I decided to add to the one-shot. One of my reviewers set me straight on the whole topic of Death vs. Hela, who are two different people. For this story, I'm going with the head-canon that they are one and the same and that Hela is not Loki's daughter, but someone he is in very good favor with.
Summary: Because the Avengers had to find out someday.
"You have five seconds to explain what the hell is going on!" Natasha hissed. The sight before him was not a pleasant one, because it meant he would have to explain his true purpose to humans who would no doubt be more wary of him than they were before. He turned to Loki, who shrank into himself.
"I have followed your rules thus far, as they were easy. You and your betrothed were kind enough to grant me asylum and I have not, nor will I ever, take wrongful advantage of that... was I remiss to presume that food was part of our deal?"
It was times like these that made Tony wonder just what the hell happened to reduce the prince to practically begging for food.
"No, Loki. You're not in trouble for being hungry." Pepper explained. "This just... complicates things."
A flash of heat ran up his left arm and he flashed his fiancee an apologetic glance. Pepper groaned and rubbed a hand across her face. He hated seeing that look on her face... He grabbed her and Loki just as the portal opened. She flashed him a grateful smile before they disappeared. She definitely would not mind seeing the Lady Death at the moment.
"You are not alone." Her voice was dangerously icy, which she only reserved for the unexpected... He turned to see the shocked and confused faces of Steve, Bruce, Clint and Natasha as they gazed around, trying to make out exactly where they were.
"Forgive me, my Queen. I was unaware of being followed."
"These are your new roommates?" Tony nodded.
"Then you shall deal with them as you see fit, after your next task. I would not mind entertaining them so long as they behave."
"You have my thanks."
"Prove it." She snorted. He rolled his eyes. "I need you to collect the soul of an ally, particularly stubborn, this one. I know you enjoy your challenges."
"Name them."
"Frigga." Tony narrowed his eyes.
"Her family will not be pleased."
"It is simply for a moment, to speak. She has been consumed by her visions and you of all know the consequences that may have."
"You mean to tell me that the queen of Asgard is stuck in your Realm and there is no one able to help? Of all the souls down here-."
"I did not bring you here to argue with me, Merchant!" Hela snapped. "You'll see why the second you attempt to locate her, now go before she is unable to leave!"
"As you wish." He dipped his head and vanished in a cloud of smoke.
"Now, who are these friends of yours, Ms. Potts?"
Hela was right, of course. He knew the problem the moment he started his search, and it made him want to snarl. Someone had attempted to murder the Lady Frigga with a few poisons far too similar to his own, one that he used sparingly and kept to relieve people of unnecessary suffering, and another that provided a very strong blow to the psyche. The third was a draught that, when administered correctly, shut down all the important functions required to keep beings alive... by causing them all to fail at once. Death was instantaneous, and some absolute fool had gotten their hands on all three, likely knowing full well just how deadly they were! As it was, the good Queen was likely in a coma with her soul sinking deeper and deeper into Nifleheim, a restless one in search of her killer. It would take time to track the poisons used, but they would have his signature and that, in any format, would be enough to go on.
"Who's brilliant as fuck idea was this?!" He thundered as he stalked the halls, searching for one of the few souls he could stand to be in tolerance for long amounts of time.
Many souls lined up behind him, all awaiting orders on what to look for. He'd trained them well.
"Calm yourselves, mortals, I don't bite... although I will admit that the Merchant tends to be more than a little hot-headed when people take his things... you'll introduce yourselves, won't you?" Steve stepped forward, nodding like he'd seen Tony do.
"My name is Steve Rogers," He muttered. "and on Midgard, I'm known as Captain America."
Hela regarded him with an amused look.
"I can see where Tony gets all the pet names." She smirked. "Crashing a plane into freezing waters is not a very good way to go, my friend. Fortunately for you, there is a rather long time before I see you again."
Bruce joined Steve, having figured that the young woman before him wouldn't do them any harm.
"I'm Dr. Bruce Banner, and I'm known as the Hulk." He added.
"Another soul captured by life," She mused. "He does indeed know some good people." She muttered more to herself. "And you two... assassins, yes?"
"I am no more your servant than I am Stark's girlfriend. Natasha growled.
"Hela laughed, the sound booming throughout the room and silent all the same.
"Oh, I think you and I will get along just fine, Widow... pray you never see me again, either of you, because I might take you up on that. Pepper, dear friend, has Anthony been behaving himself?"
"Aside from giving me heart-attacks every other weekend? Life has been the same as usual."
"You're obviously doing a wonderful job, let me tell you. He's so far gone for you it shows even when he does his best to hide it, the love-sick fool!" She chortled. "I'm glad he's not managed to scare you away, Ms. Potts. You're far too good for him. Those are his words, not mine. I think you suit each other just fine."
"Thank you," Pepper grinned mischievously. "I'll let him know you said that."
"Please do! I'd love to see his face."
He found her well enough, wandering as he thought she would be. Making a portal to her position was the easy part. The hard one was bringing her with him.
"Merchant." She murmured calmly upon sight of him.
"Your time is far from over, Queen Frigga."
"There is no way out that I can find. The doors are sealed."
"I'll take care of that, your Highness. We need to get you back on your feet and bossing Odin around like usual. Rest assured, whoever did this shall get their due, because while it was not your day, a soul must be collected."
"Thank you, Merchant." Queen Frigga took his hand and he tugged her through the portal, back to the Throne room.
"Someone was stupid enough to use what has strictly been banned from the Realms for a very specific reason, and I intend to find out who, if only to keep Odin from going after my head."
"Do as you wish, then. It's your mess." Hela smirked. Tony snorted and his eyes flashed golden. They would pay, alright.
Frigga awoke rather suddenly, gasping for air with labored breath. A swift look told her that she was in her personal healing chambers with Odin on one side and Thor on the other. The Merchant was nowhere to be seen and she presumed that he started his search. She hoped he found his potions before things got too out of hand.
"So you're what, a grim reaper?" Clint asked when they got back to the living room. Loki sat on the couch, watching Law and Order, of all things!
"The grim reaper, if you must call him that at all." The God of Mischief offered. "His official title is the Merchant of Death."
"And before you ask, on Earth it's just a press name. The papers thought they were being clever. Here's to hoping it'll stay a press name, because I would hate for anything to happen if it weren't." Tony flashed them a feral grin before turning to Pepper.
"I'm going to sleep." He announced as he pulled her in for a hug and kissed the top of her forehead.
"Don't wake me up unless you want to go back to Nifleheim."
"Be careful, Tony. The last thing I need is for you to be stuck in your own head."
"Yes, dear." He muttered. She snorted.
"Go, sleep. I'm not carrying you anywhere."
"I'd make Loki do it."
"I assure you, Stark, I would drop you if your tried."
The remaining Avengers watched their normally armored teammate trudge out of the living room (as an all-powerful grim reaper!), which currently contained a sociopathic god of mischief. Apparently this was just another Monday.
What do you think? Should I have kept it as a one-shot? Do you want more? What did you like or dislike about it?