Chapter 9

The Weaponry

As the hours went on, each of the guests were escorted to their own rooms in the palace. Jenny had been reading a book, and resting for a time before she decided to explore. She walked through the beautiful, golden halls. She came across a door, opened just a crack. She gently pushed it open to see miles and miles of swords and weapons lined up on display.

"Wow…" Jenny smiled, eyes wide in amazement. She walked into the room and began to look at all the weapons. She approached a helmet with low, wide horns. "Bor's helmet…" She whispered, before interpreting the ruins. "Yes!" She cheered once she realized she was right. She proceeded to do this throughout the room. She came across a golden sword. It was a little taller than she was, but that didn't stop her from testing it out. She picked it up and swung it around.

"Having fun?" A voice crept from behind her. She gasped and turned toward the intruder, sword at the ready. She was surprised to see Loki there, watching her critically with his hands behind his back.

Jenny allowed herself to unstiffen. She lowered the sword and sighed in relief. "I was," She grumbled before placing the sword back. "Until you came in here." She paused for a moment and looked over at Loki. His face was so… unreadable. It drove her crazy… He almost looked amused by her…

"I'm sorry," Jenny said gently. "I shouldn't talk to you like that… You saved my life after all… I didn't get the chance to say this yet, but… thank you."

"You're welcome," Loki replied, nodding his head slightly. He walked over to her and circled around her, examining her carefully.

"Hey whoa!" Jenny snapped, spinning around. "What's with the circling around?! Were you a vulture in another life?!"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Loki smiled at her and took a step back, hands up in surrender. "I'm just curious about you. You are unusually strong for a young mortal, and you survived quite a few endeavors… are you sure you're mortal?"

"I'm pretty sure I am." Jenny replied, shrugging slightly.

"What do you know about your parentage?" Loki asked.

"My parents were both human." Jenny stated.

"Were…" Loki repeated. "I'm sorry to hear that… what happened?"

"Ah, it was a long time ago." Jenny waved Loki off. "My dad was shot when I was six, and my mom died of brain cancer while I was in high school." She said this nonchalantly, though Loki could see there was still hurt and grief in her eyes. He decided to steer away from this topic.

"So… Thor tells me you're a skilled fighter." He said.

Jenny began to feel uncomfortable. "Why are you asking me about these things?" She asked.

"I just want to get to know you." Loki shrugged. "I mean, find out what makes you so special… if the Avengers want you so badly on their team."

"That's none of your business." Jenny retorted.

"I find it fascinating you don't even want to join them." Loki continued. "If I were you, I would join them."

"That's big talk coming from a guy who lead an alien army to my hometown." Jenny growled. "And lucky for you, I was in California when that happened. But if anything happened to my Nanny, I would have hunted you down and killed you."

Loki sneered. "Would you really? You don't seem to be the killing type… you're too weak."

Jenny clenched her fist and swung it at Loki's jaw. He seemed surprised at first from the hit as he reached up and gently brushed his cheek. "Ow… that actually hurt…" He mused, before turning back to Jenny and smiling. "I like you."

Jenny growled at him in frustration.

"Is everything all right in here?" Thor asked, walking into the room.

"Thank goodness you're here!" Jenny sighed, before pointing her finger at Loki. "Remove him from my sight please!"

"What did you do?" Thor asked, raising an eyebrow at Loki.

"I didn't do anything!"

"He was making fun of me!"

"Jenny," Thor turned to the mortal. "One of the servants is requesting you in your chambers."

"Why?" Jenny raised an eyebrow.

"It's for the feast tonight." Thor replied. "You are an honored guest, for helping fight in the battle in Vanaheim. The servant wants to help you pick out something to wear."

"Oh," Jenny seemed shocked at this. "Okay…" She glared at Loki before turning and leaving the room.

"What do you want?" Loki grumbled at Thor.

"Nothing," Thor shrugged. "I heard voices from the hallway and came to see if everything was all right."

"Huh," Loki nodded.

"Am I sensing an attraction between the two of you?" Thor asked.

"What?" Loki's eyes narrowed. "Me… and that skinny mortal? No!" Loki growled and stormed out of the room.

"Just asking." Thor smiled to himself.

~jb~

Joey and Yuki both sat on the couch, watching Ian pacing anxiously around the room. Erik was looking through some old papers.

"So, what now?" Joey asked.

"There's nothing much we can do." Erik replied.

Joey stood from the couch and walked over to Erik. "But my cousin is missing! And we don't know where any of our friends are!"

"On the contrary, we do." Erik handed a children's book to Joey.

"Norse Mythology?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Jenny is most likely in Asgard." Erik replied. "Read about the Nine Realms. Magic and science can collide."

"So… Jenny is in Asgard." Joey confirmed.

"Yes… it may be the push she needs." Erik mused, almost seemingly to himself.

"For what?" Joey asked.

Erik's eyes seemed to glow. "It's time she finds out who she can be… I mean… really be. Something her father can be proud of."

"What are you talking about?" Joey demanded, becoming more frustrated.

"Joey, you know your grandfather met Captain America, right?" Erik asked.

"That's what Grandma says…" Joey replied, shrugging.

"Well, have you ever wondered what your Uncle Charles really did for a living?"

Joey stayed silent, unsure if he wanted to hear the answer.

"I'll give you a hint; he was an excellent painter. He taught art at the university I worked at for a while. This man knew how to live. He was a talented man… especially with a gun."

"He was an agent?" Joey asked, his eyes widening.

Erik smiled.

"A S.H.I.E.L.D. agent?!" Joey gasped. "Does Jenny know?"

"No one in your family knew, except his wife, Eloise." Erik replied. "I had never taken an interest in S.H.I.E.L.D, but he was always able to keep things smooth between us. But when he got shot during a mission, things started to go down with me and S.H.I.E.L.D., until they finally took away our equipment."

"Wait, Uncle Charlie wasn't mugged?!" Joey asked.

"No, that was his alibi." Erik replied.

"I can't believe it!" Joey breathed. "All this time, I thought I had a pretty cool uncle… but now… he just became the coolest uncle in the world! And I never even knew it!"

"But Mr. Selvig?" Yuki stood to join them. "What does that have to do with Jenny?"

"The Avengers know this." Erik replied. "And they have learned a lot about Jenny. They want to recruit her for the Avengers Initiative."

"The Avengers Initiative?" Joey repeated. "Man… she shouldn't have gone to California when Manhattan was attacked!"

"That's why you went to that meeting!" Ian suddenly stopped pacing and walked over to Erik. "You were meeting with the Avengers!"

"Just a few of them," Erik said. "Tony Stark was there, and Director Fury, and a few others. Thor almost came, but then became a little… preoccupied."

"Why do they want Jenny?" Joey asked, concern in his voice.

"Don't you see, Joey?" Yuki placed a hand on his shoulder. "Someone is finally recognizing Jenny for her talents! Now she has a chance to make her father proud and really make something of herself; something she can be proud of too!"

"But what about us?" Joey snapped, whipping away from her. "What about the things she's doing now? What about Element Supreme? What about everything we have all been through together!"

"Joey," Erik now placed his hand on Joey's shoulder. "This is Jenny's decision. She may not even accept… That's where signs are pointing to anyways… but even if she does, I know she won't turn her back on you guys. If she's anything like her father, she'll always be here for you."

Joey wasn't sure if he was convinced, but he nodded.

Surprise! I hope you enjoyed! Leave a comment.