Disclaimer: I do not own the world of MCU or its characters.
A/N: Hello all! S/O to new readers: tamakaru2, opalwolf12, DimensionJumperAlpha, basilbeast, soar-above-the-rest, HBPCharleyTrouble, oviahara, Rosie loves jasper, , and heleana1. You all rock!
Sophia stared up at the sky, trying to imagine what the rainbow bridge must look like, what Asgard looked like.
This was happening.
Deep breath
She was going to leave SHIELD.
Deep Breath
She was going to leave Earth.
DEEP BREATH
A hand landed on her shoulder and she looked up to meet Thor's gaze. He smiled down at her reassuringly. "We will be leaving shortly, Lady Sophia."
Sophia nodded, matching his smile as he walked to the van to help Bruce with the tesseract.
"Welp." She turned to face Steve as he strode up to her. He grinned. "This is it."
"Don't remind me."
"You're going to be fine," he told her, placing a hand on top of her head. "Yea, this a big step. Probably bigger than you ever thought –"
"I always thought that maybe my dad was a civilian," Sophia rambled. "Probably something boring, like a greeting card designer or a taxidermist."
"—But it's going to be worth it," Steve finished, forcing her to look at him. "You understand that right?"
Sophia stared up at Steve. "I'm going to miss you."
Steve grinned. "You'll be too busy. . . . But I'll miss you too."
The Captain grunted as Sophia threw her arms around his middle, returning the hug with a laugh. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that."
"You'll be back before you know it, Kid," Tony said, pulling her away from Steve, giving a few of her locs a tug.
"Still not my name," Sophia responded, swatting at his hand.
"Yeah, well, when you get back, we'll think of a cool superhero name for you. I was thinking somewhere along the lines of the Conjuress or Magic Girl or – or Psychoa. . . . I'll keep working on it," he added at her dubious look.
"You do that."
"Learn all you can up there," Natasha said as she, Clint and Banner joined them. "Grow stronger."
Sophia smiled. "I'll do my best."
"You'll be great, Soph," Clint told her, grinning. "Coulson would be proud. We're all proud."
Sophia stepped forward and hugged Clint, softer than she would ever hugged Steve, now that she knew where her strength came from. Natasha gave her shoulder a tight squeeze while Bruce gave her an awkward one arm hug.
"Lady Sophia," Thor came forward, announcing his presence. "Our chariot awaits."
She took a deep breath, gripping the straps of her backpack, glad that her apprehension had somewhat turned into excitement, even as she walked towards Loki, who stood shackled and muzzled. She thought the younger Asgardian was glaring at him but there was a wrinkle to his eyes that showed a bit of amusement. Sophia ignored him as Thor walked to them, holding the tesseract in its special case. He let go of one end, holding it out to Loki, who definitely glared at his adoptive brother before taking the end of the case offered.
"Place your hands over ours, milady," Thor instructed. Nodding, Sophia did as she was told, only hesitating slightly before placing her hand over Loki's. Thor met her gaze. "Your first trip may be a little – disconcerting."
Sophia nodded, taking a breath. Thor looked back to Loki and, at the same moment, they twisted the handles of the case. Looking up, Sophia watched as the sky opened and the world around her disappeared.
When her feet touched solid ground, Sophia stumbled and she probably would have gone all the way down if it weren't for the hard metal that she knocked her head against instead. Thor called her name, hands gripped her under her arms, standing her up straight. When she blinked the stars out of her eyes, she looked up, startled by the golden gaze staring back at her.
"Welcome to Asgard, Tronddottir," the golden eye man said, giving her a soft smile.
"Pleasure's mine," Sophia muttered, taking a breath to clear her head.
"Heimdall," Thor greeted, looking around. Sophia followed his gaze, surprised by the many soldiers that stood in the domed area awaiting them. "I see you were prepared for our arrival."
"Odin is prepared to receive you in the throne room."
"Than we won't keep him waiting any longer." Thor nodded to the soldiers and Sophia stepped back as they attached chains to Loki's shackles. He rolled his eyes as they pushed him front, escorting him. Thor held out an arm to Sophia which she took in as he walked her across the rainbow bridge.
Asgard was way more amazing than Loki had made it out to be. The gold towers and spires, the two moons. . . . Was this real life? Was this actually happening?
"You are taking this a lot easier than most would," Thor whispered to her.
"I'm freaking out internally, actually, I'm just pretty good at hiding it," Sophia explained in the rush of one breath.
Thor chuckled. "You haven't even seen your chambers yet . . . or the library," he added, laughing again when Sophia's eyes widened.
The walk to the palace was long but it gave Sophia the time to look around, to catalogue every building, every person. She ignored the people staring at her, even with Loki walking in chains before them. She knew she must look out of place in her jeans and sweatshirt (what else do you wear when traveling to an alien planet!), but she was finding it hard to care.
When they reached the palace, she and Thor hung back as the guards removed Loki's muzzle. He sent her a glance and a cocky smile. The last time they had spoken was still fresh at the forefront of her mind. She had gone with him, willingly. Had she explained to Steve what happened? She thought he might have already known but he never mentioned it. The thought of it still made her feel so incredibly guilty. She looked away as the doors opened and he was forced inside.
"Are we -?" Sophia started, looking up at Thor as the doors closed.
The Asgardian shook his head. "No. My father will wish to speak to him alone. Besides, it will be best if we wait to introduce you, I suppose."
"Surely I can receive some sort of introduction?" Sophia looked up as a beautiful woman walked (glided) towards them. Golden hair, blue eyes, as Sophia was beginning to realize was a common trait among all Asgardians besides Loki, she exuded every manner of sophistication and grace. This could only be the Queen Frigga. The woman smiled at her before turning to her son, holding out her hands. Thor moved forward, taking her hands and placing a kiss against her cheek. "It is good to see you, my son."
"You as well mother." Thor turned, holding out a hand to Sophia and gesturing her forward. "This is a dear friend of mine, Sophia Doe, a protector of Earth. I have brought her here because –"
"She is not just of Earth, is she." It wasn't a question. Frigga walked forward, this time holding out her hands to Sophia. Hesitantly, Sophia placed her hands in the other woman's. "Oh, Trond. That curious man. It has been many years since I have seen anything like you, child."
"So I've heard," Sophia mumbled, not really sure what else to say.
"Will father allow her to stay?" Thor asked. "She knows nothing of her heritage or of the power that flows through her."
"He will not have much of a choice. She is a daughter of Asgard, after all, even if only partially. Besides," Frigga added, with a slight smile, "I'm sure I will be able to get him to see reason."
Sophia smiled back. She was really beginning to like Frigga.
"Mother, are Sif and the Warriors three near? I assumed they would be waiting."
Frigga turned to her son, never loosing Sophia's hands. "I am afraid marauders have turned their attention on Vanaheim. The battle has gone on many hours now. If you wish to join," she said, noticing the hesitation in her son's gaze, "I will be sure that Lady Sophia is settled."
"I could not do that," Thor argued. "She knows no one here. She –"
"Is right here and really good at figuring things out, if you hadn't noticed," Sophia interrupted. "You're, like, the heir to the throne, right? It's your job to rush into battle. I'll be fine," she assured him.
Thor hesitated again before he nodded, moving forward to place a kiss to Sophia's head. "I may be gone awhile but I will be sure to check on you."
"She will be just fine," Frigga told him, patting Sophia's hand.
Thor nodded, taking a few steps back. He swung his hammer over his head, flying out of the palace and back towards the Bifrost. Sophia felt her heart sink as he left. Alone in a foreign place for the first time in her life. She was very frightened, though she tried to put on a brave face.
"I will ensure your safety here, Sophia," Frigga said, interrupting her thoughts. "You will find a home here, even if just for a while."
Sophia smiled at her. "Thank you. I appreciate that."
The doors to the throne room opened and the guards appeared first, still leading Loki by his chains. He still wore that same damn cocky smile but when his eyes past over Frigga, Sophia thought she saw a bit of sadness, maybe even fear.
Before he could say a word, the guards were turning him sharply away from them, leading him down the hallway. Sophia looked up at Frigga whose eyes followed Loki as he disappeared. The older woman turned to Sophia and smiled, forced as it was. "Time for you to meet the Allfather."
Frigga kept Sophia's hand in the crook of her arm as the guard held the door to the throne room open. If she had thought the city was an architecture's dream, the throne room was the icing on the cake. Ornate columns, the golden stairs that led up to that incredibly, impressive throne. The man sitting in that throne, though his head was downcast, looked equally as impressive and intimidating, long, grey hair, gold and silver armor. Just like Frigga, without even speaking, he exuded this air of regality and strength.
"My Lord," Frigga called out, announcing their presence.
The Allfather looked up, his one eye glaring in their direction as they walked ever closer. Sophia had the sudden urge to run, head back to the Bifrost and hurry home. "Frigga, I cannot deal with much more today. What other riffraff has Thor brought from Earth?"
"Odin, my Lord," Frigga responded, her tone holding a bit of a warning. "This is Lady Sophia . . . Tronddottir," she added meaningfully.
Odin sat up straight, his one eye focused directly on Sophia. As he stood from his throne, approaching them, she was reminded of another one-eyed man who had the ability to put all the intensity of a scowl in his one eye. The closer he got, the more Sophia was reminded of Fury and she bit the inside of her cheek to remind herself not to say anything foolish that could get her banned . . . or executed.
He examined her, his footsteps echoing throughout the room. "Why are you here?"
"Oh, er, Thor invited me."
"For what purprose?"
"I, uh." Sophia glanced up at Frigga, who was watching her husband, a slight angry gleam in her eye but she didn't speak up. If Odin was anything like Fury, you had to know how to say the right thing, the thing that would make them think . . . as well as put them even more in the position of power. "I don't know who I am? I spent my whole life not knowing anything about myself or these – these gifts I have. Thor brought me here so that I could learn those things and I'd like the opportunity to do so . . . with your permission of course."
Odin continued to stare at her before his gaze switched to his wife. "I do not want to make it a habit of inviting mortals to stay in Asgard."
"She's not just a mortal, my King," Frigga argued. "She is a daughter of one of your trusted warriors. We can make an exception for her."
The way she said it made it more of an order than a suggestion and Sophia found herself looking back and forth between the King and Queen, their standoff making her feel a bit awkward. Perhaps it would just be easier to go back home, study her powers on her own and then –
"If she causes any trouble," Odin started.
"She won't, will you darling?" Frigga asked, turning to Sophia.
"Oh, er, no of course not, Your Majesty, sir," Sophia answered.
Odin nodded his head, turning away from them. "Very well."
Frigga squeezed Sophia's hand, pulling her towards the throne room doors. "Come along dear. I will show you around while Hilde prepares your room."
Still in a state of shock and disbelief, Sophia allowed the Queen to show her around Asgard.
A/N: Sorry for how long this took me, folks! I've been busy with work and homework. I'll try to update more regularly.
