AN: Whoa thanks everyone again for the reviews and new follows! I can't thank you all enough! Reading the kind words really brightens up my day!
Here is the next chapter! I will try to get a new chapter up before Christmas...mostly because I'm getting a Tsugaru Shamisen and will want to devote most of my winter break pretending to be the Yoshida Brothers...
Anyway, thank you all again for reading! Reviews are always very welcome! Enjoy!
CHAPTER 15: Visitors
Jane had to admit, in her life there were few times that truly left her speechless. Finding out she was had gotten a full ride to Princeton? Yeah, she had been pretty speechless. Seeing some of the first pictures from the Hubble Telescope? She had been at a loss for words then, too. And, of course, there was that time when Thor fell from the sky…and that certainly took the cake.
So when she had seen the evidence her political science protégé had spoke of, well, add one more speechless moment to her life. Sitting in her lab, surrounded by equipment that cost more than her small flat in New Mexico, were the famous Warriors Three and Lady Sif—all enjoying some of Earth's finer delicacies.
The whole scene was hilariously out of place. The group of them had on attire that screamed of regality—with the elegantly carved metals and artistically stitched fabric looking rather unusual in her dusty laboratory. In front of them, the aforementioned Earthly delight—a pizza—was all that Darcy could afford with her meager stipend. Laughing to herself quietly, Jane sent the college student a smile.
"Jane! Finally! You and Thor should come join us." Darcy grinned, "Big guy over here swore he would save you both some."
Next to her, Thor let out a hearty laugh as Volstagg sent the girl an amused look. Taking her seat next to Darcy, Jane watched as Thor greeted his comrades with a rough pat on the back—and a simple nod towards the female warrior. With her examining eyes, however, Jane could tell that behind the laughter and rejoice, something was amiss.
"We were actually having a great time, Jane." Darcy admitted, handing the woman a cold slice, "These guys have the most hysterical stories about your boyfriend!"
"I pray nothing too damaging." Thor mumbled with a mouth filled with food, "Rest assured, Miss Lewis, the Warriors Three have their fair share of asininity."
Jane watched as the group of them shared a healthy round of laughter before settling down. In Thor's eyes, she could see that he too felt as though something was wrong—that this was not a simple trip to earth. The scientist watched as he put his plate down and gave his friends a small smile.
"I am overjoyed with your presence, my friends." Thor said with a smile, "But I fear you have not come to Midgard on pleasant terms. I beg of you, tell me I am wrong."
There was a silence that was unsettling. In the background, the low hum of the machines was the only conversation. It seemed as though the group didn't want to admit to the reality—instead, wishing to remain in their laughter-filled bubble of fiction. Finally breaking the silence, Sif gave a defeated sigh.
"We had sought safety on Alfheim." She explained, "But Lord Frey urged us to leave. While I know not who, I know well that someone desires the stones. We are being hunted."
Casting a gaze to her side, Jane could see Thor's fists tightening and jaw becoming tense. Once again, Asgard was going to bring war to earth. With the Warriors Three and Sif accounted for, all of the stones were on Earth. Whoever wanted them, whoever craved them, would have no trouble brining war to the planet again. In her heart, Jane knew that they would make what Loki did in New York look like child's play.
"I wanted not to put lives in danger here again." Thor whispered, "First my brother, and now this? I feel powerless."
"Can't you just, I don't know, scatter again?" Darcy suggested, "It would be a short reunion but…"
"SHIELD has involved themselves too far." Jane interrupted, "I wouldn't be surprised if they were on their way here now. The quicker we can get this situation away from them, the better."
To this, Thor gave the scientist an agreeing nod.
"We must entertain another plan of action." Thor agreed, "My comrade, the Man of Iron, is weary of SHIELD as well. Perhaps he could be of assistance? Whatever path we choose, I know-for my brother's safety-he mustn't stay with these people."
Nodding in agreement, Jane pushed a series of numbers in her phone. Looking past Thor, she could see the familiar black cars and suited men approaching the entrance to her lab.
Just as she suspected.
Loki let out a small hiss as a burst of bright light assaulted his senses. Covering his tired eyes, the God sat up off of the metallic bed and gave his visitor a smile. Clad in his famous leather attire, a singular dissecting eye stared back at him—a look of displeasure radiating from its owner's face. Laughing softly to himself, Loki had thought it would have taken the intimidating Nick Fury a shorter time to confront him again. After all, he could see the questions dripping from him.
"You have some nerve showing up here again, Loki."
Flashing a mischievous smile towards the bald man, Loki simply gave him an uncaring shoulder shrug. In the man's eye, Loki could see a rage burning inside him that ignited an excitement that he couldn't describe. He very much liked playing verbal tennis with these mortals, and Nick was one of his favorite competitors.
"I had nothing to do with this."
Green eyes narrowed as the agent gave him an incredulous laugh.
"Right." Nick grinned, "So why were you in possession of the stone? Heimdall swears it was trusted with that woman."
Loki looked towards his hands with a frustration on his face. Heimdall was here? He knew that Gatekeeper was not very fond of him, and he had to wonder what incriminating information that spineless Asgardian had given these people. From their last encounter, he was certain that Heimdall would feel no qualms offering him up to slaughter. Shaking these thoughts out of his head, Loki returned a playful smirk to the human.
"The stone was making the Lady sickly." Loki explained, "I thought it best to take the burden of power for a while."
To Loki's disappointment, the human simply laughed at him again. Letting a growl escape his chapped lips, the God watched as the human shook his head and continued on.
"That's the biggest bullshit I've ever heard." He decided, "I have a hard time believing that a man who attacked a whole city, would feel bad that some woman was sick. Try again."
Gritting his teeth, Loki hissed as the pain in his side returned. The wounds from the strange human weapons were still wreaking havoc on his body. Ignoring the pain, Loki shook his head and sent a defiant glance towards the man.
"Believe what you will, mortal." Loki growled, "Just know that you were foolish for taking the stone. You will suffer in ways you can't even imagine."
To Loki's satisfaction, a dark look came over Fury's face.
"What do you mean?"
Grinning towards the director, Loki could almost taste the fear dripping from the man's voice. Had these people honestly thought they were dealing with something innocent? Had they thought that a group of mere mortals would be able to control something so extraterrestrial? Hadn't they learned from their blunders with the Tesseract that they were no match for these alien objects? Laughing, Loki started to walk over towards the director—a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"And why should I tell you?" Loki smirked, "I take much greater pleasure in watching you mortals play with power you can't hope to control. Soon, it will blow up in your pathetic faces."
To this, Nick just narrowed his eye.
"We plan to use them for good." The man explained, "You've caused so much death. Don't you think this is a chance for redemption?"
Loki tried hard to hold back a laugh, but ultimately failed.
"Good is a matter of perspective." Loki explained, his voice silky, "You and I are not so different."
In the middle of this game, green eyes caught sight of moving figures in the window behind his interrogator. Looking past Fury's hard stare, the God could see a number of guards transporting a frail looking figure—the handcuffs digging into their pale flesh with a painful crimson ring. As a pair of unmistakable gold irises met his for a brief moment, the God of Lies could feel an unwanted tightness in his chest. In that brief second, he could see evidence of a torture that disturbed him.
"Who is she?"
Blinking a few times, Loki focused back at the human. Putting on a fake malicious smile, Loki simply shook his head and laughed.
"A pathetic creature, really." Loki explained, "A physician with a unique talent for healing magic. She may have a sharp mind, but she is no different from the rest of Asgard's scum."
For some reason, a shiver went down Loki's spine as Fury sent him a smile.
"Now that was a lie."
Narrowing his green eyes at the man, Loki scoffed.
"Believe what you want."
To this, Loki watched as Nick Fury gave him one last grin before heading towards the large silver door that separated his containment room from the hallway to freedom.
"There are pains not even you are immune to, Loki." Nick muttered, "Soon, you'll talk."
Matching the human's smirk, Loki sent a challenging glare back.
"Try me."
Brown eyes lowered as they opened the large metal door to a containment cell. In the brightly lit room, handcuffed to a chair, sat a dark haired woman—golden eyes seemingly staring into his very soul. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the chair across from the woman out from the table and took a seat. Looking down at his hands, he gave a small smile to the silent being before him.
"I've done my research you know." Bruce began quietly, "I know what you are the Goddess of."
Not surprisingly, the Asgardian remained quiet. Looking her over, he noticed that her eyes looked distant and her long hair was split at the ends. On her arms, the scientist could see the bruised evidence of many needles—of IV's and injections. Under her eyes, he could see a painful exhaustion. In short, the woman sitting before him looked broken. An uneasy feeling came over him as he broke the silence between them.
"Can you tell me what's wrong with me?" Bruce asked, barely above a whisper, "They say you can perform miracles."
To this, the scientist watched as the Asgardian let out a small, angry laugh. As her bitten lips twisted into a resentful smile, he felt a fear wash over him.
"Of course." She muttered, "Your very basis of information has been compromised. Your body is riddled with mutation. But I trust you knew this well."
Bruce narrowed his eyes as the woman gave his body another look—a bitterness radiating from her thin face.
"But you came here not to see if I was a fair diagnostician." Eir whispered, "You mortals are not unlike the monsters on Asgard."
"What?" Bruce asked shocked, "I don't kn—"
"Since you pathetic creatures found me you have done nothing but treat me as a tool!" the Asgardian spat, "You come in droves, begging for me to cure your slights. You mortals put me through barbaric tests, though hours of painful interrogation. I've been treated as though I was a science project—experimented on! You mortals won't stop until you have every secret from my body and my mind!"
Looking closer at the woman, he could now see the obvious signs of mental and experimental torture. Seeing the resentment in her golden eyes, a wave of regret came over the man. It seemed that SHIELD had done much more than he thought, and he suddenly felt ashamed for asking.
"I'm sorry." Bruce whispered, avoiding her gaze, "You just have such a gift I—"
To this the woman let out a laugh.
"You have no idea what pain this gift has brought me."
The scientist took a deep breath as he watched the metallic eyes across from him look towards the floor—lost in a thought. In the silence, he was kept company by the deafening beating of his own heart—beating faster in anticipation to her answer. If anyone could offer him the cure he so desperately sought, it was this woman. Finally breaking the silence, the Asgardian spoke:
"The pain your body would incur during the healing process would have you begging for death." She muttered, eyes narrowed at him, "I would have to kill every cell in your body. There is a plethora of cells that make up your mortal form, and having them all die…having them all be reborn…is a fate I would wish on no one."
Brown eyes widened as the woman went into a detailed description of the horrors his body and his mind would face in ridding himself of the monster within him. With each word, Bruce could feel his heart beating faster and his breathing getting tighter. Before she could finish, the man let out a grateful sigh as the metallic door opened behind him with a familiar face.
"Banner, trying to get a physical?" Tony asked with a smile, "Don't bother, I already asked Fury. Man said we could look—not touch."
Bruce remained quiet as Tony walked over to the two of them. Watching cautiously, he looked on as Tony tilted his head to the side, gazing at the Asgardian doctor before them. Tony smiled towards the woman, only to have her squint her eyes at the infamous Tony Stark.
"You're beautiful." Tony decided, "I wish you would smile instead of looking like Death."
Bruce watched as the woman just sent a dark look towards Iron Man.
"Well, I tried." Tony decided, "Come on, Banner. Fury has requested our presence for some meeting."
With that, Bruce sent an apologetic look towards the chained Asgardian before closing the door and leaving her in silence once again.
"As you all know, we have a bit of a situation." Nick Fury began, looking around the table filled with Earth—and Asgard's—finest, "Someone is after the stones and their protectors. While we are fairly certain these stones can be used effectively, keeping them here is problematic."
Nick cast a look over the people seated around the large conference table. In the back, he could see the guilty looks of Thor and his friends as he spoke. Fitting, really, since these aliens had brought so much trouble to Earth…clearing his throat, the director continued on.
"Not only that." Nick added, "But the only person who knows anything about this person, or how the stones work isn't talking."
With this, the director flipped open Loki's digital file. In the corner of the screen, the group could see the anxious God pacing in his glass cell like a trapped animal. As he looked on, he could see Thor's visible discomfort over the sight of his brother.
"We need a plan." The director urged, "We can't be unprepared this time."
Unfortunately for Fury, this was met by an obvious eye roll from the infamous Black Widow.
"Sure." She muttered, playing with her red locks, "We'll get right on that. Oh wait, we don't know whose even behind this. We don't know what they're capable of. We don't know anything. Unless Loki talks, and I doubt he will, we're stuck."
Looking at Loki's figure on the screen, Fury let out a defeated sigh. Unfortunately for them, their key to having any chance at defeating whoever—whatever—was after them was firmly grasped in Loki's unforgiving hands. Rubbing his forehead, he sent a look to the God of Thunder. Almost reading his mind, the God shook his head.
"My brother swears he is innocent." Thor explained, "And what if he is?"
Before Nick could answer, Barton let out a laugh.
"I somehow doubt that."
Narrowing his eyes at the sharp shooter, Nick continued to address the group.
"Even if he is innocent, Loki needs to be punished for what he did here." He explained, "You don't actually believe I can just forget that he destroyed Manhattan?"
To his right, Bruce Banner took off his glasses and inspected them for a minute before speaking up.
"Loki may very well give us the information we need for his freedom." The scientist explained, "Whoever wants these stones will destroy more than just Manhattan. Letting him go could ultimately save millions of lives, especially if he's telling the truth."
Letting out a sigh, Nick knew Bruce's logic was sound. Still, there was a problem with all of this that unsettled him. Lucky for Fury, Barton seemed to be on the same wavelength.
"He's the God of Lies, people!" The archer exclaimed, "How can we trust anything he says?"
Nick could see the guilt sweeping over Thor's face again.
"What about the chick?" Tony asked flippantly, "Think he'd tell her?"
Before Nick could respond, Captain America sent Tony a nasty look.
"Do you really think putting a woman in that kind of position is wise?" Steve asked, "This is Loki we're talking about."
"My brother would never harm her." Thor defended, unthinking, "Loki's mind is in ruin, but I truly believe my real brother to be under the debris. That brother wouldn't dare hurt her."
With these words, Nick Fury could feel his lips curling into an uncontrollable smile.
Perfect.
Thanks for reading! Reviews are always awesome! ありがとうございます!
