Hey everyone Thanks for waiting. Took me a while to write this chapter out since I was dealing with some school stuff and had to write this out between breaks. Any way here it is. Starts off with the usual Howard and Nora banter and then followed by another time jump. Just have to say some of the characters may see a bit too OOC but just remember they are teenagers. Anyway here it is, please read and Review or feel free to PM me. Thank you and enjoy
The entire car ride was quiet. I could see the thoughts running through Gramps' head. I knew there was going to be an interrogation; I just didn't want it to be in a cab. If Jarvis was the one driving, it wouldn't be a problem, but a random stranger hearing me talk about dying and coming back from not really being dead would raise too many questions.
When we finally got to the restaurant Gramps had wanted to go to, he talked to the hostess and she took us to the back room. They took our orders and closed the door on the way out.
"Talk, Now." He said.
"The drawing came true." I said not wasting time.
"You mean the one where…" He started.
"The one where I'm covered in blood and my soul mates are crying over my body." I said taking a sip of my Bloody Mary.
"You died? Then how are you here?" He said confused.
"Apparently I wasn't really dead. I got shot and I bled out but my heart didn't stop. The stop put me in a temporal field. It altered time inside of it so that my heart beat was one a minute according to the time outside the field while it healed me slower than it normally did." I said.
"Why?" he asked.
"Wish I knew. All I know is that it didn't want me interfering with whatever was going on." I said.
"How do you know that?" He asked.
"After I bled out, everything was dark. Then there was this bright light and I was in a meadow wearing a red dress I bought back in the future. I recognized it as a meadow near my house. I walked until I got to the porch of the house. I thought I was dead and that the person waiting for me was my Nana but it wasn't. We talked and it told me that."
"The stone's talked to you again?" He said.
"Yeah, I kind of yelled at it."
"You yelled at a power that predates the universe and threatened to either kill or disappear its previous host. Are you insane?"
"I thought I was dead, I thought I had nothing to lose." I defended.
He just sighed. "So what happened how did you come back from the dead?" he said just as our waiter came back with our food. The waiter gave him a look but acted like nothing he hadn't understood what Gramps said.
"It put two fingers on my forehead and I woke up gasping for air with a force field surrounding me shielding me from a collapsed building." I said.
"You were unconscious and the force field was activated?"
"Yeah and that's not even the weirdest thing yet. I woke up under a pile of rubble. I climbed my way out and the entire town was in ruins." I say.
"I heard Philips complain about the giant mess he had to clean up after the last mission but I didn't think it was that bad." Gramps said looking pensive.
"You saw the aerial surveillance didn't you?" I asked. I heard a few secretaries for the field camp mention the recent photos.
"I did, didn't know C4 could cause that much damage." Gramps replied. He was waiting to see my reaction.
"It can't." I said
"Then what did that." He asked.
"I don't know, but it has to do with why I wasn't allowed to interfere. Before the stone let me wake up it told me that no matter what happened I shouldn't ask questions or try to find out what happened. That I would find out in a few years and until then to just go along with whatever story they gave me." I said.
"What that doesn't make any sense?"
"I know it doesn't but considering the way it said it, I don't think it was a suggestion." I said. Gramps stayed quiet
"You should come back to London with me." Gramps said, "We need to run some test, see if there have been any changes."
"Can't you just take a sample back with you?" I said.
He just stayed quiet and that's when it hit me. "This wasn't just a random visit, was it? They called you." I said.
"I would have come anyway but they may have called a few days ago." He said.
I was mad they would go behind my back like this.
"Nora, they're worried about you. You really think it was easy for Barnes and Rogers to swallow their pride and call me for help? Let's face it kid, your stubborn and once you set your mind to something there's no stopping you. They're worried about you, we all are." He said.
"Gramps, I'm fine. There's nothing wrong with me!" I said raising my voice a bit. At that moment all the crystal glasses at the table break.
Gramps is just staring at me with his mouth open.
"Uh," I was there shocked. Right when he was about to say something I started glowing. "Shit." I say before the light gets brighter.
When the light finally dimmed I was in the Aesir.
"Lady Nora, it's good to see you." I heard Heimdall greet me.
"Heimdall, It's been a while. Sorry to drop in unannounced but you know, I can't really control it." I said with an awkward smile.
"There is no need for apologies, I have seen what you are going through." He said with a nod.
"So, how long has it been since my last visit?" I asked.
"Time flows differently here in Asgard but I believe it would be the equivalent of eight years on Midgard." He said.
"Wow, So not much has changed." I say.
"Not here but you have. I've been watching you and have seen some of the changes that have taken place." He said.
"Do you mean the force fields, dying but not really being dead, or the shattering glass when I get angry or upset?" I retort.
"I was going to say you are more experienced in battle now but that as well." he said.
"Is there any more information on the history of the stone? I met the previous host and I've talked with the stone a few times but I'm still in the dark." I said.
"Unfortunately, the time stone is one of the lesser known infinity stones. As you know it hides itself by moving through time and it is very adept at covering its tracks. It is very strange you were able to meet one of its previous hosts." Heimdall said looking very pensive.
"So back to square one." I mutter.
"Do not fret, the answers will be uncovered in time. Until then how about we go for a walk and you can see how much Asgard has changed since you were last here?" He said.
"Sounds fun but aren't you supposed to stay here or at least let someone know where you're going?"
"Not to worry, as long as I close the bifrost and keep the key with me, all will be fine. Now come along." He said walking out to the rainbow bridge.
The view from outside the Aesir had not changed at all. The only changes I did see were that some of the pillars supporting the bridges closer to the center of the city were now carved out to look like Asgardian warriors.
"Didn't one of the kids from last time, Loki I think it was, say Midgardians weren't allowed in Asgard?" I said starting to wonder why he was so considerate.
"They aren't but you are an exception. Queen Frigga and King Odin have been told of your circumstances and have made an exception. You are allowed on Asgard as long as they are notified when you arrive. As for myself, it's hard to find another person who understands having a power bestowed on them, that was not desired." He said.
That made me look up at him confused a bit. Power bestowed on you that you didn't ask for? From what I read of Norse Heimdall was almost as well known as Thor and Loki. He was the gatekeeper to Asgard and the Bifrost, the portal to the other realms.
"That reminds me, I should probably go apologize to Queen Frigga. I left a bit abruptly." I say shyly.
"There is a chance we may run into her during our walk now come along." He said walking out of the Aesir.
Getting to the city didn't take too long. We walked though the city and everywhere we went people stared at me. It was a bit uncomfortable. I figured it probably had something to do with my outfit. No one in Asgard had been to earth in almost a century in their time.
Eventually we made it back to the palace. Apparently the palace had the most beautiful gardens in all of the nine realms. I had to argue that, that observation was a bit bias.
"Then you shall see for yourself." Heimdall retorted with a chuckle.
As we were walking through the palace and through a few courtyards we finally made it to a garden. It was spectacular. All the flowers were vibrant and some were different from the ones we had on Earth.
"You were right, this place is amazing." I said smiling.
Heimdall was about to say something when we heard loud yelling.
"You dare challenge me?!" We heard in the distance.
"What was that?" I ask Heimdall.
"I'm not sure but why don't we go have a look?" He said leading the way back.
We went through the palace and down a corridor. We turned and walked through a large entryway that led to a small short ledge with pillars supporting a small stone roof. We walked to the edge and saw that it was a group of teenagers, probably my age or if not a few years younger and one girl. I think they were practicing fighting with they swords and spears. All of them were wearing armor and had weapons on them. In the middle of the group was a tall blonde with long hair and blue eyes. What caught my attention wasn't the armor, or the bright red cape, but his weapon, a hammer.
"Is that…?" I said but my thoughts were interrupted by more shouting.
"The son of Odin thinks he is above everyone, I doubt he can do any real fighting let alone wield Mjolnir." One of them goaded him.
"You dare question my strength I'll show you." He said spinning the hammer.
The girl stood in front of him.
"Thor don't be a fool," She said stopping him from hitting the boy in front of him.
"Yes Thor listen to Sif, I'm sure a wench like her would probably put up a better fight than the son of Odin." The teenager taunted.
"I'll show you." Thor said. He jumped up in the air and swung the hammer down on his opponent. The teenager had managed to move his shield in time but I don't think it did much for the lightning surrounding the hammer. There was a giant clash and the lightning was redirected in every direction. I hit the surrounding trees and the pillars near Heimdall and I. Before it could hit us I put up a force field blocking the attack and the collapsing roof that came down on us. As soon as it fell out of the way I let the force field down. Everyone dropped their weapons and just turned to look at where we were shocked.
"Got a mean swing Point Break." I said trying to lighten the mood.
They all just looked at me confused.
"Thor!" I heard a loud booming voice yell out. I turned and saw an older man with long grey hair and a gold eye patch.
"Father," Thor answered. The older man, who I'm assuming is Odin just, gave him a hard look.
Odin turned to look at me and then looked at Heimdall and gave him a nod. Then he and Thor walked away.
"You've gotten better at controlling the shield." Heimdall said.
"Yeah, I can sustain it longer than I used to now, sometimes I can activate it without trying." I elaborated.
"That was quite impressive." I heard someone say from behind us.
"My queen," Heimdall said before bowing.
"Heimdall." She greeted.
She turned to look at me and smiled. I bowed and said. "Queen Frigga." I said bowing. "I wanted to apologize for leaving so abruptly and to thank you for your help last time I was here."
"Oh child please, don't bow and it was my pleasure to help you. I see you have new abilities." She said.
"As you said, it was just starting." I answered.
"If you would like I am on my way to the library for Loki's lesson, you are more than welcome to join us." She offered.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea, the new abilities I got are a bit erratic. Before I came here I was having breakfast with my grandfather and I got upset and somehow broke all the glass in the room." I explained.
"All the more reason for you to come along." She said.
I thought about it and realized this is as close as I could get to someone besides Wren who could teach me how to control the stone's power.
"Okay." I said with a small smile.
"I shall leave you in capable hands Lady Nora, it is time I return to my post." Heimdall said bowing before leaving.
"Shall we." Frigga said.
"Lead the way." I said following after her. She led me to the same library we visited last time. The layout was still the same as last time. We got to the center of the library and sitting there in a cushy chair was a teenager with raven black hair and emerald green eyes reading a book. When he heard us get close he closed the book and stood up.
"Mother, Can we start our lesson?" He asked.
"Of course Loki, But before we start, I wanted to let you know that Lady Nora will be joining us." She told him.
Loki just looked at me and looked me over. He pinched his eyebrows together and looked like he was analyzing me, trying to figure out why his mother wanted me to join his lessons.
"Now, have you been practicing your transfiguration?" She asked him.
"Yes mother." Loki said.
"Very well, let's see. Turn this bronze cup into a glass cup." She said placing a cup on the table.
Loki looked at the cup and raised his hand. I saw a green cloud float around the cup. After about a minute the green cloud receded and there was a glass cup instead of the bronze cup.
"Well done, now lets try something a bit more difficult try transforming yourself into someone else…"
"Mother that is child's play." Loki said.
"While sustaining multiple illusions at the same time. At least three to start with." Frigga said with a small smile.
Loki took a deep breath and he transformed himself into one of the guards that patrolled the halls of the palace. He then started to make copies of himself. When there were just two of them he seemed fine but as soon as the third one started to form all the other illusions disappeared.
"It seems you still need practice on maintaining multiple illusions." Frigga said.
"Lady Nora," She started before I interrupted.
"Um actually can you please just call me Nora, I think the honorifics are a bit excessive." I said.
"Very well Nora, you said that besides the shields you can project you can shatter glass. How did you do it?" She asked.
"I don't know. I was talking with Gramps and I was starting to get a bit mad and I felt this surge of energy, kind of like a pulsing feeling moving through my body and then all the glass shattered." I explained.
"Have you tried to do it again?" she asked.
"I didn't really get a chance too, right after it happened I came here." I said.
"I think I know the problem. Your ability isn't to shatter glass it's projecting energy to move objects. You put in too much energy into the glass and it couldn't sustain that much energy so it shattered." Frigga explained.
"Kind of like the force field?" I ask.
"In a way. With the shield you project your energy and mold its shape to make a shield. With this you put that energy into and object and try to move it. You can't put too much energy or else it becomes unstable. Too little and nothing happens. There's a balance. Same as your illusions Loki." She said.
"You're not from Asgard." Loki says not taking his eyes off of me.
"I'm not." I said.
"Who are you?" He says.
"Loki, it does not concern you. Lady Nora is our guest and you will treat her as such." Frigga said chastising him.
"Yes mother," he said begrudgingly. "Forgive me milady." He said.
"It's alright and please, just Nora." I said and he just nodded.
"Now that that's settled let us return to the lesson. Loki continue to practice the illusions, Nora try to move the glass without shattering it."
Loki and I did that for hours. It took me almost two hours before I managed to actually focus the energy and get it into the glass. Then I accidentally shattered that glass more times than I could care to remember. I lost track of time and next thing I knew it was dinnertime.
I was starting to get worried. Normally by now I'd have been sent back but for some reason I was still in Asgard.
"I think that's enough for today. You should both go get ready for dinner. Loki, show Nora to the guest chambers on the east wing, next to Lady Sif's." Frigga said.
"Yes mother." Loki said not particularly happy being my chaperone.
"I'll send someone with some clothes for dinner." She said.
"Oh thank you really but this is all too much." It was really flattering but I felt like I was taking advantage of their kindness not to mention I felt like I could leave at any second.
"Nonsense now go get ready." She said in a motherly tone.
We walk out the door and I follow Loki through the palace. We make a turn down one of the corridors and we run into a very familiar Blonde
"Brother!" he greeted Loki.
Loki just rolled his eyes and groaned. "Thor." He said.
"You missed a great battle. That mewling quim didn't stand a chance against the power of Mjolnir." He boasted. At that moment he noticed I was with Loki and turned his attention to me.
"And who might this beautiful lady be?" Thor said.
"Hi, I'm Nora." I said offering my hand for a handshake but instead he took my hand and kissed my knuckles.
"I am Thor, Prince of Asgard, it is a pleasure to meet you milady." He said giving me a flirty smile. Loki on the other hand just looked like he was trying not to gag.
"The pleasure is all mine. I'm sorry to cut this conversation short but I have to go get ready for dinner." I said giving him a small smile.
"Oh you are the guest mother has invited. Isn't that grand brother!?" He shouted slapping Loki's back
"Yes it is now if you excuse us, I have to show Lady Nora to her quarters and I'm sure you have to bathe of the stench of battle." Loki deadpanned.
"That I do, I look forward to seeing you soon milady." he said smiling before waking away.
We walked in silence until we reached a hallway. I couldn't take the silence anymore.
"So that was your brother Thor?" I ask.
"He was." He spat out.
"He's very… confident" I said.
"That's one way to describe him." Loki said through his teeth.
"It's more polite than saying he's full of himself." I said. "no offense to your brother he just comes on a bit too strong."
"You're the first person to say that." Loki says.
"Probably didn't help that I almost got crushed by a collapsing roof after he used Mjolnir to defeat some guy that was taunting him." I said.
Loki smiled for the first time since I'd seen him.
"He smiles." I said. He suddenly becomes very serious. "I didn't mean it in a bad way, but from the look on your face all day I thought you hated me or something."
"I'll admit, I thought you were going to be a nuisance but you aren't too bothersome." He said.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Here we are." He said once we were at a door.
"Thanks." I said.
"Didn't have much of a say in the matter." He says.
"See you at dinner." I said walking into the room. As soon as I did I felt the very familiar chills of a Time Jump. So much for dinner. I started glowing and I closed my eyes. I heard the door open and someone gasping before I was gone.
When I opened my eyes and I was back at that restaurant with Gramps.
"You're finally back!" Gramps practically shouted.
"How long was I gone?" I asked.
"Long enough for them to ask me if I wanted the check three times." He answered.
"Sorry, I ended up in Asgard. Met Thor and Loki as teenagers. That was a bit weird. I think the god of lightning tried flirting with me." I said.
"Might not want to tell Barnes and Rogers that." Gramps said.
"Yeah, I don't think I need to tell them that tiny detail, or the shattering glass part either." I said.
"I think they'll notice when all your dishes and mugs just up and disappear." Gramps retorted.
"I'm not telling them because I'm going back to London with you. I got a bit of practice in Asgard on how to control it but still not enough where I can use it as easily as I do the force field. If I were to go out in the field I wouldn't want to risk hurting anyone. Plus we need to run tests. I want to make sure me being kind of dead didn't have any other side effects. Either way it'll be a while before the recon team finds the base and plan everything. I should be able to come back before then." I said.
"You seem a lot more relaxed then you were before you left." Gramps says.
"It was only about an hour or two here but it was an entire day over there. I had a lot of time to process everything." I explain.
"Well, I'm glad you're back. I'm going back to London tomorrow morning so pack your bags."
"Don't have much to pack." I said.
"Well, I'll just get the check and…"
Gramps was interrupted by my stomach's loud growling.
"Nevermind, lets get you something to eat." He says as the waiter comes in with the check.