Finally getting to the meat of the story. For anyone who's stuck with me so far, I hope the story becomes more enjoyable from here on out. Please let me know if you see any typos/grammar issues, they drive me as crazy as they drive you. Also, if you're curious about where any of the lyrics are from, feel free the PM me!
Could I not take it in vain? Oh,
could I not fake it again?
Can't I not take it in pain? Oh,
can't I not fake it again?
I've sent my heart away,
like heroes in the rain
The visions were growing longer and more persistent. She might enter one and leave it later to find that days had passed in between. When she returned to herself she gasped against the metal gag at the pain eclipsing so much of her body. She was covered in burns along her arms and down her torso, and cuts littered her legs where shrapnel from the blast connected. But they did not care for her health any longer; they did not intend for her to live when they were through, and let her wounds fester in the cold prison.
She pushed herself up when she woke as well, to relieve the tension on her wrists. When she'd come to in this prison after shattering the pedestal, the monster was back. It had gripped her shoulders when it saw she was awake and pushed down, down, down until the mechanism triggered and the manacles did their duty.
She had no refuge. Her body was a patchwork of agony, the visions unrelenting in their ferocity. Most often the voice sent her grotesqueries and horrors no human had witnessed. Other times, the worse times, it sent her delusions of Earth, beautiful Earth, under assaults of the worst kind. In one the creatures who populated this place overran the world and snuffed out every human life for her folly to protect them. In another an asteroid the size of a continent slammed into the side of the planet and swathed the globe in fiery rages, obliterating all life. She screamed when he showed her the entire planet dying, more than she screamed for the people; for one killed more than just man, but the promise of mankind in the future and beyond.
He told her it was real and that her planet, even now, was a smoldering wreck. He showed her the images to convince her; and when she awoke from the nightmare she wept at the thought that it might, it might be real, and if it were true how badly she'd failed her home, what a poor miserable excuse of a savior.
They materialized on the Bifrost toward the center of the shattered roadway, with Tony so close to the edge that the weight of his armor nearly knocked him off. Clint grabbed a metal arm to hold him straight until Iron Man found his footing. He stood for a moment, letting his head clear of that initial panic, and glared at Loki.
"You did that on purpose."
The younger god smiled behind his gag. The other Avengers were busy looking around their surroundings with wide eyes while Jane scribbled notes furiously in her notebook, documenting her first travel-by-portal experience with exhilarated efficiency. Thor only looked weary. Already guards were approaching on horseback, the hooves clattering against the Bifrost as they rode. The thunder god stepped forward to meet them while Natasha and Clint stepped to either side of the Bifrost and gazed out at the golden hued realm of Asgard.
"Geez," Clint said. That seemed to do it for most of them, until Tony pointed at the fluted castle fortress in the distance.
"How much you wanna bet it's a giant organ?"
"Tony," Steve warned as the guards arrived. The first dismounted and moved to clasp Thor's arm in greeting; not guards at all, but the Warriors Three along with the Lady Sif. Thor initiated the greetings all around, and the warriors spent a few moments giving each other the appropriate levels of respect. That the Avengers were called to this realm to assist in matters of Asgard earned them respect among the Æsir. That these same few were those who defeated both Loki's schemes and his armada earned still more. Thor had divulged the battle tales over the great feasts, and in truth his friends were curious about these newest allies of Asgard.
"Thor," Sif said with widened eyes, "is this the one you claim laid you low?" She was staring at Dr. Banner - Thor had assured them that the man who appeared meekest was in truth the most powerful of the human Avengers. Bruce squirmed under her curious gape.
"It is," Thor boomed, proud to set his allies on display. "And this, the clever metalsmith; the deadly widow assassin, and her compatriot, the hawk-eyed archer; and the noblest, a champion and leader of our merry brood." Some of the Avengers appeared uncomfortable with their respective titles, but Tony clanked a hand against his chest in a mock warrior's salute. The Warriors Three and Sif all followed suit, and the shared gesture eased their tensions.
''And the fair maiden?'' Fandral asked. Jane was kneeling on the Bifrost and running her hand against the surface, fascinated by the shifting colors. She looked up to notice them all watching her and flushed bright red, quickly stumbling back to her feet. Thor drew her to his side and beamed. ''My own lady fair, Jane Foster.''
Jane stuttered a shy "Nice to meet you." The Warriors Three bowed and Sif ducked her head in a show of respect. Natasha inspected the garb of Thor's Æsir friends and found herself suspicious. They were all soldiers of some type or another, and with Loki's scepter in her hand she couldn't begrudge them their weapons - but still, there was an element of ultimatum to them. They had come for more than a greeting, and she wanted to know why. She looked at Steve and raised her eyebrows. The Captain nodded.
"You've got us here, Thor. What next?" Steve stood with his arms at his sides, a classic, confident posture, and though he spoke to Thor he addressed Thor's friends. Sif looked to the Warriors Three, then Thor, and finally spoke to Steve directly.
"We are to escort the prisoner to the queen, by her petition." Thor tensed, which drew her gaze. Loki, standing behind them all, looked thoughtful.
"You mean to seize my brother?"
"Only to bring to the queen, Thor. Your mother -"
Thunder rumbled in the distance. Thor looked to Steve and nodded, the slightest concession. Steve tilted his head back at a slight angle.
"You can take him." He added the next for Thor's benefit." "We'll check on him later." Sif appeared stricken and hesitated, finally looking straight at Loki for the first time since before his fall from Asgard. In truth, the last time she laid eyes on him, he'd sat upon Asgard's throne in both the All-Father and Thor's place. They had not left on good terms then, and she had betrayed him as king with her actions soon after that moment.
And would repeat those actions forever more, if needed.
"Come," said Hogun. Volstagg was already behind the prisoner, to escort him away. Loki gave Thor one penetrating glare before moving as ordered, and was led onto a steed and away from the group.
"It's like all the sunshine's gone," Tony said. Steve ignored him and turned to Thor, who watched his brother's departure. "Where's a good place to plan?"
Thor shook himself from his brooding with mighty effort, helped by Jane's gentle touch on his arm. "Come, my friends. I will show you to the great hall."
And the Avengers followed Thor, as one unit, while Loki was taken to hear the queen's will.
Thor led them to the great hall for the space it offered, though they left the machine and cartons behind on the Bifrost to be guarded by Heimdall. The humans set up shop with little delay, and soon the team were all pouring over the data they remembered of the Chitauri.
"They didn't wear masks for breathing I could see. I guess oxygen's the best for respiration no matter where you are in the universe." Dr. Banner was in the middle of a discussion with Tony about the potential hazards of traveling to the other side of the universe without having any idea what they'd find. They'd gotten bare clips of information from Loki, yet when pressed further the trickster closed down and would not respond despite the Tesseract's enchantment.
Steve was gearing up for battle, and his intensity started spilling out to infect the rest of them. Until he looked at Stark and said, loud and plain, "What did Nick give you to use on them?"
"What?" Tony was starry-eyed innocence.
"What do you have, Tony? I know there's more to this."
Stark rolled his eyes. "Fury didn't give me anything. The Chitauri left weapons everywhere, I had some leftovers. Threw together some stock for this expedition. JARVIS?" A hologram blazed from his chest, flickering in the warm Asgardian air. "See? My own stuff. I've got copyrights and everything."
The arsenal on display was impressive. One of them, the largest looking of the lot, was labeled JERICHO. Sensing that Steve was most drawn to the Biblical reference, Stark grinned. "Wait 'til they see that one."
"What do you plan to do with it?"
"Relax, Cap - just in case. We won't be needing any of them if we're good enough."
Steve decided to let the discussion go and turned to Thor, teeth grinding. Natasha set the end of the scepter on the floor and raised her chin. "Where do we get the coordinates we need?"
"We will present ourselves to Heimdall. His assistance will prove invaluable in this endeavor."
"The big guy guarding the Tesseract?"
"Aye, friend Stark."
Jane interjected with a raised hand. "Um, Thor. I need to meet with, um...your parents? I need to meet them. The king and queen. I have things." She stopped blathering before she made a fool of herself and raised her satchel, blushing. Thor smiled fondly.
"Of course, dear Jane. My friends, grant us permission to leave. We will return presently." The thunder god led Jane from the hall and the remaining Avengers continued their discussion of possible Chitauri world issues..
Jane couldn't know what to expect. Thor was practically a caricature in some ways, so Norse that he might as well have fallen right out of a book of legends. Now she was off to meet the king and queen - and not just any king and queen, but Odin and Frigga, straight from the same legend. And Thor's parents. As far as meeting parents went, it was nerve-wracking.
Thor repeatedly assured her that she would be loved, adored, they would find her charming, and many other platitudes that meant nothing coming from a biased mouth. Instead she braced herself, straightened her back, touched up her hair and tried to look as serious as possible. These people were royalty after all; it wouldn't do to bumble her way through the introductions.
It was worse than she expected. Thor was quite a sight in his outfit but she was pretty sure he didn't actually glow. Odin and Frigga, standing before their thrones, appeared to shimmer and enlarge in the space surrounding them. Of course, thrones were designed to make you look amazing, and the room was built so that the thrones were the unmistakable centerpiece.
Knowing it was probably a trick of the light wasn't doing her breathing any good. Thor bowed to the pair and she wondered if she should do the same. "All-Father, my queen, I present Lady Jane Foster." Jane tensed under their scrutiny. Odin looked calm, almost tired, but Frigga looked piercing. Jane realized too late that she wasn't Jane Foster, Earth Ambassador; she was Jane Foster, Human Who Holds My Son's Heart, and she was being judged for worthiness.
She began pulling bundles of papers out of her satchel and took the opportunity to present the knowledge Nick Fury sent with her. "We thought we might be able to share information, Earth to Asgard and back." She froze when she saw that Frigga was descending the steps, having heard nothing the scientist said. Looking at her - no, through her, as though she could see Jane's soul.
"My son tells us you are clever and brave." The queen's eyes danced with mirth; she knew she would make the woman blush, to call her out so keenly in front of the king and Thor himself. Jane flushed bright and stumbled over her words a moment, a trait which Thor found endearing. He drew closer to her as she rambled to explain herself and pulled her to his side to calm her.
"Mother," the thunder god pronounced, "you embarrass her!" The queen softened to see her son's attachment and Jane felt less like a wriggling bug on a pin.
"Show up what you have brought, Jane Foster, and we will discuss what parleys we will share with your Earth."
Thor left Jane in the care of his parents, knowing there was no safer spot for her in all of Asgard, and rejoined the Avengers. Now that the woman he loved was protected, he felt at ease discussing the welfare of a stranger.
Steve Rogers immediately addressed him when he entered. "Thor, we're prepared except for the coordinates. We'll rest here for a night, if that's alright, and tomorrow we'll be ready."
The thunder god nodded and looked from Tony to Bruce, who both looked troubled. Neither were the type of man to leave a task unfinished, and he guessed their discomfort with a smile. "You would like to have the coordinates now, to be certain we have them?" Bruce nodded and Tony crossed his arms. "Very well. Let us meet Heimdall to discuss what is needed for your machine."
The ever-watchful Heimdall stood close the Bifrost's shattered edge and it took almost half-an-hour to reach him. Thor stood back a respectful distance; the remaining Avengers stood in a defensive semicircle with Steve and Natasha at the fore, who stood on either side of Thor.
"Prince," the guardian began, "you propose that I will benefit your endeavor. What is it you seek?"
"Do you see the woman Lynn Creed still?"
"I do." The non-Æsir exchanged startled looks, and Thor said nothing more. He expected them to come to the necessary conclusion in mere moments. As predicted, Tony stuttered first. "You can see her?"
"There is little that can be concealed from my eyes."
"I-uh. Oh." Despite the guardian's blank stare, Tony could swear he saw amusement in those golden eyes.
"I do not allot that which I see without due cause."
"Yeah well, keep your prying eyes to yourself."
"Tony." Steve wasn't interested in fighting Heimdall over Tony's insecurities. "Alright, you can see her. Can you tell us where she is?"
"Yes."
"With coordinates?"
"Yes."
Bruce whistled. "You understand how coordinates work?"
"It is a different method of measurement of the width and breadth of the branches of Yggdrasil." A moment's hesitation, and then an admittance. "However, I require your instruction to translate the branches for your sciences."
Tony laughed. "Nice to know even the gods have limits." They left the scientists to it, and both men were near-giddy with the excitement of comparing notes with a legendary universal gatekeeper. Dr. Banner rolled his eyes when Tony hissed in his most demonic voice, I am the keymasterrrrr, and Heimdall made no indication that he understood the reference. Tony looked disappointed and began suggesting various movies the guardian should watch. Steve abandoned them for a moment to step in beside Natasha, who in turn had taken her place at Clint's side, close to the edge of the Bifrost and looking out over Asgard.
"It's beautiful," the Captain admitted. Now that they had time to spare without a villain to babysit or attack, Steve took a long moment to appreciate the view. Natasha nodded and Clint did nothing.
The moment passed, and Steve resolved himself to their cause again. "We need a plan. It was easier when they attacked us; Clint, what do you remember?"
"They went down easy. Compared to Loki and Thor, they were almost human. Loki took bullets to the face and they bounced off; not these guys." Clint was standing close to the Bifrost's edge, looking out over the realm of Asgard. The further the details, the better he made them out. "SHIELD's got enough of their bodies to test for a decade. They're heavier and faster, but not that much more durable."
"That widens our options." He looked at Natasha. "What else?"
"We should split up. Clint and I can find the girl - you and the boys can distract them. Stark alone could keep them occupied for hours."
"It could take that long. We have no idea what we're walking into."
"Yes," Natasha said, and her hand clenched around the scepter she had yet to put down. "It could."
It was hard to tell if this was a show of temper, fear, concern or simply an adjustment of her weight. Steve didn't ask.
"Alright. You two, search and rescue. We can ask...Heimdall -" he stuttered over the obscure name - "...to tell you where to go, since he can see her." The Captain felt better for having some semblance of a plan, and found waiting easier as a result. Instead he turned and appreciated the scene for what it was. Thor stood close by to explain Heimdall's less common terms as much as able, cape flowing in the Asgardian breeze; Tony was a myriad of red and gold alloy save for his head; Heimdall towered over them all in shining gold. And Bruce, humble Bruce, stood in glasses, a normal shirt and over-sized pants.
They worked the problem and debated the coordinates until all four men were satisfied that they'd come to the correct conclusion. When Tony began punching figures into the Tesseract's containment vessel, the other Avengers gathered closer.
"We're ready, Cap. We've got coordinates, we've got maps - viola!"
"Maps?"
"Yeah, ol' gold eyes got us some basic layouts so we're not shooting in the dark. So. What's the plan?"
Five sets of eyes - six, with the gatekeeper still present - turned to the Captain. He pointed at Natasha and Clint. "Heimdall, can you show them exactly where Miss Creed is? They're search and rescue; the rest of us are a distraction. We'll draw them away so Clint and Nat can find her."
"I will."
''I have allies present in Asgard who would offer their swords if asked.'' Thor waited to hear the Captain's verdict in this regard. Steve thought for a while, weighing the benefits of having extra hands against the possibility of failure. He shook his head.
''Tell them to gear up and stay here. This is rescue only and we don't know how well this will go; if the Chitauri get to the portal, we need a second front.'' He turned back to the spies. "Clint, Nat, when you've got her get back to the Tesseract, fast. Once you're there, fire that scepter up. It's a flare and we'll know that means we're ready. Any questions?" Silence.
"Then let's rest. Tomorrow we roll."
Here I stand,
Sad and free.
I can't cry,
And I can't see
What I've done.
Oh God what have I done?
It was quiet in her cave today. The voice was gone but she knew it lurked, waiting every moment for the sounds she couldn't fight. She ached everywhere and any movement beyond the rise and fall of her chest brought great pain. She had to move though, to keep her wrists from their strain, and as she pushed her legs straight again she groaned against the metal covering her mouth.
Deep laughter rumbled, and she did not realize that her newly straightened legs already bent from exhaustion. She could not brace herself longer than a moment; the world was blinking away.
A rumble in the distance, loud and powerful enough to reach even to her deep cave. She flinched; his temper was unmistakable, and when it was provoked he had but one method of calming his savage mind.
She hoped, though. Her burns were infected by now, and the raised flesh leaked thick white fluid when adjusted. She knew she was feverish, for she hadn't felt cold in days despite the chill in the air. When she looked at her arm she noticed swollen red tracks trailing down, ever downward. If the infection kept traveling it might reach her lungs, or her heart, or both, and then...and then...
She couldn't bring herself to think it, not even a moment. This was what the voice wanted, what he wanted her to succumb to. He wanted to see how much humanity could take before thoughts of self-sacrifice finally departed; he craved their weaknesses. Anything she revealed doomed people she would never know, and she refused to show him how humanity, when pushed to the brink with no further options, wanted life only to cease.
Too late she realized the error. Her thoughts were never hidden, not from the voice, and by thinking of what she didn't want him to know she revealed it. The laughter started again now, deeper, more cunning and full of victory. This, finally, was information he could use to overpower the mortals - merely by pushing them to the brink, closing all avenues of escape from their suffering, and in doing so sealing the fates of the weaker mortals, to then focus his rages on those that stood still in mourning for their fallen brethren -
The rumble faded. She let out a sob; she couldn't help it. If even one person was overcome because of her slipped thought, she would feel their death forever. She might be dead by then; would the deaths she was responsible for follow her into the black?
More noises, loud noises. Agitations and tremors. She squeezed her eyes shut and blocked out the sounds, her failure, and everything else.
The night passed restlessly for all of them and Steve realized that waiting was a terrible idea. He paced the spacious room where the Avengers were all sitting up awake, in various phases of agitation. Banner and Tony sat in a corner together puzzling over an Asgardian game similar to chess; Natasha and Clint murmured with the Warriors Three and shared battle tales. Thor was in his room with Jane, and Steve suspected the two weren't doing anything remotely restful.
"Captain Rogers, you should sit." The voice was female and stern, and he turned to see Thor's friend Sif regarding him. He tilted his head in question and she shook her own. "It makes me restless to watch you."
"Ah, er, sorry ma'am." He sat as requested in a chair near her and leaned forward, knee bobbing and fingers twining. He needed to move and Sif laughed to see it.
"Come," she said, and beckoned him away from the group. He looked over his team and met Clint's eyes before following. At least one of them knew who to ask if he disappeared.
Sif led them further from the room and outside of the palace walls, speaking as she walked. "You remind me of Thor prior to a battle. He could hardly contain his energies and fidgeted endlessly until the battle began."
"Sorry," Steve murmured, but Sif only laughed.
"There is no need for apologies. I have seen this battle anxiousness many times, and often helped Thor channel his drive into exercise."
Steve wasn't sure he should engage in exercise before whatever was bound to happen tomorrow but couldn't think of a polite way to refuse. The walk alone was helping him feel less uptight. Maybe Lady Sif had a point.
They entered the training grounds and Sif handed him a thick wooden staff. He hefted the weapon and raised his eyebrows when she drew her own from the armaments.
"Ah, ma'am, ah -"
"Thor says that you are not just their leader, but stronger than most humans. Will you spar with me?"
Steve knew he was being unreasonable. Sif was not only a warrior, she was Æsir. She could handle anything he threw at her. And still, his innate chivalry couldn't let him throw the first blow.
He was about to comment on this when her staff swung for his head. He blocked and swerved the pole so that her strike was driven into the training grounds. She flicked her staff up and he spun to the side to avoid taking a hit to the belly.
The fight began.
She was stronger than him and just as agile but not as quick, and he used this to his advantage. Their staffs clattered and cracked against each other, and every missed or dodged blow led each of them to hold back a little less. These staffs were made for Æsir training, not human, and could take considerable abuse. Sensing that he didn't need to hold back any longer, Steve shucked his efforts not to break anything and let his strength fuel his moves. Sif danced and played, enticing him further into the game and enjoying this match with someone who Thor respected. Though she felt that he might not be as mighty a warrior as claimed. Already he was breathing hard and seemed to struggle to keep up with her moves. She slammed the flat of her staff across his stomach and the mortal fell.
He groaned and started to get up, and she held the end of her staff to his throat. "Do you yield?"
"Never." He grabbed the end poking at him and shoved it to the side while his legs tangled through hers and pulled her knees to the ground. She collapsed without any load-bearing joints to support her.
"A tricky gamble," she cried, though she laughed as she said it. "Thor was right to say that humans would rather die than yield to another."
It was the wrong thing to say. Steve stood to set one end of the staff into the ground and looked away, panting. Sif sat up and tilted her head.
"Something troubles you deeply." Another similarity between this human and Thor. They both wore their emotions plainly on their faces and struggled to conceal or deceive. "I meant no insult -"
"No," the Captain said, and shook his head. "You're right. We'll do anything, anything, so that we don't have to yield."
To Sif, this was a positive point. To fight toward victory and die with honor - these tenets were held above all others upon Asgard. Why would this trouble the human so?
"And you do not care for this trait of your people?" Steve sighed and took the staff in both hands. Though he said nothing, she could feel his response in the way he held himself apart, the way his jaw clenched with unspoken words.
"Has Thor told you of his banishment?" Steve flickered his look to her and nodded. "And the reason why?" Another nod. Sif stood and moved to place her staff back among the weapons. The Captain followed her. "He did not regret his actions then, though he does now. He thought to defend all of Asgard with his siege on Jötunheimr." She looked at him. "Did he also tell you that we, his friends, went with him there?"
This got more of a reaction. Steve's eyes widened. "All of you?"
"Even Loki, who tried to talk us all away from the idea, and later saved our lives by alerting Odin to our actions." It burned her to admit that Loki had taken even one good step among so many disastrous paths, but the truth often burned. "We stood and fought at Thor's side that day, every one of us betraying our king's command for a little blood lust."
Steve shook his head. "No, he never mentioned that part."
"We were all fools to follow him." Sif crossed her arms and took her turn to look away, off into the distance of the Asgardian night. "It is easier to see the weight of an action when enough time has passed. For at that moment, in the cusp of battle, even the most dishonorable decision may seem correct."
Steve didn't know what to say. He couldn't explain the root of his troubles without explaining World War II and nuclear weapons technology, one of which he would rather not discuss tonight and the other he was ill-equipped to truly explain. How could he explain what it was like, to see an enemy so destroyed that even their shadows were burned?
"When we think we might lose, we use our biggest guns." She looked confused at the term, and he modified. "Weapons. We use the strongest one we have, and we use it fast. We don't wait or discuss the consequences or even hesitate. Humans, when we think we're on the brink of Armageddon? We go all out."
They started walking now, and he continued talking, finding her easier to talk to since she, like he, was a relic of ages gone past. "We don't care if you're innocent or evil. It's all collateral, all acceptable losses. Everything is done by numbers and no one sees the people anymore."
"Then you resent your mission here? To save one woman from your enemies?"
"There's an American life in danger," he replied bitterly. "What do the Æsir do when one of yours is taken in battle?"
Sif felt herself tense and realized she might understand his concerns after all. "It depends on who the prisoner might be. For Thor, as the crown prince, there would be war between the realms. We might negotiate if they are valuable enough. If it were a solitary soldier, from the common folk..." No. Not even the Æsir would negotiate for one life, if so many others were balanced against it.
"Would you kill them all?"
Sif looked shocked at the suggestion, and shook her head. "No. The warriors, yes, if they do not first surrender, but never all."
Steve smiled grimly and looked out at the stars above them. He gave up on thoughts of sleep tonight; even if he managed now, he'd only have nightmares.
"Humans," he said, "are not so kind to our enemies. If we can, if we think it'll save us for another year - we'll kill everything."
Jane felt like a contented cat, stretching as she awoke in a large, cozy bed surrounded by large, cozy arms. She almost purred but she didn't know how, and besides it might wake up Thor and she wanted him to have some rest before the rescue today. Instead of waking him, she stood up and walked to the bureau to play with her new toys.
The Æsir blended magic with technology seamlessly, and she understood now why Thor thought they were one and the same. Yet they weren't. She had spoken at length with Frigga about scientific discoveries on Earth, and even Odin had asked several questions to clarify or otherwise further explain a particular advancement. They seemed stunned when she explained the modern conveniences of the standard first world kitchen, and cars fascinated the queen, who saw great opportunity in a horseless chariot. She was less impressed with the fuel used to power these machines, until Jane pointed out that with a bit of their magic they might manage to avoid the need for mining and coal.
In return they presented her with small trinkets of unimaginable potential. The small charm Frigga offered repelled water from the wearer on a rainy day. They offered her samples of the alloys created on Asgard, thick and durable enough to protect their hosts, who were much more durable than the average human. They gave her books full of Asgardian knowledge, and though the books were written in a language she couldn't read, they presented her with another charm that gifted her the ability to understand the words on the page.
They wanted more history than she'd been prepared for. Jane knew scientific history and discoveries, which carried her a long way, all the way through the Enlightenment and into more modern times. She was able to explain significant advancements in her own culture and the Western world, but her ancient history was rusty and she struggled to tell them precisely how the Viking culture died out, or the modern day politics of Scandinavia. That Odin spoke of these people both fondly and with great respect made her uneasy. They were, after all, Vikings, who were not known as a peaceful culture.
She decided not to mention that. She didn't want to know if the king and queen of Asgard agreed with the old ways more than the new.
By the time she'd left them, her head was spinning with new information as well as the wonder of sharing a long conversation with two powerful alien beings. Not just first contact, but ambassador for her people! It was all very exciting, and she couldn't wait to return to Earth to report her discoveries to SHIELD.
She might keep the rain charm for herself, though. That could come in handy.
She was reading a passage in the Asgardian history text about the three roots of Yggdrasil and how they wove through the universe when a pair of big, strong hands wrapped around her from behind. She leaned back into the embrace and sighed happily. This was bliss.
"Enjoying?" The voice slithered and rasped, and she squeaked and dropped the book to spin around. When she turned, no one was there. Thor still slept in the bed, undisturbed by her sudden movement. She shivered and hugged herself as she looked around the room.
Just your imagination, she thought. But she crawled back into bed with Thor anyway, and his arm instinctively wrapped around her even in his slumber. She shivered until she felt safe again and fell into a light doze.
The Avengers were gathered on the Bifrost close to Heimdall's point, where the guardian looked out over the universe. They were subdued; between all of them there might be six solid hours of sleep, save Thor who looked well-rested and ready for the task. He clapped Tony on his metal shoulder, since the man's armor could take such a blow, and beamed at his comrades.
"Today, we set this to rights!"
"M-yeah. We ready?" Tony poked at the machine until Jane shooed him away and began activating the necessary functions for it to - hopefully - work with Heimdall's coordinates. "Everything looks good. The Tesseract won't burn out, it's literally endless power, so you just gotta make sure to keep this thing in our hands, not theirs. Nat? Right in the base, there."
Natasha stepped forward with the scepter, and Jane stepped back, outside of the theoretical range of the machine. She jammed the scepter into the slot at the base of the machine and the air shifted and warped around them. That familiar sensation of pulling, pulling, pulling - and then the sensation stopped.
Jane looked at Heimdall, who watched with the same passive expression as always. "Did they make it?"
"Yes."
She sighed in relief. One less worry on her mind. "Can you keep me updated on how they're doing?"
"If you wish it."
She looked at the spot where Thor had stood moments before and her heart clenched in fear. What would happen to her if he - if they - failed? She'd lose Thor and Earth in one go - for without the machine, she couldn't get back home.
"I wish."
"Homey." Tony stared up at the black mountain which loomed over them. Not just a mountain but a massive hive. Hundreds, maybe thousands of holes littered the rocks, and every so often a skittering movement betrayed the presence of life.
The sky was barren black and gray; the universe itself seemed to open above them and flow forward into endless stars. A platform hovered furthest away at the top of the highest peak; Tony could see it due to his zoom lens, and Hawkeye saw it as well.
"What's up there?" Tony zoomed closer when Clint asked. Steps leading up higher, and nothing on top.
"I don't know," Iron Man said. "Looks like a throne, but I guess the boss is out." Steve looked with them without seeing the distant specks. He shook himself and focused on the mission; they didn't have much time.
"This is the midpoint of the mountain. There should be a cave there, just ahead - Nat, Clint, you know what to do. Stark, you're with me. Knock'em down and I'll do mop up here. Thor, bring the lightning. Give them a big show; we need to draw them out and keep them out. And Hulk: smash everything."
The Avengers scattered. Iron Man and Thor leapt into the air and began an immediate assault on the mountainside; Tony littered the craggy surface with small explosions and raining rock. Thor called down a mighty blast of lightning which danced upon the mountain surface and hummed deep below. There was enough ore in this mountain to channel more; Tony called that out and Thor obliged, sending more and more electricity deep into the hidden recesses.
The Chitauri poured forth with shrieks and yells. The Hulk met them first and plowed into a cave with his fists, slamming any of them foolish enough to stay in his way against the walls hard enough that their skin ruptured apart.
Steve saw the first Chitauri in range before it saw him and flung his shield directly into the creature's throat, decapitating it when the shield bounced against the mountain wall to reflect back. Another came head on and the Captain used its momentum to land a punch straight into the center of its face. The second sprawled back with a Chitauri cry of agony, and still more came. Steve looked around the cliff face and saw his chance; he ran forward and hurdled from peak to peak, drawing the Chitauri upward and spinning kicks and punches into wayward limbs when they tried to imitate his parkour.
Natasha and Clint sprinted through the mountain on a direct path. Clint took point with his explosive arrows, which cleared more Chitauri in a single hallway . Natasha watched their back and waited for the ambush. It came forty yards down in a tight corner; they rounded and dozens of Chitauri surrounded them in an instant, hooting their war cries. Natasha pointed the scepter and found something unexpected: there was no trigger mechanism. She'd taken a Chitauri weapon in the New York battle and used it immediately; she'd assumed, incorrectly, that the scepter worked the same way. She adjusted her grip from rifle to spear and pressed into the tight corner to take the advantage. A thunderous explosion echoed in the small corridor. Clint was clearing the way ahead.
The closest Chitauri surged forward and Natasha dropped to her knees to bury the spear into what she thought might be his gut. She hefted the spear in the direction of the Chitauri's speed and he flew over her head, dropping his weapon as he went. She dropped the scepter for the blaster and returned fire, ducking behind the wall every third shot. When the hallway was cleared she retrieved the scepter and followed Clint forward. Now she was armed with both a close- and long-range weapon, and she utilized the diversity to great advantage.
They found the cave were Heimdall had guided them. The duo paused outside the dark room within to look at each other and steel themselves for whatever they might see. And then they entered.
Natasha had many reasons for suggesting herself and Clint for the rescue. They were the stealthiest of the Avengers, and that was the reason accepted by Steve. When they entered that cave, the secondary and more important reason came into sharp focus. Of all of the Avengers, only she and Clint were equipped to handle the results of vicious torture.
That the girl would be in a state was assured; it was the specifics of her condition that couldn't be known. Thor might have been able to set aside his instinctive response to the sight after lighting half the mountain ablaze with his rage; Tony would not, and Steve...
"Clint," the spy said, "is she alive?"
"Yes." The archer gripped the chains which clenched around her wrists to try and find a latch; the girl cringed and shook her head.
"Shhh, Lynn. Shhh. We're taking you out of here." Natasha tried to make her voice soothing and smooth. The girl quieted without opening her eyes.
"Nat, there's no latch to these."
The Black Widow raised the Chitauri blaster and fired straight up into the ceiling where the right chain linked into the mountain. The chain came out in a spray of rock and the girl slumped forward into Clint's arms. Natasha repeated the move, both chains came free, and the spies ran from the cave without further comment. They left the gag on for now; it would keep any of her cries muffled, which would conceal them now that they were more vulnerable with their rescue.
They burst from the mountain with Natasha in the lead, firing ahead to keep their path clear. Stark's blasts combined with Thor's powerful lighting created a hail of stone which showered constantly along the side of the mountain. Clint wrapped a thick arm around the girl's upper body to keep her head protected. Natasha aimed her Chitauri blaster into the air and fired. The blast was lost among hundreds more, and she couldn't make the scepter fire.
"I need a flare!"
Hawkeye shuffled, stretched and handed over his bundle for a moment to fire one arrow into the burning sky. It burst into a bright red cascade with a high-pitched whistle. Taking the girl back, they ran for the Tesseract's hidden location and hoped the rest of the team got the message.
Tony came in second-to-last as the Hulk roared closer, slamming into the ground and ripping the first crate open. "Deploy, JARVIS! Now!" The crate transformed in a moment from a rectangular box to a large platform which raised in the middle to guide the giant missiles. JARVIS aimed for the densest cluster of cave openings, where the Chitauri still emerged, and the missile blasted from the platform in a haze of smoke and fire. It sailed through the air as Tony hit the button to transport them away, and the shrieks of the Chitauri were silenced when the air rippled around them.
The first Jerico detonated as the second was fired. Eruptions followed for a mile of terrain across the Chitauri mountainside, killing dozens and injuring hundreds more. The shock-wave which radiated outward knocked those closest to the ground, soon followed by a second and then third round of powerful blasts. The bombardment covered the Avengers' escape, and by the time the dust settled their enemies were gone.
''She is taken.''
And the tether in place?
''As requested.''
The rumbling laughter was tinged with anger.
We will be led, then. Prepare the Chitauri forces. We will study, and observe, and rip their hearts from their chests.