We're back to The Avengers. The last chapter shows how Steve and Dalla passed the ride to the helicarrier. Now, let's save Loki… I kind of have an obsession with having Loki safe. I don't want him dead!
Differences in this chapter: Loki talks to the Avengers, a new enemy appears, and Thanos is introduced, though he will obviously come later.
Thor looked about the helicarrier as he and his twin made their way to the bridge. Dalla couldn't keep her mind from wandering back to Steve. It had been seventy years on Midgard since she had visited… seventy years since his plunge into the ice.
"Sister, is this place a bit small?" Thor ask when they got to her room.
"Hmm?" she asked, looking up at him. "Is it?"
"Do you remember how we got here?"
"Not really, brother. My mind has been… preoccupied."
"By the one in blue?"
She sat on the cot. "Yes. Steve is alive, Thor. All because I couldn't handle the cold, I didn't try to look for him… I didn't…" She put her head in her hands, her voice breaking. "I could have brought him out of that hell and I didn't."
"He wouldn't have wanted you to risk yourself."
"No, I didn't," Steve said. "Can I speak to Dalla privately, please?"
"Go on, Thor," she said. "I'll be fine."
Thor left, bumping Steve's shoulder in warning. Dalla shook her head with a small smile. Steve sat next to her. As if no time had passed, they were still a little shy around each other during social interactions.
"So," Steve said, "you can start."
"No," she said. "Um… you go first. How did you survive in the ice?"
"The super soldier serum. It helped me just sleep."
"I see."
"What about you?"
"I lost my…" She blushed, unable to look at him. "My friend. I felt lost without you, Steve. I went home and only Loki tried to understand. My mother was there at the beginning but she had duties to perform. Thor and my father dismissed what I felt when I returned home. I became angry."
"You couldn't control your powers, could you, beautiful?"
"Nor my temper. Loki and I became inseparable and on Thor's coronation day, we planned to ruin it. It went too far. I should have stopped it, but I didn't. I admitted to my father my part in the plan, or lack thereof, and was put in a cell for a time. Then, I was confined to the palace. Now, I'm under Thor's watch. If he determines I am trustworthy, that I've truly changed, then I won't return to Asgard's dungeons."
"What did you do, Dalla? I thought we had worked past all the anger you had for your father."
"I encouraged Loki to take the throne of Asgard. I stood by as he made a deal with the king of the Frost Giants, commanded the Destroyer to attack Thor, and nearly destroyed a Midgardian town. When I saw the destruction and heard the sound of Thor getting hit, I remembered the war and the sounds…" She looked at the ground, ashamed. "I had started to hide the memories away. I was lost and let myself get swallowed by the anger and pain and grief. I let it drown out everything we had worked so hard to find, that I fought to find." She looked at him, tears falling. "I let it all overshadow the good that was there. Now, I'm just trying to not let myself fall into it again. Every day feels like a battle inside of me and I don't know how to stop it."
"We start over. So, you had a setback? It happens. It took a while, but you did find your way back and that's what counts, Dalla. Don't let one slip up tell you anything. It just means that you still have work to do on yourself and that's okay." He tentatively took her hand. "You're still the amazing woman I met seventy years ago, and I won't let you forget her ever again."
Dalla put her head on his shoulder. "Thank you, Steve. I don't know what magic you hold, but without you, I would not have survived my first trip to Midgard. I promise, never to let you down like that again."
"You didn't let me down, beautiful. Like I said, you made a mistake, but you recognized it and accepted the consequences. Not everyone can do that and it was brave of you to do it."
She looked up at Steve. "Well, soldier, I suppose I should get ready to see everyone I will be aiding."
He stared into her eyes for a moment. "Right. I'll… um… meet you there."
Ten minutes later, Dalla exited the room, fresh and clean despite the tears. She ran into someone, who had been waiting for her. His eyepatch reminded her of Odin, but the air about him told her that this man may seem like he was all business, but that he cared for those under him.
"I'm Director Nick Fury," he said. "I heard from Thor you had a hand in the New Mexico incident."
"More like I saw it happen and did nothing to stop it," she said. "But I have since…"
"He told us of that as well. Now, I know you're one of the founders of SHIELD, but if we can't trust you, you can join Loki in that cell. I can't have you switching sides just because you don't like something."
"First off, Director Fury, I did not create SHIELD, I helped plan the concept. Second, I turned myself in for my crimes on Asgard and am in the final stages of regaining my father's trust. And lastly, if I was going to switch sides, I'd already have done so. Thor and Steve will keep me and my temper in check."
"I have a new tenet to welcome. Head to the bridge and I'll…"
"Fury, I know how this works. I'll help as much as I can. Besides, my ability to read minds can come in handy."
"You already looked, didn't you?"
"My brother wouldn't be needlessly cruel and wouldn't hurt people like that. I connected with the real Loki and his mind was fogged. That tells me he isn't in control, or not in complete control at the very least. Let me try, under supervision, to help Loki before anything more happens."
"Who?"
"The best options are Steve and Thor. Thor seems intent on having me 'know my place' and Steve will keep me from doing anything stupid while supporting me."
"I'll think about it."
Dalla gave a stiff nod before turning to leave, though she said, "Natasha will only escalate the situation. I read your mind. Let me go first and if I fail, then send the best in. Loki trusts me, not you."
Dalla entered the bridge and sat next to the one Fury called Natasha. They both watched the video of Loki being placed in a cell. Dalla knew she had to get in there. She looked at the redheaded woman next to her.
"You want to talk to him?" she asked as Fury made his way back to the room.
"I can get him to confess everything willingly without tricking him," Dalla answered. "Not only that, but I may even be able to get him to help. I just need Thor to yell at me and Steve to yell at Thor for not supporting me."
Natasha smiled. "You'd make a good spy if you can manipulate people like that."
"I don't control them, Miss Romanov. I play on what I learn from their heads and…"
"Trick them?"
Dalla smiled. "My brother is the God of Mischief, so I had the best teacher on that front."
Steve said, "Loki's going to drag this out. So, Thor, Dalla, what's his play?"
"He has an army called the Chitauri," Thor said, glancing at Dalla to be quiet. "They are not of Asgard, nor any world known. He means to lead them against your people. They will win him the Earth in return, I suspect, for the Tessaract."
Dalla clenched her fists. They continued talking but Dalla couldn't listen to it anymore and Thor didn't let her join in. Just then, Loki's voice said, Don't bother, sister. I'll always be the one everyone expects to mess up.
You were there when I needed you, Dalla said, standing before any more talk could happen. I'll be damned if I abandon you when you need me.
Dalla heard Thor and Steve behind her. Just outside the holding room, she turned to them. Thor and Steve knew what the look on her face meant. Both sighed, shook their heads, and waited to hear her plan.
"I'm going to get my brother back," she said. "His mind is not his own and I can get his help. He'll know how to stop all of this."
"If his mind is controlled by another," Thor replied, "they can control you if you aren't careful."
"That's not an option, Dalla!" Steve said.
"The thing with being a Fire Goddess, even my mind is filled with flames," she said. "I'm not so easy to control."
"We just found each other again after everything and you want to risk that?"
Dalla backed away, hurt. "Steve, you know wouldn't do this if I didn't think it would work."
"And if you're mind gets taken over? What then? I can't fight you, Dalla!"
"You won't have to!"
"You don't know that!"
"Loki won't let me be controlled any more than I would allow it!"
Thor moved up to Dalla and said, "If you think you can bring our brother back, then I support you."
Dalla looked between the men between her as Steve asked, "Don't you care about Dalla's safety?"
They entered the room Loki's cell was in. "You clearly don't know my sister like I do, Captain. If you think I don't care for her, you are wrong. However, I know her strengths and trust her with my life."
"I trust Dalla with my life too, but this is crazy! She could…"
"Shut up!" Dalla yelled before turning to them. "Thor, thank you for the support. I never thought you'd trust me again after everything."
"You proved you were trustworthy a long time ago. After this, Father agreed to consider you a protector of Asgard once more. He knows the hold Midgard holds on you and said you can be its protector as well."
Dalla looked down. Loki felt the shock and joy those words gave her. But it was tinged with hurt. Steve hadn't supported her like she thought he would.
"Dalla…" Steve began.
She looked at him and said, "Steve, if it were…" she swallowed, unable to say the name, "you and I both know you wouldn't hesitate. And I wouldn't stop you. So why are you trying to stop me?"
Steve stared at her as she walked up to the cell with Thor. With a sigh, Steve joined. He knew she was right. He had no right to stand in her way, but he couldn't help but worry. He deeply cared for Dalla.
"Come to play, sister?" Loki asked in a sinister tone.
Dalla took Steve and Thor's hands. Despite them reversing roles in her plan, it still worked. She connected their minds to hers and entered into Loki's. They looked around. It was the castle gardens on Asgard, where Loki often went to be alone and feel safe. Dalla led the way.
"Intruders?" came a voice from the garden maze. "How… amusing."
A group of Chitauri led by what looked like a man wearing a bull's skull blocked their path. The three of them got ready to fight. The enemy charged them.
"Get the girl!" the leader said. "The master wants her!"
Dalla cut down the enemy as they came at her with Eldr. But hearing that she was the target, Thor and Steve fought harder, throwing Chitauri aside to get to Dalla before she was separated from them. They could feel Dalla's anger and guilt build. Loki had been targeted to get her. It was unforgivable.
She put Eldr up and, with a scream of outrage, let the fire burst from her. Steve got between Thor and the blaze, using his shield to keep the fire from touching them.
"Impressive," said the bad guy when Dalla stopped, stepping out from behind a pillar. "That anger is just what we need."
"Who are you and where is my brother?" Dalla asked, turning towards him.
"I am what humans call a Wendigo. As for your brother, he's really at the center of all this, isn't he?"
"I'm getting him and getting you out." She began to walk into the maze. "You and the master you serve."
Wendigo grabbed her arm and ice formed. She screamed out in pain. Wendigo smiled, watching Thor fade from Loki's mind.
"What's the matter, little Goddess?" he taunted. "Can't handle the cold?"
Dalla yanked her arm away. She backed away, fear coursing through her so that some hedges began to smoke. Steve worked his way to her side and looked at the injured arm. It was frostbitten and painful looking. She shook her head at him.
"How sweet," their enemy goaded. "But the longer you stay, the more pain you and Loki will be in."
"I'll be fine, Dalla," Steve said. "Get Loki out of here."
She pulled out her sword and handed it to him, saying, "If you feel yourself fade…"
"Eldr will fly to you, I know."
She couldn't help the look on her face as she looked up at him. He peered down at her, sharing the same expression. She wanted to kiss him. But they were forced apart when an icy blast got between them. Steve began fighting Wendigo and Dalla ran into the maze after one last look at the man she love.
She went around several corners, using her fire to mark her way by singing the ground. Still, she felt so lost in the maze. It felt like hours before she found the middle of the maze and the cage Loki was in. He looked so broken.
"Loki!" she said, running to the bars.
"Dalla…" he said, his voice just above a whisper.
"I'll get you out of there."
"Don't. I put myself here when I touched the scepter, when I fought to protect you. I would not change that."
"And I am not asking that of you. I am not asking anything. I'm doing it because I want my brother back."
Her determination to save him burned brightly so that she melted the bars. He watched her, tears falling. He didn't have the will to move. Just as she finished, Eldr flew to her and she caught it. She looked down for a second before sheathing the sword and helping Loki up. They were about to reenter the maze of Loki's mind when Wendigo appeared. Dalla took a fearful step back.
"All alone now," he taunted.
Dalla and Loki backed up until they were against a hedge, trapped. Once there, Wendigo took Dalla's already injured arm, ice going up her arm. She fell to the ground, screaming in agony.
"The deal was I do what was asked and she wasn't hurt!" Loki said.
"Her anger and pain is a great power source," Wendigo replied. "Soon, I will have her and you. The troublesome twosome, creating mischief again." He made her look at him. "I wonder how devastated your little boyfriend will be when he sees."
A tear fell. She looked at Loki. Love filled her as she thought of her brothers and Steve. She smiled at Loki. Suddenly, Wendigo began screaming and let go of her. She clutched her arm. Loki's arms went around her. She hugged him, letting her love fill her.
"What are you doing?" Wendigo yelled. "It burns! Stop!"
They looked up at Wendigo and saw him engulfed in flames. The siblings stood up together. Dalla moved to stand in front of Loki, even as he tried to stop her.
"That is the love I feel for those around me," she said. "Something you wouldn't understand. Now, get the fuck out of my brother's head!"
The fire grew as Dalla thought of the laughter, the fun, everything that she loved about Steve, Thor, and Loki. Wendigo's screams became louder. Loki took Dalla's hand. She felt him shaking. She removed the flames and walked up to Wendigo.
"Leave, Wendy," she said. "I am not one for torture but you felt the love I have for my brother as such. I did not intend on that, but that is the fire in my heart. Leave now, or I will add Loki's to mine."
With a flash, Wendigo was gone. The maze disappeared. Dalla turned to Loki, an apologetic look on her face. Without hesitation, he hugged her, fighting tears of relief.
"I'm sorry that it reminded you of what you suffered," she said.
"I just want to get out of here," he replied.
"It's your head, Loki," she said. "If you ever feel trapped here, come to me and I will listen. You are not alone, brother."
"Thank you, sister."
"I could never leave you to this fate. You didn't let me. Now, come back out with me. Explain everything. I won't let them hurt you. Neither will Thor nor Steve. Not after what we just witnessed."
"For you, Dalla. No other."
"I'll take it. Oh, and behave. No trying to kill people."
"You know I can't promise that."
"Loki…"
"Fine. I'll be as good as I am able."
"That's all I ask."
Dalla's eyes fluttered open. The team was around her, Steve and Thor on either side. They looked pale after what they had endured. Dalla nodded and Steve helped her sit up. She leaned into him as he helped her stand. He was careful of her left arm, where a bright red mark had appeared. Thor supported her other side as she stood. Loki lay gasping on the floor of the cell.
"Let me in there," she said.
"Are you sure?" Fury asked.
"Yes."
Fury thought for a moment. "Fine."
Steve and Thor helped her to Loki's side. Dalla took his hand and he squeezed it. She laid down next to him, exhaustion taking over. Thor sat down and Steve lay next to Dalla. All of them were so tired, they didn't bother moving further.
"Let's get them to the med bay," said Tony. "Then, we can talk to Reindeer Games."
Thor, who was the least tired of the four, said, "Moving us is not wise now. The battle we just fought to save my brother was difficult. If you must ask your questions, do so here and let us rest."
"Fine," replied Fury. "What was the plan?"
Loki said in a tired voice, "To awaken the green beast, escape, and bring the Chitauri here. All at the command of Thanos." Dalla groaned in her sleep and turned to snuggle into Steve, releasing Loki's hand. "They want my sister, but I handed myself to them to keep her safe. Wendigo broke that deal. The scepter is the key to all of that. Now, let me rest."
"We'll talk more once you've rested. Don't think this means we trust you."
"I do not care if you trust me. Dalla's trust is all I need."
They left the four of them to rest, though Natasha looked back and saw a sleeping Steve wrap his arms around Dalla protectively before she left. Loki and Thor saw this and shared a look. They had a talk with Steve that was desperately needed if he intended to hold their sister in such a way. But it would wait until they were at full strength. Sleep overtook them as they formulated questions to ask.