"Are you sure this will work?" asked Steve.
"It's worth a try," Thor muttered.
He had set up an impromptu magic barrier in the middle of a field, thanks to the small device Odin had given them for Amora's initial imprisonment, now fixed after Lyanne's break through it. They were somewhat close to SHIELD headquarters, just in case something did go wrong, but far enough away that Loki would be much more likely to risk an appearance. They glanced at the crazed woman with disdain and worry. They knew she could not be trusted – they were almost counting on it – and an enemy was still an enemy... but neither of them had any better ideas about locating Loki and Lyanne. A fiery noise and rustling footsteps in the grass behind the trio alerted them to the arrival of the rest of the team. Tony entered from above, fully armored, followed by the walking group of Natasha, Clint, and a sickly-looking Bruce. He had wanted to opt out of this venture, but Tony's subtle prods and less subtle begging had finally made him concede. Several armed SHIELD soldiers hid amongst the trees that hugged the small, lush field, though the Avengers all doubted they would truly be of any use. Their captain had insisted, citing the greater risks and dangers now that Fury was on a mission outside the country. Thor acknowledged them all silently, then jerked his head towards the Enchantress, Amora.
"Are we ready?" he asked.
"Not really," Tony muttered, but they all ignored him.
Thor took down the barrier and Amora stepped towards them slowly, looking better than she had in a very long time. She had filled out a bit beneath her fresh clothes, and her eyes were no longer dim and sunken, but full of an evil gleam that made Thor both intrigued and afraid.
"Ah," she breathed, "So good to have fresh air again."
"Do you remember the bargain, Enchantress?" Thor asked her.
"Yes," she said lightly. She was itching to get back out again, and hopefully return to Asgard sooner rather than later – she did not like having her powers drained. She wondered why Loki didn't have the same problem, but chalked it up to him having Jotunn blood.
"What are your plans?" asked Steve. "Go over them with us."
Amora sighed, but indulged them.
"I am to use the power gem to amplify my magic enough for Loki to discover our location."
"And?"
"And what?" she snapped. "I will not do battle in my weakened state – you promised my return to Asgard."
"So we did," said Thor. "And so we shall. Once we capture Loki – or at least the purple gem – you shall be returned home, where another cell awaits you."
"Fine fine," she growled.
"But that means you must not impede us – you'll be constrained back behind your magic barrier after you send the beacon, to be sure you'll not attack us."
"Why bother with the barrier?" she shot. "If I could have escaped and teleported back to Asgard I already would have. After this," she gestured to the red stone in Thor's fist, "I'll be lucky to even be breathing."
She seemed bitterly put out, but desperation motivated her beyond anything else. Without her magic she was almost useless. Thor, surrounded by the rest of the readied team (just in case she did try anything), held his open palm and gem towards Amora, his hammer raised in his opposing hand. Rolling her eyes, the Enchantress grasped the gem and concentrated with some difficulty.
They all felt it – a strange, thick magic that felt like a suffocating cloud. Thor prepared to strike her with his hammer before she could attack them, but the smothering air just as suddenly disappeared and Amora collapsed on the ground.
"She dead?" asked Tony with little concern.
Bruce was kneeling beside her with his fingers on her neck. They waited for his verdict.
"No," he said. "I guess she just exhausted herself."
"Put her ass back in the cell," Tony said in a clipped, business-like tone. "She tried to attack us anyway. Not like it did her much good."
"Be that as it may," Thor said, "That likely alerted Loki to our whereabouts. Now we need only wait."
He looked to the sky expectantly.
Loki ran his fingers along Lyanne's bruised and lacerated neck, using his magic to try to heal her wounds.
"Why not just use the time stone to make me heal faster?" she asked.
"Because," he said slowly, impatiently, "It would age you as well. And since you are already at a great disadvantage to me concerning lifespan, I'm not going to make your time run any faster. Even though it would only be temporary, I won't take the risk."
"Then couldn't you just de-age me after?" she asked, not understanding.
"It doesn't work that way."
Lyanne scoffed and Loki scowled.
"The effects aren't permanent, Li," he reiterated.
"Oh," was all she could say. "Sorry."
He made a small grunt and continued to tend to her neck.
"You've been somewhat... uneven lately," he said bluntly.
"Uneven?" she asked, distracted. Loki moved her head to face him.
"Air-headed," he said.
Lyanne frowned and crossed her arms across her chest.
"We don't eat or sleep very much, and even the little we do is barely enough to keep me going. Your body is different than mine."
"I don't think that's it," he said, examining her deeply.
"Let it go," she huffed.
Loki raised an eyebrow.
"I'm just... tired," she sighed, her body sagging in exhaustion.
Loki supposed she could have a point – he needed less food and sleep than she; maybe he wasn't being as merciful as he could be.
"I'll try to remember you are weaker than I am."
"Gee, thanks."
He finished healing what he could of her neck, sliding his long fingers down her collarbone to rest on her chest, where her heart lay. He could feel it racing.
"You're still afraid?" he asked, somewhat miffed.
"No," she explained. "You always make my heart race."
He smiled and leaned in to kiss her, but suddenly a strange feeling overtook him – it was like a blanket had been thrown over his face and someone was attempting to asphyxiate him as he struggled, blind and gasping. He stumbled backwards and fell to the ground, his vision blurry. Then the feeling passed almost as instantly as it had come, he shook his head to clear it and noticed Lyanne kneeling on the ground beside him.
"What was that?" she gasped.
Loki grinned wickedly, the evil smile he always got that bared his teeth and crinkled around his eyes – Lyanne found it irresistible, grabbing his face and kissing him deeply. He chuckled through the kiss, broke apart with difficulty, and looked at her in excitement.
"I think I know where the power gem is," he breathed.
Lyanne looked back in equal fervor, clutching his hands tightly.
"But first," he laughed, "A brief stop."
"THANOS!" Loki cried as they landed on the blue, glowing rock where the titan resided.
Lyanne was still woozy, swaying where she stood as Loki called out. A shadow suddenly slithered out from the darkness, a figure unknown to Lyanne but familiar to Loki.
"Ah," he said, "A lackey appears."
"Do not insult me, Lie-Smith," the hooded figure said. He waved his arms wide in a dramatic, sweeping gesture as he approached, and Lyanne noticed with some curiosity that he had two thumbs on each hand. His face looked withered and near-decaying beneath his hood and ornate wired mask. He stooped somewhat, but gave off a sort of frightening energy that alerted her that this was no weak creature to be trifled with.
"I've come for Thanos, not his dog."
The creature hissed in displeasure and raised his hand, but Loki smirked and held something out in his palm – the orange gem. It glistened malevolently in the blue light from around them. The hooded man made an irritated sound, but swept up the stairs to alert who Lyanne was assumed his master.
"Loki," she whispered fervently, "Is this wise...?"
Before he could answer, Thanos stomped down the stairs from his lofty stone platform slowly.
"The Time gem," he grumbled, making no pretense. "Give it to me."
"No," Loki said. Before Thanos could rage, however, Loki held the stone up and explained. "I believe the gem of power is on Earth – I shall need these gems to retrieve it."
"You cannot possibly wield them all at once!" he cried.
"True," Loki said. "But Lyanne can give me enough extra power to allow me to wield two – perhaps three, if I do not use this one in tandem with the others," he explained, gesturing to the orange jewel in his palm. "The Power gem is the strongest of the six," he continued. "I shall need all the power of the others to even stand a chance."
Thanos shook his head adamantly.
"I cannot allow you to be in possession of FIVE of them! I am no fool."
"I still won't have the gauntlet. I cannot wield them all without it. Nor will I have the sixth stone."
Thanos warred internally for a moment. The power gem - the strongest of them all – was finally within his grasp. But he needed to trust the most untrustworthy of all creatures. He grimaced and examined Loki for a while.
"Leave your woman with me," he said. "If you do not return the gems, she shall perish – but not without great torture first."
Lyanne felt her stomach drop.
"I can't," Loki said calmly. "I need her extra power to use the stones."
The titan grumbled once more, pacing in aggravation and contemplation. Suddenly he turned back to Loki with a terrifying grin.
"I shall come with you," he said. "I shall wield the stones I have, you may wield yours. When all is over, I shall take possession of all five of the gems – then hunt for the sixth myself, as well as the Gauntlet. You shall be of no further use. If this is successful, you shall leave with your mate, unchallenged, as agreed. But do not mistake my mercy for weakness – should you try anything I find vexing, you and your woman will be killed immediately and painfully."
Loki raised an eyebrow, but could not argue.
"Very well," he agreed, holding his hand out to Lyanne slowly, and his arm to Thanos. They both grasped him and were gone in a sudden flash of blinding purple light.