Upon hearing the name of the country in question J.A.R.V.I.S. had brought a map of the world on the largest display monitor within the sitting room. Highlighting the location of the modest and unassuming country under a blue dot the team gathered around the display eager to prepare for the dangerous, but entirely necessary mission to retrieve the scepter and to stop what bizarre, dangerous experiments or weapon construction that H.Y.D.R.A. could still be utilizing in a deeply seeded plot to overthrow the world's governments and rise as a singular power that conquers the entire world.
Loki approached the monitor and pointed to the blue dot. "I could see my scepter on a metallic pedestal within the confines of an underground laboratory." Turning his gaze slightly he looked to Thor who was standing next to Bruce near the center of the group. "There were other Chitauri artifacts alongside my scepter."
"Then we should make haste and destroy this laboratory before H.Y.D.R.A. can make any use of their ill gotten weapons."
"You got that right." Natasha agreed. She looked to Clint who nodded in approval as he trusted Natasha's judgement as much as his own. "We get in, destroy the facility and get out before any innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire."
Bruce nervously spoke up. "Do we have any idea who this H.Y.D.R.A. agent could be?"
"Strucker." Natasha answered firmly. "And his little goon Dr. List is most likely working with him."
Tony arched a brow. "Friends of yours?"
"Just the opposite." Natasha's eyes suddenly darted away as if she were afraid of betraying her true emotions. "Men like that don't have a moral code or ethics. They're sick, twisted and enjoy taking people apart and putting them back together just for their own demented curiosity."
Tony paused for a moment. "Was that a shot at them or a shot at me? I can't tell anymore these days."
"Pretty far flight." Steve observed with mild hesitation in his voice. "Can we stay under the radar long enough to get in and get out without causing a scene?"
"Never." Tony replied coyly. "Discretion was never a team strength. We should really work on it someday. J.A.R.V.I.S.," Tony called out to his ever attentive A.I. with an emotionless tone. "Can you give us the exact coordinates for the scepter?"
'Yes, sir.' J.A.R.V.I.S. confirmed and brought the numeric coordinates up on the display. 'My sensors indicate the appropriate radiation signature on file for the scepter in question.'
"That settles it." Tony slapped Thor on the shoulder. "Let's suit up. Bring your brother, too. I don't trust him to stay home alone without a babysitter."
"Pardon?" Loki questioned with an uneasiness to his voice.
"Yeah," Clint joined Loki. "could you repeat that? We're going to risk bringing that cold, heartless bastard with us while we try to get the very weapon he's already used against us?"
"He's coming with us." Tony stated firmly while Loki turned his gaze away in shame. "Look, as part of a deal with S.H.I.E.L.D., you know, before they disappeared; I'd hire on a team of scientists to keep check on all our equipment, AND, we have some up and coming physicians who're making great strides in prosthetics and artificial organ replacements. Bruce and I have been working with the head of the department in person and she checks out."
Bruce cleared his throat and offered his own opinion on the matter. "Dr. Cho is going to set up some of her equipment and prototypes down in my lab and it'd be best if, uh..." He waved slightly at Loki who turned his face away and crossed his arms in irritation. "if Loki was not here when they arrived."
"But we-" Clint tried to argue but was cut off midsentence.
"Loki comes with us." Steve stated firmly, taking his role as the leader in stride and keeping the peace in the process. "He'll stay on the Quinjet, J.A.R.V.I.S. will keep us all connected with our radios and notify us if Loki tries to leave the plane. Alright?"
"Alright." Natasha answered before anyone else could rebel. "Let's suit up."
Gathered together on the Quinjet the reunited Avengers, plus Loki, soared off to the peaceful country of Sokovia in search of Loki's scepter and to track down the last of H.Y.D.R.A.'s scientists. Clint was piloting the Quinjet with Natasha as his co-pilot. Bruce had his face buried in his hands where he sat as he began mentally preparing himself to change into the 'other guy' and needed some quiet in order to think. Meanwhile Tony and Steve consulted the map provided by J.A.R.V.I.S. to plot the most appropriate infiltration mission at the absolute rear of the Quinjet.
Sitting silently, feeling like a scolded child, Loki stared blankly at the floor of the plane. Thor sat next to Loki to counsel his insulted and somewhat intimidated brother. "Be patient."
"Patient?" Loki shook his head a little. "Is this what is required of me to atone for my crimes? Patience."
"You know this to be true." Thor insisted with a firm hand on the shoulder. "Friends Stark and Banner have already shown a willingness to trust you, you also won the trust of Miss Potts and have proven yourself as worthy of redemption."
"But to what extent? Surely this will not be enough to regain what I have lost."
"I cannot say for sure. But, I know that you will find your way back from the darkness in which you have fallen and will have the light shine upon you once more."
"Thank you, brother."
"Heads up guys. We're landing in five minutes." Natasha called out as she took off her headphones and let Clint pilot the jet solo. Walking from the cockpit to the rear of the Quinjet she looked at Thor and Loki before taking a seat across from Bruce. "Are you ready for this?"
"Only one way to find out." Bruce lifted his face up from his hands and let out a deep, cleansing sigh as he looked Natasha in the eyes. "How will this work?"
"Just focus on my voice." Natasha explained in a comforting and soothing manner. "Focus on the sunset. When the sun starts getting low it's time for the 'other guy' to take a rest and for you to come to us, okay?"
"When the sun gets low."
"That's right."
Steve had overheard the conversation and stepped over to offer words of support for his colleagues. "You can do this. Just remember we're your friends and we won't let anything bad happen while the 'other guy' is doing his thing."
"Thanks Cap."
Tony confirmed the coordinates on the map to the coordinates of the Quinjet, as well as the coordinates that Loki had provided. "Looks like we're right on target. We need to head North about three hundred meters, but we'll find it." He turned to look to compliment Loki. "Good work there, 'navigator'."
Loki ignored the quip and continued to silently stare at the floor. Thor looked to Tony and shook his head a little to ask him to back off and not bother Loki for the moment.
"Wheels down!" Clint called out as the Quinjet made a very smooth and nearly silent landing in the middle of a forest just outside the perimeter of H.Y.D.R.A.'s remaining stronghold. "Suit up."
Natasha took her small pistol from her holster on her right hip and checked the magazine of the clip, then the safety. "Ready."
Clint took off his headphones as he exited the cockpit, his eyes quickly focusing on Loki for a moment before locking onto the metal storage compartment discreetly built into the interior hull of the Quinjet. Opening the compartment Clint retracted a large metallic bow case that held both his bow and a quiver full of numerous weaponized arrows.
As Clint secured the quiver over his shoulder and onto his back he nodded to Thor who rose from where he sat and tossed Mjolnir once in the air and caught it again. "I am prepared." Thor glanced at Loki over his shoulder. "Remain here. We will return presently, with the scepter."
"I hope you are correct." Loki dryly retorted without bothering to look his brother in the eye.
"New toys?" Tony pointed to Clint's bow case.
"And then some." Pressing a nearby button another compartment opened behind Steve and revealed a fast, sturdy motorbike had also been stowed onboard. "Makes it a lot easier than walking everywhere."
Steve unfastened the bike from its security straps and turned the key already in the ignition. The bike roared to like a smile appeared on Steve's face. "Brings back memories..."
'There are eighty-four heat signatures within the structure.' J.A.R.V.I.S. informed the team. 'I'm detecting at least one-hundred and thirty-two various weapons as well.'
"Bruce," Tony turned to look at the scientist who had become a very good friend to him over time. "we have a 'Code Green'."
"Right..." Bruce cleared his throat nervously as he slipped off his jacket and left it on the seat behind him. "If you'll excuse me," he took his glasses from his face and folded the frames neatly before dropping them onto his jacket. "I'll need a moment to, uh... change."
Tony stepped aside and gave Bruce an amused smirk as the shy scientist exited the Quinjet and set foot on the snowy forest terrain outside. Walking a few paces into the treeline Bruce took a deep breath and allowed the 'other guy' to make his debut.
The structure of the base was very reminiscent to that of a medieval castle. Stone barracks and turrets lined the property and appeared to have been abandoned, but looks could be very deceiving.
As a mighty roar of anger sounded off through the trees causing the entire forest to tremble under the singular bellowing soundwave, birds vacated the trees and other wildlife scattered about in panic.
"That's our cue." Tony remarked as he made a smooth motion with his arm causing his Iron Man suit to glow to life with power and encompass his entire body like a glove. The face plate of his helmet was still opened but slid closed as the rear ramp of the Quinjet lowered to the ground. "Call it, Cap."
"Keep radio contact at all time." Steve slipped on his famed blue cowl donned with the whit letter 'A' over his face and slipped the iconic red, white and blue shield from its support on his back and over his left arm. "Let's move!"
Rushing out of the jet as a team with their weapons drawn and minds focused the Avengers worked as one to locate and infiltrate the isolated H.Y.D.R.A. base of operations.
Steve raced out on the bike with Natasha as his passenger while Tony took off into the sky. Thor and Clint split off from the group to form a perimeter and keep the fighting inside the forest and away from the city less than four miles away. The Hulk, now ready for battle, charged on ahead and tore at every piece of artillery he could get his strong hands on.
From the distance an announcement blared loudly as patrolling guards caught sight of a massive green blur charging through the trees and a humanoid figure soaring over the treeline scanning the entire forest for any sign of radiation or other electrical anomalies.
'This is not a drill. We are under attack. We are under attack.' An autonomous voice warned the H.Y.D.R.A. occupants of the base, but didn't deter the Avengers.
Tony had located the inconspicuous base hidden beneath the structures of an old castle which contained a sturdy bunker hidden under the stone building and densely rocky foundation. As he charged toward the base an invisible, impenetrable energy field repelled his easily, causing him to tumble backward through the air before correcting his trajectory.
"Shit!" Tony swore at the unexpected obstacle.
"Language!" Steve scolded as he rushed through the forest fighting off armed guards without so much as breaking a sweat. "J.A.R.V.I.S., what's the view from upstairs?"
'The central building is protected by some kind of energy field.' The monitoring A.I. confirmed. 'Strucker's technology is well beyond any H.Y.D.R.A. base previously taken.'
"Loki's scepter must be here." Thor commented over the single line of radio keeping the team in constant contact. "Strucker couldn't mount this defense without it." Throwing Mjolnir at an approaching squadron the strong armed god easily took them all down with a swift blow. "At long last..."
Using her unparalleled skills as a former assassin and spy Natasha dispatched the swarming soldiers just as easily as Thor or the Hulk. "At long last is lasting a little long, boys!"
"Yeah..." Clint fired a few arrows at the soldiers from his cover behind some trees. "I think we lost the element of surprise."
"Wait a second," Tony interjected with his usual impeccable timing. "no one else is going to deal with the fact that Cap just said 'language'?"
"I know..." Steve easily disarmed soldiers charging his bike with their truck by throwing said bike at them with amazing grace. "it just slipped out."
Inside the structure the remaining H.Y.D.R.A. soldiers scrambled about in panic. While some soldiers fled the stronghold in favor of trying to stop the Avengers out on the battlefield, others gathered H.Y.D.R.A. equipment, research and weapons in a mad dash to hide the evidence and escape the area before the Avengers found it, or worse, used it.
Strucker himself marched through the center of the command post and questioned a soldier who was running by. "Who gave the order to attack?"
"Herr Strucker!" The soldier replied worriedly and quickly. "It's the Avengers! They landed in the far woods, the perimeter guard panicked."
Turning his attention to Dr. List, who was just as confused as he, Strucker addressed his most loyal associate with a composed tone. "They have to be after the scepter." He turned back to the soldier who was too afraid to move. "Can we hold them?"
"They are the AVENGERS." The solider replied in a less than professional manner.
"Deploy the rest of the tanks." Strucker ordered without hesitation.
"Yes, sir!" The soldier obeyed and ran off to issue his leader's latest command.
"Concentrate fire on the weak ones." Strucker plotted aloud to anyone and everyone who could hear his commands and obey. "A hit can make them close ranks. Everything we've accomplished... But we're on the verge of our greatest breakthrough!"
Dr. List finally offered his own opinion on the matter. "Then let's show them what we've accomplished... Send out the twins!"
Two young siblings, one male and one female, stood silently together in a large doorway watching the desperate attempts by H.Y.D.R.A. to fight back against the Avengers and flee with their illegal experiments in tow.
"It's too soon..."
"It's what they signed up for!"
"My men can hold them!"
Outside the stronghold Tony was still flying around attempting to break into the facility and locate the scepter before the battle itself became too intense and dangerous for anyone unfortunate enough to get too close to the forest.
'Sir, the city is taking fire.' J.A.R.V.I.S. updated in a timely manner.
"Well, we know Strucker's not going to worry about civilian casualties." Tony looked about the area below him and made a crucial call. "Send in the Iron Legion."
The Iron Legion, an army composed entirely of drones carrying the Iron Man likeness, soared from their storage in Avengers Tower and accompanied the Quinjet during its maiden flight to Sokovia. Hovering just outside of the airspace of the Sokovian forest as to not draw any unwanted attention, the mechanical guards flew off to the city to set up a small containment area to keep the innocent citizens from getting too close to the combat.
'The quadrant is unsafe.' The drones all spoke as one with a voice similar to J.A.R.V.I.S. 'Please back away. We are here to help. This quadrant is unsafe.' The legion repeated over and over again to reinforce the danger of the situation. 'Please back away. We wish to avoid collateral damage and we will inform you when this current conflict is resolved. We are here to help.'
The citizens didn't appreciate the imposing nature of the legion and began throwing rocks, bottles, cans and anything else they could hand their hands on while they yelled and protested at the intrusion of the Avengers. The obliviousness the Sokovians had toward H.Y.D.R.A.'s base of operations so close to their home was both a blessing and a curse.
'We are here to help.'
Loki sat quiet and idle in the Quinjet listening to the radio conversation taking place among the six Avengers and listening to the sounds of the battle all around him. The smell of gunpowder and ozone was a stagnant combination that even the dense hull of the Quinjet couldn't bar.
Yelling, gunfire, explosions, the Hulk roaring...
The sounds of war. A war that Loki knew he had helped start when he accepted the scepter from Thanos and led the Chitauri invasion against the Earth.
"Thanos..." Loki hissed the name bitterly. "How I wish I had accepted my fate to die amongst the stars rather than act as a pawn in your crusade. I was a fool."
The interior of the H.Y.D.R.A. base shook violently with tremors of destruction as the Avengers drew ever closer to infiltrating the stone structure.
"We will not yield!" Strucker shouted to his remaining men. "The Americans sent their circus freaks to test us. We will send them back in bags... No surrender!"
"No surrender!" The soldiers repeated as a unified chorus as they proceeded to join their allies in the fight outside the base.
Strucker turned to Dr. List and whispered discreetly, shamefully so only his colleague could hear him. "I'm going to surrender. You will delete everything. If we give the Avengers they weapons they may not look too far in what we've been-"
"The Twins." Dr. List suddenly stated.
"They are not ready to take on-"
"No, no. I mean..." List pointed to the corridor where the twin siblings had been standing moments ago. It was now vacant. "The twins..."
Clint drew another arrow and prepared to fire at an oncoming squadron when a sudden rush of wind blew past him and a powerful force against his back sent him flying forward. Dropping his bow and losing his grip on the arrow he fell to the ground but quickly scrambled up to one knee and picked up his weapon just in time to see the young male twin speed by him and stop just to mock the downed archer.
"You didn't see that coming?"
As Clint raised his bow to loose his arrow and strike his incredibly fast moving target a rogue shot from an unseen shoulder struck Clint in his lower right side near his ribcage and along his abdomen. Yelping in pain he crumpled to the ground defenselessly.
Natasha had seen her best friend get knocked to the ground and responded accordingly. Taking out the soldier who had shot him Natasha raced over to where Clint was laying on the ground to tend to his injury. "Clint!"
Steve heard the alarm in Natasha's voice and froze where he stood. But soon after he too was struck from behind by the unknown speedster who was attempting to thwart the Avenger's attempt to neutralize H.Y.D.R.A.
"We have an 'enhanced' in the field!" Steve cautioned as he shook off the cheap blow and continued to fight.
Inside the Quinjet Loki had heard Clint's groan of pain as he was shot. The worry in Natasha's voice had brought him to his feet despite not being able to do anything.
Looking out to the snowy forest through the still opened rear compartment of the Quinjet Loki took a bold step forward and peered out into the battlefield.
"Clint's hit!" Natasha confirmed as he she pulled a bandage from a small med kit attached to her belt. As she began applying pressure to the bleeding wound she ducked down slightly to shield her friend as she called for back-up. "Somebody want to deal with that bunker?"
The Hulk, having heard her plea and seen his friends in need of protection, went barreling through the area and tore apart the turret as if the stone were made of paper.
"Thank you."
Steve continued to fight off the soldiers alongside Thor and the Hulk, but the battle was quickly growing tiresome and far more destructive than they had anticipated.
"Stark, we really need to get inside!"
"I'm closing in." Tony stated firmly as he soared about the structure patiently. "J.A.R.V.I.S., am I... closing in? Do you see the power source for that shield?"
'There's a pathway below the North tower.'
"Great, I wanna' poke it with something..." Firing a well aimed repulsor at the nearly invisible generator the shield fell with a degenerative whir or failed electricity. "Drawbridge is down people!"
Thor looked to Steve for confirmation on their unknown foe. "And the 'enhanced'?"
"He's a blur." Steve shook his head a little. "All the new players we've face... I've never seen this. In fact, I still haven't."
Natasha's voice cut in over the radio. "Clint's hit pretty bad, guys. We're going to need evac."
"I can get Barton to the jet." Thor volunteered. "The sooner we're gone, the better. You and Stark secure the scepter."
"Copy that." Steve readily agreed with the plan.
Another squadron a soldiers attempted to converge on the two Avengers but Thor and Steve quickly took notice and neither man was intimidated.
"Looks like they're lining up." Thor noted as he raised Mjolnir.
"Well, they're excited." Steve quipped and he held out his shield and braced himself as Thor struck it with his hammer.
The shockwave created by Mjolnir striking down against the flawless Vibranium surface of the shield was strong enough to send the soldiers flying backward, stunned and unconscious.
Thor spun Mjolnir in a tight circle. "Find the scepter." Taking off into the sky he sought Clint and Natasha's location in the forest.
"And for gosh sake," Tony cut in sharply. "watch your language!"
Steve let out a weary sigh to himself. "That's not going away anytime soon..."
Natasha had rolled Clint slightly onto his left side as she applied pressure to the bleeding wound on his right side. Keeping her head low and out of the range of fire from the patrolling soldiers firing at everyone and anyone who was affiliated with H.Y.D.R.A. the courageous woman refused to let her friend lay alone and helpless on the snow covered battlefield.
"You're going to be alright Clint, do you hear me?"
"...Yeah. I hear you." Clint moaned from the forest floor, his face partially pressed into the snow beneath his head.
A soldier from beyond the trees aimed a rifle at the two Avengers while they awaited Thor's arrival. Just as the soldier was about to pull the trigger a twig 'snapped' from behind him, drawing Natasha's head up and causing the soldier to turn around quickly. A hard fist collided with the soldier's face knocking the man unconscious and to the ground in a heap; his gun falling from his hands and disappearing into the nearby underbrush.
"Come." Loki stepped over the downed solider and knelt beside Clint. "The cold will only hinder his recovery."
Natasha was hesitant at first but she knew that Loki had just saved either hers or Clint's life when he took down that soldier. "Get his arm around your shoulder." She instructed as she kept her hands pressed firmly against the bleeding wound. "Move quickly but not roughly."
"Understood." Loki took Clint's arm as told and draped the heavy limb around his shoulders.
Working together Loki and Natasha managed to get Clint, who was barely conscious, up to his feet. Carrying Clint away from the battlefield and over to the safety of the Quinjet was a cumbersome task as the uneven terrain, downed branches, divots and icy surface provided by the snow made the walk slower than what was preferable.
"Keep down." Natasha cautioned as she scanned the treeline carefully.
"Someone is approaching from behind." Loki whispered as he struggled to keep Clint, who was noticeably shorter than himself, from collapsing to the ground.
"Friend or foe?"
Thor landed on the forest floor a few feet behind Natasha, Loki and Clint.
"Brother." Loki answered coldly.
"Miss Romanoff allow me to aid you." Thor insisted on taking her place knowing that his strength would speed up the process of carrying Clint to safety.
"Right." Natasha pulled her two pistols from her holsters at her hips and aimed them forward. "Cover my six."
Thor whispered to Loki. "Her... six? Six what?"
"It's a Midgardian term referring to her back." Loki replied in an equally low whisper. "Watch her back."
"Ah, that I shall do." Thor proudly proclaimed once he understood the turn of phrase.
Natasha lead the way back to the Quinjet, firing multiple shots at the swarming soldiers to clear a safe path for Clint to be carried along.
Combining Thor and Loki's strength made it much easier to carry the archer to the Quinjet rather than Natasha trying to carry him alone. Even if Natasha had Thor's help it still would've been dangerous and slow seeing as both Avengers would've been too preoccupied with carrying Clint to properly watch out for any surrounding enemies.
Stopping at the ramp of the Quinjet Natasha turned around to aim at any possible threats approaching from behind Thor and Loki as the two brothers successfully carried the injured Avenger onboard.
Stepping backward up the ramp Natasha partially closed the only entrance onto the plane holstered her guns. "Lay him down." Pressing a button on the side of the interior hull a gurney rose up from a compartment contained on the floor of the jet. "Over there." She motioned to the gurney with one hand while opening another compartment with another. "Either of you know first aid?"
Loki didn't reply as he sat Clint down on the gurney and helped him to lay down flat on his back, guiding his head and shoulders down with his hand while the other hand remained pressed firmly against the bleeding wound in Clint's abdomen.
Thor shook his head. "On Asgard our healers used techniques beyond Midgardian medicine."
"Great." Natasha sighed as she pulled a medical kit out of the compartment and sat in on the floor beside the gurney. "Then maybe it'd best for you to help Steve and Bruce out on the battlefield."
A shot against the exterior of the Quinjet hull caused the trio to freeze and look toward the impact sight of the bullet.
"Or, I patrol the perimeter around the Quinjet and dispose of any soldiers who get too near."
"That works too." Natasha agreed. "Go get 'em!"
Thor pressed the release button the ramp and marched down with a sense of authority as he easily used Mjolnir to dispatch the gathered soldiers and fend off their attack from the Quinjet.
Loki kept his back to the gurney and to Natasha as he stared intently out through the rear of the Quinjet as Thor raced off into battle. Standing guard he remained vigil and alert to any possible soldiers who might elude the other Avengers and attempt another strike against the jet.
"Hey." Natasha called to Loki as she pulled an I.V. bag of saline from the medical kit. "Come here. I need your hands."
Loki turned his gaze over his shoulder to eye Natasha briefly before returning focus to the battlefield. Stepping backward he knelt down beside Natasha without breaking his focus.
"Put your hand here." Natasha pulled Loki's hand over to Clint's arm and pushed his fingers down against the bend in Clint's arm. "Now hold it."
Without a word Loki obeyed and kept his hand where Natasha had placed it.
Successfully inserting a needle into Cephalic vein in Clint's arm Natasha set up an I.V. line and attached the bag of saline solution.
"Okay. You can let go."
Loki nodded once as he slowly retracted his hand from Clint's arm.
"Can you keep the pressure on his wound?"
Again, keeping absolutely silent, Loki moved his hand up and placed it down on the fresh bandage covering the wound beneath. Applying pressure Loki forced him to ignore the groan of pain that escaped Clint's lips and to ignore the shuddering breaths he could feel beneath his palm.
"Clint, you're going to be fine." Natasha stated calmly and confidently to her friend as she checked the stability of his wound. "We're going to get you out of here."
Loki didn't dare to look away from the battlefield convinced that if he even blinked then a massive squadron of soldiers would swarm the Quinjet, killing everyone inside.
Pressing her finger to the com to her radio in her ear Natasha updated the rest of the team. "We're locked down out here."
"Then get to Banner." Steve's voice cut in. "It's time for a 'lullaby'."
Natasha didn't say a word as she walked toward the rear of the Quinjet. She looked back at Clint then to Loki, who was staring past her out to the battlefield where she was about to set foot herself. Certain that Loki wouldn't do anything reckless during her absence she left her friend alone with the supposedly reformed God of Mischief.
"...Loki?" Clint's weak voice called his name.
"Yes. I am here."
"...Natasha?"
"Retrieving Banner."
Clint tried to lift his head but he was too weak and collapsed back onto the gurney.
"Do not move." Loki urged without looking at the downed Avenger. "Your injury, though no longer life threatening, is still severe."
"I've had worse." Clint whispered as his eyes closed and he fell into a blissful state of unconsciousness.
Loki paused for a moment before replying to the comment. "I know."
With the scepter in hand Tony soared back to the Quinjet with Steve, Thor, Natasha and a half-naked Bruce following close behind. Tony landed inside the rear of the Quinjet and stepped out his armor, allowing the suit itself to retain a grip on the scepter. Steve raced in behind Tony with Thor at his side, the duo checked both the scepter and on Clint before taking their places in the jet. Natasha escorted a timid and very cold Bruce back into the jet and pressed the ramp button to retract it entirely.
"Let's go." Natasha commanded as she took a seat next to the gurney and put her hand on Clint's upper arm.
Tony entered the cockpit and put the Quinjet in motion. Allowing J.A.R.V.I.S. to set in the proper coordinates to direct the Quinlet back to Avengers Tower in New York City.
Steve took the scepter from the Iron Man suit and held it firmly in his hands. Staring intently at the glowing blue jewel that gave the scepter its power the leader of the Avengers tried to keep his thoughts focused on the mission at hand, and away from the mysterious twins who had appeared and disappeared from the battlefield like a spectral anomaly.
The male was fast. Like a bullet. Attacking with swift blows and disappearing before anyone could retaliate.
The female was unusual. She had the ability to manipulate the minds of men, bending and twisting their thoughts to bring their worst nightmares to the surface with horrifically vivid detail. She had managed to affect both Steve and Tony's minds for a moment; just long enough to shake the two Avengers.
Who were these two? Where did they come from? Why had they sided with H.Y.D.R.A.. and waged war against the Avengers?
Those questions, as well as a dozen others, would have to wait for their answers.
Clint's life was far more important than a pair of enhanced freaks.
Bruce, still trying to steady his nerves, changed into his extra clothes that Tony wisely stored inside the Quinjet, and isolated himself to the rear of the Quinjet to listen to music and get lost in the soothing melody.
Thor sat beside Loki and nodded to silently approve of his brother's decision to aid Clint and Natasha on the battlefield. A gesture that Loki appreciated a reciprocated with a nod of his own.
Clint was still unconscious but every so often his hands would twitch and his head would loll slightly from side to side indicating that he was somewhat aware of his surroundings as he seemed to react to the voices that began speaking around him.
Satisfied that Clint was stable and resting well Natasha turned her attention to Bruce, wanting to offer him words of comfort. "Hey, the lullaby worked."
Bruce slipped off the headphones and stared at them blankly. "Just wasn't expecting the 'Code Green'."
"If you hadn't been there, there would've been double the casualties." Natasha tried to ease his mind as the memories of rampaging through the forest and the resulting destruction on behalf of the Hulk began to settle into his thoughts. "My best friend would've been a treasured memory."
"You know, sometimes exactly what I want to hear isn't exactly what I want to hear..."
"How long before you trust me?" Natasha dared herself to ask.
"It's not you I don't trust..."
"Thor," Natasha tried to boost Bruce's self confidence a little more. "report on the Hulk?"
"The Gates of Hel are filled with the screams of his victims!" Thor all but cheered until Loki elbowed him in the ribs and gave him a dirty look.
Bruce buried his face in his hands and let out a groan of despair as the idea of taking lives easily unsettled his already delicate nerves.
"Uh, but the screams of the dead of course..." Thor tried to remedy the situation despite the intense look Loki was giving him. "No, no, uh... wounded screams; mainly whimpering. A great deal of complaining and tales of... sprained deltoids and uh... and gout."
Loki shook his head a little as he and Tony shared an unspoken eye roll at Thor's less than ideal praise.
Embarrassed Thor vacated his seat and joined Steve who was standing closer to the cockpit and held out his hands to take the scepter that had been their mission's prize. Holding it in his own hands he found himself empathizing with the emotional conflict that Loki had endured during the Chitauri invasion. The raw unlimited energy that flowed forth from the scepter into Thor's hands gave the God of Thunder a sense of power and control he had never felt before.
"Hey Banner," Tony thankfully interrupted the uncomfortable and tense silence that followed. "Dr. Cho's on her way in from Seoul. Is it okay if she sets up in your lab?"
"Uh yeah," Bruce found his voice again. "she knows her way around."
"Thanks." Tony replied as he opened the link to J.A.R.V.I.S. "Tell her to prep everything. Barton's going to need the full treatment."
'Very good, Sir.'
"J.A.R.V.I.S., take the wheel."
'Yes Sir. Approach Vector is locked.' The A.I. complied readily.
Tony exited the cockpit to regroup with his team in the back of the Quinjet. "It feels good, yeah? I mean, you've been after this thing ever since we learned that S.H.I.E.L.D. collapsed. Not that I haven't enjoyed our little raiding party, but..."
"No, but this..." He pressed the scepter down into the palm of his hand. "this brings it to a close."
Steve wasn't entirely convinced about the situation coming to an end. "As soon as we find out what else this has been used for." He pointed firmly to the scepter in Thor's grip. "I don't just mean for weapons. Since when is someone like Strucker capable of human enhancement?"
Tony tried to ease Steve's mind. "Banner and I will give it a once over before it goes back to Asgard. Is that cool with you?"
Thor hesitated and looked to Loki, who gave him a knowing look. Thor nodded in approval along with Loki.
"I mean, it's just a few days until the farewell party. You're staying, right?"
"Yes, yes. Of course." He locked eyes with Loki. "A victory should be honored with revels."
Loki's shoulders sagged as he listened to his brother. Victory was at hand only because of Loki's own past indiscretion. He himself had no reason to celebrate.
The Quinjet returned to Avengers Tower with the Iron Legion flying behind. An unspoken worry for Clint's health had managed to steal away the voices of the Avengers as the team returned from Sokovia in an uncharacteristic silence. The tower itself was bustling with activity as Maria Hill had been informed by J.A.R.V.I.S. that Clint had been injured and updated Dr. Cho on what had transpired during the mission.
A highly trained and skilled team of medical technicians had accompanied Dr. Cho during her flight and had set up a small, yet highly advanced triage center to tend to Clint's wound and keep the archer from suffering any permanent damage as a result of being injured.
As Quinjet landed and the team prepared to disembark Natasha grabbed Loki by the shoulder and pulled him aside. "You're going to need a disguise."
"A disguise?" He questioned with a sincere confusion.
"There's a whole team of specialized people roaming the tower. Some are formed S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, others are F.B.I. or C.I.A., but all in all if any of them see you they could report you and you'll end up imprisoned somewhere that's not very pleasant."
Tony overheard the discussion and sided entirely with Natasha. "She's right. If you get taken there's virtually nothing we can do to help you. I don't think even your magic could save your butt from pissed of government officials."
"I see..." Loki paled a little at the idea of being imprisoned for the rest of eternity once again. "What do you recommend?"
Natasha's eyes narrowed as an interesting thought popped into her head. "Hold on, I think I know what you can do." Pulling a phone from a small black pouch clipped to her belt she began accessing sensitive files that her (former) position with S.H.I.E.L.D. had been granted. "See this man?" She held out her phone to Loki so he could see the photograph and the file details accompanying it. "You can shapeshift, right?"
"To an extent." Loki admitted as he studied the image. "But I'm still recovering from near death, as a result my magic currently has its limits."
"But you can disguise yourself as the man for a period of time?"
"Yes."
"Okay, then do it."
"Might I ask whom this man is and why he makes an ideal candidate?" Loki wisely asked before making a move, despite the ramp of the Quinjet starting to lower to the landing pad.
"This man is a C.I.A. agent and cousin to Bruce's former girlfriend." She sighed as she mentioned the term girlfriend. "Nice enough guy, just estranged from the family and has always kept under the radar. I think he's her cousin. Agent Everett Kenneth Ross."
"Very well." Loki stared at the image, the details regarding the man's age, height, weight and build before changing his appearance."
Loki's taller frame shortened as did his dark hair. The black shirt and pants he had been wearing changed into a light gray business suit complete with a dark green tie over the white dress shirt beneath the jacket. Loki's green irises shifted into a blue hue and his overall build broadened only slightly from his normal lean frame.
"Acceptable?" Loki asked, his voice still sounding very much like himself.
"Yes and no." Natasha lowered her voice. "You still sound like you."
"I cannot imitate a voice that I have not heard."
"Fair point." Natasha thought quickly and looked at the men all around her. "Can you make yourself Clint's voice but a little deeper?"
Loki concentrated on the memory of Clint's speaking pattern and tone of voice before responding. "I am Agent Ross." He tested his new voice. "Acceptable?"
"It'll have to do." The ramp had finished lowering entirely. The Avengers all exited to make room for the entering medical team. "If anyone asks just say you're getting over a cold."
"A cold. How appropriately trite." Loki, as Ross, commented.
"Just play the part and you don't have to spend the rest of your life rotting in a cell or getting sliced up by sick scientists."
Loki/Ross stared at Natasha for a moment before allowing a faint smirk to crease his lips. "Your eloquence is matched only by your marksmanship."
"Yeah, I've heard it before." She put her hand on his shoulder, which was much easier now that the two were at a more even height. "Come on. Walk with me, it'll draw less attention."
Tony stepped out of the Quinjet and onto the landing pad. Maria greeted him in person and walked alongside him as the engineer strolled through the tower and looked at the medical team who raced past him to tend to the gurney carrying Clint to Banner's lab for attention. Steve was following behind Tony while Thor and Bruce took the scepter into safekeeping. Natasha and Loki/Ross walked side by side slowly as Natasha discreetly escorted the disguised god to a much more isolated room of the tower.
"Everything's all set up, boss." Maria updated Tony without flinching as Clint, one of her former fellow S.H.I.E.L.D. agents was carried past her. She was carrying an electric pad filed to the brim with data, files and protocols provided to her through both Stark Industries and from the information confiscated from H.Y.D.R.A.
"Uh actually, he's the boss." Tony pointed to Steve over his shoulder with his thumb. "I just pay for everything. And design everything. And make everyone look cooler."
Tony let Steve take his place as he was more interested in the scepter than he was data and charts.
"What's the word on Strucker?" Steve asked as he walked with Maria.
"N.A.T.O.'s got him." Maria stated firmly with a sense of accomplishment.
"And the two enhanced?" Steve couldn't get the two odd encounters out of his mind. While the male had managed to move with terrific speed and managed to elude the Avengers, the female seemed to have powers beyond physical prowess that stemmed from her mind.
"Wanda and Pietro Maximoff. Twins." Maria had managed to uncover their identity from the data files that Tony had copied after infiltrating the H.Y.D.R.A. base in Sokovia. "Orphaned at ten when a shell collapsed their apartment building. Sokovia's had a rough history. It's nowhere specials, but it's on the way to everywhere special."
"Their abilities?" Steve pressed on.
"He's got an increased metabolism and improved thermal homeostasis." Mario showed Steve the display screen of her pad to show him the profile photographs taken of the siblings. "Her thing is neural electric interfacing, telekinesis and mental manipulation."
Steve just stared blankly at Maria as S.H.I.E.L.D. science had always been beyond his own comprehension.
Maria caught herself and simplified it succinctly. "He's fast and she's weird."
"Well," Steve made a calculated decision. "they're going to show up again."
"Agreed." Maria showed additional information to the super soldier. "File says they volunteered for Strucker's experiments. It's nuts."
"Right," Steve dryly quipped to the woman in a low tone. "what kind of monster would let a German scientist experiment on them to protect their country?"
"We're not a war, Captain." Maria reminded him sharply.
"They are."
Natasha escorted Loki/Ross to a private chamber that Tony had installed in the tower for guests or his fellow Avengers to use while in New York. The chamber was exquisite compared to the prison cell on Asgard and a massive improvement in comfort over the isolation and cold interior of Banner's lab.
"You can stay in here." Natasha stated as she locked the door behind the two of them. "J.A.R.V.I.S. is still monitoring the tower so-"
"I will not try to escape." Loki assured her as he let his disguise falter, his voice returning to normal. As the image, the 'glamour spell' faded his body began to tremble from sudden weakness where he stood. "Had I the energy to attempt such an endeavor it would not matter, I have nowhere to flee."
Natasha studied Loki's demeanor, her keen eyes detecting the unusual frailty of the god. "Are you alright? You weren't shot while in the field, were you?"
"Certainly not." Sitting on the edge of the bed he pressed his hand to his still sore ribs and took in a deep breath. "As I stated earlier, my strength is still returning and with it my magic. To invoke such a powerful spell for a prolonged period of time is quite draining."
"Do you need medical attention."
"No." Loki insisted. "Merely time to recover."
Natasha could sense that Loki was being truthful in his statement. "I'm going to check on Clint. Don't move from this room. If you need something ask J.A.R.V.I.S."
"I will be fine." Loki sounded tired and ready to collapse. "Thank you Agent Romanoff."
Unlocking the door to the chamber Natasha left the god alone, unafraid and willing to give Loki the chance to prove himself after he had helped to rescue Clint from the battlefield.
As the door sealed shut behind Natasha and electronically locked behind her Loki sensed a presence in the room. Someone was familiar and someone who was trying to keep their presence as discreet as possible.
"I know you are there." Loki proclaimed boldly. "Show yourself."
Rather than a person manifesting in the chamber a wave of energy washed through the chamber, changing its appearance from that a lavish bedroom to that of the gateway of the Bi-Frost. Loki's green eyes flashed to an amber hue as his mind became connected to Heimdall himself.
"Heimdall." Loki was no long sitting on the edge of a bed but against the wall of the gateway chamber. Standing up he walked over to the central pedestal where the guardian was standing with both of his hands on the hilt of the Bi-Frost sword.
"Loki. I am pleased to see that you are still amongst the living." The guardian greeted with a respectful nod to the lost prince. "I have seen your deeds upon Midgard. I have watched you protect your brother and I have watched you protect his allies. Your actions speak volumes of a man seeking redemption, but your heart is still heavy with regret. What must be done to remove the burden from your soul?"
"Why have you summoned me back to Asgard?" Loki ignored the question and deflected attention away from himself.
"I have news regarding the Allfather."
The mentioning of Odin made Loki flinch inwardly.
"Perhaps you should address this matter to Thor. Odin's son."
"You may not accept Odin as your true father, but he is the only father you have ever known."
Loki looked away from Heimdall and dared to look down the glorious Rainbow Bridge connecting the Bi-Frost to that of Asgard.
"The Allfather mourns for you." Heimdall stated quietly. "His heart has been shattered by the loss of his Queen and of his youngest son. To lose Thor, who has declined the throne has brought him to his knees. I cannot bear to inform Thor of Odin's current state of mind."
"Why are you telling me this? What is Odin's mind of my concern? A failed son and a fallen god..."
"Loki," Heimdall's voice lowered but remained kind as he spoke. "despite all of Thor's strength and power there are some weights that he even cannot bear.
A wash of confusion fell over Loki. His now amber eyes focused on Heimdall as his brow furrowed displaying the same confusion he felt within his own heart.
"Please listen."
Bruce was studying the scepter in his lab via computer connection. The metallic weapon was stationed upon support mounts as to allow J.A.R.V.I.S. to scan the item and provide as much detail on the scepter as possible from an adjacent room to keep anyone wandering about from potential harm. Thor was standing guard over the dangerous weapon, using the quiet time to recollect his tired thoughts from battle and lack of sleep.
At the far end of the Bruce's lab Clint was laying on the medical table with Dr. Cho hovering protectively over him using her latest tech to scan his injury and prepare for a new method of rapid healing; of cellular regeneration.
"How's he doing?" Bruce asked he turned his attention from the scepter and to his ally.
"Oh, unfortunately he's still Barton." Tony joked as he walked through the lab.
"That's terrible." Bruce tagged on playfully.
"He's fine." Tony confirmed to lighten the heavy mood. "He's thirsty. Alright, look alive. J.A.R.V.I.S.! It's play time!" Tony began preparing a tray of drinks for the entire team to enjoy as he addressed his loyal A.I. without breaking stride. "We've only got a couple days with this 'joystick', so let's make the most of it. Update me on the structural and composition analysis."
'The scepter is alien.' J.A.R.V.I.S. seemingly stated the obvious. 'There are elements I cannot quantify.'
"So there's elements you can?"
'The jewel appears to be a protective housing for something inside. Something powerful.'
"Like a reactor?" Tony finished preparing the drinks and readied to return to where Clint was laying.
'Like a computer.' J.A.R.V.I.S. explained. 'I believe I am ciphering code.'
Natasha had found her way into the lab and was standing by her best friend's side. Ever professional she hid her emotions well but the sight of someone she truly cared about laying helpless on the cold snowy, forest floor had shaken her to her core. Seeing him awake and under a doctor's care had only provided the smallest sense of relief.
"You sure he's going to be okay?" Natasha asked Dr. Cho curiously as the odd contraption was placed a few inches above Clint's abdomen. "Pretending to need this guy really brings the team together."
Dr. Cho smiled warmly. "There's no possibility of deterioration. The nano-molecular functionality is instantaneous. His cells don't know they're bonding with simulacrum."
Bruce walked over and looked down at the newly created flesh that mended the wound. "She's creating tissue."
"If you brought him to my lab the regeneration Cradle could do this in twenty minutes."
"Oh, he's flat-lining." Tony announced his return to the lab with a tray of drinks in his hands. "Call it. Time?"
"No, no, no." Clint finally spoke up as his strength began to return. "I'm going to live forever. I'm going to be made of plastic."
Tony smiled as he handed a glass to Clint. "Here's your beverage."
"You'll be made of you, Mr. Barton." Dr. Cho cut in with an amused grin. "Your own girlfriend won't be able to tell the difference."
"I don't have a girlfriend." Clint admitted as finished taking a sip of his drink.
"That I can't fix." Dr. Cho joked as she proudly watched her machine heal the injury without any complications. "This is the next thing, Tony. Your clunky suits are going to be left in he dust."
"Well, that is exactly the plan." Tony remarked with a relieved lilt in his voice. "And Helen, I expect to see you at the party on Saturday."
"Unlike you," Dr. Cho retorted somewhat bitterly. "I don't have a lot of time for parties." She paused for a moment as an interesting thought popped into her head. "Is Thor going to be there?"
"Of course." Tony replied. "For him it's mandatory." His eyes went over to Natasha. "Speaking of which, how's his 'guest' doing?"
"Fine." She answered without blinking. "He's resting now."
"Agent Ross?" Dr. Cho asked completely oblivious to who they were truly referring.
"Yes." Natasha chimed in. "I didn't know you were familiar with Ross."
"Him not so much." Dr. Cho pressed her fingers gently against Clint's abdomen to check for any sign of possible internal hemorrhage. "But his power hungry uncle, yes. Everett has always been so sane compared to 'Thunderbolt'."
"Everett?" Bruce's brow arched as he looked to his colleagues. The look in Natasha and Tony's eyes told him to play along. "Uh... hard to believe a guy like Thaddeus has any family. Nice to see Everett. Again..."
Natasha walked away from the medical bed and over to the computer where Bruce was looking. Crossing her arms she looked at the data that J.A.R.V.I.S. was chronicling, barely able to understand even a fraction of the complex formulas and equations being displayed.
"Can you use any of this data to our advantage?"
"That has yet to be seen, but it's entirely possible." Bruce reached for his glasses resting on the desk top when his hand brushed against the book that Loki had been reading. "Huh?" Picking the book up he flipped open the cover and tried to read the dead language to no avail. "Hey Tony, what's this?" Bruce held up the book for his friend to see and hopefully identify.
"That..." Tony pointed to the book in Bruce's hands and made a move to take it. "belongs to Thor. Think I'll give it to him so he doesn't forget to take it back to Asgard with him."
Bruce handed Tony the book and returned his attention to the computer in front of him.
Natasha patted Bruce's shoulder lightly before she walked back over to the medical bed to stay with her best friend while he continued to heal under Dr. Cho's revolutionary technology.
Tony strolled down the corridors of the tower, ignoring Steve and Maria for the time being in favor of locating Loki/Ross. Knowing that Natasha would take him to an isolated portion of the tower he began walking through the guest wing of the tower absentmindedly flipping through the pages of Loki's book as he walked alone.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., where did Romanoff stash our master of disguise?"
'Agent Romanoff has taken him to the vacant room next to Thor's chamber.'
"Perfect." Tony picked out the correct door and stood before it as he slammed the book shut with a satisfying 'thud'. "Unlock it for me."
'Yes, Sir.'
The electronic lock unsealed itself allowing the door to open automatically. Tony stepped through the now opened door and spotted Loki sitting on the edge of the bed, motionless with his eyes glazed over and fixed on the floor at his feet.
Loki didn't react to the door opening or to Tony stepping into the room. He didn't move. Loki was so still one could've sworn he was no longer breathing.
Tony knocked on the opened door frame despite already being in the room and cleared his throat to try to pull Loki's attention away from the distant thoughts that were keeping the god so subdued. "Hey. I brought your book from Banner's lab so it wouldn't get lost or damaged."
Again Loki didn't react.
"Uh... Want me to leave it on the desk?"
Still silence.
"Want me to burn it to ash and take my pants off?"
When Loki still didn't respond Tony took it upon himself to find out why.
"Okay, I give. What's on your mind 'Thinker'?"
Silence.
"Look, talk to me now or I'll have Thor come in here and put you in a headlock until you start talking." Taking a step toward the bed he stood directly before Loki and casually began flipping through the pages of the book again. "Or the Hulk. But I'm willing to bet that-" Tony looked away from the book and saw something seemingly impossible on Loki's face. "Are you... are those tears?"
Loki looked up slowly, the redness of his eyes making his green irises shine brightly. Tear stains ran down from his eyes, over his cheeks and down to his chin.
"You're crying..." Tony sat on the bed next to Loki and set the book down neatly in his lap. "I didn't know you could that."
"Because I'm a cold, heartless bastard?" Loki asked while wiping away his tears with his thumb.
"Because you're a god." Tony tilted his head a little.
"Asgardians only appear to be gods compared to you Midgardians." Loki stated flatly. "Even so, I am a fallen god and have always been prone to emotions, just like you or any other Midgardian."
"As one formerly cold, heartless bastard to another; I don't think you and I should compare our emotional states to other people, pal." Tony put his hand to Loki's shoulder and shook him once. "Not the healthiest of comparisons."
Loki smiled and laughed a little at the comment. "Perhaps you're right."
"Now I KNOW something's wrong, you just admitted I was right about something."
Loki took in a deep breath and sighed it slowly without offering a single reply to the comment.
"Come on. Tell me what's up. Are you sick?"
"It is not something that you should concern yourself with."
"Shouldn't." Tony noted keenly. "But willing."
Refusing to confide in the eccentric engineer Loki kept his silence.
"Okay. You don't have to tell me anything." Sliding the book over from his lap and onto Loki's lap Tony rose from the bed and walked toward the door. "But you should tell someone. It's better than trying to hold the entire weight on your shoulders, trust me on this one."
Loki picked up the book and held it thoughtfully in his hands. "Thank you, Stark."
"Tony." Tony corrected as the door opened and set foot outside the room. "We've been on a first name basis for some time now, get used to it."
"...Tony."
The door closed and locked leaving Loki alone in the room once again. Opening the book's front cover Loki read the inscription written by his late Mother and allowed a fresh tear to fall from his eye.
"Heimdall, I know you can still see me." Loki closed the book and bowed his head. "I shall do what I must."
With the scepter successfully retrieved and now under lock and key in Tony's workshop the Avengers relaxed and took a much needed rest. Tony and Bruce were down in the workshop staring at the scepter with awe mixed in with their scientific curiosity while Natasha was helping Clint to walk around the tower and regain his strength now that his injury had been healed. Steve was working with Maria in deciphering the gathered H.Y.D.R.A. files in a private office located one floor below Tony's workshop, and Thor had retreated to his private chambers to get some much needed rest after dealing with the dangerous missions and his chronic nightmares.
Thor was resting on his bed with his eyes shut tight and his breathing rapid. Lost in the throes of yet another nightmare the God of Thunder struggled to relax as the horrific images of Asgard burning and the screams of his people suffering at the hands of a massive fiery enemy during the realm's final hours had unsettled his heart to devastating extent of utter suffering and internal torment.
Loki, who was laying wide awake in his own bed neighboring Thor's room, could hear his brother muttering protests in his sleep as the intensity of the nightmare only increased with each passing second.
Sitting up on the bed Loki looked at the wall that divided the two rooms and tried to imagine what his brother was going through.
Thor tossed and turned restlessly on his bed. The covers and pillows had been all thrown to the floor, a cold sweat covered his entire body and caused strands of his long blond hair to stick to his face and neck. As his hands batted fruitlessly and weakly at an unseen foe Thor muttered to over and over again at the atrocity taking place in his mind.
"No... Stop. Not this. Anything but... this..."
"Thor?" Loki had projected his likeness through the wall to visit his brother without leaving his own room. Partially translucent and easily phasing through objects that filled the room Loki approached the bed and leaned over his brother. "Thor? Wake up!"
Unable to hear Loki through the dream Thor continued to wrest about on the bed.
"Thor! Wake up damn it!" Loki shouted and swore just loud enough catch Thor's ear without alerting J.A.R.V.I.S. to the communication taking place between the brothers.
Thor sat up with a start and summoned Mjolnir to his hand ready to strike. "AWAY!" He commanded angrily as the image of the flames consuming Asgard mercifully faded from his mind.
"Thor! It was a dream."
"Loki?" Thor stared at the projection of his brother beside his bed, noting that the image wasn't solid and seemed to be flickering. "I can see you, but just barely."
"My magic is still weak." Loki explained calmly. "But my hearing is still exquisite. Your nightmare, it has become worse, yes?"
"Yes." Thor nodded. "It is more vivid, more real. I swear I can still feel the flames burning against my flesh."
"Perhaps you should seek council from Heimdall."
"Perhaps." Thor agreed as he wiped sweat from his brow onto the back of his hand. "Loki, I fear this nightmare is not a nightmare, but an omen."
"A prophecy?"
"What do you know of dreams and prophecies?"
"Only that what you describe could be considered a vision."
"A vision? Of our future?"
"Of a possible future." Loki emphasized the word 'possible' to try and ease Thor's already taxed mind. "A warning of events yet to come."
"What can I do? Tell me."
"I only know what Mother-" Loki stopped short and swallowed his grief as mentioning their late mother was still a painful subject. "What I know of visions and their possible outcomes is rather limited."
"But I still trust your advice." Thor admitted with a faint smile. "Thank you brother. I shall seek a council with Heimdall after I leave Midgard in two days."
"Two days? Ah, yes. The celebration is tomorrow night."
"You fear we are celebrating prematurely?"
"I fear your celebration is one that is entirely unnecessary. Had I not..."
"Loki, I understand that what you had done was the pressed into motion by this 'Thanos' tyrant. I do not blame you."
"I do." The projection began to fade and flicker wildly. Loki fell to one knee slowly as he fought to maintain the image.
"Loki?"
"I am uninjured. Just tired."
Thor studied his brother's face intently. "But that is not all."
"Brother?"
"Your eyes. I can see the pain. What has happened during my absence?"
"Not of your concern. It is my burden to bear, and bear it I shall."
"Loki, do not shut me out."
"I am not. I am merely keeping a promise." The projection began to fade even more. "We shall discuss this in due time. Until then..." Loki's entire image began to disappear from sight. "rest well, brother."
Thor wiped his hands down his face to remove the cold sweat as he contemplated Loki's words. As the future King of Asgard it was Thor's responsibility to protect his people and to consider every possible threat that crossed his path. A vision or prophecy of the future should be taken as seriously as any other type of threat.
Loki groaned in weakened pain as he laid back down on his bed. While it was steadily becoming easier to utilize his magic just as he had done before his injury at the hand of the Kurse's blade on the Dark World, it was still an exhausting endeavor to the healing god.
"Heimdall... In exchange for my compliance you must watch over Thor." He draped an arm over his eyes as he tried to quiet his mind during his attempt to drift off to sleep. "My brother is the only family that I have. My true family."
Throughout the night the gathered Avengers went about their usual business, taking the time to relax and recover after their hectic, but successful, mission in Sokovia. Clint was resting peacefully in his own private chamber with Natasha right next door. Steve had retired for the night as well, using the quiet time to catch up on his list of events he had missed during his seventy year slumber. Thor and Loki were also trying to rest, but the Asgardians were just as plagued by sleeplessness as any other Midgardian.
Dr. Cho and her medical tea left the tower without incident, leaving only equipment and filed behind.
But down in Tony's workshop the night was just beginning as he and Bruce worked to finish their analysis on the scepter before it was taken back to Asgard forever.
Terabytes of invaluable data had been collected and were already being chronicled for future use. The power contained within the scepter truly seemed unlimited, or at the very least held an amount of energy that was incalculable by any known human means. The potential use for the scepter was just as limitless as the scepter itself.
"We should get some sleep." Bruce suggested as he took his glasses from his face and rubbed at his tired eyes. "It's almost four in the morning."
"Is it?" Tony let out a big sleep yawn as he folded his hands behind his head. "Yeah, good idea. We have a party to deal with tomorrow night."
"Since it's already tomorrow, the party is technically tonight."
"Right." Rubbed his hands through his mess dark hair and let out a sigh. "J.A.R.V.I.S., continue the scan. Record every anomaly, quirk and detail you can find."
'Will do, Sir.'
"Come on." Tony motioned toward the workshop's door. "Even geniuses need their rest."
"You don't have to tell me twice." Bruce agreed with the sentiment as he joined his friend at the door. "Coffee can only do so much."
J.A.R.V.I.S. continued the scan unaware that a secondary consciousness had manifested within the enormous power of the scepter. The energy being emitted by the unusual weapon was strong enough to conceal any secondary energy signatures.
Clint, always an early bird and morning person, was the first one awake. Climbing out of his bed without so much as a wince or limp from his newly healed wound the archer made his way from his private chamber and out to the main sitting room at the top of the tower. Strolling through the sitting area his keen eyes caught sight of a figure standing idle on the landing pad that outstretched from the balcony.
"Loki?" Clint called out the name as he approached. "What're you doing out here?"
"Thinking." Was Loki's flat answer. He stood up straight with his hands folded behind back, his head bowed and eyes closed. The warm rays of the rising sun washed over his body casting a deep, black shadow over the white marble surface of the floor behind him.
"About what?" Clint asked as he stood beside the god. "How you snuck out of your locked room?"
"About home."
"Home, huh?" Clint's voice eased as he aggression toward the god lessened. "Yeah. I can empathize with homesickness."
"Your home is far, but not as far as mine."
"You're right, it's not." He folded his arms together and leaned against the wall connecting the balcony to the rest of the tower. "But it doesn't make it any easier."
"No." Loki agreed. "While I am far from my home you are far from your family."
Clint's eyes widened with righteous fear and his face paled slightly. "What do you know of-"
"You told me everything while under my mind influence." Loki reminded him begrudgingly. "For which I had never apologized." Opening his eyes he turned to look at the shaken archer. "I am truly sorry."
"...You knew." Clint straightened up and walked up to Loki to look him in the eye. "But you didn't harm them."
"Even I have a moral code." Loki stated without emotion. "One cannot help the family they are born into, nor the family that takes them in. Your wife and children are entirely innocent and always have been."
"I..." Clint had a hard time finding his voice. "Part of me wants to thank you for not using them as leverage against me, and part of me wants to kill you where you stand."
"It seems to be a common reaction to my presence." Loki calmed the moment with an unexpected jest. "Do as you see fit."
"Right now I want to see you locked back in your room, but I get the feeling that'll be a fruitless endeavor."
"Not as much as you might think." Loki's body began to fade as he decreased the level of magic he was using to create the projection of his likeness. "I have not actually left the room, but I needed to feel as though I was still somewhat free."
Clint smirked a little. "When are you leaving for Asgard?"
"Soon." Loki confirmed. "I will not be a burden any longer than necessary."
"Not so much a burden as you are an unwelcome house guest. Like a rat or a cockroach."
"I've been called worse." Loki remarked as he allowed the projection to fade entirely.
Clint watched the image of Loki disappear as well as the shadow on the floor. The sun continued to rise and the tower filled with the natural sunlight steadily.
"Good trick." Clint observed as the shadow disappeared from sight.
"What's a good trick?" Tony asked as he walked through the sitting area, not seeing Loki at all.
"Huh? Nothing, just thinking out loud."
"Well, stop it. I talk too much to an artificial intelligence as it is. The last thing we need is to have people talking to no one."
The day went about its normal routine as each Avenger awoke and set about their duties. Tony and Bruce returned to the workshop to readily to glance through the collected data while Steve, Natasha and Clint met with Maria and set about isolating every member of H.Y.D.R.A. and locating every potential stronghold that had escaped S.H.I.E.L.D.'s detection.
Thor walked into the room that Loki had taken residence finding his brother laying down on his bed seemingly asleep. Loki's arm was still draped over his eyes and he was laying very still.
"Loki."
"Thor."
"We must speak."
"Yes." Loki let his arm fall from his eyes so he could look at his brother standing at the end of his bed. "We must."
Without any further incidents or emergencies to plague the Avengers all of their attention could be focused on the scepter and ending H.Y.D.R.A. once and for all. The morning transitioned into afternoon and finally evening. The party that the Avengers had planned to celebrate their triumph over H.Y.D.R.A. was set to begin in a couple of hours and several interns working under Dr. Cho had graciously volunteered to lend a hand with preparations on the top floor.
"What's the rumpus?" Bruce asked as joined Tony in the workshop. The scepter was still aglow under the scanning light of J.A.R.V.I.S.
"Well, the scepter." Tony replied curtly as he paced about the expansive opening in the center of the workshop. "You see, we were wondering how Strucker go so inventive. So, I've been analyzing the gem inside; you may recognize."
Waving his hand Tony brought up a massive three dimensional holograph of bright swirling orange electrical impulses representing J.A.R.V.I.S.'s consciousness.
"J.A.R.V.I.S." Bruce did in fact recognize and subsequently greeted the A.I.
'Doctor.' J.A.R.V.I.S. reciprocated the greeting.
"Started out," Tony began his explanation scientifically. "J.A.R.V.I.S. was just a natural language U.I. Now he runs the Iron Legion. He runs more of the business than anyone... besides Pepper."
"Oh."
"Top of the line."
"Yes."
'I suspect not for long.' J.A.R.V.I.S. timely interjected.
Tony waved his hand again. "Meet the competition."
Like J.A.R.V.I.S. a three dimensional holograph of bright light swirling with electrical impulses appeared. But unlike J.A.R.V.I.S. this secondary intelligence was bright blue and almost twice the size of J.A.R.V.I.S.
"It's beautiful." Bruce admitted with a palpable awe.
"If you had to guess," Tony studied Bruce's expression closely. "what's it look like it's doing?"
"Like... it's thinking." Bruce's eyes lit up with inquisitive wonder. "I mean this could be a... It's not a human mind... It's..."
"Uh-huh..." Tony knew exactly where Bruce's mind was going.
"I mean, look at this!" Bruce outstretched a hand in the direction of the secondary intelligence as if it needed any additional attention. "They're like neurons firing!"
"Down in Strucker's lab I saw some fairly advanced robotics work." Tony continued on casually. "They 'deep-sixed' the data, but... I got to guess they were knocking on a very particular door..."
"Artificial intelligence."
"This could be it, Bruce." Tony's excitement began to build with each word spoke. "This could be the key to creating Ultron!"
"I... I thought Ultron was a fantasy!"
"Yesterday it was. "If we can harness this power, apply it to my Iron Legion protocol-"
"That's a mad-sized 'if'." Bruce held onto a thread of skepticism.
"Our job is 'if'. What if-"
Thor suddenly appeared in the workshop with Mjolnir tight in his hand. He knocked twice on the door frame to catch everyone's attention before speaking. Looking past the two displays of orange and blue lights he focused solely on his two fellow Avengers.
"Friend Stark, Doctor Banner" He greeted the two scientists without an emotion. "We must talk."
"We, uh..." Bruce tried to excuse himself but the god had already turned to leave. "Guess we'll be right there..."
"Push over!" Tony joked as he grabbed his jacket and slipped it on over his shoulders. "Come on, the only thing worse than an impatient off God of Thunder is a pissed God of Thunder."
In the center of the sitting room on the top floor Loki stood idle and silent with his book clutched tightly in his hand at his side. Thor stood not too far behind him while Clint, Natasha and Steve stood nearby in a small circle around the god. Tony and Bruce joined the others and stood around Loki as well.
"What's up?" Tony asked as he stared at the gathered onlookers with a bewildered stare. "Don't tell me Loki's summoned another alien army."
The silence that followed his comment was heavy and uncomfortable.
"Okay... If it's not an invasion then what's going on?"
Loki answered the question with a melancholy tone. "I must return to Asgard. Immediately."
"Wasn't that the plan?" Tony asked sarcastically.
Thor replied on Loki's behalf. "My brother is still recovering from his injury. He is much weaker than normal and still needs time to heal. But time will not wait. I must escort him back to Asgard tonight, and I shall return shortly after."
"Is... is there a reason Loki needs to be at full strength?" Bruce asked timidly. "I mean, it's not like he's going to go right into combat as soon as he's home, right?"
"No." Loki confirmed. "But war is always a threat amongst the Nine Realms. And if Thanos..." Loki trailed off briefly. "I may not be able to send a warning to Midgard if Thanos attacks Asgard."
"Thanos?"
Thor cleared his throat. "Loki explained everything to me, told me about this maniacal tyrant. He is one not to be trifled with."
"Why would Thanos come to the Earth?" Natasha spoke up. "We're not much of a threat compared to Asgard."
"No, but, the Tesseract's presence; while brief, will act like a beacon to draw him to this world."
Steve squared his jaw contemplatively. "Well, if anyone arrives in search of the Tesseract or seeking war then we'll be ready for them."
"No," Loki shook his head. "you won't. Thanos is... he's beyond reason. He believes himself to be on a mission to save the entire universe and will not let anyone stand in his way."
"Save the universe?" Clint nearly laughed at the idea of such a grand notion. "From what?"
"Itself."
Silence filled the room once again.
"Well... On that cheery note," Tony cleared the air as only he could. Sarcastically. "it was nice to see you, Loki. Uh, I guess feel free to keep a line of communication open but, uh, don't just drop in unannounced. Not cool."
"Of course." Loki looked to Tony and narrowed his eyes. "Thank you."
"Come." Thor put his hand on Loki's shoulder to escort him to the landing pad outside on the balcony. "We must leave."
"Uh," Clint quickly intervened before it was too late. "For what it's worth, Loki, thank you for... helping save my life."
"You... are welcome." Loki wasn't expecting the gratitude but accepted it graciously all the same.
"Hey wait," Bruce called after the two Asgardians as they set foot on the balcony. "don't you want your armor?"
Loki looked back into the sitting room as he and Thor stood in the center of the landing pad. "I assure you Dr. Banner I had additional armor on Asgard." Fixing his gaze on Clint Loki extended his hand and held out the book to the archer. "Agent Barton, this is your book, is it not?"
Clint's brow arched a little as he stared at the book. "It is?" Daring to step forward he reached out a hand toward the book.
Thor was just as confused as Clint but didn't question it as he knew that while Loki's motivations weren't always clear he did always have a reason for everything he did.
Accepting the book from Loki with a tentative stare Clint stepped back from the balcony and held the book between his hands.
With both hands free Loki made a swift gesture. Lifting both hands near his chest he clutched his three fingers together into a fist but he bent his index fingers into angles and pointed them toward Clint as if offering him an item. Shortly he after he flattened out his hands into downward facing palms and motioned down twice.
American Sign Language.
"Oh, right." Clint caught on and smiled appreciatively at Loki. "thanks."
Natasha understood what was going on, though she could not understand the exchange that had just taken place.
"It is time, but I will return." Thor stated as he held Mjolnir high into the air. "Heimdall, open the portal."
A rainbow hued beam of light and energy burst down from the sky and enveloped the two Asgardians within seconds. The brothers soared off into the sky and out of sight as they were transported back to their home world of Asgard.
"Huh." Tony crossed his arms as he watched the rainbow light dissipate as quickly as it formed. "That was weird."
Bruce nodded his head a little in agreement.
"We have some time before the guests start to arrive," Tony looked down at his watch and pointed back to the direction of his workshop hastily. "come on Banner. We have some more science to discuss before drinks are to be had."
"Yeah, lead the way."
Steve shook his head a little and wisely retreated to the bar while Natasha walked over to Clint and addressed her friend in a low voice as to not draw any unwanted attention.
"What did Loki say to you?" Natasha asked guardedly. "Was it a threat?"
"No. This book," Clint held it out for Natasha to see. The unknown words were a complete mystery to both agents as neither could translate the tale being told. "is a gift."
"For you?"
Keeping his voice as low as possible he answered her with mild shock in his voice. "For my kids."
...to be continued...
Author's Note: Hawkeye, as originally portrayed in the comics, is actually deaf. While perfectly capable of reading lips and communicating with his fellow Avengers only a few people actually speak to Hawkeye using American Sign Language. One such person is Deadpool! I just thought it'd be interesting to have Loki speak to Clint in 'his own language' if you will.
I tried to find the appropriate gestures to communicate "A gift for your children" using A.S.L., but it was a difficult search! If anyone can message me with the appropriate gestures that'd be great!