Hello! i decided to add this story here too, because while the present time develops in the avengers arc, most of the memories and events of the past that are important are pre-thor or are what happened in the movie with a twist. like i said many times before, english isn't my firts lenguage so excuse me if there are some mistakes with the times and all that. if any one is up to be my beta reader, just PM please.

Now enjoy!

''thoughts''

memories or flash backs


At the gates of Hel I wait.

For the day you sought me

Ready for what in the other side awaits

-0-

''My, my, look who we have here! Starky!'' said someone at his back. A young Tony cursed under his breath and turned around, knowing exactly who he was to find.

''Don't call me that!'' he hissed at a tall and very attractive young man, who just smirked in response. He had lightly tanned skin, inky black hair and pale green eyes. The young man was wearing an expensive black three piece suit with a white shirt and had his somewhat long black hair –it reached just beneath his ears- combed back neatly.

''Sorry Anthony, but it was you who began with the nicknames''

''Yeah, but the one I gave you are not so bad! And it's Tony!'' He said and his companion just laughed some more and waved his hand in a dismissing manner ''Tch…you're impossible, Mischief''

The green eyed man looked at him and arched an eyebrow clearly amused ''the pot calling the kettle black''

Tony snickered at that '' Anyway…what happened to your hair? It looks good but I know that you like to have it longer''

''Well Anthony, you see this is-''

''Payback'' completed someone from their side. His voice smooth like the finest velvet. Startled, Tony and Mischief jumped a little, because neither of them sensed or heard him approaching them before.

''Damn it! I swear one of these days you will give me a heart attack if you continue to appear like that. You're like a ninja, Hell'' Their new companion -now identified as Hell- chuckled and Tony turned to look at him with the intention of rant some more, but at the sight of him all that he could do was stand there, a little shocked. He faintly could hear Mischief snicker at his side at his reaction, but for the love of God! it was a perfectly normal reaction when your friend looks like that.

''Err, your hair...This is Mischief fault right?''

''Yes'' Hell answered annoyed and passed a hand through his long hair '' and that's why I cut his!'' Tony could see the amusement dancing in his poisonous green eyes and rolled his exasperated ''you guys are so childish sometimes''

''he started! And he perfectly know that I can give as good as I get'' said Hell looking at the other green eyed man.

''but it looks cool, right? And he totally pulls it off!'' said Mischief grinning and Tony couldn't help it but agree with him. Hell really pulled it off, he was sure that if the victim of the prank was someone else, like himself for example. He would look ridiculous ''not like an ethereal creature of another world in an Armani'' Tony thought and he must have said it out laud because Mischief bursted out laughing and Hell snorted.

'' and that's the only reason why you escaped this lightly, Sváss!''Said Hell. He was a tall man, with broad shoulders and swimmer body built. He was taller and a few years older than Tony and Mischief, but not by much. He had poison green eyes framed by thick and dark eyelashes, light skin and light long mid-back silver –used to be black— hair, which was left loose and framed his face nicely. To pull it simple the man was gorgeous. He also was wearing a black three piece suit, his vest a deep burgundy color with a white shirt.

Tony shook his head and smiled fondly at the hilarity of the memory.

''You two…'' he thought and frowned. He hadn't see neither of them in the last four years -until yesterday, that's it- his mind supply. And in reality he didn't know what to think about what happened the day before. He needed answers and he would get them.

''Tony are you all right?'' questioned Bruce startling Tony out his musing. They were alone in one of the labs of SHIELD's base in New York.

''Ah? Yes''

Bruce looked at him contemplatively. They and the rest of the team had stopped the invasion and taken Loki in custody a day ago, and Tony had been acting strangely. He was more subdued, thoughtful and uncharacteristically quiet since then. Bruce, like everyone else thought it was because of the incident with the nuke and his near death experience at first. Because he hadn't known Tony Stark for long, but he certainly thought that he had figured out at least a part of his character and he was sure that he didn't deal with that kind of problems like this.

''you don't seem all right Tony''

''You're right. I'm not… but it's just my mind plagued with some memories of a not so distant past, so don't concern yourself Doctor Banner.'' Bruce was taken back with that answer.

''Tony-'' Bruce started but the billionaire interrupted him before he could say more and said ''don't concern yourself Bruce. It's nothing bad…I hope'' he mumbled at the end and looked at his phone, effectively ending the conversation.

''Eh, Mischief''

.

.

The night of that same day all the team was lounging in one of the offices of the base, discussing the past event and the next course of action to take.

''This isn't normal….Loki should have woken up already '' murmured Thor as he looked the monitor that showed Loki's cell.

''Probably it's a trick ''

'' No, I don't think so…'' answered Thor looking at his teammates. ''My brother can be a liar, tricky and a lot of other things, but there's one thing I know for sure. He hate to be seen as weak. He would never let himself to be seen like this''

''So you think there's something wrong with him?'' questioned Tony, without taking his eyes of the monitor and the image of the unconscious god lying there ''cause I think so too…'' he thought inwardly.

''Yes'' Just when Tony was going to say something more, they lost the image for a second. Everyone tensed. There seemed to be a spike of some kind of energy coming from Loki's cell and it was interfering with the cameras. They started to fail.

'' What's happening? '' Questioned a confused and worried Thor.

'' I don't know! '' Shouted Tony who was trying to fix the problem. ''There seem to be some kind of energy interfering with them, at this rate it will fry the circuits! But maybe I can-'' Thor didn't wait to hear any more and left the room to where S.H.I.E.L.D had put Loki.

''Thor wait!'' Hawkeye shouted and ran after the blond with Natasha and Steve at his side '' Loki's cell isn't that way!''

''Damn it!'' A frustrated Tony grabbed his hair, nothing that he was doing seemed to work, and in fact it was getting worse. The spikes of energy were more frequent and more potent. Two of the cameras in the cell were dead already and the third was just a one step of join the others.

''Tony look! '' Said Bruce and pointed something in the screen with his finger. There in the previously semi empty room –Loki was still there unconscious— was a tall and dark figure. It appeared to be a man, but they couldn't be sure because of the image wasn't good, there was too much interference.

'' Well, shit. This isn't good'' The man turned around and looked up to the camera. The last thing that the two of them saw before it went dead were a pair of narrowed glowing poisonous green eyes.

''Hell, no…oh, shit'' Tony groaned and rand a hand through his hair ''I really need some answers!'' he thought.

.

.

Loki was in a haze. After the hulk smashed him, everything became much clearer and at the same time not. The memories and feelings, all came back and it haunted him. Some good, but most bad. Hal, his fall, the numbness, the chitauri, the invasion and the pain. Specially the pain.

It made him feel weak.

He hated the feeling. The mere idea of be seen like that, in such state. So pitiful, so open, vulnerable and lost. It made him sick, because if experience and life had taught him something, was that not everyone cared, so not everyone could had that privilege.

.

.

.

He didn't know for how long he had been lost in his own mind. Everything was still a haze, but he could feel himself returning to conscious.

''Loki...''

He could hear his name being called, but his eyelids were heavy and his body hurt too much.

''Loki…'' It called again and he could hear it clearer this time. The voice was familiar and warm, smooth and rich like that of someone he knew. Someone precious to him.

Someone who has always been there for him.

'' Wake up, little King'' gentle hands went through his hair, and Loki felt his body relax immediately at the familiar touch.

Someone who was there for him now.

The balm of his battered and bruised soul. The only person who called him like that, and with similar silly names that he secretly loved so much. The only person that had a voice and touch like that.

''H-Halvalr…. '' He croaked out and opened his eyes a little. His vision was blurry, but he could see a little what was around him. There was a dark figure crouched next to his bed.

''yes, it's me little king'' Halvalr said soothingly and caressed his check. '' I'm here, sorry for taking so long''

''Hal, I…''

''sshh….don't talk, we will have plenty of time for that later. You need to heal first'' He took two vials out his coat, opened and pressed them against Loki's lips. ''Drink, I will make you feel better'' Loki grimaced a little at the taste, which made the other man smile.

''No matter what, one never get used to the taste. Now, rest Sváss'' he said quietly and continued caressing his check and hair ''You will feel better soon'' it didn't take long for the potions to kick in and for Loki to fall asleep again, but in a less troubled dream this time, and if the peaceful and relaxed expression on his face was any indication, the potions were doing their job properly.

''Now, I just have to get you out of here''

.

.

When Thor and the others arrived at Loki's cell. They noted two things and nether bode well for them.

The first was, that there was someone else in there.

A man around 6'4 feet tall with long inky black hair, fair skin and poisonous green eyes that shone like emeralds. The man was gorgeous and had a regal and intimidating air around him. His clothing was similar to Loki's but it was mostly black. He also had some jewelry on, for what they could see he was wearing an earring and a heavy looking gold chain, both had the same symbol in them, a triangle with a circle and a line in the middle.

The second was, that the man had Loki cradled in his arms.

Everyone in the room tensed and the four avengers drew their weapons. But no one attacked immediately, they just studied each other.

''He seems to be an Asgardian like Thor and Loki and for how he's carrying Loki, they must be close'' Natasha thought. She kept searching for more, but couldn't find anything, his expression was blank and his body appeared to be completely relaxed. That level of control made him more dangerous in her eyes.

She discreetly made a signal to Clint and Capitan Rogers, who saw it and shifted their positions a little, ready to attack in any second. The intruder seemed to have not noticed it thought. He was staring intently at a pale faced Thor, who was staring back with an expression that was the perfect mixture of recognition, shock and maybe horror.

''so he know who I am'' Halvalr thought and smirked at the blond. Then swan his gaze over the rest of the super heroes for a moment.

Having noticed this Steve opened his mouth to say something, but the man spoke first. ''Prince Thor'' He greeted. His voice was smooth like the finest velvet.

''Entrancing'' they thought.

''Miss Romanoff, Mr. Barton and Capitan Rogers. It's a pleasure to meet you. You're such an interesting group! And I really would like to stay and chat or keep this staring contest, but I have more important things to do, you see'' he looked down and adjusted Loki in his arms a little ''so… until later'' and then disappeared with Loki.

The avengers didn't have time to move or do anything.

''Fuck!'' exclaimed Clint.

''…''

''Thor are you ok? You're pale, like you just saw a ghost. Do you know him? Is he someone dangerous?''

''I….yes, something like that'' answered Thor still a little pale.

He had recognized the man. He had seen him in the company of his brother a few times in the past. But what had made him react like that wasn't the fact that an apparent friend of his brother was there to help him out and had just disappeared with him. No, it was the symbol the man was wearing.

He had recognized it too and it wasn't something that one could take lightly.

All symbols represent power and had a meaning, but this was more than that, this was a claim.

Death's claim.

To be continued…..