"Soooo…that went well." Tony drummed his fingers on the conference room table.
"Stark, if I want your opinion, I will ask for it." Fury glared, "Now, would someone care to tell me what the hell happened out there?"
"I don't know." Natasha spoke up first.
"Sir, I've never fought anything like that." Steve hesitantly let go of his arm, still not use to how quickly his wounds healed.
"They were...some kind of dog creature." Banner spoke softly. He was pacing back and forth in front of the windows, calming his nerves. He'd escaped injuries for the most part, though his head ached, as it always seemed to after letting the other guy out. He rubbed his temples, "Nothing seemed to work on them."
"And even if they went down, they were right back up again. Even when they got pulverized, they still sprang back." Clint sat still, arm bound tightly in a sling.
"So what? We're being attacked by a pack of stray dogs?" Fury narrowed his eyes, "You all withstood an alien invasion, and this is stopping you?"
Tony rolled his eyes, "Can we be done?"
"Not until we've got an answer about what is happening here. Those things are still running free! Just because they retreated for now doesn't mean they won't be back."
"But why did they retreat?" Natasha leaned back in her seat, adjusting her position as the chair hit on bruises along her back. "They had the advantage."
"A trial run," Tony shook his head, "Son of a bitch, that was just the warm up to see what we're made of."
"Thor, you're being awfully quiet," Steve glanced at his side, "You didn't get hurt, did you?"
"Oh please, point break? Hurt? Like that would ever-"
"I recognize those creatures." Thor stood up, "From legends and myths."
"...and what are they?" Banner glanced nervously to the door.
"...I have heard them called the Abatu. They...They are not of any realm I know."
Steve glanced around the room, seeing Tony already playing on his phone. "A name doesn't help us destroy them Thor. Do you know anything else? Anything?"
"I do not know much on them." Thor took a deep breath, "Loki is the one who first told me about them."
"Loki?"
The room went suddenly stiff, and Banner took an instinctive step towards the door.
"Are you saying he has something to do with this?" Fury turned his full gaze to Thor.
He shook his head, "Loki is in Asgardian prison, his powers stripped from him. He could not summon anything, let alone transport these creatures to Midgard. This is not Loki's doing." He hesitated, "But...he could perhaps give us answers."
"We are not negotiating with a criminal." Clint's fingers curled into his fist.
"I understand your worries friends, but, these creatures, they are something that he would be familiar with. He could advise us. He is eager to repent for the harm he has caused."
Steve sighed, "Thor, we just can't trust him."
"Let me speak with him. He will listen to reason."
"Yeah, cause that went really last time someone tried to reason with him." Tony muttered under his breath.
"Please, give me this chance. Loki will know about these Abatu; his information could aid us. We do not have the time to waste."
"He is right. Those things could be back any time." Steve said after several long moments.
Banner rubbed the bridge of his nose, "If we have to go to Loki for help, we are in worse shape than I thought."
"You've got one day Thor." Fury finally said.
Thor nodded, "You have my word. I will return with aid."
"Good luck there point break." Tony stood up and slapped Thor's back, "Make sure Loki knows how much we all just miss him terribly."
Thor frowned, but didn't respond before he thundered from the room.
"...Alright, can we all go pass out now? I don't know about you guys, but my everything hurts." Tony stretched, grimacing as his back popped, and the bruises that swelled against his abdomen stung even more.
"No one is to leave the base until Thor returns. Am I clear?"
Everyone slowly stood.
Steve nodded, "We will meet back here as soon as Thor returns."
Thunder boomed outside the base. Fury looked them all over before leaving the room.
"Everyone get some rest, that fight really took a lot of us." Steve closed up the room behind everyone. "Guest rooms are-"
"Yeah, yeah, we got it. Aye, aye." Tony dismissively waved his hand as he headed down the hallway towards his own room. Once Tony was in his small Shield-appointed room, he pulled his phone back out. "Jarvis, access remote camera 17. Let's see what Asgard looks like." he grinned as the phone's screen slowly flickered to life.
Rainbow colors flickered across the screen, and Tony shook the phone, but when the rainbow started to move and he could see the swish and flick of Thor's cape he settled back down.
"I'll be damned... it's a fucking rainbow. Thor lives on a rainbow." Tony settled into his chair, expanding the feed to a holographic full screen floating above his bed.
The rainbow ground and world rushed by with a low rumble, and in a few flashes of color and jerking of the camera that nearly made Tony sick, Thor came to a stop again.
"Father." Thor's voice was calm, "I must speak with Loki."
"The creatures attacking Midgard?" A deeper voice aged with time answered, and Tony cursed the little video bug being on Thor's back so he couldn't see who was speaking.
"You know? …Of course you do. Yes, I believe the Abatu are attacking Midgard. Do you know what is summoning them?"
The other man hmmed, "It is something between worlds. Something in the void where not even Heimdell's eyes can see."
"I believe Loki needs to come to Midgard with me father. My allies, they fight valiantly, but I fear this battle will be lost if we cannot find the source of this dark magic."
"Thor, Loki is dangerous, to bring him back to Midg-"
"We can bargain with him. Allow him a piece of his power back to him when he rids Midgard of this new trouble."
"Bargain with Loki? That is a contract writ in blood and chaos. You would do as well to try to keep the wind captured Thor, you know that as well as I." He sighed heavily, "And what then? With his powers restored what is to stop him?" The man sighed, "Thor, I would not put you in the position to have to fell your brother."
"I do not have a brother any longer."
"Family runs deeper than blood Thor. You and Loki will always be brothers whether you claim it or not. Your fates are tied together at the very roots of Yggdrasil and there is nothing that can break that thread." the man spoke softly, "I will let you choose the path to take with this Thor. Prove yourself. You know where Loki's cell is; the guards will not stop you."
"Thank you Father." Thor turned to leave and Tony finally got a glimpse of the war and time ravaged man sitting on a golden throne.
The man held up a hand, "And Thor?"
"Yes father?"
"Speak with your mother before you decide. She wishes to see you."
"I will," Thor promised before walking away from the man on the throne.
"Thor's dad is a god version of Fury…" Tony muttered, "Fucking eye patches…" he shook his head, "I swear if his mother looks like Hill…"
He pushed a notification that Pepper was calling off the screen, "Jarvis ignore until video feed is over."
"Are you certain sir?"
"Yes Jarvis." He had to look away through the cascade of colors and the jerking of the camera clinging to Thor's cape, closing his eyes until he heard a soft knock and then a woman's voice. Slender arms wrapped around Thor, blocking the camera and Tony held his breath that his little camera bug would stay in place. He let out a long sigh when she let go of Thor and stepped back. "I did not think you would be home so soon."
"There is trouble on Midgard."
"Oh? Did you come to your father for aid?"
Thor coughed, "I spoke with father, but I cam here for Loki."
Tony heard the woman take in a sharp breath, "Thor, the sentencing is already done. You cannot-"
"I do not come to end him," Thor's tone was softer than Tony had ever heard it before.
"I know what Loki has done is…reprehensible, but he is your brother."
"No he is not."
Her voice dropped, "He is my son. No matter his crimes, no matter the blood that runs in his veins, he is my son just as you are my son during the good and the bad."
"He has attempted genocide of the Jotuns, and brought death to Midgard." Thor's words sounded rehearsed and Tony suddenly wondered how many times Thor had, had to tell himself that.
"Do you remember when you were young and your arm was caught by a bilgesnipe's horn?"
Thor sighed, "I do recall it mother, and Loki helped aid me, saved my life. I remember, but Loki is no longer that child, he is a mons-"
"He drew the poison from your wound, and now, we must draw the poison from him. Something poisons his mind. Since you were sent to Midgard, there is something twisted that has entwined itself in his heart. Something darker and colder than any Jotun winter."
The cape shifted, and Thor turned for the door. "Mother, I do not intend to bring harm to Loki, I seek his aid, but I do not think what is between us can be healed."
The beautiful blonde woman appeared on Tony's screen, and sagged into an old chair with a heavy sigh. "Be safe my son… and keep your brother safe."
Thor didn't respond, and the camera bounced wildly through various colored halls and doorways. For a moment, Tony felt guilty about intruding on this, on Thor's private life, but Loki was dangerous, and the more intel he had, the better in dealing with the crazed god.
He looked up when Thor's cape stopped moving, and the camera fell silent, nothing but a stone wall facing the camera.
And then that familiar voice that still haunted his dreams from time to time cracked the silence. "You must be truly desperate to come to me for help."
Tony was almost grateful the backwards-facing camera did not pick up the image of the lanky man. He wasn't sure he was ready to see that again, the face of the man who had brought war to his front door.
"You know why I come to you?"
"Because your beloved Midgard is burning and you cannot stop it."
The camera shifted and Tony could almost taste Thor's unease. "The Abatu are appearing."
"Ah, and that is outside of your powers is it not?" Tony could hear the smirk in Loki's voice, "Why would I aid you when all I have to do to watch your precious Earth burn is nothing?"
"In exchange for your aid, your powers will be returned to you."
"My powers fully restored?"
"…half restored."
"Hm…a pity that a half-cast spell does no harm."
"Will you accept this offer?"
"All of my powers returned. I can fight nothing without my full strength."
"…All of them restored." Thor said slowly, "Once you have proved yourself."
Loki chuckled, "Are you prepared to pay that price?"
"No!" Tony yelled at the screen.
"Your powers will only be restored once the threat to Midgard is resolved. Until then you will have no offensive powers and not be able to inflict harm on any living creature."
"Ah, now the mighty Thor tries to tighten the reigns." Loki mused, "Pain is so very delicate …Far too delicate for such broad restrictions. No offensive skills unless I am provoked or defending myself. That is fair, is it not?"
Thor slowly nodded, "But you will not kill any Midgardians."
"I will not use magic to harm a soul."
"…You agree to these terms then?" Thor shifted again.
"Do you agree to my terms?"
Thor sighed softly, "Yes. When you exit the cell the deal will be done. We will travel to the bifrost, and return to Midgard…. There is one more thing." He turned his back to the cell, and Tony pushed from the screen before looking again. The slim, pale devil was leaning casually against the wall of his glass-enclosed cell, legs stretched out in front of him. His hair was longer, and greasy, and his clothes were plain, no overly complicated armor and leather padding. There was a soft click and the glass began to slide down into the floor. Tony was transfixed by Loki. He didn't look like the same man who had tried to take over Earth. He was so… thin, almost transparently pale. He looked like something from a hospital ward, not a crazy homicidal maniac.
"You should know that when you betray me, I will kill you." Thor kept his voice steady.
Tony leaned closer to the screen as too bright green eyes flickered up straight into Tony's camera. Something like relief flickered briefly over Loki's features before a slow Cheshire smile curved his lips.
"When do we start?"
The image faded until there was nothing but static over a flickering black abyss.
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