Sophie summoned Mjolnir to her as the assassin drew a pistol on her. She threw the hammer at him just as he fired. The hammer blocked the bullet and even kept going, smashing into the pistol and crumpling it like tin foil. She heard bones breaking and guessed Mjolnir did some damage to his hand as well. As soon as she got Mjolnir back, however, she threw it again. This time, it hit him in the chest and made him fly backwards into the door of her room. The door was ripped off it's hinges and the man went shooting out into the hallway to land on the door, where he lay in place, pinned by the weight of Mjolnir on his chest. Sophie didn't stop there. Extending a hand, she let lightning arc from her fingertips into his body. He jerked and spasmed for a few seconds, then went still, his eyes closed. She walked in a large circle around him, avoiding being in arms reach just in case he was faking being unconscious. She knelt down by his head and snatched the mask off his face, but she didn't know him.
"What is it now?" Rogers demanded, running down the hall.
Looking up at him, Sophie saw he was wearing only pants and carrying his shield, his hair soaking wet and falling into his eyes. Raking her gaze up and down his sculpted torso and arms, she noticed many droplets of water. He must have come straight from the shower.
"I take it school went well then," Sophie said dryly.
"Oh, no. We tried painting today...they were more interested in painting me than their canvases."
"What? Were they five?" Sophie asked incredulously.
Rogers rubbed the back of his neck.
"No. It...It was a high school class."
Fighting laughter, she put on a sympathetic face. Then his eyes settled on the man on the floor, and his face flashed with shock.
"Bucky?" he gasped.
"You know him?" Sophie asked, raising her brows.
"I...I did. But I thought he was dead."
"Obviously not," Sophie murmured, looking down at the unconscious man with narrowed eyes.
"You know, I'm trying to work," Loki said acidly as he came down the hallway.
After taking a beat to obverse the situation, he frowned.
"Who broke the door?"
Sophie blinked, looking down at Bucky.
"Um...well...I guess we broke it together."
"Where is Soeren?" Rogers asked, looking around.
"Probably back on Alfheim," Sophie said, glaring at Loki.
"Good thing you can fight for yourself, isn't it princess?" he smiled, completely unconcerned that she was almost assassinated.
"Don't call me that," she replied sourly.
She hated the way it sounded when he said it like that. Sophie was surprised how much this comment from Loki irritated her, after she put up with his teasing for so long. Perhaps it was because it made her remember how an ex told her she grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth. He didn't know how poor she was growing up, or how her mother would physically attack her out of nowhere. He didn't believe her when she told him. Needless to say, Sophie broke up with him not long afterwards.
"I can't believe he looks just like the last time I saw him," Rogers frowned, staring down at his friend.
That was a good point. Rogers looked as young as he did because he was frozen in ice for decades. Could the same have been done to Bucky?
"Who would...?" Sophie murmured to herself, looking down at Bucky and running her eyes over him.
Then she saw the star on the shoulder of his metal arm.
"Is – is that...?"
Rogers noticed it too.
"The Russians found him?" he muttered, "But how did he survive that fall?"
"Why don't you tell us exactly what happened, while your friend is confined. For his safety, and ours," Sophie said.
"And put on a shirt," Loki snapped.
Rogers returned to his room to grab a shirt while Sophie reclaimed Mjolnir so that the guards could take the unconscious Bucky away. She made a cup of tea in the kitchen and met Loki and a now fully dressed Rogers in the living room. They all sat, and Sophie placed the steaming mug she held on the coffee table in front of Rogers.
"What is this?" he asked.
"Chamomile tea," Sophie said, "Drink it."
She guessed he could use something calming after seeing a friend he long thought to be dead. She waited patiently as Rogers sipped the tea. Loki was not so patient.
"In your own good time," he said flippantly.
Sophie glared at Loki and Rogers took a deep breath.
"Bucky enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the 107th Infantry Regiment in 1943," Rogers began, "His unit was captured by HYDRA. When I found out, I went to rescue them."
"And then?" Loki asked.
"We went to capture Arnim Zola," Rogers continued, "Bucky fell off a train. He plummeted hundreds of feet. His body was never found."
Sophie stared down at the little table in front of her. Something was missing...
"What is it?" Loki asked suddenly, "You have that look on your face."
Sophie blinked, glanced at him, then looked over at Rogers.
"When you found Bucky..." she said slowly, "Where was he?"
"In a HYDRA facility."
"Right, but...was he in a cell block?"
"No. He was strapped to a table."
Sophie's eyes slid to the side.
"Like someone that's been experimented on," she muttered.
A look of comprehension dawned on Rogers face.
"You think he was given the Super Soldier Serum."
"Or at least a variation of it. That would account for him surviving such a fall that would have otherwise killed an ordinary human, albeit minus one arm. And he could have had his life prolonged the same way you did. Being frozen."
Rogers let out a breath and leaned back in his seat. He looked at Sophie, who was still frowning.
"You look beautiful, by the way," he said.
Realizing she was still in the dress she wore to her birthday celebration in Alfheim, she smiled.
"Thank you."
"Right, well, we had better get some sleep," Loki said suddenly, standing, "We have a trip to Jotunheim tomorrow, Sophie."
"Of course. Goodnight then, everyone."
"Thanks for the tea, Reed," Rogers said.
Sophie smiled over her shoulder at him as she left the room. She had no doubt Rogers would be speaking to his friend soon. She just hoped it helped both of them.
"HYDRA sent him to kill you," Loki said as soon as they were away from Rogers.
"Yes. Because they want to take over the world, but you've already done that. And I guess they see me as an obstacle to attaining their goals. I suppose they think with me gone, it's an easier path to you."
Loki stopped suddenly, so she did too. Looking up into his face, she saw him frown, his mouth opening and closing several times. She waited patiently until he worked out what he wanted to say.
"I...greatly value your companionship," Loki said at last.
She smiled.
"I am touched by you saying so," Sophie replied, "And I feel the same."
Loki swallowed and cast his eyes away from her. Sophie thought she knew what was troubling him. Visiting Jotunheim had been her idea. He was going to be facing his father on her advice. He was nervous.
"Hey," Sophie said softly, putting a hand to his arm, "It will be alright."
His eyes darted back to her, and he flashed a smile. She shook her head sadly. It was a reflex smile only. She knew what they looked like by now.
"Don't do that," Sophie said, "You don't have to pretend with me."
"Right. I forget sometimes. I'll see you in the morning."
Sophie nodded and watched him stride away. He was so...
"I can't leave you alone for five minutes," a drawling voice said suddenly.
Sophie turned and saw Soeren leaning against a wall, fury in his eyes.
"I was fine," Sophie protested, but what she was thinking was, Oh shit.
"This time," Soeren said darkly, "Next time, you might not be so fortunate."
"I can't hide behind you, Soeren. No matter what you or my father wants, I won't do it."
"From what I understand, this isn't the first time this HYDRA has tried to kill you."
"And I'm sure it won't be the last, so long as they're around. But I'm not going to let anyone, even HYDRA, prevent me from living my life. They don't scare me."
"No, I'm coming to understand that nothing does. But that's not necessarily a good thing. This fearless quality you have is dangerous. Fear can keep you alive in certain situations. I worry that without it...it makes you reckless."
"How can I be reckless when I think about every little thing I do thoroughly before I do it?"
Soeren cocked his head to one side as he advanced on her.
"And this...relationship that you have with Loki? Have you considered that?"
Sophie lifted her brows as she looked at him.
"We're friends, Soeren."
"Oh. You stare at all your friends asses?"
"Don't be absurd, I wasn't – "
"I know you were," Soeren interrupted.
Sophie pursed her lips as she stared up at him. The silence stretched, until she shrugged.
"Well, can you blame me? He has a very nice ass. It would be a shame not to appreciate it," she quipped.
She slipped past Soeren and went into her bedroom. In the morning, Sophie dressed in thermal under clothes, a long sleeved shirt and tight pants that trapped her body heat. Over that, she wore a long sleeved cashmere sweater and wool dress pants, with a long pair of fluffy socks. Soeren was brooding already. Loki cast an amused glance at Sophie, ignoring Soeren entirely.
"Warm enough?" Loki smirked.
"Oh, there's more," Sophie assured him, "I'll finish it off before we leave."
Breakfast was a short affair. There was no casual chatting to lengthen the meal. They all wanted to be about their business. The men waited outside Sophie's room while she finished dressing. With the addition of a pair of knee high black boots hidden by her dress pants, a dark red cashmere scarf and matching dark red cashmere lined leather gloves, and a knee length black mink fur coat, Sophie was finally fully dressed.
"Right," she said, a determined look in her hazel eyes, "Let's do this."
Both she and Soeren took hold of Loki, who transported the three of them to Jotunheim. As soon as they arrived, Sophie shivered and pulled up the hood of her coat.
"Fucking hell," she spat, but made no other comment.
Loki led the way into the heart of Jotunheim, where the frost giants were waiting. Looking around, Sophie thought the place was looking...deteriorated.
"You dare return here?" a deep voice demanded.
Sophie's eyes snapped to the speaker, and the chill that went through her had nothing to do with the cold. It wasn't his skin tone or his red eyes, but the sheer size of the Jotun that made Sophie's heart stop. This frost giant could step on her and flatten her to a pancake. While she was small in the first place at barely five feet in height, to look at this Jotun was to look at a skyscraper. Since he was also sitting on a throne, she guessed this was their king and Loki's father, Laufey. Then she processed what he actually said. She had certainly never been to Jotunheim, and was betting Soeren hadn't either, at least not recently. She looked at Loki, surprised, as he began to speak.
"Many things have happened since our last meeting," Loki responded calmly.
"So I see," Laufey rumbled, his red eyes shifting to Sophie.
She noticed his gaze drop down to her right hand, where she held Mjolnir tight in her fist.
"Who is this that carries the hammer of Thor?"
"This is Sophie Dáinndottir, of Midgard," Loki introduced, "And Crown Princess to the throne of Alfheim. But she will not wield that hammer against anyone here without provocation."
"Puny half-breed," Laufey said dismissively.
He had his eyes on Sophie when he said it, which made her think it was a test of some sort. She saw no need to respond to that, and said nothing. When she didn't react, Laufey tilted his head to one side as he studied her more closely, as if curious. After a few minutes of Sophie doing nothing but staring at him in silence, he returned his attention to Loki.
"She is not as arrogant and hot headed as that oaf," Laufey said, "She does not long for a fight, as he did. So what do you want here?"
"You had a son, once," Loki said, "Do you remember?"
"Yes. What of it?"
"I have come to tell you that he is standing before you."
Sophie could hear nothing now except for the slight howling of the wind.
"What jest is this?" Laufey sneered.
"I believe him," a frost giant said, "I saw him when he was last here. Raze grabbed him. His skin turned the same color as ours."
"Perhaps a demonstration?" Loki suggested, extending his hand.
Laufey looked at the frost giant that had spoken up and gave a nod. The Jotun then stepped forward and grasped Loki's hand. Sophie was expecting to see him flinch in pain, but Loki did no such thing. He stood there calmly as his skin turned blue, patterns appeared on his flesh, and his eyes took on a hue that no amount of Visine would ever be able to combat. The Jotun let go of Loki and stepped away, and Loki's skin faded back to it's usual pale tone, his eyes returned to their normal color.
"How is this possible?" Laufey mused.
"I was taken and raised by Odin of Asgard. It wasn't until our recent battle here that I learned of my true heritage. Not long after, Thor was murdered and I took over Midgard."
"I see you are mighty," Laufey said.
"Not bad for a runt you cast out to die, hmm?" Loki smiled sharply.
"You are mistaken," Laufey grumbled, "We were in the temple with you when Odin attacked us. We left you there, thinking you would be safe, and went to confront the enemy. But when I went back, you were gone. I thought some beast had taken you."
"I suppose one did," Sophie muttered under her breath.
Laufey still heard her, because he glanced at her briefly before returning his gaze to Loki, whose only outward show of surprise was to blink.
"You wanted me?" Loki asked.
"As if I would have tossed aside my only child!" Laufey fumed, "A warrior is not valued only by his size! And Jotunheim needs every warrior we can get. Asgard will pay for this."
"I did not reveal this to you to have a war against Asgard begin," Loki objected.
"Nevertheless – " Laufey began, standing.
"Jotunheim does not have the strength to go against Asgard," Loki said quickly.
"You underestimate us."
"No, I don't. If you were capable of taking over Asgard, you would have done it in the centuries since the last war," Loki said bitingly.
Sophie lifted her brows, watching Laufey, who had gone silent with fury.
"The game to be played here is a long one," Loki said soothingly, "As Thor is no longer living to claim Asgard's throne, I am the one that will take it when Odin is no longer. And he is old. I will not have long to wait."
Laufey glanced to the side, thinking.
"I see," he said at last, "You would be welcome to feast with us, my son."
Loki hesitated and glanced over at Sophie, who smiled encouragingly. She was silently begging him to accept, to get to know the Jotuns and his own heritage. It was the whole reason they came here.
"I would not be here without Sophie," Loki said at last.
Shocked, Sophie looked to Laufey and saw him staring back at her. It was impossible to guess what was going on behind those red eyes of his, but at last he turned his attention back to Loki.
"We would have her at our table also," Laufey said, "The shadow is equally welcome."
"We would be honored to dine with you, King Laufey," Sophie said diplomatically.
Their small group was led further in. Sophie got sidetracked, staring around her at the architecture. Jotunheim wasn't all ice and snow. There was stone here. Sophie put one gloved hand to the wall, fascinated by the patterns inscribed in the stone, which differed from the ones she'd seen on the buildings in Alfheim. She began to wonder if Asgard had such architecture, and then her mind shifted to wondering if these patterns were related to the Jotunheim written language. Did they have one? Or was it based on history, or more of a design atheistic?
"Your Highness," Soeren said suddenly, snapping her out of her thoughts, "We should stay close to King Loki."
Sophie blinked and looked around. Loki had gone ahead with the other frost giants, and seemed to be deep in conversation with Laufey.
"Why?" she asked, nevertheless walking away with Soeren to catch up with the others.
"It might be too tempting for the Jotuns if they found you alone," Soeren said under his breath.
"You honestly think they would hurt me? Why, when they have no reason to?"
"Personal satisfaction is a reason," Soeren said grimly, "They might splatter your pretty red blood on their dark stones just because it pleases them to do so."
Sophie stopped, finding herself disgusted and disappointed with her guard, who stopped with her.
"Soeren, I don't appreciate the attitude of mistrust you have against them," she said sternly.
"With respect, Your Highness, they are a brutish and primitive people. They have proven they cannot be trusted."
"Not to me," Sophie said sharply, "If you don't mind, I shall reserve judgment against them until I actually know them better. At this time, I have no opinion of them at all. You'll forgive me if I decide what I think on my own rather than relying on gossip."
She went to catch up with the others, fighting down irritation. No wonder Loki was how he was when so many people across the Nine Realms thought this way of Jotuns, only for him to find out he was one of the so called monsters everyone reviled. Sophie sat beside a frost giant who introduced himself as Gunne. He was a little taken aback at her curiosity about Jotunheim, but was soon at ease talking about his home and his culture. Sophie had questions about food supply in a frozen land, how they used ice in a variety of ways, which led them to the discussion of the war that happened centuries ago. Apparently, they had attempted to take over Midgard in 965 C.E., using Tønsberg,Norway as the launching point. With the Casket of Ancient Winters, they planned to change the landscape to suit them, until Asgard drove them back into Jotunheim and took the casket from them. They didn't invade for no good reason, Gunne insisted, but because there was an issue of overcrowding on Jotunheim. Until Asgard decimated their population.
Sophie sympathized with him. She mentioned overpopulation and space was a problem Midgard was currently facing and something they were trying was expanding vertically rather than horizontally. Perhaps that was something that could work on Jotunheim too? Gunne admitted it was a good idea, but no one had thought of that because their culture was admittedly more tilted towards fighting. Sophie wasn't surprised to hear this, given the frost giants were so long lived and practically from another age. The mindset from so long ago didn't always match modern thinking and morals. Sophie got so invested in the conversation and the food that she almost didn't notice the cold anymore. It was better when they were indoors, after all. She was actually sorry when it came time to return to Midgard.
"What did you think?" Loki asked quietly as they left.
"I'd like to hear what you think first," Sophie smiled.
Loki let out a breath.
"I was entirely wrong about them," he admitted, "I thought them to be brutish and unruly...but while their political arrangement is tribal and war-like, it would be wrong to label it as barbaric. There is structure, almost a rigidness that evokes a feeling of strength and discipline."
"They do use their tattoos to show off their military rank," Sophie nodded.
She glanced back at Soeren, and dropped back to murmur something to him. Suddenly, Loki felt something soft strike the back of his head. He whirled around, only to see Sophie grinning, bits of snow stuck to her gloves.
"Did you just – " Loki began, baffled.
Sophie laughed.
"I got you! Admit it, I got you!"
Loki couldn't help the smile that spread across his face.
"That you did, kitten. And we will have to settle this score at another time. For now, let's return to Midgard and get a hot drink into you, before you catch frostbite."
