Avengers: The King of Kings.
Summary: "One year after Ceil Zak'Vael's defeat, tensions are running in all new highs as anticipation for the Black Hunt's return takes its toll. After reaching a breaking point with Loki, who has grown distant as "the inevitable" looms closer, Thor returns to Earth in hopes of clearing his head before the fight that is to come. However, his "pity party" is quickly interrupted when he inexplicably reunites with the Avengers, who give him some disturbing news: millions of people have been disappearing, and some of the biggest cities in the world have gone dark. With S.H.I.E.L.D scrambling for answers, they are finally forced go after the one man they believe capable of such chaos- Loki. Now, tasked with saving the Earth from certain doom- and his brother from wrongful imprisonment- while at the same time trying to find a reason to keep fighting, Thor's got to decide what's worth what and, most importantly, why, before an old enemy returns to wreck havoc on the one place that was supposed to stay safe- and with a near-silent, morose Loki by his side and constant infighting within the Avengers to boot, Thor's got his work cut out for him… but when tragedy strikes too close to home, it's time to get serious."
Warning: "This will be a relatively tame fanfic, with the exception of some blood, violence, angst, some language, a character death or two, and other adult situations. So, to be on the safe side, we'll be going with Rated T. I have watched the Avenger's movie and all relating Marvel movies, but this does not mean that I am perfect and/or know absolutely everything there is to know about, and I'm bound to forget or misuse some small detail. So, with that, please forgive me if I screw up, and just enjoy the story."
Disclaimer: "I do not own Thor. Please don't ruin my day by thinking I do."
Author's Note: This story is dedicated to PhantomLilac AND MischievousChaos."
N._.s._.S
Chapter Two: Playing Hero.
"Beware the fury of a patient man."
- John Dryden.
The sun was just barely starting to rise over the horizon as a thin, tall figure made his way across the rainbow-colored bridge. His steps are long, confident, and purposeful, and as he approached the Bifrost, he is met by the Gatekeeper, Heimdall, who stared hard down at him with wary, bright golden eyes.
Loki Odinsson lowered his hood as he came to stand before him.
"I need to enter the Jotunheim," He said, quite politely, looking up at Heimdall and careful to keep his palms facing outward in front of him to show the man he truly didn't mean him harm, "May I pass?"
"What of your own portal?" Heimdall answered, calmly, not missing a beat.
"I can no longer open them."
Heimdall's golden eyes narrow down at Loki at this admission, who simply looked right back up at him without another word, until, after a few long, considering moments, the Gatekeeper finally stepped aside.
"Come, then."
Just as the sun's first rays reach the castle, Loki disappeared.
N._.s._.S
Loki's disappearance wasn't noticed until noon. It wasn't too unusual for the God of Mischief to not come downstairs for days at a time, sometimes for no good reason at all other than he just wanted to be alone, so it wasn't until Heimdall reported it that anyone even knew he'd left Asgard altogether.
Thor was the only one who reacted badly to the news.
Odin didn't look surprised in the least.
Axel Hernsson actually laughed and shook his head.
It seems as if he really is that dense, after all! He declared, running his long-fingered, black hand through his bangs, bright maroon eyes flashing with utter disbelief, My God, is he truly mad?
"How long ago?" Odin turned to Heimdall, ignoring the Honored King's stricken exclamation.
"Sunrise."
"We must go after him!" Thor cut in, loudly, before the All-Father could say anything more, as the door shut behind the Gatekeeper as he made his way out, "There's no way he can beat them all by himself!"
"We don't even know if that's what he's doing!" Protested Sanat Eir, from his position near the door, leaning on his Blackwood staff and shooting the God of Thunder a disapproving look, "Besides, we can't afford to loose people to the Hunt now, and definitely not to the Jotunheim, either!"
"We can't afford to loose Loki, either!" Thor snapped back, firing up at once.
"Loki wouldn't just waltz into the Jotunheim without a plan!" The old Medic retorted, impatiently, "He may be insane, but he's not that insane! He's got to know going in there is suicide!"
Perhaps that's the point.
Thor, Eir, and even Odin turned on the Honored King instantly.
"I dare you to say that again," Thor challenged, over the suddenly deadly silence.
You are a fool, Axel Hernsson folded his arms defensively over his black chest and narrowed his suddenly too-bright, maroon eyes down at the God of Thunder as he added, almost venomously, Even a greater fool than the one your precious little brother takes you for even as we speak.
"You-"
"That's enough!" The All-Father cut in, firmly, "Both of you, govern your tongues!"
For some reason, Axel heeded the warning instantly (even though as the Honored King, he stood on the same ground as Odin), and looked away, unfolding his arms only to fold them behind his back, refusing to look at Thor again as the God of Thunder shot him another menacing, daring look as, despite Odin's order, he spoke.
"My brother isn't insane," He said slowly, strongly, "Nor is he suicidal."
Then what is he? Axel demanded, his voice deadly and quiet,What is he?
"I don't know."
Axel gave a harsh, sharp bark of laughter as he shook his head again.
If you don't know what he is, then how dare you say you know who he is?
N._.s._.S
Coming to the Jotunheim hadn't been a split-second decision- the revelation of the Vael's current location had only been the deciding factor for his actions today.
He used one of his infamous holograms to get him through undetected into Laufey's vaults. They were fast, silent, and pretty much undetectable, which made them his most reliable tool for a mission such as this. He could control the copy from a safe distance away, hidden and shielded by the brewing storm of ice.
He reverted back to his Jotun form to keep from catching cold-
-Which he apparently could in his Cursed state, if the painful ache in his bones wasn't proof enough.
Since his illness worsened, it had been growing more and more difficult for him to keep the concentration needed for his spells, which is what the long hours of isolation in his room for the past year was for. There, he could block out the world around him and retain at least some small fraction of his power; this able to use them for something exactly like this.
Loki had predicted the Vael would use the Jotunheim as their foothold into Asgard- it was the only place that made sense to him. It was too dangerous for them to return to the Vaelheim for any reason, and the other Realms, especially Earth, were being closely watched over by Heimdall.
The Jotunheim, on the other hand...
As usual, it looked like he was right.
From his position behind one of the half-demolished pillars, Loki watched his clone's cloaked and hooded back disappear into one of the deep catacombs that served as Laufey's once proud hall.
It stepped over the threshold Odin had found the God of Mischief as an infant, millennia ago.
Shaking the memory out of his head and taking a deep, calming breath that eased the ache deep in his heart and bones, Loki tightened the cloak over his trembling shoulders, and closed his eyes so he could better control his clone as it descended into the darkness- heading into what, most likely, was a trap, ready and waiting.
Loki depended on it.
N._.s._.S
"I'm going after him."
I know.
That's what Odin, Jane, and Heimdall all said after Thor told them- no more, no less. It was like they all just expected him to take action, and that was just fine with the God of Thunder.
Thor wasn't just going to sit back and let Loki do this alone.
Not again.
You can't do this alone.
Looking back, Thor should have known that he hadn't gotten through to his brother that day.
And we'll win this together.
He had never gotten through- not then, not before, and certainly not now.
Without having to lie to each other first!
But dammit, that wasn't going to stop him from trying again and again.
As Thor made his way across the Bridge toward the Bifrost, he saw Axel waiting for him, arms crossed and leaning against the entrance, where the God of Thunder could already see Heimdall prepping the portal that would take him directly to the Jotunheim-
And to Loki.
"You're not coming," Thor told the King, flatly, as he approached.
And I wouldn't come, even if my life depended on it, Axel answered, calmly, apparently completely unperturbed by Thor's ill-tempered tone, I have merely come to offer you my most sincere advice.
"Concerning?"
You, of course.
"What is it?"
It's very short and simple, really, The Honored King answered, gravely, Don't play the hero.
Thor shoved past him without another word.
The Honored King simply turns his back on the Bifrost and walks away.
N._.s._.S
Hope this tides you guys over for a little while! XD
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The next Chapter will be up before you know it!