Helloo! I am sorry for the long wait but here is a long chapter to hopefully tide you over for a while. Enjoy!
PS: omega13a created a TVTropes for Loki'd! and Full Loki! It's pretty cool if you want to check it out at tvtropes pmwiki / pmwiki . php / Fanfic / Lokid (just remove the spaces)
Shout Outs!:
WeAreNumberOn
Well hopefully this doesn't disappoint. We see Thor's reaction in this chapter and Asgard's in Thor 2's segment. That will mostly be next chapter.
Reader2
Ch:37
Huh. To be honest, I haven't seen it but I might possibly write a chapter in a What If scenario sometime, check the end of chapter for further notes about continuing the story after End Game.
Ch:38
Thanks. Hopefully I wrote in enough, there was so much going on-it's a battle so obviously it's chaotic-that it was a struggle to give everyone, or the important people to this story, time to shine. Differently, that's for sure.
CHSHiccstrid
And I'm back again! Glad, 'cause it's only going to get worse. Oh, IW and EG have some major reworkings coming with the addition of the Archipelago.
omega13a
Nope, just a puppy sucking up all my time like a vacuum. Thanks, took a look at it and it is awesome!
Journal 2, Entry 39: "The Avengers Pt.5"
Tony set down on the landing platform, repulsors sputtering. Loki maintained his gaze even as they both walked into the penthouse while his suit was removed. They entered at the same time and Tony couldn't help seething as he met one on one with the man Hiccup proudly called his magical father—emotions only restrained because of Hiccup's assurance that this wasn't Loki's doing, or not entirely.
Loki looked caught between smug victory and apprehension. "Please tell me Hiccup went to your pathetic little band."
Tony huffed. "I'm a part of that 'pathetic band' so it's not so pathetic, thanks. And yes."
Loki sighed, momentarily looking away in relief.
Tony walked past to the cocktail bar. "Why? Afraid he was going to go for reinforcements from Wakanda?"
Loki looked sharply back at Tony. "They would not help, not until it is too late."
Tony hummed. "So you're at least sort of fond of them as well. Nice to know I guess."
Loki lifted his nose imperiously. "They are allies of the Archipelago and friends with Hiccup. I do not wish to spill their blood."
Tony scoffed and poured himself a drink. "Want one?" Loki turned his head away and Tony shrugged. "No drink, you sure? I'm having one. Well, it's good to know some of us will be left to continue the fight—not that we're gonna fail."
Loki tilted his head with a small smirk. "Oh, you think you can win? How adorable. The Chitauri are coming, nothing will change that, as you have just seen." He took several steps closer to the window, looking across the city in its last moments of wholeness and his face darkened. "No amount of allies can help Midgard now."
Tony took a drink and rested against the counter, slipping a metal bracelet on. "Possibly, but we'll give it our darndest."
"We?" Loki asked, facing Tony again.
Tony slipped the other bracelet on and shrugged. "The Avengers—that's what we call ourselves. Actually, it's what Fury calls us but it has a nice ring to it so I'm willing to take up the mantle."
Loki snorted a laugh. "Ah, yes, I remember Hiccup telling me about that. It was always doomed to fail and now that I've met them…hm, they leave much to be desired."
Tony nodded and lifted the small cup. "Yeah—takes us a while to get any traction, I'll give you that one. But, let's do a head count here.
"You're brother, the demi-god." Loki looked away in irritation and gripped the scepter tighter, Tony almost missed the small pulse it gave off. "The super soldier, the legend who kinda lives up to the legend. A man with breathtaking anger management issues." Loki looked back at Tony with a proud smirk and Tony returned it with a flat glare. "A couple of master assassins. Your son and his familiar, no further explanation needed. And you, big fella, have managed to piss off every single one of them."
"That was the plan." Loki tilted his head with a wicked smile.
"Not a great plan." Tony said, eyebrows raising while his lips thinned, and walked around the counter. "When they come—and they will—they'll come for you."
Loki closed his eyes for only a moment as he took a breath. "You'd let Hiccup come into this fight?"
Tony stared at Loki incredulously, glanced out the window in the direction he'd flown from, then back at Loki. "I'm not the one who brought him into this to begin with. And, if anything, he's about the only reason you might have a fighting chance to prove your innocence."
The scepter flared warning and Loki clutched it tightly. "I see he still clings to that hope. It is foolish. Even without his safeguard, I will still conquer Midgard if it keeps her safe."
Tony sighed and set the empty glass down, eyes narrowed at Loki. "You're missing the point. There's no throne. There is no version of this where you come out on top. Maybe your army comes and maybe it's too much, but it's all on you. Even if you win this battle, even if you kill every Avenger, it's Earth's nature to push back against oppressors. Do you seriously think the Archipelago or Wakanda is going to take this lying down?"
Loki scowled at Tony, taking a step nearer. "They will have no choice in the matter. I have already seen to that. In time they will come to accept what I've done for them. They always have, and so will you."
Tony's eyebrows shot up. "Uh, don't think I will. I'm an Avenger now. I'm gonna go down fighting with the rest of them or avenge the Earth if we fail."
Loki closed the distance and Tony didn't back away, staring challengingly at the god. "I think not. Now, go collect your adoptive brother and sequester yourselves somewhere safe."
Tony stared at the trickster for a long, confused moment before blanching with a shiver. "Ah! That's an image I don't want…Odin's ghost! Don't ever call Spangles that!" He brought a hand up to rub his temple as if it could expel the now seared image. "And I already told you, I'm gonna be fighting right alongside him along with uncle H. Last chance to back down and shut off the Tesseract."
"Very well then." Loki said grimly, glancing away from Tony to the scepter. "If you will not see to your own health willingly…"
Tony's heart near beat out of his chest as Loki raised the scepter. There was a tang as metal met metal and the scepter flared then, dimmed.
"This usually works." Loki said blandly, staring at Tony's chest.
Tony stood stock still in shock while Loki attempted it again before his brain finally caught up, of course leading with a sarcastic comment. "Well, performance issues." He pulled an exaggerated grimace. "Not uncommon. One out of five…"
Loki glared at Tony and reached for him. "I suppose there are other ways."
Tony ducked and snatched his knife from his belt, taking a swipe at Loki's forearm. The blade clacked against Loki's vambrace but it distracted him for a moment long enough so he could scramble a few steps back. "JARVIS, any time now!"
Loki scowled at the inventor, green magic swirling around his hand as he whirled around to follow the Midgardian's retreat. He hurled it at Tony, only for him to leap behind the cocktail bar and crawl along behind it. Loki bit back a hiss as the scepter and him tugged furiously on his mind—threatening to eliminate Hiccup's godson—and marched up the lounge to the counter.
Tony yelped as he caught sight of the tall man rounding the counter and sprinted for the door to the balcony. "Deploy, deploy!"
Loki ran after, another swirl of magic forming in his grasp when something slammed into his back and threw him headlong into the floor. The scepter skittered across the floor as the thing screeched through broken glass and dove for Tony, who must have jumped.
Loki stood, both seething and breathing in relief as the suit locked onto the falling man and caught him before he could splatter all over the ground.
Tony shot up well away from his tower, Loki felt it give a small shudder as he passed then the scepter pulsed—pleased. He closed his eyes and took a steadying breath—it's begun.
Hiccup hissed and gripped Toothless' saddle tighter when his Æsir trembled under the enormous pulse the Tesseract sent out. Toothless crooned when he felt Hiccup bury his face in his neck, wincing against the image of the alien fleet peering down at the now open portal. The image was gone in a second but it was enough. He urged Toothless through the bond to fly faster.
Thor cried out in surprise as he was jarred from the passing gust as Toothless rocketed past. Steve frowned over Clint's shoulder and watched Toothless' speck disappear in a sudden flurry. "That can't be good."
*O*
Tony wove through hordes of Chitauri flooding through the open portal, shooting down as many as possible but there were simply too many to hit them all even though none of his shots missed.
"Sir, three have circled back around and are preparing to fire from underneath you." JARVIS said plainly but Tony could hear the small hint of worry.
Tony swore, glancing at his HUD that showed the Chitauri's advancement but was completely preoccupied by the ones coming at him head on.
"Brace for impact, Sir." JARVIS said, displaying the weapons locked on him.
Tony grit his teeth—maybe he could swerve at the last moment?
The air split with a whistle that, even a thousand years later, never failed to raise hairs in fear. A moment later, the air swelled with the shockwave from a brilliant blue-purple blast that perfectly struck the nearest Chitauri skiff. It exploded, taking out five other sleds with it. A black streak shot through the air below him and a burst of green slammed into another sled, taking it out in an explosion of flames.
Tony beamed behind the mask. "Thanks, uncle H! But cutting it a bit close, don't you think?"
Hiccup chuckled as Toothless arced up and barrel-rolled, firing three shots that took out a dozen sleds as they crashed into each other. "Hey, I gotta make sure my entrances are something to remember—I have a reputation to uphold."
"Yeah, your father's a bit of a diva." Tony snorted but further responses were interrupted by the enraged roars of the Chitauri—several of which turned furiously on Toothless. He shot into their midst and drew several away from Hiccup and Toothless before veering away and diving for the buildings.
Hiccup tilted on Toothless' back, sending them into a barrel roll and evading multiple blue blasts. He glanced back and hissed when a dozen of the grey aliens continued to give chase. Toothless warbled, worried, but buzzing with the thrill of a fight they hadn't had in centuries.
Hiccup patted his head and spotted Tony winding around his own building, sending several Chitauri sleds crashing into the neighboring building. He smirked and opened the coms again. "Hey, kiddo, you remember the Thorston Clash?"
The line was silent for but a moment as Tony blasted the closing skiff then came back with, :You mean the idiotic version of Viking chicken?:
"One in the same." Toothless grumbled unhappily underneath him but remained focused on flying and evading. "I'm at the top of the tower."
Tony huffed but there was mirth to it. :I'll bring 'em up. Clint, Nat, you got what's left?:
:Gladly.: Clint said and they could hear the smirk.
Toothless dove and the Chitauri shrieked as they followed. They could hear the repulsors whining and the Quinjet roaring as it twisted through the skyscrapers. In a blink, the red and golden armor shot towards them. Hiccup grit his teeth and Toothless shifted his wings as a weight slammed into them, altering their flight downwards so suddenly that the groups of Chitauri crashed into one another.
Gunfire filled the air as Clint took vengeance on the surviving invaders before they continued up the tower.
Toothless growled and shook his head as he leveled out and Tony let go of his belly, arms at his side to resume his own flight. :Nice, but we still got more incoming…a lot more incoming.:
:We have eyes on Loki and the spear.: Natasha reported.
Hiccup leaned close to Toothless again, eyeing the portal with Chitauri still spilling out of it. "Come on, bud, I wanna get a look at the device."
Toothless shook his head, spines popping as they split and shot upwards again with a roar.
*O*
Loki and Thor scuffled on the deck of Stark's tower, pausing briefly when the assassins started firing upon him. Thor jumped back, giving Loki a much needed moment to blast the Quinjet and sent it spiraling to the ground. He felt a small twinge as Steve was most likely on that plane but he couldn't let the Midgardian continue to fire upon him.
Thor decked him hard for the attack and he returned it with equal fervor. They traded several blows before they were jolted by a challenging roar, and looked skyward, both staring at the black spot.
Loki cursed and shoved Thor back with a wave of magic that left his brother hissing in pain. He glared up at the portal and his wayward Chosen before sinking his weary Æsir into the spear and commanding all the Chitauri—Do not harm the boy or dragon!
The Chitauri shrieked anew and he felt the Other's anger simmering through the connection. His Æsir flared in defiance against the will of him but was, graciously, ripped away from the impending 'lesson' by Thor swinging Mjolnir into his gut.
*O*
Toothless blasted several more skiffs while Hiccup debilitated others with well-placed flicks of Æsir or shards of Jötunnar ice that rapidly grew like a bad mold and seized the engine. Tony flew behind the pair, happily picking off those that they missed and greatly slowing the procession through the wormhole.
The air rumbled with a low, droning roar that reminded Hiccup of the raid horn turned Dragon Racing bugle. He looked up into the blackness of the portal and paled. "Oh gods…"
Coming through, and taking up the portal's entire entrance, was something that vaguely resembled an armored whale with a predator's mouth. It turned its head towards Toothless and made a lazy snapping motion towards them before continuing to glide down the tower's side, miraculously staying afloat in the air despite its flippers being utterly useless for the deed.
Hiccup unconsciously shivered as he stared at the thing—the Tesseract hadn't shown him that in the brief visions.
More Chitauri filtered through the wormhole and others popped off the whale's sides, leading charges into the unfortunate buildings that happened to be nearby.
:Stark, Hyse, are you seeing this?: Steve's stunned voice came over the coms.
Tony tore off from the portal to chase down the space whale. :Seeing. Still…working on believing. Where's Banner? Has he shown up yet?:
:Banner?: Steve parroted.
Hiccup kept an eye on Tony and the monstrosity of the sky while Toothless turned and blasted another three Chitauri sleds. He suppressed a groan as more just kept spilling through—and he knew the hoard wouldn't stop anytime soon. He cast invisibility over them while sending an illusion out into their midst. Two sleds crashed into one another before they realized the trick and, by then, he and Toothless took out another dozen.
"Tony! Does it have fire?" Hiccup asked just as Toothless snarled a warning, three Chitauri on their tail.
:No.: JARVIS replied. :Despite its flying capabilities, it thankfully does not have a dragon's ability to breathe fire…Or any other substance from what my readings can tell. The armor makes it difficult to say for absolute certainty.:
"Thor's Underpants." Hiccup huffed.
:Isn't that a good thing?: Steve asked while Clint snickered at the curse.
"Makes it more difficult to take down—Oh come on!" Hiccup scowled as a group of Chitauri soared up behind him.
:Uncle H? What going on?:
Hiccup ignored Tony as Toothless barked and he flashed agreement through their bond. Toothless dove, waiting for their following, but oddly not-shooting-at-them hoard to follow, before he flipped on his back and shot into their midst.
A single Chitauri screeched before being forever silenced, several others joining him as the sled's explosion wiped them out. Those on the outskirts veered their sleds sharply—some made a getaway while others smashed into nearby skiffs.
Toothless rolled and tucked his wings again, weaving through the buildings to lose their pursuers.
Hiccup glanced back at the tower, the very top of which shining like the jewel in the accursed scepter. His lips curled in as he glared at it. "Tony, can you take care of the space whale?"
He swore he heard the grin in Tony's voice. :We'll see, JARVIS is working on it. What are you planning? If history's on our side, it's something stupid.:
Hiccup absently cast another spell at a Chitauri and grimaced as it crashed into a skyscraper. "Hey! My plans are genius and inspired."
Tony snorted and Steve also scoffed but the former said, :Uh-huh. Just don't get yourself killed because of it.:
Hiccup grunted in annoyance and sent one last worried look at the oddity of the sky before turning around and pressing himself flat against Toothless' back. "We gotta get up there."
*O*
"Look at this!" Thor roared, Mjolnir pressed against the scepter as Loki strained to keep Thor from pinning him with his hammer—again; and he had no desire to repeat the Rainbow Bridge incident. "Look around you. You think this madness will end with your rule?"
Loki did spare a second to glance away but never let Thor fully leave his vision. A pang hit him as multiple towers in the city burned, sirens and screams echoing up from the streets below. "It's too late. It's too late to stop it."
Thor shook his head. "We can. Together, with Hiccup."
The bits of remorse that managed to leak through his control vanished instantly into rage. "Do you think I would have come this far to ensure his safety, his life, just to throw it all away now?!"
"Brother!" Thor nearly yelled in desperation. "Hiccup does not want this! He is fighting against you. You are invading his home and trying to take it by force! Stop this now and we can rectify these wrongs-"
Loki's dim blue eyes darkened. "He will come to understand, even if he resists now."
Thor started to argue again but it turned into a pained shout as he stumbled back, groping for the push-dagger Loki unexpectedly thrust into his gut. He shoved Loki back, following through with a swing of Mjolnir for good measure.
Loki grunted as he hit the floor and crashed into the glass railing with enough force to shatter it. He regained his footing quickly enough, however, and leapt over the edge before Thor could resume his attack and distraction.
A Chitauri soared underneath him, and with nothing but a thought through the scepter, he took control of it. He scanned the streets below and grinned at the mass of Chitauri slinking into the shadows before looking skyward and feeling for Hiccup's magic. It was time to take him out of this war, permanently.
*O*
Steve winced as sleds sped by overhead, firing upon the street below—Loki leading the charge. Thankfully most of the streets were largely empty but the fly-by attack prompted the few remaining to take cover immediately as multiple cars exploded from the alien bolts.
"They're fish in a barrel down there." Steve's lips curled in as he stared at the people scrambling out of overturned cars for shelter.
A blue bolt hit the hood of the car he was taking refuge behind, missing his face by mere inches. Natasha reacted instantly, firing her Glocks at the foot soldier. Steve couldn't see if it fell or not as a half dozen others dropped from the building onto the street between them.
Clint ducked behind an overturned car while Natasha turned to Steve, nodding to the street below that was struggling to evacuate. "We got this. It's good, go."
"You think you can hold them off?" Steve asked, staring at Clint and glancing at the slowly advancing Chitauri.
Clint looked up to where Loki could be seen turning the sled, the scepter held out back towards the street. His face hardened but a grim satisfaction flooded him as he prepped an arrow. "Captain, it would be my genuine pleasure."
Clint sprung up and shot a Chitauri in the eye who instinctively pulled the trigger as he fell back, dead, taking out four of his companions.
Steve nodded and jumped over the railing and onto a bus towards the panicking civilians.
The returning group of Chitauri sleds opened fire but it was impossible to tell if they were firing at Steve or the remaining assassins. More fell from the buildings, firing at the SHIELD agents as they tried to rescue some trapped people, thankfully falling to the human's skills.
Steve ducked away as a bolt came close, spraying broken asphalt everywhere, only to stop suddenly when five Chitauri dropped onto his path. They held their weapons up but oddly held their fire. Steve frowned, needing to get by them, and hurled his shield. It caught the middle Chitauri off guard and it squealed as the shield smacked into its neck, startling the others to glance at it.
Steve took their distraction to punch one and retrieve his shield, using it to ram into the chest of another. They sprung back into action at that, snarling at him. He glared at them and raised his shield as an unharmed Chitauri leveled its weapon—he grunted with the unexpected, brute force attack of the weapon slamming down on his shield instead of a bolt.
The others swarmed on him. He punched one and elbowed another before getting the wind knocked out of him as the first one he punched, socked him in the gut. He ducked under reaching hands and kicked one in the knee, throwing it at its companions. They either ducked or tossed him aside, already reaching for him again.
It was about then something frightening dawned on him. A grey alien grabbed his arm but he managed to twist away and punch it in the throat for its troubles. His arm was caught while still extended and yanked back while another Chitauri grabbed his free arm and shoulder.
Steve hissed as he was shoved down and kicked at the ankle of one of his captors. It snarled at him and twisted his arm. Steve tried twisting away but to no avail; the two held him painfully secure while four others snarled at him but seemed to keep a sort of guard. He groaned and shook his head. He had to be imagining it.
They started dragging him between two buildings and confused panic started setting in—nothing was making sense! He stuck a leg out and managed to wind it around the Chitauri's leg, tripping him. Steve fell on his elbow, driving it into the Chitauri's abdomen.
He bit back a yelp when the one holding his other arm yanked him back, teeth somehow bared even more. But he now had an arm free and swung at the invader, momentarily freeing himself just as the others attacked again—but still strangely non-lethal.
"Guys!" He shouted into the com unit Natasha gave him, a nifty new invention. "Are the Chitauri acting weird around anyone el—Gah!" He doubled over as a shaft of a spear slammed into his side.
He gripped it and yanked, pulling the Chitauri into his thrusting fist. The others were now incensed but still refused to move onto lethal attacks.
Clint was the first to respond, sounding out of breath. :What? No! Why do you get the easy aliens!?:
:These guys are very happy trying to blow our heads off.: Natasha snapped.
Steve grunted as he was thrown into the ground and quickly rolled away from a stomping foot, kicking at the groin of the next alien attempting to stop him. "They're not playing easy, that's for sure!"
:You're not alone, Capsicle.: Tony came in clearly despite the rush of wind lightly filtering through. :I've got tails too but none of them are trying to land the kill shot. Saw some trying to herd uncle H a bit ago—didn't end well. But it might have something to do with our connection to Loki.:
"What connection?" Steve asked as he grabbed the spear from the stunned Chitauri and spun it around, impaling the charging alien…only for his vision to go white as a Chitauri threw him into a wall. He tried to pick himself up quickly but three grey aliens pounced on him before he could get past a kneeling position.
He bared his teeth in frustration and pain as they dragged him deeper into the shadows. What are they doing? He tried wrenching out of their grip but they had learned. He was about to call for backup, if any could be given, when someone behind them coughed—as if they were cutting in at a dance.
"Excuse me, but you have our captain."
The Chitauri turned with a hiss which ended in a squeal as both Chitauri fell back with large shards of ice protruding from their chests. The remainder shrieked and charged past Steve to the new defenders from behind.
Steve spun on his heel, fists raised to help before they dropped as a man the same age as Hakon and resembling him but blonde swiped his hand up and a saffron arc pushed the Chitauri back, flinging the closest ones into the wall.
Steve stood still and stared until the man stopped glaring at the unmoving aliens and smiled at Steve. "Good to finally meet you, Steve."
Steve tried to reply when the dark alleyway flashed and a dozen blue giants appeared—all looking rather disappointed at the dead Chitauri—and of which, the leading giant stared disparagingly at.
"You could have waited until we were here to begin having fun."
Steve's rescuer huffed and rolled his eyes. "You were taking too long and they were trying to make away with Steve—who we just found!" He crossed his arms and glared at the blue being. "Do you know what Folke would do to me if I let his hero get kidnapped?"
The leader huffed. "He is only a mortal-"
"Who happens to be a Thorston. Æsir or no, not a fight I want to pick."
Steve was now at a complete loss of words as the blue leader turned his attention back on him and growled, "We were still not but a second behind you." He looked back at the ice impaled Chitauri then back at the blonde. "Was that you or him?"
Steve finally found a voice as he picked up his shield. "Why would you think I could do—that?"
Two of the blue aliens exchanged confused glances and the other spoke softly, "Hiccup did use his-?"
The blonde nodded, looking back at Steve with his arms still crossed and shrugged. "He did but he went under the ice before we could learn what all it did to him."
The first alien nodded. "Ah. Well if he survived the ice then the future is promising."
Steve's eyes darted between them all. "Promising for what? Who are you?"
"Oh, sorry. Nuffink, from the New Archipelago." There was a rumbling from behind him and a black head with a white spotted nose poked its head between the blue giants. Steve's eyes widened, pulling back a bit and wondering how he missed that. "And that's Dart."
Steve carefully looks between those in the group, well aware of the terrified screams echoing from behind. "The New Archipelago? Hyse's people?" Nuffink nodded and he turned his attention to the giants. "Are they here to help too?"
The leader of the blue people crossed his arms with a glare. "Well we are certainly not going to let one of our few allies fight alone."
The one standing next to him grunted in agreement. "Now, if you could kindly point us in the direction of our brother we will gladly beat some sense into his skull."
Steve started to sound out 'brother' when Nuffink spoke into a com on his wrist. "Hey, anyone got a twenty on Loki?"
:Who is this?: Natasha snapped.
:Nuffink! Were you out on assignment?: Tony cried.
Nuffink beamed and trotted out of the alleyway, glaring at the Chitauri still dropping from the buildings. "Nope, got something worked out with the Tesseract before dad popped off with it again. Brought back up, though."
Tony sighed. :Oh good. Last I saw of Reindeer Games he was zipping about…I'd try pinning down uncle H's location, he seemed to be trailing after him. JARVIS, have you gotten something figured out yet?:
The new help snarled the instant they spotted the Chitauri and lept into action, ice flying and forming around their hands in moments as the Chitauri spotted them and screeched in outrage.
Steve shook his head, not yet able to compute everything that just happened, so he ran to a group of officers.
"It's going to be an hour before they can scramble the National Guard." The left officer said to another standing beside him.
A blue bolt went whizzing by them and they ducked, staring at the car hood behind. The right man looked at his companion with incredulity. "Does the army know what's happening here?!"
"Do we?"
Steve slung his shield at an approaching Chitauri, aiming its weapon at the officers, and jumped on the totaled police car's roof. "We need men in these buildings." He pointed to the two Tony had mentioned minutes ago as he chased after the space whale, time that already felt like forever ago. "There are people inside and they're going to be running right into the line of fire. You take them into the basement or the subway—you keep them off the streets. I need a perimeter as far back as 39th."
"Why the hell should I take orders from you?" The right officer asked, staring at Steve but not believing for a second he was the man he dressed as.
The street just behind them erupted with a blue blaze and a new swarm of Chitauri ran through the smoke. Steve batted the first one away with his shield but before he could strike the second, hair-raising war cries sounded and the blue aliens lept upon the Chitauri, spearing most with their impossibly forming ice—and taking vengeful pleasure in doing so.
The skiffs roared overhead when they made yet another pass and air gusted by them as a black and white blur shot off the ground. There was a whistle then a sled exploded with a purple blast. Both Steve and the officers stared at the blur as it flew madly away, a joyful and human cry echoing from its back.
One of the aiding aliens scoffed and tossed a dismembered head onto its corpse. "Show off."
There was a shriek as a Chitauri leapt out of the shadows at the officers. Steve shot forward and punched it in the jaw before grabbing its arm and bringing his shield down on its shoulder. It fell, Steve still holding its gun while its arm slid out, limp.
Some of the nearer blue giants looked at him with small grins and, despite how predatory they appeared, oddly didn't set off any warning bells. One near the back of the group shouted, "I claim right to the first spar with him at the victory feast!"
Steve looked back, now both worried and confused, but the officers brought his attention back to matters at hand as he ordered the men behind him and grabbed the radio on his collar. "I need men in those buildings, lead the people down and away from the streets. We're gonna set up a perimeter all the way down to 39th Street."
The officers scattered and Steve gave a quick look about, spying a commotion on the bridge he'd just left. He ran past the scattering blue giants as they left to find their own battles and leapt onto broken-down cars to get back up. By the time he reached Natasha and Clint, they were still in the heart of a skirmish.
Natasha snatched the spear of a Chitauri she'd just downed and swung it around to beat an advancing alien away before spinning on her heel, blasting its partner with it. She kept this up as Clint fought back with his bow—his arrows more often than not, not even making it to the string before they were being driven into grey flesh.
Steve leapt and landed between two Chitauri and Clint who had his back turned as he shot at a passing skiff that rained blue fire down on them.
The Chitauri paused, heads cocking unsurely as Steve stood in their way, but no less driven to eliminate the threat behind him. Steve readied his shield as the nearest of the invaders raised its spear, and squealed as an ice pike was driven through its chest with a victorious shout.
Natasha gasped near Steve as he could only stare in shock as the blue giant formed a crude and cruel blade of ice and advanced on the Chitauri, speaking in a language none of them understood but the Chitauri seemed to, if their nervous retreat was anything to go by.
Clint jumped as several more of the blue giants landed on the bridge around them. "Is this the 'help' your mystery friend mentioned?"
Steve nodded mutely as the giants launched at the Chitauri. The giants roared a battle cry while the Chitauri shrieked theirs, both charged the other until the giants suddenly stopped and flung their hands skyward. Pillars of ice grew from the ground near their feet and arced over their heads just as bolts of lightning struck every Chitauri and ice pillar.
Thor landed heavily with a scowl, Mjolnir still swinging, though he favored the left side for a few steps. "Jötunns! You dare invade Midgard in her weakened-"
Who Steve assumed to be their leader snarled at Thor. "Silence, Odinson. You know not of what you speak. You never have."
Thor's face twisted and Mjolnir spun faster. "I will not let you sweep in behind Loki and restart the war my father ended."
The leader scoffed. "You are amusing, little Asgardian, to presume we are invading our dearest allies."
Thor opened his mouth to argue before all words failed him and utter confusion consumed his being Mjolnir falling to his side.
Natasha leaned over to Clint and whispered. "Do you know of any allies beyond Earth?"
Clint snorted quietly. "Out of the two of us, I thought you'd be the one to know."
The giant's leader half turned to peer at them, the others keeping a close eye on the floundering Thor. "You would not know, Hiccup is our—liaison, I believe you put it."
Thor finally regathered his wits, still unsurely staring at the Jötunns. "It is rather hard to believe any Jötunn is willing to side with Midgardians."
Another Jötunn glared at Thor. "Like an Asgardian would be willing to believe anything decent could come from a Jötunn—especially the one who tried to destroy our world."
"I was trying to save it!" Thor thundered.
The Jötunn's leader waved the other back with a warning look. "These discussions can come later, after the battle is won."
Thor's lip twitched but he huffed in resigned concurrence. "Agreed."
Steve stepped in-between the feuding aliens, grim and curious about their standing with Thor's people but relieved they came to a truce. "Now that that's behind us, what's the story upstairs?"
"The power source surrounding the cube is impenetrable-" Thor began before Hiccup cut in.
:I think I have an idea about that but—Thor dang it! Somebody get these guys off my tail!:
:I got 'em babe.: An unfamiliar female voice came over the coms and a moment later they could hear the echoes of several skiffs exploding.
Clint started to turn questioningly to Natasha when Tony spoke with far too much enthusiasm. :Aunt Astrid?! Wow, you guys really are going all out for the party.:
Astrid chuckled. :Exceptions are made when Loki goes mad…anymore information on that end?:
Hiccup and Tony instantly started in on the technobabble and theories while Steve tuned them out and turned to the others as Natasha asked, "How do we do this?"
"As a team." Was Steve's knee jerk reaction.
"I have unfinished business with Loki." Thor ground out, glaring at the sky full of speeding Chitauri and—his eyes widened as more and more of the sky continued to fill not with Chitauri skiffs but winged creatures of all sizes and colors.
"Yeah?" Clint's eyebrows pinched as he tightened an arrowhead and said at the same moment the Jötunn leader did, "Get in line."
"Save it." Steve ordered both parties.
*O*
Furious roars erupted from every Chitauri. Even those chasing Hiccup roared and scowled at the ground where a plume of concrete dust rose, that didn't distract them from their pursuit however; but Stormfly's magnesium blasts were doing a wonderful job at that. She chased away a pod of Chitauri; however, Loki was single-mindedly focused on his Chosen.
Toothless snarled as he barrel-rolled away from a blue blast of the scepter, eyes rolling back to glare at the trickster.
Hiccup didn't turn, only cast a stronger shield around them and sank deeper into their bond until they were indiscernible from each other in flight. He could feel Loki's growing ire over their muted bond as well as his tugging, pleading. He ignored it and eyed the top of Tony's tower, and the Tesseract.
Roars that were more felt than heard caught the attention of all, and Hiccup could feel the hope plummet as two more space whales exited the portal. The sky above and below them were filled with Chitauri and an even greater number of dragons. Hiccup smiled grimly at that. For now, the Chitauri were being overwhelmed by his people but that also meant—his heart clenched and he tried his best to look away from the fighting, focusing on his own task.
Toothless dove in an attempt to throw Loki's less maneuverable skiff and momentarily succeeded. He took the opening and dive-bombed the tower, almost making it to the roof, when an angry screech and green dragon tackled them from the side.
Hiccup yelled in surprise as he was ripped off the saddle and Toothless shrieked in outrage, plasma blast already forming before reluctantly swallowing it in fear of hitting Hiccup. Hiccup grabbed the claw and tried prying it off only for Loki to shake him for his meager efforts.
Hiccup gasped and planted his hands against the claw, shoving at it with his Æsir. Loki's hold around his chest loosened enough for him to take a breath and shift forms without fear of immediate recapture. Loki tilted his wings to come to a near halt in the sky and snarled at the fleeing Terrible Terror even as Toothless shot past the small form towards him. Hiccup winced when he heard Toothless attack Loki then shifted forms to a Night Fury.
The whine of too many skiffs surrounded the tower, likely on Loki's command, making it impossible to actually attempt anything with the Tesseract. The sky suddenly darkened and thunder rumbled. A moment later lightning cracked, lighting up the Empire State Building like a Skrill, then one of the space whales fell with a terrible screech, white lightning arcing around its body.
Hiccup looked up at the dark clouds and grinned smugly. He fired a plasma blast into the midst of the circling Chitauri then shot up. They screeched and more than half the group turned to pursue. Lightning cracked around him as he disappeared into the dark clouds. Memories, a millennia old, assaulted him but he shook them away and narrowed his eyes as he turned sharply and released a blast of sound.
The Chitauri screeched in confusion before shrieking in outrage as they were picked off, yet they still could not locate their target. Another echo rang through the black thunder-clouds, then twin blue-purple blasts took out most of the remaining group.
Hiccup grinned gummily at Toothless who glided up to his wing and they dove out of the clouds. His large head swung around, watching the battle progress below—lips curling upwards in a snarl at the destruction.
Toothless warbled in worry, eyeing Hiccup and the tower he was staring at—mostly empty now of its Chitauri guards. Hiccup trilled encouragingly, twitching his wings to dive when a whistling shriek split the air and a blast came out of thin air.
Toothless screeched in outrage once again, spinning away from the blast and into Hiccup. He clutched Hiccup tightly as he dove and Hiccup squirmed to see who it was that shot at them. Toothless growled at his wriggling but it didn't stop him from spying…Toothless behind them?
Hiccup barely paused for a moment to prod both bonds—both were equally angry at each other and worried for him—before he was scrabbling in Loki's hold again. He flung out a wing, and sent them spinning right into the side of the second space whale.
The mammoth creature snarled and turned to snap at them, but all three Night Furies proved to be too much of a challenge to catch. It proceeded to ignore them, especially since the one that commanded them was one of those pesky little dragons and was dealing with the other two.
Hiccup scrabbled along the whale's back then took off again, shooting a blast between his feet and behind him as he leapt into the air. Loki snarled as it struck his wing, but that didn't deter him for more than a few seconds; precious seconds Hiccup seized.
Somewhere well fortified and far from New York and the current madness descending there, several men crowd in a noisy room. Men either stood watching a TV reporting live on the Invasion or were taking calls from various agents stationed throughout SHIELD.
An older man with greying hair stared at the screens, not bothering to hide his open shock as the camera zoomed in on a flying reptile that shot something green out of his mouth at one of the space invaders. The substance didn't burn like it did in story books or even as many of the others the camera man bravely focused on, but it certainly did its job of eliminating the alien—its skin smoking as if the substance was eating it.
"Sir." A much younger man came to a hurried stop by his leader's side. "We have confirmation. This is Hyse's people."
Peirce shook his head in disbelief. Dragons. Sure some of the surviving agents from the raids babbled about some creature but…this! "How are the odds looking?"
The young officer fidgeted before answering. "Normally, I'd say abysmal; however, if this is Hyse's people…I'm not sure."
Peirce frowned, staring at the screen then grinning. He waved the man away and left the room for a nearby communications room that connected with the other members of SHIELD's council. The screens remained blank for only a few seconds after he sent out the summons, each face deeply worried—TVs were undoubtedly muted in the back of every office as this very call was being made.
"Members of this council, I believe a decision must be made." Peirce said evenly with a hint of remorse.
"What decision?" The only female member asked.
He took a deep breath and leaned heavily on his hands against the table. "We must take drastic measures against this threat. If we do not cap it now, they will continue to spill through that tear in the sky and destroy not only the United States, but the world at whole."
A balding man put his hands together and nodded. "What are you suggesting?"
Peirce put on the act of looking deeply pained and troubled. "A nuke. It should destroy whatever is causing that rift as well as blasting back any of those creatures near the hole."
Another man with thinning hair frowned. "But the Avengers are there, we've barely given them any time to respond."
Peirce glared. "They have had days to respond to this Loki threat and not only have they allowed him to escape after capture—I've heard it from our own agents that his own son worked on the project that brought him to Earth and now 'fights' with the Avengers."
The woman frowned, head tilting in confusion. "Wouldn't that mean we have even more help on our side—these, dragons are his, are they not?"
Peirce fixed her with a firm look. "My dear lady, do you honestly expect a son—a very loyal one it sounds like—to turn against his father. Especially when he offers him the world we know?"
The other men on the call hummed and she sighed while the man with thinning hair said, "This will be a grave loss of life."
Peirce hung his head somberly but inwardly was beaming, with this, they could cripple this nearly unknown foe who has tormented them since their foundation. "Indeed, but they will be hailed as martyrs for not allowing this invasion to succeed."
The woman's shoulders fell but nodded. "We will contact the director of SHIELD and inform him of our decision."
Peirce nodded. "Thank you."
The call cut off and he left the room, eager to return to the screens and reports. Finally the day has come that they can crush their ever pursuing opponents in this secret war.
Tony shot up out of a parking garage that he used to lose his pursuers, bad on turns and tight spaces was an understatement. He was pulling up hard to clear the buildings when three black streaks flew right into his path. The lead dragon screeched and shot into a broken window while the second crashed into him and the third dove then swooped up, pupils wide as it stared back at him.
JARVIS blared impact warnings and while, thankfully nothing was critically damaged, his repulsors sputtered a few times. Before he could rebalance himself, the dragon gripped him tightly and landed.
Tony grunted as he landed on the ground, gently, he was sure by a dragon's standards but still a bit jarring. "What in Thor's name! It thought Toothless was the-" He cut himself off as he sat up and a green light rippled over the dragon. "Oh gods."
Loki frowned at him then looked up at the sky. Hiccup and Toothless had long since vanished, and turned back to Tony—smirking. "Seems as though I can keep you out of this fight after all."
Tony sprung to his feet, hand repulsor whirring. "You wish, Reindeer Games."
Loki easily evaded Tony's shot and stretched out his hand, calling on his Jötunn magic.
Tony yelled in anger as he was hit by ice, trapping his feet to the ground. He tried blasting it off but it grew too quickly and soon had his arms trapped as well. "Not cool, Lokes. You're still not gonna win this."
Loki shook his head at Hiccup's godson with a sly smile. "Oh, but it is quite cool. And it matters not that help has arrived from the Archipelago or Jötunheim. Complicates matters a bit but it changes nothing. I-"
A furious bellow shook the remaining glass in the sky scrapers and Loki paled. He turned and looked at a building but was seeing something beyond it. All around them, victorious roars rose up from the Jötunns and every Viking with their dragon cheered.
Tony frowned, trying to twitch—anything. "Uh, what was that? That-that sounded worse than one of those awful space whales."
"Much worse." Loki nearly hissed then teleported away.
Tony growled and slowly fired up his repulsors to melt the ice. "Anybody got eyes on what roared?"
:It was a Dýrsvell.: Thor said, voice lined with fright.
:A what?: Steve asked as his shield clanged over the com.
Natasha huffed and puffed after fending off another wave of Chitauri, Steve also panting for breath. Their fixation on him was both a boon and a bane—more easily distracted by him but equally as vicious in their attacks to subdue him. "Clint! Have you got eyes on this Deerspell?"
Up on a roof, Clint had paused shooting down Chitauri skiffs to stare in awe and horror as a white leviathan launched out of the Hudson. His initial fear was somewhat alleviated when their unexpected allies cheered with its arrival but the Chitauri became even more agitated.
"It's, ah…" He frowned, trying to think of just how to describe the thing. "Enormous with tusks and a spiky crown?"
"Jörmungandr!" Tony cried then paled. "Oh, gods…Jörmungandr!"
"Sir, I must advise against activating the repulsors any further, the suit's already straining under the sudden temperature changes." JARVIS warned, the HUD flashing warnings.
"The World Serpent?" Natasha turned to Steve, eyebrows pinched, and he shrugged.
Thor watched, still from the Empire State, as the flying whale turned with a rumbling growl and roared challengingly at the creature at least twice its length. Jörmungandr, if Tony was correct, returned the challenge—trampling a few of the smaller buildings near the shoreline. And he suddenly understood why all those years before, Loki had been terrified to such a degree after Hiccup had nearly been consumed by the Dýrsvell.
Jörmungandr reared up and snapped at the whale who twisted around his tusks to attack his neck. It failed. Jör moved more swiftly than it expected and chomped down on its neck. It squealed as Jör shook his head and drug it into the ocean. An unnaturally blue hue stained the waters where Jör disappeared, only for the waves to become tremulous again as he shot up, crowing in victory.
Loki swore as he appeared on the docks, the Chitauri leviathan's blood already swirling around. "Jörmungandr! Stop this instant! You are not to harm the Chitauri."
Jör swung his head around to pin Loki under a venomous gaze. He grumbled for several minutes, volume rising until he was roaring at his Commander.
Thor landed on the street that still gave a view of the docks, coincidentally next to two Jötunns who were watching the interaction with interest even as the Chitauri carried on the war around them.
"I've never seen a Dýrsvell scold their Commander before."
"I've never even heard of an occurrence where they would turn a displeased eye unless they wanted a new Commander."
"To be fair, our little brother might be the first to be mind-controlled and actively ignoring his bonded that we've seen."
Thor's head snapped around to the Jötunn's he was very tentatively on a truce with. "You're Loki's blood family?"
The slightly taller one raised an eyebrow ridge. "You're just now figuring that out?"
Before Thor could answer, Jör gave a very dissatisfied huff that froze a section of the dock and surrounding waters then plopped down like an angry toddler—still grumbling and growling at Loki.
The taller Jötunnar sighed and turned away, throwing a spear of ice at a passing skiff. "Well, so much for that."
The sky pulsed and all heads turned, the Chitauri shrieking angrily as the beam that supported the portal flashed and sputtered out.
*O*
Tony's HUD flashed wildly, having long since muted JARVIS, as he attempted to melt through the ice cocooning him. After a minute he could maybe wiggle his fingers but he couldn't tell if that was his actual armor moving or if it was just his fingers twitching inside the gauntlets.
His ire grew as the ice stubbornly refused to give and his suit was beginning to overheat, forcing him to cease. He stood awkwardly in the ice, fuming and plotting revenge on the trickster.
"Look what we have here."
Tony had just enough movement to turn his head, a cluster of what must be Jötunns approached him with far too amused grins. His mask slid up so he could properly glare at them. "Yeah, alright, laugh it up. Can you get me out of this mess or leave me as a hood ornament for that Chitauri whale?"
One said something that Tony couldn't understand but it must have been humorous as the rest chuckled. Finally one of them stood next to him and carefully observed the ice, humming appreciatively. "I must say, he's improved."
Tony's glare continued to deepen. "Gee, why don't you go find him and give him a pat on the back."
The Jötunnar smirked as he traced the ice until he found a spot he liked and speared his own ice into Loki's. "I think I will."
The ice cracked then shattered. Tony sighed in relief and shook the small chunks out of his joints. "Thanks."
They nodded then left, eyeing a group of passing skiffs.
Tony proceeded to continue picking out ice bits that could cause issues in flight and properly thawing his suit when a three Chitauri dropped down, snarling at him. Tony growled tiredly and snapped his mask back down, blasting the nearest one.
:Stark, you read me? You have a missile heading straight for the city.: Fury said.
Tony's lip curled but asked, "How long?"
:Three minutes, max. The payload could wipe out Midtown.:
"JARVIS, put everything into the thrusters." Tony huffed. As if the aliens weren't bad enough, now our own people are trying to kill us.
*O*
Hiccup felt bad for accidentally sic'ing Loki on Tony but it worked, and apart from a few Chitauri, he finally had a clear shot to the tower.
Jör's roar filled him with both hope and trepidation. Hope that maybe he could snap Loki out of the spell or would he would actually spirit his patron away and nest on him for the next century, as he had so often threatened to do over the course of the last two years. However, he was equally afraid that he would bow to Loki's commands.
He cast those thoughts from his mind as he streaked up the side of the tower. Shutting the invasion's welcome door would assure them victory—and with the Tesseract he could open up the Archipelago and call the other Bewilderbeasts to subdue Jörmungandr.
Toothless flew a distance behind him, picking off the Chitauri that dared to attack his other half. Soon enough Hiccup shot over the top and shifted to his human form. Gravel crunched under his feet as he ran to the edge of the energy barrier.
A groan came from the concrete banister, belonging to one of the kidnapped scientists. He held his head and squinted at Hiccup, shaking his head. "There's nothing you can do. You'll kill yourself trying to get through that field."
"Go." Hiccup said to the man who eagerly scurried down from the roof
:Is someone at the wormhole generator?: Selvig asked—he, along with all of SHIELD, were keeping close ears and eyes on the battle.
:Uh…Loki's still got the scepter.: Tony said with a grunt, Chitauri screeching in the background.
"Don't need it." Hiccup whispered and held up both hands, just shy of touching the shield.
Toothless circled the tower, eyeing Hiccup as he closed his eyes in concentration, and shooting down any threat to Hiccup before diving down and curling protectively around him.
Hiccup took a breath and reached out with his Æsir to the Tesseract. It hummed darkly and for a moment, it batted away his Æsir without thought. A dissatisfied huff blew down his neck as the scaly nose bumped his back encouragingly, bond flooding with support and wrapping around his magics.
He frowned and pressed his Æsir harder against the shield and—while he did not quite break through—the Tesseract jolted at the familiar magic. His Æsir reached for the Tesseract but could not quite make contact, however, he could feel its dark hum turn joyful. He stood still, face scrunched and desperately called for the Tesseract to come to him, a mirror of how it had called to him for years.
The building under him shook and he felt a backlash of energy but it washed over him, pulsing out and flicking away enemy and ally alike. A trickle from the Tesseract reached out for his Æsir and for a second the touch was feather-like—then it latched onto his magic like a Nadder on a chicken. It sang again, no longer pained, and the impenetrable barrier wavered then collapsed when the Tesseract disappeared—reappearing in Hiccup's hands. He laughed. He couldn't believe that actually worked!
The machine shook violently as the energy source keeping the portal open vanished abruptly, leaving the beam to come slamming back into the device. Hiccup cried out, not expecting the shockwave of the returning energy to slam into it and continued outwards.
After a moment to gather his senses again, Hiccup rolled over—gratefully batting Toothless who wrapped him in his wings. They looked up, shoulders sagging in tired gratification at the sight of the black hole shrinking and the Chitauri still on Midgard started shrieking with new fury. Hiccup hung his head, breathing deeply in relief and never losing his hold of the cube.
They both jumped when a green flash lit up the roof and Loki appeared, looking around wildly. He spotted Hiccup and ran over to him, nearly dropping the scepter. Toothless growled warning, curling his tail tighter around Hiccup's legs but let Loki approach since his demeanor was one of pure worry.
Loki knelt next to Hiccup and cupped his face. He was saying something but Hiccup couldn't make it out right away, still entranced by the Chitauri's door finally being slammed shut in their faces.
"You foolish, idiotic child! Do you know what you have done? The target you have painted on your back as well as Midgard's?!"
Hiccup finally turned his gaze to Loki. "I'm protecting Midgard from the invasion you brought to her!"
Loki's brow pinched and pulled away, snatching the Tesseract from Hiccup as he stood. "You've done nothing but make him angrier with this Realm and I can no longer guarantee its safety." The scepter seemed to pulse in agreement with his words. He spun sharply on his heel, stalking to the sparking device. "If the machine is still functional, perhaps I can still salvage-"
"No!" Hiccup cried. He held up a hand to stop Loki but his magic flared and the Tesseract pulsed with the touch, teleporting into his arms.
Loki whirled around, eyes flaring with their unnatural blue hue as the scepter burned, almost blinding. "Liten Listig," he growled, punctuating every word, "What did you do?"
Hiccup stared at the Tesseract in mild surprise but unconsciously smiled at the feeling of rightness as it sat in his palm. "I-I don't know—but I do know I'm not just gonna let you reopen that portal and continue razing Midgard for the sake of 'protecting her'! There's another way, I know there is, we just-"
Loki's face burned red as he started to cut Hiccup off in the middle of his foolish argument, reaching for the Tesseract again.
However, neither was able to say anything as a not-quite-inhuman roar reverberated between the buildings. Loki slightly turned his head to sneer at the sound but jumped minutely instead when Banner's beast landed, gravel and the concrete beneath crunching under his brutal landing.
The Hulk roared and backhanded Loki before either god could react, hurling him into the already decimated machine. Hiccup winced at the sound the metal made, bending and snapping under Loki's force but he couldn't deny the glee he felt at the utter destruction of it.
Loki extracted himself from the wreckage swiftly, his coat flaring, even as Hulk roared again and took a threatening step forward. "Enough! You are all, all of you, beneath me! I am a god, you dull creature," Loki seethed at the Hulk. Clearly, he had miscalculated Banner's dislike of his Berserker half.
Toothless snorted at his words while Hiccup crossed his arms and glared silently at his patron. Loki ignored them. "I came to protect your home, which is not something that will be said of the one I was cast out from. And I will not be bullied by a-!"
Hulk, ever the listener, grew tired of Loki's prattle and snatched him by his ankles and began smacking him around like a dog with a new toy.
Toothless hid behind a wing while Hiccup cringed and reached out, since that still was his magical father Hulk was beating to a pulp! But he hesitated as the scepter went flying from Loki's grasp and the air practically rang as a string snapped.
Hulk grunted and bashed Loki into the ground a few more times for good measure, before leaving him in the crater. "Puny god."
He and Hiccup made eye contact, Toothless growling warning when Hulk narrowed his eyes on the other Asgardian. He grinned toothily at the familiar and patted Hiccup's head as he finally walked by. "You friend."
Hiccup arched an eyebrow at Hulk but shrugged it off with barely a thought. Too much weirdness had happened in his life to be affected by something as small as this. His attention snapped back to Loki as a pained moan, almost a squeal, escaped his unmoving form. He ran over and knelt next to his patron. "Loki?"
Loki did nothing except slowly roll his eyes at his Chosen. An odd flash of relief flickered across his face, his once again clear green eyes scrunching in pain and his breathing became more erratic. Panic shot through Hiccup. Had Hulk truly hurt him?
"Make it shut up." Loki rasped, eyes clenched and turned away from where the scepter had fallen.
Hiccup's head snapped around and glared at the scepter. He stretched out his Æsir toward it, scowling as he felt the last, thin and oily threads still connected to Loki reach out for him—he cast it away to his magical pocket. He suppressed a shiver. He could still feel it reaching for Loki, for him, for anyone to obey his commands again.
Loki sighed in relief but still didn't even try to move. "I'm sorry, Liten Listig."
Hiccup shook his head, setting the Tesseract down between him and Toothless then extending his Æsir over Loki to ensure nothing was too damaged. "It wasn't you."
Loki grimaced. "It was more me than you realize. I wanted to do anything to protect you—it seems I've only drawn his attention to you, unduly."
The Chitauri continued to screech around them but their cries were slowly fading away—falling prey to the Avengers, Jötunns or territorial dragons.
The roof around them lit up with saffron and red light almost simultaneously, creating an orange flash. Toothless purred and bounded over to his son and daughter, sniffing them and checking for injury. Hiccup smiled briefly at Zephyr and Nuffink who frowned at the state of Loki but his attention was quickly diverted to the rather small Bewilderbeast trying to run across slick gravel.
Loki winced, almost afraid his Dýrsvell was going to accidentally trample him, but Jör stopped just in time to peer directly down—his head between Jör's feet. He groaned and looked away from Jör while Jör's eyes narrowed, the shrunken feelers on his face wiggling earnestly.
Hiccup stood and held Toothless' head near him as he watched, feeling Loki's magic—still just barely bound by the scepter—shy away from Jörmungandr's probing. Jör growled and nudged Loki's head. Loki gasped, eyes clenched tight even as his breathing came easier and Hiccup felt the ever groping scepter within his pocket finally fall silent. The last of its mind slaves finally freed.
The gravel crunched again as another took occupancy on the roof and Nuffink shook his head at the newbie. "It's starting to get a bit crowded."
Zephyr grinned at the red head who glared at all present, but mostly at Loki. "Hello, Natalia. Joining the party a bit late, aren't you?"
"I had to find a ride." Natasha frowned at Zephyr, trying to place why she used that name but promptly shoved the thought away as Loki groaned and rolled over. She stepped closer to him and Hyse, who was holding his arm and speaking softly though she didn't understand a word being said. "Thanks for the assist, but we have to take him in now."
Zephyr and Nuffink glared at her while their familiars growled, shifting between the SHIELD spy and Loki. Jör sent her a particularly nasty look and nearly sat on Loki. Hiccup still held Loki's arm as the trickster fought to breathe properly through bruised lungs. "The only place he's going is back to the Archipelago for proper treatment."
Natasha's expression turned ugly and jabbed a finger at the defeated god. "Treatment?! He's going to a cell where he's going to pray to whatever gods he believes in that he isn't given a death sentence!"
Hiccup's skin started losing its pink color only for blue to begin creeping in. "As I've already told you people, he is—was—being mind controlled. It looks like Hulk's beating finally snapped him out of it, thank the Norns. If you're going to prosecute him, you'll have to have to accuse everyone Loki put under the scepter's control as well."
"Liten Listig," Loki gripped Hiccup's arm a little tighter, "don't. I do deserve it."
Hiccup turned on Loki even as Toothless snorted and glared at him. "You don't deserve it anymore than Bucky does or Clint or Selvig or anyone else who's been brainwashed!" Loki started to argue but Hiccup shook his head vehemently. "No, no! I felt your pain, Loki, none of this was you and certainly not of your own will. We're gonna get you healed then figure out a way to stop this mad man if he ever tries to attack again."
Loki sighed but relented, in too much pain to argue otherwise. Natasha stared intently at Loki, unsure if she should believe that or not.
:Uh, guys…Where'd the wormhole go?: Tony suddenly asked over the coms.
:I thought you were supposed to be the genius.: Clint clipped.
Natasha silently sighed. "Hyse got it closed…finally."
Hiccup leveled her with a flat look but there was no heat in his gaze. "That was hard work just getting to the Tesseract!"
Loki glared at Hiccup. "Yes—and your method of extraction was incredibly stupid and poorly thought out."
Hiccup turned to argue with his patron when Tony cut in. :Well I need it back!:
:Absolutely not!: Steve shouted with indignation.
:Absolutely yes. I have a nuke and nowhere to put it now!: Tony shot back.
Everybody on the roof paled, even the dragons nervously eyeing each other. Nuffink's face twisted but his sister beat him to screeching out, "Who in Helheim sent a nuke?!"
Tony huffed in irritation as he answered, :Our dear friends at SHIELD.:
Natasha frowned with a small shake of her head. There was no way Fury would okay something like that—not without something going catastrophically wrong.
Steve came over again. :Hakon, is there anyway to re-open it, just for a minute?:
Loki's hand snapped around Hiccup's wrist as he reached out for the Tesseract. "Liten Listig, don't you dare. The Stones, they-"
Hiccup gripped Loki's hand with an encouraging smile. "It's alright. The Tesseract isn't like that. It never has been, not with me anyway."
Hiccup pulled away easily from the weakened Loki and grabbed the cube. Loki panicked and reached out for his Chosen but Hiccup danced away and Nuffink restrained him quickly. "Hiccup, don't!"
Hiccup stood next to the broken machine and looked upwards, eyes determined. "Tony, I'm gonna open it in the same place."
:Great—hurry up!: Tony grunted.
Nuffink grunted as Loki bucked. Even weakened and injured as he was, he still nearly threw Nuffink off. Zephyr joined her brother in pinning the screaming Asgardian who watched in terror as Hiccup held the Tesseract then opened his Æsir fully to it. Hiccup jerked as it speared through him and his world became nothing but the blue swirling of the Tesseract.
Loki stilled despite his panic and reached for their bond—only brushing it before Toothless leveled him with a warning look and curled around his other half. It terrified Loki at how similar the Tesseract felt, but there was one glaring difference that finally made him understand Hiccup's reassurances—it didn't control him. It never did and never would. It didn't want control as the scepter did, but freedom.
Natasha instinctively gripped her Glock as the Tesseract pulsed and Hiccup looked skyward, duly, as if in a trance. The beam hit the clouds and the black hole of doom opened, Chitauri once again spilling through the crack and the dragons pouncing on them with terrifying glee. A missile screamed by the tower along with a shock of red and soared upwards into the portal.
All this was lost to Hiccup. It was peaceful for him in this moment, the swirls that filled the cube and familiarity with his magic…he was content to stay there—to see the places that existed just within the Tesseract's reach. But it was not to be. Two bonds sensed the dazed thought and tugged.
He was jerked back to reality, passing by many of those misty curls that always spun in the confines of the cube—no longer just empty swirls, but star systems and galaxies. The last curling galaxy that he passed in a fraction of a second led uncomfortably close to the stars the Chitauri were pouring out of. The swirl bent and showed not a collection of stars or planets, just a hulking dark form that turned to stare right at him with burning eyes and he felt the scepter reach weakly towards him.
Hiccup gasped as, near that space, something exploded and all too vividly he saw Tony floating listlessly. He reached out to Tony with a thin thread of the Tesseract and enveloped the inventor then gently deposited him on the roof of his own tower. Hiccup finally relinquished his command over the Tesseract and the portal snapped shut, as if the Tesseract was through with what lay in that other space. He instinctively clutched the Tesseract to his chest as the images faded and was left gasping as he was brought back to his own reality.
The uninjured trio turned when more crunching alerted them to Thor and Steve's arrival. Steve took two small steps forward before being forced to stop, space on the roof becoming quite limited. "We didn't see Stark come back through! Is he-?"
Loki finally managed to shove Hiccup's children off of him and ran over to his Chosen who was leaning heavily on Toothless and gripping the Tesseract as if his life depended on it, coincidentally clearing a path to Tony, who lay near Hiccup unmoving.
Steve hurried to Tony's side and Zephyr joined him after looking warily at Loki. She carefully pried the mask off before casting a diagnostic spell. Steve stared in wonder as her red Æsir swirled around her hand then attacked Tony's chest.
Hiccup trembled in Loki's grasp and buried his face in Loki's neck. "Oh gods, I saw him. He-he tried reaching out through the scepter…"
Loki's heart stopped and held Hiccup tighter. "He won't get you, Liten Listig, even if I must take him on myself. Where is the scepter?" He suddenly asked, eyes madly searching for the accursed Stone, wondering how he had tried to control his son.
Hiccup pulled away and called the scepter from his magical pocket but kept it well away from Loki's grasp, scowling at it as it sent curious tendrils out to its new holder. Odd, it doesn't feel so wrong now…still don't like it though.
Natasha marched forward and snatched the scepter, narrowed eyes never leaving Loki. "We'll watch over this."
Hiccup's nose wrinkled, glad for it to be away from him and Loki but a little wary with it being in SHIELD's hands. However, he said nothing about it for now.
Tony gasped sharply, staring wide eyed at Steve. "What the Hel? What just happened? Please tell me nobody kissed me."
Hiccup hung his head but smiled while Toothless bounded over—actually pouncing on Thor's shoulder and leaping over heads in his attempt to reach Tony to give him a slobbery dragon's kiss.
And it is done! Whew, that was a long one, hope it was satisfactory for the wait.
So a quick note. Especially with Wakanda Forever coming out as this chapter was being written a few people have asked/pondered about the future of this universe after End Game...I decided, quite a while ago, that this story is going to end with End Game-and maybe with a chapter to the TV show Loki thrown in because, well, Loki, obvious reasons hopefully. This is mainly because, after End Game, the MCU has lost a lot of fire with me and I don't really feel like pushing myself to trudge through it. I think it ended nicely at End Game so that's were this story will end as well.
R&R and have a great week!