Loki was returning home today from his many travels across the realms, Loki always managed to procure many great treasures for Asgard and new exotic creatures and items. Frigga, their mother adored what Loki brought back to her whether it was ingredients for potions or whether it was jewellery. Thor himself was exuberant over his brother's return, he had missed his brother despite his wily ways and he could not help but wonder what his brother would bring back this time.
He wondered whether it would be some kind of food. He did like those strange fruits his brother had acquired and craved their sweet tanginess over the memory of them. It was odd how they were named after their colour but not all realms were as advanced as Asgard.
It could always be a weapon or an artefact. When he had arrived to Heimdall, ready to greet his brother as he stepped off the bridge, he was surprised. Loki always took the bridge when he was scheduled to return home from his travels, Thor assumed his other mysterious ways weren't ideal for luggage. There was also the fact it was one of the conditions Odin had set when allowing Loki to take his trips. What was surprising was the fact what Loki had brought home this time was more than mere luggage or cattle. It was a warrior.
The warrior and his brother were walking across the bridge as he stepped upon it. He greeted his brother cordially trying hard not to stare at the warrior too hard.
The man in the red and gold armour could not be anything but a warrior. He walked with an air of confidence, a sign that he knew his own worth and was worthy to be there. Thor wondered what species the warrior could be for his helmet covered his face and his armour everything else.
The armour was remarkable in the way it stalked as easily as a cat would without the normal clunkiness and awkwardness most of the armour Asgard still had. It was feat worthy of dwarves with the way each plate of armour moved effortlessly. The armour glistened and the chest part shone with a particular blue light, its power source perhaps.
The helmet could do with some horns or something however. But was it even a helmet or was he looking at the creature's face?
Was it perhaps like the Destroyer, a guardian that Loki had brought back. Surely armour could not move with such ease housing a person so something like the Destroyer made sense.
Then the warrior stepped out of the armour with a swagger, and he was the smallest man Thor had ever seen. He half supposed he was a dwarf by the size of him, but he lacked the stocky, strong build of a dwarf. Although dwarves hadn't been seen in centuries as Asgard had less and less dealings with them. All dealings went through a gate as their realm of Nidavellir was closed to outsiders now. He supposed they might have changed over the centuries.
The thought that Loki may have entered the realm of the dwarves was nothing short of miraculous and to bring one back with him was beyond belief, even with Loki's silver tongue. So Thor supposed, this small man must have been something else entirely but he could not place what. He looked almost Asgardian yet was so clearly not and what strange threads the man wore. It was unlike anything Thor had ever seen.
The warrior clasped his arm jovially. "You must be Thor, Loki mentioned you."
Thor felt strangely pleased over the fact that Loki had described him well enough for the warrior to know who he was on sight.
"Take me to your leader, Point Break." He wondered who and what this warrior was, as well as what a 'Point Break' was and why he looked so amused at asking to see the All-Father.
Odin was not pleased to find Loki had brought someone into Asgard let alone stroll him through the palace, nor was he pleased to know Thor let it happen, but most of his ire was aimed at Loki. Thor was far too giddy with interest and excitement to care over his father's mild disapproval. There was a mystery around this fellow. Perhaps he could learn his name at the very least, the man would not tell him until he had an audience with the All-Father. He had never really met royalty from other realms, but considering all their interactions that surely must be what this warrior was, royalty.
He supposed he admired the way the man faced Odin as if they were equals although he was in parts scandalised at the thought. However if the man was also a king (which could well be possible) he supposed it could be acceptable because in technicality they would be equals. Even if Asgard was superior.
The warrior introduced himself as Anthony of this strange land of Stark Awesomeness that Thor had never heard of. Thor wondered if this Anthony was perhaps something special indeed, although briefly he considered whether Anthony could be from Midgard but he dismissed it as they were primitives who could have never made such armour which Anthony said that he himself made.
Anthony managed to coax Odin into allowing him to stay in Asgard, Thor was still not quite sure how as the All-Father tended to be set in his ways, an admirable trait but Anthony had managed to allow him (a stranger) into staying.
It may have something to do with what the man offered with his genius and the promise his armour held. It may also have something to do with how Frigga seemed quite taken with Loki's guest with the way Anthony had smiled charmingly and kissed Frigga's hand respectively.
Once Anthony was permitted to stay, he commanded attention as readily as any of the princes could and wheedled information so readily out of the servants that Thor could see why this strange man would be acquainted with his brother. They were alike in a way, silver tongues seeking each other out.
And acquainted they were as Thor was astounded to see that the man could make Loki smile, he hadn't realised how long it had been since he had seen a true smile from Loki till then aside from that sarcastic twisted thing he sent Thor himself. Although, for the strangest of reasons, he had felt that he had intruded into something private when he saw that smile. That was when Thor decided he quite liked Loki's new friend in some surprise, although he knew he had (if he was to be honest with himself) as taken as Frigga had been it was still strange to think of Loki having a friend that was actually likeable.
He rarely did like those Loki claimed to be friends. Most people, if you could call half of them that, were strange and cruel. Some were barely steps up from being creatures with their scaled faces and hooked talons or the look of something just wrong being on them. He disliked the latter the most as they looked almost normal but just had the sense of something terribly wrong, a madness or a deep bloodlust that even Aesir found disturbing.
Loki's friend was almost Asgardian in features if not for his diminutive frame which made Thor almost alarmed that he would hurt him should he clasp his shoulder in greeting. Thor found himself considering what Anthony may be quite often. He had a colour scheme of browns from his short (rather shocking) hair which was cut close to his skull was dark and brown. The cropped hair was confusing as it was typically the sign of servants but he held himself like royalty. His eyes were interesting, they held knowledge and cutting sharp edge that was so rarely seen in brown eyes. Brown eyes tended to admit a warm earthiness and it strange to see them so apparently piercing.
Anthony must be a great and powerful warrior as well as a talented craftsman and blacksmith. Loki tended to seek out other magic users, a cowardly and womanly craft but Loki was suited to it in way most Asgardians were not so it was permitted. At last Loki had found and brought back a warrior. It was a good sign.
But where did this realm of Stark Awesomeness lie?
