"Hold on," called Dr. Banner, "let me in with you. The water can't be too hot, or you'll kill her for sure..."
Dr. Banner ducked into the elevator with Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, the former still cradling the unconscious secretary. The doors closed on them, leaving the rest of the company in stunned silence.
"Thank you, Director," Tasha finally said softly.
"Anytime," the older man nodded stiffly.
"Thor?" Sif called uncertainly, stepping around Loki's crouched form to approach the fallen prince, "Thor, can you..."
"Sif: STOP." Loki commanded: his voice crackling with authority. The raven-haired goddess came to a halt, but turned glaring eyes to the Dark Prince.
He scowled. "Did you learn nothing from Barton? Thanos may not yet be gone. Stand aside."
The female warrior took a deep breath and stepped back. Loki flexed once and rose.
Stuck in his Jotnar form, Loki now stood a head higher than the rest of the Aesir in the room, and his torso bulked out in a similar fashion. Fury thought he looked like a smaller, bluer version of the Hulk, only with red eyes, clothing, and a regal manner.
The alien prince stepped over first to Fandral, who was starting to stir, and then to Thor, who likewise groaned from his position on the floor. Crouching over each man's face in turn, Loki held one chained hand over the mouth, while the other traced sigils in the air. Satisfied with the magic, he held a quick hand to each man's chest.
"They are free," he finally announced, "but need tending. Volstagg, Hogun," he commanded, "take Fandral upstairs to Stark's warming chamber. The beast was not in him as long as it was in the girl, but I like neither his complexion nor his temperature. I will take Thor," he announced. "Lady Sif, he will want to see you when he wakes, and Lady Sauer may need you as well."
So saying, Jotnar-Loki crouched down and rolled Thor onto his side. He then single-handedly pulled Thor's bulk onto his own shoulder in a fireman's carry...
And stood up.
No mean feat, considering the God of Thunder weighed nearly 800 lbs.
"Loki?" Fury's tone was uncertain, a first for him.
"What is it, Fury?" Loki sounded very much like a royal prince at this point: calculating, commanding, and austere. He glared at the commander from under his bundle of Thor. Mjolnir lay where it had dropped on the floor, unmoving.
"Thor took a fall from 30,000 feet the last time you were here. What makes you concerned about him now?" The military commander was suddenly wary.
"A seiðkarl's attack is more damaging than physical warfare, commander. It tears at the mind as well as the body. Thor and Fandral both lost consciousness: a bad sign. Thanos could well have taken Thor as his next host, given his present weakened state."
"But not Fandral?" Fury was helping both Barton and Romonov to their feet.
"Possible, but not likely. Thanos prefers to violate a new mind each time. It spreads the misery out wider." Loki turned towards the nearest elevator, still carrying Thor. "I do not fear for Fandral's health. Sauer is another matter. Because she is mortal, even with the exorcism, she may yet perish, unless your Captain has more unexpected seiðure. One can always hope, I suppose." Loki held up a spare hand. "Next lift, please, Commander. This one is already at its weight limit." He nodded to the sign.
"Right. See you upstairs." Barton groaned behind Fury, and the tall black man turned his attention to the archer. "Can you walk?"
"Yeah, I'm alright. What's that the blue guy said about Annie?"
"Never mind. We have to get upstairs. Romonov?"
"I'm good," she spared a glance at the knives buried in the wall, "but I don't think I'm ever going to use those again."
"Probably a good idea." Fury grabbed a piece of paper, wrote DO NOT TOUCH with a large black marker, and stuck the sign on one of the knives. "That ought to hold things until Loki can tell us if they are safe to use or not."
"Sir," Tasha said hesitantly, "why are we taking orders from Loki, now?"
"Finish this phrase, Agent Romonov: 'the enemy of my enemy...'"
"Ah. Of course."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"J.A.R.V.I.S., what is the current temperature of my Jacuzzi?" Tony had pulled the cover off and turned on the jets, and a friendly steam filled the room.
"I read it at 40 degrees Centigrade, sir," the AI replied.
"Too hot," Banner shook his head. "The shock will kill Mouse for sure."
Tony looked at Bruce questioningly. "Mouse? Where did you come up with 'Mouse'?"
Dr. Banner shrugged. "I don't know. It just seemed to fit. She's never complained." He looked around. "J.A.R.V.I.S., can you get a temperature reading on Mou...Miss Sauer?"
"A chilly 30 degrees Centigrade, Dr. Banner."
"Can you lower the temperature of the Jacuzzi to 31 degrees centigrade? We have a moderately hypothermic patient who needs immersion," the doctor asked the AI.
"The warming coils are already shut down, Doctor, but cooling the bath is beyond my function. If it must be done immediately, I would suggest adding a large quantity of ice," the AI replied smoothly.
"Who needs ice?" Loki called as he stepped off the elevator, still carrying Thor across his shoulders. "And where can I put him?"
"Holy Avatar," Stark muttered, then shook himself. "Point Break can go on the sofa to your left. He's been here before, so I had it reinforced," Stark replied.
Loki nodded and carefully lowered the groaning Thor onto the sofa, then turned to the trio of men who stared-slack jawed-at the change in the younger Aesir prince. He sighed.
"My Jotnar form, gentlemen..."
"Jotnar," Banner asked?
"You know it as 'Frost Giant'. I can't change back for some reason, though I can still self-regulate. For what do you need ice?" He stalked over to where Captain Rogers still cradled Sauer, and passed a hand over her face. "Fascinating," he murmured.
"The tub," Captain Rogers replied, "it's currently too hot for Miss Sauer. If we put her in now the shock will finish her."
"I see." Loki looked down at the steaming water. "Current temperature?"
"Sauer is at 30 degrees Centigrade: normal is 36.6 degrees. The tub registers 40 degrees; it needs to be 31 and gradually warming up from there," Dr. Banner said crisply.
Loki nodded. "Give me a moment, will you?" He tensed for a moment, and magically disrobed, his armor and undergarments disappearing into mist.
Tony Stark cringed and threw a hand in front of his face. "Oh, god: Full Frontal Frost Giant! I'm gonna need therapy," he moaned.
Loki looked at the steaming tub and scowled. This was going to hurt...
He leaped into the tub, roaring once with the shock, and began projecting ice away from his body in waves. The tub's jets quickly spread the change in temperature, and within minutes the water had cooled significantly. Loki's skin returned to its 'normal' pale Aesir hue with the stabilization, but blue could still be seen to ripple down his arms and across his face.
"Give me the girl," he commanded Rogers, and when the Captain hesitated he snapped "NOW, Captain! Join me after you hand her over, but get her in the water!"
More elevator doors were opening. Captain Rogers shrugged, then crouched down and handed the unconscious Sauer to the mostly-submerged God of Mischief. She cried out once as her torso hit the water, but otherwise did not wake. Steve quickly stripped to his underwear and lowered himself into the swirling water, earning a scathing look from Loki.
"Really, Captain, so modest? Surely you aren't shy about your physique?"
"Shyness has nothing to do with it," Cap shook his head. "I'm not in any kind of relationship with Sauer to make nudity in her presence appropriate. That's why I hesitated: she'd be horrified if she woke up in your arms with you naked."
Loki was surprised. "A nudity taboo? In this culture?
"For some of us, yes."
"Hmm. I had no idea." Loki handed Sauer over to the partially submerged Captain. "Your body temperature is higher than mine right now," he explained, "and I need to adjust myself." So saying, he concentrated his gaze into the water for a moment. "There, that should take care of any modesty complaints."
"You can just 'poof' clothing?" It was Rogers' turn to be surprised.
"Sorcerer," Loki reminded him.
"Ah."
"Speaking of sorcery, that was an impressive display downstairs. I've seen similar exorcisms take days, and that with a mage as experienced as the All-Father. Sometimes the victim still dies. I wasn't aware you had any instruction in seiðure."
"Seiðure?"
"Magic, sorcery."
"I don't," Rogers replied. He frowned; Loki had removed Sauer's jacket and was busy removing the left sleeve of her blouse. "What are you doing?"
"Examining her arm. The lady burned it a few of your weeks ago, and I suspect Fandral re-injured it when he grabbed her...ah, yes, he did." Loki scowled. "Down deep, too." He looked up at Volstagg and Hogun, who were actively undressing Fandral. "Down just to the breeches, gentlemen: this planet has a nudity taboo!"
Hogun looked up at Steve Rogers, surprised. "You do?"
Steve raised his eyebrows back. "You don't?"
"It's for my secretary's sake, boys," Stark explained. "She doesn't need any more surprises today."
"Sensible," nodded Volstagg, "her condition is delicate."
"Something about her has to be," muttered Tony. He missed the glare Loki shot at him.
Pepper chose that moment to run in from the service elevator. "I came as soon as I could, Tony, what happened?" Her eyes widened at the sight of several half-naked Aesir –and one Avenger-moving about in the sunken Jacuzzi. "You're having a pool party? That's the big emergency?" She gave Tony a scathing look. "You know the only Avenger I want to see marinating in that pool is you," she chided.
For once, Tony didn't crack a smile. He pulled Pepper aside and explained what had happened, and her eyes gradually widened in horror. She spared a glance at the group in the water, finally seeing Sauer for the first time. "Poor kid," she whispered. "Do you think she'll be all right?"
Tony only shrugged. "We won't know until she wakes up," he admitted.
"I'll get some towels," Pepper said, scowling worriedly, "and some bathrobes."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Thor groaned and opened his eyes. Sif carefully brushed the hair out of his face.
"How fare you, Thor?"
"Uhhh. Do you recall the time the Warriors Three and I did box with the Stone Giant of Gyllenholl?" Thor cracked open one very bloodshot eye as he spoke.
Sif nodded. "Aye. He pile up the three of you like spent corn-cobs at a summer's feast, with you on the bottom. You were quiet, sensible men for a fortnight after."
"And Volstagg on my head," Thor murmured. He hesitated a moment. "In retrospect, t'was but a tussle betwixt friends, compared to this." His eyes snapped open. "Fandral...Stark's maid...what..."
"Peace, Thor, the beast is gone," Sith soothed. "It has been cast out."
"Good," Thor murmured. "Loki has done well this day..."
"T'was not Loki who vanquished the beast," Sif informed him, shaking her head. "T'was your blond friend from Midgard, the one you call a Captain. He drove the Mad Titan out with but a few words!"
Thor's bloodshot eyes opened wide. "I must speak to him about this; mayhap he can teach us all such seiðure." He made to rise, but Sif held him down with a hand to the chest.
"Half a moment, Thor. Your friend the Captain tends Stark's maid. Tell me, Oh Prince: How many fingers do I hold up?" Sif held up her index finger under her chin.
"Two, of course. The sign here means 'victory'. Now I must..." Thor tried to get up again, but Sif shoved him stoutly back onto the couch.
"Lay back down, Thor, lest I have Volstagg come over and sit on thee!"
"Conniving wench. That be cheating."
"Aye."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Loki had magically sliced away the remains of Sauer's sleeve and was scowling at the wound underneath. Fandral's careless act had removed a great deal of new skin, and the result was ugly and raw.
"Hogun," he called to the silent, half-naked warrior supporting the unconscious Fandral, "please tell me you brought some Ilmsmyrsl brenna with you."
"Aye, I did," he grunted, "'tis in the satchel on my belt."
"I'll fetch it," Volstagg rumbled. "You have your hands full already."
"Nothing new there," Hogun groused.
Fandral had already started to stir as the water warmed up. "Odin's Beard," he groaned, "what have I been drinking?"
Hogun cocked an eyebrow at Loki. "He's well enough, I deem."
"We shall see soon enough," Loki said grimly. "He needs to account for his actions before his possession." The Dark Prince turned back to Captain Rogers, who still cradled the unconscious Sauer. "But I would still have an accounting of your exorcism of the beast, Captain, since you say t'was not sorcery you employed."
Steve shrugged. "I don't know how to explain it to you, except that it wasn't magic." He paused to brush some of Sauer's hair out of her eyes, and shifter her form in his arms. She was starting to shiver, even with the water comfortably warm. "I simply gave it an order it could not refuse."
Loki frowned thoughtfully. "Not magic, then. An order...based on the authority of the names you invoked." He busied himself removing Sauer's pants (but not her underwear) and began massaging her feet to promote circulation.
"Yes."
"Hmmm. Could you teach us, so we may do the same thing the next time Thanos appears?"
Steve shook his head. "That's been tried before. If you try to invoke the name of my God without worshipping Him, the demon will hand you your balls." He frowned for a moment. "I could technically learn your language, but any order I gave in Odin's name wouldn't carry any weight with your troops," he explained. "It would be worse if I tried to threaten Odin's enemies."
Loki nodded thoughtfully. "You would seem a blustering fool." He frowned. "We are at another impasse, then. Are there others of this faith that can do similar things?"
"Yes. I'm only a soldier, after all: not a priest."
"Interesting. Can you ward the building?"
Rogers frowned. "I don't understand."
"As a courtesy, Odin cast certain enchantments about Stark's property to guard against magical attack, so we could take counsel in safety. The Mad Titan was able to push past all that, somehow, despite Odin's defenses."
"Hmmm, no, I can't do that, but I think," Steve nodded, "I think I know someone who can. I'll call him when I get out of here."
"Advisable." Volstagg handed Loki a small vial, and the prince began applying the dark paste it held to the wound on Sauer's arm. When it was covered he circled the air around her arm, muttering something Steve couldn't understand, and then lowered the arm into the water. "Better than a wrap," he explained, "magical seals don't get wet and need changed."
Fandral groaned again and shook himself, finally waking. He looked around the Jacuzzi dazedly, and when his eyes lit on the unconscious Sauer his face hardened.
"Weak little thing," he murmured. "Will she live?"
"I have faith," Captain Rogers answered, stroking Sauer's hair back again, "though the damage you did to her arm was considerable. Care to tell me what exactly you were doing out there?" Rogers glared coldly at the recovering Aesir, who snorted.
"Not trying to bed her, if that is your concern," Fandral answered coldly. "I have standards, after all. I merely tried to pass along some...friendly advice...concerning our Dark Prince." He frowned. "The wound to her arm was accidental, I assure you."
"It was careless," Loki snarled. "You are a warrior of Asgard; expected to pay attention to the welfare of its citizens and allies, not just their brjóst og sitjandi."
"You lecture me about others' welfare?" Fandral snorted, pulling himself higher in the tub. "That is almost laughable. And I assure you, the maid's...assets...are quite unremarkable, barely worth a mortal's second glance, much less one of mine."
"I said as much of the Lady Marian some 700 years ago, boy, and you challenged me to a duel," Volstagg countered angrily, his eyes flashing. "You insult the maid with such talk, and she has done you no harm."
"What do you call this sorceress burn under my arm, then?" Fandral huffed.
"From the sound of it, 'well deserved'," snapped Tony Stark. "You're an ass; and that's coming from me!"
Fandral fell silent, outnumbered.
"Do you remember anything useful?" Sif finally spoke up from where she sat next to Thor. "We know the Mad Titan took you for a while, before moving into Stark's maid."
The soaking Aesir scowled. "Not much," he admitted, "I only caught snatches: prisoners, wailing, another planet-not this one. He stops to...feed...and outfit his army...before coming here. The sorceress burn," he frowned even deeper, "we both felt it. It...it hurt him, I think. He left me to attack it, or its wielder."
"So, he can feel pain," Fury said, coming in off the elevator with Clint and Tasha. "Good."
Still in Captain Rogers' arms, Sauer let out a moan...
And opened her eyes. She looked at Fury, then around at the half-naked men in the tub with her, and blinked, dazed.
"Mimi ni wafu?"