A bit unexpected
James jolted out of his nightmare and rung for air. "Thorun…" He mumbled as he held his gaze fixed onto his blanket. Then it hit him. Why was he in a bed and not on the battlefield? And why was he surrounded by those machines, which seemed to analyze everything of him? Why was he in so much pain? James looked down and saw that he was covered in bandages and that his leg was plastered. As he heard someone suddenly opening the door to his room his eyes lifted from the sheets, whereupon all the color must have vanished from his face.
"So you're finally awake." In front of him stood a tall, dark blonde, muscular man smiling at him. His arm were crossed in front of his chest, while he walked up to James' bed. He wore a checkered shrit that was tucked into his pants, which he secured with a brown belt. One could say what one wanted but it seemed I a way old-fashioned. His blue eyes sparkled as they watched James and never left him as he came to a halt next to James' bed. "How are you feeling?" He asked truly concerned.
James gulped and tried to sit up straight without feeling too much pain. "If I was run over by a truck."
The man laughed with his baritone of a voice and lay a hand on James' shoulder. "I can imagine. You and your friends were in a pretty bad condition."
James jumped and met the man's gaze, sky blue met sky blue. "How are my friends? What happened to them?"
"They are on their way to recovery. You're one of the last ones to wake up, though."
James nodded at these words. "Can I see them?" He then asked and caused the man to laugh.
He nodded. "Of course. Your crutches are beside your bed."
James nodded and threw his sheets off him to grab the crutches. Afterwards he began to rise and began to make his way out of the room. As he reached the door and the man opened it for him he nodded at him to thank him. "Thank you, d-… eh…" James bit his tongue.
The man looked at him, confused, but then laughed again. "Where are my manners? My name's Steve, Steve Rogers."
James forced himself to smile and not completely loose it. "James… just James."
Steve frowned but decided to let it slide. "Alright, let's get you to your friends." James nodded and let Steve lead him through the building. It seemed like an extreme expensive penthouse… where the hell was he?
"Ehm… Steve?" James looked up to him, arduous, whereupon the soldier looked down on him. "Where are we?"
"Avengers' headquarter, like Tony calls it. For me personally it's just a pretentious mansion." He chuckled and opened a door behind which a huge living room with ocean view lay. On the couch landscape in the middle of the room they sat… he must still be dreaming.
"James! Finally, man, we were worried!" Azari called and jumped towards him. James tried to keep his balance as Pym tackled him into a hug, but thanks to Francis he was able to keep it and smilingly nodded at his friend.
"Tony was worried sick." Pym exclaimed and helped his adoptive brother to the couch. Frowning James looked around.
"Where is he?" He then asked, confused, whereupon one of the adults budded in.
"I believe I can help." It was a beautiful woman, with the same shade of red hair than James and comforting green eyes. She wore a simple t-shirt and jeans, on her left hand sparkled a white gold ring, which decorated three gems – two small diamonds and in the middle a Paraiba tourmaline. How did he know that? The reason is simple: it was his mother's engagement ring. "Natasha Romanoff." She introduzed herself and sat down across from James.
She looked straight into his eyes. James could still remember every detail that was his mother. "He's with your friend. And so is Thor."
James listened up. "Thorunn? What about her? Is she-"
"She is alive, James, don't worry." Francis assured him and sat down next to a man with his features. Who without a doubt was Cliff Barton.
Before James could say something the double doors to the next room flew open and revealed a young version of his foster father. "Sorry, did I miss the party?"
"No, you're just on time, Tony." A deeply tanned, muscular, tall man with black hair and green eyes, with pupils like a cat's said. It just had to be Azari's father.
The young Tony groaned and took off his sunglasses. "Damn…"
Black Panther growled, whereupon Tony raised his hands. "Woaw, chill, C."
"Tony, this is serious. It doesn't happen every day that children appear unconsciously on our driveway out of nowhere." Steve said, whereupon Natasha lay a hand on his arm. That caused him to look at her lovingly and seemed to calm down.
So that's what it feels like to have parents…, James thought and smiled at the scene before him and wondered how far they were send back in time.
"Hey! We aren't children anymore. We are over 20 years old… well, most of us." Azari objected and sank back into his seat.
"Fine, then let's get the geezer and goldilocks and solve this mess. I've still got some work to do." Tony said, while he walked over to the bar to get himself a drink, while Natasha handed every teenager something to drink.
"You still want to build this robo-cop?" Azari's dad asked, whereupon Tony mumbled something.
"His designation is Ultra-bot, thank you very much." At these words the few teens that were drinking spluttered. That brought them the adults' attention.
"You okay?" Steve asked, while Azari and Pym tried to calm down. Pym was the first one to speak up.
"Are you sure, that you want to build this robot?" He asked as he put his glass aside.
The billionaire frowned and examined the boy. "Why should I not?"
"Eh…" Before he could form an answer the older Tony and a man, who Pym identified as Thor, entered the living room.
"It's a bit complicated to explain. It's got to do with the time we are from." Tony tried to explain and sat down onto the couch.
Steve put his arm around his fiancé. "Fine… care to explain your situation and what time you are from?"
The four boys looked at Tony, causing him to sigh. He raised his gaze and lay it on the old Avengers. "We are from a world that is good 30 years in your future. A lot isn't like it used to be. The parents of these four died, trying to protect the world from the evil that I created for a good purpose. A robot serving to defend our world from evil so that my friends were able to start a family." With these words he looked at his younger self, who seemed to understand what Tony was talking about. "We were able to separate him from the internet and to hold him in one body, but… we don't know how our last fight ended."
"Before you could, you arrived here." Thor concluded and Tony nodded.
He looked at everyone in the round and at last his eyes landed on his younger self, who began to speak. "Who are you?" The older Tony just smirked.
"Shouldn't Tony Stark be smart enough to figure it out?" He swallowed and walked up to the old man.
He examined his features and suddenly began to laugh. "I still look flattering."
The Avengers stared at him with wide eyes or frowns on their faces, while the older Tony laughed. "A bit rusty but still functional."
"And less sarcastic." Pym added what earned him an evil glare from both Starks.
"And we raised these… kids?" The young Tony asked and received a nod from his aged self.
"Their parents asked for it." His gaze fell on the original Avengers, whereupon all the color was drained from their faces. Their eyes went to the young adults across from them. Different gazes fixed on an individual teenager.
Natasha's eyes filled with tears as her hand covered her mouth, while Steve held tightly onto her as they watched James.
Cliff examined Francis, while a drop of sweat ran down his temple.
Pym turned to his foster father and showed his younger version his arm. Giant Man and Wasp were on their honeymoon, his younger foster father informed him, whereupon the young man began to laugh and looked at the others. It took them a moment but then everyone began to laugh and hugs were exchanged. Only Thor left the room, silently, obviously not in the mood for so much love.
Natasha had her arms tightly wrapped around her future son and looked closely at him, while Steve had a hand on his shoulder. "Just James, heh?"
Named laughed. "Would you have believed me?"
"No." The soldier smiled, while his fiancé examined their child.
"Your eyes." She mumbled and looked up to Steve. "He's got your eyes, Steve."
The Cap kneed next to his fiancé and lay an arm around her shoulders. "And your hair, Tasha."
Only a few feet away from them T'Challa watched his son, amazed by his powers. "Your powers are incredible, my son."
Azari chuckled. "Thanks, but my mother deserves the reward for that."
Cliff and Francis talked about Francis' carrier and archery, as well as the future.
It all seemed like a happy family reunion, until James remembered something. "Thorunn… I have to see Thorunn." He said and looked up to Tony.
His mother lay a hand on his shoulder and tried to meet his eyes. "I'm afraid she isn't awake yet and her powers are very instable."
"You don't understand, I have to see her. I've got something that can help her." James said and pulled something out of the pocket of his pants. It looked like Thorunn's bracelet just a little smaller.
"You have it?!" Francis asked and ran over to his friend. Azari and Pym joined shortly after.
"I thought she destroyed it." Azari said, while Pym scanned it.
"It's damaged, but nothing I can't repair." He smiked, grabbed the bracelet and began to work. It took him good 15 minutes to finish, but as he did it looked as good as new.
He handed it back to James. "It should work again."
"Let's hope it does." James said and as he grabbed his crutches he tried to stand. Steve stood up as well to help his future son. "I'll lead you to her."
Everyone nodded and followed Captain America out of the room, down dozens of halls into a high technical looking part of the building. At the end of a hall way lay a room made of glass with a bed in the middle that was surrounded by countless machines. They saw the god of thunder standing next to the bed, looking down onto the person in the bed. It was Thorunn. She lay there, unconscious, her golder hair laying around her head like a halo. She could have been mistaken as an angel…
"You shouldn't touch her. Cliff was thrown into a wall by a blast of wind as he did earlier." Steve warned and let the next Avengers to the door. Just James stood still. "Don't you wat to come too?"
"I couldn't protect her…" He mumbled as he fixed his gaze on the girl, who kissed him only seconds before her suicidal action.
"She means a lot to you, doesn't she?" James looked at his father and sighed as he averted his gaze again. "You can still help her, even if she is possessed by these powers. Just hand the bracelet to Thor. He won't be affected by her powers."
James nodded and limbed towards the room, whereupon his friends followed. It was unbearably warm in her room and it seemed getting warmer the closer they got to Thorunn.
"Ehm… Mr. Odinsson?" Pym asked, whereupon his friends frowned at him. Thor's gaze quickly lifted towards them and examined every one of them.
"What do you want?" He asked, turning towards the boys.
James held out the bracelet and looked into the god's eyes. "This bracelet will hold back her powers. It's Asgardian technology, only you can put it on her without getting attacked."
The god took the bracelet and examined it. "Where did you get that?"
"It's Thorunn's. You gave it to her as her powers erupted for the first time. It holds back all of her powers, including invincibility and immortality." Pym informed, whereupon James balled his fists.
Thor looked at the youngest of the four, who then gulped thickly. "What you are suggesting there, is that I would risk my own daughter's life just to hold back her powers?"
"I… eh… well…" Pym stuttered, whereupon the god towered over him.
"Out." The god hissed, causing all four teens to gulp and turn to leave the room as fast as they could. "Not you." James froze at these words and slowly turned to face the god, who now was looking at Thorunn again.
"Sir?" James asked insecure and watched the god from the side. Thor gently grabbed Thorunn's right hand and held the bracelet against her wrist, whereupon it flew out his hand and put itself around her wrist. He then lay her arm back and watched her as beads of sweat began to form on her forehead and her breath became heavy again. She clearly was in pain. Don't get him wrong her wounds were taken care of but the pain would stay.
Thor's gazes saddened, he seemed guilty. He then closed his eyes and sighed. "How old is she?"
"20." James briefly answered.
"Where was she born?" Was the next thing the god wanted to know.
James thought about it. "As far as I'm concerned, in Asgard."
Thor's eyes saddened again. "She looks like Jane… But that is now highly unlikely."
"I don't understand, sir." James said as he looked at him, confused. But before the god could say something Thorunn began to stir in her bed and moaned. Her lids fluttered and her head fell to James' side.
"James?" Her voice wasn't more than a hint, but he needed nothing more than that and her beautiful blue eyes, which looked tiredly into his own for him to let his crutches fall to the ground and limp over to her.
He fell to his knees next to her bed and took her hand into his own. "I'm here, Thorunn."
She blinked a few times and creased her eyebrows. "Where are we?"
James smiled and caressed the back of her hand with his thumb. "In the past. We are with the original Avengers, good ten years before we are born."
Her eyes widened at this as she quickly sat up straight. Only seconds later she winced and held her side in pain, whereupon James wanted to stand up. Thor was faster and helped his daughter to sit up comfortably.
Thorunn looked up and let her jaw drop as she saw her young father. If she wouldn't have been as pale as paper already, all the color would have been drained from her face. "I-I must be dreaming…" She mumbled, while James heaved himself on her bed.
"This isn't a dream, Thorunn. Your last attack against Ultron send us here." James explained, whereupon Thorunn looked at Thor, shocked.
She looked like she would faint every minute, but to the men's surprise she smiled at the god. "Father – if I am allowed to call you that in this time – could you lay me down, please?" Was her polite plea.
"Of course." The perplexed god did as he was asked and lay her down, whereupon Thorunn stared at the ceiling.
"I-I need a minute." She explained, while her eyes were flitting back and forth.
Thor watched the princess as a poem came back into his mind. "So the prophesy has been fulfilled." He mumbled and sat down on a chair in the room. James and Thorunn looked at him and waited for an explanation. "Are you… my only child?"
Thorunn nodded. "You duty to produce an heir was fulfilled as soon as I was born… At least after you changed the inheritance law."
"Then you have to be the one." He concluded and looked at Thorunn. "You will make a remarkable queen one day."
James frowned at him. "That's all well and good, but what about that prophesy you mentioned earlier, Mr. Odinssin?"
"A hero of Odin's blood travels back in time, to save what has been lost in rubble and grime. Lives shall be saved, he returns in time, crowned his head he shall be praised, bliss will be his sacrifice." Thor cited and caused Thorunn to look at him, astonished.
"Is that all?" James asked, receiving a nod from the god. "And what does that mean?"
"I suspected you would know the answer, because I'm unclear what you lost." The god exclaimed.
Silence filled the room. James still held her hand Thorunn's hand caressed it with a slight smile, which the princess returned with her best affords. No one said a word until Thor stood up and walked to the door. The two teens looked at him.
"James, correct? May I talk to you?" James swallowed at this. Carefully he approached his crutches, took them and limped out of the room. Thor followed and led him through the hall. They were silent until they rounded a corner.
"How to you feel about my daughter?" The god asked out of a sudden, causing James to look at him, stunned.
"Sir?"
Thor laughed. "Don't call me sir, boy. I saw the way you look at her and the way you held her hand. But how she looks at you, too."
James looked aside and sighed. "We grew up as adoptive siblings… I… after we beat Ultron for the first time a lot has changed. I don't know if you've seen Francis, Cliff Barton's son?" James waited for a nod and then continued. "He and Thorunn were a couple for half a year. As you invited her to Asgard, well let's just say he didn't take it well. He left, Azari too and I advised her to accept the offer. As she left the rest of the group separated and it took little stubborn Pym four years to get us back together. He even visited Asgard." The god frowned in wonder, while James continued. "The moment I saw her again after all these years… I don't know… she… I… well. In our second fight she was severely injured. I immediately ran over to help her, but all she did was staring at her bracelet. As she finally looked at me all she did was bidding for forgiveness and then… she kissed me." The god's eyes went wide, whereupon James' eyes were fixed at the ground and gulped. "Before I could stop her she cut the bracelet with her sword and attacked Ultron with her powers. That caused a huge explosion and that's all I remember."
Thor nodded, understanding and sighed after a few seconds. "Do you love my daughter?"
James' gaze met Thor's in an instant. "I-I…" He sighed and looked at the ground again. "Yes, I do."
The god smiled and lay a hand on James' shoulder. "I cannot blame you."
James laughed and watched the god. "I was afraid you might pulverize me with a lightning."
The god's laugh echoed through the halls like thunder, what intimidated James to an amount he thought wasn't healthy. "Oh, don't worry. If you hurt my girl you will be pulverizes sooner than you think."
James sweat dropped and gulped. "I'll do my best not to do so."
"I hope so." Thor said and looked down the hall. "You should return to her. If she's truly my daughter, you shouldn't leave her out of your sight for too long."
James nodded and made his way back to Thorunn.
In the meantime Thorunn lay in her bed and stared at the ceiling. She was tired and the pain intensified this feeling even more, but she refused to let her mind slip away. She just had to solve the riddle that was the prophesy.
A hero of Odin's blood travels back in time… That had to be her, who else had that power?
…to save what has been lost in rubble and grime… What has been lost in this time? And what caused that?
…lives shall be saved… lives… whose lives? And from what they needed to be saved?
…he returns in time, crowned his head he shall be praised… So they would return, what a relief. And she would be crowned crown princess. At least one thing that goes as planned.
…bliss will be his sacrifice… But why would it be bliss that is sacrificed? Was it her bliss?
She frowned as her headache increased and winced as a strong pain radiated from her waist. Damn you, Ultron…, Thorunn though, whereupon the lightbulb in her head was switched on. Ultron.
Thorunn squinted her eyes as she collected all her strength to sit up. Heavily breathing she pulled all hoses out of her arms and threw her blanket aside. Laborious she lifted her legs out of the bed and set her feet in the ground, carefully. She breathed a sigh of relief as her legs allowed her to stand, but as she took her first step she fell.
She screeched but caught herself with her power before she hit the floor, but seconds later she did. Thorunn moaned as she pushed herself back onto her feet in pain. Thorunn took a deep breath and grabbed her waist as a stinging pain shot through it, while she dragged her bare feet across the floor, a bit cold in her hospital gown.
Her other hand lay constantly on a wall to support her posture against the wall as the pain increased. "How hate that…" She mumbled and pulled herself around a corner. "Where is everyone?" She wandered through the halls of the building for what felt like eternity. She groaned frustrated and leaned against the wall on which she searched support. She followed voices and had hoped to find the others that way. Well… she thought wrong.
"Thorunn!" The princess turned around, startled as she heard her name begin called.
Her eyes widened as she slid down to wall to the ground. "James." She breathed and saw how he let his crutches fall to the ground and hurried over to her. He fell on his knees right next to her and looked worried at her as his hands cupped her cheeks.
"What are you doing? Don't ever do this to me again! Your wounds could open up again!" James scolded.
She tried to collect her breathing and looked into his sky blue eyes. "James, I have to get to the others."
Her opponent frowned. "You should rest first. The rest can wait." He wanted to help her up, but she shoved his hands away.
"No! You don't understand, James. I know why we are here, I solved the riddle!"
Now it was his turn to widen his eyes. "How…?"
"James, please." He nodded and helped her up. He then grabbed his crutches and led Thorunn to the living room. As soon as the door was in sight Thornn wiggled herself from James' grasp and hurried towards the room as fast as she could.
"Tony!" She called as she swung the double doors open, whereupon two men turned around. Her foster father and a younger version of him.
The eyes of both men went wide, but only one jumped up from his seat and ran up to the girl. "Thorunn, what are you doing here? You should be in bed!"
"Tony! You mustn't build Ultron!" She said frantically as she held onto his shoulders.
He looked gently at her. "Thorunn, we can't just influence the past."
"You don't understand, Tony. My father recieved a prophesy. It said that I would save what got lost in this time. I didn't understand what it meant at first, but then I got it. My friends lost their parents in the past and now it's my task to prevent it." Thorunn said, whereupon the fell silent in shock.
"Thorunn, this won-" Tony tried to tell her, but she simply shook her head.
She let her eyes roam around and as her eyes caught sight of her foster father's younger self she freed herself from Tony. "You! Where are you hiding your research for artificial intelligence? And I'm not talking about Jarvis."
"I don't know what you are talking about, girl." The young Tony said, whereupon she walked up to him, grabbed his collar and glared at him.
"Listen, you prig!" She began, causing Thor and Steve to laugh.
"That's my girl!" The god said, strongly patting Steve's shoulder.
"I don't know how you could turn into the Tony we know, but what I know is that he is in there." She said and tapped at his chest. "Your friends will die, because of a machine you created. Do you want that?"
He looked at his comrades and then to the ground. After a few moments he pulled a small chip out of his pocket. Thorunn took it and hurried onto the balcony, behind the window front. She opened the sliding door and stepped outside, whereupon she was surrounded by a cold breeze.
Enraged, she threw the chip over the railing and stared after it, what caused the young Tony inside to laugh loudly. "And that should discourage me from building my artifi-"
He didn't get any further as thunder distracted him. Shortly after that he saw a lightning atomize the chip. All the present were slightly shocked and stared at the girl, who was holding onto the railing, while Thor laughed on the couch.
"Okaaay…" The young Tony said. "I need a drink. Someone else?"
Nearly everyone raised his hand, whereupon Tony prepared all the drinks and handed them out. Meanwhile Thorunn came back into the room, panting and leaning against the glass. She fairly didn't look good – pale, sweat on her forehead, sunken cheeks and bags under her eyes. This didn't only worry her friends, but her future father too.
He stood up and walked over to her. "Thorunn, are you well, my daughter?"
She nodded. "Yes, I… I simply need a minute." Thorunn raised her hand from her waist to wipe the sweat on her forehead with the back of her hand. As she did that Thor's eyes went wide in shock.
"Thorunn, your wound." He made a move to hold her as the princess lowered her hand and looked at it. Her own blood startled her.
"O-Oh… ex-excuse me." Thorunn stood up straight and tried to leave the room.
"No!" Thor said sternly and grabbed her arm. "Stark!"
"My goodness, what?!" The young Tony asked annoyed and turned around. Then, as he saw Thor holding a weak Thorunn in his arm, whose gown was bloodied, his eyes widened. "Oh, Jarvis!"
"Yes, sir?" The program's voice sounded.
"Medical emergency program, but leave the extinguisher off." Tony said and opened the door for Thor.
"No." Thorunn said and lay a hand on her father's chest. "It is okay, as soon as we return it will vanish."
"What do you mean?" James asked, causing Thorunn to look at him, sadly.
"As soon as we return every one of you will have a family, every one of us will choose different paths to follow, I am not even sure if we will remember all of this." The girl explained and pushed herself out of her father's arms.
Her friends seemed confused. "No, Thorunn, that's bullshit! We will remember all of this." Azari said.
She smiled, tiredly. "We'll see. But now we have to leave, I feel that our time here is running out, now that the prophesy is fulfilled. It's time to say goodbye."
That caused all of her friends to look at their parents, longing in their eyes.
James limped over to his parents and hugged them tight. "I love you." He said, quietly, causing Natasha and Steve to smile.
"We will meet again." Natasha replied and kissed her boy's forehead.
"Dad." Francis said, without displaying any emotion on his face.
His father did the same. "Son." It was silent for a few seconds, but then they hugged tightly.
"Goodbye, my son." T'Challa said, whereupon Azari said goodbye to his father the Vacandian way.
"Father." Thorunn curtsied and looked up to Thor, who looked at her, suffering.
"Do you really want to return injured to your time?" He asked worried, whereupon she smilingly kissed his cheek. Without another word she turned and walked over to her friends.
"Thorunn, you don't have to do this." James told her, causing her to softly smile.
She stepped closer to him. "I know, what I'm doing, James."
"But what about that part 'sacrificing your bliss'?" He asked worried, but she only smiled brighter. She stepped even closer and as they were only mere inches apart she looked into his eyes.
"Don't worry, I will personally make sure that this doesn't happen." Thorunn said and brought her lips to his. In the distance they heard whistling and howling as they kissed. They moment they separated they stared into each other's eyes. "I've not been waiting for six years for nothing."
James laughed and put his arm around her to steady her. "Oh, I love you." He kissed her again from which they only separated as a loud couch was heard.
Thorunn laughed and returned his confession, before she looked at her friends. "Ready? She asked, whereupon all of them nodded.
The princess sighed and removed her bracelet again. Only a moment later they were engulfed by a bright pillar of light. They waved their parents one last time before they dissolved into light.
Thorunn woke up, abruptly and looked frantically around her room, bathed in sweat. She was without a doubt in her chambers in the palace of Asgard. Sighing she fell back into her pillows and stared at the ceiling. Her gaze only averted as a knock sounded at her door.
"Who is there?" She called through her large chamber.
"Your lady maids, princess." Was the answer she received from the guard in front of her door. Thorunn groaned silently and sat up straight on her bed.
"They may enter." She called and saw the big doors to her room open and three women hurrying into her room. They stopped at the foot of her huge bed and curtsied.
"Good morning, princess. You father awaits you in ten minutes in the dining room for breakfast. He has to discuss a few things with you in terms of your coronation the day after tomorrow." One of her maids informed her.
Thorunn nodded. "Of course, please tell my father I will be there." The lady's maid curtsied again and hurried out of the room, whereupon Thorunn took a deep breath.
She threw her blanket aside, stood up and walked over to the floor-length mirror. Beautiful blue eyes, perfect skin, peachy cheeks and lips and gorgeous locks were staring back at her. Sighing she grabbed her brush and combed her hair, before one of her maids spoke up.
"You seem lost in thought, princess. Wasn't your sleep peaceful?" She asked politely, causing Thorunn to put her brush away and sigh.
"No, Willa. I… I just had a bizarre dream, that's all."
AN/:
SURPISE!
Plot twist? Was it awful or did you like it?
I'm still open for ideas for specials. :) The first special will be the chapter after the next one, so chapter 12 I think. I would love to hear from you guys so hurry. :*
I really hope you enjoyed this chapter and tell me your opinions! Have a wonderful morning, afternoon or evening wherever you are and I hope I will speak (write) to you soon.
Yours, Annie :*