Wrong Place, Right Time

Fight for Freedom

Summery:

Lyric fights to free Loki's mind from the evil entity residing in it, will she succeed? And at what cost? 

Steve POV

Natasha had managed to close the portal, and Stark had gotten rid of the Nuke as it was closing, but he had a haunted look in his eyes from what he had gone through. Stark was just babbling some nonsense about going to get Shawarma, when the screams started. Deep inhuman screams that ripped through the comms loud enough to make the ears ring. I pressed my hand to my ear and called for Natasha.

"Nat, is that you?" I demanded

"No Cap" She said with fear evident in her voice "It's coming from within the tower, I am going to check it out right now".

"We are on our way right now" I informed her, then Stark said something that made my blood run cold.

"Our little wolf is in the tower with Loki" he said as horror filled his eyes. "I shouldn't have let her go in there" he whispered as he staggered up and rushed towards the tower, the rest of us behind him.

"Ebony?!" I yelled, praying she could answer me. "LYRIC!!!!!!"

There was no answer, only more screams, and then Natasha's trembling voice came through: "Get up here now".

When we burst into the room, none of us could even imagine what we would see, what horrors awaited us. Thor looked ready to tear Loki limb from limb for hurting Lyric.

I ran up beside a silent Natasha and just stared, as the rest of the avengers crowded around and looked at the scene before us, a scene none of us had been expecting to see.

Loki was lying bruised and slightly bloodied in a Loki shaped crater in the middle of the floor; a funny image to think about later, and Lyric was straddling his waist, the sight of her doing that made me feel slightly jealous but I couldn't dwell on that now.

Lyric was leaning forward over Loki with her fingers pressed against his temples and her eyes closed, calm and focused. It was Loki  who was writhing in pain beneath her, screaming blood curdling cries out to the heavens. His hands clenched into fists at his side so hard that blood was pouring out. Thor moved to stop her, when a growl hissed throughout the room.

"Don't" said the most feral sounding voice I ever heard. My head snapped up looking for the source, as did everyone else's.

"Who are you" I demanded "Where are you? Show yourself!"

"I am Zara" came that unnerving voice again, that rumbled with a growl "I am Lyrics wolf" the voiced stated simply.

"What?!" Clint said, looking rather scared.

"I am Zara. Lyrics wolf" the voice said again. "Lyric busy. I talk for her"

"What is she busy doing?" I asked Zara, trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I was talking to a WOLF that I couldn't even see.

"Breaking spell" Zara said. "Powerful. Dangerous" a worried whine had crept into her voice.

"All to save handsome man" Zara continued

"Loki?" I asked

"Yesss" came the reply "Lyric like"

I felt a sudden pain of hurt at that sentence.

"If you are her wolf" Natasha questioned, "How are we even talking to you?"

"Lyric reached new level of power. I use to talk to you." Zara explained.

We all just looked at each other in silent amazement.

Loki's screams had stopped, but his body still twitched as if in pain.