Chapter 3: Reunions
Steve stared at Tony and Bruce with that dumb founded expression the Avengers, and even the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, had so affectionately coined 'Steve face'. Those familiar with Stephen coined the phrase shortly after Tony told the story of the Captain's "it seems to be running on some form of electricity" statement when interacting with the Heli-carrier's technology. From then on any presence of a befuddled facial expression when explaining perplexing notions was met with the words to the effect of, "don't give me the Steve face!"
Back to the current befuddlement at hand, Steve's friends had just finished explaining the quantum mechanics of their new invention and aside from the word "scan" and "detection" the soldier had no idea what in the world they were talking about. Sure he had agreed to see their new "toy" the inventors lovingly called it, but he didn't expect to be bombarded with technical specifications with which the nerds before him used terms that didn't even sound to Steve like they belonged in the English language.
Pausing to observe and fully appreciate Steve's confounded face and awkward smile; the Captain's eyes wide and mouth agape, the two inventors could no longer contain themselves. Bruce and Tony in synchronism smirked and snickered before they both burst into laughter.
Realising yet again Steve was on the short end of joke, he crunched his face not even trying to convey his total lack of amusement at the joke. "Yeah ok. Very funny guys. Ha ha." Steve scoffed, folding his arms across his muscle filled chest in a huff.
"Come on Cap." Tony jested placing his hand on the Steve's tense shoulder, "don't be so cold. You'd think of being frozen for 80 years you'd want a change of setting."
"Not funny." Steve frowned swiping away Tony's hand.
"Alright no more I promise." Bruce offered, the wealthier of the two inventors taking objection to the pledge. "Hey," he countered to Bruce, "don't speak for the both of us. I like this game."
"Game?" Steve cringed, "It's a game to constantly mock me? It's not my fault I don't understand all this..." Steve tempered waving his hands at all the devices spread across Tony and Bruce's lab, "technology." Well, Tony's lab. Bruce was his distinguished guest who was slowly becoming a long term resident with the amount of time he spent in the Stark Tower department of R&D.
"Ease soldier," Tony shrugged at Steve who looked like he was on the verge of some mental breakdown, "most average people even in this time don't understand my technology either." Bruce nodded at Steve in agreement simultaneously making a mental note to himself to maybe lay off playing any more pranks on Steve for a while. He looked at more upset this time around than the last time.
Sighing, Steve slumped in on himself. It had been a struggle to attempt adapting to this new world he found himself plunged head first into; but that was no reason to take out his frustrations on his friends. It was just a joke after all. They didn't mean any harm.
"Sorry guys," the soldier uttered rubbing the back of his neck, "I didn't mean to..."
"Ok!" Tony interjected, "enough with this therapy session. Fun's over. Back to the trenches." Tony mid sentence turning away and heading back over to his many transparent double-sided computer screens. Steve sighed at Tony's curt departure, while Bruce just offered a shrug of 'don't worry - it's just Tony' and went to join his genius comrade.
Rolling his eyes Steve shuffled to join them.
To Steve watching Tony work was like watching a manual telephone switchboard operator. It was amazing how fast his hands moved. Bruce stood to his side observing, occasionally offering some sort of suggestion or advise to whatever Tony was commanding on the computer. Both inventors seemed almost oblivious to the tall muscled man standing stiffly behind them watching with awe at the pretty lights blinking in front of him.
Feeling almost like a third wheel and remembering he only came to Stark Tower to pay his good friends a long overdue visit, Steve decided to try one more time to strike a conversation - however if he knew the guys were playing inventors today he would of gladly rescheduled and booked in a gym session instead.
"So, without resorting to explaining the algorisms again. What exactly are you guys working on?" Steve asked hesitantly, fearful the question would lead to more algorithm inflictions.
Tony was too delved into his work to even acknowledge the question. Bruce however was always such the friendly green giant, "Simply put. It's a surveillance system."
Steve grimaced. "Doesn't look like one."
Tony, who to any onlooker would have thought he was unaware to everything around him due to the attention his was giving the computer screen, let out a slight chuckle at Steve's comment, "This is the source code Cap. The standard display is a lot more 1940's friendly." At that Tony's fingers seemed to impossibly pickup the pace as he continued his next sentence with an elongated 'and', "we are done in three... two... one" pressing the last command into the computer screen with such the finesse that could only be described as Tony Stark. Suddenly, the jumbled mess of code disappeared and upon the screen was a revolving image of Earth, beautiful in its bright blues and greens.
Tony turned with a smile. Bruce shared his friend's glee while Steve's curiosity continued to eat at him.
"Impressive," the Captain remarked, "So what does it track?"
"Asgard." Tony replied.
"What?" Steve asked at a loss to Tony's improbable response.
"Well wormholes to be more precise. Interstellar bridges in space." Bruce added.
Steve was genuinely impressed. "Well, now that is something. How do you know it works?"
Tony and Bruce eyed each other a moment before responding. "Well..." Tony stammered, "we won't know definitely if it works until we have a something to test it on."
Steve cocked a critical eyebrow, "So... correct me if I am wrong. And don't worry I am used to being wrong. But as far as I know Earth doesn't get many visitors from space." Tony and Bruce remained silent. Should they break the news to Steve about alien conspiracy theories to the 80 year old war veteran? Nope. Steve took their silence to indicate agreement.
"So it could be years until you can test this thing, even considering it even works to be able to detect some kind of space portal. So technically, if it doesn't work you will never know."
Before Tony could make a sarcastic rejoinder about someone who had the technological skills of an infant questioning HIS inventive genius, the surveillance computer screen started screeching a high pitch alarm sound as if someone had the Stark Tower fire alarm.
For a moment, Steve looked slightly panicked by loud noise; ready to suit up to fight an unseen enemy. The blaring distinct to the noise of a military base warning of incoming hostiles and signaling it was time to engage the enemy set off a sleeping soldier reaction in the Cap. Repressing the memories of war, Steve focused his eyes on Tony's face as his anchor on reality.
Noticing Steve's obvious discomfort at the noise, Tony smiled - intent to clear the tension with his loveable humor, "Don't you tire of being wrong all the time?" He joked moving towards the computer screen and inputting code to shut off the alarm.
Bruce meanwhile had his eyes fixated on the screen analysing the information that was scrolling at the side of the rotating world map. Steve calmed himself and joined Bruce and Tony's side.
"Tony look at this," Bruce said flustered, "it is picking up massive amounts of energy."
"Yeah. Let's see if we can pinpoint it." Tony replied, almost beyond belief that the within minutes of completing the source code to the surveillance program had detected an incoming wormhole. Knowing the odds of such an occurrence Tony did not dismiss the possibility that the program could just be malfunctioning.
Clinging to optimism; and the egotistical surety that if anyone could get it right without test results it would be Tony Stark, the billionaire genius began entering commands on the computer, his fingers tapping the touch screen like they were on fire. As Tony typed, the map of Earth began to zoom closer and closer. Soon the United States of America covered the screen. Then the state of New York. Then the all too familiar city Manhattan. Then finally, "Here" Tony spat pointing his index finger at the screen.
Steve stood on his tippy toes, curiosity overtaking him as he tried to get a glimpse of the screen through the thick heads of the smarter two of the Avengers team. Trying several angles, and failing, he whined, "Where here? I can't see."
"This can't be right." Tony protested. "You're reading the same data I am Tony." Bruce retorted.
Pushing the other two aside to finally see, Steve saw on the screen the top of a very familiar structure. "Hey, isn't that Stark tower?"
Then the three of them become very quiet with only the whisper chimes of the computer filling the room. Through the gaps of silence they heard the distinct noise of a thunder storm creeping louder and louder outside the building.
Without a word Tony, Steve and Bruce eyed each other then all three broke out into a sprint - knowing exactly where they were running. Steve was first out, obviously, no one wanted to push in front of that mammoth of a man. Tony was next, with Bruce bringing up the rear. All three basically on each other's toes as they chose to take the ten or so flights of stairs over the escalator to Tony's private penthouse at the top of Stark Tower.
Arriving exerted (except for Steve of course) at the top of the Tower, the three men ran towards the doorway to the tower's Iron Man landing platform to get a view of raging storm of grey clouds and thunder had gathered over the city; stretching itself aggressively across the skyline.
"JARVIS," Tony screamed at the top of his lungs over the rumbling weather.
"Yes sir?" The AI responded at its highest volume to be heard by his creator.
"Did the weather man predict a storm today?" Tony asked, already internally knowing the answer. The storm looked way too 'unnatural' to be natural. The spiral movements and rapid speed would make any amateur weather analysis comment 'that ain't right'.
"No Sir." came the AI's response.
"I thought so." Tony murmured to himself and at that moment a bolt of lightning struck down with an intense boom, striking the pedestal of the penthouse Iron Man landing platform. The bolt's light blinded the three gawking men causing them to grimace and look away; the smell of metal fibres filled the air. Then the storm was suddenly silent.
Turning back with scrunched up faces, Tony rubbing his throbbing ears, all eyes descended to stare at where the lightning struck which now revealed a perched man with a distinct red cape flowing in the wind; and a large metal hammer gripped in his hand.
Rising to his feet the familiar Norse god directed his gaze to the three men that were huddled together at the penthouse entry.
"My friends!" Thor boomed, Mjlonir in hand as he raised his arms in a welcoming fashion.
Tony's face was the exact opposite of Thor's as he ran over to his landing pad. "Ugh!" He yelled, face pained like someone had flicked lemon in his eyes, "My landing platform!" He moaned, pushing aside Thor to get a look at the extent of the damage. The circular platform, once shimmering mechanical brilliance, now scorched and sparking with a light stream of smoke snaking into the wind. There was also two distinct holes where Thor's feet had landed after his descent from the sky.
"Friend Stark?" Thor uttered quizzically. Tony just turned to him with a look of the pained expression of 'Why?'
"Thor," Tony spoke in his patronising tone, "how come every time you visit you feel the need try and smash my stuff?" Thor just looked to him with a confused expression
"Tony. It's Thor..." Bruce murmured from the background, sounding way too surprised for comfort.
Tony turned around slowly, shooting Bruce a glare while questioning Bruce's sanity, "Yeah I can see that Sherlock."
"You know what that means right?." A smile cracking across Bruce's face.
"Yeah!" Tony growled, "the bastard broke my platform!"
"No, it means our surveillance program actually works."
Tony's face eased; lifting his eyebrows offhandedly as remarked, "Oh, well. I guess it isn't all bad then."
As Tony descended from his obliterated platform, Thor just stood still; hammer in hand and a blank expression on his face. Bruce joined Tony inside the penthouse to glee about their invention. Steve attended to Thor signaling the god to come inside.
"Should I...?" Thor began but Steve quickly cut him off, "No, just don't ask."
o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Tony was quick to get all guys, including himself, standing in his penthouse an unnecessarily expensive imported brewed drink. Whatever reason the god of thunder had for returning to Earth, Tony knew it wasn't good news. Experience at least taught him that. Plus alcohol seemed appropriate as he was in mourning for his platform - and he had just finished fixing it after the last Norse god field trip to Earth.
"Ok big guy," Tony said as he handed Thor an opened beer bottle, "don't think we aren't glad to see you. Indeed we are. Good to see your face. But, what are you doing here?" Simple and to the point. Steve and Bruce fixed their eyes on Thor, the same question lingering in their minds. The moments before Thor spoke as they all stood facing each other in the room was way too tense and awkward for comfort/
"Friends," Thor spoke in his deep projecting voice, "I have come before you to seek blessing to a venture to mend the relations between our realms."
"Which is?" Tony enquired, squinting his left eye in suspicion.
"I wish to transport Loki here to Midgard to repent for his transgressions."
Then three jaws dropped, too simultaneously it was almost comical.
"What?" Steve stammered.
"Are you insane!" Tony. A statement more than a question.
Bruce just stood silently grimacing at the thought.
"Have you forgotten what almost happened the last time your brother graced us with his presence?" Steve asked, the panic he was trying to hold inside through a thin veil of professionalism leaking out in his voice.
"I have not forgotten Captain Stephen Rogers. Nor will I ever forget the debt Asgard owes to your people." Thor declared, like a true future king reiterating his diplomacies.
"Then why in hell would you want to give sunshine and lollipops a second chance at killing us!" Tony scowled
Before Thor could answer Steve interjected, "Has he got you under mind control?"
"No!" Thor bellowed. Calming himself and squeezing the bridge of his nose, "I believe if Loki could begin to come to terms with his deeds by facing those he wronged, it would assist in his rehabilitation."
Tony just sneered, earning a harsh glare from Thor, "As much as you would choose to believe Tony Stark, Loki is not a monster."
"Recent events prove otherwise." Tony replied, utter distaste squirming in his stomach. "He murdered innocent people without a moment's hesitation. Good people. Friends of ours."
Thor's eyes dimmed, "And he is remorseful for the consequences of his actions."
"Bullshit!" Tony yelled, the loud sudden noise startling the nervous green monster beside him and Bruce had to close his eyes for a moment to take in a deep breath to calm himself.
Steve decided to take a turn to express his disapproval, "Loki is a danger to everyone around him. It isn't just our safety we have to consider in all this."
"Guys," Bruce uttered and all eyes turned to him as he finally joined in on the conversation. "I think we should consider what Thor is proposing." The surprises never cease.
"You are insane too!" Tony scolded, "And you are supposed to be the brains of the group."
"No, I believe that's you." Bruce smirked.
The compliment slightly easing the wound up iron hero, "Well, maybe you haven't lost all sanity."
Bruce took a moment for the silence to calm his friends before explaining, "Look. I know how dangerous crazy bag of cats is. But, if Thor thinks it will help..." Steve and Tony just shook their heads while Thor let a thankful warm smile grace his face. Bruce continued with a dismissive shrug, "Plus, if it is true, and Loki just wants to say he's sorry, he won't be here for long right? Then we won't need to worry about an insane god returning in a hundred years time and taking over the world."
Bruce had a point. Everyone was aware of the fact that Asgardian gods had a long life expectancy. There was nothing to stop Loki from coming back when the Avengers, except Thor of course, were all dead. Yet, with only a few months between Loki attempting to conquer the world and becoming the proverbial prisoner who had found god (or in this case, himself) beseeching others for forgiveness, it was way too short a time for Tony to believe Loki could possibly do a one-eighty. It all stunk to high heaven.
"That's fine, let him come back in ten years then." Tony said crossing his arms, "maybe then I'll be in a forgiving mood."
Sometime over the heated discussion, Bruce had shuffled himself to stand beside Thor and Steve had moved to Tony's side. It was a standoff; and no one seemed to be budging from their positions.
A few seconds passed and nothing was said. Thor's eyes pleaded with his objectors but they would not yield, arms crossed in stubborn assurance. It didn't escape the attention to all four in the room that they were equally divided. Nor did it escape the attention of someone who was peering inside the room from outside the penthouse.
Between the time span it takes to blink an eyelid a puff of green smoke had appeared right in the middle of the divided interaction and there stood a looming figure in black and green leather clothing.
Tony, Steve and Bruce took that moment to absolutely freak out, three bottles of beer smashing to the floor from the shock and inability to retain their grips on the alcohol.
In between the panic and mayhem of three avengers transforming into battle mode, Loki remained perfectly composed. Crossing his arms behind his back he calming uttered, "I thought I'd interject here and break this stalemate. I vote for Loki comes to Midgard."
The trickster let gleamed, a sneaky smile spread across his face as he rose his hand in a voting fashion.
Tony was the first to react screaming at the top of his lungs, "JARVIS!"
The AI responded immediately, "Initiating emergency protocols sir." Everyone could hear the far wall of the room engaging its mechanical motors which would shortly project out a packaged Iron Man suit. Steve had his fists clenched ready to move for the first strike. Thor had recovered from his initial shock and moved to grab his brother and remove him from the imminent scuffle. As the foreshadowed suit landed beside Tony everyone began to make their move towards Loki.
"Wait!" Loki screamed as three people were so close to his vicinity that he could smell their natural or perfume musk. Turning to the only person who was not descending upon him he uttered, "Isn't he a higher priority right now?"
Following Loki's eye sight, Thor, Tony and Steve felt panic rise up their throats like bile. Bruce was hunched over and growling; his skin slowly turning a shade of green. Without hesitation Tony rushed to his side, placing a strong grip on his shoulder, "Come on buddy, calm down." Bruce did not respond, his breathing becoming louder and heavier.
"Tony, do something..." Steve stammered.
"What am I suppose to do?" Tony remarked. He needed to get some sort of tranquilizer before Bruce completely hulked out. But he didn't have any supplies in the penthouse - they were all ten flights down the tower in the lab. Neither Bruce or Tony had the foresight to think to keep the tranqs in Tony's penthouse.
"Oh for goodness sakes." Loki sneered as he walked over to Bruce. Standing in front of the hunching, almost completely green man with muscles becoming unnaturally bigger, Loki brought his face and hand to Bruce and blew a breath of air at the scientist. Materializing out of nothing from Loki's hand, a substance that looked to resemble green perfume curled itself into Bruce's face, disappearing up his nose, and before anyone could take a fist to Loki to get him away from the semi-hulk Bruce's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell face first onto the floor in a heap.
Seeing his friend potentially die of some sort of poisoning Tony scrunched up his face in anger and as Loki straightened his back to look at the men around him with a proud smile, a set of four knuckles slammed into his nose.
"Argh!" Loki screamed in eye watering pain. Thor quickly moved to stand between himself and the raging billionaire.
"What did you do!" Tony screamed through the bulky God in front of him; trying to get at Loki through Thor, and failing.
"Nothing! It was just a sleeping spell! Human swine." Loki screamed, his voice muffled though his hands which were still gripping his nose, blood slipping through his fingers.
Steve and Tony then moved to help pickup Bruce, dragging him to the nearby couch. Thor then turned to his brother, a disappointed expression on his face.
Wiping his bloodied hands on his black and green shirt, his nose red but no longer bleeding, Loki uttered, "What?"
Thor continued to glare at him in silence.
"Oh don't try to blame all this on me."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Finally - an update.
Let me just say how sorry I am for the delay. I went on annual leave to the US (I live in Australia) and was there for a month! It was amazing. But when I returned, look a month's worth of work had piled up on me during my absense. Gah!
Well this chapter was a lot lighter than the previous two but I hope you all enjoyed. All comments are greatly appreciated and I'll get the next chapter out a lot faster - promise :)