Chapter 33
Toni Stark wondered if she ever would get a single day off since she came out as Iron Woman, or if her life was destined to be filled with chaos. In fact, days like this, where she was in the lab and simply wanted to do some science especially stood out to her. All she wanted was to get the new StarkPhone prototype finished so she could have Pepper take it to the Board and get their approval while she finished rolling out all the other upgrades she had been falling behind on.
It wasn't that Iron Woman was taking up all her time, or that her life wasn't busy before. But somehow, it felt like all the crazy came out of the woodwork when she announced she was now a superhero and even science itself no longer made sense.
"Miss?" JARVIS called out to her. She looked up at a camera, without putting down her screw driver.
"Yes, J?" She asked, as Peter held the motherboard steady.
"There have been some strange reports coming from London, England," JARVIS informed her. "One Darcy Lewis and Dr Jane Foster have reported strange readings coming from an abandoned factory.
She looked up at the monitor in which JARVIS projected the readings onto.
"I'm not an Astrophysicist, JARVIS," she reminded him. "Catch me up to speed. What does this mean?"
"Miss, my current research suggests that such findings should be impossible," JARVIS told her, "The readings presented do not match up what is possible with the laws of physics itself. Dr Foster has also sent note of portals opening up in which materials that are dropped into present itself in another location all together."
"JARVIS call Ava and Bruce into my lab," she said sharply, "Tell them I need to speak to them immediately. Are any of the other Avengers present in the tower currently?"
"Just Mr Rogers, Ma-am," he told her.
"Call him up here too. Inform all other Avengers that there may be a need to mobilize and to be on standby for further instructions."
"Is this an Avengers related incident?" Peter asked excitedly, "Are you going to go out as Iron Woman and save people?"
"I don't know yet," she said, giving him a gentle look. "We need more information."
"Is everything okay?" Steve said, as he rushed into the lab, followed by Ava and Bruce.
"Something's up," Toni told them, "Take a look at these readings."
She knew it wouldn't mean very much to Steve, but Bruce and Ava walked over to the screen and took a look at what she was pointing at.
"That's not possible," Bruce breathed.
"Dr Foster sent a video," Toni told them.
"Thor's Dr Foster?" Steve asked, and Toni nodded.
"Yes," she agreed, "She's the top scientist in her field. That's how she ended up meeting Thor in the first place. She was down in New Mexico getting some readings when he arrived on Earth."
She played the video of Ms Lewis dropping a bottle from a stairwell in the factory, only for it to disappear then fall back out of a portal from above.
"The readings match when Thor visited Earth," Ava said, comparing the data they were sent.
"So Thor is coming back for a visit?" Steve raised a brow.
"Or someone else is coming," Toni said grimly. "We can't confirm similar readings mean the same visitor. Not when we don't even properly know why the readings occurred in the first place. It would be great if Thor came back to visit, but we should be ready just in case it's someone else."
"Especially if we don't know their intentions," Bruce nodded, "We don't want another New York to happen."
"That is not the concerning part," Toni said, looking over Darcy Lewis' message. "It seems while exploring the factory, Dr Foster mysteriously vanished."
"Was she sucked into one of these portals?" Steve asked, leaning over and looking at her.
"Ms Lewis seems to believe so," Toni nodded. "It currently has been five hours since she vanished and she is hoping that we might be able to contact Thor. She believes that this may be something he has knowledge of."
"Except we can't," Bruce reminded her, "He didn't exactly leave a calling card when he went off planet. He just said he'll return shortly."
"We should go," Steve told her, "We might not be able to contact Thor but we can still help. We're the Avengers. If aliens start coming out of these portals, we're going to want to be there to put a stop to it."
"I agree," Ava nodded, "Load up the quinjet. I'll look over the data some more and see if I can find anything which might give us more insight as to what this is."
"I'll stay," Bruce agreed, "Unless you explicitly think the Hulk needs to be there, I think I might be more use as myself for this."
"Miss there is an immediate convergence on the Tower," JARVIS said, cutting them off, "It seems that the readings are coming directly to the landing pad."
"Time to Assemble," she said, glancing at Steve. He nodded at her, and she flicked her wrists, as her suit came over and wrapped itself around her.
"That's so cool," Peter grinned as he watched.
"You've seen it before," she reminded him.
"Doesn't change how awesome it is," he beamed, "Harley is going to be so jealous that I got to see a real Avengers mission up close."
"Well you might not want to use those words," she said, "Because you are going to go to the safe room with Ava until we know what's coming."
He pouted at her, but Ava led him away as her and Steve made their way up to the roof.
"Whatever this is, we'll face this together," Steve said, as the two of them road up the elevator.
"Together," she smiled back. He took her hand in his, squeezing it gently.
The door opened then, and she definitely was not expecting to see Loki and Thor, who was holding a very unconscious Jane Foster.
"Stark," Thor said, "I need to get her inside and confirm she's stable enough to be moved to Asgard."
"What happened?" she asked, "JARVIS as Bruce to bring a gurney up here immediately. Make sure he knows it's an emergency."
"She vanished from Hemidall's all-seeing vision," Thor told her, "She went into one of the convergence points. Something must have happened to her while she was in there. She needs to be brought back to Asgard immediately."
"You do not know what it is that possesses her," Loki argued, "What if the movement back to our planet reacts with the power and kills us all?"
"I would never hurt her!" Thor said firmly, "It is what's best for her."
"Let us take a look at her, okay Big Guy?" she asked pacifyingly. "Asgard might be able to heal her, but she still is a human. We need to check on her vital functions to make sure she'll be able to handle the trip. The last thing any of us wants is for her to get hurt."
"Okay," Thor relented as Bruce appeared with a gurney in hand, as Thor laid her down on it and brushed aside her hair.
"Let's get her to the lab," Toni said, "JARVIS can you scan her vital functions? Make sure she's stable. Make sure Peter and Ava know it's safe but ask Happy to take Peter home. I don't want him here in case there's a…reaction of sorts. Let Peter know we'll continue working on the phone later on."
"Yes Miss," JARVIS responded, as Loki interestedly looked up at the ceiling. The elevator ride down was slightly cramped, and she found herself leaning against Steve. He shot her a reassuring smile and she took in his scent as the warmth of his body radiated off of him.
She wondered what it would be like in that moment, if he wrapped his arms around her and reassured her that everything was going to be okay.
The doors opened and Ava stood there in the lab, already looking at the readings from Dr Foster as Bruce walked over to take a look.
"How does she fair?" Thor asked, anxiously.
"Her readings are growing normal," Bruce said, frowning slightly, "As if it's dormant inside her. But based on the initial readings from when JARVIS first started scanning, it seems as if she's stabilizing slowly."
"What does that mean?" Steve asked, crossing his arms.
"That she's a time bomb," Toni said, taking a deep breath, "She's fine, til she's not."
"What will set her off?" Ava wondered.
"Do you really want to test that?" Bruce gave her a wry smile.
"Not particularly no," Ava said, glancing down at the woman.
"Can I bring her back to Asgard?" Thor asked, wanting to know.
"Give us a little bit of time," Toni said firmly, "I want her readings to grow a bit more normal before we move her. I don't know too much about how space travel works, but I cannot imagine it would be a very stable ride. If in an hour she's stable, then you can take her with you."
Thor nodded, "Alright," he sighed, as he stood by her side, not taking his eyes off her.
"Perhaps I might use the chance to have a private word with you then, Lady Stark," Loki said, as he looked at her steadily. Steve stepped forward, somewhat protectively, but she placed a pacifying hand on him as Loki smirked at the man.
"Of course. Let me know if anything changes," she told Bruce, as she led the Trickster God out of the lab and to a conference room that she had on the floor for the Avengers to use for briefings. She closed the door and gestured to him to proceed.
He took a deep breath, "I owe you my gratitude, Lady Stark," he said softly, "If it were not for your deductions that I had not carried out the attacks out of my on violation, then I would be rotting in a cell on Asgard."
"You did not attack Earth out of your own free will," she reminded him.
"Some do not see it that way," he shrugged. "Even with the evidence that you provided Thor with, it was hard to convince the Asgardian courts of my innocence."
"You were controlled," she said sharply.
"And before I tried to take the throne while my father asleep and Thor on earth," he told her.
"If your father was unavailable and Thor banished then you would have been next in line," she told him, knowing a little about the situation from Thor. "Your people needed a leader and you were one to them."
"I'm adopted," he told her softly, "I'm not of Asgard. I come from a different race of people. One Asgardians see as monsters. My father will never trust me, not fully. If it were not for Thor and my mother, I don't think the evidence would have been enough to convince him."
She placed a hand on his arm, "I'm sorry then," she told him gently. "I know a thing or two of what it's like to have a father who always sees the worst in you."
He looked at her expectantly, and she sighed.
"My father never wanted a daughter," she told him softly, "He wanted a son. And nothing I ever did was enough to gain his approval. And the press on this planet have a way of spinning stories in their favour to make more profit. It didn't matter what happened in a situation. He was always willing to believe their lies over his own daughter. Always ready to see me as a fuck up and not someone he could have been proud of. So I can relate to that. I know all too well what it's like trying to live up to something unattainable."
"I am saddened that we can relate in such a manner," Loki told her softly. "My father was never willing to see past my flaws. Never able to see that I was unlike Thor. That I did not match his brawn. But I preferred my mother's magical talents. My mother is the only reason I grew up knowing love. Thor, he tries, but we've never been all that close. He's too stuck in his ways, as am I."
"If there's one thing I learned, it's that family is who we make it," she told him gently. "It's those who care about you and love you regardless. We don't get to choose our biological families. We can't choose whether they love us or want us. But we can choose who we fill our lives with. Thor does care about you, that being said. Even if he doesn't express it as often as he could. I see the way he glances at you, filled with sadness and regret. Of course, it is up to you if you wish to have a relationship with your brother, biological or not, but I think you'll find that if it is something you want, he would be just as willing."
"You are wise despite your young age," he mused, and she barked out a laugh.
"I hate to break it to you, Rudolph, but on Earth, I'm no spring hen. I'm rather up in my years," she said, "Not all of us can live for hundreds of years."
"No, I suppose not," his lips curved. "But I digress. Your Captain will grow anxious if the two of us remain here alone for much longer. For all he knows, I'm thoroughly ruining you."
"You couldn't ruin me if you tried," she winked at him. "The Captain knows he has nothing to worry about. Besides, it's not as if I wouldn't be allowed to have some fun on my own. I am an unattached woman."
He raised a brow at her, and she sighed.
"Fine," she surrendered. "Unattached by technicality. It's not as if the good Captain and I have talked about any of this yet. I'm not even sure how he feels about me."
"What a shame," he smirked at her, "Perhaps if the two of you do not work out then. I must confess, I did not see the appeal of Midgardian women when Thor fell for his, until I met you. But you are far different than all the woman on this planet. A true queen amongst them."
"We don't exactly have royalty on this planet anymore," she reminded him, blushing slightly.
"And yet, the world knows your name. They bow to you and respect you," he told her softly, "You may not have a title, but you are far more important to this world than you give yourself credit for."
"As are you," she told him gently, "You do have people in your corner Loki. Even if you do not feel like it. And you always will have a place here on Earth, if you find yourself feeling like you do not belong anywhere else. I can have a room prepared for you, and you are always welcome to stay here without any strings attached. All you have to do is ask."
"I appreciate the offer," he said a small smile filling his face.
"Sorry to interrupt, Miss," JARVIS cut in just then, "Dr Foster is fully stable. Mr Odinson seems quite eager to move her back to Asgard and requested your presence."
She nodded, "Let them know we'll be right there," she said.
"I suppose it's time to return home for me then," he said, and she squeezed his hand gently, "Just remember what I said, Loki. You are welcome here any time. You need only ask.
"Thank you, Lady Stark," he said with a nod.
"Toni," she corrected him. "You need not use such formalities with me. We're friends, are we not?"
"Yes," he confirmed, "Friends.
"Good," she said, leading them back to the lab, "Now, let's check in on Doctor Foster and verify that she's actually up to making this trip or see if she needs to stay for a little while longer."
"I do not believe my brother would be pleased if she needed to stay," Loki said simply.
She shrugged, "Your brother is not in charge here. If Bruce, Ava, and I all say she's good to go, then and only then, is she going to leave."
"Thank you," he said softly.
She pushed the doors open to the lab and saw Thor pacing. Steve looked relieved to see her, and Ava and Bruce were still looking over the doctor.
She looked over the unconscious Doctor, before taking a step back and looking over the vitals.
"She should be good to move," Toni said, as Bruce nodded. "However you need to be careful, Thor. I suspect her feeling like she was in danger triggered the explosion out of her. Keep her calm and feeling safe. Do not do anything to stun her. When she awakes on a new planet ensure her that she is safe and unharmed."
"I will," Thor nodded.
"If you need us, let us know," Steve told the man firmly, "The Avengers are only a call away. We're a team, and that means fighting with you if you need us to."
"Thank you, Captain," Thor told him gratefully. "I will keep you appraised of the situation. But for now, we must go. My father will know what to do."
Loki looked distrustful of that, but he didn't say a thing. She gave him a reassuring smile as Thor looked at the man carefully.
"She will be safe," Loki told Thor after a moment. "Even if Father does not know what this is, Mother will. I will work with her to ensure your Lady Jane is returned to you without this power."
"Thank you, Loki," Thor said, looking genuinely touched by his brother's kindness. "It means more to me than you know that you are here with me."
"Of course," Loki said, "We are family after all."
Thor beamed at him, and she gave them both soft smiles.
Thor moved to scoop Jane up carefully in his arms and she followed them out onto the roof.
"Thank you, for all you've done," Thor told them. "We must go, but I shall return to you soon."
Loki nodded at them, and the three of them were beamed up into the air, Star Trek style.
Peter would have been upset to have missed this, she mused. Perhaps next time.
"There has been an incident in Greenwich," JARVIS reported to her as she was lounging on the couch with Ava, watching Justin Hammer make a fool of himself on the final episode of the Bachelor. It was clear to both of them that he was going to choose the tall blonde model over the school teacher, and yet they watched it anyways.
Nothing really could help the man's rating after the disaster that was his attack on the Stark Expo. Even the best lawyers might have gotten him out of jail time, but the world still knew what it was that he had done. And the world was nowhere near ready to forget the fact that innocent lives had been put at stake because he broke a man out of prison with a vendetta.
"What sort of incident?" she asked JARVIS, sitting up quickly.
"Aliens," JARVIS told her. She quickly sat up, as clips of a T shaped ship in Greenwich appeared on the screen. She saw a portal open in the sky and her breathing stopped as she began to shake.
"Toni," Steve said, running into the room. He saw her on the ground as he came over and threw an arm around her. "You're safe. You're in the tower."
"They're back," she said, as she pointed to the screen.
"It's over, Toni," Steve told her gently. "The entire attack lasted ten minutes. There was no way we could have gotten there in time. Thor took the Aether, the power in Dr Foster, back off world. It's over."
She leaned into him, as he wrapped his arms around her and helped her up from the ground.
"You're safe," he said softly, holding her tightly as she gasped for air slightly, trying to calm herself down, "You're here in the tower and you're safe. It's over, Toni."
"That it is," a voice said, and she looked up in shock to see Loki standing there, looking tired and defeated.
"What happened?" she demanded to know.
"Malekith, a Dark Elf who was defeated last when my grandfather took the Aether from him. When Lady Foster found it, she awoke him. He wanted to use it to conquer the nine realms and let them fall to darkness. He killed my mother to get to it," he said, sounding sorrowful.
"I'm so sorry," she breathed out, as he looked down.
"She was the only one who ever truly loved me, and now she's gone," he said, "It's my fault. I should have been with her, protecting Lady Foster. Instead I was drawn away by a distraction. If I had only stayed with them-"
"Then you may be dead too," she told him firmly, "It wasn't your fault that she was killed, Loki. You did your best to protect her. From what you've told me, your mother loved you very much. She wouldn't want you to blame yourself for her death. Does Thor?"
"No," Loki shook his head firmly. "But the loss of our mother has deeply wounded him as well. She meant a lot to the both of us. Odin was unable to bear the loss of his wife and has fallen back into Odinsleep to try and recover from the pain."
"So your brother is going to take the throne?" she asked, wondering what this would mean for the kingdom.
"No," he said, sounding a bit shocked still. "He brought the nine realms back together when he ended the war. He ended all the fighting that I caused. But he did not want the throne, despite that. He said he wants to protect the kingdoms, but he doesn't understand the ruling and the politics of it all. He asked me-"
"Asked you what?" Steve prompted him gently.
"He said that I would be a great king," Loki said, a bit in disbelief. "He asked me to sit on the throne and rule our people while he protects it with his dying breath. That it was what he wanted and what he was meant to do."
"And he was right," Toni told him softly, "You are a wise man, Loki. You see what is to come and think rationally over with your emotions. You will make a great king of Asgard."
"Thank you, Toni," he said, using her given name. "I know there is a lot of trust I need to build back up with my people, but it is my hope that I am able to do so. And bring Asgard into a new era."
"I hope we can continue to have a good relationship as well," Toni said softly, "Between the people of Earth and Asgard. If there is a greater threat that is to come, then we need to be ready. And an alliance between our people will help ensure that we will be prepared."
"You shall have it," Loki offered her. "You have done much for me in the past, Toni. I meant what I said when you are the best this world has to offer. And I will be here for you and your people. You can count on our support for whatever is to come. Whether it be today, tomorrow, or years from now. Asgard will fight with you."
"Thank you," she said, giving him a soft nod. "Go be with your people, Loki. But remember my offer will always stand. King or not, you always have a home here. No matter what."
He gave her a nod as he disappeared then into thin air, as if he were never there.
"I never thought he would be made king," Steve commented, stepping away from her, realizing that the two of them were still quite close.
"Me neither," she confessed, "But he will do well at it. I know he will."
A/N: Hopefully you guys enjoyed this take on Thor: Dark World. As the majority of the story took place off Earth, it didn't make sense that the Avengers would have been present. However, given the fact Toni suspected someone else was behind New York over Loki, I wanted to explore what that would mean for his character, and in particular his relationship with Thor.
