Loki Laufeyson – Big Guy
Loki Laufeyson – Big Guy
I listened patiently as Thor chatted excitedly about his day. He’d been out all morning and had somehow managed to accidentally attend a student rally, spending hours taking selfies and just generally being adored.
We were stood in the kitchen with Clint, all congregated around the island. Clint and I had made great progress with our relationship since the last movie night, now up to full sentences as well as the occasional nod. He tipped a pack of biscuits into a bowl, one already in his teeth before offering them to me. I smiled and took one as Thor rattled on.
We had music playing quietly through the speakers in the ceiling and I focused on it, choosing to ignore my brother for a moment. Without warning, the music cut off as well as the air con. Thor continued oblivious, but Clint caught my eye, confusion apparent in his features.
I held a hand up to Thor, silencing him as I strained to listen. “Something’s wrong.” We stood totally still, unsure what we were waiting for.
A large crash, muffled through the walls sounded from somewhere below us as Friday came over the speakers loudly. “Intruders detected. Lab corridors breached.”
Barely a second passed before Clint and Thor raced into action, taking off running down the corridors. I followed, just managing to catch up as Clint threw open the door to the stairs. The main labs were all located on the floor below the main lounge. The echoes of our footsteps reverberated through the stairwell as Clint put an earpiece in. “Nat, where are you?”
We continued running, Thor overtaking as he got to the double doors of the next floor first. He barely slowed as he barged through, continuing at full speed down the halls. I looked to Clint as I ran, he was concentrating on whatever was being said over his ear piece. “Got it. Find him, try to calm him down. We’re almost there.” He tapped the ear piece before swearing loudly. “Our new friends from Phoenix paid a visit, seems they want their serum back. They got away but Banner’s hulked out.”
I frowned, I didn’t particularly want to relive my last experience with Bruce’s alter ego.
Thor looked back over his shoulder slightly, not breaking pace. “Is anyone with him?”
“Bucky’s gone after the intruders but Nat’s on Bruce’s tail.”
We continued on, slowing as we rounded the corner of the first laboratories. In an instant, a table came barreling through the wall like a cannonball, hurling me and Clint into the rubble as it exploded into splinters all around us. Thor lunged forward with lightning reflexes, just managing to dodge the hurtling debris and land on one knee in preparation for another attack.
An almighty roar reverberated through the tower as I felt the vibrations in my chest, shaking dust from the rafters and leaving my heart pounding in terror. The hulk burst through the wall with a thunderous crash, freezing us in place as his enraged gaze fell upon us. I could feel my skin crawl as he snarled at us, every muscle in my body tensing as I tried to stay completely still. I felt like I was waiting forever for him to make a move, consumed by an oppressive silence while he glared with hate-filled eyes.
His head snapped towards the sound of whatever he was after, his eyes blazing with a feral hunger. In an instant he was gone, leaving nothing but a gust of wind in his wake as he vanished out of sight. The force of his departure created a shockwave that sent bits of debris flying out from behind him. I exhaled sharply, releasing a plume of brick dust that rose like smoke into the air, hanging still for a moment before finally fading away.
Natasha appeared, climbing over the wreckage gracefully before dropping to help Clint to his feet. Thor grabbed my arm, effortlessly pulling me upright. “You guys okay?” Ms Romanov asked, brushing Clint’s shoulders as I looked down at myself, seeing that I was also covered in dust.
Thor turned to her. “What the hell is going on?” He shifted from foot to foot, eager to move.
“The big guy’s got wind of something. Maybe one of our new friends?”
I looked back to the hole in the wall, feeling uneasy as another roar echoed across the tower. Natasha and Clint’s hands flew simultaneously to their respective ear pieces, Clint almost shouting into it. “Bucky! Where are you?”
I glanced at Thor, his shoulders tense as he lingered near the broken wall. Natasha and Clint looked at each other as they listened. I waited, hoping that Bucky would provide some clarity.
A few moments passed before Clint spoke again. “Come back to the tower, we can run the license plate of the van you chased.”
Natasha put her hand to her ear again. “Did you send Amelie to the control room? We can tell Friday to pull up the footage for her.”
Amelie? I tilted my head, listening closely.
My stomach dropped as Natasha’s eyes found mine, panic spreading across her features. I quickly looked to Clint. He wore a similar expression etched on his face, his whispers barely audible against the pulsing fear in my mind.
“Shit.”
The adrenaline surged through my veins, a jolt of electrical energy that sparked with every panicked thought. My terror grew until it became an overwhelming force, demanding I take action.
Thor spun round to us, confused. “Where is she?”
A deafening roar rocked the tower as the walls shook and splintered with an awful crash, echoing through the corridors like a shattering bell toll. The silence that followed was almost tangible, until an piercing scream ripped through the air, sending shivers of dread down my spine like shards of frozen ice.
It echoed through the hall, reverberating off the cold tiled floors before eventually fading away into nothingness.
“Amelie.” I whispered.
My feet pounded against the ground as I charged through the lab wall, pushing aside whatever was in my path. The shouted warnings of those behind me were drowned out by the ghost of her scream that still rang in my ears. Shattered furniture and glass shards sliced painfully into my skin and tore at my clothes, but I refused to stop, beating down a path determined by desperation. Reaching a long hallway, I frantically spun around, hoping desperately for some sign of where I should go. My eyes refocused on every detail, searching for her while my hands tugged painfully at my hair in frustration. Every passing moment intensified my sense of urgency until I thought I would burst from it.
“AMELIE!” I shouted, cupping my hands to my mouth as I called again. “AMELIE!?!”
The only answer was the sound of the others catching me up.
The silence was thick with tension, hanging in the air like a thick fog as we stood waiting, my eyes scanning the area frantically for a sign. Quietly, we heard Bruce's soft voice call out gently. My head snapped to the direction of his words as I listened intently. “Amelie…? Guys…?”
I didn’t hesitate as I raced towards him, finding Bruce leaning against a wall, battered and broken, his eyes filled with terror as they met mine. I skidded to a halt, electricity crackling in the air around us. My breathing faltered as I froze, afraid of what he might say, but Natasha pushed past me, grabbing Bruce’s face with both hands. “What happened?”
Banner’s eyes fell to the floor. “I didn’t… I didn’t mean to. The big guy, he was so angry.”
My fists were clenched in rage as I stepped towards him, my teeth bared in a silent snarl. "Where is she?" My demand echoed off the walls, raw and fierce, shivering with anger.
His eyes snapped to mine, regret etched in his features. Lifting one arm, he gestured vaguely down the hallway.
My heart raced and I bolted around the corner, nearly smashing into Amelie at full force. Her eyes widened in shock as she stumbled backwards and I grasped her shoulders to keep her upright. A wave of relief swept over me as my frantic gaze searched her body for injury, scanning her face for signs of trauma.
She looked up at me, her eyes dazed. “Loki?”
I breathed out shakily, looking her over again. “Are you okay? What happened? Are you hurt?”
She shook her head slowly before swaying in place, putting a hand on my arm to regain her balance. Her eyes came into focus as she looked at me. I took in the dirt across her face, her hair was tousled and her breathing rapid. She was in shock.
“Amelie, please.” I tried to lower my voice, afraid to push her emotions any further. “I need to know if you’re alright.”
She nodded before wincing, her hand going to her side. I dropped my eyes, noticing the dark red patch spreading through the fabric of her jumper.
Our eyes locked intensely as I willed her permission. With the slightest nod of her head, Amelie relinquished control and pulled away from the injury. Dropping to my knees, I slowly began to roll up the bottom of her jumper revealing three large cuts just above her hips.
It looked like something had tried to grab her, tearing at her skin as it ultimately missed it’s target.
My face hardened and I swallowed back the bile in my throat. “He did this to you?” The words seethed out of me through gritted teeth.
Her eyes flicked to mine, concern overtaking her features. “Loki.” She whispered.
I stood, gripping her again tightly. My jaw clenched hard as a vice, the veins in my neck throbbed with anger. I could feel every muscle in my body trembling as I tried to keep my hands on her shoulders gentle. Biting the inside of my mouth, I moved my gaze to hers; she looked truly worried now.
“He didn’t mean to. He would never hurt me.”
I clicked my neck, barely containing my anger now. I ground my teeth, looking behind her to the destruction that had been left. “Except he did.”
Amelie shook her head quickly, desperately trying to hold my attention. “I’m okay, it’s just a couple of cuts. It was the other guy who hurt me, not Bruce. This is not his fault.”
I looked back to the marks on her side. While large, jagged, and full of brick dust, they weren’t too deep. Amelie’s eyes focused behind me, and I recognised the sound of my brother’s footsteps as he approached us. I kept my grip on her, afraid she would somehow crumble if I let go.
Quietly, Thor appeared at my side. “Amelie.” He said softly, seemingly much calmer than I was. I could feel a vein bulging in my neck as I continued to try to control myself. Amelie eyes stayed trained on me as she answered my brother. “I’m okay.”
He nodded. “We found Banner.”
I tensed my jaw again, swallowing hard as a growl threatened to escape my throat.
Amelie’s eyes flicked to Thor, hurriedly speaking her mind. “It wasn’t his fault. It was the other guy. Bruce would never…!”
“I know.” Thor interrupted gently. “Are you injured?”
Her eyes returned to mine as she hesitated. I turned my head slightly towards Thor, never breaking eye-contact with Amelie as I answered for her. “Three cuts on her side. Not too deep but they need to be cleaned.” My voice was hard and expressionless, my anger barely contained.
Thor nodded again, looking behind him. I’d forgotten the others completely. Carefully, I lowered my hands from Amelie’s shoulders. She continued to eye me, still concerned as I stepped to the side slightly to allow her the space to leave.
Thor placed a hand on her back before gently guiding Amelie to the others. I remained where I was, afraid I would do something I’d regret, though at that moment I couldn’t imagine feeling anything but satisfaction were I to rip Bruce apart.
I swallowed, trying to separate Dr Banner from the Hulk in my mind.
“Are you coming brother?” Thor asked quietly.
I swallowed again, my throat still dry. “Right behind you.”