A/N: I am writing like the wind! I'm almost finished writing this story now, so maybe expect some faster updates?
The Return to Asgard
Chapter 25
Clint awakened at the gentle shaking of Tony's hand against his shoulder. For what seemed like the hundredth time the last few hours. He groaned, pushing himself up on the mattress to clear his head. The cat naps were beyond the most restful night's sleep of his life, but it was better than the alternatives.
"Come on, Hawk, it's time to get." Tony's voice held its usual smug, sarcastic tones but when it came to Clint, it always carried an underlying fondness that few people in the world had been subject to.
Blinking his eyes in the darkness to clear away the haze of sleep, Clint did his usual attentive sweep of the room to gather his surroundings.
Bruce was still dozing in the chair, but woke up with a small snort when Tony shook him by the shoulders. He stretched, cracking his back to adjust himself out of the shape of the chair.
"Time to go already?" Bruce asked. He looked around for his glasses. They'd fallen into the side of the chair at some point. He fished them out and pushed them up the slope of his nose.
"Yeah, dark's coming up." Tony said. "Cap's chomping to get moving I bet."
"Anyone come looking for you?" Clint asked. He stood off the bed and rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. His hair was getting long enough to feel it brush his fingers. He knew putting off his date with Natasha's barber's chair was a bad idea.
"Apparently I'm not good enough to look for." Tony replied.
"Or they assumed the three of us just decided to sneak off." Bruce added.
The three exchanged smiles. While that may satisfy Tony and Clint's reckless natures, Bruce would have been the voice of reason in that attempt. Grabbing Steve's watch and leaving the Iron Man suit by the door, the trio headed out into the main room together. What remained of the meal had been cleaned up hours before. The couches were back in position and Steve stood by the terrace spreading a map across a borrowed table. Natasha was standing beside him as Veurr assisted patting down the folded edges.
"Did you three enjoy your date?" Natasha asked when Tony, Clint, and Bruce entered.
Clint stretched his arms above his head and yawned. It felt good when his spine cracked a bit.
"Why? Jealous?" He asked.
"Of you three? The less I know, the better."
Tony snorted. "You may have your little talons dug into him, but our dog knows where home is."
Bruce threw his hands in the air, his drowsiness shortening his temper. "I'm not part of this conversation right now!"
Steve smiled as they bickered. It was nice to have the team back together and working, but at the same time, he missed having the support of a thousand plus Asgardians at his back. This mission was tricky enough without the pressure of an entire race looking to them to get the walls down. At least this was an area in which Steve excelled.
After they enjoyed their back and forth, he gathered everyone's attention to himself. The sheer drapes had been pulled down across the terrace, obscuring the occupants within, while showing an unparalleled view of the palace beyond. The sun was setting in the distance and night began to creep across the sky.
"All right, everyone, I think the jokes can go on the back burner for now. Let's go over the plan, once more."
The group gathered around the table. Draped across the table was a map of the city proper. It was similar to one a New York tourist might purchase for a visit, with most of the major landmarks highlighted and the palace standing in the center of the map. Few side streets and alleys were available, but, for those, they relied on Hawkeye's and Veurr's expertise. They needed to reach the palace using the most direct route. The secondary housing for the city shield was there. If they made it, they could disable it and let all of Asgard's loyalists back in. On the other hand, there were still three very important, very powerful beings out there after them. Wagren was an Asgardian on a war path. While not as strong as Thor, he was plenty dangerous to anyone but the Hulk. Then there was the Enchantress. Clint could attest to her deadly prowess. After the Enchantress came Loki, no doubted freed by now. All these problems - It was enough to make their heads spin.
However, the biggest facing them was how to manage two fronts. One was getting the shield down in the first place, which would happen from the palace itself. The other task required tearing down the heavily guarded east gate, which stood as the only barrier between the Bifrost and the city. Separating the spy team in two was the natural decision.
"Veurr can lead the group to the east gates. He can get us through the city by the catacombs here and we'll stick to the surface as much as possible. The minute the shields fall, we'll be in a position to open the gate and let the loyalists through." Steve indicated the positions on the map. "It's the same gate Natasha and I came through to get to the war front. We'll know our way around. I'll have Veurr, Natasha, and the Hulk. Between us, we should be able to make it through."
"So the second group is my team." Clint summarized. "Tony and Freki will be my back up. With only the three of us, there'll be less chance of detection. We'll enter the palace through the catacombs, work our way to the, hopefully, still abandoned prison cells and go up from there. The generator is only a few floors up."
"After that, you bug out." Steve added with emphasis. His eyes were off the map now and boring into Clint and Tony both. "You don't stay and chat, you don't go looking for Loki, Wagren, or the Enchantress by yourselves. Hit the generator and wait for backup."
Clint nodded. "Understood, sir."
"No hot dogging, no throwing any parties in and out."
Tony groaned. "You keep saying that. We get it already. Now, can we get this dog and pony show rolling?" With a fist, he smacked Clint's shoulder and hiked a thumb backward. "Let's hit pavement, wolf boy."
"You first, tin head." Clint said.
When they had gone out of ear shot, Bruce turned to Steve. "You really think those two are going to cool their heels and wait for the cavalry?"
Steve didn't have to answer. They all knew the truth.
:(:):(:):
Freki stalked ahead of the silent pair, his nose and belly pressed low to hide the true bulk of his form. His two black ears stood erect as he listened on all sides for what may lie ahead. The dark of night descended like a blanket. A heavy scroll of clouds returned and, with it, the threat of rain.
Clint could only hope Odin had succeeded in getting the Asgardian warriors onto the Bifrost. If it held them, they would be safe. But it was a terrible game to play. With everyone in a single location, it was going to be nothing for Wagren to activate the city's defenses and destroy the remnants of the army if he felt dropping the shields was worth it. The fact that he had yet to do so told Clint the fight was still on.
Freki paused, one forward paw off the ground as his body hunched even lower. His tail straightened. His scruff bristled and he quenched a growl in his throat. Clint slid his body up and carefully peered out of the alley to the crossroad beyond them. It was one of the major streets. Soldiers were patrolling left and right, dragging the elderly and children from their homes.
Tony was out of his suit temporarily. He'd left it where he could recall it, thinking it was easier for him to walk the streets without his Christmas-tree-getup as Clint referred to it. As much as Tony loved the flare, he was going to start working on a chameleon reflector to aid in his covert missions the minute he hit earth's soil. He wasn't defenseless, however. With both gauntlets connected to the center reactor and repulser in his chest, he was nearly as fully armed now as he was in his suit.
"Trap?" Tony whispered.
Clint gave him a curt nod before pressing himself against the building and edging back. Tony passed in front of him to have his own look. Tony watched a familiar scene play out. Whether it was Bangladesh, the Congo, Asgard, or a Somali pirate ship, the element of a foreign power gaining control of a population by fear and force was all the same. An old man was dragged away from a screaming infant. A woman rushed from the house next door, shouting someone's name. A little girl cried for it all to stop. The nearest abolitionist drew his weapon and held it to the head of the old man.
Tony tugged to move forward and help, but he was fighting against Clint's steel grip. Clint's voice was in his ear, the anchor to Tony's rage.
"Not us." He ordered.
An imperceptible communication passed between wolf and man. Freki burst forth from their alley, growling and snarling. He headed dead on for the ring of Wagren's men and barreled through them with tooth and claw flying. Clint held Tony's arm for ten more seconds, and then together they moved. Like a shot, they crossed the street, out of the line of view. They stayed on their toes, running down the next alley, cutting down a left hand byway, then down another alley. The night clothed them in shadows as their black cloaks fluttered behind them.
They kept running.
Tony made to peel off right, but Clint went left and called him along. Tony switched directions and, together, they made it to the base of the golden fortress. There was no entrance to the Palace from the direction the Avengers had taken, which gave them a chance to eye up the competition before falling into an enemy garrison. They waited a moment in the dark of the palace base and caught their breath.
"Will he be all right? By himself?" Tony panted.
"Freki can take care of himself. I trust him."
"How much farther from here?"
Clint looked straight up. From their position he could just see the toe of Hengrel's Cuff peaking from the first hall above them. The entry for the catacombs was close. "Not far. Beyond that next street." He pulled his bow from his back and felt for a knock-out arrow.
"Gas the guards, fight who's left?"
"That's the plan, Sherlock."
"Well let's get with it, Watson."
One after the other they stalked forward in the night. The moonless sky offered all the protection it could afford while their black cloaks did the rest for concealment. They moved like parallel shadows beneath the building tresses. No one came to their windows to see the phantoms. Either no one was left, or they didn't dare.
Rounding the final corner, Hawkeye edged his eye forward to have a look at the catacomb entrance. As suspected, a ring of guards stood there. Luckily, most seemed disinterested in their post. With the wall defenses intact, they found it impossible to think someone may be within the city gates. Odin's army was well within eye sight at the Bifrost. Most of the populace had been arrested, executed, or moved from this proximity of the palace. They probably thought that this was the easiest post ever manned in the history of Asgardian coups, of which there were few.
Clint looked over to Tony, who grinned.
With a flourishing hand, Iron Man indicated Clint's bow and the crowd beyond. Clint bowed amicably to Tony, accepting the offer to dispatch the men. With his knock out arrow ready, the archer pulled back, set the string beneath his chin and released as his finger trailed along his jaw. A perfect form and follow through.
The men looked at the strange arrow now sticking from one of the abolitionist's shield. A few looked around, wondering where the arrow had come from. Someone shouted, but it was the first and only sound to come out of them. Clint and Tony both hunched beside the building and counted off on their fingers. One pointer finger, two middle finger, three ring finger, four… they stood and rounded the corner. The men were lying across each other in the doorway. All of them were unconscious.
Tony looked over appreciatively. "Got to tell the doc about his greatest invention."
"Not too shabby!" Clint replied. "Call your suit. We'll shove these guys in a cell after I get this door picked open."
Tony flipped a switch on his gauntlet and waited for the Iron Man suit to make its entry. Hopefully it wouldn't make a big show of itself along the way, but there was only so much they could guard against. By the time anyone tried to track it, Clint and he would already be in the palace.
"You sure you can open that?" Tony asked.
"I've read a book or two on Asgardian lock picking." Clint replied. He pulled out a set of Veurr's old keys. Having a palace guard towing around with you did occasionally have its perks.
"Think they changed the locks?"
"Unlikely." Clint said. He motioned to the guys on the ground. "Most of them I recognize from Wagren's company. It would be inconvenient to fit them all with new keys."
As he said it, the door popped open and the small entry swung inward. Clint waited with his back against the wall, should a second set come out looking for who was knocking. When no one came, he peeked inside. He tossed a smile over his shoulder. "Look at that, empty."
"Finally something's going our way." Tony said. Most of his suit pieces were already attached with the rest not far behind. Clint kicked open the second half of the door and went to the first, smallish, fallen guard.
"I'm putting these guys in a cell to keep them out of our hair. When you're done changing, grab big and ugly over there and help me."
Tony shook his right leg to straighten his pants beneath the metal of his suit. The only piece that hadn't shown up on time was his helmet. While he waited, he grabbed the particular 'big and ugly' Clint referred to and dragged him inside.
On their second trip out, a tall black form was waiting for them in the doorway. Drool and fangs peeked from its massive lips along with the corner of Tony's Iron Man helmet.
Clint chuckled.
"Aww, who is a good dire wolf? Look, Tony, I think he likes you." Clint grabbed the helmet from Freki's mouth and tossed it to Tony.
Stark looked at his internal screens covered in alien dog drool.
"Is this a compliment?" he wondered aloud.
"He could have swallowed it, so yes it is." Clint stroked a hand along Freki's muzzle affectionately before heading back to the task at hand.
Taking his cue, the wolf grabbed one man by the leg and dragged him inside.
Tony took the sash off the commander by his feet to wipe the reminder of drool out of his helmet before fixing it over his head. His digital blue interfaces lit up with the connection as his oldest friend JARVIS came online to greet him.
"Good Evening, Mr. Stark. I see we are still roaming around the streets in the dark." JARVIS said.
"Sometimes you've just got to make your own fun." Tony replied. He tossed the drool filled sash back onto the unconscious man and picked him up at the hips. With little reservation, Tony dropped him into the cell on top of the man pile. Freki loped out beside Clint, and when Tony was clear, the archer engaged the cell walls. Tony returned to the front door and sealed it shut behind them. If anyone came looking, they would find little more than an abandoned post with the door still locked from the inside.
"Lead onward, fearless dog-herder." Tony said.
"You know, it's strange not to see you smiling when you say that." Clint replied, heading down the first passage of cells.
"But you still know I am."
"I know you are." Clint confirmed. They continued down the passageway to the far end where the cells came to a perpendicular hall. Looking left and right, with no clear indication as to the benefit of either direction, Clint made the executive decision to take the left hand turn.
Tony followed with Freki stalking beside him, nose to the ground with ears pricked forward. Tony's scans picked up some movement ahead, but it looked too small to be of any real threat. He turned around to scan the hall at their backs and, again, found nothing. For now, at least, they were all right.
"How far up should this generator be?" Tony asked.
"Not far. Odin said to follow the cell lines, go up to the first staircase and head toward the east. By the trophy room, the generator will be behind a massive gold door. I imagine the big lot of guards around it will point us in the right direction." Clint said quietly.
They followed the last line of cells before curving around a bend that led to an unlit hall. The last path ended at a staircase leading upward. Clint exchanged a smile with the expressionless sheen of Tony's helmet. It seems they were going the right way, which means this last part will be the most dangerous. Clint sent a curt motion to Freki. The wolf understood the move instantly. Like two connected minds, they moved seamlessly together. Clint took the left with Freki right as they stood to either side of the staircase. Up they went. Tony waited a few seconds before bringing up the rear. Even though this is how they'd planned it, he couldn't help admiring the view. Sure he hated it at first; Clint's faraway look, the difference in speech, the headstrong way his best friend just threw himself into every dangerous situation that came along, for what? King and country? There wasn't a single part of it Tony liked. But Clint had found a balance somehow. His true self was shining through the slathers of chain mail and alpha-male. He moved like an artist ascending those stairs with his wolf at his side. Their muscles bunched and released in tandem as the wordless communication propelled them.
Tony followed as quietly as his suit would allow. That was another thing he planned to work on: First, camouflage. Next, stealth mode. He watched as the two stopped at the top of the stairs. If no one was within sight, they would follow the alley forward before taking the turn that would lead them to the entry of the generator. They turned at the landing.
Clint was in a crouch now as Freki's belly hung low against the stone floor. Tony routed some energy to his right repulser gauntlet. He made it to the landing just as Clint and Freki peaked around the final corner. The door was right in front of them now. Tony hung back and waited to see them move. He scanned the way they'd come again, but so far there was still no one trailing behind them.
Another imperceptible signal passed between the wolf and man. Freki launched forward like a bolt of lightning. Energy blasts erupted out of the hall and Tony could see their blue light ricochet off the wall only inches from Clint's head. For a moment Tony's heart leaped into his throat but none of them were particularly on target. It led Tony to believe no one had actually seen the archer yet.
A thunder of screams filled the doorway ahead of them. Some were choked out from the snarling wolf but, still, others continued. The gunfire reached a crescendo and, after less than a minute, some of it was getting fainter. Booted feet thundered down the hall and Freki did not return.
Tony scanned the stair case for a third time. Still, no one, had come up at their backs. When he returned forward he could see Clint's hand slowly becoming him. Tony came up at his back and tapped his shoulder. Clint raised his right hand and opened his fist. It closed, and opened again a full four times before he dropped it. Tony wasn't sure how many men Freki had taken out, or drawn away, but there were still twenty alive and well guarding the generator.
Clint threw a look over his shoulder. Tony nodded his head enough to move the Iron Man helmet over his face. Clint counted them down.
Five, four, three, two— Before he lifted the last finger, Tony and Clint emerged from the darkened hall together. JARVIS pinpointed the targets instantaneously and Tony let loose with his right gauntlet. Clint peeled left, tucking in and rolling to avoid the first shocked wave of rifle fire. Luckily the men hadn't recovered from Freki's initial assault. They reeled back into position, attempting to set their rifles again as Clint let loose with the first barrage of arrows.
An exploding tip - four men knocked down.
A standard buried into another's skull.
Another exploding tip, another three down.
At his right, Tony sent some energy to his central chest piece and let loose a canon burst from his uni-beam. It had the desired effect on the last cluster of men just before they got the idea to spread out. Tony kicked on his leg repulsers and took the high ground. Terrified eyes followed him up, allowing Clint the distraction to take another handful out.
"Sleiphner's bow!" Someone screamed.
"Odin's men, they have retaken the city!"
"Men of Midgard!"
The shots died down as the men kept dropping. Not wanting to risk a low arrow count this early in the mission, Clint rushed the remnants to combat them by hand. Tony continued his dodge and weave, blanketing the battle ground with repulser fire. Clint swung his bow shaft against one man's jaw, kicking his boot into another. These men weren't like those he'd fought from Jotenheim, however. These were nearly Thor-sized Asgardians. He had to make use of the element of surprise while he still had it. He dropped into a fighting stance and launched forward at the next man. As the Asgardian was back on his heels, Clint cracked him across the jaw, snapping his head sideways. Clint came back with a knee, dropping the Asgardian to the ground where a smack from Clint's bow kept him down. He pulled an arrow from one man, and put it through the next. Tony took out the final three and, suddenly the hall was vacant.
Tony lighted down beside his partner, sliding the shield up on his face-mask to display a smile. "Not bad, Hawk boy. You going to unlock this one with your skeleton key too?"
Clint dusted off his shirt sleeve and placed the salvageable arrows back in his quiver. He sized up the door. It was a good deal larger than he thought. Just moving it would take most of Tony's strength. He eyed the locking mechanism. "Different lock style. This is what Odin warned us about if we were able to make it this far. You have that combination written down?"
Tony tapped the side of his head. "All stored up here. Along with four volumes of quantum physics for dummies, the Encyclopedia Britannica, and four seasons of Lost."
"Couldn't make it to the end of Lost?"
"The minute they got off the island, it was just too weird." Tony replied.
He scanned the door jamb for the hidden panel he expected to find. He pushed the cover away from the mechanism and examined the keypad. Clint continued to fish around the downed Asgardians for the second access key he was sure to find. Once he came up with it in his hand, he showed it off to Tony. This door was less defensible than the others. The key required an insertion directly in the door's center. If there was anyone waiting on the other side, Clint had to be fast to scramble out of the way. Simultaneously, Clint inserted the key while Tony imputed the code. With a pop of the broken seal, the door slid away. Unlike before in entering the palace proper, the inside of this hall was indeed full of armed men ready and waiting to take the lives of all who may cross the threshold. The men had been waiting for a breach and lined the doorway with rifles shots. Clint wasn't as fast as he should have been.
"CLINT!" Tony exclaimed. He grabbed Clint by the arm and threw him out of the way just as a plasma rifle cut through the air. The archer was out of harm's way, but Iron Man was not.
He screamed as he crumbled at the threshold.
ohhhhh and its a cliffy! i'm sorry, but i'm not.
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