I'm baaaack!
Weow, who's ready for the second part of this adventure?!
Before we begin I wanted to share this quote from TOM HIDDLESTON(got your attention didn't I? ;)) on how he describes Loki's mindset at the end of Thor.
When you see Loki let go of that spear at the end of Thor, he lets go of Asgard, he lets go of Asgard and his need for that place and his attachment and need for the affection and respect of Odin and his brother. As he disappears in that wormhole, that's a literal way of saying, 'I'm done. Asgard is gone and I have other things to do. At the beginning of The Avengers, you see the beginnings of what Loki is planning and if he doesn't belong in Asgard, where might he belong? In that tragic place of confusion of 'Where do I belong in this universe?' Loki's answer is 'I will make myself belong,' which is dark and menacing and dangerous.
I thought it was perfect as that is how I plan for Loki to be in this story. A little dark and uncaring to anything that doesn't follow his selfish plan, but at the same time just looking for belonging.
Also, I chose the title One More Night after the Maroon 5 song. It suits this story perfectly. Read the lyrics to it if you don't know them.
So here is the first chapter! :D
Hylda dodge another income blow as she leapt into the air to avoid another kick. She twisted her body midair, throwing her fist into her opponent's back. As she landed on her hands the Asgardian twisted again to face her attacker. Once her feet were back on the ground Hylda attempted to jump back, away from the oncoming fist, but her feet were swept out from under her. Hylda let out a growl as her back hit the hard ground. Apparently they had a different meaning than she did for the term 'one-on-one'.
Swinging her legs to the side, Hylda knocked down the newcomer. She grabbed their shoulder as they stumbled to hoist herself to a standing position. She brought her knee to the person's gut just as the other person yanked her back by her shoulders. Hylda landed a punch in the person's gut as her other arm was twisted behind her by a third opponent. The goddess launched her elbow backwards to try to shake off her captor but was unsuccessful. The other two rounded on her and Hylda managed to kick off one of them. The second landed a strong punch in her stomach. The opponent behind her twisted Hylda's other arm behind her too as she doubled over.
Finally feeling fed up Hylda closed her eyes as she took a deep breath.
Hylda curled her fingers into fists and torn her arms away from her captor with all her strength. She let out a short yell as her body expelled a burst of energy. The three around her were launched backwards a short distance, each giving a grunt as their bodies hit the floor.
Placing her hands on her knees, the goddess took a moment to steady her breathing before straightening. Hylda brushed the strands of hair that had come loose from her pony tail out of her face. She grinned as she looked around the room.
"Not fair" Clint Barton grumbled, rolling over onto his back. This only made Hylda laugh.
"Yeah" Maria Hill added as she got up off the floor. "This was supposed to be hand-to-hand only training."
"It was also supposed to be one-on-one" Hylda replied. "But Clint and Natasha clearly don't know the meaning of that."
Natasha Romanoff rolled her eyes as she walked over to help Clint up. "That's what would have happened in reality thought" the redhead remarked. "When the enemy doesn't play fair, neither do you."
Maria walked over and playfully punched Hylda in the arm. "Next time I'll use some of my secret skills and kick your ass."
"Like your ability so make any food you touch uneatable?" Clint called.
Maria glared at the blonde and Hylda laughed again. "That's no secret Clint," she replied. "Everyone knows Maria can't cook for shit."
The brunette was about to retort when Agent Coulson walked into the training room. "Agent Hill, the director needs you. As for Agent Romanoff, your plan is about to leave."
The women nodded as Coulson turned to leave, Maria right behind him.
"I should go too, I have watch duty again" Clint said.
Hylda looked up to the ceiling of the training room. "I think I'll stay here for a bit longer. Let me know how my baby's doing Clint, and good luck on the mission Natasha."
He chuckled at her. Hylda had begun working closely with Dr. Selvig on the Tesseract. The blue box reminded her of the casket on Asgard. It made her feel more at home, to sense another form of magical energy. The moment she started examining it they began getting positive reactions data from it. Erik joked it must have been her motherly touch, and since then she had referred to it as her baby.
"Sure, later Hy."
Hylda smiled at the pair as they left. Natasha nodded in return, her eyes displaying a little warmth towards the Asgardian. She wasn't very close with Agent Romanoff, but she respected her as an agent. The woman was talented and had a strong will, which Hylda could appreciate. While Natasha very standoffish when they had first met, she was slightly kinder to her now. She treated Hylda the same as she did any other agent of SHEILD, which wasn't necessarily the nicest, but it was all Hylda could ask for. She knew the agent had been wary of her powers before and didn't trust Hylda the first year she was with SHEILD. She couldn't blame her though; Hylda's appearance on Earth wasn't prime timing. To this day Hylda was sure that Natasha wasn't one hundred percent comfortable with her abilities, especially having honed them over the past two years.
Hylda groaned as she rolled her head back. She felt ridiculously stiff after having sat in such an uncomfortable metal chair for so long. Not to mention that the stark white walls were giving her a headache. She understood why SHIELD separated Cal and her, and for assuming they were initially a threat. Loki did destroy one of their towns, hours before their arrival. However, she did continuously plea that she meant no harm and that she wasn't a threat yet they still tossed her around like a sack of dung.
Unconsciously she rubbed her slightly bruised wrists. A cold redheaded woman had bound her hand while she was being transported to this facility. Needless to say she wasn't gentle. She was even rough when she blindfolded her. At first the Asgardian thought she could appeal to the woman, send her positive energy to prove she wasn't a threat. No such luck.
She had looked so disgusted and mortified when she had gone through Hylda's belongings and found Loki's book. Clearly she was never one to believe in 'magic' as a child.
Hylda's head snapped forwards as the door in front of her opened. A tall man in a black coat walked in. Was he wearing a patch over his eye…? Behind him came the cold redhead from before.
"Now before we get to business let me make one thing perfectly clear" the man said as he stood in front of Hylda, "you are unrestrained because we have word from a source that you were close to Thor. However, do not think for a second that should you prove to be a threat I will hesitate in taking you out… because I won't. Got it?"
She nodded.
"Good. Now let's talk about why you people have a habit of coming to my planet unannounced…"
Hylda debated on lying to Director Fury that day, but she knew that Thor would one day return for Jane and when that day came she would have a lot of explaining to do. So she opted to tell Fury everything except her relationship with Loki. She merely said that they were friends, which was more than the other considered him, and that's why he didn't try to kill her like the others. She told him that she had been a distraction so that the others could come to earth to get Thor then tried to lay low and not raise Loki's suspicious. It kind of explained why she wasn't with the others when they came to earth and why Loki hadn't killed her.
She had been confused by how much the Director knew about Thor and her friends, but realized quickly that Jane must be the 'source' he spoke of.
As to why she left Asgard, Hylda confessed that she felt the loss of her friend more so than the others. She also mentioned how she lost her second in command, someone who had been as close as family to her, leaving her to feel very lost and alone. That part was very true. Since the moment Hylda's feet landed on Earth, the goddess felt like a part of her was missing. She couldn't feel Eir's constant energy like she used too. If she delved deep into herself she could feel the Valkyries, which were surprising still under her command, but she couldn't feel Eir. It made her truly feel lost. She was alone in Midgard, as she was barely familiar with her travel partner Cal.
That was two years ago.
Hylda had moved on from her days in Asgard, and was now one of SHIELD's top agents. It wasn't easy but Hylda had tried her hardest to gain the agents' trust and respect. While she was adequate friends with Clint, Hylda was closer with Agent Maria Hill. Being Fury's top agent, after Coulson, Maria was assigned to watch over and eventually train Hylda. While she was wary of her at first like Natasha, Maria eventually realized that the goddess provided no threat and wanted nothing more than a place to belong. A couple months later Maria and Hylda were partners on multiple missions. Hylda was one of the few who could say that she say the Maria Hill beyond the Agent persona she put on every day.
The two agents were close, but the role of Hylda's 'best friend' on Midgard went to Ms. Pepper Potts.
It all started when Hylda wanted to advance her training to more 'Asgardian' standards. After countless hours of begging and groveling at Fury's feet, the Director finally allowed Hylda to practice her 'magic'. The man seemed to realize that should there be another attack from outside Earth's atmosphere it wouldn't hurt to have a little fire power that was 'out of this world' as well. Then came the issue of where Hylda would practice. While the SHEILD facilities were well equipped it was not quite enough to sustain the damage that the goddess could accidently cause. She also needed something to practice on and she didn't want to use agents (no matter how tempted Fury was).
Tony Stark was the answer.
Having built all his suits in his own home, Tony's lab was used to explosions and disaster. Stark manor also had the greatest security system there was, Jarvis. With an area capable of enduring a good beating and a system to keep a watchful eye on SHEILD's newest member, Tony's home was the perfect solution. Hylda had insisted on going with Coulson to ask Stark to use his lab, although to Fury is was more like demanding that she be allowed to use it. After Tony gleefully rubbing it in that he had something SHIELD did not and that they needed his help he finally agreed. Naturally Tony interrupted Hylda all the time, constantly curious about her and her abilities. That led to Pepper constantly scolding him and apologizing. After a while the couple started asking her to join them for lunch or dinner, even to stay the night.
It was then that Hylda realized that to Tony and Pepper she wasn't something 'odd'. Despite earning her status in SHEILD and the respect of most of the organizations top agents, Hylda still got weird looks and vibes from people. It was similar to that on Asgard. She was different, and they didn't like that. However with Tony and Pepper, Hylda was normal. She wasn't a Goddess, she wasn't some freak with magical power, she wasn't even a SHEILD agent. She was just a friend. Needless to say Hylda grab onto that friendship with a death grip and refused to let it go. She had failed her friends once before, she wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
Pepper and Hylda's relationship grew until one night, when Hylda confessed everything. She told Pepper every detail about her life on Asgard from her childhood to her relationship with Loki. The goddess told her every emotion she felt, and how confused she had been. She explained her guilt towards her friends and Loki. She wasn't sure why, but Hylda felt the need to tell someone her story. Her complete story. It felt good to get it all off her chest, to allow someone to see her life completely and hold nothing back. For once Hylda didn't hide anything. The best part was that Pepper didn't judge. She seemed to completely understand Hylda. Pepper Potts was the greatest woman Hylda had ever met. After living with Tony Stark for so long, Pepper had become tolerant of people's flaws.
Hylda was content with her life once again. She missed Asgard, but she knew deep down that she had to leave. She hoped to one day see her friends and her home again, but for now she was happy with her life of Midgard.
Thus it begins!
Nothing too exciting, just setting the stage for the action to begin ;) I didn't want to make it too fluffy and all Hyldas-friends- with-everyone-yay-sunshine-rainbows, but I feel like when the world isn't being attack SHEILD is like any other job. You have co-works, some like you and some don't. So I wanted to show a general acquaintance with SHIELD top dogs.
I also thought it was important to give Hylda someone she can really trust. As much as I love Maria Hill, she is too close with Fury to keep Hylda's past a secret and Natasha is a bitch :P I don't hate her… but she's not the friendliest of characters lol This also gives Hylda a support group when Loki comes and blows her happy life to shit ;P
Please review and let me know what you think!