Disclaimer: Don't own the Avengers, or any part of Marvel. And by the way, check the author's note after you're done reading. I have a surprise for you!


Chapter 15

A Ray of Hope


Jörmungand made miniscule gestures and symbols in the air, and from it emerged a coiled figure resembling a snake which dropped on the floor with a small explosion, causing the slithering translucent form to disperse across the floors and into the walls at a rate which left some of the Avengers to gap in awe at the filmy layer of shimmery, snake-skin like texture of the force that seemed to cover the entire tower from inside out.

Tony, who had been watching the events outside from the screen looked up and called out to everyone, "I think Hela's about to do some abracadabra thing!"

Fenrir snickered while Jörmungand rolled his eyes at the comment.

From the screen, Hela seemed like she was about to do something, but in truth, she's already done doing her part and was now watching the progress of the cloud's mystical force while it slowly contorted its intangible frame into a solid, form of sheer power. Floating on over and around the sentient being, she drove straight in and emerged at least ten feet away. The cloud force seem to didn't like her intrusion and sent a solidified fist to come swinging its way towards her; without even looking up, its fist came crashing down against an invisible force protecting Hela, causing its entire arm to disrupt into flimsy mists of gold against the crackling dark, electrified barrier.

Obstructed from view due to the golden mist that fluttered around her, Hela looked at the object that piqued her curiosity into diving inside the creature – her now clawed, armour arm holding a string of glowing blue light that connected itself to the now growing head of the being, and to its power source, her father.

She conjured a palm glove for her other hand and took a firm hold of the glowing blue light and struck a clawed forefinger into it, like plucking a string from a guitar and studied its properties. As she looked at the end of the string of light she held, she noticed it left room for regeneration, while the other end was sucked back into the golden cloud. Giving it one glaring look, she disappeared from the night sky.


"Where'd she go?" Clint asked from behind Tony.

The genius-former-playboy shrugged, and just then a voice spoke from behind them, "You're up."

Hela materialized into the room, one arm clad in fully black armour, fist tight on her side, holding something they can't quite see with their eyes.

Fenrir crouched down and sniffed at her hand, "Potent, but weak. What is it?"

"A residue from the sceptre's force; I am certain now that father has been fighting off its effects on him, and caused the implosion of magic that exploded in the Avengers living room," Hela replied, raising her arm to show the Avengers the string of force she was holding, "It's also giving that cloud its sentience."

"That sounds dangerous," Steve said.

"Sounds like fun," Fenrir replied, before dissipating in the air.

Jörmungand scooted over, arm covered in the same shimmering film that was protecting the tower, "In theory, we might be able to use this to track down the location of the sceptre."

Hela gave him a single nod.

The next thing they knew, there was a piercing howl that shattered the air which caused the cloud to lose its form.


They soon moved Loki into the lower level of the Tower where the Hulk's containment unit was located, escorted by Bruce, Clint, and Natasha. Steve and Bucky stayed behind with Tony in case something else happened, while said genius chose to stay to watch the events with a bag of chips courtesy of their guests – and Thor, he stayed because he couldn't figure out what to say or do around his niece and nephews; there was a feeling in the pit of his stomach akin to guilt, especially now that he is beginning to realize the things he failed to notice before.

Hela contained a strand of the sceptre's force inside an enchanted glass box, and hid it away outside the physical world while her brother, along with Clint and Natasha set the Soul Forge emulator around and inside the containment unit.

As calm as the ocean on a beautiful day out under the sun, there were grey clouds and rolling thunder at the back of her mind, threatening to lash out at everything in her path with roaring streaks of lightning; even then, that feeling was nothing compared to what brews deep inside her and her brothers. It was a close call; they almost lost their father that night and were too afraid to admit it because their broken spirit would be the end of it all. Loki was the anchor to their sanity, the last ray of hope that shines down their path. They love him with all their hearts, along with his faults and everything in between. He was the only one who loved them without question, and he has suffered long and hard enough on his own – but it was in their fates to be torn asunder, only to be reunited by chaos.

Hela allowed a small smile to herself; if it was chaos that would bring them together, then there was enough chaos in the heart of one man to let them be together. And fate, the Norns, they didn't matter at all to her – she didn't lie in wait to free her brothers to let their father pass them by. She swore she would bring them back together, no matter the cost.

Bruce was hovering around behind her when she turned back. She gave him a weary smile and drifted her eyes over the containment unit, which was now aglow with a speckled gold and bronzy light, as she shifted in her seat.

"Thank you, for calling me as soon as it happened," She breathed.

Bruce nodded tentatively, perching on the metal table, "It's nothing, since we didn't know what to do in the first place."

"It's not 'nothing', it means everything to us," Was Hela's solemn reply.

"You must really love him," Bruce said rhetorically, but was hoping to at least get an answer; Hela was still a stranger to them, but something about her made him want to gravitate towards her, even if she was shrouded in mystery.

"He was a great father," Hela's words her warm, reminiscent, and held a firm grasp of pride, "Better than his father – any of his fathers."

"It must be difficult for you," He looked at her now, "To be surrounded by people who don't, I mean, see him as you do."

"It pains me greatly," She replied honestly, "I see everything for what it is and what it's not. Judging people for what they seem isn't part of my repertoire. I know he's not going to be the same as before; he's broken, but that's what my brother's and I are here for. I can't – we can't let him become someone else, not without a fight."

Bruce didn't know what to say; he really didn't know Loki, but if he was going to be honest with himself, he did pass on his judgement to him before he even had a chance to interact with him. The one and only time he had with the Trickster was when he wasn't even himself, he was, the Other Guy. In light of Hela's words, he felt stupid, incompetent, weak; or as the Hulk would have it, 'Puny'.

From what he's read or heard, her brothers were the first to go into banishment, and then Hela when she came of age. He didn't know how Asgardians calendars go, or what age is the legal age, but he could only guess that it was far too soon for any of them to cope with. They spend centuries, heck if Thor wasn't exaggerating, they spent thousands of years of not seeing each other. And there he was feeling like he's lost everything after his accident which turned him into a man who transforms into a green, rage monster. His struggles couldn't even compare, and yet, he couldn't even try and see Loki as someone who once used to have a great deal of good in him; if anything, he should be able to empathize, right?

Bruce raised his glasses on top his of head and closed his eyes shut, trying to clear his head full of guilt.

Hela reached her hand out to Bruce and gave it a gentle squeeze, "Don't push yourself too hard Doctor Banner, lest you may get sick. After all, we still have that heart-to-heart talk we have to do some day in the future."

If Bruce blushed when he felt Hela's hand over his own, her words may yet to cause him another Hulk-out, "Uuh, yeah."

He had completely forgotten all about it; what with Hulking out less than an hour after he agreed to her deal, Hulk being quite the green-skinned romantic and confessed he likes Hela – and not to forget that Hela also seen him buck naked after. His head was pounding now and excused himself to get something or other; he could've sworn he heard Hela chuckle but everything was drown out by his racing heart and Tony's boisterous voice, who has now come down from the medical bay with the rest of them in tow, and seemingly having a fun and excited bro-talk with Hela's brother Fenrir.

"That was really awesome," Tony exclaimed, "So is it true that you transform into a giant ferocious wolf? 'Coz you know, giant raging monsters are totally my deal!"

Bruce sighed and made a quick exit, hoping to rest his head somewhere where Tony's cackling voice couldn't be heard.


Author's Note: I'm pregnant Trevor! I'm kidding, I just remember the Deadpool leaked footage.

Anyway, the surprise is! I've finally decided who would be the celebrity look-a-like of the siblings Lieschmidt. It's Eva Green (Hela), Ian Somerhalder (Jörmungand) and Colin O'Donoghue (Fenrir).

Check it out on my profile, I have the picture's linked there, and the Hela drawing I made (and posted) a couple chapters back.

Many thanks to those who fave'd and followed, and to those who are just about to! Lotsa hearts for those who always leaves reviews for every chapter, I really appreciate it when you do. Thank you!