a power."
"Of my original theory," Loki said, his voice going slightly higher in pitch, "I believe I was wrong."
Thanos turned around to face him again, still angry, but focused intently.
"Enough pretense," he snapped. "Do you know where another gem is or not?"
"If I knew for sure, I would have it in my possession already. As it is, I do need your assistance..."
"I have given you enough!"
"It is not more of your help I seek," he said softly, gazing up to the head of the stairs and the obscured platform once more. "My Lady," he breathed.
Lyanne had been a passive observer in all this – in all honesty, she still felt speechless and terrified of these new, reality-breaking experiences – but now she felt something tug within her, as though her heart was trying to tear itself from her body. Her blood suddenly felt like ice, and turned to jelly in her veins. Her breath left her and she felt like she weighed a million pounds – even trying to lift her eyes to where Loki was staring was an effort. There, at the top of the steps, was something terrible and yet beautiful to behold. A tall, thin woman in a hooded robe, with skin so pale it was almost white, and raven-black hair that hung around her like the night. Her eyes were nearly black, but something shone there, malevolent and unholy and calculating. Thanos fell to his knees and gazed up in longing, while Loki knelt respectfully. Lyanne felt her knees buckle as though they were not her own, hardly feeling anything as she collapsed into a kneeling position.
"Mistress Death," Loki said, "I'm afraid I have come to ask for your favor."
"What need have you now, Trickster?"
"I seek a man with whom you've had a quarrel – someone banished from your realm."
Lyanne felt pressure in her chest, her heart spasming as a shudder of anger emanated from the terrifying figure.
"You speak of Ord Zyonyz?" she hissed.
"The Gardener, yes."
She bared her teeth, but regained her composure quickly.
"What do you dare to request of me? Bear in mind that I will only honor it if I see fit. If you insult me, your life might be forfeit. Choose your words carefully."
"I request you allow him to die."
"Never!" she spat. "He and the others are forbidden from my realm."
"Yes," he tried soothing. "But... perhaps only temporarily? Enough time for me to subdue him and take that which belongs to you. And Thanos, of course," he added quickly.
Death seemed to contemplate for a moment.
"Are you sure he has it? Absolutely certain? I will not risk his presence for nothing. It would... displease me greatly."
"I am not positive – after all, I'm not aware of anyone sensing the use of the gem. But – perhaps he is not using it to the full extent it can be used. Who else could possibly need it more than him? And he could certainly be capable of..."
"Enough," she hissed, raising a slender, bony hand to her temple in frustration. "All of these possibilities and impossibilities make me weary. Go, with my agreement – but do not return here again empty-handed."
"Yes, my Lady," he nearly whispered. As he righted himself, however, Thanos approached and stopped him, his hand outstretched expectantly. Loki looked him up and down carefully before asking, "What?"
"You hold too much power. You must be relieved of some of it."
"I need..."
"You need only the purple gem, for traveling. The others belong to me."
Lyanne watched Loki very carefully, but sighed with relief as he reached (reluctantly) into his tunic and retrieved the green and blue gems, handing them over to the waiting Thanos.
"The green gem would be of great use, should I need to battle the Gardener," Loki said coldly.
"Yes, it would be." Thanos smirked. "But you can use the formidable powers you claim to already possess in your struggle against him. These I shall keep for myself – as – insurance." He looked over to Lyanne with his burning blue eyes and sneered. "Mistress Death would accept a new soul for her collection gladly. And a unique being is always a welcome addition."
Loki stood proudly despite the threat, tilting his chin up in defiance but letting a sneaky grin cross his face as usual.
"I doubt she'd be so welcome as a substitute for the remaining gems," he said softly. "I need her to find the others."
"As you desire, for now, banished Prince," Thanos grumbled before turning his back on them and walking back up the glowing staircase, presumably to continue fawning over Death. Lyanne watched him climb with awe and terror; she felt as though she were swimming in a nightmarish version of reality, where the air was thick and cold and she could feel herself drowning in it.
"Are you ready?"
Lyanne jumped as Loki spoke softly in her ear. She turned to face him with a sheepish smile and locked her hand around his, the cool surface of the purple stone pressed between their palms.
"I'm ready," she replied.
I want to thank all of you who read this (and have read the first one) endlessly for your immense patience. I apologize for the delay - I originally wanted to wait for Iron Man 3, then Thor 2 so I could try to stay close to their original storyline, but in the meantime... my sister got married and I had to help with EVERYTHING as maid of honor (not that I minded ^_^), plus had two job changes, a new computer that didn't come with Word (thank you, LibreOffice), lost a new chapter I had written when I updated my word processor (damn you, LibreOffice [though this chapter was completely different than the one I lost, so maybe it was a good thing?]), got a PS3 (Skyrim and GTA V have ruined me), and honestly after taking such a long, selfish break it was hard to get back into the swing of things. I thank you all again for bearing with me and I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed finally, FINALLY, finally writing it.
Much love,
Upir