Chapter 24: A Bit of Extra Help
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Fenrir was a strapping young man. He was older than Gandr by about a hundred years and he looked it, in that he was taller. He stood around 5'5" and was broad in the shoulders, where his brother was wiry. He appeared to be around twelve years old and was much more wary of everyone around him than his younger brother had been. His eyes darted everywhere, looking for foes in the shadows. He even looked to the ceiling and in the nooks and crannies there. He trusted no one, not even his father.
The only reason he had come with the man, was because he had released him from his prison. He had promised to keep him from Odin's sight and to give him a home with his siblings, bar Hel. So far, it was only Jormungandr, but that was a start. He was looking forward to meeting his youngest brother, Sleipnir, who he had only heard of in passing.
"Hello," Ivy said, coming up to him with no fear. "I'm Ivy Harriet Potter-Stark. I am so very happy to meet you," she said, putting one of her hands to his mouth. To which everyone gasped. Except Loki, who had done the same thing to get the wolf-boy to trust him enough to free him. It was the main way to get near him without getting your head bitten off. Especially when he was in wolf form. Now that he was in human form, it was a simple matter of being slow and cautious.
Fenrir didn't bite down on the hand, but he understood the gesture for what it was. He melted. His eyes got round and soft. His whole body relaxed for the child in front of him. Though he did keep his eyes on all the adults.
"Hello, Ivy," Fenrir said in his deeper voice. "I am Fenrir Lokison," he said, sniffing the air around her to capture her scent. He wanted to be able to find her anywhere in the world if he had to. She was special and he knew that from the minute he laid eyes on her.
"Oh, does that mean Gandr's last name is also Lokison?" Ivy asked, looking around. They never really got into it, and he never said what name he went under in school.
"Yes," Loki said, proudly. Fenrir took the name without prompting, while Jormungandr had had to be talked into it. His first born was proud to be his son, for all he didn't trust him. While his second child was still mad at him for his abandonment. Hel was neutral. Sleipnir was still so young, and he got to visit him on a regular basis when he lived in the palace that the horse-boy saw nothing wrong with his life. Loki wondered what his youngest child thought of his disappearance.
"Yay," Ivy said, clapping and jumping for a minute. "Will you be attending school with us?" she asked, looking at Fenrir. She hoped he did, she could always use more friends, though he looked like he would be a few grades above her. Even if she was taking advanced classes, she was still taking classes with kids her age.
"I think not," the boy said with a great deal of not quite wariness, more of delicate caution. "I do not do well around other people. I might hurt someone by accident," he explained to the little girl. "I have been greatly abused by those that were supposed to care for me. I know not my own strength," he added. He, of course, was referring to Odin and the other gods that had imprisoned him.
"Oh," was all she said, thinking hard on that. She remembered the stories of how he was captured and trapped. She would be upset at people too. "Well, that is fine. I am sure that your daddy and mine can get you tutors," she said brightly, not wanting to dwell on the bad. "Education is very important," she added with a great deal of passion. To her a wasted brain was a travesty.
"I will see to his education. You don't have to fear that," Loki said, though he lamented that his oldest son would follow in Thor's footsteps. He was more of a brutish type. One for fighting and jousting than for the books. Which was fine, Hel, Gandr, and Sleipnir were all smart enough to make up for one fighter. Though, Sleipnir did like his sport as well. He tended more to speed than brute strength. Still, he was young.
"Gandr, I made a new friend while you were gone," Ivy said changing the subject and turning to her best friend now that the introductions were over. The two of them went off talking about Peter and what each did on their break from school. Jormungandr was fascinated with Ivy's new friend and saddened that he had missed the opportunity to meet him. Though, he was glad that he had his older brother here now. He didn't think that Fenrir would be joining him for Ivy's tea parties, but that was okay. There were times when he needed to roughhouse, like boys were wont to do.
"You'll sleep with your family," Tony said, coming and shaking the boy's hand. "You can bunk down with your brother, or we can sort you a new room. It's your choice," he offered. He knew some people liked to be alone, others not so much.
Ivy liked to curl with various people some nights, Goose mostly, but other nights, she slept alone. He preferred to sleep unaccompanied most nights. That's why he always snuck away from bed when it had someone else in it. Those women who came home with him for one-night stands, in the past, never woke up with him in bed. He still had a hard time sharing his bed with Pepper and was wont to sneaking off to the lab when it got uncomfortable.
"I would prefer to reside by myself," the burly preteen said, his voice rumbled. Tony had to wonder how deep it was going to get when his balls dropped. He was a tenor now. "I have been alone for a very long time," he mumbled, looking at his father sidelong.
"Not a problem," the billionaire said, then added to Loki, "You know where everything is." He turned and went to the bar and poured himself a Coke.
"Indeed, I do," the amused man said, steering his son to the Asgardian wing of the house. He would put him next to Gandr, and they could help each other adapt to the Midgardians. Gandr, for all he had lived here a few months, was still getting used to walking around on two legs. He'd help his brother more than Loki or Thor could.
"Thor, what took you so long?" Bruce asked when they were out of sight. He thought they'd be back in days, not over a week.
"We could not find Sirius and Remus, so we had to have someone else do the charm for Fenrir," Thor said, slumping down in his chair. It had been grueling releasing his nephew. The Gleipnir was a very strong and magical construct that had to be coaxed off and not taken. It was in Loki's pack now, and he would keep it just in case it was ever needed. Not for his son, but any other danger that presented itself.
"They are at the apartment in London," Tony said incredulously, pouring the man a stiff drink. "How could you miss them?" he asked, then he remembered that the Asgardians didn't know London or where the apartment was. "Right, we need to get you guys hooked up to Jarvis so he can guide you around," he said, still standing at the bar. He poured himself some more Coke and lamented over his quitting drinking but pushed the thought away.
"We believe that when we were looking for them in the normal world, they were among the wizards. We had to resort to the goblins," Thor said, taking the drink and slamming it down. He was still not 100% on board with Loki's children being here. He remembered well the fear of the end of the Nine Realms that his father had of them.
"How did you find the goblins but not Sirius?" Tony wanted to know.
"Their building is large and white in the magical alley," Thor said as if it was a given. "We did inquire if they could help us locate Sirius, but they claimed client confidentiality." He held his glass out for another. It was better than nothing, though he preferred mead. Asgard's mead. "When they asked why we wanted Sirius, we told them and they said they could do it for us, for a fee," he explained.
"Did they charge you an arm and a leg?" Tony asked with a chuckle as he poured the man another drink and handed it back. He then vacated the bar.
"No, our limbs are still upon our bodies," Thor said, confused at the reference. This time he sipped his drink. "Loki, however, is short one cloak pin," he added with a grim face. It had been a gift from Mother. Loki did get a concession that he could buy it back.
"Right, well it's done," Bruce said, clapping the man's knee and then getting up to do his own thing. He was this close to breaking the codes for the cure for the common cold. He had most of the ingredients, but there were a few that could only be found in the magical world and didn't have muggle equivalents.
"Friend Tony, did you know that there are a lot of owls in your back yard?" Thor said, looking out the window.
Tony groaned and looked out the window too. There indeed was a parliament of owls winging around his back yard. It looked like they were searching for Ivy but were confused as to where she was. He didn't hold hope that they would stay that way.
"Shit. That needs to be addressed and this house is getting crowded," he mumbled, and then went to Ivy's room. He had been putting it off, since he still felt that house elves were too close to slavery, but now was the time. "Ivy, little bug, can I talk to you?" he called out to her.
"Sure, Daddy," Ivy said, extracting herself from the tea party she was having with Deadpool, Gandr, and Goose. She never tired of them, though her guests did, which is why she always needed to invite new ones.
Well, not Wade. He loved to gossip about everyone, even people he didn't know. She was pretty sure he made a few of his victims up, though he swears they are real people, just from a different reality. Something about the fourth wall. Who names their child Fairywm?
"I need you to call your house elf Tilly," Tony said after they went to sit on her bed. They had talked about what a house elf was and what they could do. They were both just leery about using them. Tony was going to try and get them to name a different pay. Something they really wanted.
"Okay, Daddy," Ivy said, then called into the air. "Tilly!"
A small creature popped in and looked around. It was wearing a worn tea towel that had once had a design on it, but it had faded with time and washing. The creature was tiny, only coming up to Ivy's shoulders, and skinny in body, if large in the head. Its head was three times the size of its torso. Its ears made up most of that volume. The nose was long and spindly and crooked as all get out. The eyes were large and bulbous.
"Miss Ivy!" it exclaimed and hugged the girl around the waist. "You's finally bes calling Tilly," the elf said, tears of joy running down her face. Its nose snotted and it looked a mess as it wiped the snot on its tea towel.
"Tilly," Ivy said, happiness in her tone. "It is good to meet you," she said, hugging the little being, not caring about the mess. "I want you to meet my adopted father, Tony Stark," she said, waving to Tony. "He's going to ask you some questions and to do some things around this house. I want you to listen to him and answer any question he asks, okay?" she said in a bright and cheery tone. She wanted it to come off as a request and not an order.
"Anything Miss Ivy bes asking, Tilly wills bes doing," the elf said, nodding her head so fast it looked like it might topple off.
"Tilly," Tony said, making the elf still. "I know you get magic from Ivy and other magicals, but what can I give you for your help. I need to pay you just as much as you need to be paid," he said, phrasing it in a manner that he hoped conveyed he meant business.
"Yous is being non-magical. Tilly is not being sure what Mr. Tony can gives to Tilly and the other house elves," the elf said, worrying her hands.
"Is there a special food that you like that I can stock for you and yours?" Tony tried, hoping it would be that simple.
"Yes," Tilly said, excitedly after thinking about it really hard. She wanted to impress her mistress and Mr. Tony. "There is being a fruit that is not being growing in the United Kingdom," she said, bouncing up and down. "It is only being grown in South America," she said, shyly. It might be too much to ask.
"If I can get it, I will," he promised. It was such a small thing.
"It is being called a Curuba," she said, then went on to explain what it was, which was a cross between a banana and a passionfruit.
"How did you come across one of these?" Ivy asked in wonder. If they were a slave like race, then she wondered where the elf would have experienced the fruit.
"Mrs. Dorea Potter, yours great-aunt, loved them and offered all the elves a bite," Tilly said, with some sad tears in her eyes as if remembering a nice person now gone. "Mrs. Dorea was a great mistress," Tilly said, her nose snotting up again.
"Oh, I wish I had met her," Ivy said, once again regretting that she never got to meet any of the Potters. She did think that maybe she should reach out to Vernon and Dudley. They had been kind to her while she was with her aunt. She didn't like Marge though. That was one mean lady, and her dogs were just as bad.
"So, I'll get you this fruit, for you and all your friends, and you'll keep an eye on the house and Ivy?" Tony said, clapping his hands together to get them back to topic.
"Oh, Mr. Tony, we will bes doing that anyways," Tilly said, in protest. She didn't think he needed to go out of his way to get them special treats for doing something they would already be doing.
"No, we're making a bargain. I get the fruit, you look out for this house. That is my deal," he said, firmly. "And if at any point you don't want to work for me, you can cancel our contract," he said, holding out his hand. "This is not Ivy's house, per se. She just lives here," he finagled.
Tilly looked at the hand as if it would bite. People didn't willingly touch house elves unless it was to hit them or hug them, but that was mostly the children.
"You're supposed to shake it," Ivy said, leaning over and whispering in her large ears. "It means you agree," she explained.
"Is Miss Ivy ordering Tilly to bes doing this?" Tilly asked, moving to shake the hand only for it to pull away.
"No. You need to make up your own mind about that. The only order I give you is to take care of yourself, and to come to me every now and then to show me that you are taking care of yourself," Ivy said, knowing that that needed to be ordered. "That goes for all the elves in my care," she added, tapping her chin in thought. She'd need to meet them all eventually.
"Mr. Tony," Tilly said, standing up as tall as her slight frame would let her, "Tilly bes accepting your offer," she stated, holding out her hand. She'd do her mistress proud.
"Great," Tony said, taking that hand in his and shaking it. "I'll order that fruit and buy a farm to grow it. How many elves does Ivy have?" he asked, hitting himself for not asking earlier.
"There is being ten of us," Tilly said, proudly. "I wills be calling them heres to bes showing them wheres Miss Ivy is being. Then wes bes taking care of Miss Ivy."
"Yay, more playmates," Ivy said, clapping her hands. Goose could be heard to sigh in the background, while Deadpool and Gandr laughed at him. Well, more Deadpool than Gandr, but the boy did chuckle.
"That's actually not bad," Tony said, whipping out his phone and making a note to purchase a farm for these Curuba. Who knows, he might like them too. "Tilly, can you make it so the non-magical don't notice all the owls that are flying around?" he asked, putting his phone away.
"Yes, Mr. Tony," Tilly said, snapping her fingers.
Nothing happened.
"That's it?" the confused man asked, looking out the window still seeing the owls.
"Yes, Mr. Tony. The muggles will not bes noticing the owls now," Tilly said, not sure why he was confused.
It was then that the owls started coming to the house with their burdens. There were a lot of them, and they were all headed to Ivy's window. He opened it, just so they wouldn't smash into it, like he heard birds tend to do. They winged their way in and soon were perched on all available surfaces.
Ivy squealed and started taking the notes and letters. There were even a few packages. Tony stopped her from opening them just yet. "I need Loki to look at them first," he said, seeing the sadness in her eyes.
"But they are from kids," she protested, holding a letter to her chest, like it was special. They had talked about it a few days before. He told her they were going to write.
"But their parents aren't," he stated, taking up a few of the missives and putting them into a pile, waving at the others to do the same. "I'll go to Gringotts tomorrow and get the mail redirect put up and all these will be vetted first. I forgot to do it last week, with Peter, and what was going on at work. However, I don't want to take the chance that some moron will hurt you," he added, gently prying the letter from her hands. He added it to the pile and picked up all the mail and held it in his arms.
"Okay, Daddy," she said with a sigh.
"Don't worry, little bug, when Loki gives his okay, you can read them all," Tony said, and left the room. Tilly popped away to go and start dinner and to let Mr. Tony know that she too could check the post.
"You know your dad's right," Deadpool said, coming from his place at the tea table. He was getting ready to leave. Now that the Asgardians were back, she had more than enough protection.
"I know, but I don't have to like it," Ivy said, sighing once again. She picked at a thread on her shirt.
"I've got to go, kiddo," Wade said, squatting down to look her in the eye. He loved this little girl. She made him feel like a human, much like his girlfriend.
"Do you really?" she asked, hating it when her friends had to leave. She knew he had a life outside of visiting her, but...
"Yes, Vanessa must be missing me by now," he said, knowing that his girlfriend was very understanding, but even she had her limits. He talked to her every night, but phone sex just wasn't cutting it. That and he knew Jarvis was watching, which was weird and kinky.
"Okay, Wade," Ivy said, hugging her friend and then dragging him into the living room. Everyone was there meeting just before dinner, which Tilly was going to make tonight. "Deadpool is going home tonight, I wanted everyone to thank him for his time here as my bodyguard," she said, her tone firm.
Wade didn't get appreciated enough for what he did for her. She didn't mean to come off as a brat, but he needed to be thanked.
"I, for one, do thank you," Loki said, knowing what it was like to be underappreciated. Asgard never respected him for everything he did for them, instead it was always misinterpreted as something against Asgard or Thor. Well, sometimes it was against Odin, but never Thor. Not in the way they meant it anyway.
"Yes, thank you, Friend Wade Wilson," Thor boomed out, making everyone shake their heads and wonder if the man would ever learn about indoor voices. "You are most welcome as a shield-brother." He meant that too.
"Thanks, Deadpool. I know I give you a hard time, but thanks for what you do for Ivy," Tony said, holding his hand out to Wade.
"You're all welcome," Wade said, fake tears choking his voice. "Saps," he intoned. He never was one for warm and fuzzies. "Well, see you on the flipside," he said, then he jumped in the air and disappeared in an airduct.
"How the hell does he do that?" Clint wanted to know, seeing the open airduct, which had not been opened a minute ago.
"Are we sure…?" Natasha started, only to be interrupted by Tony.
"Yes, he's not magical," the billionaire stated, he too flabbergasted as to how the man disappeared the way he does.
It was about then that Goose came in and saw Fenrir for the first time. His hackles rose. "Wolf," he hissed. He was all set to have tentacles blazing.
"Cat," the wolf-boy snarled. He puffed out his chest as if to expand his form to its greatest form in this body.
"Wait!" Ivy said, getting between them, holding out her hands. "Neither of you are really cat or dog, why are you acting this way?" she asked, making sure they stayed away from one another.
"It's reflexive," Fenrir said, looking at the non-cat. In a fight he'd win, and he knew it. But the creature would put up one hell of a battle. That and he'd bear scars from the fight, that's for sure. That and this house would not remain standing. He was unsure who would back whom when it came to the others. Or would they let the two of them duke it out?
"He smells like a mutt," Goose said, not at all sorry for reacting the way he did. However, he said, "Sorry." It was for Ivy's sake. He then promptly turned and went back to Ivy's room. There were plenty of people and aliens here to keep his ward safe. He didn't need to put up with the stench of dog. It had been bad enough when her godfather was here, and that was just and underlaying smell, this was predominant.
"Who was that?" Fenrir asked, knowing it was no cat.
"That's my best friend and bodyguard, Goose. He's a Flerken. Please, don't fight one another," Ivy said in earnest. She waited for him to nod his consent and then moved to go to the kitchen where she smelled the most delicious meal cooking. She wanted to see if Tilly wanted any help.
When she got there, she saw there were four elves cooking and that Tilly didn't require any help at all, so she just pulled up a stool at the peninsula and watched them make food with magic. It was exciting to see. There were spoons and spatulas, pots and pans, dishes and measuring cups, flying everywhere. She hoped that one day she too could cook like this. She paid close attention to what they were doing.
"Well, Goose means no harm, but he is a grumpy old man," Tony said to the preteen wolf-boy. "I'd appreciate it if you two just got along. If only for Ivy's sake," he added, moving to the dining room. It smelled like dinner would be done soon.
"For Ivy's sake," Fenrir said. He didn't know the girl well, but everyone in the house seemed to bend to her will. He knew that he wanted to make her happy as well, if not to the extent that everyone else did. Then again, he was far more jaded than the rest of them were. Still, he'd leave the non-cat alone.