Chapter 32
Loki stood outside when Harry arrived on the floor, so he took a few moments to watch him. Loki’s gaze was on the sky, his features twisted into a mixture of pain and confusion – whatever was going on with him, Harry wanted to help.
“Edwin, start the suit prep.”
“Will do. Your bracelets are on the bar counter last time I checked.”
“Yep, thanks.” Harry smiled at Loki as the god turned finally to see him. The grip on the scepter tightened briefly before Loki walked inside, shoulders straightening as he did so. Harry just waved and wandered in the direction of the bar. “Thirsty?”
“I’ve been here long enough to obtain a drink of my own if I wanted it, thank you.”
The bracelets should still be there, then. Harry nodded and slid his hand across the marble counter top. “You should try some. I’m not one to brag, but I’ve got one of the best collections here.”
Loki huffed out a laugh. “From both mortals and wizards alike, I’m sure.”
“Won’t know unless you want some.” Harry paused by where he had put the bracelets, glad that they were still there. “I’ll grab a cup for you just in case.”
Loki sighed, but said nothing as Harry grabbed two gin glasses and filled them with whatever bottle happened to be closest. Hermione’s favorite white wine would have to do – he hoped she would never find out what glass he poured it into.
“I know you are here to stall me,” Loki said, irritation obviously growing. “It won’t help. Your end is near and your friends are too weak to help you.”
“You have no idea—“
“I have plenty of those, Mister Potter.” Loki held the scepter up, looking it over. “You cannot begin to comprehend the amount of ideas I have about your … friends. How is Miss Granger?”
Harry narrowed his eyes, using Loki’s distraction to slip on the bracelets. Before he could fully activate them, Loki looked back, so he picked up his glass. “None of your business.”
“Go on.”
“I’m sorry?”
Loki motioned to Harry’s wrists. “I am not blind. Go on, activate your toys. They will not save you.”
Harry kept still, hand tightening on his glass. “What are you so afraid of?”
That made Loki pause and he stared at Harry, eyes wide. Harry had seen the expression on some of the Death Eater’s faces back in the war and he did his best to repress a shiver.
“I’m here, so why don’t we talk a bit? What are you so afraid of, Loki.”
“I fear nothing.” Loki turned sharply to put distance between them. “I fear nothing.”
“The others are close,” Edwin said into his ear. “Suit is ready as soon as your bracelets are activated. Give me some sign you hear me.”
“I hear you,” Harry told Edwin, though he directed it at Loki. “Keep saying it for courage, I get that, but it doesn’t change anything.”
Loki spun around, pointing the scepter directly at Harry. “I fear nothing!”
Harry finished his drink, then slowly put his hands up. “Okay.”
“I am Loki of Asgard, you pathetic excuse for a mage, and I am in charge of my own life.”
Harry tilted his head a bit. “Are you?”
“Of course I am!”
Oh, Blaise was going to kill him for antagonizing Loki like this, but… “Then prove it.”
Loki snarled and dropped the hand with the scepter only to use his free hand to shoot out a bolt of magic toward Harry – he hadn’t expected that. Harry jerked his hands in front of his face and muttered a quick shield spell, but it wasn’t strong enough. He flew back and slammed into the wall next to the bar. Glass fell from the shelves around him and he swore, holding his arms over his head to protect himself.
Before he could look up to see where Loki was, a hand reached through his arms and grabbed the front of his shirt, dragging him up and off the floor. Desperate for any kind of balance, Harry grabbed onto Loki’s wrist and just hung there, staring down at Loki’s smirk.
“Tire yourself out with a ruined heart? Pathetic. Now you can't even fight back with your inner self, your magic.”
Harry felt panic run through his system and he knew Loki was right. He was going into this battle widely out of practice and with a handicap to boot. “At least I am in control of my own self.”
“You think so?” Loki dragged him toward the windows. “Let’s see just how much control you have. Survive my wrath and maybe you can save your pathetic friends from it.”
Next thing Harry knew, his back hit the windows and he was falling rapidly through the air. “Edwin!” He reached out, scrambling with the bracelets. “Edwin, just launch it!”
Harry straightened himself out, spread eagle and refused to look at the ground. He kept his focus on the blinking lights on his wrists, which were soon spreading into the air as the suit locked onto his location. The suit formed around him and thankfully stopped short of killing a few people in the street. Harry stared at them, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, before shooting back up to be level with Loki.
Loki, who looked rather proud than annoyed. Harry would have to figure that out later.
“I may not have much magic right now, but don't you dare threaten my friends.” He raised his gauntlet. “Get the hell off my planet.”
Loki looked right into the gauntlet and Harry hesitated as a look of bliss passed over Loki’s face. Harry wanted to shoot him, but this? Loki wanted this, almost pleading for it.
“Stark, the army!”
Both Harry and Loki looked over as Thor landed a bit below them on another balcony. He pointed up and that’s when Harry looked up to see the wormhole opening. As much as he wanted to sit here and analyze Loki, he had to take care of that – Thor could handle Loki. He took one last look at the god (he was so terrified and Harry felt so helpless at the look) before moving up and into the oncoming fray.
“Edwin, stream all of this to Clint and the others. Where are they?”
“New York and the portal are in sight.”
“Good.” Harry shot at as many aliens as he could. “Proper authorities to help evacuate the city?”
“I’ve been on the phone with them, but they didn’t believe me until now. Police are starting the evacuation, but anyone else is almost an hour away.”
“Military air support? My people?”
“No work from General Rhodes or Miss Potts. Air Force is scrambling now.”
“Good, let’s get this party started.”
Harry ignored Edwin’s remark about party scenarios and focused on getting as much of the alien ships down as he could. There were too many, and he knew that, but he had to try.
“Jarvis, give me a percentage of the poison in the corner. I need to know.”
Without a word, the system brought it up in the corner. Fifteen percent wasn’t too bad, but it wasn’t good either. Harry shook his head and chased a few of the chariots through the streets, trying to find a weakness.
“Tony? Yo, we’re here.By 5th.”
“I see you, stay there. I’m bringing some right across.” Harry had never been so glad to hear Clint’s voice. “What took you so long?”
“Starbucks had a special we couldn’t pass up.”
The joke was something he needed and he laughed as he passed the jet, aliens and gunfire following behind him. “If you can stay in the air, do so, but I also need some people on the ground.”
“Will do. Let’s kick some ass!”
Harry smiled at the slightly crazed sounding battle cry Clint gave off – it relaxed him to know that he had his friend back and with him. “I’m with you there.”
He turned, fired some more shots, then went to find the next alien to shoot.