Wait no longer, my friends! The sequel to Ebony is now up! I can't guarantee a solid update schedule, at least nothing like I did at the beginning of Ebony (Chapter a day), due mostly to the fact that Ebony was 70% done when I started posting and this story has only about 3/4 chapters written. Maaaybe, once a week? At least until my word count is increased...
Anyway, hope you enjoy, ya'll! Let the adventure begin anew~
Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers or any characters associated with them.
Space and light contorted around the four in a blurry haze. Walking across the invisible path was like pushing through a giant bowl of jell-o. Breathing came harder, but not significantly enough to pose an issue. It was as if they were walking through a tunnel that spanned all of space and time, though directly around them it was fuzzy and unclear, brilliantly colored shapes glowed far beyond the pressing walls.
This way of travel was nothing like the Bifrost.
It hadn't been long since they had pushed through the portal in Tony's basement and into this place. Loki led them, followed by Thor and Natasha, with Clint tagging behind. The trickster's hand was held forward, the malleable walls contorting around them. There was no ground to walk on, but they felt as if they walked on solid cement despite the flexible walls around them. Sparks of green occasionally jumped from Loki's extended hand, morphing into green tendrils when they made contact with the blurry walls, and racing down passed them with a bright shimmer.
Clint pushed his hand out, feeling the wall slowly give way to morph around his outstretched hand. The hazy, translucent surface transitioned to a soft white glow before changing to purple at the edges. Carefully, the archer walked on, dragging his hand through the substance curiously. The white and purple followed, each passing second he walked intensifying the thrum against his chest.
"Don't do that," snapped Loki, his voice reverberating within his head.
Instinctively, the archer ripped his hand out of the wall and back to his side. He could barely hear Natasha chuckle at his movement within his mind. He looked up innocently at the trickster leading them, only to meet glaring emerald eyes.
"You'd rip a whole in the universe if I wasn't here," he muttered, turning back to the path none of them could see and moving on.
It had quickly become apparent in this place between realms, that they were unable to properly speak to each other. Loki had briskly explained how to communicate by 'broadcasting' the thoughts they wanted the others to hear.
It had also quickly become apparent that this action required much self restraint to keep all of their thoughts from being blasted into the realm for all to hear. As it was, that was why they remained so quiet. They were all focusing on keeping their thoughts within their heads. Thor most of all seemed to be concentrating the most, as he had yet to say a word. Though this was the case, the two assassins seemed to learn how to guard their minds far quicker than Loki had anticipated.
"Have you done this a lot?" Natasha asked warily, tracing the moving shapes beyond the pliable barrier with her eyes.
"…yes, far too often. It is remarkable no one noticed how often I disappeared," he replied after a moment.
"I always thought you were in the library," echoed Thor's voice. The thunderer seemed surprised. As if he hadn't meant for that to be heard. Loki snorted humorously at the Asgardian's expression and pushed onwards, unfazed by the confession.
Hawk like eyes followed a streak of light that passed the wall, ignoring the conversation that reverberated through his head. He wondered if the others could see the planets and stars as vividly as he could. Though they were blurry and contorted due to the translucent wall, he couldn't help but find the world outside the barrier beautiful.
Left with his own guarded thoughts and the morphing scenery about him, Clint wondered if he had made the right decision in going to Asgard. What consequences would his impulsive choice bring? Fury, for one, would be…well, furious. He certainly would not take kindly to what he would assume to be the kidnapping of his two best agents. Though the archer did not doubt his fellow Avengers to explain the circumstances, he didn't doubt that the director wouldn't hear any of it.
And what if he never returned to his home? What if this journey would prove far more dangerous than he could ever imagine? He supposed there wasn't much he was leaving behind. After all, the most important thing had come with him.
That was one comfort in this ordeal. If he and Natasha were in Asgard, then Isabelle wouldn't be able to find them. If she couldn't find them, then she would get frustrated. Frustration often leads to desperation and desperation leaves one open to making a mistake. All she had to do was slip up once and the two assassins would return to Midgard to be greeted with the knowledge that the vengeance seeking woman was either in their custody or dead.
Clint smiled to himself. That was a comforting prospect indeed.
As they continued to steadily move forward, ripples of green below their feet the only indication they were travelling on safe ground, a white dot in the distance steadily grew brighter. The closer they moved, the more its brightness intensified.
"Is that it?" Clint ventured a guess, pressing against the pliable wall to see past the others in front of him.
"Yes," Loki answered, "That's the other side of the gateway."
Moving faster now that the ending was in sight, the four pushed against the malleable walls, eager to be in the open realms where their breathing wasn't so suppressed and the walls did not constantly contort around and against them.
The white hot light grew to the point to where they could barely look at it, but they pressed onwards, guided by the green streaks that shot through the light in the direction they ought to go.
When Loki reached it, eyes shut, he pressed his palm against the spot where a door knob would've gone and let a green glow spread around his hand to web across the white light's surface. The green veins were cracking by the time the other three were there, revealing bright green Asgardian scenery beyond.
Sucking in a breath, Loki grunted and pushed against the wall. It shattered under his hand, scattering the white light and unveiling the realm of Asgard in full view.
"Let's go," he stated simply, pushing through the malleable wall, his companions on his heel.
A stark white line cut through the open air in Asgard, hidden away in a clearing near the edge of the forest. It hummed for a moment before parting down the middle and slowly expanding. The line webbed across the air as if it were against an invisible wall, each vein parting to reveal warped, contorting space.
As the line increased its width, a green and black clad figure pushed through the pliable membrane that covered the opening. He drew in sharp breath, then a longer, deeper one, as if he hadn't breathed in a while. Another figure quickly followed suit, but stumbled into the realm with far less grace than the one before. Two more came after, their entrance more akin to the first than the second.
"Where are we?" Clint asked aloud, surprised at the state of his voice after their jaunt through space and time.
The portal closing behind them with a bright flash, Loki answered, eyes tracing the landscape, "The edge of the forest a few miles outside of the city of Asgard."
"Alright then," Natasha muttered, knowing the information was of little help to them in a world they had never seen.
"Something is not right," Thor said, worry creasing his tone. "It's too cold."
Loki bit his lip, creasing his brow. "Let's move," he murmured, pushing passed the foliage in a manner that heavily suggested he had done so in the past.
The two assassins and the trickster moved quickly and quietly through the brush, as was their nature, but Thor lagged behind somewhat as he lacked the stealth that let them so swiftly tear through the thick underbrush. Annoyance shined on his face at being so easily outdone b y his companions, but he spoke nothing of it, instead hastening his gait and in the process throwing aside any stealth he could muster.
Stealth wasn't necessary, anyway. It just came naturally to the others.
Their trek lasted only a few minutes, in which the sun reached its peak in the sky and slowly began its journey downward to give way to night's ebony. Loki pulled aside a large fern, revealing a grassy hill that sloped steadily upwards, hiding away the view beyond. The three following him filed out and the trickster trailed them as they each clambered up the hill overlooking a large body of water.
When they all reached the top, the thrum against Loki's chest skipped a beat before increasing in speed, growing wild and frightened. He mentally growled, wishing for it to calm itself lest he himself grow anxious beyond what he could manage. Faintly, he could feel Clint's magic flutter restlessly.
"Oh, no," Thor whispered.
Loki blew out a long deep breath, running a hand through unkempt hair.
"Oh, no, indeed," he muttered.
Far on the horizon, standing tall, gleaming, golden, and proud, laid the city of Asgard, the far side encased in frost and ice. A pain filled scream echoed faintly through the air and across the landscape.
"That doesn't look good," Clint murmured, eyes seeing things far clearer than the others. He saw more than the frost and ice. He saw the splotches of red staining the glistening crystal water.
"It is far from good," the trickster answered. His voice grew more authoritative, "We need to go. Now."
Without another word, he turned on his heel and beckoned the others to follow. Fear sparked in his heart, momentarily smothering the thrum against his chest, but he forced it back. Now was not the time for fear. Now was the time to fight.
Now that they had seen the city, they each could feel the ice in the air, how everything seemed a touch colder than it ought to be. Occasional flecks of frost were scattered from the grass as they brushed by.
"If we run all the way there we'll be too exhausted to fight by the time we get there," Natasha remarked, walking in stride with her partner.
Loki bit his lip and looked out over the rolling hills that stretched on all the way to the city. "I'll take care of it."
Lifting a hand to his mouth, he let out a long, shrill whistle that reverberated across the grassy slopes. A smile slipped on Thor's face in realization, much to both assassins' confusion.
After a moment, it seemed as if nothing had happened. Though, quite suddenly, a steady, echoing beat sounded from afar, four shapes appearing over the hill side and tearing across the landscape at a remarkable speed seemingly unmatched by anything or anyone living that Clint or Natasha had seen.
As the four figures drew nearer, their shapes becoming more and more familiar with each passing second, Thor leaned toward the assassins with a quizzical look. In a low voice, as if to not let the trickster hear, he said, "You do know how to ride a horse?"
"Yes."
"No."
"What?" Clint asked, dumbfounded. "You don't know how to ride a horse, Nat?"
The spy shrugged. "Wasn't exactly a priority, let alone an option," her olive green eyes grew teasing, "I suppose I know where you learned how, circus boy."
"Don't even start," the archer muttered, though his tone was far from condescending. "I guess you're ridin' with me."
"No need for that," Loki interrupted, turning back toward them and speaking louder as the thunder of hooves grew louder. "Skuggbild is trained to follow Smaragd without instruction from the rider. You'll ride her and the Hawk will ride Smaragd."
Before the partners could comment on the names or question their meaning, the four horses tore over the small hill they had been behind, cantering around the group in curiosity, whinnying about the two new companions.
Loki clicked his tongue twice and a brown and black horse trotted up to him excitedly, neighing constantly. Stroking the ebony mane back, the trickster pulled himself onto the bare back of the equine and nodded to the others. Thor was already atop his own tan and white horse.
A light grey horse with bright green eyes walked around Clint, eyes surveying his rider with scrutiny. The archer rubbed his hand along the horse's nose before moving to his side and pulling himself up. He glanced back to check on his partner.
A black horse with streaks of dark grey flecked through her mane nudged Natasha expectantly. The spy pursed her lips, but after observing the other three clamber aboard their own horses, she easily mimicked them and was atop Skuggbild.
Nodding to her partner to signal she was ready, Clint smirked, hands gripped tightly in the grey mane of Smaragd. Ahead, the two Asgardians both whooped, one much louder than the other, and took off across the grass lands.
Kicking his horse lightly, Smaragd reared up, neighing loudly and bright green eyes watching his rider carefully. Clint grunted, having not ridden a horse in a long while and being unused to the sudden movement. He adjusted quickly, much to the equine's delight, who settled back down and immediately began tearing across the countryside, catching up to the others despite their head start.
Clint glanced behind him, smiling back at his partner clinging to Skuggbild's mane tightly. The archer almost laughed at the sight, but choked it down at the withering glare directed at him.
Within moments, the four were all riding within a meter or two of each other, each pushing their respective steed to outrun the others. Except Natasha. Natasha was content to watch the boys battle it out from behind while her mare followed the stallion her partner was mounted upon.
She found it exhilarating. Never in her life had she truly wanted to ride a horse, not like all the other little girls. She'd never gotten the chance. She'd only been taught how to kill and killing usually did not involve a horse.
Needless to say, however, this experience was far more exciting than she had ever thought. The wind tore around her at a speed she'd only felt it at in a car, but this was so different! The way the horse bobbed up and down, the wind tearing through her hair, throwing it into a frenzy of unorganized chaos, and the jeers of her companions ahead as they teased each other on their riding skills.
It was good to have this moment; to forget what was to come; because she was sure what was to come would have them envying this moment. Nothing would be as simple as they initially assumed, she was sure. She hated how life worked like that sometimes, but there was little she could do of it. She and Clint had made their decision to aid Loki and now there was no way of going back.
Choices had been made that could no longer be altered. Little did they know of the cost of those choices.
As the sun continued its descent, giving way to the shadows of night and the bright, colorful lights sprinkled across the nightscape, the four galloped across the plains of Asgard. Each step brought them closer to the towering golden spires, some coated in frost. Each step brought them closer to the screams in the city, in turn sobering their moods with each hoof beat. Each step brought them closer to the beginning of a new adventure.
A new adventure that was about to impact them more than they ever could have imagined.
The burning white light shined on for several seconds, even after Clint, Natasha, Thor, and Loki had all passed through it. Tony was about to shout a sarcastic comment about not having to light his basement anymore before it suddenly vanished with a bright flash, the constant ringing ending abruptly alongside it.
Blinking away the spots floating in their vision, the gathered group of five tentatively lowered their hands. Shock stole their expressions as they surveyed what had been seconds before an enormous gateway to another realm, but had been quickly reduced to a mere crack in the wall. It was so miniscule, so easy to pass over; no one could ever imagine what the little fissure truly held within it.
A minute or two passed as everyone stared blankly at the wall, half expecting it to suddenly burst open once more, but no such thing happened. One by one, they each blinked the daze from their eyes, as if it had all been a dream.
"Well," Bruce mutter, interrupting the silence, "now what?"
"We wait?" Steve offered with a shrug. "There's not much else we can do."
"Ugh, I hate waiting!" Tony groaned, leaning his head back into his hands.
Pepper rolled her eyes, murmuring a quiet, "I can vouch for that," before clearing her throat. "No use waiting in the garage," she said, with a smile, walking towards the elevator they had bypassed in favor of racing down the stairs. The racing didn't seem as appealing without the two resident record holders.
Slowly, the others followed, though Jane lingered the longest, staring blankly at the wall for another minute before a hand touched her shoulder. She jumped out of her stupor, swinging her head around to meet bright blue eyes.
"You okay?" Steve asked, concern for the young woman lacing his tone.
She nodded with a forlorn smile. "I'm fine," she whispered, though her tone spoke far more, betraying what she truly felt.
So close had she been to be being with her beau. So close had she been to travelling his realm alongside the thunderer. She had been so close, even now she stood next to the portal that he had walked through mere minutes before, and yet he was now so far away. She could only hope and pray he would return for her again, and this time, with no pesky tagalongs to interfere.
It wasn't that she didn't like Loki. He had definitely grown on her, but he inadvertently caused more trouble than ought to be possible for a single man.
Though the soldier caught the inconsistency between her words and her tone, he said nothing of it, instead choosing to escort her to the elevator where the rest of the group waited patiently. Except for Tony. Tony wasn't good at patience.
"We could just leave them!" the billionaire whined, sounding much like an impatient child.
"Tony," Pepper warned, sounding much like a frustrated parent, "It's a good hundred floors up to the living area and this elevator isn't exactly turbo. They'd be better off taking the stairs."
The genius, however, had ignored the second part of the CEO's statement. "Fine, then I'll add 'make elevators turbo' to my to-do list."
"Is that above or below 'go to important board meeting this weekend?'"
"There's a board meeting?"
Pepper made an exasperated noise, rubbing her forehead with her hand and trying to ignore the growing, amused smirk on her beau's face. Bruce chuckled lightly from behind them, leaning casually against the back of the spacious elevator.
Before Tony could continue speaking, Steve and Jane both walked in the lift, thankful for how large it was built. The astrophysicist seemed to cling to the wall as the lift began to rise, Pepper having directed it to the correct floor. The CEO scrutinized who was now the only other female in the tower. She seemed so forlorn now, but also seemed a bit…scared?
She realized then why Jane had hung back, staring at the crack in the wall. Jane's beau, probably the only male friend she had had besides Erik, had passed through a portal through which he could possibly never return. Pepper couldn't imagine what that could've been like, despite Tony passing through a portal he almost didn't come back out of. In a way, she was glad she hadn't been there to see that.
But Jane? This was different for her. Tony had exited the portal not long after he had entered it, leaving little time to worry about what occurred on the other side, even if he returned unconscious. Thor, however, left without any knowledge of what new danger could be lurking on the other side, and it was not as if he would be returning as soon as the billionaire had.
Pepper decided to confront the astrophysicist regarding her plight. Hopefully she could be a friend where Jane didn't have one. Maybe Jane would stay at the tower, even, and not return to New Mexico. After all, the portal was here.
Torn from her musings as the elevator dinged, sliding open, Pepper exited, following close behind Jane. Tony immediately began to walk to his high tech computer.
"Waiting, peh," he muttered. Clapping his hands together, he raised his voice, "Alright, Capsicle was asleep for seventy years and Jolly Green has been more reclusive than should be humanly possible, so I'm guessing you're both movie deprived. Cap, you make popcorn. Brucie, you make sure he doesn't blow everything up. I'll find something suitable for us all to watch and Pep-Pepper, where are you going?"
The aforementioned was halfway up the stairs, trying in vain to stealthily follow Jane. Stealth wasn't easily achieved around someone like Tony Stark.
"I'll skip the movie for now, Tony. Maybe later."
Tony's face fell somewhat, but he recovered quickly. "Alright, just means we can skip your favorite chick flicks," he said mostly to himself.
As the billionaire began to ramble on again, wondering aloud if watching Point Break without Thor would be a good idea and which movie would make the assassins regret leaving them behind, Pepper blocked out his blathering and sprinted up the carpeted stairs to catch up with the despondent astrophysicist.
"Jane!" she called as she reached the floor Jane had been residing in since she had flown there. The scientist looked back from where she was halfway through the door. She threw the CEO a halfhearted smile, beckoning her inside.
Striding into the room, hued in white and soft blues, Pepper leaned casually in the doorway. Jane had perched herself on the back of the couch, watching the sun descend past the horizon, giving way to the shadows of night. A storm appeared to be brewing on the edges of the sky.
Pepper walked further into the room, settling down next to her newfound friend. "You gonna be alright?
Sighing with a longsuffering tone, Jane turned back to the woman beside her. "Yeah," she muttered.
Narrowing her eyes in concern, Pepper pushed on, "No…you're not."
Jane scoffed with a smile, but did not deny it. Water could barely be seen in the corner of her eyes, but she wiped it away before it could fall.
"You want to talk about it?" the CEO continued, scooting closer.
She bit her lip, chewing on it as she mulled over her thoughts. Finally, Jane seemed to give in to her need to vent and began to talk quickly and almost incoherently.
"Well, it's just Thor and I love each other, but he's come back twice now after our first meeting and neither time were for me…like he had promised," she started, tumbling over her words as she spoke. "I understand the Bifrost was destroyed so there was no feasible way for him to get here without endangering all the realms and after that he couldn't stay long enough for me to meet up with him to even say 'hi' because he had to take Loki back. Then, this time, I got to spend the week with him, but he wasn't here to return for me like he said he would, it was because of Loki, again, and…"
She trailed off, covering her face and wiping her eyes again. After a moment, she continued, "I know he was going to take me to Asgard just now, but since there's trouble he didn't want me to get hurt, but I just feel like he's... forgotten me, I guess.
All the while, Pepper attentively listened, rubbing a hand along her friend's back. It had been a long while since she had to be a comforter for a friend. Natasha never would have displayed her emotions like this, convinced it was an act of weakness. She had never needed comforting. No one in the tower had, not from the CEO at least.
Mulling over what best to say to the distraught woman, Pepper began slowly, "I know it may be hard at times to stick with him…and you may have your doubts about him, but he'll come around. Tony and I have had our rough patches, mainly his fault, mind you, but we've made it through. Thor is enamored with you, Jane. I'm sure he'll come back for you, just you, as soon as he can."
Jane relaxed somewhat under her hand, her tears fading. She swallowed thickly. "Thanks," she whispered, smiling weakly, but brightly. "I haven't had anyone to vent to like that in a long time."
Pepper smirked, "Well, I'll be here for whenever you need it, on the condition that you'll let me vent to you about Tony, of course."
The scientist laughed, the traces of her worry dispersing at the sound. "Guess I'll have to stay at the tower for that, huh?" her smile widened at Pepper's confirming nod. "Well, deal."
Shaking their hands in affirmation, the CEO pulled Jane off the couch, beckoning her to follow her out of the room. "C'mon, they've probably already started the movie."
Thankful for her new friend, as well as the others down the stairs just as willing to share that privilege, and the new much less lonely living arrangements, Jane sighed contently before following the Pepper's hurrying form. Thor might be gone, for now, but with what he had left her with, it couldn't be that hard to wait a little while.
Could it?
*gasp*
What could possibly be the cause of the frost? Hmmmmm...
I wanted to put a cryptic poem at the beginning, but couldn't think of one.
Thanks for reading and I hope you stick around for the whole thing! ;) Reviews and constructive criticisms are always appreciated~