Teal Rain (A Loki Fanfiction) ~ (The Avengers)

Chapter 17 ~ Yes. It Is Over.

 Terra smiled when she saw Tony fall from the sky. He had successfully made it out of the portal. Thank goodness. Then, as soon as it came, her smile left. He wasn't slowing down. No, he was falling faster! Why is he falling faster!? He's gonna splat like a bug if he doesn't stop!! 

Terra's face turned pale in panic. Her breathes grew rapid and she couldn't help but let out a scream in alarm. But before she could even squeak a single sound, she heard the long ROAR from afar and saw Green-Machine fly through the air and catch Stark before he fell. 

Terra's smile returned. She felt like laughing at herself. What a hero!

Suddenly, she felt the sharp pain in her side again. She winced and planted a firm palm around her knife-wound, only to pull it back when she felt something warm and sticky. It was still bleeding. A lot.

Terra gasped and tried to stay calm, but she couldn't. There was red blood leaking through the bandages and seeping out her clothes. The red and grey smudges returned to her vision as well as the swirling black dots that made her head dizzy. She clutched the sides of her skull, trying to shake them out. They stayed put. 

Now she couldn't tell where the ground or the sky was. She could feel herself tipping over and swaying in whatever direction. She feared falling again, and tried to hold her ground, but it wasn't enough. She fell forward onto her knees and with one gasp, she flopped onto her side. Why must she always fall over when she was dizzy!?

"Terriana!" shouted Natasha. But before she could reach her side, Loki stood there, towering over Terra's motionless form. Natasha stopped where she was and looked at Loki confused. She watched as he knelt down and picked up Terra gently. He took another step towards the edge of the roof and 'teleported' in gold and green lights, out of sight and back into the top room of Stark Tower. 

Once inside and alone, Loki dashed towards the bedroom Terra had laid in before and gently placed her on the bed. She groaned as her eyes fluttered open. She saw soft, green-blue ones peering back down at her in a way of watching. She knew those eyes.

"Loki..." she muttered.

"Terriana?" he replied quietly.

"Is it over?" 

"Yes, darling.  It is over. You closed it." He gave a week smilie, as he stroked her hair.

"That's good." Terra whispered to herself. She smiled back, staring with deep teal eyes, full of peace and hope. She was battling her inside, fighting the darkness that now threatened to engulf her. She was breathing slowly and faintly, but looked tense. 

Loki noticed this and saw her right hand clasped tightly over her wound. He gently placed his left hand over it to try to calm her down. He gripped her hand tighter when he felt her shaking. 

Terra's eyes teared up as she choked, "I'm afraid, Loki."

"Afraid of what?"

"Death... It feels so close. So cold, dark, and painful, like a choking fog." She strained a little stiffly in the bed when she spoke. A tear slipped out of her eye. And another.

"No, don't be afraid, Terriana! You're not going to die. Don't say that!" His voice sounded panicky. It was full of worry-growing by the second. He didn't like watching her be in pain. It looked too, hurtful.

"I've lost too much blood. The wound is too deep!" she winced when the stinging and agony seeped through her again. It would never seem to go away.

Loki looked down at his hand clasped firmly over hers. He stroked her hand softly with his thumb and said, "You are strong, Terriana. You're not going to die. You will live, you will stay!" 

Terra chuckled painfully, "Hm. The last time I remember, you threatened to kill me. You wanted me gone. You had no use of me."

Loki looked stern. He didn't want her to bring that up. Not ever. "No. I-..." he stuttered.

"It's ok, Loki!  You are my friend. And I said I'd always forgive you..." Her words were cut into short gasps and her voice was cracking.  "It's over now. The city is safe. The war ended.... The heroes won... I did my part. I was willing to do it for the fate of New York. Even the world.... It's over... It's over..."

Loki cupped her cheeks in his hands and watched devastated as her eyes closed, her mouth shut, and her breaths died away to each word. Her last. Then, her body relaxed and her arms fell limp over the bed sheets.  She was still.

Loki couldn't find his voice. It was stuck and tangled in his throat where a knot seemed to grow and grow. It hurt. Finally, he felt his tongue move again.

"No... No!!" cried out Loki in desperation. "No! It can't be over, Terriana!" He pressed his forehead to hers and began to tear up. "I'm so sorry!" he sobbed in a raspy whisper. He wrapped his arms around her and brought her up into an embrace. His eyes shut tight  as he hugged her tighter, in all hopes she'd come back. But she didn't.

I'm so sorry... friend.