Clint hardly had a second to catch his stumble before hands harshly grabbed him and pulled him into submission. He cried out at the harsh treatment, doing his best to not attack whoever was touching him. Wouldn't do any good to beat up whoever this was. He had to trust that Heimdall wouldn't allow someone to viciously attack him right at Himinbjorg. And he certainly had to trust that Thor would try and defend him. Besides, after a quick glance to see who was grabbing him, Clint knew it was the Einherjar. Even with his new super soldier strength, Clint would be far outnumbered.
"Have care! He is only Midgardian!" Thor shouted, pushing toward the downed archer. He didn't get too deep into the pile before someone held him back. Though, the guards did calm down in their treatment of him. Thor hesitantly stood over the Einherjar as they pulled Clint to his feet. Clint's gaze snapped right to Heimdall. The Guardian's golden eyes stared at him for a second before turning and looking out into the Void.
Feeling rejected, Clint looked in front of him. Sif, The Warrior's Three and the Jotuns were already walking out onto the bridge. On either side of the pulsing rainbow colored ground were four Asgardian Skiffs. Once onto his feet, Thor slowly headed off to get into one of the Skiffs. Meanwhile, the Einherjar attempted to send Clint to another. The archer tried his best to follow their directions even as they pushed and pulled him out of the Observatory. They just passed the opening when someone apparently got sick of 'fighting' Clint and the archer was hit harshly enough to drop unconscious.
When Clint came too sometime later, he woke to being in a cell. Or, Clint assumed as jail cell considering when he looked past the golden barrier he could see cells with numerous Asgardians or creatures inside. And they all looked bored or angry. Also, there was nothing in the room. Clint sighed, shifting to sit against the white wall. Either he had been sentenced while unconscious or he had to wait till Odin would want to speak with him. Knowing Odin a bit, Clint was leaning toward having been sentenced while unconscious.
Clint counted the minutes. Or at least he tried to count the minutes. When he hit around a hundred and eighty minutes, the area around him shimmered a bit. He quickly got to his feet as magic began to solidify into a shape. Once it was clear, Clint sighed. "Queen Frigga."
"Clinton Barton," Frigga greeted, not at all surprised that he knew her. Clint winced at his full name. "I apologize."
"It's no problem. Not many people realize I hate my full name," he soothed. Frigga chuckled. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"I was actually wondering if I could help you," Frigga mentioned. Clint arched an eyebrow. Not what he expected. He had figured the only person who would attempt to back him up or anything would have been Thor. "My husband has yet to come to a decision on what to do with you."
"It'd be nice if he actually talked to those he wants to imprison," Clint commented, his voice a bit sharper then he had intended. Frigga smiled and nodded her head. "Is Thor-"
"Thor is fine and is doing his best to defend your case. But, as he was as unaware as the rest of us, it is difficult for him," Frigga informed, almost as if in warning. Clint nodded. Made sense. He honestly hadn't thought much about Izril and the fact that he technically wasn't supposed to own it in 2012. Well, technically he had known but in that moment with the Jotuns, Clint hadn't been thinking about it. "I would like to know, were you the archer-"
"Izril had been given to me about six months before I was sent back in time by the Time Stone. Like I told the Jotuns and Thor, that was supposed to happen in 2018," Clint replied. Frigga raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you didn't have a double vision of these days like before..."
"Before?" Frigga asked. Clint nodded.
"The day Baldr was killed. You had had visions before of that day ending with his death or a Midgardian archer besting-"
"Gylfi Storolfsson, Asgard's greatest archer," Frigga finished, staring at him surprised. "You were... Are the Midgardian?"
"Yes. Hela had gotten a hold of the Soul Stone in Niflheim's Vaults. She stole my soul and later Loki's soul. To keep us distracted, she put us in Loki's memories of that day," Clint explained. Frigga looked away, musing on the new information. "What have you seen about all this?"
"Too many," Frigga whispered. Clint frowned before realizing she was talking about all the dimensions that Loki had gone through. There was no one way that these days went. And Loki had even mentioned before that this dimension's reactions to the time travel spell was nothing like any of the other ones.
"I am from 2025. Along with the Loki and James Buchanan Barnes on Midgard," Clint started. Frigga looked to him. That statement certainly wasn't what she had expected. "Loki casted a spell that... Uh... Brought 2012 to the three of us in 2025, so a lot of events already happened to us. Like, I've already gone back to the war even if I wasn't originally supposed too until 2019."
"I believe I know what spell you are speaking of. It is a very dangerous spell if done incorrectly," Frigga mentioned, not even willing to start on the other aspects of said spell. It wasn't always a clear cut choice of how to fix things. Clint frowned. Loki never mentioned that. Then again, he had done it enough times that likely he had perfected it and so hadn't felt the need to let Bucky and Clint know. "Based on the inability to sense the spell on you, Loki must have perfected it already."
"Yeah, he said he had done it a few times. He doesn't know how many though," Clint added. Frigga sighed deeply and turned away to do a small amount of pacing. Clint said nothing, figuring she needed to seriously think things through. There were so many questions that Frigga had. What event had Loki removed from the actual timeline but kept in the memory of the others involved in the spell with him? How important was this event? And why would he even cast this spell? Unable to answer those questions, Frigga figured she'd move onto something easier.
"May I see her?" Frigga questioned suddenly, spinning to look at Clint. The archer tilted his head for a moment before realizing that Frigga wanted to see Izril. He flicked his hand out and she gently dropped herself into his hand. Frigga let out a brief and sharp inhale of breathe before walking closer. Clint lifted the bow up so that the Queen could get a better look. She reached forward but didn't grab Izril. Instead, Frigga's hands hovered over the bow. "She is beautiful."
"She was crafted very well and has done me no wrong since I've owned her," Clint commented. Frigga nodded, not surprised. A moment later, Clint felt a small washing of magic drawing over the bow. He couldn't help but shiver at the sensation, thankful that he still had his magic to keep up his magical draining. Frigga's attention snapped to him for all of a second before she focused once again on Izril. Then she let out a chuckle. "Wha-"
"Odin shall be hard pressed to get her away from you," the Queen chuckled, stepping back. Clint's eyes widened in surprise before he glanced down to Izril. He had never thought that Izril would fight to stay with him. Loki had said that Izril would never draw back for another unless they were a better shot than Clint. But, he never mentioned anything about Izril not allowing herself to be taken from him. "Izril has deemed you worthy of her and she shall stay with you."
"I..." Clint began before frowning. He never expected that.
"I will have to let my husband know of this," Frigga said with a smile, drawing Clint's attention to her and then she suddenly vanished. Clint let out a quick cry of surprise. Then he sighed and looked down to Izril. There was no way Loki could have known this would happen. Right?
"What the fuck!" Bucky shouted, staring at the spot he had last seen his lover.
"What was that?" Natasha demanded, spinning to see if anyone had an answers.
"Why... I... What?" Steve stuttered, unsure how to react to the fact that the archer was just gone. Tony and Loki headed toward the shocked group. When near enough, Bucky spun to look at Loki.
"This is your fault!" he growled. Loki nodded.
"I am sorry. I did not expect any of that to happen," Loki admitted.
"Where is my agent?" Phil asked.
"Likely, Odin has already placed him in the Palace Dungeons," Loki replied. Bucky growled, looking back to the markings on the ground. "I am unsure exactly what else will happen as Odin... He has never been easily predictable."
"Is there any chance of getting him back without trading you?" Phil wondered. Everyone turned to look at him.
"What?" Tony questioned. "You... You seriously want to trade him in?"
"Clint is not Asgardian. I doubt that Odin would allow Clint to keep hold of Izril. He will do whatever it takes to get it back, including waiting out Clint's lifespan," Loki said.
"He won't just kill him now?" Tony inquired. Everyone turned to glare at Tony other than Bucky. Bucky was glaring at Loki, blaming the trickster for all of this. Loki sighed.
"No. Frigga would not allow it without proof that Clint actually stole Izril. As Clint had received Izril as a gift from a Prince of Asgard, there is no proof of theft," Loki explained. "It gives us time."
"Time for what?" Steve curiously called.
"To go to Asgard and get him back," Loki answered.
"How?" Bucky snarled.
"I will need to send communications to Thor or even to Frigga," Loki muttered, now beginning to mostly speak to himself. "Odin would sense a scrying spell... Heimdall would see physical messages... Dream walking... That would be the best bet."
"Dream walking?" Bucky echoed making Loki look to him. The trickster furrowed his brow before nodding.
"Yes. It is an easy way to pass messages. The one issue with it is that both parties need to be asleep when the spell is cast."
"Both parties?" Phil repeated. Loki nodded again.
"Yes. I am unable to do it myself. One of you must do it," Loki answered. Everyone traded looks, wondering who would be best fit to speak with Thor or Frigga. "I would suggest Bucky is best fit."
"Me?" Bucky incredulously choked out. Loki gave him a small smile.
"You have the knowledge needed to convince Frigga of the need for her help."
"Uh, Buck's never been good with political conversations," Steve pointed out and Bucky couldn't help but give him a quick angered glance before focusing on Loki again. The Captain did have a point though. Bucky was never good with talking to higher ups in a calm manner. Someone else had always handled it.
"For political needs, I should be chosen," Tony announced and as one the entire group said 'no.' The genius pouted at them.
"If anything, I should do it to keep the political issues down," Phil suggested. Loki stared at Bucky. As they looked to each other, basically silently arguing, the others all renewed their fight over who would be best to go. Phil had the ability to speak on S.H.I.E.L.D's behalf. Steve, as a Captain, had a high standing and he was used to political warfare. Tony, as much as it seemed a bad idea, was a good choice considering his constant pressure with the media, military contracts and having run Stark Industries. Even if most of that fell on Pepper and Obadiah. Natasha admitted her own deference to Phil. After a moment, Bucky looked to the others, waiting to see who they'd choose.
"Bucky," Loki mumbled, drawing the Sergeant's attention back to him. They exchanged looks and Bucky understood. Loki wasn't going to change his mind. He was going to use the spell on the Sergeant and no one else. Knowing his point was made, Loki faced the rest of the group. "I suggest we reconvene back at the tower."
Shorter chapter then I normally write but I'm exhausted and can't really think at the moment. Sorry.
Darius is good. Currently playing on the floor in front of me. Had a blizzard hit in the middle of the week and so we got a lot of snow. I haven't brought him outside (most cause I don't want to be outside). But hopefully he'll be able to go either later today with the hubby or over the weekend with the grandparents. I'm thinking likely the weekend. Nothing too big going on other than that...
Okay, for Christmas... Do you guys want a one shot of some kind or the first chapter for a story that won't get fully published for a while? I'm thinking one shot and would be more than willing to accept an idea so please let me know! Thanks!