All I have to say is 'oh my goodness!' The only words that I have to say about my absence is EXAMSSSS! They are cruel and not fun. At all. Anyway, this chapter felt like I was just throwing things everywhere, but I still enjoyed writing it. I apologize. I was consciously writing this over a span of two weeks because I was lazy. Oh! It may be crazy to say this, but I may try to do something different with my writing. It has to do with the way the characters speak. On another note, the AVENGERS IS OUT ON DVD! Now, I anxiously await Thor 2...because Loki. Now that my rant is over, I do not own Marvel or any of the Avengers. P.S. The dream is a bit weird, but I have a reason for it :) If there are any ugly spelling or grammar mistakes, let me know!
Livea (Guest): Ah, a regular updating schedule...unfortunately, I don't think I'm able to think about that at the moment. But I will try to figure out a schedule soon. Haha glad I entertain you! Thanks for the review!
The Shadow445: Thank you for the review! Wings are awesome!
Flaming Crow: Haha I like to warn people about fluff :) Good luck with your fic! Thanks for the review!
StoneStrikeAlchemist: Yay! Question Session! Hmmm...Loki and Willow's relationship I see as tumultuous and difficult. Yes, it may seem like they both are bipolar, but Willow evolves and I don't think she's completely without her independence. I will see what I can do with that. Eventually, maybe in the far away future I will come back and revise this beast :) Oh, I definitely know what I want to happen at the end. It's just a matter of getting there. I only ask because I think it's fun to merge the reader's ideas. I hope I answered the bulk of your questions! Thanks for the review!
Chapter Eighteen
Willow had found a comfortable spot in the library. After trying to get Loki to read something different, Ethan called for him and they left Willow to wander through the maze of a house. The book Willow had in her hands was of no significant importance to her. It was merely something to keep her busy. Apparently, Loki hadn't been able to find a place that had cable, so Willow was left to her own devices.
When the library grew dull, Willow decided that she might as well go outside. There was a nice arrangement of flowers that surrounded the large estate and Willow wanted to see them all. As she wandered around the estate, Ethan suddenly joined her.
"I thought you had business with Loki," Willow pointed out, but Ethan shook his head.
"Loki is in New York at the moment. It appears that the Avengers have found another infinity gem. The only one left belongs to Thanos," Ethan explained.
"How do you know all of this? I thought Loki kept you in the dark," Willow assumed, walking forward.
"Loki tells me what I need to know," Ethan replied, keeping up with Willow.
"So, Thanos has the only infinity gem left?" Willow was trying to weasel anything else out of Ethan. Loki must have told him more.
"Yes, but the infinity gems aren't complete without the infinity gauntlet. They're attempting to find Thanos, but it is difficult," Ethan explained further and Willow hid the smile on her face.
"Thanks for telling me, Ethan," Willow said and suddenly, her hand hurt. Looking down, Willow knew it was the ring Loki gave her. Ethan scanned her face with concern.
"Are you alright, Willow?" he wondered.
"I'm perfectly fine. I think I'll go back inside and maybe take a nap," Willow figured and walked back toward the front door. Ethan followed behind, watching over her as usual.
Upon arriving in her room, Willow noticed Loki pass by the doorway. Quickly, Willow approached the doorway and looked to see if he was actually there. Unfortunately, he wasn't. With a sigh, Willow closed her door and turned around. Loki was standing in front of her.
"Are you trying to retrieve information from Ethan?" he asked and Willow shrugged.
"I like to be informed about things," Willow replied.
"You should not concern yourself with Thanos. He will return to Titan and all will be dealt with," Loki stated.
"Thor will take you back to Asgard, I imagine," Willow mused, thinking ahead.
"Perhaps, but it will depend upon my brother," Loki replied.
"Are you seriously thinking that Thor would let you go freely? Even after everything you've done?" Willow wondered and Loki was confused.
"Would you have me return to Asgard?" Willow shook her head, not meaning it.
"Of course I wouldn't. I don't know what I was saying to be honest," Willow realized and then sighed, "I'm going to get some rest."
Loki left Willow to let her rest and wandered down to the library. Ethan had been down there, waiting for him. Giving one last look to Willow's door, Loki descended the stairs and found Ethan in one of the chairs.
Willow was exhausted. She had changed her clothes and fell asleep immediately. The bed was soft, lulling Willow to sleep.
Thanos stood on top of a building, overlooking the chaos. Willow heard crying and panicked when she saw Ragnar. He was a bit younger, but could say a few things. He was crying for Willow. Looking down, Willow found herself dressed in her Avengers uniform and her wings unfurled. With as much speed as she could muster, Willow hurried to Ragnar, but stopped as something grabbed her arm. It gave Willow major whiplash, but she looked back to see the Other. Her fingernails grew and she scratched him, giving her an escape. Thanos picked Ragnar up and held him high. Willow rushed forward, her wings working harder than ever. Before Willow could reach them, a sickening crack sounded and Thanos dropped Ragnar. A look of horror came over Willow's face and she cried out, attempting to catch him. As she caught him, she felt sticky red blood cover her hands and Ragnar was dead.
Gasping for breath, Willow woke. She grabbed the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Making her way over to the bathroom, Willow walked slowly. When she reached the bathroom, she splashed water on her face and looked at her reflection in the mirror. There were dark circles under her eyes and her hair had knots in various places. Tired of standing, Willow turned off the light in the bathroom and returned to bed. As she walked out of the bathroom, there was a dark shadow standing in the corner of the room. Stepping out from the shadows, Loki had his arms folded across his chest.
"What are you doing in here?" Willow demanded with her eyes narrowed.
"You were restless in your sleep," Loki mentioned and Willow nodded. It wasn't much of a question.
"It was just a bad dream, nothing too extreme," Willow assured him, but Loki's expression didn't change.
"What were you dreaming about?" Willow had hoped to avoid this question.
"It was nothing." Loki walked closer.
"What are you hiding, Willow?" At the raised tone of his voice, Willow glared at him.
"You don't need to worry about it," Willow grumbled.
"I assume it involved our children," Loki mused, searching Willow's face.
"Fine, it was about Ragnar. Thanos killed him," Willow said, her voice cracking. She walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge, frowning.
"Thanos murdered Ragnar in your dream?" Loki wanted to confirm it as he sat down next to Willow.
"The Other kept me from getting to them and I caught Ragnar as Thanos dropped him," Willow explained, running a hand through her hair.
"The Other would not come to Midgard," Loki reasoned.
"Obviously not, because he's scary-looking and if he shows his face, I will slaughter him," Willow grumbled and Loki smirked at her words.
"Thanos will fall soon," Loki pointed out.
"There's still the last gem and gauntlet to get. That would include trying to defeat Thanos," Willow pointed out.
At some point in the night, Willow had fallen back asleep and Loki left her side. Ethan had a message from the Avengers. Thanos was spotted near the area and Loki would meet them to deal with Thanos. Before Loki left, he checked on Willow and smiled, seeing that she slept peacefully. Knowing that she was alright, Loki left.
When the door closed, Willow opened her eyes. She waited a few minutes and then walked over to the bottom of her dresser. There was a new uniform, courtesy of Clint from her stay on the carrier. Someone must have packed it. Willow dressed in her uniform and then pulled the hood over her face. There were sheathes for her knives on the side of her pants and then Willow opened the window. Her wings unfurled and Willow descended. All she had to do was follow Loki. The suit she wore made it easier to move and she could fly faster. Thanos would have to wait until Willow dealt with him.
X_X_X_X
Loki met the Avengers in the Tower. Thanos was commanding Skrulls to destroy and Rodgers was anxious.
"Where's Willow?" Clint wondered and Loki turned his head to meet the agent's gaze.
"She is safe," Loki replied simply.
"I need to know, Loki," Clint argued.
"There isn't time. We have to stop Thanos and get the gem," Natasha cut in. Clint gave in and followed her to the elevator. Everyone followed, but Thor stayed behind to go with Loki.
"Willow is a warrior. Why do you keep her away?" Thor wondered.
"Why do you worry for her?" Loki didn't understand why Thor was so interested.
"If she is to be my sister, I must look after her," Thor assumed.
As Willow got closer, she smiled. New York was so close. Skrulls were already laying waste to the city and she could faintly make out Tony in his Iron Man suit. Picking up speed, Willow entered the city and pulled a knife from its sheath. Skrulls flocked to her, attempting to take her down, but Willow's adrenaline was pumping and kept her going. Tony saw her in the fray and she could have sworn he gave her a 'thumbs-up' while flying past her.
Thanos was on the ground, watching as the chaos continued. It was possible that one of the mortals held the rest of his infinity gems. He noticed the woman who flew and sent Skrulls after her. The man of iron continued to aid her, but luck was on his side. The woman landed a few feet away.
Willow approached Thanos, walking slowly. He smiled widely and waited for her to meet him. Thor, in the distance, saw Willow and caught his brother's attention.
"Have you come to die, mortal?" Thanos sneered and Willow merely shook her head.
Everything was quiet as Willow stood before Thanos. The hood of her uniform still covered her face and her hand was on the sheath at her side. Suddenly, Tony hit Thanos with his repulsor and the Titan grew angry. He pointed the gauntlet at Tony and he was frozen. Willow crept up to Thanos and reached out for the gem, but Thanos saw her coming. He swung his arm and she went flying across the street, crashing through a building. When she stopped crashing, Willow took a few seconds to regain her breath. That punch would definitely leave a bruise.
As Willow brushed herself off, she was cornered by Thor and Loki. Quickly, she pulled her hood over her head- not that it mattered. Loki scanned her face and sighed.
"I had told you to stay behind," Loki grumbled and Willow merely shrugged her shoulders.
"It wasn't worth it. The sooner Thanos is defeated, the less I have to worry," Willow figured.
"I will look out for her," Thor spoke up, defending Willow.
"We have to help the others. They can't deal with Thanos and the Skrulls on their own," Willow mentioned and pulled out knifes from the belt that resided at her waist. Thor followed after her and Loki stood for a few seconds to register what had occurred. Before long, Skrulls saw Loki and were walking toward him. One of the Skrulls pounced and fell right through him. Off to the side, Loki grinned at his work.
Thanos watched as the mortal woman came toward him again, this time with the Asgardian prince at her side. Loki emerged from the chaos he had created with his illusions and joined Willow's side. The Titan began laughing and suddenly disappeared. Clenching her hands into fists, Willow was about to go on a rampage, spouting profanities, but Loki placed a hand on her shoulder.
"He was right there! We should have done something to stop him," Willow grumbled, folded her arms across her chest. It seemed the Skrulls had disappeared with their master.
"What would you have suggested?" Loki wondered.
"Anything would have been helpful, anything," Willow pointed out, "Thor, you could have thrown your hammer at him."
"It would not have mattered," Thor stated and Willow let out a breath.
"We'll never know now, will we?" Willow demanded and the other Avengers arrived.
"What is with all the yelling?" Tony wondered, landing near the group.
"Thanos got away and we didn't do anything about it," Willow explained.
"We thought that was what happened," Natasha spoke up.
"Did we get the gem?" Steve asked, looking between the Asgardians.
"I do not have it," Thor professed. All eyes were on Loki. He held out his hand to show the last gem.
"Thank god you have it," Willow said, sighing.
"We still have Thanos to worry about. He'll want the gem back," Clint figured.
"Not to mention the gauntlet," Tony added.
The dream= Willow's impetus to get rid of Thanos. What if she has Ragnar and Thanos IS STILL AROUND? Haha, anyway, I hope you liked it. Yes, the Skrulls are out-of-place and Thanos keeps disappearing, but in the words of Loki: "It'll come in time." Hope you enjoyed!
