Serpent - An Avengers Fan Fiction

Chapter Eleven - Thor

***I can only apologise for how shockingly late this chapter has been in coming. I had meant to update this regularly but clearly I failed in that department. I'm going to try and update at least once a week. I know that's not super regular either but I'm starting Sixth Form on Wednesday so I'll be really busy with that. Thanks for sticking with it though! Love y'all!***

Thor closed his hand around his hammer and looked around what had once been a richly decorated hall. The dust was beginning to settle, and he could see that the fight was over. The men in black gear lay scattered around what was left of the room. 

"Thor?"

The god whirled at the woman's voice, his red cloak lifting on the air. When he caught sight of the woman lying amongst the rubble he crouched beside her, and found himself face to face with Natasha's sister. Seeing her so close after watching her from afar for so long was such a strange feeling that he did not know what to say to her. After all, she wasn't supposed to know who he was. "Are you...are you hurt?" he managed eventually, offering the lady a hand. 

"A few cuts and bruises is all. I will be fine." Erina took his hand and he pulled her gently to her feet.

The green of her gown made him think of Loki. His brother had always been fond of the colour. He's not your brother, Thor reminded himself sternly. "You are wounded," he said, lightly touching her brow where blood was seeping out from a cut just below her hairline.

Erina shrank away from his touch, and Thor had to remind himself that she did not know him so well as he knew her. He shouldn't act so familiar.

"We need to leave. There may be more of them coming soon." Thor took her by the arm and guided her around the rubble and bodies. Her long dress hindered her a great deal, until she bent over and tore the hem up. She ripped it until it was just below her knees, and then it was much easier for her to navigate the ruined enrance hall. Just as they passed through the gaping hole in the wall where the door should have been, Thor noticed that she glanced back at the room as if looking for someone. "I think I knocked him out cold," he told her.

"Sethos?"

Thor nodded. "He should wake up in time."

Once in the dark street, Thor spun Mjolnir in a circle, faster and faster until he could feel it tugging at his arm. "Hold on tight," he told Erina, and wrapped a strong arm around her waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and then they were flying up and up towards the helicarrier. 

During the dance it had begun to rain, and flying up through the storm clouds hanging above the city soaked Thor and Erina to the bone. It wasn't long until they reached the helicarrier though, and the sight of the large aircraft promised warmth and dry clothes.

As soon as they landed on the deck however, armed guards jogged out towards them. Thor released Erina and stepped away, allowing the guards to encircle her. She didn't complain or try to fight her way out, which puzzled Thor. Perhaps she had known this would happen.

What surprised the god more though was where they took her. Nick Fury had apparently ordered her to be taken to the round glass cell they had once held Loki in. The cell had been replaced after Thor destroyed it, and it was no different to the old one. The guards pushed Erina inside, though gently, knowing that to hurt her was to risk the wrath of her sister, the Black Widow.

Despite their care with their captive, agent Romanoff was still red in the face with anger when she stormed up the ramp to where one guard was sealing the glass cell. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" She almost screamed at him. The agent had changed out of her ball gown and was accompanied by agent Barton, who managed to stop Natasha from striking the guard.

"Agent Romanoff, control yourself," Director Fury said sternly. He stood with Thor by the control panels, arms folded, a scowl on his face.

"Control myself?" Natasha rounded on Fury. "You are locking my sister in that cell as though she were a threat!"

"Can you confirm that she is not a threat?" 

Natasha paused and looked through the glass at her sister. Erina stared back at her with an expression on her face that was completely unreadable. "She's not like me. Erina didn't get mixed up with the same people I did."

Thor saw a slight change in Erina's expression as Natasha spoke, but it was so sublte and fleeting that he doubted anyone else had seen it. Beside him, Fury uncrossed his arms and moved around the circular room to the exit. 

"Thor tells me that the last time you saw your sister was nine years ago. That's a long time, Romanoff. People change." Fury gestured for Natasha and Thor to follow him out. 

Natasha didn't move. "Not my sister. I know her. She's no threat."

"Agent Romanoff, we need to talk with the team. It is late and Sethos has dropped off the radar. This woman can wait until the morning," Fury glanced at agent Barton. "Hawk, keep an eye on her," he said, nodding towards the cell, and then marched through the door.

"Yes, sir."

Thor went through the door after Fury, but when he realised that Natasha was not following he turned back. Agent Barton was beside Natasha, whispering something in her ear. She nodded, but whatever he had said had not made her much happier. She nodded slowly, and then without looking back at her sister she started through the door after Fury.

"I can trust her, can't I?" Natasha asked Thor as she reached him. 

The god knew why he was asking him. He had been watching Erina since the battle for New York at Natasha's request, so he should have been able to give her a straight answer but it wasn't that easy. "You said when you asked this favour of me that Erina had not been trained like you had, that she was really just an average citizen."

"Yes?"

"But I believe you said that more to convince yourself than to inform me."

Natasha was silent for a moment. "What are you saying?"

"Any average citizen would be more than intimidated by the surroudings. This helicarrier is crawling with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and spies and Erina is not fazed at all. Do you not find that odd?"

"I used to hide what I did...what I was...from her whenever I visited years ago, but she found out anyway. I guess Erina is just used to the idea that I am what I am, that's all. She's just used to the idea spies and government agents I suppose."

Thor shook his head as they followed Fury at a distance. "That's not it. Erina is...comfortable with this," he gestured to the helicarrier in general.

Natasha stopped walking and turned to him. "Thor, you've been watching her for three months. Tell me straight whether or not I can trust my sister. Just tell me what you've seen."

Thor looked away at Fury's back as he moved further and further away. "It's more what I haven't seen that we should be concerned about," he confided eventually. 

"What do you mean?"

"There have been times when...when I can't see her at all. She just disappears."

Natasha frowned. "That's not possible - you can see everything."

"Exactly."

"Erina can't just disappear."

"Well she did." Thor glanced around the corner. Fury had already entered the bridge and if they delayed much longer he would grow suspicious - if he wasn't already. "Come on."

They started towards the door to the bridge and the command room. Just as it registered their presence and began to slide open Natasha asked Thor again, "can I trust her?"

Thor looked her straight in the eye. "In all honesty? No."