Frost Bite

Get Help...

"We are NOT doing get help!" he said, looking at Loki."That, dear Brother, was just a joke!" Sometimes Thor was truly grateful Loki was adopted. This was one of those times.

"I know, I'm sorry brother, I couldn't resist." Loki smirked and shrugged. Even in the midst of the battle, his sharp wit hadn't deserted him. Some things he reasoned were just too good to waste. "Seriously though, if Hydra is determined to take us out, especially with Ironman on their side, how are we getting out of this?"

"Well, I suppose with luck he will run into a wall or something." Thor was never the major strategist. Now it was Loki's turn to roll his eyes. Hogun and Sif could be heard fighting in another part of the building, Volstagg, well who knew where he was, knee deep in Hydra dead with luck.

"Yeah, like, THATS going to happen." he thought for a minute then said into his comms, "Amy? Are you there? How are Pepper and Morgan? Amy?" Silence.

"Loki... " her voice was wavering, emotional. "Loki, I tried to get to them, but..." She didn't need to say any more. Thor waved him away,

"Go, Brother, we can deal with this lot." he nodded to Fandral, who just grinned and drew his sword. Loki slapped Thor on the back and took to his heels, cloak billowing as he ran. Reaching the cellar, he found Amy sitting against the wall in the corridor, wounded.

"AMY!" he shouted more in fear than anger. "What the Hel happened?" he crouched beside her, hand pressing the wound where she'd been shot. It was only a flesh wound, but it would take time before she could regenerate as quickly as him, so for now, she was weakened.

"I was almost there, I almost had them when a squad of guards got in the way. I managed to get them eventually but..." she indicated to her left, and he became aware of them in the gloom. They lay glassy eyed,2 with their throats red with blood, each with puncture wounds oozing. The other obviously stabbed in the neck - Sif's blade he guessed. He looked back at her, and her face showed little to no emotion as she looked at the dead men. Somewhere in the darkest recesses of his heart, he was proud. She had done what was needed. It wasn't gratuitous. It was kill or be killed. She had controlled the instinct he knew would be surging through her. "I'm sorry Loki, I couldn't save them, I tried, I really tried." Now she did look upset.

"What do you mean 'save' them?" he asked quietly, dreading her answer. "Have they been taken?" He asked, almost hopefully.

"No" she answered, her voice barely a whisper, "they're... in there." She pointed to the room opposite, the door ajar, "they're both...poor little..." she dissolved into tears, covering her face with her hand. Loki swallowed, many things he may be, some far less than pleasant but heartless monster? No, even he drew the line at certain things. A line Hydra, apparently, did not.

As he stood and opened the door, at firt he saw the hole in the wall and guessed someone had made an unplanned exit. Then he saw it - he saw their handy work and instantly looked away. Screwing his eyes up, nausea filled his throat. Pepper lay on the floor, bleeding profusely, her face black and blue, her arms still clutching her daughter, trying to protect her. Both, it seemed, had been beaten to within a whisper of death. Despite what Amy thought, he could still hear their hearts beating - but not for long.

He walked over and crouched down, laying a hand on Pepper's neck. The pulse was still there but rapidly diminishing. It was now or never. He shook her shoulder gently.

"Pepper" no response, "Pepper" this time she opened her eyes and groaned.

"L-Loki? That you?" her voice barely above a whisper. "Morgan - they...I tried..." she stopped, and tears formed in both their eyes. "Help.. her... please..." it seemed to sap what little strength she had even speaking these few words. As Loki crouched over her, there was a tiny mewl like a kitten, Morgan had opened her eyes and was trying to speak. Her little face was still perfect, only a large red weal above her right eyebrow any indication anything was wrong. Loki knew her injuries were less visible but she was delicate like a little flower crushed under a boot.

"Hush, little one," Loki he smiled and stroked her forehead gently. "Everything will be ok." He looked back at Pepper. "I can help you both. It won't be easy, and it will change everything, but you will not lose her." he couldn't lie to her, but equally, there was no time to explain everything. "It will hurt like you've never felt before, but only for a few moments. You must trust me."

"Do it. Please... save her, " she whispered, closing her eyes. Loki took Morgan from her arms and laid her gently to the side.

"I need to help you first so you can be there for her, ok?" he explained gently, and she seemed to understand. He paused momentarily and took a breath. He hated this bit. No matter the intention behind it, the pain he was about to inflict never got any easier to watch. He lifted Pepper into his arms and bit down on her neck, hard. She screamed and struggled as the pain of the bite took hold. She panicked, her eyes flying open, she lashed out, trying to catch her breath. What she didn't realise was she was dying. Dying to live again.

After a moment, she passed out in his arms. He held her still and waited. Suddenly, she sat bolt upright and took an enormous shuddering breath, eyes wide open again.

"Shhhh Pepper, you're ok. Take a moment, you're ok. " Loki held her tightly in case she panicked again. "You're ok. Sit there while I help Morgan. You might want to look away till I tell you."

Pepper looked at him with horror mixed with hope. "What have you done Loki?" she touched her own neck and looked at the blood on her fingers, "WHAT ARE YOU? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" Loki moved away and lifted Morgan.

"Cover your eyes, Pepper," he commanded sternly and looked into hers. She felt the overwhelming need to comply and covered her eyes with her hands. Loki repeated the bite, this time as gently as he could, then passed her limp form to Pepper.

"Open your eyes and hold her," he said simply. "She will come back to you in a moment." He stood and went outside to Amy. "Come in darling, see - everything is ok,"

Amy got to her feet, feeling stronger by the minute, the wound in her shoulder almost closed now. She took his hand and followed him back in. She was greeted by the sight of pale, but very much alive Pepper and Morgan, sitting together on the floor, laughing hugging and crying all at once. She was never so glad to have been so wrong.

Seeing her come in, the two turned and looked at them. Morgan scrambled from her mother's arms and ran over, her little face shining. "Uncle Loki made me better!" she said with all the innocent enthusiasm of a five year old. "Did he make you better too?" she grabbed Amy's hand and danced about.

"Yes Morgan, he did. " she knelt down to the little girl and hugged her, tears running down her cheeks. She looked up at Loki over Morgan's shoulder. "We're all going to be just fine. Now you stay here with Mummy and we'll come and get you when it's time to go. You need a little nap and something to drink. Uncle Loki will see to you, ok? I have to go and find Daddy." she looked at Pepper, who stood and walked over. Taking Morgan's hand, she said quietly,

"Tony only did all it for us, he's not a bad man. Please be kind if you can?" she had tears in her eyes, and Amy reached out to hug her.

"I know, don't worry, it will all be ok, I promise." she pulled back and looked at Loki, who nodded.

"Time to go, Amy. Pepper - I will make sure the door won't open, you'll be safe here. Rest for now, you'll start to feel hungry and tired soon. Sleep if you want, and I will arrange something to nourish you when all this is over." he looked at Amy and took her hand briefly. "Come on , the others need us,"

"Yes, my Prince," with a final stroke of Morgan's head, she left with Loki. This was not going to be easy.