Angrboda clicked her tongue in disgust and gripped Loki's chin tighter. "Stop squirming. There would not be a need for this if you had simply slept last night."

"Would you have in my position, Cousin?" Loki snapped back. His face twisted in a snarl, but Angrboda smoothed down his cheeks, masking his haggard appearance under a layer of cobalt cosmetic.

"No matter if I would have or not, this is still a necessity."

"He is going to think me disgusting no matter how much you pretty me up!" Loki finally managed to avoid Angrboda's fingers, only to be jerked back by the hand Býleistr had in his hair. "Are you trying to make me as bald as Father?"

"It would not have happened if you would just sit still!" Loki's youngest brother snapped back.

"Býleistr," Helblindi chastised.

Loki wrapped his magic around him, transporting himself the short distance to Helblindi's side. "Brother," he pouted, the largest crocodile tears in history threatening to fall from his eyes. Helblindi gave a sigh, but knelt down all the same, pulling his older brother into an embrace that literally engulfed Loki.

"You spoil him, Brother," Býleistr complained, waving around the brush he had been using on Loki's hair.

"Why should I not?" He reached over to steal the brush, turning Loki around to do his brother's hair himself. "You know this is for more than your future husband. You are representing the whole of Jotunheim now."

It was as if Helblindi's words had set a weight on Loki's shoulders, shifting his attitude from hostile to resigned. "I know what my role is, Helblindi. I will not disappoint Father."

Helblindi's skilled fingers make quick work of the braids Býleistr had been unable to finish while Loki was squirming. "You never do, Loki."

/

Frigga's smile was radiant as she settled Thor's cape on his shoulders. "You look magnificent, my son."

Thor glowered at his reflection in the mirror. There came the distant sound of thunder, but Frigga's face shifting into a glare was enough to cut it off. "None of that now. I will not have you ruining all the work I have put into this ceremony."

"It is not a true marriage, Mother." Thor shrugged his shoulders, only to have Frigga force them up and smooth out his cloak again.

"Why do you say that?"

"True marriages do not have such specific conditions set for divorce. If anything having a child with this Jotun should ensure our continued commitment, not the end of it."

Frigga gave him a surprised look. "I thought you would be happy about that."

"I am, except…" Thor trailed off, his body shuddering. "I do not want to share a bed with…that thing."

Something Thor often forgot was that his mother used to be a shield maiden before she was Queen of Asgard. To him she had always been the embodiment of kindness itself. He had seen her anger before, but never had it been directed at him. Thor actually took a step back before he could stop himself. "I know you are not happy about this marriage. I know many in Asgard are not happy with it. But this arrangement could bring us peace with Jotunheim. If you are to be King, you must learn that war is not the first answer to every problem. Jotunheim will take your behavior toward Loki as a representation of all Asgard. Do you understand that?"

Thor nodded, fully chastised. "Yes, Mother."

Frigga's demeanor changed again, offering Thor a soft smile. She placed a hand to Thor's cheek, and he immediately leaned into the touch. "You have a good heart, Thor. Let Loki see it. He is likely to be terrified right now. Once this ceremony is over he truly loses his home, his friends, and his family. He will be alone here if you allow it."

Thor took a deep breath before nodding again. "He is a hostile little thing, Mother, but I shall do my best to keep my temper."

"That is all I ask," Frigga said. She hugged Thor, letting him rest his head on her shoulder. "I am so proud of you, my son."

"This cannot be!"

"It looks like it is, Muscles."

Thor ignores Tony, walking around the rock where Mjolnir had rested two days ago. It shouldn't be gone. It cannot be gone! "This does not bode well."

Clint, perched at the highest point he could find, and now surveying the area, calls down, "Well no one here could move it, so the list of people has to be kind of short."

"Only someone worthy could lift Mjolnir."

Everyone turns toward the newcomer, who seems to have popped up out of thin air. Tony, Clint, and ever resident SHIELD agent raise weapons, but Thor's face brightens immediately. He does not hesitate in striding forward and pulling the man into a tight hug.

"Uh, buddy," Tony calls out, his armor covered hand still raised, "you want to tell us who this is?"

Thor turns back to them with a smile that might actually be brighter than the sun. "Forgive me, my friends. I was overcome with joy." Thor shoves the blond man forward. He is handsome, even though his body cannot seem to make up its mind whether it should be bulky or lithe. When Tony looks closer, he sees pale lines running across the man's skin, almost like an intricate series of tribal markings. His eyes have the same shape as Thor's, but his irises are a deep crimson. The similarities are so striking Tony can pretty much guess who he is before Thor says it. "This is my son, Magni."

Magni bows his head in greeting. "I wish our meeting could be under more pleasant circumstances."

"Magni, why are you here?"

Tony shares a look with Coulson, both pretty sure that their existence is verging on forgotten in Thor's mind.

"Heimdall told us what happened. Balder sent me to see if I could help."

Thor's brow furrows in confusion. "Balder? What has happened to your grandfather?"

"He has fallen into the Odinsleep, else I doubt this thief would have been so bold," Magni answers, disgust clear in his voice. "Balder sits on the throne for the moment, either until he wakes or you come home." Magni moves toward the rock, his fingers moving awkwardly as he does some type of investigation. Thor follows behind his son, watching over Magni's shoulder.

Natasha materializes seemingly from the shadows beside Coulson. "Should we just let him be walking around?"

"Let's see what he does," Coulson answers back quietly. "Be ready for my signal though."

Natasha nods and disappears again. Tony really doesn't like how good she is at that.

Meanwhile, Magni's face has taken on a grim look. "What have you found?" Thor asks.

"No one of worth stole Mjolnir. Dark magics were employed to secret it away."

"I take it that's bad," Tony interjects.

Thor takes a deep breath, obviously trying to hold in his temper. "It is as if your armor was placed into the hands of someone whose only intention was evil."

"Yeah, that's not good."

"If Mjolnir is as powerful as you say, we need to get it back," Coulson says.

"Agreed. But I know not where to start. No one in Asgard has the knowledge to do this."

"Well," Magni says slowly, "whoever did this hid themselves from Heimdall, and we do know someone who has that ability."

"No!" Thor shouts, his face going red in rage. "I will not involve your mother in this!"

"Whoa," Tony whispers to Coulson. "Think there's a story there?" Of course there is, which is why Coulson doesn't answer him.

"Father-"

"No! I have spoken, and that is the end of it."

Magni's eyes sharpen into a glare. "And how do you purpose to stop me while you are mortal?" Magni sighs and shakes his head. "Father, we need Mother's help. You do not have the luxury of grudges and anger right now."

Thor grumbles, but obviously Magni takes it as his father relenting. A brilliant smile crosses his face, and wow, this family had some powerful smiles. "I shall return soon. Where shall I meet you?"

"We'll be set up in a town near here called Puente Antiguo," Coulson answers. "There's a scientific research center there where we're moving our operation to."

Magni nods. "Very well." And then he is gone by the same fashion he arrived.

"So," Tony drawls as he saunters up to Thor's side, "bad break up?"

"That is one way to put it, yes," Thor grumbles. "I would not include Loki, but there does not seem to be any other choice."

Oh this is going to end well.