CHAPTER 28

"So, when someone says 'What in the blue hell,' this is the place to which they are referring?" Six other people tossed Stark a look varying anywhere from annoyance to amusement, with Loki and Banner being on the extremes. Thor led the group with Loki just behind him, both in their full armor. Bruce, Rogers, and Tony took the middle while Natasha and Barton took to the sides from a distance. Thor was aware that the cold was affecting his mortal companions more than Sif and the Warriors Three and, in spite of the garments provided by SHIELD to provide protection, he hoped they would not to have to remain in Jotunheim for very long. A look to his brother told him he was not the only one hoping for an abbreviated stay.

Jotunheim still bore the destruction from Loki's attack, as deep gashes into the earth of the frozen realm attested. A deep canyon seemed to divide the capital city from the mountains on the other side as the seven of them ventured forth to the city. In spite of the simmering rage that had taken up residence in Loki's stomach for the previous three weeks, a small hint of remorse managed to work its way into the mind of the God of Mischief. What had been a brief period of absolute instability on his part a few years prior had resulted in devastation still very prominent on the landscape of the realm of the Frost Giants. The remorse was short-lived as he remembered that Laufey's would-be heir retaliated by kidnapping Darcy, the one truly innocent person in all of this.

His upper lip curled discreetly as he looked at the carnage around him. Perhaps he could accept Jotunn heritage within himself, and that he had more control over his own destiny than he had allowed himself to believe since discovering it. However, Mammoth had taken something of his (Darcy would resent implied ownership, but for all intents and purposes, she belonged to him), and trying to overcome centuries of cultural differences was not something he was in the mood to entertain. Finding Darcy was.

It took about an hour of walking in relative silence to reach the outskirts of the city. Loki had to remember that for everyone except for Thor, it was the first time any of the Avengers had ever travelled to another realm, except for Stark's brief, near death experience. He looked back to see how the rest of his companions were doing, and the first person he noticed was Captain America taking in the terrifying landscape. Loki glowered, returning his gaze to his brother's back. What Rogers was doing here was beyond him. He would be borderline, if not completely, useless against a Jotunn. The only thing he would succeed in would be slipping and falling down into the canyon next to them. Wouldn't that be a shame? A fleeting desire to cause a rock to trip him, just enough to put the fear of his God into him, passed as his thoughts inevitably returned to Darcy.

"Stop," Loki said suddenly, causing everyone to stop short and his brother to turn around just in time for an arrow to come flying from the left into the ground a safe distance away. He looked down, satisfied to see his suspicions confirmed by the archer. "We are being watched." If there was one thing Loki had noticed about Barton it was that he knew when eyes were on him, visible or no.

"So says the man trespassing in a realm not his own any longer," a painfully deep voice resonated behind them. "You should not be surprised." The five of them turned, assuming a full defensive stance as a creature bigger than any of them had expected appeared behind them. Bruce manage to keep himself from hulking, though his eyes began to flash green.

"You are Mammoth, I presume?" Thor said stoutly, marching up to the front, forcing Iron Man and Rogers to hop out of his way. Loki rolled his eyes as he turned fully, remaining in the back. His brother could be such a clod sometimes. The thought immediately faded as he stared at the frost giant who had met them. If this was not Mammoth, he shuddered to think how big Laufey's heir was. He stood to be at least five meters tall, and would have surpassed even the Hulk in height and breadth, had been out to play at the moment.

"Presumption is the least of your faults," the frost giant replied, "but you are correct."

"Then you know why we have come," Thor said, the civility he was trying to keep strained. "Return to us our friend and we will leave as quietly as we came." Loki arched a fine brow in his brother's direction, feeling far less charitable, but willing to play along, for the moment.

"That would rather defeat the purpose of bringing her here," Mammoth said, casting his eyes towards the empty, hollow canyon. "You bring our would-be destroyer while you attempt to talk peacefully?"

"My brother is here at my aid and his presence is meant as no insult or threat. He has been sentenced for his crimes by Odin All-Father."

"Yes," Mammoth said, the harsh, mocking tone causing Thor to stiffen even more as Loki joined him at his side, realizing his presence was not being ignored as he had hoped. "Banishment to Midgard with his human consort. What a just punishment indeed." He stepped closer to the lot of them, his heavy footfalls causing the ground beneath them to vibrate.

"And what punishment would you think appropriate?" Loki asked, his tone even. Mammoth narrowed his eyes at the trickster, lifting his chin up in response.

"This realm has been devastated by the war with Asgard for centuries. The source of our power was taken, and we have been forced to dwell in ruin under a cruel king since. In your childish fit, you ravaged our land with destruction, killing many, even our women and children. Clumsy are the feet of the sons of Asgard." Mammoth paused a moment, his emotions imperceptible. Loki did not miss the purposeful look shot at him when the frost giant said Asgard, and his heart clenched momentarily at the severity of his crimes which he had not considered before. "This trespass would warrant nothing less than your execution." Loki straightened purposefully, his mind turning and searching for the right thing to say.

"You call for justice," Loki said, "while taking your revenge at the same time? Both cannot be afforded. You have taken a Midgardian with no place in any of these events while conspiring with another powerful human traitor with ill intentions toward his own world and your only justification is my wrongdoing." Loki glanced at Thor, and the brothers shared a meaningful look, while Thor gave a nod almost imperceptible to any except Loki. "You have already started your path to power in innocent blood. If you truly wish to rule differently than Laufey let your actions prove it. Let her go, and deal peaceably with the king of Asgard, or his heir, in regards to the justice which you would have done to me, but do not expect treatment in good faith while you hold a hostage."

The moments of silence that followed drew on longer than was comfortable. If anyone had been able to see Stark's face, unadulterated shock would have to be the reaction named, as he saw a side of the God of Mischief he had never seen before. In Stark's mind, he had equated Loki to an unstable megalomaniac, and that was on a good day. Listening to him negotiating with a frost giant whose planet he had almost destroyed to try to get Darcy back -and what was more, it seemed like it might actually work- Stark had to promote him to a smooth-talking, manipulative, somewhat stable megalomaniac. He was no longer surprised his newest employee had ended making a long list of bad decisions with said god. Loki had probably convinced her it was for world peace, or something.

"In spite of the pure contempt in which I hold you, I will admit you are correct," Mammoth finally replied. "This is not what I originally wanted, but I have made alliances that I will not betray, and it is too late to change what has been done," he said.

"What has been done?" Thor demanded, his booming voice losing restraint. "My patience grows thin."

"If she is dear to you," the frost giant replied, "then go now. You will not find what you came for any longer. My repentance shall be to forgive your trespass this one time, and I will do what I can for her." Thor glowered angrily.

"Repentance for what?" Thor railed once again. Another silent arrow found itself just in front the brothers. Everyone's eyes immediately went left in the direction they knew Barton was. Upon seeing nothing, all began scanning the perimeter, including Mammoth, who became uncomfortable that they had an ally he had not seen.

"Three o'clock," Tony said, elevating up high to get a better look. All sets of eyes scanned the vast canyon stretching down to their right, save Thor and Rogers, who kept their eyes trained on Mammoth between stealing glances. Stark, Loki, and Banner held their breath as the ominous givings of a coming collapse teetered for balance at the top of other side of the canyon. In front of the wall of snow that began moving down the hill, a small figure seemed to be sprinting down the side of the canyon just in front of it.

"What the-" Stark started. Thor gritted his teeth as Mammoth met his glare with his own impassive stare before glancing at what the commotion was about. By that time, Romanov and Barton had sprinted to join the rest of the group.

"Female," Barton said, catching his breath. "About 5'5. Long hair. I think that's our girl." Loki's breath caught in his throat, watching the figure move like he had rarely seen any other being move, let alone her, running at an almost perpendicular angle and fast. She was so far away, and yet it looked like she was just barely outrunning the avalanche forming behind her.

"I did not understand fully what he was doing until it was too late," they heard Mammoth say. The Avengers turned back to him, beginning to feel the earth beneath their feet tremble from the distant movement. "We sought to hurt you by making her what you hated most. I had little issue with that. But other things..." he paused as Loki came closer, a white-hot burning rage shining out of his green eyes.

"What...did you do?" Loki whispered staring out across the vast expanse towards Darcy, who was fast reaching the bottom of the canyon.

"She can have a place here," Mammoth continued. "She has a chance here, in this desolate land where she holds no connection. If you take her back with you, she will destroy all of you, or die trying, one way or another. It is all she will know. All she will breath. All she will sleep. He has made sure of it."

"Then you will have no objection to us retrieving her," Loki said, turning back to the Jotunn briefly. Mammoth straightened, lifting his head. Loki only wished he had time to kill him.

"Not in the very least," he replied, his voice unreadable. "Do not linger here long." As he stepped back into the shadows, disappearing from view, the seven of them, almost as one unit began to move, heading down to get Darcy from the bottom of the canyon before the snow collapsed in on her. Thor began spinning Mjolnir, readying himself for flight as he walked up and grabbed Rogers, rocketing up into the sky. Loki came up behind Hawkeye and the Black Widow, putting his hands on either of their shoulders as they faded away. Banner groaned as he looked over at Stark.

"Don't act like your dreams aren't about to come true," Tony said, patting his back, waiting expectantly. Banner came up behind him, wrapped one arm around his shoulder and held on tight as Iron Man propelled up into the air. "Don't worry, the suit is metal. I won't feel the need to confess anything to Pepper when I get home, so you'll be fine."

"Maybe I should just let the Hulk get me down there."

Loki immediately left the two humans he had taken with him to their own devices a safe distance away as he ran towards the crashing snow, setting up many doubles to scan for Darcy, who had become difficult to see. Mammoth's warning rung hollow in his ears at the prospect of having her soon. It didn't matter what he said: if he could only get her away from here, everything would be fine.

The sinking feeling he had at how easy it had been to find her and that Mammoth had not tried to stop them was pushed aside as he searched desperately for her figure in the churning snow. A thousand fears seemed to be playing musical chairs in his head, all of them circling around and taking turns being seated. What had Mammoth meant by any of it? Turning her into what he hated most? If this was Darcy, how had she been able to move like that? This could all be a trap, but Barton had been able to make out a description. He couldn't imagine there were too many beings of that stature in Jotunheim.

His brother and Stark immediately came to his side, both of them holding their hands high to keep the snow out of their eyes. Thor set Mjolnir down and called out Darcy's name, his loud, booming voice fighting against the volume of the moving snow. As Loki focused on all of his vantage points, he thought he could vaguely make out her shape, but she was gone as soon as he spotted her. Time seemed suspended as he fought to catch a glimpse of her, the only sound in his ears was that of his own breathing and Thor shouting her name.

He had about a half-second warning from the viewpoint of one of his doubles as an achingly familiar and yet foreign girl knocked him over on his back, breath squeezing out of his lungs, and crouched curiously over him, her bare feet and small hands digging into his stomach. She stared at him for what was probably a few seconds, but seemed to stand still when her eyes locked with his. Mammoth's came crashing back into his mind as he stared into the familiar blue right eye of his lover, and a new, unfamiliar eye of a frost giant taking the place of its twin. The irregular blue patterns of skin and raised flesh seemed to stretch over the heart-shaped face and full lips he had learned so well. The dark circles under her eyes had grown worse, and her cheeks seemed gaunt and hollow. Her long, dark locks hung wet, stringy, and limp around her head, with random strands plastered to her face.

"Darcy," he whispered involuntarily, a mixture of relief and horror in his voice. He saw her eyes narrow briefly before his head snapped to the side after her cold fist cracked across the side of his face.

And it hurt. Badly. Stars actually clouded his vision and he felt the weight of her leave him as she springboarded off of his stomach painfully. He dismissed his doubles as he put all of his energy into trying to shake the cobwebs from the unexpected blow.

By the time was able to stand and focus again, he could see that the six of them had formed a tentative circle around her. He watched her crouch low to the ground, one bare, blue-splotched leg extended from her body, the other tucked in perfectly balanced.

"Easy there, kid," Stark said, his helmet coming up and stowing back into his suit. Thor kept Mjolnir a safe distance away, his hands held up almost defensively. Banner stared at her anxiously, his ever-perceptive eyes taking in all of the physical changes he could discern from the small figure in front of them. Tiny lady, he thought, an invisible weight feeling like it was squeezing his insides. Barton kept his bow low, ready and waiting for her next move.

Natasha also remained as equally prepared as her partner, but after seeing how "new" Darcy had been able to outpace an avalanche for almost a minute and had just knocked the God of Mischief senseless for a brief moment, she wasn't sure engaging her physically, even just to restrain her, was a good idea. The problem with all of them was that this wasn't an enemy on which they could just let loose. It was...Darcy. Natasha could still see her there. She was thinner, sickly, her eyes shone almost no recognition to any of them, but somehow, it was her. The assassin had to wonder at the idea that of all the opponents they had faced, Darcy, in her strange way, was the one she feared most. All was still as the seven of them surrounded Darcy and her head snapped back and forth from one side to another, desperately looking for something.

"Darcy," Tony said. "Darcy, calm down. It's us, it's Tony. You're safe." Her head snapped to Tony, slowly standing to her feet, every muscle in her body tense as he approached her.

"Stark, be careful," Thor warned, watching as Darcy visibly alternated between stretching and curling her fingers. Slowly, ice seem to spontaneously grow over the tips of her fingers, forming sharp curved claws on each one. The breath caught in Thor's throat. "Stark." The warning went unheeded as he stepped just one more step. Faster than any of them expect, Darcy took a swipe at Tony's unprotected face and he managed to lean back in time to miss most of the attack, catching four deeper than comfortable scratches across the cheek. The helmet immediately came over as she jump kicked him in the chest, causing him to stagger back as she darted through the gap between him and Rogers. Steve managed to head her off, knocking her down, but she immediately turned the fall into a low kick, swiping the legs out from under him. His attempt had thrown her off just enough to give Thor time to come up behind her, wrapping his massive arms around hers, pinning her arms to her side. She flailed every which way, knocking the back of her head into Thor's face as hard as she could. He tried to hold fast, worried as he realized blood that was not his own was getting into his nose. He had to grit his teeth in pain as the places where her skin touch his burned with the chill of a frost giant, though slightly less severe.

"Loki!" Thor yelled. "I need your help!" Loki was at his side just as Banner decided that Hulking would make him slightly less useless. He roared, letting his body grow bigger and bigger. Thor chucked Darcy into Loki's arms, who immediately began turning blue at the contact with her, though he remained unharmed, as he tried to keep her pinned in a similar fashion.

"Darcy, darling, please," he almost begged, slightly less successful in keeping her controlled. The sound of his soft pleas only seemed to make her struggle more wildly against him, her sharp, icy claws burying themselves into his forearms causing him to cry out in pain.

"No, no, no!" she screeched. The only thing that stopped her from squirming was when the Hulk came to stand right in front of the two of them, and let loose a roar as loud as he could muster. She froze -adding a figurative interpretation to the literal- as he reached out a massive green hand, wrapping it gently but firmly around the two of them.

"Tiny Lady stop!" the Hulk raged loudly, her movement coming to a complete still, her mismatched eyes wide in terror as she stared at him. Loki could feel her trembling in his arms, whether in fear or fury, he could not tell. Panic rose up in his chest when she suddenly went limp, her full weight -less than he remembered- falling to the ground as the Hulk released his hold. The thin tranquilizer arrow in her leg explained her surrender and Loki slowly sank into the snow, cradling her form. His breath became heavy as he tried to catch it, leaning in and pulling the arrow from her leg. The tip was padded, with only a small needle on the end; it came out cleanly enough. He looked up to see the others approaching them: Thor was nursing a few frost burns on his arms, Tony had his helmet back down, trying to stop the bleeding on his face, and the Hulk stood over them as quietly as was physically possible for him, his heavy breaths coming off as soft growls. The other three simply looked on in horror at the partially blue girl held in Jotunn Loki's completely blue arms, a form previously unseen by any of them. It was somewhat of a surprise, except for Thor.

"Well," Tony said, holding a cool metal hand to his face, "that went well."