Chapter 6

Thor was vibrating with excitement. His first real battle! Hah, even Loki hadn't been to a real battle yet. But here was Thor with his very own shield brothers off to protect one of the realms of Asgard. He couldn't wait to tell Hela about this!

Thor originally had his doubts when the Captain and Clint showed him how they would be getting to the battle. It was a strange metal contraption, that looked like ancient spacecraft in his tutors' books. It looked rather boring compared to some of the ships Asgard had, though the sparking switches in the front looked fun. Thor wasn't quite sure how it flew since he didn't see any spellcasters around them but it flew well enough and Thor couldn't keep his eyes off of the wonderfully blue sky.

The widow woman had quickly pulled him to the back with the supplies and begun to rustle through clothes. She kept holding up various plates of metal Thor could only assume was some sort of armor and then murmuring to herself. Finally, she seemed to find one she was satisfied with.

"Okay kid, take your cape off for a second. I think this will fit."

Thor frowned at her, but complied unbuckling his familiar red cloak and sliding it from his shoulders, "I am not a child. My name is Thor."

"And mine's Natasha and if you were honest back on the Helicarrier then we both seem to be older than we look." She moved closer and slid a black vest over his arms and onto his torso. It was heavier than it looked. He rolled his shoulders, it was a bit too wide for him and he couldn't help but pick curiously at the strange material.

"Kevlar," Natasha explained flatly. Thor looked up in surprise, for some reason this woman reminded him of Loki. He couldn't quite explain it because they looked nothing alike, but somehow he knew it was true. It was like she knew things even before he did-

"Are you a mind reader?" He burst out.

Natasha's eyes widened in shock before she burst out laughing. "Well, that's a first. Can't say I've heard that one before."

"There's no shame in it," Thor persisted, "My brother, Loki says he's going to be the best at mind magic someday. He's already one of the best sorcerers in the castle. He can make nightmares disappear with a wave of his hand!"

She quirked her lips up again, "That certainly seems useful. But no, I'm not a mind reader, just perceptive. And that's advanced polymer Kevlar that should protect you from standard bullets even at point-blank range. Not sure it will do you much good with the weapons Maw has at his disposal, but it's the best we have."

"This Maw," Thor tried the name on his lips, "What does he do?"

Her smile disappeared, "Telekinesis, teleportation, some sort of mind manipulation and that's without the power of that scepter. He took over the mind of a good friend of mine. He's not someone you should be messing with."

Thor frowned. If what she was saying was true then it sounded like Maw was a dangerous sorcerer and the Midigardians should not be facing him at all. Everyone knew that Midgardians were weak and had no natural protection against magic. They truly were brave to be facing an enemy like him.

"Okay, now Thor what type of weapon do you want?" Natasha opened a wall on the side of the ship and began to rummage inside.

"Do you have any swords?" Thor asked. His sister always used swords and so did the Valkyries. They were the weapon Thor practiced the most with.

The woman's mouth crooked up in a half-smile. "No, but I think I have something else you'll like."

The New York skyline stood in proud defiance, deceptively calm for the storm about to break loose below. Steve sighed, six months out of the ice and here he was on another suicide run. He hoped they would be enough, enough to save New York to save the world. Aliens honest to god aliens. New York would never be the same again.

Why was it always New York? A hundred years ago it was Nazi's and now it was aliens. Couldn't Manhattan get a break for once?

Steve tugged the leather straps on his shield making sure they were secure.

"Okay, here's the plan. Clint, eyes on the sky, find a post, and keep firing. Natasha, I want you to get to Stark Tower. See if while Tony keeps Maw distracted if you can get to the Tesseract. I'm going to clear civilians. Banner-" Steve looked over at their resident scientist, he was only supposed to be here to help them find the stone, but here he was with the rest of them off to fight aliens, "Do what you have to do."

Bruce lets out a sigh and runs a nervous hand through his hair, "Last time I was here I helped to level Harlem. This time I guess it's Manhattan on the chopping block. New York's city planners are going to hate me."

Clint patted the scientists back, "Don't worry I think they already do. Besides, it's the Hulk or the aliens and honestly, New Yorkers are probably stubborn enough to prefer that their city be broken by a local."

"Really?" Thor perks up looking at Banner with interest for the first time. Steve still didn't feel great about letting a kid, alien or otherwise close to what they were doing. "You are a city breaker? That is very impressive!"

Banner looks down and frowns, wringing his hands. Steve can tell he doesn't consider his actions as the Hulk as 'impressive'.

"Okay-" Steve tries to intervene but Thor is already on a bubbly roll and he barrels forward.

"My sister is also a city breaker. Once her and Brunnhilde went on a hunting trip and ended up in Niflheim. There were ogres that had taken over a regional capital. My sister had them out and the city was practically leveled! The people were so happy they threw them a feast and Brunnhilde drank the whole town dry!"

Well, that was concerning. Steve wasn't entirely sure which part was more concerning the fact that Thor's sister could easily level a city or that apparently she was rewarded for it.

"Thor," Steve says, putting authority in his tone that has Thor snapping to attention, "I want you to stay close to me." If Steve couldn't put his foot down on the kid coming at least he could keep him close. Maybe he could even send Thor off with a group of civilians to 'protect' them on their way out of the city. Thor nods his agreement.

"Alright Avengers-" A warped tearing sound screeches over them. The sudden change in pressure makes Steve's ears pop. Thousands of car alarms blare up from below. "Sweet Mother Mary," Steve curses as a huge swirling blue rift appears in the sky overhead, "Natasha get us down now!"

The quinjet comes to a silent halt on one of the wider streets. Steve, Bruce, and Thor step off. There's a smoky smell in the air that burns at his nose.

"Remember earpieces in." Steve reminds and Natasha rolls her eyes as she nods and shoots up into the sky again, taking Clint with her to drop him at his post.

That's when a mechanized whirl surrounds them. Hundreds of thrumming silver spacecraft dart out of the rift.

"Son of a bitch," Steve spits, raising his shields as he watches the grey aliens swarm over the city.

Bruce rolls his shoulders back. He's standing ramrod straight as he stares up at the chaos.

"Bruc-?" That's when Banner begins to shift. His body contorts painfully, heaving in on itself before it stretches and green spreads across his skin. Clothes rip and the scientist is replaced by the Hulk. The Hulk roars and launches himself up the nearest building swatting the aliens as he goes.

Thor's eyes are practically gleaming in excitement as he watches the Hulk rocket into the sky and takes off after Maw's army. Steve shakes his head and tugs on Thor's arm as he takes off for the nearest cry for help.

Loki landed on Midgard with little fanfare. He'd used the Bifrost which was a risk as always with Heimdall's all-seeing golden eyes. Loki had cloaked himself before he slipped through and allowed his magic and the last image in the scrying mirror he had of Thor to guide him. He could feel Thor's faint electrically charged magical signature on the edge of his senses. He was close and when he found his brother he was going to flay him for this.

His leather boots stepped across the hard grey ground the Midgardains seemed to use to coat their streets. Midgard, it looked… different than the tutors had said. Still not as impressive as Asgard's golden cities but far from the mud ball the books had described. The buildings here had no class and were ugly square things that towered towards the sky blocking out the sun, but they did show some craftsmanship, even if Loki didn't understand why the mortals opted to leave flaming debris in plain sight.

Loki kicked some rubble out of his way as he waved his hand and spelled a simple locate spell to point him towards Thor. A thin green sting of magic appeared lighting the way. He turned to the east following.

A blue surge of energy jolted through the air and hair on the back of his neck stood on end. It was a deafening magic signature that blocked out everything else. It was indescribable power, Loki had only ever felt something like this once before from Father when he was very young and that was when the Jotuns had threatened to destroy Asgard.

This wasn't a game, Loki needed to find Thor and report this to Father. No one should have this kind of power on Midgard. This type of magic so close to Asgard was a threat and Thor had somehow found himself in the middle of it. It couldn't be a coincidence.

"Thor! On your right!" Steve yelled as he used his shield to dent into an alien trying to fire on fleeing civilians. Thor let out a whoop of joy and threw a dagger. Steve wasn't sure who had given him the daggers- Natasha probably. Thor was surprisingly good in the fight. He watched Steve's back and wasn't underfoot. Also, his strength seemed to rival Steve's own despite his small body. This had become apparent when he lifted a car off of a trapped woman. Still, it didn't matter how good they were, their small rag tag team was vastly outnumbered and Tony and Natasha still didn't have the portal closed.

Steve was taking them closer to Stark Tower even now. It wasn't the call he wanted to make but if they didn't stop this at the source it was over. He'd shouted orders to every first responder he'd come across, giving them Clint's intel on the safest way out of the city. He hoped it was enough. Thor and him were helping where they could, but the army overhead was reigning fire in every direction. If it wasn't for the vibranium shield Steve would be nothing but a smoking patch of ash on the concrete right now. Thank god for Howard Stark and his genius brain in making this shield.

The whiz of firing lasers sounds around them and Steve is ducking and pulling the shield up, placing himself so he can give as much coverage as possible to Thor.

There's a zap and the smell of something burning.

Steve twists his head with a snap trying to get eyes on Thor and make sure he's okay, that he hadn't been hit by one of the shots. It wasn't Thor on the ground though. Instead, it was two aliens on their speeders. Thor was standing over them with a grin on his face, his arms sparking. Steve's eyes widen as he realizes what exactly Thor has on his arms. Those are Natasha's iconic widow bites.

Steve's mouth opens and then clicks shut. Not able to form the question he wants to ask as sparks dance up Thor's arms. The kid didn't even seem to notice the electricity as he clambers over the still twitching bodies.

"The widow gave them to me," Thor says unprompted as he holds the technology out on his wrists proudly for Steve to inspect.

Of course, she did. She probably turned the electricity up all the way too. Him and Natasha were going to have words after this about giving out specialized high-voltage weapons to people who had never used them before.

"That's uh, real nice pal, but you have to be careful with those. Don't want to hurt someone," Steve looked at the fallen bodies, "Someone who doesn't deserve it anyway."

Thor nods his head somberly, "I understand I will keep this magic close. I swear it."

It wasn't exactly what Steve meant but they didn't have time for anything else as another wave of soldiers flew through the rift.

"We need to get the portal closed now!" Steve yelled as he threw his shield into the alien speeder. Sparks flew as the metal machine crashed headfirst into the streets of New York. He easily caught the shield as it rebounded, gripping it in his fist as his eyes narrowed on his next target.

This was bad. The skies of New York were swarmed by these grey creatures and in the middle of it all was Maw, his arms raised high like he was praising some unseen god of carnage. If they didn't find a way to close that portal… well Steve didn't like their chances. For all he'd learned after waking up from the ice, this is never how he pictured dying.

"I hear you, Cap. Headed that way now ETA two minutes." Widow's clipped voice responded through their earpieces.

"Stark I need ideas," Steve said as he ran down Mainstreet, towards a couple of unfortunate cops that were trapped in the rubble.

"Working on it."

Steve lifted a chunk of concrete off of a fallen SUV allowing the pair of cops to crawl out. They had wide-eyed looks of wonder but Steve was already pointing them towards cover and ushering them along. He didn't have time for any strange hero worship today.

"Whatever you're thinking up Rich Boy you might want to think faster I think we've got some more company!" Clint said, his tone going for light and cheery but it held an underlying tension they were all feeling. Steve looked up towards where Clint had claimed his sniping post.

"Oh Jesus," Steve felt the air leave his lungs as a huge metal space whale swam through the portal. It was massive about twice as long as those huge jet liners they had now.

"I'm bringing the party to you." Stark's voice cuts through the line as he darts in front of the huge whale creatures. They moan and begin to snap at Starks gleaming form.

"That doesn't look like a party." Natasha quips, unhappily. Steve can see her now she'd stolen an alien speeder and was now wrecking carnage overhead.

"Captain!" Thor says urgently looking at the sky creature. "You must throw me."

Steve blanches as Thor points directly at the space whale.

"Wha-? I'm not going to toss you at that thing Thor."

"But you must," Thor insists, stomping his foot, "This is much like a bilgesnipe and the only way to harm them is their eyes! I am small it will be less likely to notice me on its great back."

Thor has one fist clasped around a knife and the other tapping idly on his side impatiently.

"Look I'm not-" Steve starts when something large and green steps into their path. In a sweep of his hand, the Hulk picks up Thor and lobs him at the nearest space whale.

"Puny humans take too long." The Hulk spits out before crouching down and jumping towards another one of the flying beasts.

"Thank you City Breaker!" Thor yells as he crackles. Steve can see the little bolts of electricity as he moves towards the creature, his knife out ready to stab. Steve curses and shoots off towards the nearest alien speeder, knocking its driver aside as he climbs on. He fumbles with the controls for a minute but it's close enough to his bike that when he flips a lever it darts forward. The steering wiggles and tries to shake free of his control but Steve doesn't let it. His attention is locked onto Thor's tiny red cape on top of the writhing space whale.

The slight hint of ozone is all the warning Steve gets. Then the world is on fire.

Lightning engulfs the sky.

Thor sways on his feet. Steve's close enough now he can see Thor has dug one of his daggers into the creature's side and is trying to hold on for dear life. He's slipping though. Steve watches in horror as Thor loses his grip. The whale-like creature spasms as it topples into a skyscraper and then there's just a hint of red in the open air.

Thor, Thor was falling.

Steve's heart stops and it's not Thor he's seeing slipping down into nothingness it's Bucky. They always fall and Steve can never catch them.

The metal speeder collides in the air with another and it jolts Steve back into the present. The machine wavers out of his control and Steve manages to jump onto a nearby storefront canopy just before the whole thing explodes.

"Tony!" Steve spits into the com, hoping against hope that the billionaire is close enough in his suit that he'll be able to do something.

Thor is just barely forty feet above the ground and falling fast.

Something shiny shoots out and Thor jerks slightly, his cape caught as he's suspended just two stories from the ground. He shakes like a rag doll in the wind but doesn't fall. Steve can see the rope strung up against a building, shot clean through Thor's cape.

Clint. It has to be Clint and one of his arrows that got there first. Steve breathes a sigh of relief and takes off as fast as his legs will carry him. He needs to be under Thor to catch him if his cape falls, who knows how long that material will hold even if Thor swears it was woven with pure sunlight.

Loki feels the breath leave his lungs as he watches the great green beast throw his brother at a large armored flying creature. Thor- tiny stupid Thor bounces off of the creatures hide. He looks stunned for a moment and Loki is worried he will fall, but instead, he clings on for dear life.

Loki nudges his magic forward. He's not great at levitating and there's a lot going on but he needs to be able to catch Thor, from this height his younger brother will be nothing but flat on the ground.

Light flares around them and the sky darkens as lightning crashes. Loki has to avert his eyes from the sudden brightness.

Thor has a primordial type of magic, much like Hela's only more elemental in nature. Lightning, storms, disasters never before dreamt, Thor can control them all just by willing it. It is a type of magic that Loki would be lying if he said he wasn't envious of. But still, Thor is rather useless at magic.

His brother has no control. His emotions wield him and his magic. Loki has never seen such a powerful display of Thor's magic before. A demonstration like that can only mean Thor is terrified and his power is pure reaction.

The ghastly monster in the sky tilts down and begins to drop. Loki doesn't know if it's alive or not, but he can see Thor's red cape dangling in the wind as his brother clings to the monsters back.

Green magic flares around him as Loki begins to cite the incantation of power. It will use a good majority of his energy but it should work to stop the creatures decent and catch Thor.

Then the creature crashes into one of the midgardians ugly little buildings and is out of his line of sight. Loki cuts off the incantation mid-way through, feeling the magic angrily dispersing into the air. He needs eye contact with his target for this to work. His legs are already taking him closer as he prays to the fates that he'll get there in time.

When he rounds the corner still carefully veiled he's not prepared for what he sees. In the mere moments since his loss of vision, Thor is no longer in the sky and is instead laying on the ground. A man is knelt beside him, looming over his brother with an arrow in hand. He doesn't see blood surrounding Thor but from this angle, it's difficult to say if that means Thor's alright. He's certainly not safe with an arrow so close to his neck.

Loki nudges his magic forward. It flares green at the archer standing near Thor. "Step away from my brother Midgardian scum!" The man's eyes widen as Loki uncloaks himself a knife in each hand.

"Loki? Is that you?" Thor perks up with a groan as he struggles to sit up from where he has been knocked to the ground. Loki grinds his teeth, Thor sounds far more cheerful than the situation warrants.

"Of course, it is you, dolt! What in Hel's name are you doing here?" Loki holds his knife ready to throw without a second's hesitation if the archer so much as moves.

"I'm on an adventure! I knew you didn't abandon me in that cave. Have you met all my new friends yet?" Thor beamed. His smile was all sunshine.

Of course . Loki felt like facepalming. Of course, he lets Thor out of his sight for a few hours and Thor ends up on Midgard and instead of doing the sensible thing and calling for Heimdall, he makes friends. Only Thor. And what was this about a cave? Loki would have remembered leaving Thor in a cave and as amusing as that might be, he certainly hadn't done it on this occasion.

"Loki put down your knives," Thor says pleasantly as he sits up and inspects a rather large tear in his cape. Their mother won't be happy about that, but then again she won't be happy about any of this if she ever finds out.

"So this is your brother then kid?" The archer says, relaxing back and tucking his arrow back in its quiver. Loki doesn't appreciate the less than appreciative look the man is giving him.

He glares back, "Yes, I am Prince Loki of Asgard and that is my younger brother. He is a prince of the line of Odin and you shall address him as such, quim!"

The man's eyebrows stretch up into his hairline, "Not much of a family resemblance is there."

Loki bristles as Thor laughs and waves off the man's comment and his lack of respect for their station.

"Loki, this is Clint. Also known as the Hawkseyes he is a marvelous archer." Thor introduces using his formal voice as he smiles up at the irritating blonde man, "And this is the Captain he is very brave." Thor points to the man in the tricolored costume who is panting as he gives Loki a small nod of acknowledgment. The costume looked more like what an actor should be wearing to a play than a serious battle uniform. Pathetic.

The archer tucks his bow back on his shoulder and gives a half-hearted wave as Loki narrows his eyes. Thor obviously is at ease in these mortals' presence, but Loki doesn't trust it. He doesn't trust any of it.

Thor stands and shakes the rubble off his pants. His two 'friends' don't make any move to harm him, but Loki doesn't lower the knives.

"Pray tell, brother dear how you ended up on a battlefield?" Loki's voice is light and sweet, but underneath he's fuming.

Thor turns his blue eyes on him and with a dramatic arm wave, "Loki, it is horrible the Terrible Maw is attacking Midgard and he's using sorcery! We have to help them!"

Loki took in the chaos around them. Upon closer inspection, the creatures were more hideous than the midgardians. Their grey skin and twisted armor was distinct and felt vaguely familiar. He racks his brain trying to recall where he had seen something similar.

"Chitauri," He tastes the word as it rolls off his tongue, "From the outer reaches." The archer quirk's an eyebrow up. An unasked question, "That is who you are dealing with. You are hopelessly outmatched. The Chitauri are a hive-minded species and I've no doubt that their master is not making an appearance on this battlefield. Fighting these peons will get you nowhere. Although I would expect nothing more from Midgardians."

"You know what these things are, what can you tell us?" The tricolored man asks, his voice is like that of a general. Hmm, perhaps Thor was not off in calling him a Captain.

"Only, what I have read in books. They are a species from the outer reaches. Asgard has never interacted with them. That extensive piece of magic that is floating over this planet is a door to whoever their master is. That much is apparent. The Chitauri are a warmongering species but they rely on those more advanced than them to call them to battle."

"Do you think you can shut it off?" There's desperation in the man's blue eyes. It is so akin to Thor's.

"Pardon," Loki says, he isn't sure he likes what the man is suggesting. He is only there to get Thor and hopefully sneak back into Asgard before Hemidall notices.

"The portal, magic whatever it is do you think you can shut it off?"

Loki looked back at the blue rift in the sky. It hummed with power, luring him closer like a siren's song. He hummed, "I suppose it is not beyond my power if one were to destabilize it the portal would likely collapse in on itself." He could do it too, his magic may not pack the same raw violence of Thor's own, but when it came to nuance and tipping the scales it was not power that was needed it was finesse, "Why would I though? If Thor has not told you already we are late to our sister's coronation."

"Please Loki we must help them!" Thor has that stubborn look in his eye. His chin is jutted out despite the small wobble of his lower lip. He looks pathetic.

He knows he's going to regret this. "Fine!" He spits, "Of all the pigheaded- I can't believe you. If we die here I will personally drag you out of Valhalla to Helheim for our sister to find!"

Thor crashes into him with all the gusto of a herd of bulls as he wraps his midsection into a tight hug.

"Oof, Thor! Thor, unhand me! Thor, you're squeezing too tight!" His little brother just squeezes harder as Loki bats at his head. Norns how exactly are they related again?

"Oh, thank you! Thank you, Loki! I'm so glad to have you beside me in this battle!" Thor's voice is muffled into his tunic, but Loki finally manages to pry the oaf off of him.

"Yes, yes, you do owe me and you will grovel later, but not in the middle of battle! Now," Loki turns his attention back to the Midgardians that are watching suspiciously silent, "I think we have much to discuss if we are to succeed in this fool's endeavor."

Author's Note: Has it really been almost a year since I updated this? Wow, okay. I'm opting to blame this on 2020. Still, only one chapter left to go! Might take me a minute because writing action isn't really my favorite thing, but on the plus side, it is in fact all drafted! As always comments and constructive criticism are all welcome and appreciated!