Title: Out of Space and Time
Author: sheraiah
Rating: T
Genre: Avengers/LOTR crossover
Summary: The Tesseract and the Bifrost aren't the only ways by which to travel between the worlds, and there are more worlds than Thor has spoken of. When one of the pathways goes awry, the Avengers are called in to clean up the resulting mess.
Disclaimer: If I owned any of it besides the plot, I wouldn't be slaving away in retail.
A/N: I center a lot of the interactions around food, as I'm sure you've noticed. I'm of both Italian and German descent (I actually have 11 different nationalities in my family tree) and almost all family functions in my large, extended family revolve around meals. The sharing of a meal is a great equalizer and a good way to get to know someone.
A word on updates: I'll be writing as fast as I can, but I do work retail and it's absolutely insane right now. I loathe working retail at Christmas. Updates will be posted as frequently as I have the energy to write them.
"Do all of you live here at all times?" Legolas asked. In truth, he was as curious about the beings he was staying with as they were about him.
"No. Tony has other homes, but he's here most often since the team formed. Steve has an apartment elsewhere in the city. Clint and Natasha both have quarters with S.H.I.E.L.D., and I think they both have someplace of their own as well." Bruce shrugged, putting the frying pan in the device he had told Legolas was called a dishwasher. "I mostly stay here."
"I wondered. This is a good place, but there are times when one wishes privacy."
"He'd deny it to the grave, but Tony likes having us here. There aren't many people who have seen the things we have. It's just easier to be around people who know what you've been through." He closed the device and turned to lean against the counter. "We all of us have varying degrees of PTSD. Having someone around you that knows how to react if you're having a bad day helps a lot." The confused look he got prompted him to elaborate. "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It's a fancy name for flashbacks and nightmares caused by seeing some pretty terrible things."
"Ah." There was a wealth of understanding in that one syllable. "I understand. My kindred are not immune to this." His eyes briefly met the scientist's, reminding him of stormy gray skies. "Nor am I, myself, if I am completely honest." The two of them were alone in the kitchen, the others having drifted their separate ways after breakfast.
"I thought as much," Banner said. "I triaged your wounds after Tony found you. I have a pretty good idea of what caused them." Legolas' hands curled into fists on the counter, his expression profoundly unhappy.
"Bruce, I," the elf bit his lip, his hands tightening to the point that his knuckles whitened. "I do not wish to speak of this where any may enter the room."
"Okay," the scientist agreed calmly, but with a hint of steel behind his words. "We could continue the discussion in your room." Cap might be the leader, and Tony arguably the most contrary member of the team, but when Bruce put his foot down, everyone listened. Legolas merely nodded, rising and beginning to head towards the elevator. Bruce followed.
"Talk to me," Banner said, sitting cross-legged on the floor in the potted-tree forest Tony had set up in the room Legolas was occupying. The elf was perched on the edge of one of the larger trees' planters, one hand resting on the trunk.
"I know not why I am willing to do this," the elf said. "I have known you no time at all."
"Sometimes that's best," the scientist offered. "I don't have any pre-conceived ideas about who you should be. All I know is that you're hurting and I want to help."
"Perhaps you are right," Legolas sighed. His gaze fixed on the corner of the room. "The orcs were doing what passes for play among them so far as I was concerned. They are foul, cruel creatures but more so to my kindred. There is a deep, abiding hatred between elves and orcs that goes beyond the warring over the centuries." He met Bruce's eyes briefly. "Orcs began as elves, captured by dark powers, tortured and mutilated into the first orcs. That is where the hatred arose. From that time, they were always cruelest to elves that they captured, far beyond what they did to any of the other races. They were trying to make sure I lasted a long time. They needed not worry about food for a time, the Haradrim provided them with enough of that for several days, and with additional sport when I was beyond their reach."
"How long were you their prisoner?"
"I am not certain. Four days at least, I think." He focused on the corner again. "My recollection is somewhat dim, for I was injured already when I came to be in their hands."
"You said the men in the orc's camp were Haradrim? Aren't they not exactly friendly themselves?" Bruce frowned.
"Gondor has a treaty with them, and for the most part they honor it. These were bandits, operating outside the control of the ruling powers in Harad. A troop of Gondorrim and I had been tracking them after a few villages were raided. The Haradrim were greater in number than we realized, and more canny. The battle did not end well for us. I do not know how many were slain, but I was the only one taken captive. They meant to sell me into slavery, I believe." He closed his eyes, resting his forehead against the trunk of the tree. "Had I not been injured, they would never have taken me. As it was, I was merely biding my time until I healed enough to escape them. It was simply ill-luck that the orcs found us first." He was quiet for a few minutes before resuming.
"Some of them managed to escape. The orcs were content with the number that they caught. They carried us several miles before they felt safe enough to stop. I remember little after that."
"How long had you been with the Haradrim before the orcs came?" Bruce asked, his voice gentle.
"Not long. Less than a full day, I think." Legolas sighed, slipping off the planter to sit on the floor. "We were not so far from Ithilien that I could not have easily made my way to either my home or Faramir's. That is one of the things that concerns me: there should not have been orcs in that number there."
"I can understand that." Bruce leaned his back against the planter he sat in front of. "That's one thing that is worrying you. What else is?"
"My father. I do not know if he can sense that I still live. I cannot sense him at all, but he is more powerful than I am." He glanced over at the scientist. "He will be mad with worry for me, but if he thinks me dead, it will destroy him. And Gimli. Gimli will never believe that I am lost unless he finds some trace of me. Until then, he will never stop searching." He laid his head on the edge of the planter. "As I would do were it Gimli who was missing. Never would I give up searching for him." He looked up again, his eyes bleak with despair. "And I can do nothing. I know not even where to begin." He angrily looked away. Bruce reached over, laying a hand on his forearm.
"You can start by knowing that Tony and I are doing everything we can to figure out how to get you back. Thor as well, in his way, by asking his father's aid. He said they had had some contact with the Valar. Perhaps they will lend their aid." Legolas looked at him, very obviously struggling to regain his control. "We know how to track the anomalies now. That's the first step in figuring out how they work. I can't promise you anything, but we're all doing our best and our best is pretty damned good." The elf swallowed hard and nodded.
"I will search my memories for anything that might be useful, however small." He looked Bruce in the face again. "Thank you. I will try not to despair."
"You need to rest again. You're still healing." Banner's expression turned stern. "Don't even try to tell me that you don't need to. I deal with Tony on a daily basis." Legolas gave a weak chuckle.
"No, I will not argue. I am no use to anyone in my current state." He regarded Bruce, lower lip caught in his teeth. "I...I do not wish to ..." he sighed, frustration at himself evident in his expression.
"You don't want to be alone," Bruce said. Legolas shook his head. "There's a couch in my lab. You can rest there while I'm working, if you want to."
"Thank you."
"Dr. Banner, Captain Rogers is requesting admittance," JARVIS' voice came through the speakers, albeit more softly than usual. "Shall I open the door for him?"
"Yes, JARVIS, thank you." He pushed his glasses up his nose and straightened, glancing over at Legolas. The elf was still asleep, laying on his stomach on the couch, right fist tucked under his chin, eyes closed. The door opened and Steve walked in, moving quietly for all his size. He too glanced at the couch before moving to Bruce's side.
"I'm guessing he didn't want to be by himself," he commented.
"No," Bruce confirmed. "He gave me some more detail about what happened leading up to when we found him. It was pretty rough."
"PTSD is a bitch," Steve agreed. The super soldier had his own struggles with it and clearly sympathized. Bruce nodded, his attention caught by one of his display screens.
"Damn it! We've got another anomaly."
"Where?"
"Looks like Western Texas."
"Right. Get ready to go." Steve looked at the ceiling. "JARVIS, tell everyone to suit up and assemble on the helipad." He strode towards the door.
"Understood, Captain Rogers."
Bruce sent his systems into sleep mode and went over to Legolas, gently shaking the elf's shoulder until he stirred. "Legolas, I have to go. There's another anomaly." The elf sat up quickly.
"I might be of help to you," he said, scrubbing his eyes.
"You're not well enough to go, but I have an idea." He picked up a tablet from his worktable. "JARVIS, integrate communications with this tablet so we can contact Legolas if we need his knowledge, please."
"Done, Dr. Banner. I have also linked the Iron Man suit as well."
"Good." He turned back to Legolas. "Keep the tablet with you. Tony, Clint, or Steve will contact you for information if we need it."
"But you will not?"
"No," Bruce said. "I can't wear a com." He didn't elaborate further. "Why don't you head to the common area. JARVIS can reach you there as easily as here." Legolas nodded.
"Very well, I shall do as you ask." He stood as Bruce grabbed a duffel from a cabinet. "Be careful, Friend Bruce." The scientist gave a humorless laugh.
"Believe me, I'm not the one you need to say that to." He opened the door, motioning for Legolas to precede him. "I'll tell Steve you're standing by to help." The elf nodded and they entered the elevator.
"Okay, let's take a poll: which is uglier; orcs or these things?" Tony flew around behind Steve and blasted the large creature lumbering towards them. It fell over, but got back up again, roaring at him. "These are definitely harder to kill." He blasted it again. "JARVIS, send Legolas an image of these things and ask him if he knows how to take them down."
"Sir, he does. He informs me that they are called trolls and the vulnerable areas are the eyes and mouth and a projectile fired there will kill them."
"Tell him thanks." Tony spun in mid air. "Cap, Cupid, you hear that?"
"Copy that, Tin Man. Tell him thanks from me," Barton said, sending an explosive round into the eye of the creature nearest him.
"How many do you see, Hawkeye?" Steve had stopped throwing his shield, the creatures just shrugged the blows off and kept coming.
"Four total, Cap. The Big Guy's on one of them." A pause. "One down, three to go."
"Way to go, Big Guy!" Tony shot a small missile into the mouth of the one he was battling. It finally fell and did not rise again.
"Two down, Cap. Big Guy's onto another and the fourth is heading towards you."
"Roger that, Barton," Steve acknowledged, bringing up his shield and bracing himself.
Suddenly a large, green form interposed itself between Steve and the creature. The Hulk roared at the thing, which roared back before closing with him. The creature tried to knock Hulk off balance, but Hulk was cannier and ducked under the blow, sweeping the creature's feet out from under it before landing a massive blow to the creature's chest. Steve heard bones cracking. The creature shuddered and went still.
"Good job, Big Guy," Steve said. Hulk snorted.
"No fun. Puny," he said.
"I hear you on the 'no fun' part, " Steve said, stretching his back.
"Cap hurt?" Hulk asked.
"No, thanks Big Guy. I'm fine." He hefted his shield to his back. "Barton, are we all clear?"
"Not yet, Cap. I see another one about a block over." He paused. "Never mind, Cap. Looks like the prodigal has joined us." A loud clap of thunder sounded. "Thor got him. All clear now." Hulk looked at Steve.
"No more smash?"
"No, Big Guy, looks like we're done here." Steve couldn't help but smile a little.
"Need Bruce?"
"Yes. We need Bruce. Thanks, Big Guy. You did great." He stretched his back again. Hulk frowned.
"Cap hurt. Bruce fix." He said firmly. His skin began to grow paler, and he began to shrink. Within moments, Bruce sat on the ground next to him, clutching his ruined pants.
"Steve, are you hurt?"
"I think I strained a muscle in my back. Nothing serious." He favored Bruce with a smile. "The Big Guy asked me the same thing."
"He likes you. He likes all of you," Bruce said, rubbing his face, exhaustion starting to set in.
"Well, he looks out for us," Steve agreed. "Come one, let's get you to the Quinjet. Fury's going to want a full debrief, I'm sure." He gave Bruce a hand up, steadying the smaller man when he swayed on his feet. "Come on, you can rest as soon as we get to the jet."
Legolas sighed, sitting back on the couch. He had assisted as much as he was able, the rest was up to the Avengers. He hoped it would be enough. One troll would be difficult enough to defeat, let alone several. He had counted three in the image that had appeared on the device resting on the table in front of him. He glanced at the ceiling.
"JARVIS?" he called, still uncomfortable with the disembodied voice. Tony and Bruce had both tried to explain, but he really did not fully understand.
"Yes, sir? How may I assist you?" the AI answered in the same, flawed Sindarin that the translator used.
"Would you let me know how they fare when the battle ends, please?"
"Of course, sir. Mr. Stark left orders to that effect. Agent Barton has asked that his appreciation for your advice regarding the trolls be passed to you."
"I am glad it is of help." Legolas pulled his feet up until he sat tailor-fashion on the couch. He really wished he had something to read, even though focusing on it right now would be a struggle. "How does one work the moving pictures?" he asked, gesturing towards the large flat screen on the wall.
"If you wish, I can operate it for you. Is there anything you wish to see?"
"I would not know where to begin, to be honest. Perhaps you have a suggestion?" He shrugged helplessly.
"I have a list of suggestions Mr. Stark made for Thor. Your situation is similar to his."
"That would probably be best. Thank you, JARVIS."
"You are most welcome, sir,' the AI replied. The screen before him flickered on and music began to play.
'Why are there so many songs about rainbows...'
Legolas wore a slight smile as he watched the adventures of the frog puppet and his friends. He supposed it could be childish that he liked this so very much, but at the moment it was a very welcome distraction. Besides, Gimli would dearly love this. They would argue about it, as they did nearly everything else, but Gimli would love it. Particularly the rat, he thought. He shook himself. The Avengers were all well, according to JARVIS, and headed to do something called 'debriefing' before they returned to the Tower. He truly did not wish to sink back into the maudlin mood that Bruce had talked him through. Just then his favorite of the puppets appeared on the screen and his smile grew. The elevator dinged and he turned to see Tony's lady crossing the distance between them.
"Mistress Potts," he greeted her.
"Pepper," she corrected gently, smiling slightly. "Being left behind really stinks, doesn't it?"
"Truly, it does," he agreed. "I am unused to being idle when there is a battle afoot, despite knowing that I am not well enough to be of help in any way other than providing information at the present time. I have been assured by JARVIS that everyone is well."
"I know, Tony always calls me as soon as he's able after a battle," she said, sighing and sitting down gracefully. "I love the Muppets." She gestured to the screen. "I always liked Miss Piggy best."
"I do as well," he confessed, giving her a sheepish grin. "She reminds me a bit of a couple of ladies I am acquainted with. I was just thinking that my friend Gimli would enjoy this, but I think he would like Rizzo best." She laughed.
"Tony loves the Muppets, and he's gotten Thor and Steve addicted to them, too." She stretched. "It'll be awhile before they get back. I'm ordering massive amounts of comfort food for when they get here. Any particular thing you might want?"
"Chocolate, please?" She laughed again.
"Tony's created another monster, I see. Figure of speech," she assured him quickly, but he only smiled, shaking his head.
"He is studying my reactions to the things he introduces me to. He wishes to know more of me but does not wish to ask me as Bruce does." He gave her an enigmatic look. "The two of them have among the keenest intellects I have seen in all my years."
"In mine as well." She sighed. "They're good for each other, too. Bruce keeps Tony grounded, reminds him that he needs to make time away from his lab, and Tony makes sure Bruce doesn't retreat from everyone and become a hermit. He has a tendency to do that."
"I see that in him. He has deep scars that have yet to heal, if indeed they ever can. He sees the pain others bear more readily because of it." He smiled again. "That is true of Tony as well, though he tries to hide it."
"Unsuccessfully. We've all figured that out. We just don't let on to him that we know." She chuckled fondly. Her phone chirped and she glanced down at it. "That's Tony letting me know they'll be here in about an hour." She tilted her head, clearly weighing something in her mind. "They'll be ravenous, they always are. S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't take Steve, Thor, or Bruce's metabolisms into consideration when they pull them off a mission for debriefing. They need to start at least feeding them." Her expression shifted and she nodded decisively. "Definitely Italian. Heavy duty comfort food is in order, I think. And some cannolis and tiramisu for the sweet tooths among us." She gave Legolas a grin. "Be right back." He nodded, returning his attention to the screen as she walked towards the elevator, giving JARVIS instructions as she went.
The food made an appearance before the Avengers, even though Pepper assured him that they had arrived. They all had wished to clean up before coming to the common area, she had said. Legolas helped Pepper set the food out on a long table that they moved into the common area from an adjacent dining room. It smelled wonderful, and was kept warm by rather, he thought, ingenious warming devices. She pointed out to him what each dish was called, listing what was in it as well.
Soon, the team trooped in, filled their plates with the many dishes Pepper had ordered, and sat on the rug around the coffee table to eat and debate whether to put in a movie. They were all sporting minor cuts and bruises, save for Bruce, and Steve seemed to be favoring his back a bit. In spite of that, he and Thor were putting away a truly large amount of food. Bruce, too, had a large appetite and was doing the feast justice.
"There has to be a pattern to the anomalies," Bruce said. "We simply haven't found it yet." Dinner and dessert had been consumed and the Avengers, plus Pepper and Legolas were lounging on the couch in the common area and lingering over their drinks.
"Save that thus far only evil creatures have come through them, excepting myself," Legolas said, turning his wine glass in his hands.
"Maybe that's the pattern," Steve put in raising his beer to his lips. "Good way to test our defenses, or spread us too thin."
"Actually, we did think of that," Tony said, turning to stretch out on the couch and putting his head in Pepper's lap. "I still think that's at least part of it, but there doesn't seem to be a pattern to the frequency." He gestured, a sweep of his hand. "I mean, two one week, one the next, one the following, and then nothing for over a week? It looks random."
"I wish I had more news for you, my friends," Thor said regretfully. "The Allfather is trying to contact the Valar to ask their assistance but has not been successful as of yet." He gave Legolas a mournful look. "Were it safe to do so, we would use the Tesseract, but alas, that road is no longer safe. If it were to fall into the wrong hands, the result would be catastrophic for the universe. We cannot risk it."
"I would have no innocent lives risked on my account," Legolas replied firmly. "We will have to find another way."
"We just don't have all the data yet," Bruce said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Perhaps the pattern has to do with Arda rather than here?" Legolas frowned, obviously thinking hard. "If it is a matter of location there, it would not be discernible here, yes?"
"Yes.." Tony sat up quickly. "Yes, that's right, it wouldn't be. So, how do we work around that one?"
"We know roughly where I was when the anomaly that brought me here happened." Legolas chewed his lip, thoughtfully. "Far south of Ithilien, almost to the border." He glanced at Tony with a slight grimace. "Which I know means little to you."
"Maybe, maybe not," Tony returned. "Where might the trolls have come from?"
"I know not for certain, any of the more remote mountainous areas might harbor trolls." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "As much as I am loathe to say so, I am afraid we must wait until we have more information, which means that we must wait for more anomalies."
"I hate to agree, but..." Bruce shrugged helplessly. "As Tony's so fond of saying: we can't do the equation without all the variables."
"Sucks, but it's true," Tony affirmed, rising from the couch and heading towards the bar. "Anyone want a refill?" Pepper, Steve, Clint and Legolas answered in the affirmative and Tony made the rounds. "Careful there, Thranduilion. Don't want to mix those nice pills S.H.I.E.L.D. gave you with too much wine or we might be peeling you off the ceiling."
"That would only be an issue if he was actually taking those nice pills," Bruce said, giving Legolas a stern look over the top of his tea mug.
"I do not like the way they make my head feel," the elf complained. "I am well enough without them." He shot Bruce a slightly smug grin. "Besides this wine, while very flavorful, is not terribly strong. It would take far more than two goblets to affect me." Clint gave a snort of a laugh.
"That sounded like a challenge!" The S.H.I.E.L.D. archer/assassin raised a brow at the still smirking elf.
"Perhaps," Legolas said mildly, before becoming serious again. "But only after Bruce deems me fully recovered." He raised his glass to the scientist. "It is remarkably short sighted to unnecessarily irritate one's healer."
"You're healing as rapidly as Steve does. You shouldn't need more than a few more days." Bruce wore an amused half-smile. "There's a nice archery range on our training floor. I'm sure Clint will drag you down there as soon as you're cleared for it."
"Dragging will not be necessary," Legolas said, sitting forward eagerly. "I miss my bow."
"So do I when I'm sidelined," Barton said. "How heavy a draw are you used to?" he asked, moving over to sit next to the elf. The rest of the team, realizing that they had become superfluous to the archery conversation, began the movie debate anew.
Aragorn Elessar Telcontar rose from where he had been kneeling on the ground to trade a grim look with the elder of his wife's twin brothers. "The trail simply vanishes here. No signs of an attempt to cover their tracks, no false trails, nothing. Have you ever seen anything like this, Elladan?"
"Never," the peredhel said, worry chasing consternation across his face. "Nor have I ever known orcs to cover their trails."
"Let us fan out and see if we can find some other sign of their passing." Aragorn raked his hand through his already disheveled hair, looking far more like the ranger he had been rather than the king he now was. "I cannot give up on him."
"No, " Elrohir agreed, moving to stand between his twin and their law-brother. "He would not give up on us, any of us. We can do no less, for his sake and for that of Thranduil and Gimli."
They fanned out, keen eyes searching the ground and sparse brush for any sign of their friend or the orcs that had taken him, the troop that Aragorn had to travel with since becoming king of Gondor and Arnor following in their wake.
'Legolas,' thought Aragorn, 'where are you?'
The movie that had ended up winning the vote was playing, the volume lowered somewhat in deference to Pepper, Steve, and Legolas who had all dozed off before the halfway point. Thor had gone to his room before the movie began, citing a wish to say good night to Jane via Skype. Pepper was curled up with her head resting on Tony's shoulder while Steve occupied the thick rug in front of the couch, throw pillow under his head and blanket draped over him and Legolas in his preferred place on the couch also with a pillow and blanket.
"He doesn't really need the blanket, you know," Bruce said after Tony insisted that one was mandatory. "Cold doesn't affect him like it does us."
"He may not need it, but it's plain that he likes it," Tony argued. "Look how he curled up under it as soon as you laid it over him. It's a comfort thing, not a necessity thing." He sipped his drink. "Like you have to have your tea, and Cap his punching bags, and me, my bourbon, et cetera."
"Okay, point taken," Banner conceded. "He puts up a good front, but don't be fooled. He's got it, too, just like the rest of us do and he's going to have good days and bad days just like we do."
"Don't see how he wouldn't," Barton put in. "Guy's been ripped away from his world, not to mention having been tortured for how many days? That'd leave a mark on anyone."Natasha nodded her agreement.
"That's the surface stuff," she said. "There's far more there underneath than he told you, Bruce. Old hurts, things he hasn't dealt with." She arched a brow at Tony. "Unless I'm very much mistaken." Her tone said she wasn't. Tony glanced at Bruce and the scientist shrugged.
"My money's on Natasha on that one. As good as she is at reading body language and reactions, I'd say it'd be a sucker bet to bet against her." He fidgeted with his watch. "I mean, we all have our issues. Why should it be that much different for him? By his reckoning, he's recently been through a pretty intense and catastrophic war."
"Okay, I'll buy that," Tony said, nodding thoughtfully. Then he smirked. "Next you're going to say he has Mommy or Daddy issues."
"Mommy issues." Natasha met his gaze coolly. "He's mentioned his father several times, but never his mother."
"I noticed that, too," Bruce said, glancing at the elf. Tony looked thoughtful again.
"You know, Tolkien never mentioned Legolas' mother. He wasn't much on writing about female characters, with a few notable exceptions: Arwen, Luthien, Galadriel, Eowyn, Gilraen, Elwing, Celebrian to name a few and except for Galadriel and Eowyn, they're mostly mentioned in passing or in the appendices. Or the other works that his son published after his death. But he doesn't mention a wife for Thranduil and mother for Legolas at all." He shrugged. "Kind of makes you wonder who his source was."
"I vote for some full of themselves Noldor, personally," Natasha said with a sniff. "It's pretty plain from the collected works that the Noldor considered the Silvans as a whole and many of the Sindar to be little more than a bunch of hicks."
"True," Tony said. "Unkind of them, and not really accurate, but true." Legolas made a noise, almost like a sob in his sleep and everyone but Tony froze. "JARVIS, turn his translator back on, just in case," the billionaire said calmly.
"Of course, sir," the AI responded. Tony just shot an 'oh, come on now' look at his still wakeful fellow Avengers. The elf twitched hard, rolling sharply against the back of the couch.
"Nightmare," Bruce grunted, rising. Before he could take a step towards the elf, Legolas cried out, rolling off the couch and landing hard on the carpet, his feet hitting Steve in the backs of his knees. The super soldier rolled away and sat up, going from deeply asleep to fully awake in an instant. Legolas, too, had awakened, his eyes wide, obviously disoriented. He spoke rapidly, but in a tongue that the translator wasn't programmed to convert to English. He looked around wildly for a moment before his eyes landed on Bruce and he seemed to remember where he was. His shoulders slumped and he drew a hand over his face. The scientist knelt next to him, not touching him but close.
"Legolas, are you all right?" Bruce asked quietly. The elf nodded, closing his eyes and making a visible effort to regain his composure.
"Yes, I..." he looked at Bruce for a moment before taking a deep breath. "Forgive me, I did not mean to startle you."
"Don't apologize for having a nightmare," Steve said, scooting to sit on the elf's other side. "That's something we all do." Legolas just nodded, rubbing his face again.
"I think I shall retire for the night." He glanced around the room. "I thank you again, for everything you have done on my behalf."
"We're glad to," Steve said, giving him a reassuring smile, his Captain America charm on full.
"Yeah, don't mention it," Tony said.
"He means: you're welcome." Bruce rolled his eyes. "I'll walk you to your room." His tone was kind but brooked no argument and Legolas acquiesced without protest.
"Want to talk about it?" Bruce asked as they reached the door to Legolas' room. The elf glanced at him, lower lip in his teeth, something that Bruce had noticed he did when he was feeling unsure of himself.
"I..Bruce, I would not call that a nightmare, or even a dream." He studied the scientist for a long moment. "It did not feel like a dream." He turned, resting his hand on the door but making no move to open it. "I think, perhaps, that my father may now know that I still live." The look he gave Bruce then was one that held far more hope than he had seen in the elf's eyes since he had awakened. "We must find a way for me to return home."
TBC