Chapter 2**
Bathed in the early dawn's light the Realm of Asgard, the Realm Eternal glittered with wonder. In complete contrast to the world of Midgard, there were no mysteries here. Not a single flaw was visible from the smallest flower to the highest tower of the palace. All seemed to shine with absolute perfection. It was a beautiful world that much was true. Yet to the man who would one day be it's king, never before had it seemed like such a horrible front.
"Perhaps? I have been on earth too long?" the man mumbled to himself. He wanted to say more, especially because he knew that his trusted friend Sir Hogun, of the Warriors Three, was secretly watching him from around a corner. Still?
He just couldn't though. Thor the Crown Prince of Asgard, also member of the Earth Team the Avengers. Could not deny the awful truths of his home that were just growing more apparent in his heart. No matter how much he wished too. It was just no longer possible.
Thor breathed in the air of Asgard's sea. He had always enjoyed the fact that the sea was near the palace. He was convinced that the salty air could aide him in clearing his befuddled thoughts when he had to figure things out or just calm the thunder of all the problems he felt inside of him rolling. And Prince Thor had many problems in his life at this moment.
He had the problems of being a Prince of Asgard. A title he ironically no longer desired as much as he once had. 'If only you had not lost your self so brother,' his mind wept, 'I would have given you the throne, in my place, maybe?'
' You would have once made a decent king had your soul not been so shattered. Now what will become of you?' Thor fists clenched despite the fact he had his arms crossed, a gesture of frustration that was becoming a common occurrence as of late.
Thinking of Loki, his brother? Yes, despite Loki's wrongs, always still his brother first, was painful for Thor. However, it needed addressing from someone, and no matter the atrocity of his brother's actions. No matter the amount of hatred Loki had directed at him, no matter even the amount of disgust he had given in reverse, he just couldn't do it.
The fact was simply this. One could not be a brother to another for over 2000 years and just stop.
One simply was unable.
Thor's frown deepened, as sadness set in, "even if ones' brother has committed madness," he acknowledged to himself for the hundredth time.
((Line Break)))
The day Thor had brought Loki home to Asgard, had been one of the worst days of Thor's life.
He could remember the feeling of pain from the stabbing wound his brother had inflicted upon him. Despite the earth medicine, Sir Bruce had shared with him. He could still feel the waves of tension coming from his brother as they had approached the Grand Hall, either in anger or distress, Thor would never know for certain?
When once there had been with Loki by his side the feeling of confident strength & support. As they had approached their destination there had been nothing but a taught gaping hole in its place.
It had felt so wrong.
Thor remembered how he kept repeating over and over, "How did it come to this brother? How?"
The simple trek to the Grand Hall had turned into a death march. Time had slowed to a horrible tick that could not have gone fast enough. Thor had been so upset he had nearly broken in tears. When faced with the possibility of a few brief moments with his brother alone, right before they were about to push the Hall Doors open, it had all built to a head inside of Thor.
He found himself unable to do anything save turn and roar in confusion at this entity that was before him with his once beloved brother's face.
"YOU WERE ALWAYS CLEVER! YOU WERE ALWAYS SMART! I ENVIED YOU THAT! HOW COULD YOU BE SO FOOLISH! I ADMIRED YOUR CALM, YOUR WISDOM, AND NOW YOU HAVE STABBED ME! THREATENED ME! TRIED TO KILL ME!? THREATENED FATHER, MOTHER, ALL WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR TOGETHER BROTHER! YOU HAVE MADE YOURSELF AN ENEMY OF US AND FOR WHAT?! FOR WHAT!? TO BE A KING?"
Thor had felt his throat go raw at the last sentence he had been hoarse the next day from shouting so loud. Yet he had continued with his speech gripping his brother so that Loki was pinned hard against a wall and had no other choice then to look straight into Thor's wounded face.
"A King must be willing to put his people above him brother. I did not learn this lesson till father banished me, but I wish I had...I wish I... learned it sooner. Maybe, if I had I could have helped you with whatever it was that led you so far astray?"
He had taken a deep breath before his heart forced him to whisper words he never thought he would have had to say in his life, "Loki, ...Once I revered your counsel above all, even fathers. I never told you out of my jealousy, I regret that. I regret not acknowledging you when I should have. Now though, now you...shame me. You shame me," Thor paused, he had been looking straight into Loki's crystalline emerald eyes.
Eyes that were filled with an unreadable swirl of emotions, Thor couldn't hope to decipher, which had been too much for Thor to bear.
So the mighty Thor dropped his head, and with one small tiny tear of despair down his cheek into his blond beard, he said the only thing he could, "Brother your coldness hasburnt me deeply."
After that Thor had swiped the sign of stray tears off his face. He had tried to ignore how even after he had let his brother go from his grip, Loki had remained staring at Thor fixedly, his entire body unmoving.
Thor wondered if Loki had not been wearing the mask over his mouth to keep him from casting magic, what his brother's response would have been to his emotional admission?
He wondered even more what his brother would say to him if he chanced a visit with him in his current cell.
Cell.
"His punishment for his crimes are our only hope for his atonement," that is what Odin King of Asgard had said to Thor after Loki had been presented before all the land.
Thor closed his eyes. He tried to breathe in more of Asgard's sweet sea air. He did not want to think about what had happened after Loki & he had walked into the Grand Hall. Still he found his mind betraying him, and himself replaying the awful memory, of the royal family's disgraceful day.
Upon the doors opening, the Grand Hall went completely still. Not a single Asgardian soul had dared to even breathe as Thor led his shackled brother toward Odin's Throne. All eyes fixed upon the two princes as they slowly walked the length of the Hall, the air had felt thick with melancholy.
Thor recalled how Loki had halted briefly about mid-way down the aisle. He recalled the alarmed quizzical look Loki had given the courtiers and general people of Asgard, even with the mask on his face.
For a brief moment Thor thought he had caught a flash of his brother looking to him for aide but the moment was so brief Thor grunted in disappointment. He had come to the conclusion at the time that his emotions were too clouded, 'If Loki were able to speak, I would be dead by now,' he had told himself.
Thor breathed another wave of sea salt air as he questioned his own past thoughts, "Then again, brother was always subtle, what if?" He sighed as his thoughts turned back to that rotten day's events.
As the two princes of Asgard approached their ruler Odin, Thor had to basically manhandle his brother into a kneeling position. Loki's shackles hit the ground hard, causing an echo to travel around the hall.
There was a short nod from Odin as two of the Royal guard made their way to stand on either side of where Loki knelt, who had kept a blank expression directed towards the floor.
All had been calm for a moment as the Princes, the two Gods of Asgard knelt before the Allfather. Thor recalled how one could have heard a small thimble fall in the room, due to the anxious quiet, for the waiting of Odin's judgment.
He wished it had stayed that way.
The silence had been broken from the Lady Frigga!
Who for the first time in all the history of Asgard lost her composure! It was such a shock to everyone there that even Odin as AllFather had a hard time composing himself after her actions. Never had Thor or any Asgardian known his mother had been capable of such a wrath!
Thor had braced himself to stay witness to his father's anger towards his brother. He had been preparing to see the worst punishment his father could serve be placed upon his brother's shoulders.
But he had never dreamed of what had happened next! Not even when he stole his father's horse, not even, when he had caused war upon Asgard. No matter what Thor had done he never, never, had expected to see the new horrifying sight of what had occurred!
The Lady Frigga who had been sitting stock still upon her gold throne, had tears falling from her eyes. Eyes that for the first time in Thor's life turned so angry he felt frightened. He recalled how his father had turned a second too late to say something to his mother when the Queen slammed her hands down hard upon her thrones armrests! Her eyes grew wild!
Hair Thor had never known his whole life to be misplaced fell wildly out of control, as the Queen practically ran down the steps to where Loki knelt! Thor had drawn in a deep breath of air in trepidation.
The Queen had stopped right before Loki and that was when she began screaming to all Asgard's horror.
"LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! LOKI!"
Thor watched as his brother clearly shaken also by their mother's unexpected actions, slowly brought his gaze into the Queen's unrecognizable furious face.
"Rise," she hissed in a tone so cruel Thor gulped alongside everyone in the room.
When Loki hesitated to obey the Queen's whole body quivered with rage, "RISE! RIIIIIIISSSSEE!"
For emphasis of her anger the Queen stomped her foot down hard, her arms had flailed as her hands balled into tight fists.
Loki rose to his feet automatically at his adopted mother's terrible screaming, the minute he did, the Queen struck!
Thor had watched in detached horror as his kind, gentle mother who was known as the Asgardian model for peace? The Gentle Goddess they called her? Struck his brother hard upon the head!
Not caring at all where she hit him or how hard she continued to do so. The second time nearly had knocked Loki to the floor!
Slap. Thump. Slap.
Her screams permanently etched upon Thor's brain, as she half sobbed half raged, "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS!? WHHHY! WHY! DID I NOT FEED YOU?! LOKI!? DID I NOT NURSE YOU!? TUCK YOU IN! DID I NOT CLOTHE YOU!? DID I DO NOTHING AS A MOTHER FOR YOU?! HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU LET ME THINK MY SON WAS DEAD! (Slap) HOW DARE YOU GO AND BRING SUCH SHAME UPON ME! ATTACKING MIDGARD! HOW DARE YOU DISMISS ALL I HAVE DONE FOR YOU! HOW DARE YOU HURT US ALL! HOW DARE YOU! ((Slap!)) YOU STUPID BOY! I WOULD HAVE CARRIED YOU FROSTGIANT OR NOT, IF I COULD HAVE! AND THIS IS HOW YOU REWARD MY LOVE!? LOKI! DID I NOT CRADLE YOU IN MY ARMS AS A BABE? DID I NOT BATHE YOU?! DID I NOT TEACH YOU?! I MAY NOT HAVE BIRTHED YOU BUT YOU WERE MY BABY! MIIINNNE!"
At that point Thor had seen tears unable to be kept back leaking from his brother's startled emerald eyes. Thor himself had watery eyes for the second time in a day, which had been a record breaker.
Thor could not have helped it though out of all the things he expected and dare he say his brother had expected, this event had not been on anyone's list.
The Queen seeming to have ended her screaming then wept openily, her hand raised in the air had halted.
The next time she brought it down, she gently placed it on the part of Loki's exposed red face, "You are still my baby. You are a criminal now, but you are still mine! Always. Oh my little Loki. Why? Why did you do such terrible things? Whhhyyy?"
Luckily at that moment, Odin had decided he needed to step in. Placing one hand on the Queen's sobbing shoulder in a historic show of comfort. Thor watched as his father quickly called an escort and had the Queen sent to her bedchamber to rest.
A place, Thor mused as he watched the dawn light glimmer across the water's surface, where his mother had resided for almost the entirety of six Midgardian months. Only emerging for meals or if Odin himself called upon her, such was his mother's pain over Loki's situation.
That the Queen had locked herself away in her rooms creating her own Cell, perhaps because as Loki's foster mother she saw Loki's wrong as only reactions of her own failure. Thor had tried four months ago to convince his mother that his brother's actions were his own, but the Queen had merely looked away from her other son whispering, "You don't understand. This never should have come to pass."
Thor sighed, after that he had resigned not to argue with his mother and allow the Queen time to grieve.
((Line Break))
Thor then recalled how everyone who had been present for Loki's presentation after his mother's emotional breakdown had looks of complete uncertainty.
Not since the early beginnings of Asgard had such a drama unfolded in the royal family, before the people. It was one of the first things Thor had realized abstractly that gave way to a clue to one of the many flaws of Asgard that he was currently busy pondering amongst his thoughts now as he breathed more sea air in.
The sad truth was that the people of Asgard, no Asgard itself, had become stagnate. It was a world stuck in its ways. A world that lacked the possibilities for progress. A world that was ironically just as frozen as the Icy world of Jotunheim, 'only with sunshine and better plumbing' Thor added sarcastically.
" Lord Stark is rubbing off on me," Thor then mused.
Speaking of Stark, there was a whole other basket of problems waiting for Thor back on the little blue star of his friend's home world.
The biggest one being Stark himself.
Who ever since about two weeks ago when a strange incident apparently occurred on Midgard that was stranger then ( all Midgardians agreed) normal, had become obsessed with finding an "invisible boy named Jack?"
((Line Break))
Thor's memory drifted to just four days ago when he had last been with his fellow "Avengers".
They were having another "Ree-vu-you meeting", a new Midgardian term Thor was becoming fast familiar with. Where once again the latest incidents the Avenger Team still hadn't fully finished with or understood was to be discussed.
Nick son of Fury the head director of Shield, was sitting at the head of the table. The window behind him giving his steadfast sihoulette a nice majestic background thanks to the city, "York of New's" skyline.
Fury's stoic presence was causing everyone to fidget a little in his or her seats.
Thor himself couldn't help but make brief comparisons with Fury towards his Father mildly. Wondering to himself, as he tasted the strange thing called hot cho-co-late, if loosing an eye just gave someone some sort of unspoken authoritative power?
He didn't want to poke his eye to find out, but decided that should he loose an eye in honorable battle at least he knew there would be compensation.
"Alright folks, now that were all here, I want some answers," ordered Fury getting to business, "Why the H. E. Double Hockey Sticks is this city an Ice Box in early August!"
Thor had no idea what "Hockey Sticks" were, however the tone of Fury's voice indicated something bad? Nor was he certain he understood all that was being implied with the words "Ice Box" but he felt it fair to say that Fury was annoyed by the cold weather surrounding the area as of late?
There was a sound of a response coming from the direct other end of the table to answer Fury's question but it was snuffed out by a well-placed kick, courtesy of Natasha daughter of Romanoff.
Fury's good eye swiveled around the room, "Well, it would seem that none of you have anything to say? Fine. Let's review."
Another odd sound tried to make its escape at the opposite end of the table but this time Steve son of Rogers also called Captain America found it to be a perfect time to practice stretching his arms.
Knocking said sound practically out of its chair, "Whoops sorry Tony, "said Steve softly.
To Thor's observation Steve son of Roger's apology was unaccepted.
Fury abruptly stood out of his chair bringing a "magical" image to life on a few of the glass windows behind him. Displaying photos of the city from the past two weeks.
Thor grew instantly concerned as he saw pictures of Midgardian citizens being covered in snow! "Allfather," said Thor as his gaze went from a Midgardian woman standing in a blizzard to the giant Ice Thing on top of what Thor knew was one of the tallest buildings nearby.
'The Frost giants!' cried Thor's panicked mind.
"As you all can see, ten days ago, this city was hit by an unexpected blizzard, in the middle of August! It caused multiple traffic jams, mass hysteria and lots of colds. Now, we know that this blizzard was made by unnatural means. You may ask yourselves how we know this? It's simple folks, if I say so myself, that's one heck of a Snow Man on the Empire State Building," declared Fury pointing at the Ice Thing, in the picture.
"What is this 'Man of Snow?'" asked Thor quickly, desperately trying to understand. 'If the Frost giants are here it may mean war for Asgard! ' he thought.
Everyone in the room stared at Thor. There was a collective mindset of, "Poor Thor," making its way around the room. This caused Thor to become even more confused?
"Please I must know? I do not understand. Ice is nothing to trifle with," Thor continued.
"You don't know what a Snow Man is?" asked the Lady Natasha, with wide eyes. Secretly, out of all the things of her Russian history, one of the few things she had ever enjoyed from childhood, brief as it was, had been making Snow Men.
"Seriously that's kinda sad, " came the calm voice from the opposite seat of Thor's. Bruce Banner aka The Hulk was looking at Thor with a frown upon his face, his eyes held pity in them.
That secretly pissed Thor off, he hated when his Midgardian friends did that. After all he had lived many, many years before them, it wasn't as if he was stupid. He simply had a lot to catch up too when it came to Midgardian ways of life. There was no need for pity.
"Someone please explain!" demanded Thor.
The "Voice" or "Sound" that kept trying to be heard in the room, tried yet again, "Thor! Buddy! A snow man...is..."
Nick son of Fury cut it off. This was followed by a glare of hostility from said "Voice."
"Is a Midgardian game we play during our "winter seasons". Often as children when it snows we will make Snow Men for fun & decoration. A snow man is usually intended to help herald in the joys of our winter holidays, and also it is considered one of the universal winter games of our world," explained Fury smoothly, "I take it Asgard does not have such a tradition?"
Thor remembered how utterly bewildered he had felt at that moment. A long time ago, when Loki & he had come to Midgard years before, winter was something that was still dreaded by many Midgardians who could recall the one time attack made by the Frost Giants. Now with the Frost Giants gone and the Midgardians left to their own devices they had developed winter games? They held winter holidays?
In Asgard they're was nothing more feared then snow & ice! The two were only associated with death and hardship. How was it that his friends were now talking animatedly about the "joys of winter?"
"When I was little we use to stay up all night waiting for Santa Clause!" said Steve.
"Santa Claws?" queried Thor his alarm growing? Who was this Claws of Santa?
"I use to go sledding for hours until my lips turned blue! Mom was so mad, she use to tell me she'd have to cook me in the oven, to get me back to normal again!" shared Bruce.
"Sled-ying? Oven? Your mother tried to cook you?"
"We would make Snow Men in our yard, because of our location we always had plenty of coal to give them lots of silly faces."
"My friends and I had the best Snow Ball fights!" commented Barton.
"Snow Ball fights?" Thor found himself in a state of shock.
"My cousin's sister use to have us help decorate the tree!"
"Pepper loves watching Snow Flakes."
"Ice Skating is still really relaxing," Natasha murmured softly.
"What is Ice Cake-ting? Is winter no longer dangerous here? How has this come to pass?!" Thor asked his voice a bit panicked.
He could not believe it! He now had a hundred more questions!?
'For how long had the Midgardians become so well-acquainted with living in winter time that they could share fond memories?' he wondered.
How could so much change in only about three hundred or so years since Thor's last journey upon Midgard?
Thor felt another seed of doubt towards his home world's advance placement in the universe upon this new information.
Thor was about to demand some explanations when Fury's voice took over.
"Okay people! Okay, enough with memory lain! Thor you can ask your questions later! Right now we still have a situation on our hands," declared Fury, still standing stiffly, arms behind his back, "Winter is fine in the winter months but this folks?" He said gesturing madly at the cold city outside, "This is a serious situation? Now were sure it isn't Dr. Doom. Seeing how he is still locked up so what am I lookin at? Report."
"Well...sir," began Bruce Banner, "the good news is that there were no substances found in the snow samples back at the Lab that showed anything other then what it's suppose to be."
"So it really is just ice," Fury stated to the room at large, "Is there any evidence that suggests this is some sort of predetermined attack or warning?"
"As far as we could tell sir, there wasn't anything of the kind, just the strange weather and that huge Snow Man," replied Steve.
A small sound of frustration was made in the back of the room.
Fury sighed, "Come on people, three of you were present when "Frosty" appeared? We need as many facts as there … Is there something you would like to say Mr. Stark?"
Thor had watched as his good friend Lord Stark, jumped to his feet, slamming his hands upon the table.
"Darn straight, there is!" cried Tony victoriously, " I know who is responsible for the snow!"
For a moment everyone just stared at Stark's bold declaration. Thor noted how both Lady Natasha and Lord Steve shared a look of concern, causing Thor to wonder?
"This is good news. Who is our new foe?" inquired Thor of his friend Stark. His very irritated friend who seemed to have noticed the exchange between their other two fellow Avengers.
"Yes. Tell us all just who made the snow," ordered Fury sternly.
There was muttering from Lord Steve on Tony's right, "Umm. Tony listen I don't think…"
"Can it Captain!" snapped Tony, "Listen what I'm going to say sounds crazy! But you have to believe me! It's the absolute truth! I swear."
"You have the floor Stark," responded Fury, sitting back down in his chair.
Thor leaned back in his own chair a little, crossing his arms. He was surprised at how Lord Stark seemed very nervous? It was a trait he had never really seen the mortal with before? 'Curious,' Thor had thought.
"Right, okay. Well first thing you need to know is I'm pretty positive he's not our enemy," began Stark, who was starting to pace around the room a little bit, "in fact I've been thinking it over the last few days and I'm positive the whole Snow Man thing was really just a cry for attention, seeing how young he is? Or I think he is?"
"You think?" came Fury's voice, his eyebrow raised above his one good skeptical eye, "and does this he have a name?"
"Jack," said Tony, his pacing stopped as he looked at the room at large, his eyes landing on Thor's for a moment.
Thor reflected how the minute Lord Stark had said the name "Jack" Thor had felt something. Like a small whisper towards his mind, he found himself being drawn to look out the large windows that surrounded the room.
Snow, light snow was falling outside.
A strange feeling crept upon Thor, "why do you say young?"
"Yeah. I'd like to know that too?" seconded Banner, who had one hand under his chin in thought.
Lord Stark began speaking again, "Well, he only physically looked to be about fifteen, but I'm honestly not sure. Something about him was too…" Stark stumbled for words, "Look it doesn't' matter, I'm telling you Jack's just a kid! Okay, I have no idea what kind of a kid, but he's definitely a kid! A kid who controls the weather, can fly, and create snow!" Stark folded his arms across his chest daring all the world to object and then added, "Oh, and it's kind of my fault he froze Mayor Gibbs, I asked him to help me out and Jack's idea of help is to freeze people."
The room was silent.
Lord Banner's face kept shifting between a frown and a smile.
Lady Natasha had her face in her hands, her head shaking negatively, she could be heard muttering, "Tony. Tony. Tony."
Lord Steve looked embarrassed for Lord Stark, his face had turned as red as Thor's cape. Steve shifted uneasily in his chair, thinking of his girlfriend's comments regarding, his teammates existing sanity.
Lord Barton was just staring, sneaking glances between Fury and Stark.
Speaking of Lord Fury, Thor turned to look at him, the man could have passed as Heimdalls' little brother, his one eye giving away nothing as it was locked onto Lord Stark's disgruntlement.
"Ugh. Guys! I'm serious! Out there in the world somewhere is a kid named Jack who for all I know flew off to Never Never land!" shouted Stark arm stretched out towards the windows.
"What land?" asked Thor confused again. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that a "Midgardian child" or "mortal" was able to fly! If what Lord Stark said was true, the Allfather had to be told.
Flying in Asgard, was considered an old sacred gift given only to those who were blessed by "Yggdrasil's light", or in Midgardian terms, "ones whose hearts were pure in nature." It was amongst the highest of signs for what Asgardians had been raised to look for when seeking aide from other beings than themselves. For if a being held the power of flight it was believed that their soul was light incarnate and that they were created to bring forth wonderful things. It was believed that such a being was lucky to befriend, and that any such being held great importance in the universe.
Thor had in the past prided himself on this reverence for the gift of flight. It had been part of why the people of Asgard ever since he had flown with his hammer had admired him so.
In seeing their eldest prince fly they had thought Thor would bring the Realm of Asgard greatness.
Thor wasn't sure if his "gift" had counted however, for without the "magical" qualities of Mjolnir he really couldn't fly at all. He was terrible at magic, and not even his brother Loki had been able to master flight.
Thor could still hear Loki's voice in his head saying in a tavern one night, "It's nearly impossible brother. Even the oldest of masters cannot fly. Why even in the scripts it states only the most ancient of races was blessed with the gift of flight, and that finding any of them is extremely improbable."
Thor wondered? 'Improbable?' his brother had said, but still indeed possible?
"STARK. Are you seriously telling me that a fifteen year old boy," demanded Fury interrupting Thor's deep thoughts, "flew into this city, froze it, and flew out?"
"Yes! I know how it sounds! But..," said Tony unable to finish.
"But nothing!" interrupted Fury, who sighed heavily, "Okay, if this is true Stark, where is your evidence? What can I use to help find this? This..."
"Imaginary Friend," grumbled Lady Natasha.
Fury gave Natasha a look that said, 'Knock it off,' before finishing his sentence with the word, "Kid."
"Ah. Well. See that's just it isn't it," began Stark who took to pacing around the room again, "Jack kinda pulled a Houdini."
"Come again?" gritted Fury.
A long drawn out sigh was heard from Steve Rogers, "Tony maybe you should stop beating around the bush."
The image of Lord Stark physically beating a bush seemed completely out of place? Thor decided enough was enough.
So he leaned over and asked Banner quietly, "What does Lord Steve mean by "beating around a bush?"
For a second Sir Banner didn't say anything, for he was too engrossed in the muted war going on between Lord Stark and friend Steve, "What? Oh, it's just an expression, it mean's that Tony's not telling us the entire truth."
"Ah," nodded Thor, smiling, he thought, 'Finally a question answered.'
A split second later Thor couldn't help but ask aloud, "What does beating a bush have to do with truth?"
He found himself ignored.
"What's the problem Stark?" demanded Fury whose patience was all but extinguished, as he rose from the table to stand once more.
Thor watched as his friend Stark looked around the room, he was reminding Thor of his friend Sir Fandral whenever he was caught in an uncomfortable situation.
Lord Stark kept opening his mouth and closing it, Thor had never known Stark for being one who didn't have a handle on words? In fact Lord Stark was one of the few beings in the universe that Thor had suspected could even rival Loki when it came to using language. So to see the mortal looking lost and without anything to say was a bit alarming?
"Lord Stark, perhaps it would be best if you just say all you wish to say directly," counseled Thor.
"Indeed," added Fury, his good eye twitching.
Lord Stark glanced at the room again and lifted his hands in the air, exasperated, "What the hell. Okay look I have know idea how the kid did it, but for some reason when I tried to bring up the pictures of him that Jarvis took, on the suit's back up visual scanner. The kid doesn't show. He just isn't there!"
"What do you mean?" asked Banner, "how is that possible?"
"I DON'T KNOW!" cried Stark, " I even tried to reboot Jarvis's whole system, and no matter what I do the kid doesn't appear!"
"So. You have no visual evidence." stated Fury displeased.
"No. Yes. Maybe I did? Look I saw the kid Fury! I spoke to him!" Stark was now fully animated, his arms waving dramatically.
"What about you two?" asked Lord Barton, of Lady Natasha & Lord Steve, who had wisely in Thor's opinion stayed silent up until now.
Natasha and Steve shared a look before Lord Steve spoke, "Unfortunately, by the time we arrived, we had to assist Mayor Gibbs, who claimed that he saw no one besides him, the chief of Police, the Head of the Firefighter Department and Iron Man."
Thor decided that Fury had been most appropriately named after Lord Steve's announcement.
"EXPLAIN STARK," barked Fury.
"HEY! I WANT TO OKAY! BUT FOR ONCE IN MY WHOLE LIFE I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER!"
"Really?"
"Look! Jack mumbled something about no one seeing him and I quote, 'in ages', whatever that means!"
"So let me get this straight you are telling me this 'magical fifteen year old boy' who froze New York City? WAS only and very possibly MAY only be seen by you? Is that what your telling me Stark?"
"Is there an echo in here?! I told you I don't know! I've been racking my brains trying to gather visual evidence, but the kid doesn't come up! At this point I don't know what to think!"
Thor could hear the desperation in his friend's voice? Lord Stark truly believed he had encountered this so called Jack?
"Tony," said Lord Banner, "are you sure that maybe the cold didn't just get to you?"
Lord Stark's face turned livid! "I'm not making this up! Look I touched the kid's shoulder and my fingers practically froze off! I chased him all across the city and landed in a billboard!"
A chuckle escaped Lord Barton's lips at the memory, followed by Natasha's smirk, soon the whole room was lit with a twinge of amusement. It had been a day to remember when the morning after the Snow Man appeared Tony Stark had to be rescued from his own billboard.
"I'm serious! The boy's real! Jack's real! He's out there!" shouted Stark, annoyed beyond belief!
"WHAT DOES THIS CHILD LOOK LIKE?" boomed Thor seriously, ending the jovial atmosphere of the other members.
Thor had developed a headache with all the growing knots of concern from his friend's tale. Upon which the minute Stark had uttered touch and froze in the same sentence, Thor's headache had blossomed, 'How could a Frost Giant's offspring get here? For what purpose do the Giant's come to Midgard? They have no mode of travel any longer? Father made certain of that? Did he not?'
"What color was this Jack's skin? His eyes were they red?" demanded Thor as he stood up from his chair swiftly, so that he could face Stark in the eyes. He ignored the sound of his name being said by Fury, Stark's answer would mean everything!
Everyone watched as Tony Stark began describing this mysterious Jack. A tone in his voice that up till now none of them had heard before from the famous billionaire? It held a soft wonder to it, followed by an almost parental concern,
"He was pale. Very pale, I actually thought the kid was sick at first. His skin was so white it almost looked tinted blue. Speaking of blue that's what he wore, a blue hoody and brown pants. He had no shoes on. Nothing on his feet. His hair was white in many places but dark in others. He was thin, kinda like a scarecrow actually?"
Lord Stark took a moment to catch his breath, and looked out the window, watching the snowfall.
"He was frightened when I saw him. He looked at me with an expression I've never seen anyone give, like, like I really was the first person to ever see him. In fact that's the first thing he said to me, "You can see me!" He kept repeating those words over and over, like he couldn't believe it either? That's why I touched him I tried to give the kid some comfort you know a pat on the shoulder. I've never seen anyone like this Jack before but whenever I think about the kid it's like I have but I can't place him?"
"His eyes? What color was this Jacks eyes? Red?" asked Thor.
"No," said Stark whose gaze was still fixed on the falling snow, "they were green maybe blue in a different light? Teal. I remember thinking they were like crystals, because of how bright they were. I wish the kid hadn't flown away."
Thor took a step back, he had forgotten about the fact that this Jack could fly? Frost giants could not fly. Even if they possessed the possibility through magic, they lacked the skill that the mastery of magic required. Not to mention this so called boy's features, "pale skin, green eyes" Thor's mind briefly went to his brother but his mind moved on.
Thor sighed in relief, "Thank the Stars. It seems that this Jack then is not a Frost Giant."
"Frost Giant?" asked Stark curiously, "What's a Frost Giant?"
"They are the beings of the world known as Jotunheim. Old enemies of Asgard with the powers of ice and snow at their constant disposal, they are an ancient race in the universe but an uncivilized one in many ways. For years Asgard was at war with them once even here on Midgard for a battle for 'suspicious' reasons, but they lost to my Father's glorious might." Thor mused on that a bit before continuing, the truth being that not even Odin knew why the Giants had invaded Midgard, "They are known by their blue skin, giant bodies, and red eyes. If one touches their skin they are burned by their "ice fire"."
"Frost burn by handshake? Not cool," said Lord Stark with a faraway look in his eye, as he stared at his hand.
"Yes. In fact that is how my brother Loki discovered…."Thor never got to finish his sentence due to Fury's interruption.
"Are these Giants, a threat to the Earth?" questioned Fury.
"No they have no means of travel, unlike Asgard." Replied Thor.
"Right well, just in case I would like you to share all information you have on these so called Frost Giant's with Captain America. Maybe they found a way to reach Earth without Asgard's knowledge?" ordered Fury.
Thor bristled to retort, but Stark beat him to it!
"Hold on a sec?! Shouldn't you be asking everyone here to go searching for Jack? He's the one were looking for? Not these Frost Giants!"
Fury glared at Stark, "No. I don't think so. In fact I think you need some time off, for awhile."
"Time off?!" said Stark indignant, "Peter Pan's freezing citiesand you want me to lay on the sofa? Eat bon bons!?"
Fury stood up walked around to Lord Stark, and very calmly put his hand on the shocked billionaire's shoulder, "Tony. It's never a good sign when people start seeing invisible things. True or not, you will take time off. We do not need you getting any crazier."
Stark's mouth hung open. His face as blank as one of Volstagg's dinner plates.
After that the meeting had basically ended with Fury giving out orders for everyone save Stark who sat dumbfounded in his chair, mumbling to himself the word, "proof" repetitively.
Thor then shared as much knowledge as he could about the average Frost Giant with Lord Steve before he himself went to retire for the day.
Only to feel his arm grabbed by Stark near the thing called an 'Elevator', "Thor buddy! Wait a second, what was it you were going to say about your brother Loki and Frost Giants?"
Thor had been too tired by that point to brush off Stark's determination so he simply told the truth, "My brother is a Frost Giant."
"Reindeer Games is a Giant Ice Man?" a strange look spread across Stark's face.
"Yes well, have a care Lord Stark, for he is still my adopted brother, " replied Thor wearily.
"Right. Sure Thor, catch up with ya later," and Lord Stark swiftly walked away.
((Line Break))
Thor breathed in the sea's thick air. Four days ago had that meeting taken place, and since then Stark obsession over this so-called Jack had only grown. To the Lady Pepper's horror Lord Stark had begun to live like his mother Queen Frigga trapped in his workrooms.
The difference being that one person was acting out of sorrow while the other was seeking answers? Thor shook his head, his friend had even asked Thor to search Asgard for any clues in what kind of a creature this invisible boy could be.
Thor brought his hand to his face to rub his eyes, as he mentally listed the problems he faced: He no longer wanted to rule Asgard. He was torn by his love for Jane and his love for duty. He was worried about his mother's growing distance with all things. He feared his father's weariness as ruler. He wept for his once beloved brother who now resided in a cell as a broken man with nothing but dead eyes. He feared for Midgard and this unknown source of winter upon it? He feared for Asgard's future. He feared for Stark's sanity? He feared for his family. He feared too much.
So he was relieved when the voice of his father spoke behind him distracting him from his fears, "My son. I see you are hear gazing at the sea again?"
"It helps me focus," replied Thor, turning to his father.
"Ah. Well, you will have plenty of time to focus later, my son. Now I have dire need of you," said Odin standing in all of his battle armor.
"Father?" Thor asked baffled at his Father's battle ready appearance.
"We must journey to Jotunheim my son," answered Odin.
"Jotunheim?"
Odin looked old suddenly, "Something is happening."
Thor waited for his Father to continue, for if the Allfather wanted Thor to know something he would share it with him, at his own pace. Sure enough Odin spoke again, "The Jotuns are gathering in masses."
Thor felt his palm grow sweaty, a chill forming in his spine, "The Frost Giants have not gathered for over 5000 years?"
"They are gathering now," said Odin firmly, "They have sent a begging plea to Asgard. They are seeking aide."
Thor gasped! Jotunheim seeking the help of Asgard? It was unheard of! "Why in all the Realms do the Frost Giant's seek our aide?"
Odin took a deep sullen breath, before he turned his face away from his son, his eyes full of regret.
"I have made a grave error Thor. One that may lead to the death of us all."
"Father?"
Odin did not speak again however, instead he merely beckoned Thor to follow and together they made their way to Heimdall's repaired Gateway called the Bifrost.
On the way to Jotunheim Thor found himself repeating once more the same thoughts he had the day he had brought Loki back to Asgard six Midgardian months prior.
"How did it come to this?"
(((Disclaimer))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
So. Finally Chapter 2! As always I do not own the Avengers or Rise of the Guardians. Therefore anything you recognize forget it! It's not mine! I only own unique characters like Rosijen Frost! Any who this is written simply for fun!
I'd like to give a HUGE HUG to all those who have favorite, followed, and reviewed this fic! I am truly touched! And again I would just like to remind everyone that I work quite a lot and I am a slow poor writer so updates must be viewed as special treats and not daily tidbits. To make up for this I will try to write long chapters!
Now speaking of chapters I realize this one may be confusing, if not also a bit dark in some spots. I apologize for the confusion. I also just want to say this fic will have dark moments in it. So brace yourselves it's going to be a bumpy ride!
Anyway I honestly found this chapter a bit difficult to write on multiple levels for many reasons.
Still here it is! I won't be doing as in depth a disclaimer as last time!
Though I will say: You are suppose to enjoy the irony that Thor almost, almost made it to connecting the dots and then utterly failed. Sigh poor Thor.
Anyhow, I shall now start typing Chapter 3!
Again, I'm a bit of a lousy writer, positive feedback is welcome! Though I apologize if I don't respond right away! Here's to all you wonderful people! -Stella L.
P.S. Questions will rise & fall as the story progresses, have fun with theories, but to get answers you will simply have to read on. I do not wish to spoil anything, so please just enjoy the ride! So to speak!