Chapter 3: Fear of the Unknown (Avengers x Fem!Reader)
~Part 6~ The Life of an Avenger: Ragnarok
Summary: It’s about time Marilyn Manson and her useless army of the undead (what did she need them for again?) to be executed. Thor, Val, Bruce, and the reader finally take on Hela in Asgard and Loki takes matters into his own hands.
Word Count: 6276
Warnings: **INFINITY WAR SPOILERS**, swearing
“So, this is what she’s killing an entire civilization for?” (Y/N) pondered in disbelief, unimpressed with the Asgardian throne that she was lying on top of. “It doesn’t even have lasers. Everything is better with lasers.”
“I do not believe that she is on her conquest just for the chair, but of course (Y/N),” Thor sighed, “I will put in a request for lasers with the next ruler.”
“What I meant was that I don’t understand the draw to supreme power,” (Y/N) ranted, trying to see if dangling her legs over the edge of the throne would make it more comfortable. It didn’t. “It must be the worst job ever. You do one thing wrong, and your entire kingdom falls. You say the wrong thing once, and you fall because your kingdom revolts against you with swords and pitchforks and various fruits to throw at you. This is what democracy is for. At least if the majority of the population votes for the wrong thing, then everyone only has themselves to blame,” (Y/N) shrugged, her nose scrunched up curiously at the large golden horns that extended like jaws above her head. “Like your hammer used to be, this throne is bullshit.”
“And therein lies one of the many reasons why I did not take it,” Thor agreed, graciously extending his hand out to help her off the throne. “Now hurry. She will be here any minute now.”
“Fine, but just know that your ass will be very unforgiving of you when you take a seat in this thing because it ain’t some fucking Lazy Boy, I’ll tell you that much…actually screw the lasers, just get a nice recliner…and maybe a vacuum. This place is a mess…”
“Go!” Thor shouted through his laughter as he attempted to compose himself before his sister’s arrival to the throne room. “But (Y/N)…only come forth if I use our signal. I do not want you to be a part of this fight if you do not have to be.”
“I’m pretty sure that you’re gonna need me,” (Y/N) scoffed as Thor’s face went straight to betrayal. “Well, she’s the Goddess of Death. Not the Goddess of Kittens and Warm Hugs!” (Y/N) explained herself. Thor just shook his head and motioned for her to take cover.
Once she was out of sight, Thor took a seat on what would have been his throne, taking his staff like the great king he could have been.
“See! Now that’s more like it,” (Y/N) appraised from behind a pillar across the hallway, immediately getting scolded by Thor to disappear, leaving behind only an echo of her mischievous laughter.
And not long it was, indeed. (Y/N) could feel the shift in the air as the goddess approached the throne room. Shadows darted across the marble floors, scrambling desperately to reach their hidden corners to shiver in fear as every ounce of the joy was sucked dry, replaced with only that sinking feeling you get when you know someone, or something, is lurking right behind you, waiting in cold silence for the opportunity to take you.
Sensing his sister’s approach, Thor began to summon her closer by impatiently pounding his royal staff on the ground beneath him, sending the dusted remnants of his father’s lies to scatter into oblivion. HIs warning calls to Hela demanded her presence, daring her to find him lounging upon the throne that she was actively killing to reclaim.
An impeccable plan.
The pitch-black antlers battled each other atop the head of the goddess like the poisonous wrath of Medusa as her silhouette announced itself in the throne room, her antlers retracting to lull Thor into a false sense of calm. Her grandeur strides were regal…calculated, sizing up her brother with cold, grey eyes that held a deep resentment that could only be attained through centuries of hate.
“Sister,” Thor greeted with an award-winning smile.
“You’re still alive,” Hela noted, the subtle tremor of her body signifying a blood lust just beneath her statuesque exterior.
“I love what you’ve done with the place,” Thor commented sarcastically. “Redecorating, I see.”
“It seems our father’s solution for every problem,” Hela bit back spitefully. “Better to cover it up.”
And, honestly, (Y/N) could kind of see her point. Hela had gotten Asgard into the position of the Nine Realm’s powerhouse through means that Odin had obviously supported until the day that he just…didn’t. She grew up knowing that death and pain resulted in immediate recognition and ultimate glory. And for her father, who knows better, to teach her such violence then cast her out for using said violence to support his reign…now that’s cold-hearted.
But on the other hand, killing innocent people is wrong, so (Y/N) still planned to kick her ass back to whatever hell-dimension she came from.
It wasn’t until Thor had been battered and whipped harder than a Rachel Ray brownie mix that (Y/N) tried to step in, peeking her head out from around the hallway, but Thor motioned her off. Huffing, (Y/N) pivoted with her back to the wall as she listened to Thor groan in pain. She wanted to cover her ears and block out his suffering, but she couldn’t and the sounds only got worse. She knew that Thor didn’t want her to get involved, but this was getting ridiculous.
He brought you here for a reason. Better safe than sorry.
Wait, what? Better safe than sorry? Who am I? Old Man Clint?
This must be serious if I’m using that phrase.
In a jolt, (Y/N) stalked the goddess from behind, Hela’s hand gripping Thor’s weapon with ease as he struggled against her unwavering strength.
“To be honest, I expected more,” Hela taunted Thor, quickly twisting his staff from his grip as she sent him into a downward spiral across the room.
“Be careful what you wish for, bitch,” (Y/N) retorted before taking the goddess out at the knees in one swift kick, splaying her flat on her back on the golden tile where (Y/N) secured her wrists and ankles each in a cage of ice.
“You think you’re so smart, don’t you?” Hela spit as a cascade of nightshade blades rained from the ceiling in an avalanche of death. (Y/N) dodged the blades, blowing the rest through the windows of the palace, shattering the glass to let in the last rays of sunlight before she was surely about to die.
“Depends on my mood,” (Y/N) sassed as Hela freed herself from her chains, only being stopped from impaling the ice sorceress by Thor impaling her first, pinning her to the gold-laced wall.
Now that’s teamwork.
Unfortunately, Thor’s strength wasn’t enough before Hela got Thor pinned to the wall instead, her black talons squeezing the life from his throat.
“Here’s the difference between us,” Hela boasted with poison on her lips. “I’m Odin’s firstborn, the rightful heir, the savior of Asgard. And you’re nothing.” And with her proclamation, Hela threw Thor to the ground where (Y/N) stepped in to defend him, but her efforts were wasted as soon as Hela knocked her into one of the pillars, the crumbling remnants leaving dust to snow her hair. Thor attacked the goddess again, but one slice of her sword brought the god to his knees, clutching his stomach in agony as she circled her prey.
“So simple,” Hela hissed, “even a blind man could see it.”
And in an instant, the blade ripped through Thor’s eye socket as blood cascaded down his face with the howls of his misery. Hela scowled in disdain.
“Now you remind me of Dad,” Hela sneered. But before she could end it all, (Y/N) screamed in a war cry of anguish as she tackled the goddess, wielding blades of ice like katanas, slashing wildly at the shocked goddess. Hitting the ground with the force of an avalanche, a wall of crystallized snow buried the goddess against the staircase of the golden throne as (Y/N) launched herself at the goddess, barely missing her body before impaling the ground instead to shatter her katanas to pieces. Hela stood quickly behind (Y/N) to charge her, but (Y/N) jabbed her in the face with her elbow before running towards the pillars and parkoured up the side to backflip over Hela, then blast her through the pillars in a flurry of ice that left her crumbled in a pile of stone. Breathing heavily, (Y/N) stalked towards the goddess, eyes and fingertips glowing silver amongst the smoke of destruction. Instead of groans of pain, (Y/N) heard the cackle of laughter erupt from where the goddess lay.
“Now, don’t you wish you had done that a bit sooner to save your precious friend?” Hela taunted, straightening herself from the ashes to lean against the wall behind her to gather her strength. “What a pitiful creature you are. I can see so much that you could have been if you were my executioner. If you would have chosen my reigning victory over some wannabe ruler. Look at him, he can barely stand. Sad. But you…you could have been so much more,” Hela appreciated, scrutinized (Y/N) up and down before shaking her head and prowling towards the ice sorceress with a sigh. “Tragic that I must kill you now.”
“Not likely,” (Y/N) asserted boldly, bringing forth another round of snide laughter from the goddess.
“Do you not realize who I am?” Hela balked. “It’s shocking to me that less people truly grasp that I am the incarnation of death itself. I don’t know how many people I have to threaten and kill before that really sinks in.”
“How about none? Maybe try a new hobby like modeling for Hot Topic. I bet they’d really appreciate…all this,” (Y/N) offered, motioning to Hela’s leather-clad figure as the goddess rolled her eyes with a heavy sigh.
“This has been mildly entertaining, but it’s time for you to die,” Hela huffed as she finished sharpening her sword with a quick blow to whisk away the ashes.
“Like I’ve never heard that one before,” (Y/N) rolled her eyes back before charging at the goddess with a shout of rage. It would’ve been really cool if (Y/N) had actually beat Hela, but instead a fist full of her hair was being tugged in Hela’s grasp, her nails digging into (Y/N)’s scalp as she felt the warmth of blood run down her cheeks with a stroke of chilling tears. Hela dragged both (Y/N)’s and Thor’s ragged bodies to the balcony, shoving their faces towards the chaos of Asgardian warfare down on the Bifrost below.
“You see, no one’s going anywhere,” Hela hissed in Thor’s ear, then brushed her lips next to (Y/N)’s ear. “I’ll get that sword even if I have to kill every single one of them to do it.”
“Surprised you haven’t done it yet, All-Powerful-One…or was that just…a load of shit,” (Y/N) choked out through heaving breaths, but Hela was unshaken.
“Suppose I’m deciding whether to kill you first, or let you live long enough to watch the city burn,” Hela whispered as (Y/N)’s head lolled to the side, barely able to keep herself awake any longer. But her senses were jolted by Thor’s chuckle that caused Hela to spitefully drive a stake through his back. (Y/N)’s eyes found the culprit with strenuous effort. It was a ship mounted by none other than Loki.
“No…fucking…way,” (Y/N) whispered, a smirk tugging at her lips. She couldn’t believe it. The son of a bitch had actually done the right thing for once. Who would’ve thought?
“It’s a valiant effort, but you never stood a chance,” Hela scoffed, pulling the dagger from Thor’s back to replace deep in his arm as she held (Y/N) firm by the neck. “You see, I’m not a queen or a monster. I’m the Goddess of Death. What were you the god of again?” Hela demanded from her brother, her hands crushing Thor’s throat as silence filled the air with tension. “No matter, I’ll slice your pretty little sidekick’s neck while you take a moment to ponder that,” Hela threatened, wielding a blade from mid-air, placing the wicked edge along (Y/N)’s throat and began to draw blood. “Tell me brother, what were you the god of again?”
And that was when the atmosphere shifted. Every tiny hair on (Y/N)’s body stood on end as a tingle filled her veins in a way that shifted all attention away from the scream that was just making its way to her parted lips. Her eyes were skywards, spellbound by the culminating clouds that spiraled into a storm of blue lightning that crashed straight into the balcony. In the same moment, she heard the roar of Thor’s voice as his body slammed into her, sending her into a ball far from Hela. Once she turned her eyes back to the scene, Hela was gone. Only a gaping hole where (Y/N) used to be was crumbled to the ground below where Hela lay in a heap. Ears still ringing, (Y/N)’s eyes found Thor, a ring of sapphire, electric aura surrounded his raging body. Blue lightning was crackling from the palms of his hands and glowed in his eye until he settled down enough to crouch next to (Y/N).
“Are you alright?” Thor asked, concern etching his bloodied face. Always a gentleman.
“Well that’s a new look,” (Y/N) commented loudly, then opened her mouth to pop her ears as Thor chuckled, the blue fire still burning in his eye as he helped (Y/N) to stand. “I mean that in a good way. You know, I wanted to ask you earlier, but what kind of juice cleanse/detox/steroids are you on to create that? Because whatever your secret is, you’ve been holding out on me, Pikachu. Could’ve used that kind of power in Sokovia.”
“I did not realize that I had this kind of power until I fought and, despite your claims, beat Banner.”
“You don’t say,” (Y/N) scoffed, raising her eyebrows at Thor, still not satisfied with his non-explanation.
“No, I actually do say,” Thor argued in confusion. “I just did say that.”
(Y/N) sighed, reaching up to slap her hand on Thor’s shoulder, taking a moment to look him deep in his eyes. “I love you, Thor, but you’re a fucking idiot.”
“I find myself charming as well, Fearsome One,” Thor joked, ruffling (Y/N)’s hair before returning his attention to the Bifrost, giving (Y/N) the chance to see his right eye that was blackened and bloodied from Hela’s blade.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough,” (Y/N) apologized, her eyes finding her boots. “You brought me as backup and I failed.”
Thor placed his warm hand, still steaming from his power surge, under (Y/N)’s chin. “You have not failed. There are still people on the Bifrost to be fought for and a war to be won. There is still hope.”
The edges of (Y/N)’s lips pulled upwards into a shy smile, a rare beauty to be seen. She took a long breath in and out before nodding to Thor who smiled back at her before nearing the edge of the balcony.
“Wait!” (Y/N) yelled at him, scrambling in her back pocket for the iPod Nano-looking device she found in Valkyrie’s apartment (she planned to give it back…maybe). With the press of one button, “Immigrant Song,” by Black Sabbath was playing as she attached the device to her arm and nodded with finality to Thor. “Ah, yeah…”
“Did you have that ready just for this?” Thor accused.
“Shh, you’re ruining the moment,” (Y/N) sassed. “Every badass battle needs a badass soundtrack. That’s just, like, the laws of super heroism.”
“Oh, and I am the idiot?”
“Would you just shut up and accept the Black Sabbath?”
“The Black who?”
“A second black eye from me if you don’t go down there and kick some ass!” (Y/N) shouted, throwing her arms in the air as Thor’s entire body flared up in blue lightning, encapsulating the power of the heavens as he launched himself towards the Bifrost, red cape billowing behind him like a beacon of war.
“This is Sparta, motherfuckers,” (Y/N) whispered into the wind.
It was a battle for sure. Thor, (Y/N), and Valkyrie held off Hela as best they could while the Asgardians were able to board their rescue ship and Loki went off alone (maybe not the best idea, but to be continued) to set off Ragnarok, whatever the hell that was. However, (Y/N)’s curiosity was quickly dissected by Hela’s sudden attack that almost knocked (Y/N) off the Bifrost but, she dug two ice blades into the bridge and pulled herself up just in time to deflect Hela’s sword. The two crossed blades, Hela’s face close enough to feel the chill of (Y/N)’s breath, witness the silver crescents of her incandescent eyes.
“Sidekick. Really?” (Y/N) snarled, finally pushing Hela over the Bifrost and into the water below with a jolt of magic that almost made (Y/N) collapse.
In a typhoon of waves, Hela rose from the dark waters on a large black talon, stepping from her creation towards Valkyrie who dragged herself away from the goddess as the talon disappeared back into oblivion.
“Hela, enough!” Thor shouted as he stood from his crumpled position on the Bifrost, feeling the earthquake he was waiting for beginning to shake the planet. “You want Asgard, it’s yours!”
“Whatever game you’re playing, it won’t work,” Hela asserted. “You can’t defeat me.”
“No, I know,” Thor panted, then pointed towards the Asgardian palace before it erupted into a volcano of fire and chaos. A giant stepped out of the nuclear explosion and loomed over the wreckage at triple the size of Scott Lang back at the Leipzing airport during a fight that seemed ridiculous to (Y/N) while it was happening, but now seemed flat out idiotic to her in the face of what she now knew now was Ragnarok.
Dear Diary, where did things all go wrong?
“No,” Hela gasped at the figure of absolute destruction that roared flames into the storm clouds that dispersed in fright from around the monster’s head. For the first and only time, (Y/N) completely agreed with the goddess.
In the midst of her distracted fear, Hela was impaled by Valkyrie who blitzed the goddess from behind and landed in a crouch beside (Y/N). Thor completed the attack by raining shockwaves down from the skies, dismantling the Bifrost where Hela lay, casting her into the seas below.
But the rage wasn’t over as the red giant dragged his sword to destroy every street, home, and livelihood that the Asgardians had spent centuries to build for themselves. Like a toddler destroying his city of Legos, the giant found pleasure in his reign of terror, smashing the bits a place that was once beautiful. The flames licked up the sides of every golden tower, melting the burning city into a storm of red fire. Even the smoke was lit with fury as it flooded the skies.
“Tremble before me Asgard,” the giant bellowed. “I am your reckoning!”
Thor, (Y/N), and Valkyrie stared up at the giant, watching in silent awe-struck horror at the scene of pure chaos.
“So…” (Y/N) drawled, “this has been fun…but, uh, what do we do now?”
Valkyrie turned to (Y/N), then looked skywards towards the ship full of Asgardians that were now leaving this wasteland they once called home.
“The people are safe,” Valkyrie assured. “That’s all that matters.”
“Cool, cool,” (Y/N) agreed with a nervous nod. “However, quick tidbit about me: I also indulge in the luxury of not being dead, so…”
“So, we are fulfilling the prophecy, (Y/N),” Thor answered solemnly.
“I hate this prophecy,” Valkyrie interjected.
“So do I, but we have no choice,” Thor explained, all doomsday. “Surtur destroys Asgard. He destroys Hela, so our people may live. But we need to let him finish the job, otherwise…” Thor trailed off as Hulk catapulted himself towards Surtur, fists raised and ready to smash. “No…Hulk, stop, you moron!” Thor commanded the beast, but Surtur had already flicked Hulk off of his arm like a pesky mosquito. Face-planting into the Bifrost, Hulk slowly slumped to his feet, prepared to have another go. “Hulk, stop. Just for once in your life, don’t smash!” Thor warned again.
“Hey, hey, hey,” (Y/N) mediated. “A wise man once said that if the Hulk wants to smash, let him smash. It is the way of nature.”
“Did you just call Stark a wise man?”
“He has his moments,” (Y/N) shrugged, then turned to Hulk and started fist banging. “Hulk, Hulk, Hulk, Hulk!” (Y/N) chanted before Thor shoved her arm to her side, making (Y/N) give him a look but he just smiled.
“Let’s go!” Valkyrie scolded Hulk who gritted his teeth in frustration before pounding his way towards (Y/N) and Valkyrie, picking up both warriors in the crooks of his arms and launched towards the rescue ship with Thor locked onto his back.
Dear Diary (again), a little thing that not many people want to know about but have definitely wondered. Yes, the Hulk’s armpits do smell like a 24-Hour Fitness men’s locker room bathroom. Question, answered.
(Y/N) understood the pain that was around her. Outside of the room she sat in, Asgardians were mourning for the lives they had lost, the memories that were shattered, and the futures that were uncertain. The wrenching feeling in her gut wouldn’t rest as her mind cascaded into a whirlpool of amethyst-shaded dreams that made her dizzy, but she couldn’t escape the vision.
Hesitantly, (Y/N) lifted her face from the palms of her hands to look herself in the mirror for the first time in what seemed like months. How much time had passed since Loki pulled her through Dr. Strange’s portal into Sakaar? Were Steve and Sam looking for her? Obviously, they hadn’t made it to Asgard, so where were they? How was Bucky doing? Where was Tony? Nat? Wanda? Peter? Clint? The little makes? What the hell was going on back on Earth?
Despite her youth and super soldier serum still surging through her veins, the tired lines on her face and sunken eyes made (Y/N) wince at her own pale, ragged reflection that was hidden behind the black charcoal that smoked her skin. Her appearance reminded her of Winona Ryder in the movie Heathers.
“Veronica, you look like hell.”
“Yeah? I just got back.”
All (Y/N) needed now was a cigarette between her lips, but she doubted that she could find a corner store in the middle of fucking space. Again, her glossy cheeks found the backs of her arms that she folded across the vanity, stubborn tears betraying her eyes as they melted into her skin. With Valkyrie and Thor out of the room, (Y/N) let her emotions consume her. She didn’t want to be crying. All she wanted was a nap, but that obviously wasn’t going to happen. Especially after a courteous knock rapped against her doorframe. Shoving a tissue in her nose and wiping her eyes to staunch Niagara Fucking Falls, (Y/N) unwillingly trudged over to open the door to see Loki.
“I know that this may not be the best time, but-”
Before Loki could finish, (Y/N) shut the door in his face, her own face unmoved as she slothed back towards the vanity to sit and stare at the silver, metallic wall as dark thoughts pervaded her mind, but eventually she got tired of the knocking. She had hoped that Thor or Valkyrie would be back to throw Loki off the ship to float amongst the rest of his fellow space junk, but that didn’t happen. Cracking the door open a few inches, (Y/N) waited impatiently for Loki to explain his presence.
“I have something for you,” Loki simplified.
“And I have a foot in the ass for you if you don’t leave.”
“I understand that you do not trust me.”
“Congratulations. You’ve mastered common sense.”
“May I please come in?” Loki asked, a nervous twitch edging his voice, but (Y/N) didn’t care. He didn’t deserve her care.
“Typically, the delivery boy doesn’t get invited into the apartment. This isn’t PornHub. If you have something for me, then give it to me…with witnesses.”
“This isn’t an item that you’re going to want many people to know about,” Loki insisted in a low voice, but (Y/N) was unconvinced. “When I went to retrieve Surtur’s crown in Odin’s vault, I may have picked up a few things…just for my troubles as the newly gilded Savior of Asgard. Quite a feat to live up to.”
“You fucking kleptomaniac. There really is no such thing as a selfless act,” (Y/N) mused.
“I saved all of these people. I feel I deserved something in return.”
“Real classy.”
“Allow me to put it to you like this. Would you rather myself have this rare and dangerous item, or for you to take it off of my ‘untrustworthy’ hands?”
(Y/N) pondered the question for a moment, then turned back into her room, leaving the door ajar for Loki to enter as she stood at attention in the center of the chamber, arms crossed, a deep distrust locked in her eyes. Loki asked if he could lock the door and (Y/N) nodded. It wasn’t that she was afraid of Loki, it was more that she was annoyed as hell by him.
“Impeccable chamber. Have you decorated this yourself?” Loki commented, his eyes falling on the mess of dirty battle armor sprawled across the beds and couch.
“Show me what you brought, or I show you the door,” (Y/N) deadpanned.
“Very indifferent this evening, Lady (Y/L/N),” Loki chided, tisking her as he shook his head, but (Y/N) waited tight-lipped for him to finish his performance and leave. With a heavy sigh, Loki reached into his cape, not much unlike a drug dealer in a back alley. “And to think I may have done you mighty a favor…what kind of manners have they taught you on Midgard?”
“Don’t trust the shady guy in the trench coat.”
“It’s not a trench coat…why does everyone find it so vital to criticize my attire-”
“Loki!” (Y/N) exploded, her face revealing her own surprise at her sudden outburst. “I just…I would like to be alone right now, so if you could hurry this up…that’d be great,” (Y/N) explained as evenly as she could. Loki almost said something about hearing her muffled cries from behind the door but couldn’t bring himself to tear her down further. She was one of the good ones. So good that he almost stopped himself entirely from what he was about to do. Almost. But his orders were clear.
Loki grinned up at (Y/N) who raised her eyebrows impatiently at him. “You are going to like this, and I know that my promises are questionable to say the least-“
“The very least…”
“-yet I may promise you that this one is well worth your patience.”
(Y/N) let out another ironically impatient exhale as Loki pulled his fist from his pocket, fingers tightly enclosed around a glowing figure that peaked amethyst from between his deathly pale skin, casting a crystalline glow around the room like a lavender disco ball. Just like inside of her mind.
(Y/N) swallowed nervously as her heart pounded harder in her chest, clawing to be reconnected with its long-lost soulmate. “Loki…you didn’t…”
“But what if I did?” Loki replied calmly, sensing (Y/N)’s raised nerves. But he had to do it. It was the only way. “Give me your hand.”
(Y/N)’s eyes shot up to Loki’s in fear, the blue so iridescent in his eyes, she felt she could see right through them. But, in truth, she couldn’t. For once, she could not read him. “Why would you give me this? Don’t you want to…take over the galaxy, and have a statue, and a parade, and confetti, and whatever else you slimy rulers do to celebrate your royalty?”
“I’ve had my moment,” Loki answered evenly, but the bead of sweat on his forehead forbade him.
“What is this?” (Y/N) questioned, a dark look in her eyes.
“This is a compromise,” Loki admitted, making (Y/N) cock her head and refasten her arms protectively across her chest. “I fear that this may be interpreted as a trick, but…I am attempting to be candid here, my dear, and you are not making it very simple.”
“Probably because this isn’t simple,” (Y/N) retorted. “You raised hell for the Tesseract. Almost got away with taking over an entire planet with it.”
“You really think so?” Loki wondered.
“No, not at all,” (Y/N) responded immediately as Loki sighed in defeat. “But you had a difficult go at it from your side. What changed your mind so drastically from that crazed hunger for power, to now?”
“People change.”
“Not you.”
“Were you not the one who convinced my brother to trust me when we fought Malekith?”
“Not trust, just tolerate for the greater good…or something along those lines,” (Y/N) added to make her intentions seem less cliché than they really had been at the time.
“What makes you think this isn’t for the greater good?”
“…I refuse to dignify a response to that question,” (Y/N) answered in annoyance, clearly indicating that Loki’s window was closing as he felt the familiar piercing pain rack his skull.
“What can I do, (Y/N)?” Loki exploded, his tone bordering on begging. His eyes were wide, finally opening (Y/N)’s perception to his unspoken panic. It was an expression she had read before on his face after he had been caught in New York. He was afraid. “I am well aware that I am in no right to demand your trust, but I want you to have this. It is best for it to be out of my hands and into yours, so…just…just take it…”
No matter his intentions, at the time, (Y/N) had believed that she had to take the stone off of his hands. There wasn’t anything worse that she could possibly do with it than he could, so she held out her hand to him. The relief that washed over Loki’s face made her hand twitch in hesitation, but she swallowed her nerves and kept her eyes on the god as his fingertips graced the palm of her hand as her nerve endings were set ablaze. The moment the stone touched her skin, every inch of her body became alive like a field of wildflowers after the harsh storms of winter. She felt like herself again, a freedom filling her lungs and escaping her lips in the form of pure ecstasy that was tangible by the god in front of her who couldn’t keep his eyes off of her as remorse replaced his relief.
“Oh, so now you regret your decision?” (Y/N) teased him as a sad smile crossed his lips.
“Not at all,” Loki answered as he took in a shaky breath. “I suppose that I simply hope to one day see what you shall do with this gift…it would truly be a sight to see.” And he meant it.
“You say that like you’ll never try to pull some shit on me, or Earth ever again. In which case I’d be disappointed since that’s kind of your niche,” (Y/N) responded, examining the stone in her hand with curious eyes, still resisting against the full power that she held. “Do you ever wonder what the world would be like if we all spoke our minds?” (Y/N) pondered out loud, raising Loki’s attention.
“Many times,” Loki responded, still debating his next move. “But all I ever see is myself getting attacked in various ways…so, I would admit, quite chaotic. Not a world I would stand to live in.”
“I think there would be less war,” (Y/N) mused, her eyes dancing in amethyst light. “War is built on misunderstanding and mistrust. If we all said what we were thinking, then at least all options and opinions would be on the table, open for discussion…what are you thinking about right now?”
An innocent question that Loki would typically ignore and divert, but he felt an overwhelming urge to tell her the truth. His compulsion to lie almost outmatched the power of the orb…until her eyes flickered up to his, and it was all over.
“I-I am trying to save…save my-“
CRASH. The whole ship convulsed as if it had a stroke, causing the vanity mirror to shatter and the lights to shudder like the rattling of bones.
“What the hell was that?” (Y/N) choked as she made her way to the door, but Loki was already on her, pressing his hands around hers that held the stone. Screams echoed in the background as (Y/N) tried to free herself from his grasp, but he was desperate.
“I also hope that you shall one day be able to thank me for this,” Loki rushed as he pulled one of his hands away from (Y/N)’s as he pressed his palm firmly into her forehead to pull her into a deep sleep. Immediately, her body went limp in his arms as he carried her out into the hallway full of terrified Asgardians that didn’t have the whereabouts to question him. In his haste, he transformed himself and (Y/N) into Midgardians he had once seen on what they called, “television,” as he sprinted towards the desolate room where Heimdall was meditating.
Bursting through the door, he almost knocked (Y/N)’s head against the doorframe, but quickly shifted his stance to shield her. His heaving breath would’ve been ice cold against her skin, but she was off in her own world. Her mind reeled back to the time her and Clint blasted “Come and Get Your Love” over the lab’s loudspeakers back at Stark Towers after Tony and Bruce had been working non-stop for basically 36 hours just to break the tension. She hadn’t known that they were building and perfecting Ultron at the time, but the memory was still one of the happiest ones that she had. Dancing like an absolute idiot in front of Tony until eventually he caved and joined in. Bruce was a bit more hesitant, but (Y/N) was so contagiously happy. Plus, he knew nothing could look more ridiculous than the dad-moves Clint was pulling.
But this was all in (Y/N)’s head, so far from the agonizingly painstaking reality that lay ahead of her and the rest of the world…but Loki believed she deserved a few last good moments before…
“Loki, I-“ Heimdall began, but Loki was panicked. He became an asshole when he was panicked…well, more of an asshole.
“We do not have time to discuss how utterly infuriating you are. Yes, you knew I was coming. What a bloody gift you are to the universe,” Loki ranted as Heimdall helped him lay (Y/N)’s relaxed body on the ground. Ironically, she was more peaceful in that moment than she had been in months. “He’s already here…and do not burden me. I am aware that you were aware of that.”
“I need to know where I am sending her,” Heimdall responded calmly, his energy well-collected and balanced. Nothing could shake him at that moment.
“So, the all-knowing vision is not fully immune to blind spots. Wonderful that you choose this moment to have a flaw,” Loki bit back spitefully as he looked behind himself to find the looming ship that had haunted his nightmares, awake and rarely asleep, long before New York came to pass. The ship dwarfed the one they were on like the Titanic to a ship-wrecked victim’s feeble attempt at forging some palm tree leaves together for a raft that would inevitably sink. They were inevitably about to sink…
“The location, Loki,” Heimdall demanded as Loki growled out the address, then continued his patronizing at the gatekeeper to distract himself from the growing sense of chaos that approached.
“And isn’t it oh, so convenient that you may only bring forth the Bifrost for one last person. May only muster the strength to allow one to escape…do you not realize how close upon death we are? Do you not realize how worthless our attempts were to keep these people safe? Do you not-“
“Grant me silence to call upon the Bifrost,” Heimdall commanded, giving Loki pause. The request was firm yet comforting to the god who was masking his fears in the only ways he knew how.
“I am simply warning you to hurry. My brother and his pets must have already discovered her to be missing. He will attempt to search for her before he must fight,” Loki cautioned in a condescending tone, knowing fully-well Heimdall knew exactly where Thor was and how much time he had left. He needed to feel powerful before everything might be stripped away.
Heimdall’s muttered chanting became louder as the moments passed and (Y/N)’s body became an enchanted tinge of holographic light that colored her skin in pale, shimmering color until she was gone in a roar that echoed louder than the approaching ship, causing Loki to cover his ears and cower until the light faded. Staring at the empty space where (Y/N) had been, Loki felt relief at having completed his mission. He knew he was about to meet the voice that had commanded him for decades, but at least now…now he could provide a sense of loyalty to the entity. Provide his own services as bait. Provide a diversion to allow the others to escape.
In the wake of the silence the Bifrost left, the morbid screams of the Asgardians filtered into the room once more as Loki shook himself out of his own terror. Heimdall had already left to fight for their lives, but Loki was apprehensive. Everything he had done came down to this.
Swallowing the fear that choked his throat, he walked out the door and into the unknown.
*oh shit, it’s bout to get good…please like, follow, and re-post to show support for whatever the fuck is about to happen next xx
