So . . . Hey.
No, I'm not dead, and neither is this story- I feel really awful for letting this not get updated for so long. Please forgive me! I was kind of stuck on this chapter for a while, so I skipped ahead, and I really didn't realize how long it had been until just recently.
I literally spit this chapter out last night and today after I got back from work in a couple hours; it cuts off suddenly, but don't worry I already have the next bit written, I just have to edit. Forgive me if the character voices are off, I'm kind of rusty right now. ;)
Steve stared down from the raised circular platform he had just climbed up, to the hole that opened up to the ground displaying large painted runes that looked suspiciously familiar. Why was SHEILD painting a runic circle on the floor? He glanced around and recognized several agents standing across from him on the platform, also staring at the runes warily. His lips twitched farther downward as he spotted Stark as well, who was leaning casually against the metal railing with arms crossed- Dr Banner standing next to him at an angle with his hands in his pockets, biting his lips somewhat nervously.
Steve took a breath- because it still took a lot of patience for him to speak amicably with the man, but he was the most likely to have information about what was going on- and began to make his way over to Stark. He tried to keep his footsteps light, but the clanging and shaking of the grated metal kept on; it was cheap stuff, probably only recently thrown up, which meant it wasn't too sturdy(at least, not sturdy enough to go through what might happen if he was right about what those runes were for).
He sighed when he reached Stark, who raised an eyebrow at his approach, but said nothing.
"You were called here too?" Steve managed to ask in polite, if slightly clipped tones.
"Yep- a little surprised I beat Mr Super Soldier, I'll have to make sure I delay a bit more next time- fashionably late is the thing these days."
"Sorry if not all of us have private jets on call twenty-four seven- I had to get a lift here like a normal non-billionaire."
Tony snorted. "Just a completely normal person, who's so old his drivers license is a hundred years out of date."
"I'd like to see the faces of the people at the DMV when you go in to get that renewed." Banner muttered.
"Uh, I never really got a drivers license- at the time, I didn't really need to know how. Driving wasn't nearly as necessary then as it is now."
"You don't know how to drive?" Tony asked, looking a lot like he wanted to laugh heartily at his expense.
Steve sighed. "Of course I can drive- I had training while I was in the military, I just don't have a drivers license."
Tony stared at him a moment, then grinned. "Well, want me to get you one? I've got connections."
"By connections he means he has way too much money." Banner said in a faux whisper while leaning towards him conspiratorially.
Steve snorted in amusement. "Mr Stark I do believe you have been a bad influence on Dr Banner."
Tony sighed. "So I've been told."
There was a momentary pause, and Steve decided this was the time to redirect the conversation back to what he was really over here for.
"So, do you have any idea why we were called here?"
Tony looked meaningfully at the runes down at ground level. "What do you think?"
Steve sighed. "I was hoping my guesses were wrong. You don't seriously think Fury would-"
"Oh I don't think so, I know so." Tony grinned.
Steve frowned. "I thought they kicked you out of their system back when-"
Bruce snorted. "He's been bragging all week about breaking back in- honestly I'm surprised SHIELD hasn't heard about it from his gloating and fixed their security again."
Tony gave Bruce a half-hearted glare then turned back to Steve. "Anyway, yes, they are total stupid for deciding to do this . . . but I've got to admit I'm kind of curious." He ran his fingers over his facial hair. "After that whole spiel that brat with the pacifier gave us back last month about demons not being that bad, and how some of them work for him, it makes me wonder . . ."
Steve sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. He really didn't know what to think of all this demon and spirit world stuff that was currently going on. There was no denying that whatever the beings they had met with were both real and not human, and they claimed not to be aliens.
And that girl- the one with the blue hair- had claimed to be a grim reaper.
What was he supposed to think of that? How was he supposed to react to that? To think that bright girl had given them a tour of what was apparently the place where the souls of the dead gathered.
He wasn't sure whether the place's color scheme, or the fact that they had printers freaked him out more.
And he wasn't even going to think about the ogres working as secretaries.
What they had discussed had been . . . enlightening, if not more confusing. Apparently Spirit World had taken notice of their organization after the high death toll of the alien invasion, even though they were 'not very active in the Western Continents.' After some investigation,, and the event with the demon known as Kurama, Koenma (he was not going to think about the fact that the ruler of the Spirit World was a toddler with a pacifier) had decided that they should approach SHIELD with amicable intentions.
The rest, as they say, was history.
Koenma had then given them quite a bit of information(courtesy of Natasha's long list of questions), which basically amounted to an explanation that there were three realms('well, actually four, but that's not relevant, so we'll get into that later'), human, spirit, and demon. He had then explained travel between the realms, how most demons were well behaved, and that lower class demons could travel back and forth between realms, how the demon realm was ruled(a tournament held every three years- hard to believe, but Koenma insisted that it was the best government demon world had ever had), how the 'Reikai Tantei' were carefully selected members that protected humans from any 'misbehaving' demons, as well as occasionally helping to enforce order among demons.
(He also remembered Natasha asking who all was in the Reikai Tantei; Koenma had easily listed off the names: 'Well, there's Yuusuke of course, and Kuwabara, Hiei- he's . . . out of town at the moment- and then Kurama.' Natasha had given him a fierce look and asked about Shuichi Minamino. Koenma had been flustered for a moment, then quickly explained that Shuichi was really only a part time member since right now he was working full time. Natasha had looked skeptical to say the least. Shuichi had smiled genially and confirmed it.)
"Well, anyway," Tony interrupted his thoughts, "even though that Kurama said it was bad news to summon a demon, I'm getting the feeling he was trying to make it sound worse than it really is, and even though they answered all our questions, they were definitely keeping things to themselves- they really tried to avoid explaining what that place was. I mean, I'm no religious man like our Cap here, but I find it a bit disturbing that if I were to die right now a chipper bluenette would be dragging me off to an ogre infested giant pink n' purple castle run by a guy who still uses a pacifier. We've got to get more info from these guys. Besides we've got a god on our side."
Steve jerked his head over. "What?"
"He means Thor." Banner clarified. "He should be here any minute."
Steve pursed his lips. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but the last time we had to engage a demon, Thor really didn't help that much."
Tony waved his hand dismissively "You worry too much. I've got my armor right here-" he held up a small metal brief case, "You and the Norse God of Thunder aren't to be taken lightly either, and the green giant is here for backup. Not to mention all the super secret agents over there."
Banner gave him a sour look. "Didn't I tell you I just wanted to check radiation levels during the summoning? There's got to be an explanation for-"
"JARVIS can do that while we kick the demon's butt. It'll be easier, and then you won't have to set up all that equipment you brought."
"It'll be more accurate if I use what I brought."
"Only by one and seven thousandths Bq."
"That could be significant though, since we have no idea what the baseline for-"
And that was about when Steve tuned them out. He had no idea why there would be radiation at a demon summoning of all things, or why Dr Banner wanted to measure it, but that was their business.
He took a few steps away to give them space, then turned and leaned his arms over the rail. The runes were painted in red- it was possibly supposed to mimic blood, but he'd seen enough dried blood to easily know that it most definitely wasn't, which, honestly, was a bit reassuring. At least SHIELD wasn't going that far.
After a few moments of him standing there tuning out the two scientists on the team, Thor arrived. He actually touched down as a ground shaking crater from what looked like about a mile from there current position(the ground was relatively flat, so visibility was good). The alien quickly made his way over, and managed to land on the metal grating a few yards from him without shaking the manmade walkway too badly.
As the Asgardian began to approach, he raised a hand in greeting. Thor mirrored him. "Steve Rogers. It is good to see you again." He then glanced over from Steve to look at Tony and Bruce. "Tony Stark! Bruce Banner! You are well met!" Thor was now grinning. "If all of us were called here, surely there will be a great battle, will there not?"
Steve pursed his lips. "It's possible." He muttered, looking down at the runic circle.
Thor followed his glanced, and his eyes widened dramatically. "This . . . it is the sorcery we found when the demon Kurama confronted us. Surely SHIELD would not have any reason to employ this?"
"And that's where you're wrong big fella." Tony answered. "Seems like SHIELD's a bit curious about these demons, gotta say, for once I feel the same. We'll be doing a bit of not-so-legal recon."
Thor frowned. "Were we not warned against this? What if the young king of the Realm of Spirits hears of this? Surely he will not be pleased by our actions."
"And that's what we're here for- better safe than sorry and all that. I'm sure you and your hammer can take care of any demon that comes your way."
Thor looked pleased at Tony's complement, and apparently forgot his previous misgivings. "And you as well my friend! Your enchanted armor is quite powerful! We are all strong, and together we may easily vanquish all foes that come our way."
Tony gave him a not quite sincere smile. "Ah, yes, well. Anyway, the director should be here sometime soon, then we can get his show on the road."
As if summoned by the mention of his name, Steve heard the vibration in the wind of a chopper, and as he looked up he saw Fury standing in the back of the helicopter that was setting down within walking distance of the setup.
He, along with two other agents, began to approach them as the helicopter powered down. He soon reached the grating, and began climbing up the stairs.
He gave them a look, and cleared his throat. "As you can probably see, we're here in order to summon and study a demon . . ."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
AN: Comments? Questions? Criticisms? Just want to talk? Leave a review!