The kitchens of the residential component of Stark's tower were in uproar when Fenrir slipped in, still chewing on a slice of bread slathered in jam. Hel spotted as he slinked in silently and sank into a chair at the long wooden table. Thor barely even registered his entrance as he continued to berate no one in particular about the various events of the morning. She let him rant, she was no less pissed off. Not only was her brother sporting some nasty wounds that she still had yet to hear about but her family had been threatened by a deadly assassin who was supposed to be on their side. She had to admit she truly hadn't expected betrayal from that quarter. Barton, sure, Tony? Likely. But Natasha? Hel had thought she would have been able to see the strategic need for Loki. It didn't matter that she and Darcy had been fucking not too long ago, that was no reason to risk alienating one of the most dangerous beings in the universe. Besides that, Darcy was perfectly fine, making the whole damn event unforgivable.
"Thor, we're all on your side in this. Romanov went rogue, what do you want me to do?" Tony sighed, frustrated but used to his comrade's temper tantrums.
Thor bared his teeth, his rage causing a clash of thunder outside the window. Hel sighed. "Thor, what have we agreed about you handling your emotions and keeping the weather under control?" Hel jumped in.
"Please, think of the flower farmers." Jormungand chimed in. Hel couldn't help a fond smile for her brother. He sat at the other end of the table, digging into a stack of pancakes with gusto and pretending to be ignorant of the frequent stolen glances that both Barton and Rogers were sneaking from where they stood with Thor in the kitchen. She sighed again as she toyed with her own, considerably smaller breakfast. It was like a grade nine classroom in here.
Thor took a moment with his eyes screwed closed, chest heaving before he closed a fist and the storm shut off outside. "Thank you." Hel said politely before daintily eating a forkful of pancake and bacon slathered in maple syrup. God bless the Canadians for that particular piece of culinary genius. "Now perhaps we can all sit down and eat like people while Tony tries to wrangle his resident Russian Spider." She shot Tony a semi apologetic look at his crestfallen expression, but it was his home she had been sneaking about with her knives and guns and fucking tranq darts without detection. Where JARVIS was at the time Hel had no idea. "Instead of behaving like a pack of wild animals fighting over a scrap of meat." She heard a jocular huff from her younger brother and quickly added sarcastically. "Not wolves, you understand as they are the height of animal culture and kings of the wild lands." She took a sip of coffee. Damn, that was good. She took another sip, closing her eyes in bliss.
Both of her brothers were laughing and Tony made confused face. Really he was so cute. "Why is it you three out of everyone that are joking around about this?"
Thor sat heavily in one of the large chairs at the table and groaned. Hogan spoke up from where he was nursing a coffee next to Hel, looking worse for wear after Natasha's treatment. "The three children of Loki have been in far greater danger so often in their lives that they have learned not to dwell too much on it. Their lives are nearly always in danger from some angle... Perhaps not you so much these past few centuries, Hel." She smiled fondly at her latest love. No, not so much her. Not anymore.
"Excuse my ignorance but... why? I'm gathering it isn't just because your father is kind of an asshole."
Thor chimed in. "I suppose some of it is because my brother has a habit of ... annoying people." All three of the 'children' in question laughed. Thor continued, not joining with their mirth. "But most of the issue is the fact that they are royalty twice – no - thrice over."
"Thrice?" Steve asked, all but counting out on his fingers as he struggled with the math. Hel smiled as she watched him.
She decided to end his misery, ticking them off on her long fingers for effect, and casting her voice like a skard. "Loki Silver tongue was born first of Laufey, the late King of Jottenheim." She didn't mention the fact that Loki had betrayed and killed Laufey, as it wasn't applicable to the conversation. That was a story for another day. "He was then 'adopted'" That particular word was dripping with sarcasm for her father was arguably stolen. "By Odin, Allfather of the nine realms and High King of Asgard... And then there is our mother," Hel's voice softened here, and grew quiet. "She was the Fire Queen of the eight tribes of Muspellheim, The Sister of Dragons. And that, my friends, is how we can the thrice royal. Though not too many know of our connection to Laufey and The Allfather doesn't exactly acknowledge us as part of the line there are many who see us a danger, particularly because of the dragons."
"The dragons?" Clint's eyes were wide.
"Yes." Jormungand looked smug, as well he would, the brat. "Dragons." His lovely eyes glittered with secrets untold.
Hel interrupted before any more could be said on that subject. "It's a long story for another time, or preferably, never. The other, probably most significant reason people are not likely to ever let up trying to end our lives is something you will be familiar with as it is part of your myths here on earth."
"Ragnarok." Fenrir was staring into his coffee, face no longer showing any sign of humour. His hand was holding a napkin in a fist, his knuckles white.
"Ragnarok." She repeated. The reason for so many trials and tragedies in their lifetimes. "There have been many who would prevent such an event by imprisoning, torturing or attempting to murder the more frightening elements of the prophecy, no matter if they were children at the time, or avowed to keeping peace." She laughed, a bitter, brittle sound. "It's funny, that never really happened to you, Thor, though you play a very large part in the prophesies. Or the mighty Heimdall for that matter. Or in fact Odin, which is hardly a surprise as he was undoubtedly the source of much of the violence. Can you imagine, being so terrified of your son, or your grandchildren that you could chain them in a cave in the middle of the Siberian Tundra, Or a sea cave in order to quench a fire. Or..." Hogan laid his hand gently on the small of her back as tears slid down her cheeks, her eyes on her brothers, who were both allowing themselves to look miserable. Her shoulders shuddered with restrained sobs.
Thor leaned across the table and took her hands into his own, gently pushing her forgotten plate away. "I'm so sorry Hel."
The sarcasm in her reply could have cut her uncle like a knife. "Sorry? Whatever would you have to be sorry for, Uncle Thor? Whyever would you have any cause for reg-" Hel knew she was getting away from herself and abruptly stopped.
Thor, to her surprise answered her, though it was obvious her questions had been rhetorical. His voice was soft and his face filled with real apology. "Because I chose not to see where the truth was clearly laid out in front of me. My father-" Tears streamed down his face and he looked into her eyes. He shook his head, refusing to lay blame but instead taking it upon his shoulders. "I chose to believe that your father had been making mischief, purposely disrupting the court and so I accepted the Allfather's harsh punishments as just when they were not. I believed that you were-" Hel held up her hand as she could not bear to hear it. Monsters. Unnatural. Where the words Odin had used. Dangerous. Threat. Were what he'd actually believed, but Thor was not so subtle, he'd none of the Frost Giant love of word play, of speaking one word out loud and clearly meaning another. He had only things such as truth, and honour, and had no reason to believe anyone held anything else. How Thor could be the son of Frigga was anyone's guess. "Those words plague your family- our family and it has to end. And so I apologise for my part."
She only said "Those questions were rhetorical." And sniffed, trying to find her dignity once more.
Thor's smile was wan, wet with tears. "I know, but they have long deserved an answer."
The room was quiet, no one really wanting to be the next to speak. Jormungand stiffly went back to his meal, his back straight and eyes veiled by silver lashes as he processed the words that were just flung about in public. Hogan followed suit. Fenrir stood and took some time to himself on the balcony outside his shoulders stiff as he leant on the balustrade, feigning interest in the view. Tony left, presumably to berate Natasha. Hel heard the others moving and the clattering of dishes around her as she and Thor continued to look at each other, his hands holding hers, speaking a thousand things in silence. Thor was ready, then. Ready to try to mend the bridges Loki had burned so long ago to protect his family. Hel nodded and broke eye contact. She gently tugged her hands away but not before Thor gave them a squeeze. She leaned back and bent to whisper in Hogan's ear, proposing a nap. He nodded solemnly, finishing his meal and they both left the room together. Hel exchanged one more look with her uncle before Hogan lead her away, towards his borrowed rooms down the hall.
He tugged her gently inside his apartment, and softly closed the door, leaning on it and watching her quietly. She wilted a little once they were alone, her hands shaking. "Well. That was embarrassing and incredibly awkward." Her joke fell flat. Hogan was, of course, one of the tougher crowds she'd ever had. His face remained grim, though his eyes were soft.
"You have every right to lose composure every once and a while. You three have survived many horrendous things, over the centuries." She stepped forwards and he pulled her to him. She moulded her body to his, leaning into the door with him. He was so warm, and smelled of leather and the oil he used to clean his weapons. She breathed him in. He kissed her on the top of the head, but made no other move. She closed her eyes and buried her face in the crook of his neck, his course hair ticking her cheek. Who knew Hogan the Grimm would be such a good hugger? Slowly, she felt the anxious knot in her belly uncoil, her shoulders relax. Eventually she pulled away and she asked "Would you mind if I claimed you bed for a little while? I'm so tired."
He nodded and if she didn't know better she would think the smile he gave her held mischief, but his tone was as serious as always. "Only if you don't mind sharing it, neither of us have slept this night."
Hel smiled as well, taking his hand and pulling him away from the door. She looked at his armour. That was definitely coming off. She walked backwards in the direction she assumed the bedroom was in, one hand pulling him after her and the other working at a buckle on his side. He smiled again and helped her out. In the hall outside his bedroom he took her by surprise, angling her into the wall, his lips on hers gentle but eager, his tongue losing no time in seeking entry to her mouth. She allowed it, her teeth scraping at his bottom lip, hands continuing to work at his armour. Hogan's hands buried themselves in her hair, tugging gently to adjust the angle of her head in order to deepen their kiss. She sighed. Oh, this was good. This. This was lovely. His talented hands slid down her neck, and shoulders to her waist and her own forgot what they were about, her arms curling above her head as his lips travelled from her mouth to her temple, behind her ear, her neck... "Hgnh, Hogan." She whispered as his hands gripped her hips firmly and he manoeuvred one of his thighs between her own. She wanted his mouth back. She reached for his head and pulled his lips back to hers and pushed away from the wall in order to get closer to him. She wanted...oh how she wanted. "I've wanted this for so long." She managed to say before he claimed her mouth again. She'd totally thought she'd be the one leading things, and how wrong she'd been. He picked her up, his hands gripping her ass to do so, and she happily wrapped her legs around his waist as he walked them into the bedroom. He placed her gently on the edge of the bed, remaining on his feet, bending at the waist and kissing down her neck as she felt his hands travel ever so slowly down her body. They had just found her breasts when a knock sounded at the door. They both froze. "Fuuuuuck." Hel groaned, her hands knotted in Hogan's hair. "If that's Fandral you tell him he'd better run because I'll kill him, I swear I'll kill him." She said breathlessly as she allowed her head to fall back on the bed.
Hogan actually laughed from where his head was buried in her shoulder. Another knock. Some very colourful Vanir language. He went to pull away and Hel refused to let go of his hair for a moment, his head hovering just above her. He looked into her eyes and kissed the corner of her mouth. "I'll come back."
She groaned as his hands slid away and she threw a knife at the wall to show her frustration, earning her another laugh from the warrior. He slipped from the room, closing the door gently behind him. Hel huffed in frustration, blowing some hair from her face. She stared at the ceiling as she listened to the muffled exchange of deep voices at the door. It was Thor. Trust him to have the tactlessness to interrupt them right now.
Hogan rejoined her with a look of devastation on his face. She sat up. "What's wrong?"
He shook himself. "Sorry, I'm just..." He started buckling his armour back on. She watched his fingers work in exactly the opposite direction to what she would wish. Damn it, would she ever get to see him naked?
"Will I ever get to see you naked?" she whined, pouting as she stood and crossed the room to help him straighten his hair.
He sighed, a sad sound to match the miserable expression he was looking at her with. "My Lady I assure you the feeling is reciprocated." His eyes were downcast, his lips red and swollen. "I wish that I could stay and finish what we started but the Allfather has summoned the Lady Sif and me to report. Volstagg just arrived with the summons and to take my shift." She narrowed her eyes. If she didn't know better she'd say Odin was doing this on purpose. But she did know better, she'd hidden them from Hiemdall's gaze. She took his face between her hands and gave him a goodbye kiss to remember, shoving her thigh between his legs and making him groan into her mouth. His fingers dug into her hips as he gave back what he was given. "Lady." Lips. "I must go." She ran her tongue over his teeth, another groan. "Lady." She kissed his cheeks, the corner of his mouth, his eye lids. His hands travelled up her back. She couldn't actually believe this was happening. She sighed and pulled away, his hands sliding over the lace of her dress as she retreated. His look was forlorn. "I will see you soon, I hope."
She nodded; she had no idea when that would be. She nibbed at her lip. She couldn't bear to walk out of that door. "Tell them I had to get back?" He nodded, understanding and she traced his cheek with a thumb before she sighed, and disappeared. She left her knife in the wall for him to remember her by.
As she arrived in her rooms and peeled off her dress and her incredibly wet underwear she swore in about seven different languages. By the Norns she would have her revenge. She wished Darcy was awake to drink with. A scalding hot shower. A hot shower and a nap. That, at least she could do.