Holding On

III

Loki fell to the floor, his body limp and skin fading from the icy blue color it was moments before. Wanda stood behind him her eyes fading from a glowing scarlet red.

"What did you do?" Thor asked. His voice was laced with anger. Clint wearingly moved closer to Wanda, preparing if the god lashed out.

"He's going to talk," Wanda replied simply, her position either not registering or she simply didn't care. 

"I- I'm sorry? I don't understand," Bruce suddenly spoke. The scene that had just taken place left him confused. Wanda rolled her eyes like the answer was obvious.

"He doesn't want us to know where he has been -" she paused, waiting for the others to catch on. When all she got in return were empty stares, she continued. " - I can look through his memory, figure out who he's talked to, if he's conspiring against us."

If the others saw Thor tense at the thought, they made no mention of it.

"That's a good plan," Tony agreed before he disappeared from the room. The others once again looked around confused. Loki still lay motionless on the floor, his face soft with the peaceful sleep. It had been the first relaxation he had gotten in years.

Minutes later the others looked at the doorway as Tony returned. A metal helmet was clasped in his hand, wires and plugs poking out of the sides.

"We can put this on him, and then when Wanda looks through his memories, they'll project onto the screen," Tony motioned to a screen at the far side of the room. Thor looked hesitant as the billionaire moved to put the bundle of wires on his brother's head.

"Is it safe," the god of thunder asked. Tony, looked up from his crouth next to Loki.

"I think it'll be alright," The comment did little to soothe Thor. As if reading his mind, Steve put his hand on his friend's shoulder, trying to comfort him as Tony and Clint hauled Loki into a chair. They positioned Loki and quickly put on the helmet, waiting for Wanda eagerly to get their answers.

Wanda placed her hands over the helmet and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before she forced her way into the god's mind. It was harder than the other people she had encountered.

His mind had wall after wall, build and equipt to keep others out. But Wanda had the upper hand: she was awake while the god lay helplessly asleep and unable to defend himself. Eventually, she broke down his final barrier and pushed on.

First, she saw flashes of a war. Dark and intense. The below-freezing tundra around made her shiver. Behind her, she heard the grunts of others. She turned. Thor hurled it at blue giants with his mighty hammer in hand, crushing them to pieces as it went by.

Then she felt a presence behind her. She turned around to see one of the giants smiling slightly. He looked evil.

"Laufey's son," It said simply before reaching out. Wanda tried to run but it was as if her feet were held in ice. It touched her hand.

Blue.

It ran up and down her arm, sending the cold plunging through her veins. She squeezed her eyes, hoping for the pain to flee her. A splitting headache rang through her body. The urge to puke struck her, her stomach twisting over itself. 

And suddenly, just as fast as the feeling had come, it was gone, and warmth once again filled her body. She gasped for air, gulping for oxygen she didn't know she had been withholding.

But the peace was short-lived and within seconds she was hurled into another memory. This one was warmer. The below-freezing air was replaced with the blaze of the sun. No, not the sun, but gold. Shining, rich gold surrounded her as she stood, trapping the heat in the large room.