A/N:

The Avengers, Loki, Iron Man, or anything of the like. Just the thoughts inside my head. And taking some personal freedoms with mythology and lore.


Eindride sat next to Elpis as they waited for Eir to show up. Kasir had taken the mysterious man back to Hel to try and get some information from him, and the spread word that they were now searching for Hela. Tony walked into the room with Eir, frowning. Elpis knew why.

"Even if I could, she would not be allowed into the fields now," Eir told him. "I'd rather not have to take her, but I feel that won't be necessary now."

"Alright, I'm confused," Tony said as he rubbed the side of his head. "Why is all this weird stuff my life?"

"When I die, I won't be able to find peace," Elpis started to explain, feeling a little better when Eindride pressed his leg against hers. "Phoenixes were given the agreement that they would be able to find peace if they agreed to not extend their lives anymore than they had. They wouldn't be forced to go to the in-between like other demons, but that also meant that if they messed with the laws they would also be forced to endure torture for eternity like others that are damned."

"When Hela took her, she put her death in stasis," Eir continued. "Because of that, no matter how it happened, she will be denied entrance to peace, and will instead be damned." Both Eindride and Tony had opened their mouths to protest, but Eir kept talking. "But something else has happened, and I don't think that will happen for a while now."

"Why doesn't it sound like this isn't actually a good thing?" Tony asked as Loki walked in the room behind him.

"Because I was given artificial Ashes," Elpis sighed out. "And the longer that I live because of the that, the worse it's going to be when I actually die."

"the longer you live the more time it gives to straighten out the situation," Tony argued. Elpis and Eir raised an eye at him. "What? I know a few things about cheating death, and I'm not about to let someone suffer because they were dealt a shitty hand."

"So eloquently put," Loki said, smirking a little. "Speaking of cheating death, I believe that we should let her ash now."

Eir hummed a little before walking over and helping Elpis up from the couch. "I can help with that."

"I think we should go to the roof, I'm not sure how volatile it will be because of this, and I'd rather not anyone get hurt." Elpis suggested.

"Volatile?" Eindride frowned as he pushed himself up.

"Phoenixes are literally reborn from flames," Eir told him as she held onto Elpis's arm. "It could be dangerous to those who are too close. Don't worry, she won't be hurt." She smiled a little at her oldest grandson and the two disappeared.

"Lucky for us, I have cameras and mics up on the roof," Tony said as they disappeared. "They just said we couldn't be too close," Tony said when he saw Loki's almost disapproving look.

"Loopholes are a fact of life," Eindride agreed as he sat back down, feeling Tony and eventually Loki settle on the couch as well. Tony offered his arm to Eindride, who understood and grasped his wrist, taking a breath before letting his magic flow and was able to see from Tony's eyes as well.

Tony held the StarkPad up as he searched for the correct camera, turning on the sound as well. The sound of wind was the first thing they could hear, and Eir was standing off to the side as something started to glow red in the middle of the roof. The glow started to reach up, the wind picking it up, swirling around what they had assumed was Elpis. The red started to rise, orange glowing, followed by yellow, like rising flames that licked around the air.

"I think I see what she meant by volatile," Tony murmured as they watched. Blue and purple started to spark in the center of the mini wind funnel, the colors starting to constrict, to wrap around the figure in the middle. There was a sudden burst or light and large wings unfolded, arcing up and around.

Eindride's eyes widened a little when the wind cleared and they could see Elpis, bringing her arms in as the wings started to disappear. Her hair was long and bright right, starting to settle against her back, her eyes bright and clear. Eir walked over to her as the wind died down, handing her something that looked like a small glass ball.

"It's from the Fates," she told Elpis. Both her eyes and Loki's eyes widened a little.

"What does that mean?" Eindride asked as they watched Elpis clutch it, holding it up slowly. Loki waved his hand, shushing him.

"Is this some cruel joke?" Elpis asked the Valkyrie. "Because it isn't funny, not in the least." Eir snorted but didn't say anything else, waiting for Elpis to look at it. It seemed to glow but they three watching didn't see anything else happen.

"She's been given a glimpse of what her future could hold," Loki started to explain, still watching. "The Fates generally don't get involved in any one person's life, but it seems they have made an exception. Depending on what they show her, this could be something incredibly fortuitous, or devastating."

"Because that's what we need right now," Tony muttered a little.

Elpis licked her bottom lip and looked at Eir. "Is this certain? This isn't something that they're going to take away?" Eir shook her head, a small smile on her face. "Do you know when this is going to happen?"

"I only know what you know," Eir told her. "What you chose to do with the information is up to you now." Elpis nodded a little and held the glass to her chest. "We should go back if you're feeling better now."

Eindride pulled his hand away when Tony stopped the feed, not wanting to get caught watching them. It wasn't long before Elpis walked back in the room, the ball gone along with Eir. "She said she'd be back later, she had to go back to Valhalla."

Eindride got up, moving towards her, and wrapped his arms around her. She felt warm again, and he hadn't been aware of just how much he missed the feeling. Elpis seemed to relax against him and he smiled. "Anders?" He blinked when he heard her call him. She had only called him Anders twice before, using his nickname in serious situation. "If you were able to get your sight back, would you?"

He blinked and pulled back a little, hands still on her arms though. "I'm not sure," he said slowly after a moment. "I guess it depends on the circumstances." Elpis took his hands and put them up by her face, his fingers starting to trace along her jaw.

"I didn't want to say anything before, because I wasn't sure it would work," she started quietly. "But, now that I am back to full power, I believe that I know of a way that I can return your sight." They both heard Tony cursing quietly in surprise. "I want you to think about it and consider it. I will accept your answer, whatever it may be."

"That is a big claim," Loki said, looking over at her.

"But not unfounded in the fact that i could accomplish it," she assured them. "I don't need an answer right now though. We have a few more important things to worry about at the moment, like-" she stopped when suddenly Eindride was kissing her. Closing her eyes, she practically melted into the kiss.

"Ewwww," Tony whispered and Loki hit his arm. He grinned and wrapped his arm around Loki's and turned them to leave the room. "Young love, in all it's disgusting forms."


Elpis looked at the woman with strawberry-blonde hair again in her dream. "How did you know that they would find me when I needed them to?" She asked the woman. She simply smiled and held her hands together in front of her.

"Because that's what happens," the woman said. "Things happen at the last moment with you, sometimes. Bad things may happen, but then you are suitably rewarded for what has befallen you that is beyond your control."

Elpis frowned. "So I'm supposed to accept that bad things are going to happen to me? To those around me? And be okay with that because I'll get rewarded for it?" She let out a little huff and started to pace a little. "Well, I'm not okay with that. Is this the Fate's doing?"

"Unfortuantely, I think this goes beyond the Fate's." Elpis stopped to look at the woman. "Have you ever thought about what could be out there that created the Fates?" She pat Elpis's cheek once before Elpis woke up.