He's trapped.
Esurient eyes glow an eerie white beneath the darken canopy of the thick forest. Quickly as he could, Tony scrambles up another branch of the tree, mindful of the slippery bark from the sudden drizzle. He swings his leg to wrap around it, before hoisting himself up. That had been close. Not far in the distance, the sound of creatures baying is echoed back by the large black wolf circling the trunk down below. Even to his ears, the howl has a note of certainty. No doubt the damn beast is calling for reinforcements since Tony is their next big meal.
Oh why, oh why did he thought it was such a good idea to go out exploring at his first taste of freedom?
The day had began very much the same.
"Good morrow, Prince Anthony. Prince Thor wishes for your attendance at the East wall training field after you break your fast. There, Fandral shall continue your weapons lesson until the midday meal..."
The day before, it was Hogun in the morning for meditation and Lady Sif for physical training in the afternoon. Thor's pack mates had taken turns often enough. It stands to reason, Tony hadn't thought when he hoped for a regular schedule, that he would be attending Asgard Academy, at least that's what the subsequent four days had felt like. Apparently the initial tests wasn't just their idea of hazing fun, the pack had genuinely assessed his skill sets and deemed him acceptable of being a mate to a warrior Prince and pack leader. He still wonders whether he should be flattered since they're not starting him on basic training at least. Tony can't say he's a half empty or half full kind of guy, especially when he can engineer something to ensure the cup is always full or empty.
"...tis a surprise he mentioned. Thus I recommend a change of clothes prior-"
"Wait, hold up. What?" That had caught Tony's attention quick as he sat up in bed.
Tanna had pause in the middle of placing two outfits for Tony to wear. One was his go-to gear of thermal-vest combo in shades of brown this time and the other was the formal red tunic he wore the first day. Was he attending something special tonight? She looked up and snorted at his bewildered expression.
"Tis rude, your highness, when I am accounting your schedule and you ignore the content entirely."
The tall and equally annoying Pepper 2.0 was too snippy for his liking. Maybe he shouldn't have encouraged her to warm up to him, oh who was he kidding, that was part of the fun. So Tony sassed back, "A little brevity goes a long way, sunshine. Don't bore me with the usual when you have something to highlight-"
"Highlight?"
"It means to put emphasis on a topic," replied Tony to her frequent lingo interjections without complaint before he continued, "So to highlight over that last bit, what surprise are you talking about?"
Tanna nodded like she's writing on a mental list (she probably was), then sigh as if she's put upon before repeating what Tony missed earlier, "I heard from the cook that Prince Thor made a request to dine in his quarters and have it set for two."
"At this point of the retelling Tony's already risen and had retrieved his toiletry bag when he paused at the threshold of the en suite bathroom, "...and you guess it's meant for me?"
"Tis not a guess. Prince Thor has requested specifically the honey roasted boar with melted goat cheese, fresh tomatoes, buttered onions, and raw leafy greens in between a toasted bread you so like."
Tony made to close the door at this point and leaned heavily against it. He'd read the translations by now. It was nothing more than a blue book of permitted conventions between Alphas, Betas, and Omegas. There been a few smattering of paragraphs mentioning the use of scent, but it was all written in such a flowery way that made him more than frustrated, especially when he asked Tanna to elaborate. Her only response was that the use of scent was instinctual and overwhelming at times. Hence the fact it was not written down, much like breathing air. What Tony wanted was a biological approach to the subject and he said as much. This had Tanna mutter something in Elfish and probably not nice. her final reply on the matter was this: using one's scent is not an illness, only the loss of it is researched and cataloged in the book of illnesses for the healers to diagnose, before suggesting perhaps Tony should get treated. Like he said, she's too snippy these days.
Regardless of the translations not being what he wanted, Tony did found the etiquette content helpful to mitigate Thor's approach to courting. According to their customs, there's a grace period in which the eligible Alpha should subject the unmated Omega to their scent as much as possible. If the Omega rejected the Alpha during this period, the betrothal is made null and all arrangements must be dissolved. If the Omega accepted the Alpha (this is where it got flowery), the scent claim will be embraced and the occasion be marked. Tony was pretty sure the text meant an engagement most likely since the next couple of paragraphs shifted to the topic of ceremonies wherein all weddings occurred on the day of Beltane. Either weddings are rare or too many to count or the priestess too lazy to book so most couples had to be wed en mass. And if Beltane here is the same as it is on Earth, then May Day will be his wedding day. Given that he arrived on March fifteenth, Tony don't have long to prepare. Fuck.
So today Thor had expected an official acceptance, which would lead to a formal engagement, which would lead to an actual ceremony, which would lead to a freakin' wedding night, which would lead to a fucking annulment the next day due to the Omega not being able to get it up. Or Thor won't care either way and take him sans heat. Tony knows for a fact that some parts of the world back on Earth that was entirely acceptable. Heck, he's had plenty of gold-digging Alphas attempt to force a bonding with him in the past, it hadn't end well for all of them, not because of the law let's just say. He can't treat Thor that way though.
When Tony accepted to do his duty for Earth, things had obviously been set in motion. Being Thor's mate was a certainty, everything else was simply dotting the I's and crossing the T's to make it official. From the beginning, whether he can perform the deed was never a concern. It was so stupid of him to think his pleasure or his ability to produce an heir would matter, what with his short lifespan and all. After more than a full week of observing the grace period, Tony knows it's time to move to the next phase. Political unions was never about the couple's preference. At least Thor was trying, Tony has given him that. The least he can do was meet the big guy half way.
One good thing about moving forward with the formal engagement was that he would be finally able to see Steve and his pack mates again. Wedding plans must be made and Tony will be the worst possible bridezilla in Asgard history if he doesn't get his way at least in that.
"Must you ogle my ass when I do this? Thor's standing right there you know."
Tony didn't have to turn his focus from the target one hundred feet away to know that that was exactly what Fandral was doing.
"My hands as promise is kept to myself, hence I am safe from Thor's wrath. As for your question, how else am I to observe your comely form in perfect the proper stance? Alas, I must lament you Midgardians, to lend such foul a description to such a beautiful body part, I prefer another word from Midgard's' many languages, derriere has a much better sound to it, does it not?"
It took Tony a moment to steady his body from laughing outright before he launches the javelin and misses the center by two rings.
"Again. Try loosening your grip and breath out as you release the weapon."
Tony plucked another javelin from the stall and moved back behind the dirt line drawn on the ground before he continues their conversation.
"An ass is an ass is an ass; some asses are bigger than others and some are just sorry, but an ass by any other name is just as smelly."
Fandral's delighted chuckle may very well rivals Volstaggs's thunderous belly laugh. Thor stopped chatting with the man himself to note their interactions before he ignored them once again. Tony had waited until the laughter died down before he launched another one, he missed by one ring.
"Again. Angle the shaft a tad to the right this time."
As instructed, he'd taken his time and does just so. The javelin arc through the air and hit the target dead center with a thwack. Hah!
Triumphant over his improvement, Tony had turned to face the Robin Hood look-alike and received a nod of appreciation.
"Tis a good beginning. We shall redraw the line at double the distance."
What? Tony had been practicing all morning. It had only been the last dozen that he'd manage to hit the target even. Thank goodness for Tanna who had the presence of mind to make him wear leather gloves or Tony would have bleeding callouses by now. Even with them on, he can feel the burn let alone the muscle soreness.
"Do not look at me so. You have made tremendous improvement, Anthony. We must work to be a well-rounded warrior, tis the Asgardian way."
Never say Tony don't know what he's got or is above using it. he stuck out his lower lip and lowers his eyes to half-mast before he peaks up at Fandral, while slouching his body for the effect to bring the whole picture into play. To stick it to the man further, Tony released a dejected groan and whine, "I'm hungry though, can't we call it a break for now?"
To his credit, Fandral subtly shifted his posture and visibly swallowed a few times before responding, his voice only crack initially, "I...of course...we must feed that hunger. Aye, to go without filling up is a travesty indeed."
Tony would have rolled his eyes if it meant not ruining the effectiveness of his ruse. As was habitual with the other, Fandral move toward Tony but stopped short when Thor approaches. Knowing what's coming up next, Tony pasted on a warm smile and put effort to relax his stance.
"Hi Thor! We're about to break for lunch, want to come with?"
"Thor smiled back in greeting before sending Fandral a nod of his head in dismissal. With the other gone, the Prince gets down to business fast in checking off another box on the tally.
"Anthony, I would like the presence of your company in dining with me in private."
Not like Tony can say no at that point and resigned to his fate, "Sure thing."
It's done.
They're officially engaged and Thor's immediately gone off planet to run some princely errands or other. Back in his room, Tony had flopped backward on the nest of bedding and felt something soft shift and slid to the floor. He had rolled back up and saw the clothes Tanna had laid out now on the ground. That's right, he never got a chance to change before Thor escorted him directly his room.
The Prince's quarters was huge, twice the size of his own room and decorated with more fur and a large dining table placed out on the balcony overlooking inland for ambience. There were several plates of food fit for half a dozen humans and Tony's plate of hamburgers, just like Tanna had said.
Always with Thor, they began chowing down in companionable silence, even though the hamburger tasted like ashes to Tony. But no, the big guy waited until he was done before popping the question. Oddly, Tony couldn't rub two brain cells together to remember what was said. What he did remember was murmuring yes and then Thor was suddenly in front of him planting a quick kiss on his lips, despite his onion breath and all. for some reason Tony felt was more important than the greasy bearded lips pressed against his. Afterwards, Tony recalls bits and pieces of what Thor had said. Something about being too long in Alfheim...going on a hunt...in Vanaheim was it? Then something something about meeting something something.
Realization had hit him right between the eyes then. Rather of feeling elation in being free of the farce, Tony felt his frustration mounting instead. Thor had been dictating the pace ever since Tony arrived and now that he's done his duty and collected the requisite yes, the big guy runs off with his pack mates because he's gone stir-crazy? Tony had gone stir-crazy ages ago! With all that testing and training going on, he'd hardly had a chance to get his lab space started or explored much. What about his needs and his wants?
Fed up with all the pretenses, Tony had sought for fresh air immediately. So with a belly full of roiling hamburgers, he shed off the foreign garbs out of spite and donned a wife beater, grey sweat pants, a red zip up hoody, and running shoes. Lastly, plugging his headphones in to cut out the world, he dashed out the doors intending for a light run.
Lo and behold, this happened. Tony knows very well the parallels of his current predicament to a certain fairytale. He didn't stick to the path and allow his curiosity got the better of him when he saw lights in the distant tower that was absent on the map, before stumbling on a big ass wolf that chase him further away from the castle. And the irony that he's wearing a red hood just cinched it. Steve probably would say that is the story of Tony's life. Come to think of it, it probably is.
In another half hour or so, the last vestiges of sunlight will cast his surrounding in utter darkness. Tony doubts even the light from Alfheim' s two moons could penetrate the cloudy climes. To add insult to misery, the drizzle has turn into a steady downpour and along with it his hopes to escape from spending a sleepless night wet and cold up on a gnarled tree branch. The thought sends a shiver down his spine as he valiantly tries to control his shaking nerves and ragged breath.
That damn wolf looks normal enough, Tony hopes these alien species didn't possess some freakish attribute like climbing trees or jumping very high. Close to the heel of that thought, to be on the safe side, Tony decides to climb a few more branches higher. But considering his sore arm muscles, it took all his effort to focus on the task after the initial adrenaline rush had worn out.
So it is with little wonder that Tony almost lost his footing entirely when he slip after sighting a pair of black boots dangling from the branch above him. He may or may not have shriek (most likely it was a rebel yell if he lives to recount it) given the surprising nature of the strange appearance before arms belonging to the owner of those limbs catches him easily and pulls Tony up.
It takes the person equally less effort to manhandle Tony onto straddling the same branch. Taking a moment to catch his breath from the near fall, Tony leans back against the tree trunk. Exhausted momentarily, Tony finally makes a relieve sigh before opening his eyes to look at his fellow tree sitter and his heart nearly skips a beat.
Concern brilliant emerald gems for eyes frame by a pale aristocratic face with high cheekbones, a straight nose, thin lips and chin length, raven tresses stares back at him. In spite of the man crouching down before him, Tony can tell he's quite tall, probably the same height as Thor but minus the bulk. The stranger is dress in an olive green Elfish tunic, black leather pants and riding boots; other than the attire that is similar to the locals, the man is missing a few key features. So judging by the show of strength alone, he must be either Asgardian, Vanir or other.
When those concern gems soon morph into mischief and thin lips curve into a smirk, Tony realizes he may be in more danger than he thought.
