Bend Around the Wind by Scyllaya

Chapter 85: Symphony of Chaos

Chapter Eighty-Five

Symphony of Chaos

Milky Way Galaxy

Sol System

Nine Realms / Planet Earth

The edge of the barrier was well beyond the city borders. They couldn't warn all humans in time before it solidified, so the dozens of car wreckages on both sides of the dome was not an unexpected sight. It was also not surprising, that as soon as the Helicarrier got close enough, the Other's ship descended from its position to hover right above the city, half inside the dome. Loki informed Fury that it was useless to stay away and out of sight. The Helicarrier was not equipped with the necessary technology to hide form a ship like the Other's. It was already fortunate that the Iron Mage remained undetected.

He was too far away from the city to be able to judge the extent of the chaos that had to be within the barrier. The more time passed the more desperate the humans would become and no one should underestimate the amount of damage an angry and terrified mass of people could do. Loki's invasion would be nothing compared to this if it all spiralled out of control. Time was of the essence.

The Other was too arrogant to let the opportunity of getting his hands on Loki again go. No doubt his master was displeased with him after Loki and Stark managed to escape from his clutches. Was he searching for them all this time? He came here alone, that became more and more evident. Did he lose his good graces with Thanos? Was he furious and desperate to prove his worth again? Did Thanos send him or did he come on his own? Loki reminded himself of these questions as they marched towards the barrier.

Fury and his armed agents were a solid presence at his back, but he did not pay them much attention. He focused his mind on his options. Unfortunately, once he was inside he was going to be extremely limited. Hatchet and Stark voiced their displeasure - hatred - for his plan several times over the past couple of hours it took the Avengers to get here. The two of them agreeing this much about something was not as big a novelty as it used to be, quite the contrary, they tended to be very much in agreement when it came to Loki. It was more disconcerting when Drongo voiced his disapproval, but even he couldn't change Loki's mind.

They were all hypocrites, Loki included. If Stark or Hatchet would have been suitable to do this, they would have volunteered more than willingly. And of course Loki would have been the one to be incredibly angry at them for putting themselves in danger. These exact reasons silenced them in the end. If the tables had been turned, things would have been exactly the same. They would have argued for a while, let their worry spiral into anger and frustration, and then finally they would've agreed that the proposed course of action was necessary, not matter how dangerous it was.

'Last chance to turn back,' Fury said, probably only out of courtesy, because he obviously supported the plan more than anyone else. He had not much to lose and only to gain after all. Or maybe he just enjoyed the sight of Loki in chains.

'I think it is a little too late for that,' Loki said, turning his gaze towards the sky. The chariots that approached them with rapid speed were very similar to the ones the Chitauri used. Right at the front was the familiar dark shape of the Other. His dark cloak was billowing in the wind, but his hood somehow remained in place. Loki felt his shoulders stiffen, more in anger than in fear. He never feared the Other, not truly, it was Thanos that always filled his stomach with cold dread, not his despicable waste of space minion.

Loki glanced around quickly to look at what sort of henchmen the Other recruited this time. They were tall and pink that much he could see from afar. He did not recognize what race they belonged to, but the pointed ears on the top of their heads and the almost obscenely upturned round noses in the middle of their wide faces was not a sight he was happy to see.