Chapter 14
Zack did not know what to make of Loki being in the same room as him. He has heard so many tales about the god of lies, so much about his cunning and intelligence. Loki had become somewhat of an idol to him. Now the god was here and he did not know what to do. He pretended to be engrossed in his Gameboy while watching the Asgardian from the corner of his eye. He had been doing so ever since the he, Alex and Harry had portkeyed into the building. The obsidian haired being sat on the sofa in the living room with a faraway look in his eyes. He looked lost. Zack felt sorry for him; knowing no one wanted you was painful. He felt the same during those years he was kidnapped, thinking that his dad did not try to look for him after the initial optimism faded. The fact that at least half the people in the building thought this whole mess was Loki's fault did not seem fair to him. Steeling his nerves, the teenager approached Loki. He sat next to him in silence for a few minutes, Loki's sidelong glance the only clue that he had been noticed. "It's not your fault." Loki raised an eyebrow at the words, which the child probably thought were comforting. Zack looked to the side. "It's not your fault that… you know, your father treats you so badly." Loki scowled. "He is not my father." "I understand. Just… don't blame yourself for anything. I'm sure you tried. When bad guys kidnapped me I thought my dad had forgotten about me, so I know how you feel." "You're trying too hard child. I don't need consolation." Zack tensed but kept silent. Loki now felt bad. He is rescued, albeit against his will, then he comes to offend his rescuer's charge. He knew he would regret his next words. "Thank you." Zack seemed surprised but smiled brightly at him. You're welcome. You know, I've read a lot about you, and…" Loki knows he said he would regret this but he never thought it would be five seconds after that thought. He sighed as he was forced to listen to the child's rants about his legendary feats.
Another dark-haired man approached them, this one with no emotion showing on his face. "Zack, your father is looking for you." Zack pouted but nodded and was on his way. Itachi stared at Loki blankly, Loki did the same. "Is there something you need?" "Hadrian wants to speak with you." Loki scowled. "I thought he was still writhing in pain." "Oh he is, but some things are more important than others." With that the man turned his back on Loki, who was obliged to follow. Itachi took him into the room where Harry was being treated. He seemed to be resting, lying on his back with his eyes closed. "Thor's heart bleeds for you. I can feel it." Loki jumped a bit but he calmed down soon enough. "Who cares whether his heart bleeds or not?" "Strangely enough, I do. I care more than I should." "Well, that's your problem." Harry sighed. "I have more problems than I care to think about." "Why did you save me?" Harry opened his eyes to look at him. Loki has never seen a man so tired. Yet he smiled at him. "Some things are worth saving." Loki swallowed thickly. "You called me." "Thor is on his way to you. Play nice." "I am not my brother's keeper." the Jotun growled. "But he is your brother." "You're wrong on that one too. Odin is not my father." "You know deep down that you and Thor are more than just acquaintances. More than just rivals to the crown." "You assume too much Midgardian. I don't need your words." Harry growled. "Stop being difficult for once in your life." "I am the god of mischief."
Harry threw his hand out with a snarl and Loki was thrown into the opposite wall. Pain flared up in his arm as the stitches tore open but he ignored them in favor of addressing the man held in his proverbial grasp. "A few years back I died and was made anew. I received purpose, which I did not know of until I got to this planet. To put it in your words; I am burdened with glorious purpose. I am stretched quite thin, son of Laufey. So be a good boy and reconcile with your brother to make my job a bit easier. Can you do that?" Itachi was already hovering at the injured man's side, his eyes a bit wide with surprise and worry. He wanted to berate Harry for being so careless but chose to save his words for when Harry would actually listen to them. Loki groaned as he sat up. His eyes were wide in shock, not expecting the man to act so violently all of a sudden. He then glared. "How dare you?" "I dare, Loki, because I have a task!" Itachi's eyes snapped to Harry. There it is, he mentioned it again. A task. Harry took a second to calm his temper down. Itachi could see the man was startled at his own reactions. "You owe a debt Laufeyson. Reconcile with Thor and I'll consider it repaid." Loki snarled at him and left the room.
Harry sighed, laying back down. Itachi was immediately upon him, replacing the stitching. "I'll explain everything tomorrow." "I am very eager to hear what you have to say for yourself, but you will explain once you're healed. No sooner." Silence settled on the room and Harry eventually dozed off.
~Scene change~
Zack watched as his father paced the length of space in front of him, the other members of Phoenix doing the same. Alfred scowled at him. "Calm down, Sam." The red-headed man shook his head, uncharacteristically waving his hands. "How the hell am I supposed to calm down? I, we have been lied to by the one person we could truly trust!" Alfred looked away, having nothing to say to that. Samuel huffed, dropping his frantic stance to a calmer one. "Why are we here? You know, Harry never really said, let alone mentioned any task." The last part was bit out bitterly. Here he was in a parallel dimension not even knowing his purpose there. He just blindly followed the orders of a child, putting his and his son's lives at risk.
"There's probably an explanation to all this." Liam said softly, biting his lip nervously. Hearing the news of Harry's 'task' early that morning was quite daunting. Suigetsu was even more furious when he delivered the news, also questioning their existence on this damned universe. Right now he was silently steaming, assembling and disassembling his favorite gun. Naruto sighed, leaning forward. "Who could possibly hold the authority to order our boss around? I mean, he's the Master of Death, it's a pretty heavy title." Sasuke agreed. "Yes. I'd say the only one who could have that much influence on Harry is Death itself." Alex leaned back in his seat, his hand brushing Naruto's shoulder. The blonde paid it no mind. "It would make sense that the acquisition of the Deathly Hollows comes with a few strings attached." "Yet the bastard did not find it important to tell us." Suigetsu mumbled from his corner, furiously clicking the safety of the gun. Alfred sighed. "We will never really know until he is well again. Itachi will not be happy otherwise." Most of them shuddered at the thought of a furious Itachi. The guy was like a nesting dragon in the infirmary.
~Scene change~
"Sir, it appears as if Thor is back." Harry's eyes wondered to Imperium's slight figure, eyebrow raised. The AI elaborated. "He did not go to the Avenger base. He is outside." Both of Harry's eyebrows rose at that. "Is it now? His mood." "Dampened, my lord. Thankfully, he holds no ill-intent." "Alright. Thank you." He made to get out of bed but Itachi chose that moment to come back in. "What do you think you're doing?" "Taking up my duties as leader in this building." "Leadership can take a backseat, you are injured." "I am perfectly aware of that." Harry said, putting on a clean shirt he conjured. Itachi scowled and made to say something but something in Harry's eyes told him no. Reluctantly, he squashed his inner medic and settled for a glare. "Then take it easy. Do anything too strenuous and you are back in bed rest Hadrian." They both knew that it was an empty threat at this point but Harry smiled. "I will do my best." He passed by the raven, momentarily touching his arm in an effort to calm him further. Itachi followed the man, intent on making sure this Thor did not do anything to Harry.
Harry pointedly ignored his employees, hoping no one would raise the subject of his secrecy just yet. Alex was standing by the door with Naruto by his side. They both nodded at him and he almost made a sound relief. "What does he want?" Naruto shrugged. "Haven't asked yet. He's been repeatedly ringing the bell for the past fifteen minutes." Clearly Naruto was not amused by this. Harry opened the door, leaning casually on the door frame." Thor just stared at Harry's shoes silently, letting the silence stretch between them. Alex resumed a bored countenance but Naruto was staring between the two in bewilderment, hoping one of them would speak sometime today. Harry finally gave in, hoping he could sit down soon since his arm was burning in pain. He bemoaned the pain killer he left on the dresser. "What is your purpose at my door?" "Is Loki in this building?" the Asgardian asked. "If he is?" Thor lifted his eyes to meet Harry's. "May I see him." Everyone at the door was shocked at Thor's polite tone but brushed it aside soon enough. "He's not very eager to meet you." Harry drawled. Thor looked aside. "He's never been. I still wish to see him."
Harry moved aside. "Follow Alex to his chambers." Alex's eye twitched something fierce, but he complied, leading Thor to Loki's rooms. Harry and Naruto watched them leave. "I have a lot to answer for, don't I?" Naruto nodded, regarding his boss. "Why?" Harry sighed. "I didn't think it would turn into such a huge problem and involve you. I guess I was acting my age for once, mistimed as it is." "Do you need help?" "No." They both moved to the meeting room. Imperium summoned everyone else there. They filed in one by one, taking their seats around the table.
"I would start this meeting by apologizing to everyone for my dishonesty with you. It was unbecoming of me." Harry started. Someone pinched Suigetsu before he could jump into a tirade. "I will explain my circumstances. The day we arrived on this dimension the Hollows reacted. For s week they spoke to me in dreams and visions. The main subject was a man named Thanos. He is the villain in the tale of heroes in this dimension. He believes in salvation by genocide. He believes overpopulation would wipe life from the universe as a whole. To prevent that he seeks to cut the universal population in half, giving space for life to flourish. He plans to collect the six infinity stones to do this." "And you didn't tell us this because…?" Suigetsu asked having finally lost restraint. "Because I did not believe you needed to know." Before the water elemental could open his mouth to shout something Harry pressed on. "The hollows showed me that Thanos would come here to Midgard and his confrontation with the Avengers wouldn't go well. The solution to this whole problem is quite easy. Hide the three infinity gems that are already on earth; the Mind Stone which I acquired during the invasion of Manhattan, the Time Stone which is currently with the Doctor Strange and the Space Stone which Thor surprisingly left in SHIELD's possession. If Thanos does not have access to those he wouldn't be as powerful and the Avengers can defeat him on their own."
"The point of all this being?" Naruto gave Suigetsu an exasperated glance. "The point being, Sui-chan, we didn't need to get involved at all." He talked as if addressing a five year old. Suigetsu glared at him heatedly. Harry cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention again. "But I've encountered a few problems. The Time Stone has seemingly disappeared and I fear HYDRA is responsible." Alfred interrupted him. "I thought the Supreme Sorcerer has possession of it at all times. The only way to acquire it is if he gave it up willingly or he was kidnapped." Naruto spoke up. "I was going to bring this up as soon as it was safe, but Dr. Strange disappeared recently. I got the data late, but I gathered it has been about ten days." "There you have it. Even more unsettling, the Ragnarok will happen sooner than expected. Death has been kind enough to inform me of this, as well as the fact that 'Earth better prepare to play host to extraterrestrial guests.' Destiny's words."
They watched as Harry rubbed his face tiredly. "This would mean the nine realms would remain unprotected." "Not that Odin is doing much for them." Zack muttered, still transfixed on his gameboy. Liam gave Harry a look. "Why are you so concerned about the nine realms?" "We came here because our world was dying. I'd rather have this one last a little longer." "Is that why we are unwillingly harboring the God of Lies and Mischief?" Was Sasuke's question. Harry nodded. "Having the Asgardians come here would do Earth no favors. The large influx in population, not to mention Asgardian magic that would accompany them…" "The planet would, sooner rather than later, collapse on itself." Samuel finished for him, understanding dawning. "So how do we solve it?" "Prevent Ragnarok." "Impossible." Alex stated. "The apocalypse has been foretold at the foundation of Asgard." "No Asgardian force can prevent it." Harry stared at Liam pointedly. His eyes widened as did those of Alex, Itachi, Sasuke and Samuel. "No way! It's Suicide." Naruto gaped. "You want us to stop Ragnarok?" "Yes. It's not impossible. With the brothers of Asgard united and a little outside help, Ragnarok can be prevented." "Harry, Ragnarok is inevitable." "There have been many chances for Ragnarok to occur on Asgard, but it didn't. This one doesn't have to happen either. Not in this millennium anyway." "So what, we stop a series of events we know nothing about?" Liam exclaimed skeptically.
"No, we change the regime. Odin is the catalyst of all this after all. Intentionally seeking to destroy one son and unintentionally casting out his heir. As it is Asgard is falling apart because of his bad choices. Naturally, Thor will become king. Naturally, he will do all he can to drag Loki with him. If we act just right, Thor will feel indebted with us, gaining us council with him. That way, it would be easier to enlist our help." Silence reigned for a long while. "This is insane." Liam breathed. Naruto smirked. "I like insane. I'm in." "Unfortunately, I recently lost a bet with our favorite dobe, so I will be dragged into this mess." Samuel drawled. Alex pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sadly, I go where you go boss." "I won't be outdone by the blonde idiot. I'm in, and so is Sasuke!" "I can speak for myself, Liam." "Finally, something to butcher." Suigetsu quipped. "We are clearly outnumbered." Alfred whispered to Itachi, who only scowled." Harry smirked. "So we're in."