A/N: I never thought I'd say it, but I do believe the end to this story is in sight. After two years. I'm both scared and excited. Just a few more chapters to go. As always, I love you all dearly for all the enthusiasm you've shown ITJOTS. You're amazing, every one of you. Much hugs. Many love.
Eva paced through the chamber, restless. The sun beat just as restlessly through the gaps between pillars, and she leant against one of them, unknowing of anything that was now certain. She watched the ships gently move to and from ports, finding them somewhat soothing in motion, though she was not focusing. Not now. Her mind was far too jumbled and uneasy to truly unwind and lay at rest – much as it might want to.
"You should not dwell on it, my dear."
Eva did not look at the queen as the monarch reached the pillar and stood beside her, but she replied with a thread of despair.
"How can I not? That is my homeland at stake. My family." Her eyes shifted to the regal grace of Frigga's features. "You understand the importance of that. I know you do. And I am kept here, unable to see or know what the hell is going on. I don't even know if my loved ones are safe!"
Frigga gave an elegant nod in admission, face ever steady.
"They are safe, Eva. Heimdall sees all. He sees them, and he knows they are safe. He would inform us if they were not." She lightly laid a hand on Eva's shoulder. "You know they would be here if Odin allowed it. But he is averse to too many mortals in Asgard."
Eva had to bite her tongue to stop unsavoury words leaving her mouth, but judging by the slight twinkle in Frigga's eyes, the queen knew her feelings exactly.
"Why did he allow me here?" Eva asked, frowning. "Surely I am just a simple nuisance to him?"
Frigga's brow rose.
"My husband knows how valuable you are as a hostage. If the enemy managed to capture you, Loki would fall to his knees."
A short, brusque laugh, and Eva shook her head, a thin, dry curve turning her mouth upwards.
"No, he wouldn't. He isn't quite that devoted –"
"Oh, he is," the queen cut in, smiling. "Why do you think he changed his mind and had you brought here by Heimdall? "
That brought Eva up short. Why had he done it?
Swallowing, she gazed out at the sea below.
"We're not good for each other. Even you must know that. We're destructive."
"That you might be, but you have wrought some change in him. You have opened him up. Never has he been so frank with a woman before – or quite so intimate. No, I don't expect good will come of your relationship in the long term – but you have induced him to fight for what he wants, and I cannot fault either of you for that. You've hurt each other, and now you want to save each other."
The human gave the Asgardian a sidelong glance at that. Do I want to save him? Truly? Is he worth saving, after all he's done?
"I still want him to suffer," she said, after a thoughtful pause and realisation of brutal honesty. "I don't think I can forgive him for what he did. This isn't a love story with a happy ending, my lady. We will still bare our teeth and hiss at each other whatever the outcome of this war. And when this war is over, I will not stay with him. I'm not willing to do that. I'm not meant for a life with him and he's not meant for a life with me. He knows that. I know that."
"But you love him."
Eva looked away, preferring to look down at the people milling about. Her voice was quiet when she eventually spoke, no longer defensive, no longer in denial. The Asgardian queen had the gift of foresight; one could not lie to her so easily.
"I suppose I do," she murmured, closing her eyes briefly. "I suppose I do." Another curt laugh. "Not that I'm happy about it. I'm sure you can understand why. I'll be labelled a traitor back home. No matter what Stark and the others say. I won't have a free life. I will spend the rest of my life answering for crimes I did not commit."
"Assuming you go home, of course."
A wry smile. "I cannot stay here. Of course I will go home. My family is there. What is there for me in Asgard but a tormented man on the brink of insanity and strange looks from Asgardian civilians?"
Frigga returned the lip-curve. "My dear Eva, you will always be welcomed in Asgard – if not by my husband, then by me. Any woman who can steal and hold ransom the heart of my tortured trickster son is welcome, in my eyes."
"I'm flattered, my queen," Eva replied, and though she answered dryly, part of her was truly touched. At least one individual here did not think her a traitor. "Will Odin send aid?"
The queen nodded. "Yes. He was wrong to refuse before, and he knows it well enough now. Even he, proud as he is, will admit that fault. Though he did not yet know of the army waiting to swarm Earth, he still had a duty of care to your realm, and he denied you what you needed. I doubt you will get an apology from him personally, but consider myself remorseful, Eva Manning. Will you forgive Asgard this slight?"
Now, that took Eva aback. An apology from the queen herself? Rare indeed. Eva was silent for a moment, and then she nodded.
"I will. But only if Earth survives."
Frigga gave her a long, appraising look. "You strike a hard deal, Eva Manning. It is no wonder Loki was attracted to you; he does like a complex agreement. But you speak with fairness. I would not expect your forgiveness if your people were lost."
"Precisely." Eva said nothing more, unsure how to proceed. Frigga seemed to sense this uncertainty, and gently took Eva by the arm.
"Come. You must eat something. Worry is a draining emotion for even the strongest of us."
She led Eva away, and for once the human woman made no protest.
The shields held. Loki could have wept in relief – but he knew it was far from over. Thanos's army had been relentless, and it was only a few hours since they had begun firing. Loki, not for the first time, praised his own insightful nature, and his own magical skill. Had he not learnt such abilities from his adoptive mother… he knew that Earth would be a flaming shell by now. No human would survive the weapons Thanos had at his disposal. Loki knew. He'd seen the damn things.
Humanity stared in shock as the alien race bombarded them with hideous, icy blue energy blasts and enough ammunition to tear the planet in two – but they only rebounded or exploded in vibrant flashes and deafening bangs against the shields. What was this? Who had such anger against the human race?
Of course, it wasn't the human race that had earned such anger. No, Thanos did not give a damn about tiny humans. But most did not realise that. Only a few were wise and informed enough to understand that Loki was the sole reason for this onslaught. No other.
SHIELD watched in barely concealed horror as the firing never seemed to cease. Breath was bated. No one spoke. What if they broke through? What then? No nuclear weapon could beat this. Could it?
They had posed that exact question to Loki himself, who shook his head as he too observed the assault.
"No. Thanos has lived too long and is too advanced in his knowledge of technology. What you humans possess, he saw and used eons ago. Humanity is still taking baby steps, in his eyes. No matter how many missiles, no matter how many crudely put-together weapons you might have – nothing could beat what he has. Nothing."
Maria Hill, predictably, was not best pleased. Most could not see past the usual poised façade she wore, but the Avengers could. And they knew she was inwardly tearing her hair out. The fate of the human race hung in the balance – and hardly any humans knew why. The worldwide media was going nuts, people were adopting the clichés and panicking and rioting in the streets. Religious fanatics screamed about Judgement Day, about reckoning and rapture.
Oh, if only they knew, she thought to herself. If only they knew.
Loki had watched her, somewhat admiring her calm. Most humans he knew to be fretful types – she was dismantling that notion with ease. Thor continually turned the handle of his beloved Mjolnir in his hands; his brother knew that action. Knew his older sibling was just itching for a fight.
"You always did despise feeling helpless," Loki murmured to him as they waited for something – anything to happen.
Thor sighed, jaw taut. "Is it that obvious, brother?"
Loki laughed in spite of the situation. "Yes. Always."
"At least I amuse you." A faint smile upturned the Thunderer's lips. "I seemed to do that often, when we were younger."
"That you did, Thor. That you did."
A young man's head suddenly turned to face them, eyes wide.
"There's a signal. Someone wants to speak to us."
Loki rose to his feet, and no one dared challenge his taking of control.
"Let them."
A few seconds later, and a deep, rumbling voice that the trickster knew very, very well echoed around the bridge.
"It's been some time, boy. I thought we had broken you."
Loki's face remained impassive, though if anyone had seen the inside of his mind they would see a struggle between steadiness and terror.
"Clearly you thought wrong. And now you seek your vengeance, am I right?"
"Naturally." Amused now. "Wayward boys must be taught their lesson – though I must say, I am impressed by your shields. Did your mother teach you that trick, too?"
"No," came the almost casual tone, though Thor could see the tell tale whitening of Loki's knuckles. "This is all my own doing. Are you proud?"
It was then that Thor realised just how afraid his little brother really was.
A mocking laugh sounded then. Not one on the bridge moved – some dared not even breathe. Eyes were wide, and all were fixed on the usurper. Loki did not let his features crack, not once. The last thing Earth needed was a trembling leader. And Loki had always been the diplomat, not the deserter. Not when the fight was duly needed.
"A little impressed. But child's play, you know. I've only been toying with you. I like to see the natives run screaming. It's rather entertaining."
And damn it, Loki could not tell if the courter of Death was bluffing. It was poker, but he couldn't see his opponent's face, let alone the hand that the cards provided him.
"You always did like a show," Loki replied. Another laugh.
"Oh, yes. And you know that well enough, don't you?"
Loki fell to his knees.
Instantly Thor was by his side, Mjolnir abandoned, hands shaking now as he cradled a writhing, screaming brother. Thor could only watch in horror as Loki flinched and convulsed – and then as the blood began to trickle from his sibling's nose. A thin rivulet, but soon it thickened. Alarmingly so. Thor gripped Loki's body, staring wildly at him.
"Loki! Loki, look at me – look at me!"
"He can't hear you, Thunderer. The mind is a frightening place. I am only delivering on the promise I made him. Is the blood pouring from his nose yet? Yes? I'd say your peace if I were you. The minute he dies, the shields will fall. Last words, I feel, may be appropriate."
Loki's eyes shot open then, wide and rimmed with red. He stared at Thor, blood bubbling from his lips.
And then he smiled. A terrible, ghastly, bloody smile.
"Not… today."
There was a sudden surge of energy, strong enough to resonate through the Earth – and then the shields burst outwards, ripping into the alien vessels as if they were nothing but trees in a hurricane. They tore through the ships without mercy, violently green, as cruel as its master.
Loki smiled again as he felt Thanos's shock – and then, nothing.
"Ta-dah."
His eyes slid shut.
A/N: Well.
Lightning xoxo