Title: Out of Space and Time ch5
Author: sheraiah
Rating: T (to be safe, there's some swearing)
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 received a review, don't remember if it was here or , complimenting me on not making Legolas the prettiest, strongest, fastest, etc. I love flawed characters, they're much more interesting to write, and really we're all flawed in some way. It just makes us more real.
The entire story arc that this belongs in all started with the two of them. If you are interested (shameless plug), the arc begins with 'Of a Father and Son', my first LOTR story. I've been writing fanfic since I was 11 or 12, over 30 years now, but I only started writing LOTR after my daughter was born and I only started writing Avengers with this story even though I've loved superheroes all my life, starting with Aquaman and Wonder Woman when I was in pre-school.
If I had to pick a fave superhero now, it would be a really tough call. I adore Cap, Barton, Thor, and Tony equally. Banner has a special place in my heart right now, though because I adore Mark Ruffalo's performance so very much. He has become my Bruce Banner in the same way that Viggo Mortensen has become my Aragorn, Karl Urban has become my Eomer, and Ian McKellan just is both Gandalf and Magneto.
oOo
Legolas notched the arrow, drew back the string, and released. As easy as breathing to him, he had missed his bow fiercely. It was an extension of his body, as much a part of him as his limbs were. He repeated the actions until the quiver was empty and then stood back, watching Clint shoot the rest of his quiver. The corner of Barton's mouth twitched.
"Show off," he muttered, not truly upset at finishing last. Legolas chuckled.
"Your aim is truly impressive," the elf commented as they examined the results of their shooting. "I have never seen your equal among Men."
"We're pretty evenly matched," Clint said, walking toward the targets to retrieve his arrows, Legolas mirroring his actions. "Your draw is heavier, and your range is longer but beyond that we're about on a par."
"Those two things are only because I am an elf," Legolas said modestly. "Take those away and it is obvious that your skill is the greater."
"What is this, a reverse pissing contest?" Tony asked from where he, Steve, and Natasha sat observing. "Geez, Legolas, have I taught you nothing? Talk some smack, for God's sake!" Natasha and Steve traded a glance and both simultaneously elbowed Tony in the ribs, Natasha much harder than Steve.
"There, fixed that for you," she commented, ignoring the scowl the billionaire shot her. Legolas just looked amused.
"We are not competing at the moment. We are saving that for when Thor returns with his lady." He grinned suddenly. "I can 'talk smack' with the best of them, Tony. Ask Gimli, should you have the opportunity. He will tell you so." A puzzled look crossed his face. "However, how does one have a contest with piss?"
"Well, we'd show you, but Natasha'd be at a disadvantage," Tony said, putting his arms between his ribcage and his companions' elbows. Tasha just arched a brow at him as if to say 'Really? You really want to go there?' as the color in Steve's ears spread down his face and below his collar. Legolas threw back his head and laughed.
"Never mind, I understand now." He turned to Barton, who was sniggering. "Shall we shoot another round?"
"Does a bear shit in the woods? Of course!"
"You have the strangest expressions," Legolas commented, shaking his head and hefting his quiver back onto his back before taking his place to begin shooting anew. As soon as Barton stopped laughing and took his position, the activity began again.
oOo
Once Legolas had reached the limit of activity that Bruce had laid down, he stayed to watch Steve and Tony, the latter in his suit, spar and then Steve and Natasha went up against each other. He had known that she was no one to be trifled with, but watching her spar, seeing her holding back, he realized just how deadly she really was.
She was also silent, unlike Tony who gave a running commentary to everything, including sparring. 'Smack talk' seemed to be his specialty and it was amusing. In fact, some of his comments reminded Legolas so sharply of Gimli that the elf had to bite the inside of his cheek and dig his nails into his palm to avoid disgracing himself. He excused himself and returned to his room.
He was regaining his strength and with it his control over his dreams. He still had nightmares, but they were less frequent and did not incapacitate him as they had before. The anomalies were still occurring, there had been another six in the last three weeks, all either orcs or trolls, and there had been civilian casualties with the last few due to where the anomalies had opened. That fact had hit him hard, as it had the team.
Tony and Bruce were still analyzing data, still searching for answers. Legolas scoured his memories for clues, spent hours with the two Men in the labs, ran over every scenario could think of to find clues, but it remained a waiting game, a game of cat and mouse, one in which the mouse currently had the upper hand.
OOo
Steve found Legolas in the common area, the elf's preferred place to be unless he desired privacy. He was engrossed in the language tutorial Tony had put together for him, determined to render the translator useless as quickly as possible. Steve sat down beside him on the couch.
"How're the language lessons going?"
"Well, I think," the elf replied in English, grinning when Steve's eyebrows rose. "Much have I to learn yet, but I learn." He switched the translator back on. "You have news for me, do you not?"
"I do. I had a meeting with Fury this morning. We've gotten the okay to take you into the field with us the next time there's an anomaly." He grinned at the determined expression that settled onto the elf's face. "So, with that, we need to get you equipped with the proper gear." Steve's expression grew serious. "Understand, you're an observer until I say otherwise and you'll have to follow orders."
"I understand. This is your realm, you know it and I do not. I will follow your leadership, Captain."
"That's all I needed to hear," Steve said, his expression and his shoulders relaxing. "If you're to a stopping point with that," he gestured to the tablet, "we can go get your gear." Legolas saved his lesson and powered the tablet down.
"Let us go, then," he said, eagerness patent in his expression.
OOo
Gimli, son of Gloin guided his pony along the path toward the Elvenking's stronghold at as fast a pace as he dared go. Legolas' people were still getting used to the reality of his friendship with a dwarf of Erebor and there had been a few minor incidents. He had no wish to end up on the wrong side of any of the Elvenking's subjects until after they found Legolas.
Aragorn had sent the messenger to him rather than directly to Thranduil. 'Thranduil will know that something has happened, Gimli. His bond with Legolas is the strongest I have ever seen between an elven parent and child. But news such as this cannot come from a mere messenger, or by letter. If I or Elladan or Elrohir could have made the journey, we would have. As that is not the case I trust this to you, my friend. Break the news to him as gently as possible and assure him that we have not given up our search,' Aragorn had written. Gimli wished it were otherwise, but Aragorn was right, Thranduil needed to be told by someone who loved his son as dearly as Gimli did and not by a messenger.
Gimli had journeyed to Erebor three months earlier to visit his parents. Gloin, while still in good health, was nearing the end of his life and Gimli traveled between Algarond and Erebor a couple of times a year to visit his father. Whether it was good luck or ill that put him so far away, he did not yet know, but he had received his parents' blessing to travel to the Wood of Green Leaves to meet with King Thranduil and then to travel to Gondor to join the search for his shieldbrother.
He slowed his pony, knowing that he was nearing an area where sentries would be posted. Sure enough, he was hailed a moment later.
"Well met, Gimli son of Gloin," a fair voice called. "You are expected." The sentry dropped down from the tree he had been occupying and Gimli relaxed a little when he saw that it was Legolas' friend, Thorondur.
"Well met, Thorondur." Gimli clasped wrists with him.
"I will accompany you to the stronghold, Gimli Elvellon. The King has been expecting you for some time now."
ooo
To Gimli's surprise, it was to the Elvenking's private study that he was taken as soon as he had removed the grime of travel from himself rather than the throne room as on previous visits. Thranduil was not in formal attire, he wore a simple shirt, surcoat, and breeches similar to Legolas' preferred attire.
"You have come to give me news of Legolas," the king stated after he had greeted Gimli, bade him be seated and handed him a flagon of ale. "I knew something had happened. Tell me."
"Aragorn writes that Legolas disappeared during a skirmish with Haradric bandits. The rest of the patrol he was with was either killed or injured. A couple of the survivors saw the bandits carry Legolas off. Aragorn and the twins tracked them. A band of orcs overtook the Haradrim and they tracked the orcs until all trace of them simply disappeared. That is all I know beyond that they continue to search." Gimli sighed heavily and took a healthy swig of the ale. "I brought Aragorn's letter with me if you wish to read it."
"No. I thank you, but no." Thranduil rubbed his forehead and Gimli was both shocked and concerned to see plainly signs of stress and fatigue in the ageless king. "Let me tell you now what I know: Legolas is alive. He was badly injured, but is healing now. I do not know where he is, only that it is very far away indeed."
"That's far better news than I expected," the dwarf said, his shoulders slumping with relief. "Question is: what now?"
"I intend to travel to Gondor. I have merely been waiting for you to arrive," Thranduil said baldly.
"I rather thought that's what you would say," Gimli replied, nodding firmly. "How soon do you want to leave?"
"In the morning. I wish you to have a night's rest in a bed before you have to travel on horseback." The king graced Gimli with a wry smile. "That is, if you will consent to ride with me as you do with my son."
"No escort?" he asked, surprised.
"No. Only my closest advisors know of this. Carandraug will act as regent while I am gone, as he has in the past."
"What does Master Luinloth have to say about it?" Gimli knew that Thranduil's valet/assistant/herald was a notorious mother-hen who rarely let the king out of his sight.
Thranduil sighed.
"He is going with us, of course, but only him. We will be able to travel far more swiftly the fewer of us there are." He sat back, studying Gimli for a moment. "Have you had your dinner yet, Gimli?"
"Not yet. The elves who showed me to my rooms made certain to bring me a light meal when I arrived."
"Neither have I. In truth, I have had little appetite of late. I shall send for a meal, and for Luinloth, and we will discuss the details of our journey over our meal." He rose and walked to the door, giving instructions to the elf stationed outside.
Ooo
The sun had not yet passed the horizon when the two elves and one dwarf set off from the stronghold towards the realm of Gondor.
Ooo
Legolas frowned, looking at himself in the large mirror. "I need bracers," he stated, turning to look at Steve. "And sleeves." The super soldier chuckled.
"You heard him," Steve said to the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent assisting them. "Barton may be fine with no sleeves and barely any type of bracers, but he isn't Barton."
"Understood, Captain Rogers. Just a moment, please." The agent left the room and Steve turned back to Legolas.
"Other than that, how is it?"
Legolas was dressed in black pants, boots, sleeveless shirt, body armor designed for S.H.I.E.L.D. by Stark Industries, and equipped with a lower tech version of Clint's quiver and bow as well as a pair of long daggers that the elf had had designed for him based on a description he had given Steve and the subsequent drawing Steve had made based on that description.
"Good, I believe. I wish to test it before attempting to use it, as you say 'in the field'." The elf turned, checking straps and buckles for sturdiness. "It is very well made," he said, nodding.
"Good. We'll solve the sleeve and bracer issue and you'll be set." Steve glanced at his watch. "Fury wants to talk to you before we head back to the Tower."
"I would have been surprised had he not wished to speak with me," Legolas remarked, tugging on a strap. The agent returned with a different shirt and the requested bracers, ending the conversation.
Ooo
"I know Cap's briefed you a bit on the chain of command and your role," Fury said, pacing along the guard rail on the meeting room's deck. "I want to be certain it's crystal clear to you that we're doing you a courtesy here, in part because you've been assisting the team wherever you could and in part because you're stuck here for the foreseeable future until Stark and Banner have their Eureka moment."
"I do understand that, Director, and I appreciate that this was far from an easy decision," the elf replied. "I am grateful to be of use until I can go home." He met Fury's eye calmly. "It is the least I can do to repay both S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers for their actions on my behalf." Fury nodded, turning to face Steve.
"That's it then. Captain, you're responsible for him. See that neither of you make me regret this." He nodded to both of them before exiting the room. Steve turned to Legolas.
"The Quinjet's waiting for us. We'll make it back to the Tower in time for dinner."
ooo
The call came in the wee hours the next morning. An anomaly had opened over Eastern Tennessee and the Avengers were needed. Steve's instructions to Legolas were explicit: he was to stay with the two agents accompanying the team and with Banner, unless Banner was needed. If and when Steve decided they needed Legolas, he would call for him. Other than that, he was to act as an observer and support crew only. The elf accepted the orders without argument and they headed out to face whatever had been sent through from Arda this time.
"Do we have a visual yet?" Cap asked, as soon as his cowl was in place.
"Infrared only," Natasha replied from the copilot's seat. Whatever they are, they're big and they don't give off much of a heat signature. We've had some civilian law enforcement chatter, but not much. It's a pretty small town, not a big police force."
"Can we make any sense of it?"
"Not really. Mostly what's come through have been screams, and then static." She turned to look at him. "I don't like the feel of this one, Cap."
"Neither do I," he replied, his jaw tightening. "We go in full force, defenses up." He looked at Bruce. "Sorry, Bruce, but I think we're going to need the Big Guy on this one."
"I thought as much," the scientist sighed. He glanced at Legolas. He and Steve had made certain that Legolas knew what Bruce's role within the team entailed. The elf had been surprised, but had taken the news remarkably in stride and had shown no hesitation in his presence since, despite being shown photos and video of the Other Guy.
"Be ready to suit up as soon as we reach the site. We'll have a look around and drop you where you'll do the most good." Banner merely nodded in reply.
The sky was just beginning to lighten when they arrived at the site. A quick fly over did nothing to add to their information so the team, minus Bruce, exited the jet to do some reconnaissance. It was no more than a few minutes before Steve, sounding more stressed than Legolas had yet heard him, requested that the Big Guy join the rest as soon as possible. Bruce leapt from the jet, transforming as he fell. Legolas, nerves taut as his bow string, listened to the chatter on the com.
"Shit! What the hell are these things?!" Barton's voice came over the com. A faint explosion sounded. "One down. Nat, you've got movement at 5 o'clock."
"See it," she said tersely. A pause, and Legolas could hear Tony's repulsors. "Thanks, Stark."
"No problem," Tony replied. "These damned things are fast. We could really use Point Break right about now. Cap, watch your back." His repulsors sounded over the com again. "Damnit, Cap, move your ass!" A pause. "Cupid, do you have a visual on Cap?"
"Negative," came Clint's reply. "Nat, you see him?"
"No. I'm headed toward his last known location. Keep these things off my back, Barton." Silence for several minutes, then... "Stark, get down here! Cap's down!"
"Roger that," Tony said sharply. A pause and then: "I've got Cap and the Big Guy's with Natasha. Heading to the jet, open the rear door for me."
Tony landed on the open ramp a few heartbeats later, Steve clasped in his arms, unconscious. Legolas and the two agents rushed to lower the injured super soldier to the deck. The elf, seeing the Man's injuries, drew in a sharp breath.
"Here, right here," he said, pointing to a puncture wound in the Captain's thigh. "It is a venom. It does not kill, merely incapacitates. He will wake in a few hours and be ill for several days, but he will live." He locked eyes with Tony, who had flipped up his face plate as soon as he'd landed. "How many are there?"
"I don't know," the billionaire replied, frustration lacing his tone. "We can barely see the damned things. What the hell are they?"
"Spiders, from the wood I was born in. He looked at the two agents and then back at Tony. "You will need my help. I have fought these creatures more times than I can count."
"Right. Okay, making an executive decision: Legolas, I'll give you a lift down." He looked at the agents. "Give him a com. Now." The agent didn't argue, just handed a spare com to the elf who attached and activated it as he had been taught to. "Let's go."
Legolas stood and walked to the end of the ramp. Tony grabbed a fist full of his quiver harness and leapt off the ramp.
Ooo
They landed nest to Natasha and Hulk. Legolas could hear the scuttling of multiple spiders in the woods around them.
"I hear at least a dozen," he said, drawing an arrow. "They are all around us. Do not let them close with you, or you will be in the same state as Steve." His eyes flicked up. "Barton, be wary. They climb faster than you can."
"Copy that. I've taken out five of them already."
"Then I shall have to catch up," Legolas said, a feral grin settling on his face. "The one who kills the most gets to choose our meal."
"You're on," Barton said. "Heads up, I see movement at your 2 o'clock."
"Roger that," Tony said, rising back into the air. He fired several blasts in that direction and was rewarded with an unearthly shriek.
"One for Tony," Legolas remarked. He caught a slight movement to his left and quickly turned in that direction, loosing his arrow as soon as he'd sighted. "And one for me." Natasha fired a volley into the brush ahead of them and was rewarded with another shriek. "One for Natasha" He glanced at her. "They will grow more wary now. We must be cautious. If we do not kill all of them by the time the sun rises they will retreat and it will be difficult to find them."
"You're the expert here," Tony said. "Just tell me where to aim." Just then they heard Clint curse and a crash. "Talk to me, Junior Birdman!"
"'M okay. One of the ugly f*ckers tried to grab my leg. I had to jump for it. I'm on my way to your location." Clint sounded a little strained but functional.
"Be careful," Legolas said. "Listen for the sound their legs make."
"Roger that."
The elf's eyes scanned the trees around them, ears straining for the tiniest sound that could betray the presence of a spider. "They are moving away from us, to the North." He looked at Natasha. "They have likely found what they deem to be an easier meal than us. We must give chase." He gave Clint a nod and a once over as the archer entered the clearing. "This will be more dangerous than simply picking them off. My people rarely chase spiders. Only at greatest need, to protect others will we attempt to chase them down. Stay together."
They moved as silently as possible, Hulk surprisingly moving very quietly for something his size. Tony went aloft again, opting to provide air support and evac if necessary. They moved through the trees, speaking only when necessary. Legolas was uneasy, there was something niggling at the back of his brain but he didn't have time to sort it out. After a few tense moments, he began to hear the spiders again.
"'Ware. Keep your wits about you now," he cautioned softly. He and Clint both notched arrows, letting fly as soon as he had a target. Natasha fired her pistols steadily as he and Clint loosed arrow after arrow in the gloom. Tony stayed aloft, but blasted any creature foolish enough to betray its position to him. As they fought their way through, his ears began to pick up additional sounds of fighting.
"Be careful, there are other warriors here, " he hissed, looping his bow over his back, "Now it is time for closer weapons." He drew his knives and darted forward, slashing a spider's belly as he ran under it. Natasha emptied her guns and Tony grabbed her, hauling her back to the jet, Cap's shield in her grasp. Hulk just looked things over for a moment.
"Hulk smash bugs!' he announced before wading into the fray. He was stung, but the venom had little to no effect on him. The stings hurt, however, and he screamed his rage ind went after the spiders with far more ferocity than before. The creatures scattered before him, running either into Legolas' and Clint's paths or falling prey to Tony's repulsors once he rejoined the fray. The spider's sounds faded after awhile and Legolas paused, wiping black fluid off his blades.
"The sun is rising," the elf said, glancing at the sky. "I no longer hear spiders, but do not assume that there are none." He cast a smirk at Barton. "What is your tally, friend Clint?"
"Twelve," Barton replied, a grim smile on his lips. "You?"
"Ten. I look forward to your choice of food." He looked up at Hulk. "What of you, Big Guy? How many for you?"
"Hulk smash bugs, many bugs," Bruce alter ego said. Clint and Legolas traded a look.
"You can pick the meal, Big Guy. I'll pick the dessert." He grinned again. "And Tony can pick up the tab."
"That's different from every day how, exactly?" Tony asked, hovering above them. "Guys, I see movement about 100 yards ahead of us. Stay sharp."
"Roger that," Clint said. Legolas merely spun his knives in his hands. They waited tensely as the sounds of movement became audible, moving closer to their position. "Don't shoot until we know what it is, but stay ready," Clint said. They moved forward to meet whatever was moving towards them. As they neared another clearing, a large object came into view. It looked as if a hole had been punched the fabric of reality. Around the edges was the forest they were stalking through. Inside the hole was a forest that was achingly, painfully familiar to Legolas and he gasped, stopping in his tracks. His companions halted as well. Inside the hole, the underbrush rustled and Legolas' hands tightened on his knives, Clint's on his bow. Three beings moved into their view through what could be nothing but an anomaly. Legolas' knives dropped out of his nerveless hands.
"Gimli? Ada!" He started to run towards the anomaly, which abruptly closed as he neared it. He gave a rage-filled shriek, falling to his knees where the anomaly had been, stunned. He whipped around to meet Clint's eyes. "Whoever is responsible for this, I want his blood!"
"We all do," Tony said, landing next to the elf and offering him a hand up. "Come on, I'll give you a lift back to the jet. Can't let the locals see you. Natasha will be reloaded and ready to go by now."
The elf nodded and allowed Iron Man to ferry him back to the quinjet.