50 | god above

Hope

"He saying anything?" Fury's voice came through the comms and the irritation flowed through my veins faster than he can wink his good eye.

I didn't answer and instead let Natasha talk to him. I'm not being childish by resorting to silent treatment. I'm just really not in the mood to talk to him while I'm trying to think of a way to tell Tony about everything.

"Not a word." Nat answered. With Loki in our captivity, it's already a given that his brother will follow shortly. And when he does, I'm not certain if he'll react favorably towards us considering that he hasn't met any of us.

"Just get in here. We're low on time." Fury responded before he left the comms.

"Can you take over?" I asked Natasha, my voice as soft as possible so that only she can hear me through the headset.

"Only if you're going to tone down the dirty talk with your baby daddy." Natasha negotiated.

I feel sorry for Natasha and Pepper who constantly have to listen to Tony and I say inappropriate things to one another without being aware of their presence because of how occupied we are. To say that I'm ashamed of those moments is an understatement.

"Will do." I replied with a small apologetic smile on my face.

I removed the headset from me and shifted all the controls to Natasha before standing up from my seat and making my way towards Tony whose head is now revealed from above his suit of metal since he took off his helmet.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" I asked as soon as I reached Tony, sparing Steve a quick glance and smile before focusing back on Tony.

"You knew I was coming." He answered.

"I do, I just didn't know it was now." I responded.

"Why? Did you want some alone time with Mr. Horny Much there?" Tony's eyes shifted towards the incapacitated god sitting by himself. I was starting to forget Loki's attempt to flirt with me and Tony just had to remind me again.

"Jealousy has always been a bad look on you."

"You said it was cute."

"Well, not anymore."

Tony simply rolled his eyes at me. And I did the same before my eyes landed on the silent god, just sitting there, complying and behaving. Just minutes ago, he was going to attack an innocent old man in front of a crowd and now he's suddenly accepting that he's under our control? Something's not right.

"I don't like it." Steve suddenly said, probably noticing what I had noticed.

"What?  Rock of Ages giving up so easily?" Tony replied.

"I don't remember it being that easy." Steve added.

"That's because it's never that easy." I joined in.

I'm sure that Loki could feel his head beginning to form holes because of how stern we were staring at him in suspicion. For an alien to be subdued by a couple of Earthlings is either embarrassing because you'd think he'd overpower us, or smart because he still has something up that mischievous green and gold sleeve of his.

"Still, you were pretty spry, for an older fellow. What's your thing? Pilates?" Tony said, once again, driving the conversation off topic.

"Tony." I said, making my warning tone as obvious as possible.

"What?" Steve said at the same time I spoke.

"It's like calisthenics. You might have missed a couple of things. Y'know, doing time as a Cap-sicle." Tony said.

For the love of good god, please take these men away from each other. I already knew from the start that these two would start getting into each other's nerves. I also had it coming that Tony would strike first.

"Tony, shut up." I warned him once more. The Quinjet is too small a place to have a brawl.

"It's fine, Hope." Steve told me, with his eyes briefly flickering towards me.

And there it is. The look on Tony's face that I suspected the moment the name 'Hope' came out of Steve's mouth. Tony's head whipped towards me with a skeptical and jealous look smeared all over his face before he began flickering his gaze between me and Steve. The only thing that surprised me was the fact that he didn't say anything at all.

"Fury didn't tell me he was calling you in." Steve said to Tony, whose eyes are now just staring at me, confused before looking back at Steve with the same hatred he had been throwing at the man.

"Yeah, there's a lot of things Fury doesn't tell you." Tony simply said before a loud thunder resonated in our ears as streaks of lightning illuminated the dark and cloudy night sky. The quinjet slightly shook at the thunder and lightning surrounding the entire jet, causing me to almost lose my balance if not for Tony grabbing a hold of me by the waist to keep me on my feet.

I would've felt butterflies in my stomach if only we're not in the middle of a storm with a chained-up alien god a few feet away.

"Where's this come from?" Natasha questioned. I was looking out and ahead of the jet, watching the streaks of lightning leave a trail of bright light for us to avoid.

"What's the matter?" I suddenly looked at Steve when he spoke, it turns out he was talking to Loki who is roaming his eyes around, looking somewhat afraid. "Scared of a little lightning?"

"I'm not overly fond of what follows." Loki answered.

Then just when I'm still trying to get my balance straight, a loud thud came on the top of the quinjet, shaking the jet even more and causing me to lose balance once again. I would've fallen flat on my ass if Tony removed his arm around my waist.

"Okay, now you're just doing this on purpose." Tony called me out.

"It's hard to keep your balance when wearing boot heels underneath a shaky floor." I defended before taking his arm off my waist and reaching for helmet to give it to him.

It's clear that someone is on top of the quinjet. Our best bet is that he or she is here to get this alien out of our reach. But of course, our job is to make sure he'll stay out of theirs—no matter who or what we are going to face.

Although, something tells me that it's a 'he' and he's just as every bit of a god as the one chained up in here.

All of a sudden, Tony opens up the door slash ramp of the quinjet without a warning whatsoever.

"What are you doing?!" Steve told Tony.

"You have got to be kidding me." I whispered to myself while registering Tony's impulsiveness.

The second my sentence finished, a muscular man landed on the ramp of the jet, he's clad in thick silver and black armor with a red cape and long blonde hair dancing behind him due to the harsh blow of the wind and a big hammer on his right hand.

I was right. It is him.

I was too hung up on the fact that I've finally seen Thor with my own eyes that I didn't get to help Tony when Thor used his hammer to effortlessly push my husband away before grabbing Loki by the neck and jumping off of the jet.

Things happened so fast that the mere chant of a spell seemed to happen too slow. And now, Loki has escaped with another god.

"Now there's that guy." Tony commented. I heard a hint of bitterness in his voice which is most definitely because of the fact that he got knocked down in seconds.

"Another Asgardian?" Natasha asked.

"Highly likely." I simply answered.

"That guy's a friendly?" Steve asked as he stood up from the floor, already slightly panting.

"Doesn't matter. If he frees Loki, or kills him, the Tesseract's lost." Tony said.

He has a point. I'm already familiar with Thor's heroic involvement on Earth. I know that he has no intention of freeing Loki, but I can't say the same for killing him. We can't risk the Tesseract getting lost because of it.

"Stark, we need a plan of attack!"

My eyes are slightly squinted as the harsh wind blows against my face.

"I have a plan. Attack." Tony answered.

And with that he left the jet on his own. Why didn't I say anything? Well, I didn't bother because I doubt that he'd listen to me now that he's slightly mad at me.

"You're gonna follow him?" I asked Cap when he grabbed a parachute bag and started strapping it to himself.

"Aren't you?" He asked me back.

"I'd sit this one out, Cap." Nat said as she continued to fly the jet amidst the thunderstorm.

"I don't see how I can." Steve answered.

"Steve, these guys come from legend." I said, agreeing with Natasha. I can't let Steve dive head first into this situation without thinking about it first unlike Tony who didn't waste a second jumping off the jet the moment Loki and Thor escaped.

"They're basically gods." Natasha added.

"There's only one God ma'am, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't dress like that." Steve told her.

Oh, he has no freaking idea. I've met a lot of gods and I'm certain that they dress in all kinds of bizarre things.

After securing himself with the parachute, Steve took his vibranium shield with him and followed Tony's lead–jumping off the jet in the middle of a ruthless thunderstorm. I can't help but roll my eyes at Cap's figure disappearing into the dark clouds before crossing my arms and turning my gaze towards Natasha.

She didn't need to say anything. It was clear from her facial expression that she wanted me to follow them.

"Do I have to?" I asked, frustrated, almost whining like a little kid refusing to go to school.

"You're the babysitter." Natasha responded.

I hate babysitting unless it's with Royal...Well, sometimes I even hate that because babies can sometimes be a pain in the ass too.

I groaned in frustration before turning around and snatching another parachute bag. I balanced myself with my heels on the vibrating floor of the jet as I slung the bag on my back and secured the straps. It's not like I'd die if I fell flat on my face after jumping off this jet. I just prefer a smoother landing or else these heels of mine would break. It would be a waste of daggers.

The moment there was no longer a floor underneath the soles of my shoes, I felt myself floating like a feather.

Well, that's how I wish it was. But, no. I was falling fast. I could feel the flesh of my cheeks rippling from the air blowing against my face. I could feel my legs getting numb. I was not even sure if I still had hair left, it feels like they're all detaching from my scalp. I've done a lot of skydiving in my entire life, especially with this line of job. But maybe it's a lot different when there's a literal wave of storm surrounding you.

As I neared the ground, I pulled on the string and the parachute came bursting out of the bag. At that moment, I felt my whole body again. Even the flow of the blood in my legs. That's a good sign.

What is not a good sign, was the bright and huge impact that came in the middle of the forest, destroying a bunch of the trees nearby and creating a messy field. That's not very environmentally friendly. That does not look friendly at all. I'm guessing everyone's fighting.

My feet found the ground gracefully, surprised that the broken pieces of what were previously tree trunks didn't manage to trip me up at all. Slightly panting, I unclasped the bag and removed it from my body before slowly walking towards the center of the field, seeing the three—Tony, Steve, and Thor—looking at each other, obviously tired yet still alert.

"You done playing, boys?" I said, causing them to turn their attention towards me. I noticed the way Thor's and Steve's chest fell up and down as they took deep breaths. The only thing I noticed about Tony was the fact that he's just staring at me through that helmet of his. If I'm not mistaken, he's mad at me.

Like I said, I need to tell him what I know before somebody else does.

—

"He really grows on you, doesn't he?"

I briefly shifted my glance towards Dr. Banner as he sarcastically commented about Loki's 'charms' while locked in a strange cell.

We're all gathered around the round, glass, conference table. I was sitting between Cap who's on my left and Dr. Banner standing behind his seat on my right. Across from us stands Thor, and on his far left is Natasha. Tony? I have no idea where he is. Probably snooping around the helicarrier.

"Loki's gonna drag this out. So, Thor, what's his play?" Cap said, his stern and serious gaze fixated on the god of thunder himself as continued to brood with the thought of his brother burdening his mind. I guess I should be glad that I don't have a sibling.

"He has an army called the Chitauri. They're not of Asgard nor any world known." Thor turns around to face all of us before dropping his arms from crossing each other to his side. "He means to lead them against your people. They will win him the Earth, in return, I suspect, for the Tesseract."

"An army...from outer space?" Steve questioned.

If only I wasn't from the future and I'm not already aware of the alien invasion that happened in the year I was born, I would've said that's surprising. They won before. They can win it again. Only, the effects of my involvement are unknown. Will I mess things up or help win it more?

"Well, that's exciting, is it not?" I said, sarcasm dripping from every word.

"So, he's building another portal." Bruce said, taking off his glasses in the process. "That's what he needs Erik Selvig for." 

"Selvig?" Thor repeated.

"He's an astrophysicist."

"He's a friend."

"Loki has them under some kind of spell—along with one of ours." Natasha explained.

I wonder how Clint's doing. I'm sure he misses me teasing him. He should.

"I wanna know why Loki let us take him. He's not leading an army from here." Steve said as he turned his gaze towards Banner and I.

"I don't think we should be focusing on Loki. That guy's brain is a bag full of cats, you can basically smell crazy on him." I commented as I leaned back on the cushioned chair. These are surprisingly comfortable.

"Have care how you speak. Loki is beyond reason but he is of Asgard, and he is my brother." Thor warned me.

I crossed my arms against my chest and arched an eyebrow at him while I let Natasha fill him in on his brother's latest escapades.

"He killed eighty people in two days." Nat stated.

Now, I raised both of my eyebrows as a gesture for him to respond to that information only for us to see him rather caught off guard before giving probably one of the best saves I've heard anyone give.

"He's adopted." Thor retorted.

In his defense, it does kinda explain some things.

"I think it's about the mechanics. Iridium, what do they need the Iridium for?" Dr. Banner said.

From only the sound of the footsteps nearing, I could already identify that it's my husband entering the room.

"It's a stabilizing agent." Tony answered Bruce's question before whispering something to Phil and went their separate ways, letting Tony continue on with his explanation. "Means the portal won't collapse on itself like it did at S.H.I.E.L.D."

Tony then reached Thor and patted him on the arm with the back of his hand before saying "No hard feelings, Point Break, you got a mean swing."

Thor simply gave him a look as Tony walked past him and made his way towards the circular platform surrounded by multiple monitors where Fury observes.

"Also, means the portal can open as wide and stay open as long as Loki wants." Tony said as he reached the platform and started looking at the monitors before muttering nonsense to the S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel. "Ah, raise the mizzen mast, ship the topsails."

"What is he doing?" Natasha mouthed towards me.

I simply shrug my shoulders before fixating my unamused gaze on Tony.

"That man is playing Galaga!" Tony suddenly shouted as he pointed to his right. "Thought we wouldn't notice, but we did."

And of course, being Tony Stark himself, he makes one ridiculous comment after another.

He began looking at the monitors while covering his one eye to mimic Fury's sight before talking to Agent Hill. "How does Fury even see these?"

"He turns." Agent Hill simply answered.

"Sounds exhausting." Tony muttered to himself before beginning to mess around with the monitors. "The rest of the raw materials, Agent Barton can get his hands on pretty easily. Only major component he still needs is a power source of high energy density. Something to—" He subtly snapped his fingers and clapped his hands together as he faced us. "—kick start the Cube."

"When did you become an expert in thermonuclear astrophysics?" Agent Hill asked with his eyes narrowed at Tony. Agent Hill never liked Tony since the moment they met at the doorway of our house. I actually find it entertaining every time she gives him an attitude.

"Last night." Tony responded. Of course. "The packet, Selvig's notes, the extraction theory papers—am I the only one who did the reading? "

"Does Loki need any particular kind of power source?" Steve asked before Tony could even finish sentence. I smell another feud coming in. I can also sense that I'll be standing in the middle of it, trying to not let them kill each other.

"He'd have to heat the Cube to a hundred and twenty million kelvin just to break through the Coulomb barrier." Banner explained.

"Unless, Selvig has figured out how to stabilize the Quantum Tunneling effect." Tony said, walking past me and towards Dr. Banner.

Suddenly, I feel like the dumbest person in this room.

"Well, if he could do that he could achieve heavy-ion fusion at any reactor on the planet." Banner replied.

"Finally. Someone who speaks English." Tony said as he open-handedly pointed towards the other genius in the room.

"Is that what just happened?" Steve whispered towards me.

"Not really." I answered.

"It's good to meet you, Dr. Banner." Tony and Bruce shook hands, officially meeting one another. "Your work on anti-electronic collisions is unparalleled. And I'm a huge fan of the way you—lose control and turn into an enormous green rage monster."

"God, Tony." I whispered to myself as I buried my face onto my palms.

"Thanks." I heard Bruce reply, sounding almost uncomfortable. Well, not almost. I know he's uncomfortable.

It was my turn to feel unsettling when Fury entered the room. Suddenly, my brain is once again plagued by the thought of Lizzie possibly lying in a ditch somewhere with a stake in her heart, a decapitated head, or with a huge empty hole on her chest.

"Dr. Banner is only here to track the Cube. I was hoping you might join him." Fury said.

"I'd start with that glowstick of his." I commented, giving Tony and Bruce a glance, trying my best to avoid Fury's gaze.

"I second that." I heard Steve say from beside me and I swear I saw Tony roll his eyes. "It may be magical but it works an awful lot like a HYDRA weapon."

"I don't know about that, but it is powered by the Cube. And I like to know how Loki used it to turn two of the sharpest men I know into his personal flying monkeys." Fury said.

"Monkeys? I do not understand—" Before Thor could finish his sentence, Steve suddenly spoke beside me.

"I do!" Steve said, a little too excited if you ask me. But quite adorable. "I–I understood that reference."

I smiled at Steve to ease his uncomfort after his sudden display of excitement.

"Shall we play, Doctor?" Tony asked Bruce.

"This way, sir." Bruce answered before they made their way out of the room, leaving the rest of us to talk among ourselves.

—

In one of Fury's offices in this massive helicarrier, I walked in with my arms crossed against my chest and my gaze switching into a glare. Fury noticed the look on my face instantly as soon as I walked through the door.

"What do you want now, Mikaelson?" He asked, his tone hinting frustration. Oh, he doesn't get to be frustrated now. I have been worried about Lizzie and the thought of not knowing how and where the hell she is, is driving me nuts.

"The truth." I answered.

"You've got to be more specific." Fury stated.

I untangled my arms from one another and approached his desk where he was sitting behind.

"Elizabeth Saltzman." I said.

He finally looks up from the screen of his gadget and leaned back on his swiveling chair.

"Cap told you this?" he asked.

"It's not like you did." I retorted.

"All right, not so fast. If there's anyone to blame here, it's you." Fury said, his good eye already glaring at me.

"The hell it's me! Lizzie was sent back in time and you didn't think to tell me? Is she even okay? Did she get back safely? Did she even return at all?" I ranted.

"I can't answer that."

"Why? Because you won't tell me?"

"No, because I don't know."

I squinted my eyes at Fury in both suspicion and confusion. Is he honestly expecting me to believe that he does not know where Lizzie is? Someone who always knows everything and always chooses to keep everyone else in the dark about them?

"Bullshit." I snapped at him.

Fury suddenly stood up from his seat and started walking around the desk to approach me with his eye almost bulging out of its socket because of how hard he's glaring at me.

"You don't get to talk to me like that, especially when you're the one who dropped that giant shit on my lap." Fury said.

"Oh, so it's my fault, then?"

"Yes!"

"Once again, bullshit."

"How well do you know yourself, Andrea? Hm?" Fury asked as he finally reached me. I was looking up at him considering that he was towering over me. My hands were already balled into fists, waiting for Fury to tell me the truth before punching his teeth out.

"More than you do." I said.

"See, that's where you're wrong." Fury answered. "It was Elizabeth's choice to go to 1945. But, you were the one that sent her in this timeline after she got back. Your stubborn future self could not keep her hands to herself and instead made another mess for me to clean up."

I sent her back here? That's impossible. I know how dangerous this is. I would never do that.

"I don't understand." I muttered.

"I'm saying she was already safe in your main timeline until you sent her back into this world where even I can't find her." Fury said, his good eye almost piercing a hole in my skull.

"I'm saying that if something bad happens to her, it will be on you."

—

I'm still alive. Barely. But alive, nevertheless. It's hard for me to keep writing because of all the schoolworks which are mostly group tasks. And being the control freak that I am, I don't sleep until I make sure everything is in order.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, btw! Even if it's kinda boring.