cut
*Stay low. We don't know how many there are. The Computers couldn't determine the number of our enemies.* Haruven's voice came over the com-link and Cas, Dean and Sam exchanged a glance. They were spread out in teams of three to four in a wide arch around the Cheyenne Mountain, waiting for orders from Haruven.
*Remember. Their armors are weak around their necks and shoulders.* Hawkeye reminded everyone and Dean cocked his gun.
"So all we have to do is aim really well," he muttered and received a lot of chuckling over the link.
*Or simply blow them up,* Rogue said. *Dun worry, stud-muffin. If ya get in trouble I'll save ya.* Sam snorted while Dean chuckled.
"Sorry, lady, but I'm definitely taken."
*All the good ones are!* Rogue whined.
*Hey! I'm not taken!* Gambit cried out in obvious offense.
*Get ready!* Haruven hissed and everything went quiet.
*Just remember you promised us all drinks when we get back home, Ven,* Tony said and everyone heard Haruven chuckle, although his voice was strained.
*You all get back in one piece and I'm making dinner.*
*You heard that? I'm definitely coming back!* Clint said. In that moment a loud roar broke the night and Dean, Sam and Castiel tensed up when they heard curses coming over the line.
"They're here!"
*Get them!*
cut
Haruven frowned and cursed a Chitauri out of the sky. Hulk grabbed the Chitauri only to slam him into the ground. Thor was holding his own against them, and as far as Haruven could hear over the com-link everyone was still alive and kicking.
*Where are they all coming from?!* Wolverine snapped and Haruven heard the distinctive 'snict' of his claws cutting through metal.
*This is nothing compared to when we fought them last time,* Steve said.
Haruven growled when two Chitauri attacked him at the same time. Their putrid stench made him cringe. He tried not to breathe it in, but it was everywhere. A sword appeared in his hand and he decapitated one of them while he killed the other one with a well aimed Avada Kedavra.
*We're done here! Anyone need some assistance?* Cyclops said.
*We're being a bit overwhelmed here!* Sam's voice came over the com-link and Haruven's heart skipped a beat.
"Thor!" he turned around in time to see Thor and Hulk take down the last of their group.
*On it!* Clark's voice came over the line.
*Damn it, man! Try not to aim too close to my head!* Dean snapped and Haruven broke into a run, closely followed by Thor and Hulk.
*What the fuck?!* Wolverine cursed and Haruven's heart skipped a beat.
"Haruven!" Thor pulled Haruven down in time for them to avoid a Chitauri falling smack into them.
*Guys, we have company!* Natasha snapped.
*And not of the bad kind!* Hawkeye added. Hulk roared when several military officers ran out of the woods and joined the fight.
"Didn't know we had a super hero gathering here!" one of them grinned, shooting down one of the Chitauri with a strange gun. He looked like a true soldier and seemed to be of higher rank by the markings on his uniform.
"We didn't know there was a military base here!" Haruven called out.
"Haruven!" Said man turned on his heel when he recognized a man that once visited the Café.
"Doctor Jackson?!" Haruven's eyes narrowed in surprise and he received a sheepish grin from the scientist.
"Long time no see!" Daniel greeted, wincing and ducking when the high ranking officer pulled him to the side to shoot down another Chitauri.
*Tighten the ranks! They are becoming desperate!* Steve's voice came over the link and Haruven nodded.
"Let's end this!" he snapped and his magic danced around him.
"Well, at least someone knows what the hell's going on here!" The higher ranking officer said and signaled the others to follow them.
Haruven threw Thor and Hulk a glance, checking them over. They were both uninjured and barely winded. 'Easy,' he thought and his heart clenched, 'too easy.'
"Ven!" he looked up when Steve, Tony, Clint and Natasha caught up with them. They looked somewhat dusty and winded but otherwise uninjured.
"Am I the only one who thinks this was too easy?!" Logan ran over to them.
"Logan, duck!" Haruven snapped, jumped over Logan who threw himself on the ground and Ven impaled his sword in the neck of another Chitauri.
"Damn, man, where did you learn to move like that?!" Iceman froze another Chitauri.
"The Bifröst isn't open so where the hell are they all coming from?!" Natasha snapped.
"Bifröst?" Dr. Jackson asked and everyone looked at him.
*A little help here!* Batgirl snapped over the line.
"Yes, Bifröst," Haruven said knowing Dr. Jackson didn't need much explaining.
"They came through the Stargate," said a woman officer with short blond hair.
"Stargate?" Steve asked, but he didn't have much time to wonder about anything, because two Chitauri jumped him from behind, forcing him to deal with them quickly.
Hulk roared when they finally caught up with everyone. They jumped into a group of Chitauri and tore them apart, thus stopping them from trapping Sam, Dean and Castiel.
"Dictavit aequalitas!" Haruven roared and a huge green dome surrounded everyone, keeping the Chitauri outside.
"Handy," Robin murmured and Haruven threw him a small smirk.
"You were saying something about a Stargate." Haruven turned on the military group.
"I think you should tell us who the heck you are first." The commanding officer drawled and Dr. Jackson rolled his eyes.
"You don't ask for someone's name if you're not willing to share," Wolverine growled and raised his hands, his claws shining in the electric light of the shield.
"Jack O'Neil. This is my team, SG-1; Daniel Jackson, Samantha Carter and Teal'c. You are?" Jack drawled, sneering at Wolverine, who had no qualms about giving as much as he got, and only Rogue's hand on Logan's shoulder stopped him from advancing on Jack.
"Earth's mightiest heroes," Tony stated sarcastically when his visor snapped open and Jack rolled his eyes.
"What happened? We've received readings of the Bifröst opening," Haruven said and winced when a Chitauri fired at the Dome. "What's the Stargate? Are they still coming through?"
"It's a portal with which you can travel between planets," Daniel explained quickly. "These Chitauri managed to open it from the other side. We weren't ready. They somehow passed through the Iris. We didn't stand a chance. They are still passing through and right now we have no way of closing the Gate."
"But from where?" Natasha asked.
"There's a secret base under the mountain," Samantha said. "Right now it's swarming with these things."
"We need to close that Gate." Cyclops said.
"We'll split…" the words passing Haruven's lips turned into a choked up grunt and he bent forward slightly making Thor hasten to his side.
"What is it?" Thor asked when Haruven winced.
"This is a dome of equality," he pressed out breathlessly. "Every time they come close to cracking it I feel the burn."
"We'll stay here and fight." Dean said. "Ven, Thor, Hulk, you three have the best chances of cutting through their ranks towards that Gate. Close it, destroy it, do whatever it takes. We'll handle it here."
Haruven nodded and looked at Jack and his men. "Which one of you will take us through?"
"I will. I know the fastest way," Daniel offered and Haruven nodded.
"Clark, you're coming with us. I want you on Daniel like white on rice." Haruven said and Clark nodded while Daniel blushed to the roots of his hair. "Move out!" Haruven snapped and the dome fell.
Hulk roared and smacked away the Chitauri that rushed at them. Haruven stood to the back with Clark and Daniel in the middle, while Thor and Hulk slammed the Chitauri out of their way.
"Take a sharp right!" Daniel snapped and Haruven slashed through a Chitauri that attacked them from the back. They entered the underground base and Haruven's heart sunk when he saw the many bodies of men and woman lying around along with the dead Chitauri. He strengthened his shields as they ran through the base with Clark, Hulk and Thor killing Chitauri left, right and center.
"Left!" Daniel snapped and yelped when Haruven pulled him to the side. Clark tore off a Chitauri's head and the whole mountain shook when Thor slammed his hammer into the ground, sending a wave of thunder in front of them to clear their path.
They reached a blown up door and Haruven cursed when Clark pulled both Daniel and him on the ground while Hulk grabbed two Chitauri and slammed them into the wall.
"In there!" Daniel cried out, pointing at the torn out door.
"Thor! With me!" Ven called out. Clark nodded at him as he took a protective stance in front of Daniel and Hulk roared in what was almost joy when more Chitauri came through.
Haruven ran over to Thor and they entered the room only to stop in their tracks.
"A Chappa'ai?" Thor gasped in stunned amazement and Haruven looked at him.
"What?"
"Not now, love. We must destroy it as quickly as possible," Thor blurted out Haruven nodded, turning to the gate.
"How do you plan to destroy it?!" Daniel called out to them while Hulk and Clark fought the oncoming Chitauri. "I can't say we didn't try."
"Just watch us." Haruven's eyes glowed. A smirk covered his face and Thor returned it with an excited grin.
"Ready when you are," Thor said, taking a firm hold of his hammer and Haruven nodded.
"Just keep them away from me for 30 seconds." Thor smirked and spun Mjölnir skillfully. Haruven closed his eyes and clasped his hands in front of himself.
"Obsecro te voco duodecim deos protege. Descende de vobis caelestia portum. Dona mihi virtutem tueri. Dona mihi virtutem perdat." (I summon thee and beseech thee twelve gods that protect me. Descend from your heavenly haven. Grant me the power to protect. Grant me the power to destroy.) Haruven's eyes snapped open and everything stilled when a wave of raw, uncontained power burst from him.
"Good God..." Daniel gasped and slid down the wall as Haruven's power started manifesting around him in glowing, emerald tendrils.
"Dele illud quod sequitur discordia mundo. Pluvia caelestia vindicta! Interitus Gladio!" (Destroy that, which brings discord to the world. Rain heavenly vengeance! Sword of Destruction!) Ven's power exploded around him and the Chitauri screeched. Hulk roared and pulled Clark and Daniel under himself to protect them while Thor jumped to stand behind Haruven. A black pillar of power shot towards the roof before Haruven spread his arms in a wide arch and the pillar descended upon the gates. Everyone was blinded by white light.
When everything stopped all Daniel and Clark could do was gape. The Stargate was split in two as well as a good part of the wall and mountain behind it.
"I might have gone over the top a bit," Haruven murmured as he rubbed his hands together before he flicked a few strands of hair which fell out of the tight braid over his shoulder.
"Over the top a bit?!" Daniel cried out and everyone looked at him. "That – That was overkill!"
Haruven shrugged. "I guess they'll have to change the topological maps a bit."
Thor snorted and shook his head. "Remind me to run as far away as possible if I anger you to the point of you wanting to use that."
Haruven chuckled and looked over. "Let's go back," he spoke, doing his best not to show how he felt. His heart was heavy and there was a pile of acid in his throat, and the mere thought that they would have to walk down the same hallways they passed through made Haruven feel as though a mountain settled on his back.
*Yo, Haruven!* Dean's voice came over the com-link. *Tell us that was you, man, because that was some fricking powerful magic.*
Haruven chuckled sadly and shook his head. "Don't worry, Dean. That was me. How are things on your side?"
*I'll take a wild guess and say that the Asgardians just mangled the last of Chitauri.* Dean drawled making Thor roll his eyes with a smirk full of fondness while Clark chuckled and Haruven sighed.
"The Stargate is destroyed. If it doesn't have any regenerative abilities we're safe for now."
"It doesn't." Daniel's voice overlapped with Jack's, Samantha's and Teal'c's from the other side of the com-link.
"Good. Go for the jets. We're going home," Haruven said as they moved towards the exit of the base.
*Do we take O'Neil and his men with us?* Natasha asked.
"They're coming with us," Haruven answered, sparing a glance for Daniel who wiggled his fingers at Ven with a sheepish grin. "They have a few things to explain."
*You're the one to talk.* Jack grumbled and Haruven snorted.
"See you at the Avengers Tower," Haruven said and ended the conversation.
"That was some power." Daniel commented as they walked down the ruined hallway, doing their best ignore the bodies of everyone that lost their lives during the attack of the Chitauri.
"Haruven is a Wizard; a very powerful Wizard," Thor said and Haruven snorted.
'And yet that wasn't enough," Ven thought, fisting his hands by his sides. 'We aren't ready. We aren't anywhere near ready.'
cut
"Let me recap." Everyone looked at Jack. "Two years ago you fought these Chitauri and your brother who was leading them, and won." Jack pointed at Thor who raised an eyebrow at him. "You are from Asgard and you're gods. Your brother, Loki, was imprisoned in the dungeons of Asgard until about two months ago. He kidnapped Sigurdsson, who's a Wizard, and now you're gathering an Army, calling in Heroes left, right and center to help you defeat Loki and the Chitauri."
"That is basically it," Haruven said and crossed his arms over his chest. "Although we have no actual idea who we're fighting. When Loki kidnapped me, he mentioned them several times. I don't know who they are but it seems to me that Loki's answering to someone."
"Did the white of his eyes glow?" Daniel asked and everyone looked at him.
"Does this have anything with the Goa'uld you've told us about?" Steve asked and Daniel nodded, resting back in his chair as he crossed his arms over his chest. .
"Yes. When they possess a human the most obvious sign is that the white of their eyes glows and their voices are distorted."
"Loki's eyes glowed blue," Haruven said with a frown and the Avengers looked at him.
"What did you say?" Thor asked weakly and Haruven looked at him in confusion.
"I said that Loki's eyes glowed blue. It was – It was like a thin blue film over his eyes." Thor swallowed difficultly and took a seat while the rest of the Avengers exchanged glances. Haruven looked first at the others before he kneeled to Thor's left, placing his hands on Thor's left thigh as he looked up at the God who had covered his eyes with his right hand. "Thor, what is it?"
"Clint's eyes glowed blue when he was being controlled by Loki," Natasha answered and Haruven looked at her. "So did Sif's."
"Does that mean – does that mean Loki's being controlled?" Thor asked and lowered his hand to look at his friends. His eyes were filled with hope and Haruven covered Thor's left hand with his own smaller one. He didn't need the bond to know that Thor was upset. His whole body was shivering and every muscle in that strong body was tense.
"Thor, we'll find a way to free him," Haruven whispered reassuringly. "If he is indeed controlled by someone we will do everything in our power to break that control."
"That raises the question if they've controlled Loki the first time he attacked Earth with the Chitauri," Bruce spoke up, rubbing his chin with his right hand, gaze focused on the table they were sitting around.
"What color are his eyes usually?" Wayne asked.
"Green," Thor said. "His eyes are lake green."
"They controlled him even then," Natasha said. "That would explain the change in him when you were taking him back to Asgard! If I remember correctly Hulk beat him up pretty good. He must have hit his head then. The control is broken after that."
"But it can't explain the fact that he turned against everyone again," Steve countered.
"Maybe he doesn't have the will to fight it off," Haruven suggested and everyone looked at him.
"Why do you think so?" Clark asked and Haruven stood up.
"I need a volunteer," Ven spoke and a wand appeared in his hand making everyone exchange worried glances even though they leaned forward in interest.
"Can I help you?" Bruce asked and Haruven smiled at him.
"Not you. I don't know how Hulk will react to a mind control spell."
"Mind control spell?" Natasha asked and Haruven nodded.
"It's difficult for me to explain it. I learned the Mind Controlling Arts on my own. It would be best if I showed you," Haruven explain with an almost careless shrug, doing his best to ignore Thor's wary gaze following Haruven's every move.
"I volunteer then." Natasha stood up. Haruven smiled at her gently and nodded.
"Thank you." He raised his wand and his eyes hardened. "Imperio!" a white beam hit Natasha straight in her chest. Her eyes glazed over and adopted a strange sheen, her irises turning a darker shade of blue. Her hand moved and she gripped her gun, aiming the barrel straight at Haruven's head, her finger settling without any hesitation on the trigger.
"Natasha?" Clint called out weakly, already on his feet with hands reaching towards the woman, and a small smile tugged on Haruven's lips when Natasha's hand started to shiver.
"What are you doing?!" Steve cried out and jumped to his feet when Natasha's hand trembled harder, although her finger started to press on the trigger.
"Stop it!" Bruce cried out, frozen in his place.
"Are you insane?!" Jack snapped.
"She'll kill you!" Samantha whimpered.
"Haruven, duck!" Thor cried out and jumped forward just as one single gunshot echoed through the room, heavy, strained silence following with foreboding horror.
"Finite." Haruven said and Natasha gasped in a breath, her eyes widening in terror. "See?" Haruven said and a single long strand of hair fell on the ground. A thin cut appeared on Ven's left cheek only to disappear a second later. "All you need is will."
"I would have killed you," Natasha gasped as he fell into her chair, the gun falling out of her hand, and Clint kneeled beside her, covering her trembling hands with his own.
"I wouldn't have ordered you to do that if I didn't know you wouldn't." Ven answered and his wand disappeared, Natasha's eyes widening and trembling subsiding when she heard the certainty in Ven's voice. "Every mind control spell works for as long as the one being controlled has a weaker will than the one casting the spell. Had any part of you wanted to kill me, you wouldn't have been able to stop yourself."
"You trust me that much?" Natasha asked and Haruven chuckled. His eyes darkened and he tilted his head to the side.
"Trust me, Natasha. Had I doubted any of you for a second you wouldn't even know about me. One flick of my wand, one single little word and you wouldn't even remember I exist. All you would remember is some non-descriptive guy you wanted to kill. No name, no face; nothing."
"So..." Thor hesitated and cleared his throat. He was still somewhat terrified of what could have happened, but he had reacted only because his instinct got the better of him. During the whole escapade the only feelings Thor received from Haruven were those of reassurance and complete trust. Never the less, it was a horrible experience and one no one wanted to repeat. "So what you want to tell us is that, for some reason, Loki doesn't have the will necessary for the control to break completely."
"Yes," Haruven nodded at Thor in confirmation. "Clint and Sif are fine. There are no traces of the control over them. As much as I understand whichever way they are controlling Loki is much like the Imperio. I could have placed Natasha under a permanent Imperio. No one would even notice I was controlling her. She would act completely normal, but in fact would be doing exactly what I tell her to do. Since her will was stronger than mine, she managed to fight off the order to kill me. This spell is considered one of the Three Unforgivable Curses."
"Three Unforgivable Curses?" Daniel asked and Haruven nodded.
"Imperius; the spell you've just witnessed. It robs you of your free will. The only reason why anyone is allowed to use it is to save someone's life, and even then they need to have a special license from the Ministry. Cruciatus; a curse that makes you feel the kind of pain nothing can cause." He shivered at that and his eyes dulled. "It feels as though your bones are burning and your heart is constantly being stabbed by thousands of thin needles, and sharp claws are tearing you apart. It can drive you insane if you're held under it for long enough. Being tortured by the gem Loki put around my neck to keep my magic inside me came pretty damn close to it."
"Ven…" Thor spoke but Haruven raised his hand and stopped him.
"The last Unforgivable curse is Avada Kedavra," Haruven said and for some reason everyone shivered. "The Killing Curse. Two Words. Two simple, easy words and you drop dead. There is only one person in the world known to have survived the curse. A single ray of green light with enough killing intent and you're dead. I could give any one of you my wand and you could point it at me and say those words. I probably wouldn't even feel it. It takes so much raw hatred, such a desire to kill that it's terrifying, but once you manage to perform it - after the first time you cast that spell it – it becomes easy. The feeling of easily taking a life, the simple knowledge that with two words your enemy can no longer be a problem – it's – it's intoxicating." By this time Haruven was pale and his eyes were haunted and hollow.
"Ven..." Thor placed his hand on Haruven's, squeezing it tightly. Haruven looked at him and his eyes cleared, a quiet gasp passing Ven's parted lips.
"Just how many times did you use it?" Sam asked and Haruven looked at him with a sad, almost sardonic smile.
"Enough times to condemn my soul forever," Haruven answered in a strained, raspy voice.
"You've never killed an innocent." Castiel stated in full certainty and Haruven chuckled, shaking his head.
"Innocence is a complex term, Castiel." Haruven said. "I've killed people that followed evil men because they didn't know otherwise, and yet had I not killed them, they would have killed my teammates and friends. I've killed children that were seduced by promises of power and wealth by a monstrous man. With or without that Curse, I've taken so many lives I wouldn't even know where to start counting."
"You had to." Clark said. He was one of the rare ones who Haruven told about his youth when he came to the Café. "You were a soldier who was fighting a war. People die in a war, Ven."
Haruven snorted. "I never told you about the first time I took a life, did I?" everyone frowned at that.
"You told me the war started when you were 15-…"
"I was 11." Haruven interrupted Clark and everyone's eyes widened at that. "I was a child; nowhere near old enough to fight for my life, let alone fight at all, and yet I killed a man. I was twelve when I killed a giant snake. I was 14 when I watched a 17 year old boy die by the same curse that killed my parents. I was 15 when my godfather was killed in front of me because of a stupid mistake I made. I was 16 when my mentor, the man I considered not only a father figure, but the only thing that gave me strength to fight, died to protect me."
Words kept pouring off of Ven's lips even though his body was tense and it seemed as though he was trying to stop himself from speaking, but couldn't. His arms were rapped around his waist, hands fisted in the sleeves of his shirt, and he was visibly trembling.
"Ever since I was born death followed me. I've walked with it side by side. I've become the Master Of Death. Trust me, Castiel. If I ever die, my soul will find no place in Heaven. Just like the saying goes: The road to hell is paved with good intentions. I've done horrible things for the sake of justice and all that is good. I've killed for the greater good. I know what waits for me no matter how many people I've saved and how many I've helped." Haruven swallowed, licked his lips and bowed his head refusing to look at anyone. "Excuse me." He left the room. The door closed behind him and silence settled over the gathered men and women.
"He has problems with self-esteem," Jack drawled, first one to speak, and everyone looked at him. "What?! As much as I understand he was a soldier. Soldiers are forced to kill or be killed. He either has a hero-complex the size of the Milky Way or problems with grasping the concept of 'fighting for your life'."
"He's a RED classified, former Special Agent," Wayne said. "I've managed to read some of his black taped missions. I dare to say he saved the world several times without anyone knowing. I'd put my money on the Hero-Complex."
"And lack of appreciation," Rogue said. "He's tearing himself apart with guilt over something he couldn't change."
"Thor?" Steve called out and Thor looked at him.
"He wants to be alone for a while," Thor said, taking a seat with a sigh before he rubbed his face with his hands. "I will talk with him when he calms down. I can feel his anger."
"I doubt today's fight helped with his mind set," Samantha said. "If I've evaluated him correctly, the sight of our Base must have made him feel guilty."
"We've lost many today," Teal'c said. "We weren't ready for an invasion."
"That's not his fault though!" Dick stressed out receiving various glances, some understanding and others dry with sarcasm and irony.
"We all fought and killed," Warren added.
"He's a Hero!" Bobby insisted, looking for confirmation from the others his age who all nodded enthusiastically.
"Dun matter," Rogue said and everyone looked at her. "He dun see himself as a Hero."
"And that's why he is one." Everyone looked at Wayne. "Because he sees everything he's done as a sin, he will never stray. Someone once told me that you either die a Hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain."
"Haruven once told me that if you scratch the surface of any Hero you'll find a monster lurking beneath," Bruce said. "I guess it's safe to say he sees the monster lurking under his skin."
"He is no monster!" Rogue snapped.
"You're right." Thor said and everyone looked at him. "Haruven is not a monster. He doesn't see that, but if enough people show him that he might start to believe it."
"People back in England must have been afraid of him," Steve said and everyone nodded.
"So all we have to do is show him we're not afraid," Sam concluded.
"He'll never believe that." Everyone was surprised when a small smile tugged at Castiel's lips and his gaze grew warm. "For that reason only he will never become a monster. Because of that he will always be a Hero."
"So we should just leave him be?" Clint asked, frowning in confusion.
"No." Tony spoke as he rubbed his chin with his fingers. "We just continue treating him the way we already do. Maybe one day he'll stop blaming himself for everything and maybe he won't, but as long as there's someone around who won't fear him…"
"Then he will never lose himself." Hogun finished.
"Thor?" Bruce called out when Thor's eyes dulled.
"I'm going to him," Thor spoke up, gaze clearing as he stood up and glanced at everything. "He's in the training room. Stay away from it, alright? He needs to vent."
"We'll stay as far away from it as possible. I've seen enough for a while," Daniel said and everyone else nodded in agreement.
"Thank you." Thor left.
Once the door closed behind Thor, Tony sighed and slid in his chair. "I guess we'll get no dinner today."
"Tony!"
cut
Thor entered the training room and the door closed behind him.
"Jarvis, I need you to raise the strongest shields around the room you can."
"As you wish, sir." Jarvis answered and Thor walked towards the center of the room where Haruven was sitting on the ground cross-legged and with hunched shoulders.
"I felt your troubles," Thor said and Haruven stood up slowly. His wand appeared in his hand and Thor detached Mjölnir from his belt. Haruven's head was bowed and his whole body was tense. Thor took a few steps back and Haruven crouched low, his wand at the ready.
"I'm sorry for this," Haruven whispered and Thor's lips tilted into a smile full of understanding and sadness.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," he answered warmly and Haruven forced down a swallow, his grip on the Elder Wand tightening.
"Come at me."
cut
"Fuck!" Jack snapped as the Tower shook again. "They're gonna bring the Tower down!" He cradled his glass of gin to his chest, watchful of the drink.
"They won't," Bruce said turning another page in his book, acting utterly unconcerned, although on the inside he was doing his best to reassure Hulk that there was no immediate danger. "If you're so worried, maybe you should go with the others to Starborn. Many left already."
"I want to talk with Sigurdsson before we leave," Jack answered and took a long gulp of his drink, fearing it would spill with the next surge.
Bruce shook his head with a snort. "You won't see him today. He and Thor won't show up anymore."
"Are they like together?" Samantha asked and Bruce raised an eyebrow at her.
The Tower shook again, and the SG-1 team tensed up while the others merely grabbed their drinks to steady them.
"They are married by all rights," Bruce answered with a slight upturn of his lips.
"Oh." Samantha blushed brightly. "They look – they look good together."
"Don't they?" Sam looked up when Pepper and Tony entered the living room. "Pepper Stark." The two women shook hands before Pepper moved on to Jack, Daniel and Teal'c. "Tony already told me what happened. I just hope the shields you two placed around the training room will hold. I don't want to rebuild the Tower," Pepper commented, and Bruce and Tony snorted.
"Even if the shields won't hold Ven will never lose control that much," Bruce said.
"You sound certain." Teal'c said and Bruce shrugged.
"Haruven has problems, just like everyone. But unlike many he knows how to control them." The tower shook again and a few glasses fell and broke.
"He won't break the Tower, but he will break everything inside it," Tony grumbled.
"You know he'll fix it." Pepper said. She didn't even wince when yet another set of glasses fell and joined by a vase. "Or he'll buy new ones."
Tony and Bruce snorted. "I bet you a twenty he'll buy new ones." Bruce offered his hand to Tony while Jack, Daniel, Teal'c and Samantha exchanged glances.
"I bet you a fifty he'll fix them; guilt and all that." Bruce shook hands with Tony.
"You got yourself a deal." Bruce smirked, and Pepper sighed and rolled her eyes, while the SG team only stared at them wondering what they've gotten themselves into.
cut
'I should have done better!' Haruven raged at himself as he dodged Thor's attack and attacked right back. 'Why didn't I know about the Cheyenne Base?!' he ducked and rolled sending a rain of rocks at Thor the moment he was back on his feet. 'I'm supposed to be the Guardian of Earth! The Guardian of the Sanctuary! I'm supposed to know such things!' tears stung his eyes and pain burst in his heart. 'Because of my negligence hundreds died today! Because of MY STUPIDITY!'
Thor's breath hitched in his throat when Haruven's pain washed over him and his beloved screamed as his power erupted out of him. The room shook and Thor almost lost his footing. He steeled his stance and ran over to Haruven.
"Ven!" he grabbed Haruven and pushed him against the closest wall.
"I should have known!" Haruven shouted, hands fisting on Thor's shoulders and he looked in Thor's eyes.
"You cannot know everything!" Thor snapped and Haruven shook his head.
"I'm supposed to be the guardian of this world!" Haruven growled. "I'm supposed to protect them all! How can I protect them if I don't know something?!"
Thor was pushed away when Haruven attacked him.
"How am I supposed to redeem myself when I allow people to die?!"
Thor dodged the first physical attack Haruven performed since they started to spar. He deflected Haruven's fist and caught the other one.
"How am I supposed to make things right if I fail in everything I do?!"
"Haruven!"
"How?!" Haruven roared and in that moment Thor caught his chance. He caught Haruven's fist in his, flipped Ven on his back and trapped him under himself. Haruven's wand and Mjölnir lay forgotten a few feet away from them.
Both men were breathing hard. A thin layer of sweat was on their skin and their cheeks were flushed. Thor was holding Haruven's hands above his head with his hands, looking down at him with an understanding gaze.
"You couldn't have stopped it," Thor spoke in full conviction. "You cannot know everything, sváss. You cannot save everyone."
"I should be able to!" Haruven screamed and managed to throw Thor off of himself. The air snapped and hissed around Haruven as they faced each other. "I should be able to save everyone! What use is all this power, countless titles, all the sacrifices I've made if I can't save anyone! Tell me! Why do I have to watch everyone around me die!? WHY?!" suddenly Ven found himself against a wall with Thor's stormy eyes gazing into his strictly.
Ven tried to push him away, but all of a sudden he found himself weak. His emotions got the better of him. His heart was aching, his breath was coming short, his eyes were filling with tears and it felt like his heart would burst right out of his chest.
"You can't save everyone, Haruven." Ven's breath hitched in his throat. "No matter how much you try, no matter how much you know, you cannot save everyone."
"But why?" he gasped and Thor cupped Ven's cheek roughly and kissed him making their teeth clash with the force.
"Because you're not supposed to." Thor's lips on Haruven's muffled the scream of pleasure Haruven let go when Thor roughly snapped his hips against Haruven's.
Thor growled when Haruven's nails dug into his shoulders, feeling them even through the thick material of his shirt. He grabbed Haruven's hips with a bruising force and hooked his thighs on his hips, buckling against Haruven with more strength than necessary. Haruven threw his head back and gasped when Thor bit into the sensitive skin on his neck, definitely leaving a mark.
"You are not supposed to save everyone." Thor growled as he let go of Haruven so that his feet hit the ground. He grabbed the wizard and turned him around quickly. Haruven tried to push himself away from the wall, but Thor grabbed his hands and raised them over Haruven's head. He held them there with one hand while he reached around Haruven's waist and unbuttoned his pants with the other.
"You are not responsible for every single human out there, Ven."
"Thor…"
"And I am going to say it as many times as it is necessary, until you finally believe me." He grabbed Haruven's straining need and pumped as he thrust against Haruven's ass. Haruven rested his forehead against the wall, unable to connect his thoughts into coherent sentences. His pants met the floor together with his boxers and he threw his head back and screamed in both pain and pleasure when Thor's saliva coated fingers entered him.
"Thor – Please…" he groaned and bucked against the wall when Thor hit his prostate and his fingers disappeared. "Thor-…" whatever he wanted to say turned into a scream when Thor entered him in on swift thrust. The rhythm was relentless; the strength of each thrust made Haruven hit the wall in front of him. He was practically standing on his tip toes and Thor slammed into him, tearing him apart with each strong thrust. His heart felt as though it would burst, his nails scratched the wall and he tried to hold back the huge pressure of pleasure that was building in the pit of his stomach.
All of a sudden Thor pulled out of him and turned him around. The God of Thunder kissed Ven, grabbed his thighs, hefted him up, slammed him back against the wall and entered him again, making him scream into Thor's mouth.
"You'll never doubt yourself again." Thor hissed against Haruven's ear. Haruven wrapped his arms around Thor's shoulders and his legs around Thor's waist, burying his face in his neck as Thor fucked him hard against the wall. His cock was trapped between their rock hard stomachs and the friction was pushing him towards the edge.
"You'll never question yourself again." The rumble of Thor's voice reverberated through Haruven's body, sending waves of pleasure all over him.
"You'll never think yourself weak again!" Haruven screamed his release and arched against Thor. The clenching of his tight heat pushed Thor over the edge and he filled Haruven with his seed. Thor leaned against the wall as Haruven's legs slid down his thighs.
Both were breathing heavily as they came down from the high.
"You'll never doubt yourself again, min líf." Thor whispered. "Never again."
cut
Thor swallowed with slight difficulties as he caressed Haruven's cheek. The slightly smaller man was asleep and Thor was sitting on the edge of their bed, keeping watch over him.
"You are thinking too loudly," Haruven mumbled and Thor twitched.
"I thought you were asleep." Haruven winced as he tried to turn on his back. "I am sorry. I was too rough on you."
Haruven snorted opening his beautiful eyes to look at Thor. "It was exactly what I needed." Thor frowned, thinking Haruven was just trying to comfort him. Haruven reached up and cupped Thor's cheek, gifting him with a small, tender smile. "Don't worry so much about me."
Thor turned his head to the side and kissed Haruven's palm. "How can I not worry about you? I fear more your heart and love towards everyone will harm you than our enemies." Haruven's eyes saddened at that and he tried to turn on his back again only for a sharp sting of pain to run up his back. "Wait a second," Thor said and stood up. He walked into the bathroom and found the oil his mother gifted him with a long time ago. It helped with muscle cramps and lighter injuries. He returned into the bedroom and took a seat on the bed under Haruven's watchful gaze.
"What is that?"
"Something I've used before when I would pull a muscle or get lightly injured during training," Thor said. "Stay on your side." Thor lied down behind Haruven and pushed Ven's right leg to the side as he uncapped the bottle.
Haruven sighed when the scent of jasmine, chamomile and lilies filled the air. Thor dipped his fingers in the oil and Haruven winced when Thor's fingers probed against his abused entrance. A moment later he relaxed. "It works quickly," he muttered and Thor chuckled.
"Mother makes these oils. I might ask her to make more. They are good for first aid." Haruven nodded and sighed again. Thor rubbed the oil deeper and deeper and Haruven moaned lowly.
"Does this lead to something?" he spoke in a low, raspy voice and Thor chuckled.
"Just because it makes you feel better doesn't mean you're ready for another round." Haruven sighed in slight disappointment. Thor pulled his fingers out and wiped them clean of the oil on his trousers. He closed the bottle and placed it on the nightstand. He lied down beside Haruven and pulled him against his chest. Haruven sighed when Thor entwined their legs together and pulled a cover over both of them.
They lay in silence for a while, their entwined fingers resting on Haruven's stomach and breathing almost as one.
"I'm sorry," Haruven whispered after a while and Thor frowned slightly.
"About what?"
"For breaking like that," Haruven whispered. "I just – I don't know what came over me."
Thor pulled him even closer and kissed his shoulder. "Everyone is entitled to make mistakes. Everyone is entitled to break. What matters is that you can pick yourself up and just keep going. Even though you're perfect to me just the way you are, you are still human. Just like me, you aren't perfect. We all have our flaws. You are strong where I am weak, and you are weak where I am strong. That is why we can make it. Because together we are perfect." Haruven squeezed his eyes tightly shut as tears stung them, and squeezed Thor's hand.
"Thank you, love." He whispered and Thor kissed his shoulder again. "Thank you."
cut
Support and understanding are the most important parts of a relationship, don't you think?