Avengers: Seven Brides of Set

One Big Snake

Come to me, my brides.

Dean's eyes snapped open from the mental command. Glancing from the cot he'd been placed on, he took in his surroundings. Immediately aware of his predicament, his response to Set's command was displeasing to his master.

"I'm imprisoned in a holding cell on Avalon," Dean whispered. "I can't leave unless I'm released. And once Thor sees that I'm awake, he won't let me out of his sight. He's stronger than me, lover. He won't allow me to leave."

When you made your vow to be my bride, you promised that there would be no barrier between us.

"Can't you come and free us?" Dean questioned.

I cannot. Consider this a test, beloved. If you love me- if you are devoted to me- then you will find a way to leave your cell.

Tears of frustration spilled from Dean's eyes. How dare his new husband question his devotion and love? Deep beneath this sensation was a pool of disgust, but Set's control overrode this feeling. Likewise, the rest of the brides were experiencing a similar conflict. The rage and longing charged the room, overloading Dean's empathic powers.

"It looks like they're all awake," Tony observed as he gazed upon the monitor.

"What?" Steve asked as he hopped off of the table he'd been sitting on and made a beeline for the monitors. Thor, Reed, Scott and Blackagar were hot on his heels until all of them were crowded around the screens.

"They are crying," Thor muttered as he touched the monitor that displayed Dean.

"We have to go to them," Scott said before turning to leave.

"No," Steve said, grabbing the mutant's shoulder.

Scott glared at the super soldier from beneath his ruby quartz visor. "Are you kidding me?"

"We need to think this through," Steve said in an attempt to calm Scott.

"There's nothing to think about," Scott scoffed. "Jean's awake. They all are."

"But we do not know in what capacity," Thor said before slowly turning to face the group. "Set may still exert control over them."

Steve nodded his head and smiled grimly at Thor. Like many of the Avengers who'd worked with him for years now, Thor had anticipated Steve's intentions. "If they're still Set's puppets, then they could lead us to him."

Scott visibly changed his stance at this notion. "Okay. What do we need to do."

"We let them think they're free," Steve explained. "Provide them a clean break. Then we follow them."

"If they still belong to Set, they'll know," Scott countered. "Jean and Dean would be able to sense thoughts or emotions." He paused and smiled as he looked over at Xavier. "Unless..."

Xavier returned the smile. "I can attempt to mask our psychic presence from them," he calmly explained.

"Okay," Scott sighed. "So we release them and then follow them at a distance. Let them lead us to Set."

Thor twirled Stormbreaker abs smiled grimly at the sharp edge. "And then I end him."

"Yeah? I think you may want to jump in line," Steve said with a playful grin before he turned to Tony. "Deactivate their cages."

Tony grinned. "Alright." He tapped some buttons on the console and there was a barely audible sound of the distant cells being deactivated. "Releasing the kraken."

Thor watched the monitors as each cell was powered down. Instantly, Dean rose from the bed and cautiously approached the exit. He studied his husband as Dean  took in the new development, a look of caution on his face. Then, as one, the seven left their cages.