here is the second to last chapter, enjoy! thank you to those who have reviewed and given their constructive criticism for this fic, it is greatly appreciated. i have a surprise you for all in the last chapter. curious? THEN READ!
What is he doing? I mentally screamed, struggling to pull my face away, but his hands were like iron, unmoving. His tongue, hard and wet entered my mouth and I nearly gagged. This can't be a kiss, it feels like I'm being violated! Abruptly, he changed direction and withdrew his tongue so he could press his cold, chapped lips against mine, once.
Then it was over, and I wheezed for air, opening my eyes to meet heavy-lidded emerald eyes that gleamed with victory. My sensory perception went into total hyperdrive; I could smell the gasoline from the overturned car I knew was behind me. The vibrations that shook the ground from the explosions seemed more prominent than ever, but what stuck out to me most was the clean male scent of Loki as his body heat radiated outwards. That, and that my lips were throbbing painfully, and there was an alien taste in my mouth.
"Tell me I'm not alone," he whispered, his eyes boring into mine. He dropped both of his hands from my face. "The terror, the panic and burn." I searched Loki's eyes, trying to find his angle. I couldn't decide whether to defend myself against him or not. He dropped his eyes, and I thought he was going to kiss me again. Was he?
While I was thinking, it happened. There was a sickening sliding sound down below, and what followed it was the most intense pain I had ever felt in my life. A searing burn flared up in my leg, consuming me in agony, and my mind went completely blank. I gripped Loki's shoulder and tried to push him away, but he wouldn't move. One free hand clamped over my mouth, stifling my screams.
"I'm telling you stay here," he snarled, driving the dagger in a little deeper, but yanking it out suddenly. My vision blurred as tears lined my eyes. He stabbed me? I looked down at my thigh, which had tendrils of blood dripping from a deep hole. Through the pain, my leg gave in, and I felt myself slide down the brick wall, scraping the skin of my neck.
"Why?" I screamed, grasping my leg as I fell clumsily onto a slab of rubble. Loki peered down at me with a curled lip, and then smiled once, although it didn't reach his eyes. It's bleeding too much, I'm losing too much blood!
"Sentiment," he murmured. And then Loki was gone, walking past me through the rubble. I twisted my neck as far as I could, following him until he disappeared from sight.
I was beginning to panic and applied pressure to the wound to staunch the bleeding, but it wasn't going to help. I gritted my teeth and wiped my eyes with the back of my hand, looking around. Steve and Thor hadn't come back yet. If they don't come back soon, I'm going to bleed to death. It was unlikely, though. The wound was deep and I was losing blood, but at least he hadn't stabbed me in the chest.
Once my sobs had subsided, I felt more furious than I ever had in my life; that kiss was just a distraction. It caught me completely off guard, which gave him more than enough time to stab me with his dagger. He was playing me all along.
I looked down at my leg again, now that my vision was clear. Even in my terrified state, I tried to calm down and think rationally. You're sitting in a pile of dirt and rubble. The wound might get infected. Gotta stand up. This will hurt. With the tiniest bit of energy I had left, I grabbed the edge of the largest piece of rubble near me, and pushed myself up. It was a fight; my legs felt like lead, and my shoulders ached, but after a few minutes, I managed to stand myself partially upright, even though I was gripping the stone for dear life.
"If I have kids," I muttered to myself, moving along the wall gingerly. "I'm going to tell them how their mother got stabbed. By a damn alien." Just even thinking about him makes me want to punch a wall! This entire time, I had literally been strung along. Taking the disk got me into his hands, and once he figured out that I'm not good at hiding emotions, he played me like an instrument. Being nice to me to make me think he was vulnerable, manipulating me into hiding secrets...it was all so perfectly planned.
If I could just get my hands on his neck, I would kill himself if the others didn't do it first.
Once I'd gotten out of the non-existent door, I peered down the street, breathing hard. My chest was on fire again. I figured that if I survived this, I was going to get myself diagnosed with asthma. Not a soul.
Think, Elle, think. What can you do? You've been stabbed, you're exhausted, you're about to pass out. What can you do to get yourself out of this? Pure logic would solve my problems. Emotions and instincts were out of the questions.
The first objective: get to S.H.I.E.L.D. And how exactly was I going to do that? I scanned the road for a clue, and found it lying not too far away from me. Lying beneath a shop table was a Blackberry, its lights still flashing.
Thankfully, the phone was unlocked. Hastily, I dialed Kat's number. She picked up with a frantic, "Hello?"
"Kat, I need you to send someone out here to Buckingham Street," I panted, staring up at Stark Tower.
"I'm on it, Miss Elle! Are you okay?" called Kat, sounding flustered. "It's a nightmare in here, where are the Avengers?"
"I don't know," I whispered, tilting my head up to the sky, watching the portal. I limped further down the road, watching explosions in the sky. "Kat, are they coming?"
"I'm coming," she emphasized hurriedly, breathing loudly into the phone. "I'm on my way. You find somewhere to hide, Miss Elle. Don't let yourself get hurt again! What happened?"
"He stabbed me," I said through my teeth, bending over to look at my wound. I had ripped off my jacket and removed my tank top from underneath my black-shirt and tied it around my leg. It was drenched with blood already. Feeling woozy, I leaned against the nearest wall. "I'm losing a lot of blood."
"I'm driving down the street now. Wave so I can see you!"
Thank God. From the very end of the street, I could see a black car swerving down the street, avoiding fallen rubble and slowing around dead bodies. Wearily, I raised both arms and waved to her. I can go home.
The car slowed in front of me and my associate rushed out, her blue eyes stained with tears. "Miss Elle!" Her blond hair looked wild and her eyes tired.
"You stupid girl, stop crying," I panted, stumbling over the edge of the sidewalk. Kat grabbed me from the arm and assisted me inside of the black convertible, blubbering incessantly over my bloodied makeshift bandage. "I'm okay, he didn't get me where it counts."
Kat scurried inside of the car and wiped her eyes hastily, looking embarrassed. "Miss Elle, this is the nightmare. I didn't expect any of this!"
"No one did, now drive," I murmured, trying to stretch my injured leg. "I need a headset, do you have one?" While revving up the car, she ripped hers off her head and handed it to me.
Finally, I thought, putting it on. "Tony? Steve? Anyone there?"
"Pedagia!" Stark's voice gasped, sounding constricted. "I need you to-"
"To what?" I scanned the skies, searching for him while Kat sped down the street. "To what, Tony, to what?"
"I might not make out of here, and I need you to make sure I come back!" he grunted, sounding like he was doing heavy lifting. "If I were you I'd...get Bruce to help out..."
"Kat, head towards Stark Tower," I ordered, my heart racing with worry. What is he talking about?
"Miss Elle, Stark's gone mad!" Kat screeched, pointing through the windshield at a human figure sailing towards the sky, carrying something on his back. "He's putting the bomb through the portal!"
"What bomb?" I screeched back, looking between Stark and Kat. "What are you talking about?"
"The Council ordered the city be destroyed to stop the Chitauri," answered Kat, her hands visibly shaking on the wheel. "They ordered a bomb, and Stark's going to send it out!"
It was a good idea, but every shade of insane.
"Rogers, you need to find Banner," I said urgently, scanning the car for the button to release the cover. "Tony's worried."
"On it." Hidden underneath the dashboard was a lever that I pulled with a grunt, and the cover began to disappear. I chewed on my lip anxiously and glanced at Kat, whose eyes were trained on Stark, ascending towards the portal.
"Pepper's gonna kill me if I don't come back," Stark muttered, and that was the last thing I heard from him. After that, he completely disappeared into the dark mass of energy.
You need to come back. Kat stopped the car and we both stood up in our seats, watching the sky. There's no Avengers if someone's missing. I gripped the top of the windshield, searching every inch of the portal for Tony, waiting for him to fly out with flair, wave a little, and race through the sky like he used to do at his shows. Come back, Tony, come on. The most excruciating aspect of waiting was wondering what we would do if Tony didn't return. The Chitauri were a vast army; if he failed, there would be nothing we could do to eradicate them from New York City. I zoned out, thinking of how horrible it would be.
An excited screech from Kat brought me back to the present and I turned my eyes up to the sky again, watching a tiny figure fall from the portal. But even as she continued to laugh with excitement, I knew something was wrong.
"He's not stopping!" exclaimed Natasha.
"Find Banner before he crashes!" I yelled fearfully, urging Kat to drive. Without caring for my injured leg, I dropped into the seat as she put the car into gear, and sped in Tony's direction, doing at least 70 mph on the road. "Where is he?"
"Miss Elle..." began Kat, sounding worried. Then she screamed, pointing in the rearview mirror. I turned it towards me and did a double take. Racing down the street, was the Hulk.
Think, Elle, think.
"Stop!" I said quickly, throwing my arm in front of her. "I think he's gonna-" I trailed off, watching as he got closer, baring his teeth. With one foot, he leapt, landing on the edge of the car. Kat and I both shrieked as the car sank underneath his weight, and with a roar, Banner took off, sailing towards one of the buildings.
The car sputtered and died immediately. I clutched my hand to my chest, trying to calm down. I saw that coming, but holy hell.
"Stark is in the Hulk's hands!" exclaimed Steve, sounding relieved. "He's okay."
The adrenaline rush gave me enough energy to get me through five more minutes of walking, to where Tony laid on the ground, surrounded by the rest of the Avengers. He was laughing, pointing to the sky, which was now completely clear and blue. Steve knelt next to him, nodding with a smile on his face and his shield on the ground next to him.
"Is Stark okay?" Kat panted, helping me towards them. "Mr. Stark!"
In the suit, Tony twisted his head around and smiled widely. "Kitty Kat!" Groaning, he sat upright, waving Steve away. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Kat looked at me expectantly and with a nod, I slid my arms away. Kitty Kat, I thought with amusement. She approached her, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. I guessed they had become friends while I was gone.
Suddenly, I wanted to sleep. Steve stood up, gathering his shield, and walked over to me, his face weary, but still smiling. When he noticed how awkwardly I stood, he looked me up and down.
"God, did he hurt you?" His eyebrows came together. "Elle, I told you to stay put."
"He found me, I didn't move a muscle," I answered honestly. "I just need to get to a hospital. You look well."
Steve smiled crookedly, trying to rub some dirt off his face. "Do I?"
"Yes, never better."
Kat rode with me back to S.H.I.E.L.D. The others still had one more matter to take care of: Loki. Natasha informed me that Banner took care of Loki, and he was currently lying in Stark's living room, completely incapacitated.
Back at S.H.I.E.L.D., every living soul was celebrating with champagne or wine, toasting each other to another success. Those who weren't drinking were assigned to cleanup, which is always the worst part of situations like these. News stations were already jumping on top of it, getting interviews from witnesses. S.H.I.E.L.D. worked very hard to ensure that no camera footage of the Chitauri would reach television screens. Videos that had been uploaded to YouTube were deleted. Especially since someone managed to get a video of me speaking alien tongue.
Unfortunately, I was debriefed, and I had to explain how Loki had managed to take me under mind-control and force me to work for the aliens. It was the most embarrassing moment of my life.
Of course, I left out the kiss.
Later, Barton tried to reassure me that he was considered one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s best agents, and even he was susceptible, so I shouldn't feel too guilty. I thanked Steve again for knocking me on the head.
"You're lucky to still be able to walk, Ms. Pedagia," Doctor Hunt said, tutting as he looked at charts. "That stab wound was pretty deep!" Kat sat in a chair next to my bed in my hospital room, and she looked at the doctor with alarm.
"Will she be able to walk, sir?" Kat asked him, looking at my bandaged leg. Although the wound was deep, the doctors were able to clean it and stitch it up. Bottles of antibiotics sat on a small wooden table on the other side of my bed. I looked at them with distaste. I hate swallowing pills.
"She'll be able to walk. Those aliens missed a major nerve by a few centimeters." Lucky break. I sighed loudly. Or else, I'd be handicapped and out of a job. "You should be walking in about a week and a half, two weeks tops."
"Thanks, Doc," I said gratefully. Doctor Hunt peered at me over his spectacles, smiled, and then excused him, tending to another patient. I leaned against the pillow, closing my eyes. What a day.
"I'm so glad you're alright, Miss Elle," Kat said quietly, leaning towards me. "I was afraid I was never gonna see you again."
"Are you still mad at me, Kat?" I asked casually, reaching for my glass of water. Eagerly, she shook her head.
"Oh, no! I was just worried about you, that's all. It just didn't make any sense...but I guess you're just unlucky, huh?" Kat reached over and squeezed my hand with a smile.
I lied to her face. "Yeah, Kat. I'm just unlucky." She smiled sadly and stood upright with a tired sigh. "Where are you off to?"
"Back to work." Kat frowned, clearly unhappy. "I'm assigned to cleanup."
"I'm sorry," I said sincerely, following her with my eyes to the door. "Good luck?" Kat saluted me with a grin and closed the door behind her.
I've never been happier to be stabbed, I thought honestly, sinking against the warm pillows. Now I can get real sleep.
Throughout this entire ordeal I never truly felt relieved until today. The Chitauri were gone, New York was partially destroyed, but saved, Loki was being sent home, and so was I. He would never be able to threaten me again.
I still felt guilty that I never truly told the whole story. No one knows that it was me who took the information, no one knows I never gave that disk to Sullivan, and no one knows that I willingly cooperated with Loki. The possibility that Selvig or Barton might talk still loomed over my head. In the back of my mind, I began to wonder if I should talk to them privately. Maybe, maybe not. I only remembered bits and pieces of my temporary mind-control, maybe they didn't remember me.
Mind-control. I thought it was only a trick, I mused grimly. Nothing better than being wrenched from your own body.
Disturbing my thoughts was the sound of my cell-phone ringing. Conveniently, it was placed on the table next to me, and I picked it up, glancing at the caller I.D. It was Katie.
At least she's okay, I reminded myself, taking a deep breath before answering the call. "Hello?" I murmured, staring at a cut on my hand.
"I saw you, Ellie. On television. Shooting at aliens."
Her words were clipped, and my heart skipped a beat. I thought S.H.I.E.L.D. took care of it. That meant that Katie saw me doing my job. Oh, no.
I licked my lips, glancing around the room. "I...Katie, I tried to tell you. So many times...but I was sworn to secrecy, they promised to kill me." Which was mostly a lie. I wasn't going to be killed...I think.
"So you're telling me that you work as an alien-hunter," she assumed curtly. "That's what you've been doing for the past three years. Hunting aliens."
"I don't hunt them," I corrected her. "You don't know it, but there are foreign species trying to invade Earth every single day, and it's my job to keep them from succeeding. I still work with computers, I help to track them down, and help provide communications. I work with the database, I update programs so agents can get where they need to go and take care of the situation before normal civilians like you, or Russell catch onto it. You don't know it, but there's a lot out there you don't know about."
I sounded like the recruiting agent who came to my door that day three years ago.
"I'm sorry I kept this from you, I'm sorry I never see you, or Katie, or Mom or Dad but...I didn't have a choice. Katie, you have to understand that I just wanted to protect you," I tried, staring at the door.
"I'm the big sister. I'm supposed to protect you."
Smiling a little, I played with my sheets. "You're not the alien hunter."
"This world is absolutely insane," muttered Katie on a sigh. "Where are you? Are you hurt anywhere?"
I hesitated.
"Ellie?" she demanded, her voice rising several pitches. "Are you hurt?"
"Yeah..." I said slowly, bracing for impact. "One of them...got me in my leg."
"Can you walk? We're coming to get you right now."
"NO!" I sat upright with alarm. "That's the worst possible idea. You stay exactly where you are...where are you, anyway?"
"We're still in JFK. Once word got around about what happened, the airport shut down and we were in lockdown. Russell, Megan and I are on our way home, though."
What a relief. "How about you just go home, and when I get back, you can come over? Bring them both, okay?"
Katie was silent a little while longer, and when she spoke, her voice was emotional. "I'll come over and...and we'll make spaghetti like we used too, kay?"
I smiled at the memory of Spaghetti Sundays. "Okay, Katie."
Katie laughed once, sounding disbelieving. "My sister, the alien hunter."
"I just type on computers." I shrugged my shoulders. "It's no big deal."