Vali and Father

When Vali opened his eyes the monster that tore him apart in his dreams was staring right back at him.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Vali screamed as loud as he could, he struggled and clawed his way out of the monster's clutches. The monster let him go in shock, he fell and scrambled away backwards. He looked up and saw he left three bleeding scratch marks on the monster's face. Vali pulled his legs up to his chest using one arm to hug them closer and used the other to cover his head. Vali started to tremble uncontrollably, he hugged himself tighter together.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry," Vali sobbed and went off into incoherent gibbering. The only thing Vali could hear was himself crying and wailing.

"Everyone," The monster said. "Get out."

"Loki do you think that's a good idea I mean what if-"

"GET OUT NOW." Father roared, Vali's eyes were squeezed shut but he could hear the sounds of people running out of the room. Oh gods, they were leaving him to suffer. Lady Ember was leaving him to suffer.

You see now you fool, she never cared. You were a fool...

She left me. She left me!

There's no running now, you hurt Father, now he is going to make you suffer even more.

No no no no no.

Vali heard footsteps rushing towards him.

"Ember," Father said. "I said for you to get away."

Lady Ember is here, she will laugh at you while you are punished.

No no no not her too not her to- Vali flinched when he felt pressure surround him, it took him a moment to realize he was in someones embrace.

"Ember what are you doing?" Father asked slowly.

"Shhh, it's alright. It's alright, shhh. Vali you're okay, you're okay. Nothing is going to hurt you. I promise." Lady Ember whispered.

I promise.

Vali didn't make a sound except for the occasional hiccup as lady Ember stroked his hair. He finally opened his eyes and looked up, lady Ember smiled gently down at him. His breathing calmed and he leaned into her closing his eyes again, she only held him tighter.

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I quietly walked up behind Loki,

"Why did he scream? He, he looked at me like I was a monster." Loki said said softly.

"I was trying to warn you, when we talked to him he was, well, absolutely terrified to talk about you." I confessed, it made me sad to see the look on his face.

"Do you know why?"

"He apparently thinks that you're going to hurt him or something. I think he's afraid that you're mad at him for uh, killing Nari." I mumbled.

"That is absurd! Vali is my son!" Loki hissed, I was slightly concerned for my safety when I saw that his hands started to glow.

"And one more thing," I said tentatively, "From what I saw, it looks like Vali, um, cuts."

"What?" Something left Loki's eyes right then, his hands stopped glowing and he knelt in front of Vali and Ember. Ember watched him warily as Loki took his son's hands in his own. Vali's eyes popped open and he struggled to get away but he was trapped between the two of them.

"Please no, please no." Vali whimpered and it broke my heart to see someone so afraid.

"Vali," Loki said gently, "Vali whatever you may think, I swear the greatest of oaths that I do love you. You are my son and I would do anything in the universe to make sure you were safe."

"No, you lie! You hate me for killing your son Nari! You will always hate me!" Vali shreeched.

"Never could anything be more wrong! I love you Vali, I have been so worried for you after you disappeared. I have always hoped you have stayed safe, and now that you are here I can make sure you will forever stay that way. And once we find your brother we will once again be a happy family."

"Nari is dead! And I killed him!" Vali protested.

"Okay, A, not your fault." I said not being able to stand by anymore. "And B, Nari is not in fact dead. Well, not anymore anyway."

"Huh?"

"Nari is alive Vali," Loki smiled, "He is alive. Now," Loki stood up and pulled up Vali with him. "Vali, are you going to stay with us here in the tower? Or are you going to run off again?"

"Yeah come on Val!" Ember grinned and stood up behind him, "It's gonna be fun."

Ember's encouragement seemed to make up Vali's mind because the next moment he whispered,

"Alright Father, I shall stay here with you."

"That is excellent Vali!" Loki smiled wider, "We shall have to get you a room, you look like you could use some rest."

"Yes Father." Vali mumbled, he was swaying on his feet and I helped to keep him up.

"Do you really think him being on his own the first night is a good idea?" Ember said to me, she had a point.

"He will stay in my room." Loki said, I shook my head.

"I don't think that's a good idea." I said, Vali was leaning fully on me now and Ember had to help me out.

"Then where do you propose?"

"How about we all hang out in Chilly's room?" Ember suggested, I shrugged, yeah why not?

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Ember stood as Chilly opened the door, she was talking to the sleepy Vali.

"So yeah that's what happened when I got turned into a cat, not including what you did earlier which was cool by the way. But why did you trap us like tha- ACKKKKKK" Ember gasped but then stifled a giggle. A can of hot pink paint was now over Chilly's head and was getting all over her. Chilly seemed frozen for a while before sighing and taking the can off her head and wiping away the stuff.

"That's normal, by the way." Ember whispered to him, he looked like he wanted to laugh but looked unsure about it. Ember helped him decide but laughing loudly, Vali joined in soon after and Chilly turned to them.

"Oh hardy har har." Chilly muttered before magicking the paint away, Ember didn't think she'd ever get over how Chilly did that. Ember knew she could never do magic herself because of what Loki told her. Then she realized she didn't feel like summoning her scythe, which was the only magical thing she could do.

"Okay!" Chilly said clapping her hands once, "me and Ember get the king sized bed and Vali you can get..." She looked around the room and Ember frowned in disapproval.

"Chilly, don't you think Vali should get the bed and we can get the chairs or floor or something?" She suggested. Chilly crinkled her nose a bit as she eyed Vali who shuffled uncomfortably under her stare, she seemed to realize that and quickly said,

"That totally works, but first a shower and clean clothes."

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When Vali stepped out of the bathroom he felt amazing, he was clean and wearing some sweat pants and shirt. He looked around Lady Chilly's room and saw that lady Ember was settled on the couch with a pillow and blanket that was from a corner that was stacked in a corner. While lady Chilly was by the floor to ceiling windows, also with a pillow and blanket, her animals were with her, even though she assured him they were fine Vali felt uncomfortable around the dog. He walked over to the bed, he felt guilty for sleeping in it when the proper thing to do was made sure the ladies had it. But they had insisted that it was his until he had his own. He got under the covers and lady Ember got up to turn off the lights, the room was lit somewhat by the lights of the city.

"Night Val." Murmured lady Ember,

"Yeah good night Vali." Lady Chilly muttered after her, all three of them were exhausted and even though it was almost morning they had agreed to try and get as much sleep as possible. With in seconds Vali believed that the other two were asleep. Though no matter how hard he tried sleep would not come, he sat up as silently as he could, he then got a pillow than a blanket that was at the foot of the bed. He then walked over to where lady Ember was, laid down on the floor in front of the couch, and was asleep before he could even properly cover himself with the sheet.

Little did he know that lady Ember was smiling.

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Loki was sitting in front of Chilly's door. He didn't want his son to leave his sight for a moment, for fear that he would disappear for years again. Mulling it over he opened the door and peeked in, the light from the windows was enough for him to see that everything was just fine, he smiled to himself and silently walked in. He picked up a conveniently placed blanket and pillow, and took a spot on the room's floor, laid down and slept.

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Thor was concerned for his returned nephew. Thor walked to Chilly's room where Vali was supposed to be sleeping, he slowly walked in and saw that already four people occupied the room, one of which was his brother. Thor smiled, got his pillow and blanket, and got his own spot on the carpet.

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Clint and Natasha were going into Chilly's room to check in on Vali.

"Clint, I know you're worried about this kid Vali, but he'll be fine."

"I know Nat, I just don't like seeing kids being scared. Considering the childhood I've had I'm not surprised." Clint muttered, "And did you see how terrified he was? I just want to make sure he's okay." Natasha placed a hand on his shoulder as they looked into Chilly's room.

"Looks like Vali has company already." Natasha whispered, she grabbed two pillows and one blanket. "What's two more?"

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Bruce thought for a moment outside Chilly's room. He had seen Vali and saw that he needed medical attention, not immediately necessary, but he should still be kept an eye on. Bruce opened the door and was surprised at what he saw, he smiled and walked in to join them. Taking a pillow and blanket.

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Tony's arms were crossed as he stood outside Chilly's door. That kid, Vali, had turned him into a mouse. A mouse. Him, the great Iron Man, and then Jayfeather had proceeded to try and eat him while he was a human. How messed up was that? Tony wanted to make sure Vali wouldn't do anything like that again. Tony pushed opened the door and took in the scene, Clint and Natasha were sleeping next to each other on the floor. Bruce was curled up near the bed, Thor had picked a spot somewhat next to Loki. Vali was by Ember who was on the couch, and Chilly was by the windows with Jayfeather and Bowtie.

"It's my tower, so my bed." Tony grumbled as he stalked across the room and got into the bed, he was soon asleep along with the others.

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Chilly turned over and opened her eyes a little, she was able to vaguely make out of few lumped figures on her floor and one even on her bed. But because she was so tired her mind didn't process what she was seeing so she just said, 'whatever' before rolling back over and back to sleep.

So here's an interesting question for you lovely people, what's your favorite zoo animal? (trust me it will all make sense in the next chapter :D)

And because you asked for it guess what folks? You get a chapter on Nari! (It won't be the next one but the one after that though but don't worry)

Flaming Crow : BECAUSE I AM MOFFAT AND I LOVE CLIFFS.

Avengerscrazygal : Don't worry, there won't be sex scenes and everything will be just fine ;)

LunaTheLonlyWolf : Honestly, I was just sitting around and coming up with a list for each of animals I could see them as and so that just kind of happened. (Clint was almost a snail)