lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

“I’m going to need brain bleach after this,” Summer murmured back. “It’s like having everything slimy crawl through my head. But nothing’s changed. Still the two, one very strong, very … ” She paused for a long time, searching for a word. ” … very disciplined. And the others, flickering.”

He nodded quickly, selfish for the moment, his mind entirely focused on forming a plan.  ”Disciplined…I would call him power-obsessed.  If I had ambitions to rule Midgard, Thanos makes me look like a child at play.  Summer, I need your full cooperation and…trust.”  He closed his eyes and began charging a spell, an odd feeling in his gut telling him he was a leader for the first time in his life.

She drew in a deep breath. This was Loki. God of Mischief. The demi-god who had nearly destroyed New York City.

A man who, this whole time, had only asked. Not demanded, or commanded, but asked.

She poured out confidence and strength. ”What do you need me to do?”

A small smile quirked at the edges of his lips.  He handed her a knife.  ”What you do best.  Display your incredible gifts.”  He knew she would understand.  ”Here,” he murmured, dragging a finger down her throat, sending a cool antidote into her lungs.  Then he threw forth the full blast of his spell, growling ancient words into the sky.  A thick storm cloud gathered over the fortress, throwing all into a confusion of gray, mottled darkness even more absolute than before.  ”Now, we attack while they are weak.”

Summer turned the little knife over, then shoved it into the top of her boot. Wings flaring, she leaped for the shrouded sky, latched on to that beacon of terrible cruelty, and pulled, dumping the emotions back out as a rain of fire as fast as possible.

It hurt. Gods, it burned, not like familiar fire, but like acid, like freezing, like pain beyond pain. She wanted to vomit, channelling those emotions; she wanted to curl up into a ball and scream her anguish to the high heavens. Instead she gritted her teeth and held on, spinning a whirling cocoon of flame about herself, and loosing spits and flares of fire in all directions.

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

The walk was long, and dull, and boring. Summer occupied herself tilting her head back to stare at the sky, trying to match the stars with anything familiar at all. It was a fruitless exercise, but better than watching the dull, lifeless rock and dirt surrounding them. She supposed it could be worse — whatever sun this place had could be up, rendering it blazingly hot. Or blindingly bright.

It was possible, she mused, that there was no sun here. Just the cold, distant stars in the velvet black of space. How achingly lonely that would be. She shivered, and wrapped her arms around herself.

Loki was acutely aware that his vision was rather skilled in the dark.  Perhaps he was simply used to such things; anything develops if it is used enough.  The thought made him sad, and he didn’t know why.

“Keep your senses sharp, fire child,” he said low.  They were getting close.  In fact, he could see the dark fortress materialize before them—a twisting series of angular towers, and the faint glow of red-purple light through a low window.  His fists clenched over his throwing knives instinctively, remembering the last time he was brought to that room.

“I’m going to need brain bleach after this,” Summer murmured back. “It’s like having everything slimy crawl through my head. But nothing’s changed. Still the two, one very strong, very … ” She paused for a long time, searching for a word. ” … very disciplined. And the others, flickering.”

He nodded quickly, selfish for the moment, his mind entirely focused on forming a plan.  ”Disciplined…I would call him power-obsessed.  If I had ambitions to rule Midgard, Thanos makes me look like a child at play.  Summer, I need your full cooperation and…trust.”  He closed his eyes and began charging a spell, an odd feeling in his gut telling him he was a leader for the first time in his life.

She drew in a deep breath. This was Loki. God of Mischief. The demi-god who had nearly destroyed New York City.

A man who, those whole time, had only asked. Not demanded, or commanded, but asked.

She poured out confidence and strength. ”What do you need me to do?”

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

“Two. Close together. A blur of others, pooling together, very faint. Almost … stuttering. As if they don’t feel at all, or not much.” Summer could feel the flame, pooling in her veins, waiting to be called into death.

“Do you fly? I’m pretty sure I can’t carry you.”

He snorted.  ”That would be convenient, but no.  We shall travel by foot.”  We cannot all be Thor.  He imagined her suspicions pointed to Thanos, some sort of bodyguard, and a grouping of his mindless followers.  

And if his mind still served him, he knew exactly where they would be.  He had been there before.  The memory made him shiver.  ”Come.”

The walk was long, and dull, and boring. Summer occupied herself tilting her head back to stare at the sky, trying to match the stars with anything familiar at all. It was a fruitless exercise, but better than watching the dull, lifeless rock and dirt surrounding them. She supposed it could be worse — whatever sun this place had could be up, rendering it blazingly hot. Or blindingly bright.

It was possible, she mused, that there was no sun here. Just the cold, distant stars in the velvet black of space. How achingly lonely that would be. She shivered, and wrapped her arms around herself.

Loki was acutely aware that his vision was rather skilled in the dark.  Perhaps he was simply used to such things; anything develops if it is used enough.  The thought made him sad, and he didn’t know why.

“Keep your senses sharp, fire child,” he said low.  They were getting close.  In fact, he could see the dark fortress materialize before them—a twisting series of angular towers, and the faint glow of red-purple light through a low window.  His fists clenched over his throwing knives instinctively, remembering the last time he was brought to that room.

“I’m going to need brain bleach after this,” Summer murmured back. “It’s like having everything slimy crawl through my head. But nothing’s changed. Still the two, one very strong, very … ” She paused for a long time, searching for a word. ” … very disciplined. And the others, flickering.”

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

“‘Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it’,” Summer quoted, softly. “I sure hope you know what you’re doing, liesmith.” Closing her eyes, she spread one hand out in the air, reaching.

There.

“There’s someone here, alright.” Thought and fear drew her wings to blazing life, casting brilliance over the barren rock. “Do we go to them, or they to us?”

“I am no coward,” Loki spoke just above a whisper, mostly just to convince himself.  ”We will find them.  Do you know how many?”  He cursed his own magic for being so lacking in comparison to her abilities.  It was not his style to rely on others, but this would have to do.  

He looked around quickly, wary.  The air hummed faintly, far off noises drifting to them in the heavy dark.

“Two. Close together. A blur of others, pooling together, very faint. Almost … stuttering. As if they don’t feel at all, or not much.” Summer could feel the flame, pooling in her veins, waiting to be called into death.

“Do you fly? I’m pretty sure I can’t carry you.”

He snorted.  ”That would be convenient, but no.  We shall travel by foot.”  We cannot all be Thor.  He imagined her suspicions pointed to Thanos, some sort of bodyguard, and a grouping of his mindless followers.  

And if his mind still served him, he knew exactly where they would be.  He had been there before.  The memory made him shiver.  ”Come.”

The walk was long, and dull, and boring. Summer occupied herself tilting her head back to stare at the sky, trying to match the stars with anything familiar at all. It was a fruitless exercise, but better than watching the dull, lifeless rock and dirt surrounding them. She supposed it could be worse — whatever sun this place had could be up, rendering it blazingly hot. Or blindingly bright.

It was possible, she mused, that there was no sun here. Just the cold, distant stars in the velvet black of space. How achingly lonely that would be. She shivered, and wrapped her arms around herself.

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

Summer snugged one of the buckles on her chestplate a little tighter. “I’m probably the only person in the world who would trust you right now.” She shook her head a little, already-loosened hair rippling. “I must be insane. Yes, I’ll fight with you, Loki. You’ll owe me a favour, after.” Assuming we don’t get killed, she thought, a little grimly.

Laying a hand on the device he was holding out to her, she nodded. “Let’s go.”

“Trusting me may be unwise, but I suppose we shall see,” he said through a crooked smile.  They clutched the device and Loki spun it just so, locking onto the energy of Thanos.

In an instant of blinding light, they were landing rather roughly upon a desolate planet of deep black rock, the sky a haze of gray and far away stars.  There was no movement in sight.

“‘Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it’,” Summer quoted, softly. “I sure hope you know what you’re doing, liesmith.” Closing her eyes, she spread one hand out in the air, reaching.

There.

“There’s someone here, alright.” Thought and fear drew her wings to blazing life, casting brilliance over the barren rock. “Do we go to them, or they to us?”

“I am no coward,” Loki spoke just above a whisper, mostly just to convince himself.  ”We will find them.  Do you know how many?”  He cursed his own magic for being so lacking in comparison to her abilities.  It was not his style to rely on others, but this would have to do.  

He looked around quickly, wary.  The air hummed faintly, far off noises drifting to them in the heavy dark.

“Two. Close together. A blur of others, pooling together, very faint. Almost … stuttering. As if they don’t feel at all, or not much.” Summer could feel the flame, pooling in her veins, waiting to be called into death.

“Do you fly? I’m pretty sure I can’t carry you.”

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

“Oh, sure,” she said wryly. “Butter me up. I hope you remember saying that when the convulsions take me in the middle of things.” Summer looked out at the stars all around. “Are you okay to do this? Go back into that? I can’t hold him off and hold you together at the same time.”

But even as she was double-checking, she was also calling her battle armour, knowing she couldn’t live with herself if she let him go out there alone.

“I do not need anyone to hold me together,” he snapped, a bit too roughly.  ”I only know that…I cannot hope to win this battle alone, and…” he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to admit this, so the words spilled out quickly, before he could think better of it. “There is no one else willing to help me.”

It was a strange thing, how alone one could feel when you spoke the words out loud.

“Summer, my plan is this: you will pull his emotions from him, confuse him.  I will take his powers.  Only then can I hope to cast more powerful magic than he could conjure.  And I know just the thing to finish him with.  Will you fight with me?”

He held out the device, already humming softly, charging.

Summer snugged one of the buckles on her chestplate a little tighter. “I’m probably the only person in the world who would trust you right now.” She shook her head a little, already-loosened hair rippling. “I must be insane. Yes, I’ll fight with you, Loki. You’ll owe me a favour, after.” Assuming we don’t get killed, she thought, a little grimly.

Laying a hand on the device he was holding out to her, she nodded. “Let’s go.”

“Trusting me may be unwise, but I suppose we shall see,” he said through a crooked smile.  They clutched the device and Loki spun it just so, locking onto the energy of Thanos.

In an instant of blinding light, they were landing rather roughly upon a desolate planet of deep black rock, the sky a haze of gray and far away stars.  There was no movement in sight.

“‘Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it’,” Summer quoted, softly. “I sure hope you know what you’re doing, liesmith.” Closing her eyes, she spread one hand out in the air, reaching.

There.

“There’s someone here, alright.” Thought and fear drew her wings to blazing life, casting brilliance over the barren rock. “Do we go to them, or they to us?”

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

“I — ” Summer started, them closed her mouth and began again. “D’you have a plan? I wouldn’t even know where to look. I’m not minded to go haring off into the wild blue yonder without at least some shape of a plan. Even for you.” That last held a slight edge.

She paced to the side of the rainbow bridge, glancing down and down. “It’s a bit out of character for you, isn’t it, being worried for someone else’s safety? Or perhaps I’m just insurance, your wild card, as it were.”

“I will be entirely honest with you, Summer.  I ask you to join me more out of my own need than concern for your safety.” That was only mostly true.  ”As it were, I don’t think I am acquainted with anyone more fit to assist me.  You have great power, do you realize that?”  He was well aware of the power of talking someone up.

“Oh, sure,” she said wryly. “Butter me up. I hope you remember saying that when the convulsions take me in the middle of things.” Summer looked out at the stars all around. “Are you okay to do this? Go back into that? I can’t hold him off and hold you together at the same time.”

But even as she was double-checking, she was also calling her battle armour, knowing she couldn’t live with herself if she let him go out there alone.

“I do not need anyone to hold me together,” he snapped, a bit too roughly.  ”I only know that…I cannot hope to win this battle alone, and…” he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to admit this, so the words spilled out quickly, before he could think better of it. “There is no one else willing to help me.”

It was a strange thing, how alone one could feel when you spoke the words out loud.

“Summer, my plan is this: you will pull his emotions from him, confuse him.  I will take his powers.  Only then can I hope to cast more powerful magic than he could conjure.  And I know just the thing to finish him with.  Will you fight with me?”

He held out the device, already humming softly, charging.

Summer snugged one of the buckles on her chestplate a little tighter. “I’m probably the only person in the world who would trust you right now.” She shook her head a little, already-loosened hair rippling. “I must be insane. Yes, I’ll fight with you, Loki. You’ll owe me a favour, after.” Assuming we don’t get killed, she thought, a little grimly.

Laying a hand on the device he was holding out to her, she nodded. “Let’s go.”

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

Summer wasn’t sure what Loki wanted, only that she’d been summoned to meet him at the shattered edge of the bifrost. What should she be for him, tonight? Did he want to drink, again? Flirt, play?

Rehearse his history?

As she flew down the remaining length of the bridge, fire-born wings trailing sparks behind her, she could see him, poised at the edge. Landing softly, she called, “Loki?”

For a moment, he was mesmerized by those graceful wings, like ethereal lights tucking themeselves back into her being.  He blinked as the rest of her came into focus.  Distracting…

“Summer.”  He greeted, nodding at her.  There was little time for formalities.  

“I need you to listen to me very carefully.  Thanos has targeted us; both of us.  You angered him last night by showing loyalty to me.  He is not one to ask questions, he will simply kill for sport.”  He took a few steps closer to her, holding out the transport device.  ”We have only one option: he must fall first.”  He looked at her with pleading eyes, as if to say, you will help me, won’t you?

“I — ” Summer started, them closed her mouth and began again. “D’you have a plan? I wouldn’t even know where to look. I’m not minded to go haring off into the wild blue yonder without at least some shape of a plan. Even for you.” That last held a slight edge.

She paced to the side of the rainbow bridge, glancing down and down. “It’s a bit out of character for you, isn’t it, being worried for someone else’s safety? Or perhaps I’m just insurance, your wild card, as it were.”

“I will be entirely honest with you, Summer.  I ask you to join me more out of my own need than concern for your safety.” That was only mostly true.  ”As it were, I don’t think I am acquainted with anyone more fit to assist me.  You have great power, do you realize that?”  He was well aware of the power of talking someone up.

“Oh, sure,” she said wryly. “Butter me up. I hope you remember saying that when the convulsions take me in the middle of things.” Summer looked out at the stars all around. “Are you okay to do this? Go back into that? I can’t hold him off and hold you together at the same time.”

But even as she was double-checking, she was also calling her battle armour, knowing she couldn’t live with herself if she let him go out there alone.

lokilaufeyyson:

i-am-the-firechild:

lokilaufeyyson:

The first warm glow of twilight was spreading over the Asgardian sky.  Loki stood very still on what was left of the bridge to the bifrost, clear green eyes idly watching the celestial bodies in the sky.  His head ached from last night’s mental battle.  His hands were clenched in uneasy fists, one gripping a stolen transportation relic.  He knew what must be done.  He only hoped they could be off before Heimdall tried to stop them.

Summer wasn’t sure what Loki wanted, only that she’d been summoned to meet him at the shattered edge of the bifrost. What should she be for him, tonight? Did he want to drink, again? Flirt, play?

Rehearse his history?

As she flew down the remaining length of the bridge, fire-born wings trailing sparks behind her, she could see him, poised at the edge. Landing softly, she called, “Loki?”

For a moment, he was mesmerized by those graceful wings, like ethereal lights tucking themeselves back into her being.  He blinked as the rest of her came into focus.  Distracting…

“Summer.”  He greeted, nodding at her.  There was little time for formalities.  

“I need you to listen to me very carefully.  Thanos has targeted us; both of us.  You angered him last night by showing loyalty to me.  He is not one to ask questions, he will simply kill for sport.”  He took a few steps closer to her, holding out the transport device.  ”We have only one option: he must fall first.”  He looked at her with pleading eyes, as if to say, you will help me, won’t you?

“I — ” Summer started, them closed her mouth and began again. “D’you have a plan? I wouldn’t even know where to look. I’m not minded to go haring off into the wild blue yonder without at least some shape of a plan. Even for you.” That last held a slight edge.

She paced to the side of the rainbow bridge, glancing down and down. “It’s a bit out of character for you, isn’t it, being worried for someone else’s safety? Or perhaps I’m just insurance, your wild card, as it were.”

lokilaufeyyson:

The first warm glow of twilight was spreading over the Asgardian sky.  Loki stood very still on what was left of the bridge to the bifrost, clear green eyes idly watching the celestial bodies in the sky.  His head ached from last night’s mental battle.  His hands were clenched in uneasy fists, one gripping a stolen transportation relic.  He knew what must be done.  He only hoped they could be off before Heimdall tried to stop them.

Summer wasn’t sure what Loki wanted, only that she’d been summoned to meet him at the shattered edge of the bifrost. What should she be for him, tonight? Did he want to drink, again? Flirt, play?

Rehearse his history?

As she flew down the remaining length of the bridge, fire-born wings trailing sparks behind her, she could see him, poised at the edge. Landing softly, she called, “Loki?”