₣łⱤɆ฿ɎⱤĐ

Chapter Twenty-Three: Misery Loves Company

╟╫╫╫╫╢

"Are you certain you can—" I silenced Thor with a look, and he nodded, dashing off down a hallway to our right.

The advancing soldiers lifted their guns, but using both my hands, I shot a rod of flame at the ones closest to the hallway. It knocked the two on the end to their feet, and one of their guns slid across the floor.

I dove to the ground, sliding forward and collecting the gun before ducking into the hallway for cover. Gunfire pierced my ears, and sparks flew up behind the wall that protected me. However, the soldiers did not advance for a clear line of shot. My fire trick had likely made them hesitant. But I didn't think I had anything else in me, and the cold seeping into my bones was almost unbearable. I looked at the gun in my grip, hoping it was ready to be fired, because I had absolutely no clue how to use it.

I held it in what I hoped to be the proper position, and waited for the gunfire to cease. When it did, I peaked out from behind the wall, aiming the weapon at the soldier's legs and pressing down on the trigger. The gun spit out rapid-fire, and the soldiers crumpled to the ground. The kickback was strong but I stayed upright.

When all the soldiers had dropped, I stood. The gun in my hand felt cold and heavy. I looked at the soldiers' crumpled bodies. I had done that.

I shook my head. I didn't have time to think about this right now. I had to get to Loki.

I ran back down the hall, making my way to the detention centre by reading the signs posted at each fork in the hallway.

As I burst through the familiar door Nat and I had entered through just hours ago, my chest tightened.

Loki stood at the control panel, and somehow Thor had managed to become locked in the cage. Loki looked back at me, scepter in hand, with a wicked smile, and his hand came down on a button.

I lunged toward Thor as the cage dropped down, throwing out the last of my fire in an attempt to weaken the glass. But the cage dropped far too quickly, and I crumpled to my knees at the gaping hole it left behind. Below, it was out of sight before I hit the ground.

"No!" I screamed, pushing to my feet and whirling, the barrel of my gun angled at Loki, "He's your brother! How could you?"

"He was no such thing," Loki answered, stepping closer.

My finger shook above the trigger. Shoot, I screamed at myself, shoot him now. But I couldn't. I couldn't, and he knew it. His smirk widened, and he stopped right in front of me, so my gun was pressed into his chest.

He lifted a hand, and took my gun by the barrel, tossing it lazily aside. He took another step, and I backed up. Stumbled. I reached forward, grabbing Loki by the collar as my body leaned precariously over the edge, nothing but sky below me. Slowly, Loki grabbed me by the wrist.

"Would you drop me too?" I asked hoarsely, my eyes brimming with tears as his face loomed closer, "Would you drop me like you did him?"

He pried my hand off of him. My heart slowed to a stop. I could have sworn it wasn't beating anymore. All it would take was for him to let go. Let go like he'd done in Asgard.

But he didn't. He pulled me up, tossing me to the ground behind him. That's when I saw, across from me, an agent I recognized as one of Stark's friends. He was slumped against the wall, bleeding out from an open wound in his chest.

Anger boiled over inside of me.

On my left, there was a long metal pipe, dislodged in the chaos. I closed my fingers around it and stumbled to my feet. Fire engulfed my hand, starting from the wrist and climbing up to the tip of the pipe. But I hadn't called it. The flame had come of its own accord, and that terrified me.

"You're a miserable man," I said lowly, stepping towards him.

"And you, a miserable woman," he responded, his voice low and serious, "But together we can rule over this miserable planet. You are of Asgardian blood. You are worthy. You need not live in fear of your powers when you take your place with me."

"With you?" I laughed in spite of myself, "With you?"

I swung with all the force I could muster, catching him in the arm. A muscle in his jaw twitched as me met my eye.

"I am from Midgard," I said, forcing each word out slowly, surely, as my pipe connected with his sceptre, "And I am not afraid."

"Well, darling," he drawled, swinging his sceptre hard so that it pulled my pipe toward him. He closed his hand around it, and suddenly, it was gone in a flash of green. He smiled, before slamming me into the wall behind us, his sceptre pressing down against my throat, "You soon will be."

"You're going to lose," a weak voice came from behind me. Loki and I both turned to the agent who I'd mistaken for dead.

"Am I?" Loki tilted his head, letting me loose. I slumped to the ground, spluttering and choking for air.

"It's in your nature."

"Hmm," Loki walked around me, looking me up and down before turning his attention to the agent, "Your heroes are scattered. Your floating fortress falls from the sky. Where is my disadvantage?"

"You lack conviction."

"I don't think I'm—"

Loki didn't finish whatever it was he'd intended to say, on account of the fact that the agent had blasted him across the room with the weapon sitting idly in his lap. My eyes were wide saucers as I looked between the agent and Loki. And only then was I hit with the realization of everything that had happened.

Before, in the heat of the fight, my adrenaline-pumped body was moving faster than my mind. But now my mind had caught up. Natasha and I had almost been killed by the Hulk. I'd shot several people. Thor and Banner might be seriously injured. And there was a man across from me, dying.

I scampered over, applying the little medical knowledge I'd gleaned from television to try to save him. I pressed both my hands over his bleeding wound, applying pressure. He winced, but still managed something like a smile.

"I'm Agent Coulson," he said, weakly, "I hoped I might get to meet you... Firebyrd."

"Firebyrd? What's that..?" I frowned, as his head slumped to the side.

"Thought it might sound... Neat," he coughed, and I pushed harder on the wound.

I heard the disgruntled sounds of Loki forcing himself to his feet behind me. And then, several footsteps as the door to the detention centre opened. Several armed soldiers poured in. I winced. They were all Loki's men. I was screwed.

I heard Loki approaching me from behind. I didn't look up.

"There will always be a place at my side for you, Alivia."

With that, he was gone. Along with the men that had come to collect him.

"Jesus H. that was close," I breathed out.

Agent Coulson didn't answer.

╟╫╫╫╫╢