Chapter 81: Complications
"So your plan is to, what, walk into Wakanda and simply ask King T'Challa to help us with our time machine?" Thor asked.
"No," Brigid replied. "I'm going to walk into Wakanda and ask Princess Shuri for help with our time machine, as she has all the intelligence the gods neglected to give you."
"Ooh, sister, that was awfully spiteful," Thor said.
"Aww, don't worry, I'll play nice," Brigid said with a wink.
Loki smirked. "You are quite the goddess."
"I know," Brigid said.
"Alright, we'll go to Wakanda, but did you stop to think that this might not be a good idea?" Strange asked.
"And why might that be?" Brigid asked.
"Well, if I may recap, you killed Steve Rogers," Strange said, before turning to Loki, "and, be it another form of you, you still killed James Buchanan Barnes. Two of them were close allies of King T'Challa and Princess Shuri. You really expect them to help you?"
"I can be persuasive," Brigid said.
"And we're gods so if persuasion doesn't work, we have other ways," Loki said.
Strange rolled his eyes. "Good God, you guys are crazy."
"No, they're adopted and in-laws," Thor said.
Strange nodded. "Good point."
Brigid held up her hand. "Before we go to Wakanda, Strange, can you use your magic to get me to New York?"
"Yeah, but what for?" Strange asked.
"Just do it," Brigid said.
Strange opened a portal to the Avengers compound and Brigid and Loki stepped through with with Strange and Thor following. As soon as they set foot in the compound, they were greeted by the thunder of footsteps.
"Mama, Papa!"
Brigid and Loki ran forward to embrace Fenrir and Frigga.
"My little princesses!" Brigid gasped.
"Missed you!" Fenrir said.
Loki held his little girls tightly. "We missed you so much! Have you been causing mischief for Aunt Pepper?"
Frigga nodded. "Every day, and little brother and sister have been mischievous, too."
"Have they?" Loki asked.
"Yes," Frigga replied. "Papa, are you coming home?"
"No, little princess," Loki said. "We're all going to a wonderful place called Wakanda."
"All of us?" Frigga asked.
"All of us, little princess," Brigid replied. "Where's Aunt Pepper and your baby brother and sister?"
"She's in the kitchen feeding them," Frigga replied.
Brigid and Loki entered the kitchen where they found Pepper sitting at the table with Maria in her arms, greedily sucking on a bottle while little Ikol laid in a bassinet on top of the table.
"My, how they've grown," Brigid gasped.
At the sight of Brigid, Pepper rose and a fury rose in her that could not be contained, not even for the sake of the children. "No thanks to you!" she shouted. "Some mommy you are! You're not even worthy of the word! I've been covering for you, and these kids don't even know you exist! Wonder why that is?"
"You have no idea what I did for my children and what I am capable of doing," Brigid said.
"Oh, so you're threatening me? Good! You can just add me to the list like Steve and a bunch of others you killed," Pepper said.
"Alright, let me try it like this," Brigid said. "Tony knew me best and he knew what kind of mother I am. He believed in me, even after the terrible things I had done. The question is do you trust Tony?"
Pepper sighed, admitting her defeat. "I do. You can take your children. But if anything happens to them, I'm coming after you."
Brigid's eyes darkened. "That's my line."
Just then, Loki and Brigid heard faint giggling.
"You can come out now," Loki said.
Frigga and Fenrir fell face first on the floor, giggling as they did.
Loki knelt down to their level. "I perfected the art of eavesdropping. The key is to not make a sound."
"You two truly are little mischief makers!" Brigid said happily. "You make mama and papa proud!"
"Really?" Frigga asked.
"So proud," Loki said. "So proud, that we are all going to Wakanda right now!"
"Yay!" Frigga and Fenrir cheered.
Brigid and Loki hurried with their elder girls and twin babies through Strange's portal onto the ship as they set off for Wakanda.
Once on the ship, Frigga and Fenrir met with their brothers and were rambunctiously running about. Strange grimaced as the gaggle of children romped around the small vessel, giggling and screaming while Maria and Ikol napped peacefully.
"Aww, what's the matter, Strange, too many children for you?" Brigid teased.
"Exactly," Strange said. "I was a brain surgeon before, not a pediatrician. And how did you two have this many kids?"
"Don't discuss it in front of them!" Loki cried.
"Really, Strange, you really must learn how to behave in front of children," Brigid said. "and that includes not discussing how they're made."
Little Frigga jumped on Loki's lap. "Papa, are we going to get our family back?"
"Is that what's in Wakanda?" Bruce asked.
"Yes, little ones," Loki replied. "We're going to find our family in Wakanda. We're going to get them all back."
After a day's journey, the Asgardian vessel set down into the borders of Wakanda.
"Let me do the talking," Thor said.
A guard spoke over the intercom as they entered the border. "Unidentified aircraft, what is your business and cargo?"
"We are an Asgardian passenger vessel seeking audience with King T'Challa," Thor said.
"You are clear to enter," replied the guard.
Valkyrie set the vessel down and Thor sighed as the group prepared to disembark.
Thor frowned at Loki and Brigid. "Oh, come on! You couldn't have at least put on a disguise?"
"We already deceived them twice," Brigid said. "If we disguise ourselves, it's not a good way to earn trust, is it?"
"It's a good way to get yourself killed," Thor said.
"You can never look on the bright side of things, can you, brother?" Loki asked.
"Say that after you're dead," Thor said.
The group disembarked the ship where they were met by a company of Dora Milaje, King T'Challa's personal bodyguards, led by General Okoye. At the head of them, dressed in black and silver, was King T'Challa. At his side was Princess Shuri with the Queen Mother.
T'Challa smiled as he embraced his old friends. "Thor, Wanda, Valkyrie, Stephen, my friends!"
Okoye smiled. "It has been far too long, my friends."
"T'Challa, my honored friend, it is good to see you," Thor greeted.
"So, what brings you all back to Wakanda?" T'Challa asked.
"Well, it is quite complicated my friend," Thor replied.
Suddenly, T'Challa's smile turned into cold frown, as did Shuri, Okoye, and the Queen Mother. Thor followed their eyes and to his horror realized they were all staring at Loki and Brigid.
"You brought a murderer into my country, Thor?" T'Challa asked, incredulous.
"T'Challa, that is not what happened," Thor said. "I would never."
Loki cleared his throat. "King T'Challa, if I may-"
Before Loki could get out another word, he and Brigid were blasted backward as Shuri shot a wave of vibranium at them.
T'Challa stared down at Brigid and Loki. "Brigid and Loki Odinson, when Thanos brought war to our lands, we welcomed you. Now you have spilled the same blood and betrayed us. For the savage killings of Steve Rogers and James Buchanan Barnes, I, T'Challa, King of Wakanda, place you both under arrest."
T'Challa turned to Okoye. "General, bind them and take them to the cells."
Okoye smirked as she took two vibranium cuffs each and bound Loki and Brigid, hands behind their backs.
"Feeling proud?" Brigid sniped. "Clearly you've never had children."
Okoye raised her hand to strike Brigid, but T'Challa stopped her. "Okoye, play nice."
Okoye grunted as she lowered her arm and spat at Loki and Brigid's feet.
"Charming," Loki said.
"Take them away," T'Challa said.
Thor panicked at the sight of his brother and sister in law being dragged to the Wakandan cells in chains. "T'Challa, please, reconsider. This wasn't them. It's not as it seems!"
"You are a long way from Asgard, my friend," T'Challa said.
At the sight of their mother and father being led away in chains, the children wore confused, hurt expressions. They were unaware of the situation, yet they were terrified all the same. The children desperately clung to their parents, as if it would save them from the cells.
"Wait, where are you taking my mama and papa?" Tony asked.
"Mama and Papa stay!" Fenrir said.
"I want my mama and papa!" Bruce said.
Loki and Brigid's hearts shattered as they listened to their childrens' pleas and as they clung to them.
Loki knelt before his children. "My little ones, Mama and I have to go. We have to go away for a while."
"No!" Frigga protested. "I won't let you!"
"Mama and Papa stay here!" Bruce said.
Brigid smiled. "It's only for a little while, my prices and princesses. I promise, we'll see you soon. I promise."
"We're going to be a family, again, my dear ones," Loki said. "Do you believe me?"
The children all nodded and embraced their mother and father before Okoye led them away.
"Mama! Papa!" cried the children. "Mama! Papa! Come back! Mama, Papa!"
As Brigid and Loki were led away, they could hear their children crying out for them up until the vibranium gate slammed behind them. Even then, their cries hung in their ears.
A/N: Oh no! Brigid and Loki are in prison! How will they get out now? This is for my readers, reviewers, followers, favorites, etc. This story is for you and would be nothing without you!