Chapter 8: Change of Venue
Clint P.O.V.
Clint waited calmly, anxiously, at the top of Avengers tower on the helicopter pad. Thor was already there, and stood in the exact center with his arms crossed over his chest, looking like the princely leader he was. Clint wanted to punch him again. Steve was on the fringes with a brown, nondescript suitcase standing up next to him, dressed in a tan leather jacket and jeans – perfect clothing for going to a friend's home planet. Clint was itching the back of his neck with an arrow – a bad habit Natasha had always teased him about. Don't think about her. Bruce had yet to join them, and hung in the doorway nervously.
"Uh, guys? I'm not sure I should be doing this. I mean, the Other Guy might not take too kindly to interdimensional travel." Bruce stammered out the words haltingly, hanging back in the doorway to the helicopter pad.
Thor strode forward and clapped him on the arm, laughing. "My friend, your green monster would not be able to damage the armies of Asgard. Besides, if the Jotuns are waging war, he might be able to greatly aid our allies." He finished with a grim grimace.
Clint wanted to teach him about the problems with over-confidence, but it worked with the skittish scientist. Bruce didn't look reassured, but nodded anyway and timidly walked forward to the helicopter pad where Clint and Steve were waiting.
"So. This all seems … horrible." Bruce said quietly, looking down at his shoes, then up at them.
"We've seen worse." Steve half-smiles, but it's too soon to joke about the circumstances, so he stops smiling.
Thor glances around at them all, and Clint notices how haggard the guy looks. His beard is scruffy, his armor is banged up, and there's shadows underneath his eyes. Clint's amazed he didn't notice it before, but to be fair, he was busy working himself into a righteous rage. But he does feel a glimmer of sympathy for the guy; it looked like he'd been through a war, and really did just get back.
"Heimdall, by your leave!" Thor bellows up at the sky.
Nothing happens. Clint's just about to snicker and make a remark, when a beam of light crashes down on them, and his world is filled with a roaring in his ears and streams of light before his eyes. His feet have left the ground, and he twists around in shock before he sees Thor "clenched up" and decides to copy him. He can faintly see the universe rushing by; faint outlines of planets, and the dim brightness of the stars battling with the light of the bridge. It is so cool. He remembers that Bruce, oh dear god, might've been a little too shocked by the transition, and looks back at his teammate. Bruce is looking a little pale, but far too excited to turn, so he looks back up. He can feel his organs tingling and shifting with the gravity being sucked away from them, and it's amazing. All too soon, the ride ends, and he's ejected from the tunnel, and narrowly avoids face-planting on the floor. Righting himself, Thor is right in front of him, and beaming widely.
"Not many take so well to their first trip by Bifrost, my friend! Most do not regain their bowels or bearing for minutes after they land!" Thor slaps him on the back with almost the same force the bridge did, and almost sends him to the very same floor he almost collided with.
"Right. Rainbow bridge. It was way more girly in my imagination." Clint mutters to himself.
He turns to see how the others fared with the "trip", and they look a little worse for wear, but fine overall. Steve landed on his back, so is coughing up a lung to try and get oxygen back into his lungs, but he hasn't thrown up yet, so yay for the little victories. Bruce is pale, but his pupils are dilated, so Clint looks at him a little warily, until he realizes that his pupils are dilated because, oh yeah, he's in an alien world and a scientist would have a field day examining the planet. Satisfied, he looks at his surroundings. They're in a golden observatory-type thing, and there's a window looking out across foreign constellations right in front of them. The walls look like the inside of a clock, and the architects look like they had a fetish for gold, judging by the fact that everything was made of gold.
Someone clears their throat behind him, and he whirls around, reaching for his bow and having an arrow drawn before he is turned around completely. There is a dark-skinned man there on a step-stone pedestal wearing gold armor, and holding a giant sword. The man just looks at him with cold gold eyes and says and does nothing. Clint gets the feeling that he's been judged unworthy of attention and ignored.
"Good evening, Heimdall. I trust Asgard was well in my absence, however brief it was." Thor walks from behind Clint, beaming.
Clint decides to put away his bow, since Thor is treating the snobby guy like a friend.
Heimdall speaks, apparently only to Thor. "Asgard is well, my prince. All threats to the nine realms have been dealt with, and Yggdrasil can begin to settle into peace once more. Welcome to Asgard."
He got the feeling that the last part was meant only for Thor, and felt a little indignant. Following Thor past the gatekeeper and out the Bifrost building, he was a little awed by the grandeur and sheer lavishness of Asgard. The golden palace rose like a church organ into the air, and the city was literally on the edge of the world. There were little private gardens dotted around buildings, and flying craft – not the Chitauri's - swimming around in the sky. The sky was streaked with lavender and pink undertones, and there were two – two – planets in the sky. He felt a little … insignificant, and rebelled against the thought. He had a job to do, and he was going to do it. Right after he wasn't distracted by Bruce asking questions feverishly.
Each question was asked with a breathless tone of wonder and excitement, and was muttered under his breath as he followed Thor. "How are we breathing here? Does the atmosphere have the same ratios of oxygen to carbon? Is the gravity denser here? What are those planets called? What are your constellations here? Are there new elements on Asgard? Do you have the same flora and fauna? What's the technology like here?" Bruce pointed to things during his tirade.
As the questions went on, Thor lost his sunny disposition, and his expression turned to bewildered confusion. Clint had to cover up a snicker as Steve's face soon followed.
Thor eventually stopped Bruce with hands raised as if to pacify a dangerous animal. "My friend, I know not of the answers you seek, but if you truly wish to pursue them, you can search in the palace library, or speak to a mage or scholar." Bruce's face fell a little, but he still looked like Natasha did when she was at a guns and ammunitions expo. Don't even think it.
Clint thought he was offering more to stem the flow of questions rather than to do a favor for a friend. He could see Steve nodding fervently out of the corner of his eye, and had to cough explosively to cover the guffaw that threatened to break loose. Unfortunately, Bruce saw that as a sign that Clint was suffering symptoms from being exposed to an alien atmosphere and traveling by Bifrost, and so started up a new line of questioning.
It was going to be a long walk to the palace.
In the palace
"My son. You have returned. I trust your visit to Midgard went well."
Clint did a double-take. Then a triple-take. There was no way that Asgard had another guy in an eye-patch in an authority position. Sure the eye-patch was gold – to match the whole freakin' city – and the guy in question was an old, white-haired king, but Odin Allfather and Nick Fury should have a get-together to discuss leadership and how much they hate dealing with underlings. It was scary, how the two of them had the same stances and the same cold, calculating, see-into-your-soul stare that made any who stand in front of it feel an inch tall and just about as insignificant as an ant. Seriously.
They had entered through the really tall golden doors, and walked down a long column-y hallway, and came to a stop at a dais before a golden lounge-throne. The thing was covered in intricate etchings, and looked ancient. The king looked almost as old.
Thor bowed, and Clint stood there awkwardly, wondering if he had to bow too, but Thor was already straightening up and moving to greet his old man.
"Father. I have urgent news." The golden retriever look was gone, and in its place stood a prince. It was very weird, seeing Thor like that. It really made Clint realize that, oh yeah, his friend is a prince.
Odin's lone eye roved over them dispassionately, and Clint stood his ground against it. Bruce squirmed a little. "I see. I suppose that is the reason you bring these … mortals to Asgard."
It sounded like he had almost put another word in place of "mortals", like "insects" or "clods of dirt". Seriously, Odin was looking at them like they were no more important than blades of grass clinging to his shoes.
Thor ignored the look, or didn't notice it, and carried on, gesturing to them each in turn. "Yes, father. These are my Midgardian shield-brothers who helped turn the Chitauri invasion. This is Steven Rogers, Clinton Barton, and Bruce Banner. They are formidable warriors."
"I didn't even know that Thor knew my full name." Clint whispered to Bruce, who had to bite his lip to choke down an inappropriately timed laugh.
Steve, taking up the mantle of Captain, stepped up next to Thor and dipped his head. "Sir. Agent Barton, Doctor Banner, and I were brought here by Thor in the hoped that we help defend both our worlds from a potential threat, and to save two of our teammates, who have fallen prey to this threat."
Thor eagerly took the opening. "Yes. One of their number, Anthony Stark, has fallen ill, and –"
"A mortal has fallen ill?" Odin interrupted, standing up with his eye flashing. "That is not an uncommon occurrence, Thor. You cannot be asking that Asgard help a mortal for doing what they are born to do. You have a duty to Asgard, not Midgard. You are Asgard's prince, not Midgard's."
Thor's face darkened, and he was about to angrily reply, but another voice interrupted him before he could.
"Stop this madness at once, husband!"
Thor turned to gawp at a woman entering from a side door next to the throne. "Mother?"
Clint looked over the queen. She had her honey-blond hair pinned back, and wore a crème dress. Her complexion glowed, and she had the air of a women a few millennia younger. In fact, she would have been stunning if she wasn't scowling angrily at her husband.
Her demeanor instantly changed into a welcoming mother's as she hugged her son. "Hello, darling." Then she glared at Odin again.
"How dare you speak of the mortals so! They may be young, but they are part of Yggdrasil as much as Asgard is. Your son, even loves a mortal. Love is love, whether it lasts a millennia or a century. You will hold your tongue and let them finish speaking, or I swear to the Norns that I will never speak to you again!" By the time she finished, she was panting slightly and two red spots appeared high on her cheeks.
Clint wanted to laugh out loud at the expression both Odin and Thor had. Guess they'd never heard someone talk to their king like that. Man, he liked this woman. Odin sat back down slowly, and nodded faintly. "Continue."
Thor gathered himself at his mother's glance, and also nodded a few times. "Yes. As I said, Anthony Stark has been poisoned with a venom only found on Jotunheim." On the last word, his features twisted with apprehension. Odin's face didn't change, so he went on. "Another one of their number, Lady Natasha Romanoff, went to acquire an antidote, and has been captured by the very same poisoner, a man named Victor Doom. They were able to retrieve a note from the Lady warning us of what appear to be Frost Giants. If the Jotuns have managed to ally with this man, they will be very dangerous. The man is a magic user, and might be able to transport them off-world. I fear they may ally with other realms and cause an insurrection. This should not be taken lightly, father. I have also promised to return to Midgard with any help I am allowed to aid them in the rescue of the Lady."
"There is nothing the healers can do to cure a Jotun-based pestilence. If there is a cure, then it will take a Jotun to reverse the effects." Odin intoned carefully.
Clint heard a gasp, and turned to see the queen press a hand to her mouth, her eyes shimmering with sudden tears. He frowned, not liking what could make the queen of Asgard act like that.
"And as we do not have any Jotun healers, I do not see how we would be able to help." Odin shook his head, and Clint gritted his teeth.
"You know full well of one able to help, you just do not wish to speak of him!" Frigga broke in, voice rising and lips trembling.
"If he can help, we would accept anyone's help." Steve injected himself back into the conversation, looking between the two monarchs.
Odin looked down on them stonily, and Thor looked on in dawning realization and trepidation.
"You would not be so willing if you knew of whom we speak." Odin's voice was dead-cold and stone-silent.
"Well, who is he?" Steve asked, a line forming between his eyebrows.
"Loki." Thor was the one to say it.
Loki. The name reverberated around Clint's head, pinging off thoughts and memories without latching on. Then the room suddenly spun, and he swore. Loki. The guy who ripped him out of his own mind and made him kill friends and betray his team and his morals. The guy who killed eighty people in two days with a charming grin and a cold laugh. Clint was furious, incensed, at the idea that they could even consider letting the asshole fucker out of his cage to help them – him. They would gift-wrap an invitation to try and escape. What. The. Hell. He realized that he was shaking, and that he didn't care.
"Loki." His voice was flat. "You want to let Loki out of prison to help me get Nat back and to help dismantle another villain. Yeah, like he'll just skip merrily out of his cage, willingly help us, not try to escape, and heal my friend. That'll work. I can just picture the look on his face when he's asked to help out the guys who put him in jail in the first place, and the brother who he hates the guts of. That is a truly brilliant idea. I- I just can't –" His breath was coming too fast, and he had to stop talking and start blinking the fog out of his vision.
Odin stiffened on his throne. "That is no way to be speaking to the ruler of Asgard –"
"That is no way to talk about my son!" Frigga spoke over her husband. "I know more than anyone what he is capable of, but I know what is in his heart. I am not blind to his actions, but he might very well be the only one in the Nine Realms who can help you and your friends. If you wish to save your realm, Loki may very well be the savior of it. If you deride him and shun him, he may very well be the destruction of it. Tread very carefully, Midgardians, for I will not offer any more aid." She spun on her heel, and made an exit that had the effect of sucking all of the air out of the room.
Odin stood up again, and regarded them coldly. "Asgard will not offer any more than this. Thor, since your honor is bound by the oath you foolishly made, you will go back with the mortals and aid them in their endeavors. I will offer you Loki's services, but only if you can convince him to help. You may offer him anything except his release from this prison or anything impeding his timely return. Other than this, Asgard will leave Midgard and all its people to their own devices to solve their problems."
Steve looked like he had swallowed a lemon, and stiffly nodded. Clint stared at him incredulously, and was about to open his big mouth again, but Bruce shook his head gravely, and he stopped.
"You may stay for today and tomorrow, but you will be gone by the second morning." Odin gestured to Thor, who nodded and bowed again, his face stormy and tumultuous.
Thor led them out of the room, and Clint looked back once to see Odin, still standing, staring after them with a hard, impartial, detached scrutiny.
Can I just say, if it isn't obvious already, I just loathe Odin. His A+ parenting skills got everyone into the whole mess in "Thor", and I blame him for everything that happened with Loki. I absolutely adore Frigga, and cried in the theater in "Thor 2" (you know the scene).
Anyway, if you follow/favorite, you get a Bifrost bridge ride to a world of your choosing. If you follow/favorite me, you get to meet Frigga and gossip/chat with her, as well as learn her knife-fighting techniques. If you vote for me, you get to slap Odin upside the head and give him a good, long lecture on how he screwed up parenting and taught his kids how to be racists.
Next time on "Only Therapy Could Save Us". Will the team meet Loki? Will Clint keep his cool? Will Loki agree to help? Will the author finally explain the title? Tune in next time, on "Only Therapy Could Save us".