What Happens In Asgard
Chapter Two
"Yeah, no thanks" Clint said with a bitter smile.
Tony stared at him, pouting. "How come you get invited to Asgard and we don't?"
"Tony, have a little tact, would you?" Steve chided.
"No" Tony said petulantly. "We were there, too, we all went toe-to-toe with Loki and his merry band of intergalactic freaks, so, I want to know... where's our invitation?"
Clint picked up the parchment and flicked it at the darker man "You wanna go to Asgard, be my guest. Happy for you to go in my place." He stood and strode from the room. Natasha calmly followed him, shooting Tony a fiery look as she went.
Steve gave Tony a reproachful look while Bruce looked thoughtful.
"What?" Tony said defensively. "I'm just saying that if one of us goes, all of us should go. Not fair otherwise."
"It's not about what's fair, Tony!" Steve lectured. "It's about what's right. If we went, it would be as a team," Steve emphasised. "We would be going in support of our teammate."
"Exactly!" Tony cried. "To support our... friend. Our colleague, watch his back... what you said" Tony elaborated.
"For our teammate. Not so you can be a lookie-loo" Steve warned.
"It's kind-of a moot point anyway, because we weren't invited," Bruce said with a shrug. "The invitation was addressed to Clint."
"Yeah, well it's not like we haven't crashed a party before" Tony said casually.
"This may not be the kind of party you want to crash" Bruce warned him.
"Are you kidding?" Tony breathed. "This is a chance to go to another planet... another realm. I mean, admittedly, I kinda did that already, when I went up through the portal with the nuke, and there was the whole almost-dying thing, oh, did I mention that? You think that would get me an invite to the courts of the other gods... but no..." Tony rambled.
Steve shivered almost imperceptibly, and Bruce eyed him kindly. "You... think you're up to it, if it comes down to us actually going?"
Steve shrugged slightly and avoided their eyes. "Can't be any weirder than aliens attacking New York, right?"
Tony grinned "We're all going to Asgard, we're all going to Asgard" he sang, bouncing up and down on his seat like a toddler.
Bruce and Steve sighed.
… … … …
"Hissy fit isn't a good colour on you, Barton" Natasha said eventually.
Clint ignored her and continued sharpening the knife on the whetstone. His movements were methodical, controlled; Natasha fell silent again and let him work quietly until some of the tension finally left his shoulders.
"At least I didn't burst into tears" he joked.
"That would have been ugly" Natasha said lightly.
He cleaned and wrapped the knives and stone, and wiped his hands on a towel, settling on the opposite end of the couch Natasha was sprawled upon. They studied each other silently for a moment.
"It may be closure for you, Clint."
"I don't need closure" Clint muttered. "I don't" he reiterated, seeing the look Natasha was fixing him with.
"I can just about sleep at night again. Not a sound sleep, but better that it was. I go up there to Asgard, jump through all their hoops, then what? I don't need all that shit dredged up again. I'm dealing with it."
"Why do you assume they'll make you jump through hoops?"
Clint gave Natasha a sceptical look "Have you seen the way they dress? They're into hoopla, trust me."
Natasha shrugged.
"What the hell do they even want me for?" Clint hissed.
"Some kind of prosecution witness again Loki, I guess."
"Well, they could have their pick. It's not like I'm the only person he damaged. He did a lot worse to a lot of other people. At least I'm-" he broke off, eyes deeply troubled. He swallowed hard. "At least I'm alive. I can still function. You know, they should call Dr Selvig up as a witness. Loki good as destroyed him." Clint shook his head.
"If you don't want to go, Clint, no-one will make you. If they come here looking for you, they'll have to get through me-"
"Tasha-" Clint murmured.
Natasha glared at him. "I've got your back. Here or there, I'm on your side. But you need to think about this... They called you because you're strong. Because you can stand up there, and look them all in the eye, and tell them exactly what that little bastard did. There are a lot of people who can't do that. So if you can't- if you won't speak for yourself... speak up for the people who have no voice."
Clint stared at her, speechless. He knew his hands were trembling, and he wrung the towel fiercely in an attempt to hide it. Natasha swallowed a lump in her throat and slid down the couch to sit next to her best friend, stilling his hands with her own.
… … … …
Clint didn't realise he'd finally drifted into an uneasy sleep until he found himself waking. A soft but determined tapping seemed to be what had roused him. He blinked and stretched, and pushed himself into a sitting position.
He looked out of the window to notice that dawn was breaking over the city, but before he could glance at his wristwatch, his gaze was caught by the raven on the window ledge, holding another envelope in its shiny beak.
"You again?" he murmured.
As soon as it was noticed, the bird became more determined, and tapped harder on the window.
"Aren't you supposed to do the tapping and rapping at my chamber door?" Clint muttered as he stood.
The bird eyed him, and turned, waddling over determinedly to the balcony door, where it proceeded to tap again with its beak.
Clint stopped and looked at it. "I really don't know what to make of that" he muttered, unlocking the door and permitting the bird to enter.
It swooped into the air and took a turn about the room. Without really thinking about what he was doing, Clint raised his forearm, and bent his arm slightly at the elbow. A moment later the bird lit upon his outstretched arm, and brandished the letter in its beak at him.
He reached up with his spare hand and gently took the parchment. He and the bird studied each other silently for a moment.
"Uh... good bird? Polly wanna cracker?" Clint said uncertainly.
The raven cawed, clearly offended, and pushed roughly off Clint's arm, sweeping out the terrace door.
Clint considered the new letter in his hand. Again it was addressed to him, though this time the penmanship was considerably less elegant.
"JARVIS?" he called uncertainly- he always felt like a jerk talking to the building.
"Good morning, Agent Barton. Would you like me to scan the letter you are currently holding?" JARVIS asked.
"Yes please" Clint asked. "And can you switch on the coffee machine? I think it's going to be a twelve cup day."
"I have already done so" the A.I. answered neatly. After a moment JARVIS beeped.
"This letter is the exact same composition and provenance as the previous letter."
"Thanks" Clint muttered. With a heavy sigh he climbed back into bed, and then opened the letter.
Friend Barton,
I hope this letter finds you well, and healing from the hurt my brother inflicted upon you.
I apologise to you and the rest of our team for not having been in contact sooner. It has been a difficult time in Asgard. We have been busy fortifying our realm and preparing for attack from Loki's thwarted allies, whom he is certain will come for both him and the Tesseract.
As we wait for the glory of a new battle, and the chance to once again prove ourselves mighty warriors, it has been decided by my father and his brothers that Loki must stand trial for the harm he brought to Midgard.
This is why you have been summoned, along with Director Fury of your organisation, SHIELD. You will be required to speak as witnesses against my brother.
I know this is a burden upon you, and I wish I could have made this request of you myself, and in person.
Using the Tesseract, my father has been able to repair the Bifrost, and the time has now come for Loki to face judgement and punishment. I only just now discovered that my father had already sent his summons to you.
The manner of Loki's trial, and your part in it will be explained more clearly when you arrive. The trial will be brief and to the point- that is the Asgardian way.
You are welcome to take your ease in Asgard as long as you care to, and as a guest of our family, your every need will be seen to.
I look forward to meeting with you again, though I wish it were under more glorious circumstances. It is the hope of my father, and indeed, my hope too, that Loki's judgement and punishment will help heal whatever wounds you carry.
I have witnessed your strength and determination first hand, and have no doubt that you will rise above the injuries to your soul.
Until we meet again,
You will find me ever your friend and fellow Avenger,
Thor
… … … …
Author's Notes: Hey there! Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed the second chapter of what is a pretty big series. I didn't come in with any author's notes at the end of chapter one, because I didn't want to break the scene-setting.
If you're not familiar with Norse mythology, the ravens are Huginn and Muninn (Thought and Memory) -Odin's messengers. And thanks to Edgar Allen Poe and The Simpsons for those various quotes!
Disclaimer: Author owns nothing, and makes nothing from writing fic, which is why feedback is love. Getting some lovely comments already, thank you!