After Natasha picks them back up, the quinjet falls into silence while they fly back to the helicarrier. Freya begins to make her way over to the seat across from Loki until she's interrupted by Thor. Who had walked across the cabin of the quinjet to join her.
"It is so good to see you again, dear niece!" Thor beams down at her as he pulls her in for a bone-crushing hug.
"I'm sorry to tell you, but I don't have any recollection of meeting you before this. It's good to finally meet you though, Thor," she smiles up at him as he releases her.
"Loki told me you had lost your memories during your absence from Heimdall's sight," he tells her. She tilts her head at him in confusion. The name unknown to her. Oblivious to it, he continues. "It warms my heart knowing that you are doing well. And you are apparently an extremely skilled fighter from what I've been told over the years. It would bring me great joy to test your skills in a duel. Also, it would please me so if you called me Uncle Thor."
Freya laughs, grinning from ear to ear up at him.
"I would love that, Uncle Thor."
"Wonderful! Then it is set. When we have completed our mission, we shall have a mighty duel." He gives her a huge, toothy smile before remembering something. "Oh! Also, there is something I would like to discuss with you as well when the time comes." Freya gives him an inquisitive look, but he just smiles. "I shall let you rest now, Niece."
She nods, watching him as he walks to the back of the jet and takes a seat at the end of the row. Finally able to sit down, Freya is beginning to feel everyone else's curious eyes on her. And it's honestly making her a little uncomfortable. She decides to distract herself by talking to Loki. She looks up at him and their identical emerald eyes immediately lock on to each other.
"I highly doubt Fury will let me speak to you when we get back to the helicarrier. Now would be a good time to talk."
Loki gives her a small nod of agreement.
"What would you like to know, Little One?"
"Well, for starters, what am I?"
"Well, if Thor had any say, he would tell you you're Asgardian. By adoptive standards, you technically are. Though, your true heritage from me is Frost Giant. You're actually royal blood as an Asgardian and Frost Giant."
"So, because I'm your daughter, does that make me a goddess?"
"A demigoddess, yes."
"Of what exactly?"
"Beauty. Sorcery. War. Among a few other things."
Her eyes go wide and she lets out a quiet "hm", but quickly moves on.
"And my mother?"
"She's originally from Midgard. So, human. But after certain events, she became something that I don't think anyone can truly identify. She was adopted by the Kree though."
Freya slightly tilts her head in curiosity.
"Kree?"
"A people that like to call themselves 'noble warrior heroes.' But in reality, they only seek to dominate other planets to obtain more power."
She narrows her eyes at him at his description.
"So kind of like what you're trying to do with Earth."
Loki's eyes slightly narrow and he smirks, but ignores her comment.
"She did not know what type of people they were when she ended up with them. She had lost her memories like you have. I met her while they were on Asgard at one point. Her superiors knew they would not be able to overthrow us, so they made nice."
He sighs softly and looks down at his hands.
"I don't know if I can say the same for her, but for me, it was love at first sight. Obviously, you can safely assume what happened from there. They eventually had to leave and I was heartbroken. I had Heimdall keep watch over her. Soon enough, I learned she was pregnant with you. I attempted to see her, but my fa-."
He pauses for a moment and takes a deep breath before continuing.
"But Odin forbid me. I could only watch from afar as you came into this world and started to grow. The type of being your mother is, I do not know the aging process. And Frost Giants grow to be thousands of years old. But, from the looks of it, you're aging like any normal Midgardian. So, I assume you obtained your aging genes from her human side."
"Who is Heimdall?"
"He is the all-seeing and all-hearing sole protector of Asgard. He guards the Bifrost. Which is a bridge that connects Asgard to all of the realms."
She nods, urging him to continue.
"I had Heimdall keep watch over you as you grew into a fine warrior. You excelled so quickly that they decided to start bringing you on missions by the time you were five. Fighting alongside your mother, no one could defeat your team in battle. Specifically, you and your mother. You two were a dynamic duo. Even as a small child, your fighting prowess was quickly excelling at an alarming rate. Though, it still angers me that they pulled you into their wars and squabbles at such a young age."
He clenches his jaw and fists before he continues.
"When you were six, your team was infiltrating another planet to recover one of your undercover operatives. You and your mother were ambushed by Skrulls. Who, unfortunately, were only trying to find a place to call home."
Freya nods in agreement when she recalls her knowledge of said people.
"Fury told me about the Skrulls and how they are not our enemy. A misunderstood people who came to Earth in 1995 looking for a light-speed engine. There was a warrior that fought alongside Fury to help secure their safety before they left."
Loki narrows his eyes at her.
"Did Fury ever talk to you about who the warrior was that fought alongside him?"
Freya silently shakes her head.
"It was your mother."
Her eyes go wide as she clenches her fists in anger. Her knuckles going white.
"He knew...?"
"You didn't arrive until over a year later. So up until then, he had no idea where you were. When you arrived, he put two and two together after hearing her story. You were also wearing the same suit that your mother had worn when she first arrived on Midgard."
Freya takes a slow, deep breath to keep her anger under control. Something clicks with her as she thinks about what he just said.
"You said I arrived over a year later. Where was I? Thor mentioned that Heimdall couldn't see me."
Loki nods with a grim expression.
"That, I do not know. After the ambush, I thought you dead. Heimdall could no longer see you for some reason. Your mother had been captured with no one else in sight. Then, out of no where, on the holiday that Midgardians call Christmas, suddenly, Heimdall was able to see you again. You were alone and unconscious on some type of spacecraft. With no living being or civilization near you. You were weak and Heimdall could tell you had been through Hel. So, at my request, he brought you to Asgard by the Bifrost. I wanted to see if you were okay and finally meet my daughter. Thor was actually there at the time. He would always ask about you. It brings him great joy to see you again."
His eyes begin to glisten with unshed tears as he continues.
"I knew Odin would not let you stay. So, using the Bifrost again, I had Heimdall send you to the world that your mother originated from. I knew you would be safe there and would not draw too much attention to yourself for the time being. It was unfortunate that the narcissistic metal man had to be the one to find you. But, you seem to have turned out just fine."
He smirks at her. A mischievous sparkle in his eyes. Freya turns her head to look at Tony. Who's looking out the front of the quinjet as he stands behind Natasha.
"He's a good dad. I'm very lucky to have lived the life I have so far."
Loki nods in understanding as sadness briefly flickers across his face. She misses it as she turns back to him.
"What's my mother's name?"
"I only ever knew her by Vers. But, like I said before, you will have to ask those in charge for more information beyond that."
She gives him a questioning look as silence falls between them. After a few minutes, she nods in thanks.
"Thank you for answering my questions."
He smiles and nods again.
"Now, back to business. Where's Clint?"
His smile turns into a smirk.
"I tell you the truth when I say that I do not know where he is. He is with the Cube and I have no knowledge of where it has been taken."
Freya lets out a huff of frustration, her anger starting to rise.
"Then stop this whole world domination plan. Earth is my home. These people are my family. Clint is like a brother to me."
"I am sorry Little One, but I cannot. He forbids it."
"'He'?"
Realizing his slip up, Loki quickly looks away from her.
"I cannot say. It will put you in too much danger. I am sorry."
"Who are you talking about? Tell me, Loki!"
She's only met with silence. Letting out another sharp breath, her eyes avert from him down to her boots. Now realizing that he's done talking. A hand is placed on her shoulder, making her jump. She looks over to see a red glove. Following the arm attached to it, she looks up at the blue-eyed soldier.
"Hey, you okay?" he asks quietly as to not draw the other's attention to her clearly upset state.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she nods her head and turns away with a sigh. "I just want this whole mess to be over with. To get Clint back." He sits down next to her, dropping his hand into his lap.
"He really means a lot to you, doesn't he?" he questions. She looks over at him again and sees an expression on his face that she can't read.
"Yeah, he's like my big brother. Clint, Natasha and I have basically been inseparable since I joined S.H.I.E.L.D. It was a bit rocky in the beginning, but we're a team. S.T.R.I.K.E. Team: Delta to be exact. People jokingly like to call us The Wolf Pack or The Trinity," she chuckles sadly.
The unreadable expression drops from his face. He actually looks kind of relieved as he gives her a small smile. Freya tilts her head, watching him curiously. He clears his throat awkwardly when he notices her studying him.
"I wanted to know why you didn't tell me you're a Stark."
She looks down at her hands with a sigh and nods.
"I want people to know me for me and not my last name. They always treat me differently once they find out. So, I usually avoid telling people I'm a Stark for as long as I can. Plus," she shrugs. "You were friends with my grandfather. I didn't want to mention it and bring up old memories for you and possibly make you sad. I wanted everyone to stay focused on the task at hand."
"I understand," he nods, satisfied with her answer. "I'm sorry I got mad at you."
"No, really it's fine," she waves him off. "I understand why you would be at first. I probably would've reacted the same way if I were you."
"So, are we okay?" he asks with a smile. She returns the smile as she reaches over and grabs his hand. Giving it a squeeze, she nods.
"We were always okay, Spangles."
He squeezes back happily. His eyebrows suddenly shoot up when he remembers something.
"So, you can fly," he points out.
"Uh, yeah," she chuckles shyly.
"How is it? Flying," he inquires.
"It's the best feeling in the world," she admits with a large smile.
Steve's stomach drops and twists in an awkward feeling as he looks down at her smiling face. His eyebrows quickly knit together in confusion before he shakes his head and ignores the feeling. He scrunches his face up in amused annoyance.
"Does that mean I have to give Fury another ten dollars?" he asks. Pulling a laugh out of Freya as she throws her head back in amusement.
"I wouldn't put it past him to attempt to get more money. So, I'd avoid mentioning anything to him," she advises him.
"Good to know," he chuckles. "Just so you know, when we had coffee, you looked so familiar to me. I just couldn't place where I had seen you before. I saw a video of your dad revealing you to the world at his expo from last year. But I just didn't put two and two together."
"I guess we were both super nonobservant and oblivious to each other's identities when we met," she chuckles.
He nods and chuckles as well before sitting there in comfortable silence. Both not making a move to release each other's hands. Freya looks up and sees Loki watching them with a small smile on his face. She glares at him and goes to say something about how it's not nice to stare. But she's interrupted by Natasha making an announcement over the speakers.
"On approach to the helicarrier. Everyone gather their gear. Landing in thirty seconds."
Standing up and unclasping their hands, Steve and Freya get ready. As soon as their tires touch the deck and the ramp drops, the jet is swarmed by agents. Fury silently stands in the background. Freya eyes him suspiciously as Loki is collected and led away to secure lock up in the detention center. With Fury hot in their heels, they disappear inside. She sighs in frustration. But forces herself to forget it for now knowing she'll have time to question Fury later. Heading inside through another door, the team stores their gear and meets up at the conference table on the bridge. Everyone minus Tony and Phil. And Clint...
Without even realizing it, Freya and Steve automatically sit next to each other on one side. Bruce stands behind the chair at the head of the table to Freya's right. Natasha is sitting on his right across from Freya. The monitors in front of them suddenly turn on. Revealing Loki in the secure cell and Fury at the control panel. Freya has her eyes trained on Fury as he speaks.
"In case it's unclear. You try to escape. You so much as scratch that glass." Fury presses a button which opens the hatch underneath Loki's cell. She watches Loki as he peers down as much as he can from inside of it. "Thirty thousand feet, straight down in a steel trap. You get how that works?" Fury closes the hatch and points at Loki. Then he points back at the button, "Boot."
"It's an impressive cage. Not built, I think, for me," Loki chuckles.
"Built for something a lot stronger than you."
"Oh I've heard," Loki says while turning to look directly at the camera monitoring his cell. "A mindless beast. Makes play he's still a man."
Freya and Natasha look up at each other before trying to discreetly look over at Bruce. Who has a look of obvious discomfort on his face while he smiles sarcastically.
"How desperate are you, that you call upon such lost creatures to defend you? Even using my own daughter as a weapon against me."
Freya stiffens at Loki's mention of her. She glances around the table. Seeing all eyes on her now. Fury ignores his last comment.
"How desperate am I? You threaten my world with war. You steal a force you can't hope to control. You talk about peace and you kill 'cause it's fun. You have made me very desperate. You might not be glad that you did."
"Ooh. It burns you to come so close. To have the Tesseract, to have power, unlimited power. And for what? A warm light for all mankind to share?" Loki glances at the camera before facing Fury again. "And then to be reminded what real power is."
"Well, you let me know if Real Power wants a magazine or something," Fury smirks as he starts to walk away. But Loki's next words cause him to freeze mid step.
"Were you ever going to tell her?" Fury slowly turns to Loki and stares him down. Freya watches the monitor in front of her intently. Realizing that Loki might be able to get some answers out of Fury before she speaks with him. "Were you ever going to tell her of her true parentage? Her mother, the alien warrior? Me?"
Freya can tell that Fury has gone stiff. He reluctantly replies. Knowing that Freya is watching him at the moment.
"It wasn't of importance."
"'Wasn't of importance'?" Loki scoffs. "Tell that to her and see what she thinks! The secrets that you've kept from her... And for what? Her well-being? No... No, it was due to your own selfish reasons. To fulfill your own agendas. You wanted her power for yourself." Loki shakes his head and smirks. "You really want her power? Well, good luck with that. She's a force to be reckoned with and you've just pissed her off."
Fed up with Loki, Fury storms out of the room and the monitors around the conference table go black. Everyone slowly looks over at Freya. Tears had built up and are threatening to spill. A look of rage adorns her face. Her grip on the table is causing it to crack and splinter under her hands.
"Freya..." A soothing voice to her left makes her slowly turn. She tries to keep her breathing under control as she looks at Steve. She's terrified she'll completely snap and her powers will take over if she lets her anger consume her. "Just breathe, Frey," he soothes her. "We're gonna figure it out, okay? I promise."
She numbly nods at him before turning to stare at the table in front of her. Her grip from the table loosens as she begins to compose herself. Attempting to break the tension, Bruce strikes up conversation.
"He really grows on you, doesn't he?"
"Loki's gonna drag this out," Steve points out. "So, Thor, what's his play?"
Their attention turns to the god. Who's back had been facing them the entire time Fury had spoken to Loki.
"He has an army called the Chitauri," Thor states as he turns to face them. His eyebrows are deeply furrowed and the corners of his mouth are turned down into a frown. "They're not of Asgard or any world known. He means to lead them against your people. They will win him the Earth. In return, I suspect, for the Tesseract."
"An army... From outer space..." Steve deadpans.
"Don't be too surprised," Freya mumbles. "Remember that I've apparently been officially identified as an alien now, too."
Steve's head whips around to look at her. His eyes wide and eyebrows raised. Seeing him in her peripherals, Freya just nods as she continues to stare at the table.
"So he's building another portal. That's what he needs Erik Selvig for," Bruce states.
"Selvig?" Thor asks as his head snaps up to look at him. His frown visibly deepens.
"He's an astrophysicist."
"He's a friend," Thor corrects Bruce.
"Loki has him under some kind of spell," Natasha informs Thor. "Along with one of ours."
Freya finally looks away from the table up at Natasha. They instantly make eye contact. A frown forming on both of their faces. Both women missing their teammate and brother.
"I wanna know why Loki let us take him. He's not leading an army from here," Steve says, his voice full of suspicion. Freya silently nods in agreement with him.
"I don't think we should be focusing on Loki. That guy's brain is a bag full of cats. You could smell crazy on him," Bruce says as he hesitantly glances at Freya. She quickly glances at him and looks away. Ashamed that the man he's talking about is her birth father. But she's also slightly offended.
"Have care how you speak," Thor growls. "Loki is beyond reason, but he is of Asgard and he's my brother. He is also Freya's father."
"He killed eighty people in two days," Natasha deadpans.
"He's adopted..." Thor offers as an excuse. Freya lets out an unladylike snort at his response.
"So am I. But you don't see me going on a killing spree, mind controlling people and trying to take over the world."
Thor looks over at her, his gaze softening in apology. Bruce holds back a chuckle before looking down at his hands in thought.
"I think it's about the mechanics. Iridium... What do they need the iridium for?"
"It's a stabilizing agent." Everyone's heads swivel to the door behind Natasha at the newest voice, Tony Stark. They watch him walk in with Phil. He leans in close to the agent and whispers something before turning back to the team. "It means the portal won't collapse on itself like it did at S.H.I.E.L.D.," Tony informs them as he approaches Thor and pats him on the arm. "No hard feelings, Point Break. You've got a mean swing." He walks away from a confused Thor and turns his attention back to the topic at hand. "Also, it means the portal can open as wide, and stay open as long, as Loki wants." Walking up to Fury's control panel, he begins to bark orders. "Uh, raise the mizzenmast. Jib the topsails. That man is playing Galaga!" He shouts the last part as he points across the room. "Thought we wouldn't notice. But we did."
Everyone ignores him, except Steve. Who's looking around in confusion trying to figure out what's going on. Freya quietly chuckles and reaches over to pat his hand.
"Don't worry about it, Spangles. I'll tell you later."
He glances at her with a thankful smile, before turning back to Tony. Who obnoxiously covers one eye and looks around.
"How does Fury even see these?"
Maria, who had been standing off to the side in silence the entire time, finally speaks up in an uninterested tone.
"He turns."
"Sounds exhausting... The rest of the raw materials, Agent Barton can get his hands on pretty easily." He walks along the screens and presses buttons haphazardly. "Only major component he still needs is a power source of high-energy density." He sneakily slides his hand along the computers and places something on their underside. Freya is the only one that notices. She narrows her eyes at him in suspicion, but holds her tongue. Curious as to what her father might be up to. Tony snaps his fingers as he continues his thought out loud. "Something to kick start the cube."
"When did you become an expert in thermonuclear astrophysics?" Maria asks.
"Last night," Tony says seriously. "The packet, Selvig's notes, the extraction theory papers. Am I the only one who did the reading?"
Freya stifles a grin. She had actually done the reading after she was debriefed. It was pretty simple to understand. But, then again, she is a super-intelligent, magical space alien.
"Does Loki need any particular kind of power source?" Steve asks. Freya leans forward and props her head up on her hands as she listens.
"He would have to heat the cube to one hundred and twenty million Kelvin just to break through the Coulomb barrier." Everyone turns to look at Bruce. Tony instantly becomes interested and slowly starts walking toward him.
"Unless, Selvig has figured out how to stabilize the quantum tunneling effect."
"Well, if he could do that, he could achieve heavy ion fusion at any reactor on the planet," Freya adds as she sits up straight. All eyes shift to her now. Tony stops behind his daughter's chair and beams down at her.
"That's my girl! I knew you read the packet!" He leans over the back of her chair and presses a kiss to the top of her head. "Love ya, Merky."
"Love you too, Dad," she smiles up at him.
"Finally, someone besides Merky who speaks English," Tony says as he approaches Bruce.
"Is that what just happened?" Steve mumbles. Freya grins to herself at his comment as she watches Bruce and her dad shake hands.
"It's good to meet you, Dr. Banner. Your work on anti-electron collisions is unparalleled. And I'm a huge fan of the way you lose control and turn into an enormous green rage monster."
"Dad!" Freya scolds him as her eyes widen in shock. Though, the grin doesn't leave her face. He turns to look at her innocently before putting his attention back on Bruce. Who awkwardly looks down at his feet with a sigh.
"Thanks..."
"Dr. Banner is only here to track the cube. I was hoping you might join him," Fury addresses Tony as he walks into the room. He stops to lean on the chair next to Natasha. Freya's grin instantly falls. Her gaze turns cold as she watches him from across the table.
"Let's start with that stick of his. It may be magical, but it works an awful lot like a HYDRA weapon."
"I don't know about that," Fury responds to Steve. "But it is powered by the Cube. And I'd like to know how Loki used it to turn two of the sharpest men I know into his personal flying monkeys."
"Monkeys," Thor says in confusion. "I do not understan-"
"I do!" Steve suddenly exclaims. Causing everyone to jump at his outburst. He looks around at everyone proudly. "I understood that reference."
Tony rolls his eyes, obviously annoyed. Freya suppresses a smile. Finding Steve's innocence absolutely adorable. She looks up and happens to make eye contact with Fury. Her blood instantly begins to boil as she slowly stands and walks around the table toward him. All cheerfulness now put aside.
"This entire time... You knew this entire time." Fury just stares at her, not knowing how to respond. The room goes dead silent as she slowly stalks toward him. "I put my faith in you. I've followed you blindly. I've gone on every mission you've ever assigned me to without question. I've trusted you completely! And all you've ever done is treat me like a weapon to wield to do your dirty work!"
"Merky..."
"No, don't!" Freya spins on Tony. "I have every right to be angry!" She turns back to Fury and is about to lay into him again.
"If she finds out that everyone here knew except Bruce and Steve, shit is really gonna hit the fan."
Freya winces as a pain shoots through her head. Recovering, she slowly turns and faces her best friend. Looking at her in shock and betrayal. Natasha looks up at her from her seat in confusion.
"What did you just say...?" Freya asks slowly. Natasha tilts her head at Freya, trying to figure out what the hell she's talking about. Fury finally breaks his silence and speaks up for her.
"Freya, she didn't say anything."
"She did though," Freya glances at him. Her head whips back around to Natasha, causing the redhead to jump. "Everyone knew except Bruce and Steve? You knew?!" Natasha's eyes go wide with guilt and slight fear. Freya angrily spins on her dad. "You knew too?!" His face pales instantly. Now unable to find words. She turns on Phil and Maria next, pointing between them. "Even you two?!" Their eyes are wide, guilt clear on their faces.
"Did she just read my mind?"
Freya winces as she glances at Natasha. The pain returning again.
"She's gonna hate me now."
Her face scrunches in pain as she glances at her dad this time.
"What the hell is going on? Is she okay?"
She looks at Steve now as one of her hands comes up to the side of her head and cradles it.
"If she's able to read minds, all S.H.I.E.L.D. intel is in jeopardy. We could still use this to our advantage, though."
She quickly whips around to look at Fury incredulously.
"Is power all you think about?!" she screeches at him. Making his eye go wide in shock.
"She's losing control."
Her eyes screw shut as her other hand comes up to her head. Bruce is right. She has to get out of here. Before anyone can do anything, Freya takes off in a sprint and heads for the training room. The only place she knows where she can safely take out her anger and frustration. After she leaves, everyone looks at each another in shock. Tony and Natasha want to go after her, but they know she won't want to speak to them. Steve is the one to stand and jog out of the room. He has a feeling of where she went. He just hopes he can help.
