Oh my gosh, you guys! I'm so sorry! My Office program crashed, and it took me almost a week to recover all my files. Then I had to verify they were all there. I put all my writings and their notes on Word. I had such a panic attack for days, I couldn't complete anything. Here's the next chapter. I'm so sorry again!
A few moments after the portal opened….
Aura crossed her arms and rolled her neck. Tail twitching rather aggressively.
The door of this jet closed long ago; she had been left alone once more.
The imagined jet. Yes, this was nothing more than an illusion. Nothing more than a conjured vision. Clearly, she still resided in her cold cell room on the helicarrier. Clearly, Loki still lurked in one of the corners.
Yet…she couldn't shake the realization she didn't feel the freezing temperatures. Her fingers didn't hurt uncontrollably. She possessed free reign of her movements. She maintained this more powerful form.
Solid black eyes glanced around the interior of the small carrier.
No version of Loki stood anywhere. For the first time in a long time, he was gone.
Her nostrils flared as she tightened her arms together. Uncrossed and re-crossed her legs. Semi-spaded tail continued jerking back and forth.
She honestly didn't know what to think of this situation, didn't know what to do. She could only rehash the same few thoughts over and over in her mind, coming to no real conclusion. As much as she wanted to believe the robots fabricated this to break her, something felt off. Something she couldn't help but question.
The demon's head tilted. Perhaps this was the key? They needed her questioning. Yes, that had to be it.
Her chest rose and fell with a hard huff. She grew bored of this incessant reasoning. She only wanted her mind and soul freed. The only way it could happen was through death. This was the only thing she was certain of. Her eyes fluttered. Oh, how she craved death. True death.
The death where her soul died, and she wasn't stuck in any form of Hel or other afterlife she may wind up in.
A cacophony of screeches vibrated through the jet's frame.
Aura shot off the mounted seats, arms falling to her sides. Hands glowing with equipped fire. She heard voices in the cockpit ahead of her.
Shouts of two frightened men wafted into the hold.
One of her brows rose in suspicion at the sounds. This was new. Caution guided her steps as she headed for the cockpit. But she only made it two strides.
Whaam!
The smaller aircraft lurched, its passengers slamming against the left side.
Aura snarled. She peeled herself off the curved wall. What in the Nine Realms was happening?
Groans rumbled up from underneath the craft. Creaking and cracking. Snaps of bending metal.
Her eyes darted around the space. Realizing the jet sat lopsided on a precipice. Realizing it slid backwards.
More exclamations filled the front.
The small carrier broke free from the skyscraper it had been perched on. It plunged.
Aura flew against the right side and remained pinned as physics took its toll. She didn't know how high they once were. She didn't know why they had been suddenly blasted off. She did know she was ready to accept this fate.
It kept falling.
And falling.
And falling.
And falling.
Her eyes closed. This was it. This was what she waited for. Now she could finally be free from this life of perpetual torment.
The aircraft crashed upside down into the ground with the hideous crunching of metal and shattering of glass. Neither of the scepter-controlled S.H.I.E.L.D. agents survived. Their contorted bodies hung limp, suspended by their harnesses, blood dripping down onto the roof.
Steam hissed as smoke roiled. Dust settled among the wreckage.
Aura grunted, eyes fluttering open. She searched the mangled jet. This was definitely new. However, she wasn't dead, so this must be more of the hallucinations. She tried pushing herself up but cried out in pain.
She blinked several times. Looked down.
Broken seat frame bore into her midsection.
Her jaw set. Unsteady arms finding hold on the roof. Inhaling a deep breath, she forced herself off the metal shard. Grimaced as she watched her life force trickle into a pool. She blinked again and held a hand to her wound. Drew it back.
A darker crimson than her skin glistened in the little light streaming through various holes of the twisted craft. She had been hurt many times during her various visions, but this was the first time she bled. The robots really had stepped up their efforts. She rolled her neck.
With a sharp inhalation she crawled toward the cockpit. Snaking her way across the caved-in craft. She disregarded the pair of bodies, pushing them out of the way. Kicked out what remained of the shattered windscreen. Covering her injury, she looked around the city. Looked around the war zone.
Unknown creatures flooded the streets and swarmed the buildings. They sailed by on chariots inferior to the ones used in Asgard. They cut down any living thing in their path.
She immediately ignored her wound. Escaped the wreckage. Her stature straightening when she surveyed the beings. Tail lashing back and forth as multiple creatures approached her with weaponry.
The invaders shrieked to one another.
Aura yelled back at them, flames surrounding her fists. She rushed the one closest to her and set it ablaze. Used its body as a shield from the incoming fire of laser rifles. One after another, she dropped a few other beings in her nearest proximity. Smiled at their charring bodies.
However, the fight was far from over.
More of the cybernetically enhanced creatures crowded her. The simple foot soldiers flinging themselves on top of her when she continued launching balls of fire at them.
She braced herself for impact after the first one attacked her personal space. But she couldn't withstand the weight of four of them. Her knees buckled. Her fire smothered. She collapsed to the rubble-laden ground.
The aliens clawed at her. Swiping at any piece of bright red body covered with an emerald green jumpsuit.
Her nimbleness kept her mostly free from their assaults as she squirmed underneath them. Their heft pinned her, but she wasn't allowing herself to die this way. She closed her eyes. Gathered her power. Her hair becoming ethereal.
An explosion sent the creatures on her flying back. They suffered fatal damage, and they didn't get back up.
Aura rose to her feet, her hair floating about her face. She looked down at her protective jumpsuit. Ripped off the torn sleeves and the majority of the legs. Yanked off her hindering shoes. Not caring about the long scratches running across her limbs.
The haze of an open gas line rippled along the horizon.
She smirked. Strode down the street barefoot. Kept her vision locked on the leak, not even looking at the invaders she scorched out of her way. When she stood within range of the natural gas, she released a surge of fire.
The wave of flames licked for the broken pipe. A chain reaction of discharges blew the glass out of all the buildings within a several block radius. The blood thirsty creatures never stopped screaming. Neither did the panicking Midgardians.
Her neck rolled with her delight in the destruction she caused. Primal desires of her cursed race satisfied.
"Stand down, or we'll open fire!"
Aura paused and glanced over her shoulder.
Many Midgardians in blue uniforms pointed guns at her from behind various degrees of cover.
She pivoted. Tail lazily curling around her. She ran black nails through her still-suspended charcoal hair, hip cocked. "All of these atrocious beings destroying your city, and you're worried about little me? I'm flattered."
Before the officers could fire their weapons at her, a collection of aliens tore them down.
Her brows rose, and she pursed her lips. "Stupid mortals. It's almost like you had more concerning enemies at hand." She lifted both hands. Caught anything and everything on fire. Walked through the flames. With flourishes of her wrists, she directed another wall of fire at the creatures.
They writhed and screeched before succumbing to their deaths.
She flashed a coy smile. These ugly invaders didn't appear to have an end. And it brought her corrupted joy.
A guttural, primal roar shook the weakened city. An even darker shadow loomed over the mayhem.
Aura, the hideous beings, and the fleeing Midgardians halted in their tracks. All turned toward the sky.
Tens of mechanical creatures swam through a mile wide portal ripped through the atmosphere. Heads bobbing up and down, they fanned out in various directions.
The fire demon backed a few paces. What in the Nine Realms were these things? Why did they…why did they look like giant robotic creatures? Her chest rose and fell with quick breaths. This was the work of the robots, wasn't it?
She glanced around at the utter chaos in the area around her. The strange aliens seemed to be partially robotic, as well. But this made no sense. She had never seen the robots before. Why did she see them now? The flame in her mind flickered, and her normal form threatened returning.
One of the invaders shot the standing target with a laser rifle.
Aura flew back. Not expecting the hit. She skidded across the broken asphalt. Her solid black eyes narrowed as she pushed herself to her feet. "Not today, you unattractive whatever you are." Volleys of fire expelled from her fists.
Anything caught in her relentless wake died relatively quickly.
Satisfied with her work, she continued down the street. Her flames traveling up her arms and skimming off the ends of her hair. She had quite enough of this current torture. There had to be a way to end it. Or change it, in the least.
Although, she didn't find this scenario exactly torturous. Not compared to other hallucinations. In fact, she found this therapeutic, unleashing her formidable form. Something she never had the ability to do before.
But why did she imagine a battle of unending creatures? Especially one on this scale, in a city she had never seen before? She didn't even know the name of this city. All the places of previous visions were ones she visited. And she expected seeing Loki around every turn, but she never saw him.
Why this experience so different?
The pain in her midsection caught up with her, and she placed a hand over the injury. Looked down to see blood continuing oozing out of it. Her teeth gritted. Every aspect of this new nightmare was different.
What if, what if this wasn't a nightmare?
She paused again. Oblivious to the mortals running past her, screaming. Oblivious to the enhanced beings until one of them knocked her down with a single punch to the face. Her world hazed as she made contact with the ground.
A large foot planted on her head.
Her upper lip curled. She locked the ankle in a fiery grasp. Sent the alien up in flames. Watched it stagger off of her until it fell. Once again, she rose to her feet. Brushing off ash and dust.
The longer she remained in this nightmare, the more aggravating it grew.
But her question plagued her mind. What if this wasn't a nightmare?
Then it meant this was reality.
Aura braced herself as the earth rumbled with collapsing buildings further away. She surveyed the carnage. The Midgardians in this section lay dead in the streets. Bodies of creatures she killed joined them. The alive aliens generally didn't pay her heed anymore, moving on to easier prey.
Her hair dropped from its floating status. Fell around her horns and shoulders. The scents of decay and sounds of mortality fully becoming aware to her. If this was reality, she may not want any part of it. She looked over the masses of what used to be buildings. Her lust for carnage slowly fading.
One untouched building towered high above the battleground.
She sucked in a breath when she read the bold letters labelling the top.
STARK.
Was Mr. Stark alive? After all this time? She clutched the pendant she kept untouched from her heat. Had he made his arc reactor and the money he dreamed of? Had he made more time for his son?
The weaker form pressured for control again as emotions caught in her throat. No. None of this was real. She rubbed her eyes with the heels of her palms. If this was real, it meant Mr. Stark left her alone and never returned. Never gave her an explanation for his disappearance.
If this was real, it meant…it meant the new version of Loki was real and so was their conversation in the small aircraft. It meant he had been tortured. It meant he rescued her from the helicarrier. It meant Director Fury searched for her. It meant the invasion proved a much more serious threat.
She yelled at the sky with clenched fists. Barely maintaining her sanity. Why couldn't she break free? What world was she even caught in? Was this reality, or was this an elaborate illusion meant to torture her? Why couldn't she see the truth one way or another?
A shimmer coming from the tower caught her gaze. She shielded her eyes for a better view.
Thor zoomed through the dust-thick air, Mjolnir spinning at his side.
Her brows furrowed. Thor? Why Thor? She had never seen an illusionary Thor before. A knot in her stomach drowned out the pain of her injury. This plane of existence seemed all the more like the truth with each encounter.
Loki.
Loki was real, then. This meant he had to be, didn't it?
Unless this was a dream beyond a dream, a hope beyond a hope. Just another way to break her down. Perhaps this was their last attempt at crushing her soul.
But what if there was the slightest possibility her beloved actually rescued her?
Aura took off running in the direction Thor traveled. The older prince never left his brother behind and most likely flew to his aid. If she followed him, she would surely find Loki. Right?
The raging battle impeded her progress once more. Ground rumbling with the toppling of another building.
She held out her arms for balance. Only to be knocked over by a barrage of heavy bullets. None of them pierced her skin, but she cracked her neck. Reality or not, she was tired of being struck down.
Unleashing a furious battle cry, her hair turned ethereal, and flames covered her entire form. She faced a line of uniformed mortals. Though she hadn't seen these exact patterns on their clothing, she knew they were military of some kind. They were the ones who wanted her for experiments.
Her arms flung out to the sides. She drew upon the already existing fire, pulling it across the ground. Added her own to the burning accumulation. With a lunge forward, she commanded the swell of intense flames to engulf the soldiers.
She smoothed back a stray strand of floating hair. Called the fire closer to her as she approached the bodies. She rolled one over with a foot. Pleased it wasn't alive.
A Midgardian jet thundered overhead. Circling around, it opened fire on the bold target against the bland background.
Aura bolted in the opposite direction of the rounds penetrating the earth, kicking up clouds of ash. However, she wasn't as fast as she would've liked. The force of the impacts alone caused her to stumble. She rolled across the rubble.
The jet passed over. Prepared for another attack.
Her eyes slightly widened. She didn't know if she could survive an assault like this. Quickly rising, she planted a foot behind her for stability. Inhaled a deep breath. Exhaled and emitted as much incendiary magic from her hands as she possibly could.
Two whirling vortexes of fire merged into one. Billowing into the sky, it caught the fighter jet. Sent it soaring through the broken cityscape in a flaming, smoking dive bomb.
She watched it until it crashed out of sight. Allowed a short laugh as she caught her breath. As she fought a round of dizziness. She had no idea she could produce so much fire at one time. Undoubtedly, she owned more power than she originally gave herself credit for.
This newfound confidence went straight into her strides as she carried on in the general direction Thor had flown.
Hips swinging, she observed the ruins of the city. Stretched her arms above her head and lowered them back down. She didn't know why a war raged. She honestly didn't care. For too long had she been waiting for the opportunity to unleash her fire demon side. For too long had she waited for the opportunity to test her abilities.
A blazing pile of rubble snagged her attention.
Her head tilted. On a whim, she snapped her fingers. The heap exploded, and she walked through the resulting smoke unharmed. A shiver of glee coursed down her spine as a slight skip entered her step. This was fun.
In an intersection up ahead, a flurry of the creatures soared by on their chariots.
Her interest piqued. Light on her feet, she sprinted across the debris with ease. Bare feet untouched by the various shards of glass and metal. She slowed upon reaching the intersection. Checked both ways.
Thick ice impaling mortals lined both sides of the wide street.
Aura's brows furrowed. Was this the missing cold finally manifesting itself into her hallucination? She approached the nearest ice stalagmite and placed a hand on its stained surface. No Midgardian possessed this kind of magic. Not that she had seen, anyway. But its signature felt familiar.
She tapped into her Alfheim heritage. Allowing it freedom for only a brief moment so she could identify the energy. Then she stepped back, stunned. No. It couldn't be. She must be wrong. Her inferior form was wrong.
The non-melting ice felt like Loki.
But she now knew he had frost powers, didn't she? On the small carrier, he revealed himself to be a Jotun. Her chest rose and fell with uneven breaths. If this was an illusion, the robots had become unusually consistent.
Her eyes traveled up the spike. Surveyed the dead body on top and the blood still leaking down. This had to be an illusion, though. Her Loki didn't kill people. Then she looked down at her hands. But she didn't kill people, either.
A knot formed in her throat, and she shook her head. No. She needed to turn away from these emotions. She couldn't focus on such trivial behavior. Why did it matter if anyone killed anyone? Death was an equal part of existence. Why did it matter if one person lived longer than another?
Exclamations attracted her head to the right. Her eyes narrowed as she stared down the street.
Several mortals tried banding together. However, they were severely weakened.
Flames danced over and around a hand. Perhaps she should put them out of their misery. They were nothing more than another obstacle keeping her from reaching her goal. She approached with irritated determination.
A mortal hemorrhaging from his chest and mouth stood over a red-headed woman bleeding from an assortment of wounds. He pulled out a bow and fired his last arrow.
Aura's brows rose as the projectile melted against the sheer heat radiating from her.
The man dropped to his knees. Unable to keep going any longer.
She approached the pair on the ground. Holding their gazes. Her fingers wrapped around the clothing of the archery man, and she pulled him close, her fire tasting his face. "I honestly don't know if I should be offended or amused. You aren't surprised by me?"
He visibly steeled himself against the heat. The beading sweat rolled down his neck. "I've seen weirder."
The Midgardian woman struggled, but she managed forcing herself to her knees. Picked up an available alien laser rifle.
Aura glanced at her. Her tail wrapped around the mortal's wrist hard enough for her to drop the weapon. "I don't think so. Before I kill you both, I would like some information. Who are the invaders?"
They pair seemed confused.
The man coughed up blood before his damaged voice spoke up. "You're not with them?"
She sighed. "You're not too bright are you? Why would I be asking about them if I were?"
They exchanged glances.
The woman answered after a quick nod to the man. "So, you're not with him, either?"
Aura blinked several times. Unamused by their questions. "How do I even know who you're talking about when you don't use names? And believe me when I say you don't want to infuriate me more than I already am."
The archer's head backed away from the small fire under his chin. "You want us to believe you're not with the Chitauri when you're threatening us?" He coughed some more. "You're clearly not Earth material."
She focused on him. "Oh, I've been on Midgard longer than you might think."
"Midgard? Isn't that a Nordic term?"
"No, it's an Asgardian term. Midgard is this Realm. I have no idea what a Nordic is. Why do you insist on being so annoying?" She suddenly cried out as a blade entered her torso wound. Releasing both of them, she stumbled back a few paces. Looked up.
The red-haired mortal had pushed through the fire demon's barrier. Willingly burned herself to stab her.
Aura uncontrollably shuddered as she removed the dagger from her torso. She tried casting fireballs, but her footing failed. Breathed heavily as she held herself above the ground. She didn't realize just how much the adrenaline masked.
The Midgardians weren't the only ones weakening.
She snarled. These pathetic mortals wouldn't best her. Even if her external fire died. Charging forward, she punched down the man, knocking him out with one hit. Provided the same courtesy for the woman. Staggered a few steps.
"Hey!"
Her head lifted.
A Midgardian man in red and gold armor propped himself up against a frozen being he attempted unthawing. "Yeah, you, Fire Woman." He panted. "Can you help me before you kill me?"
She barely lifted an arm. Finally blasted something back with fire.
A roar shook the area behind her.
With a deep sigh, she turned around. What now?
One of the robotic whales ventured toward her and the mortals.
Aura straightened with a set jaw. As much as she once delighted in the destruction, she was not built for prolonged battle. In fact, she wasn't built for battle at all. But she still needed to find Loki. He had been here. And she wasn't about to allow this ugly creature keep her from him.
She assumed the same stance as when she faced the jet. Steadied her breathing and held position. Waited for the beast to coast nearer. Her eyes closed. Brows furrowing, she pushed forward a stream of intense fire.
The mechanical alien bellowed in response, but it continued coming closer.
Her eyes snapped wide as she screamed back at it. Discharging everything she could muster. Her form trembled, but she held fast. Took a step forward. Found another unsteady foothold. Then another.
The creature roared again. However, its advancement slowed with its face engulfed in fire. Its nose dove into the ground. A chain reaction of explosions detonating down its body. It slid to a stop in front of the fire demon.
Aura scowled at the giant monstrosity until she made sure it perished. Then she collapsed. Unable to keep her alternate form any longer. Her usual appearance surfaced. She clutched her midsection, gasping at the blanket of ash beneath her.
She glanced at the whale creature. Her body convulsing with labored breaths. What had she done?
A groan pulled her out of her mind before she fell too deep.
Burying back the pain, she clambered to her feet and headed for the sound. Cautiously approached the man in armor. Gasped at the deep hole in his chest. She dropped beside him, helping him sit up against a mangled vehicle.
He eyed her. "Fire Woman?"
She bit her lip and nodded. Burst into tears. "I'm so sorry."
One of his hands grasped hers. "It's okay. We," he drew a sharp breath, "we have one of you on our team. Although, I have no idea where he is." He dug his head into the blackened metal. "Look, kid, I'm dying. Promise…promise me you'll unthaw Captain, okay?"
Aura blinked. "Captain?" Peggy's Captain? She looked at the frozen Midgardian. Then back at the man in her arms. "I-I'm not normally a monster. I'm a healer. I can, I can heal you. Tell me what to do. I can fix you."
"I highly doubt it, but why not, huh?" He grimaced as he lifted a hand and ripped out a broken piece of partially glowing cybernetics. "There's shrapnel threatening my heart. But there's, wow, okay, this hurts more than I remember." He took a couple moments. Closed his eyes. "There's so much tech in me."
She searched him. He looked strangely familiar, but she knew she had never met him before. She turned her attention to his chest. "I think…I think I can do this. It might hurt at first, but I think I can do this."
"Like I said. I'm already dying, so there's not much at stake her."
Keeping hold of his hand, she reached inside the hole with her free hand. Cringed at his exclamation. She focused her energy. Relieved when she felt her healing magic emanating from her fingertips. Her eyes squeezed shut as she visualized her process.
The Midgardian's flesh slowly began mending. Forced out any foreign objects within it.
Aura's hand rose out of the manmade hole as it sealed underneath her magic.
The shards of metal and technological components falling harmlessly down his chest.
He allowed a short laugh of disbelief. Looked down at himself and fully sat up. Touched his newly restored skin. "I know I shouldn't be as amazed as I am, but how did you do this?"
She sunk her head in between her shoulders. "I'm not really sure. I just heal people."
The man rose and stretched his limbs. "I haven't felt this good in years." He helped her to her feet, looking her over. "Uh, can you heal yourself? You're just as banged up as I was."
"No, I-I can't." A trembling hand found her open wound. "I don't know why I can't. Queen Frigga says it's because I won't allow myself to use my magic on myself. I'm not sure."
His eyes suddenly widened, and he took a step toward her. "Where did you get that necklace?"
Aura shrunk back. Unsure how to process his shift in mood. She clutched the pendant. "Mr. Stark gave it to me a long time ago."
The armored Midgardian blinked. "Do you…Mr. Stark? Do you know his first name?"
"Howard."
He ran his hands through his hair. Turned away from her. Pivoted back around and pointed a finger at her. "How do you know my father?"
Her brows knitted. But she soon erupted into a smile. "You're Tony, aren't you? You're Tony grown up."
"How do you know my name?"
"Mr. Stark talked about you all the time. He had such high hopes for you. He loved you very much. Is he doing okay? I haven't seen him since the eighties, I think. I can't remember if that's the right decade or not."
Tony stood at a loss. "How old are you? You look like a child. Maybe you could pass as a young adult, but that's pushing it."
Her shyness returned, and she played with strands of her tri-colored hair. "I don't know what my age translates to in Midgardian time. I don't even remember how old I am, I've been here so long. But I know I'm half light elf. Queen Frigga says it takes their bodies a long time to look old."
He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "This still doesn't explain how you know my father."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. He explained he wasn't much of a medical doctor, but he helped me a lot. Peggy trusted him, and so did I."
"Let's…let's pick this up at another time. There's too many layers here to unravel. We sort of have the world's impending doom on our hands."
Aura looked up. "Is Loki here? Can you take me to him?"
Stark's gaze gradually traveled to her. "Wait, you're with Loki? You do realize he's the reason for all this, right? He's the one who nearly killed us, the one who's destroyed New York and who knows what other cities. This is his messed up invasion."
She winced. "It's come to my understanding this is his doing. I think I know why. If I can get to him, I promise I can reason with him. I can get him to stop. I just need to find him."
"I have a feeling I know where he is. If you can heal the others, I can take you to him. I just have to tinker with the reactor so it can power my armor again. It shouldn't take long. I'm a bit of a genius."
"Arc reactor?"
"Yes." He paused. "My father's invention. Although, I'm sure you already knew that, given he gave you a necklace resembling the prototype. I condensed it to a smaller, more efficient form." He searched the ground then returned his attention to her. "They'll be time for talking later. Don't let my friends die, okay?"
She nodded. "As long as they're your friends, I'll help them."
He eyed her as he retrieved the pieces of the reactor.
Aura moved to the pair of Midgardians unconscious on the ground. Settled on her knees. She put a hand on each of them and watched her white magic filter over them. Thankful her restoration powers didn't consume as much energy as her destructive.
When they came to consciousness completely healed, she played with her hands in her lap. "I'm really sorry for what I did to you. I honestly don't want to kill you."
The assassins scrambled to their feet. Ready to attack at a moment's notice.
Tony waved a hand. Tweaked with his suit. "She's friendly. She's got Banner syndrome."
The archer lifted a brow. "You're the red demon thing?"
Aura nodded, and she left her gaze down. "Unfortunately, yes. I have no control over that form yet. I truly am sorry. Do you feel better?"
The red headed woman checked herself over while keeping an eye on the other female. "Yes, actually. Who are you working for?"
Stark walked up, finishing attaching the arc reactor to his armor. It flickered many times before staying on. "We don't know, but she's been with S.H.I.E.L.D. since at least the eighties."
Aura looked up at him. "I've been with S.H.I.E.L.D since it was the Strategic Science Reserve."
"You what? We are so going to have a discussion later." He turned back to Barton and Romanoff. "She thinks she can reason with Loki. We might be able to stop this, after all. I'm taking her to the tower. You two free the Capsicle and meet us there when you can."
The other two nodded, both staring at the alien girl.
"Can you hold on to me, kid?"
Aura nodded and basically hugged the man. Squeezed her eyes shut as he blasted off the ground with one hand, using the other to keep her safe.
It didn't take long for Tony to reach the tower. He observed the restrained Fury as he gingerly rested on the side of the balcony opposite of Loki and Thor. Looked down at Aura. "You can let go now. We're on land."
She carefully opened her eyes, peering at the balcony underneath her feet. Exhaled a stinging breath she didn't know she had been holding.
"Aura?"
Her head turned.
Loki stood in full battle regalia, complete with helmet and cape. He also held a weapon she didn't recognize, but his anxious expression was what caught her off guard.
Stark held up his hands and backed away from the female Asgardian. "She came to me in this condition. I had nothing to do with it."
Aura searched her beloved. "Loki?" When he nodded, she slowly stepped forward. Stopped after only a few feet. Unconsciously daring him to meet her halfway.
Loki handed the scepter to Thor without thinking twice. He closed the gap in almost one stride. His breath caught as he found her gaze.
She studied his blue eyes. She had dreamt of their reuniting for so long. But she honestly had no idea what to do now that their time had come.