Shattered (Sequel to Shadowfax)

Loki's Conscience

Asgard

Loki strode over the crystalline surface of the Rainbow Bridge, clad in the guise of the All-father. At the end of the bridge, Heimdall patiently awaited his arrival. "My king," he greeted, dipping his head respectfully as he neared.

"Heimdall," Loki acknowledged. Moving to stand beside the gatekeeper, Loki looked out at vast expanse of space and breathed a happy sigh. Allowing his mind to wander, his thoughts drifted to a certain mortal girl still on earth. A faint smile dusted his lips—disappearing as his last memory of her blazed across his thoughts. The smile disappeared.

"What troubles you, my king?" Heimdall rumbled. His eyes bored into Loki, and the trickster chose his next words carefully.

"Greif over my wife. That, and the very thing that ails every father—concern over the welfare of my son." Loki wasn't lying either; he did miss his mother and often wondered how his brother fared on his latest crusade.

Heimdall accepted this answer. "You needn't worry. Your son is fighting—and winning—many a battle this day. You should be proud."

"What of this team of mortals my son seems so concerned with?" he questioned. "I have heard nothing from my son about them for quite some time."

Heimdall grimaced, and Loki bristled before schooling his features into one of Odin's classic poker-faces. "They are facing quite the trial. They have been condemned by many of their own people, hunted by their own governments, and divided amongst themselves." After a pause, he continued in a lighter tone. "But they have found refuge in a secure, lush land governed by a friend. The bonds severed by their quarrel have already begun to heal."

"Good—" Loki began, only for the gatekeeper to cut him off.

"Some, though, still seem to have their own demons to battle." Loki's heart sank, but he gestured for Heimdall to continue. "I see...four young Midgardians—and, a cat?" Loki smirked "—all newly freed from a dark fate. Some less fortunate than others..."

'Jade.' The lass's name resonated deep within Loki's chest, no matter how hard he tried to dismiss her. 'Lest you forget, she did fling a dagger at you last you met. Not that you didn't deserve it...'

No matter what he told himself, he couldn't let himself ignore the gentle nagging in the back of his mind. 'Fantastic. Now it's going to bother me all bloody day,' he grumbled to himself. A quick visit to Midgard wouldn't hurt, would it? After all, he couldn't very well rule a kingdom while distracted.

...

Jade woke with a lurch, shooting up in bed with a wordless scream. She clutched at the covers, memorizing the feel, the texture. This was real, Jade told herself as the last traces of her nightmare faded away. She was free, and Korsakov couldn't reach her now. Nothing could touch her now that she was back with the Avengers.

Her fingers fumbled at the white bandages wrapped around her throat, tracing the soft material. This was real too. Her voice, the voice of her mother, had been taken away.

Oh, she'd tried to speak before. Jade had even screamed on the way over in the Quinjet. The problem wasn't the melted cartilage of her throat, or the seared skin tissue—it was the raw, stabbing pain she felt every she tried to make a sound. It was like having claws raked along her vocal cords. Even Clint had shuddered at the hideous screeching that had come from her throat when she'd been brought into the Wakandan infirmary. The sight of the needles, scalpels, and other medical tools Jade had since learned to fear had sent her over the edge. It had taken both Steve and Sphinx to hold her down.

T'Challa had been the one to finally stop her screaming. He'd ghosted into her hospital room, all kind eyes and gentle words, and held her hand until she'd quieted down. Even then, he'd talked to her all through the many stitches and shots the doctors insisted upon. Before leaving Jade there, he'd sworn to her that he'd find a way to fix her voice. Jade had believed him, offering T'Challa her first real smile since arriving.

That had been a week ago. Treatment started in the morning.

Exhaling softly through her nose, Jade turned onto her side to look at where Smokey lay on the floor. Ears pricking at the movement, the cat's head lifted to meet Jade's gaze. His bleary eyes blinked sleepily at her as he slunk towards her. Jade slipped her hand out from beneath the covers, offering it to the big cat. Smokey pushed his head against the palm of her hand a leaned into her touch. A purr rumbled in his throat as Jade leaned over and heaved him onto the bed with a grunt. Wrapping her arms around the cat, she buried her face in the fur of his neck.

Allowing her breathing to fall in time with Smokey's soft snore, she fell into a peaceful, dreamless slumber.

...

Jax paced anxiously outside the operating room doors, running a hand through his hair. Beside him, Nutsy and Sphinx's expressions mirrored his own. Smokey was stationed protectively at the door. A growl rumbled in his throat every time someone came too close.

"Jax, sit down," Sphinx chided. "You're only going to make yourself dizzy with all that pacing. Besides, Jade's a tough one. She'll be fine."

Jax shrugged, plopping down into the seat next to her. His body buzzed with nervous energy, sparks crackling at his fingertips. Nutsy scooted away, shooting him cautious glances.

"Dude, if you set me on fire, I swear to God you will wake up one morning and I will have hard-wired your computer to kill you," he warned.

Jax glanced at his hands, blushing and bunching them into fists until the buzzing died down. Sphinx's hand drifted towards his, and she twined her fingers with his own. She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, and he grinned appreciatively.

Nutsy made a gagging noise behind them. "If you two kiss, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna puke." Sphinx and Jax started, suddenly finding a part of the wall fascinating.

Everyone's head shot up as the operating room's door shot open suddenly, running over poor Smokey's tail and causing the cat to jump upwards with a yowl. Hissing, he ran beneath Nutsy's chair to peer angrily out at his aggressor—a Wakandan doctor.

Leaning forward expectantly, everyone else waited with baited breath for the doctor to deliver her news. Gazing at them with a soft expression, she cleared her throat. "The procedure went off without a hitch. However—" Everyone's breath caught. "—There is just one problem."

"What is it?" Jax prodded.

"It seems," the woman continued, "That Jade is refusing to speak."

A/N So, I know it's kinda short, but it sets the scene for the next chapter. You'll be getting a little bit of an idea of why Jade won't talk and why she and Loki...er, split. If there's anything you want to read about, please comment and tell me! Please vote and comment! You guys all rock XD