"When they told her her story was written in the stars,
She went to the heavens and crushed each one with her bare hands,
Stars have no power over her,
The night sky is hers now,
And she will carve it with constellations of her own."
–Never Tell a Goddess Her Fate by K.S.
"On a scale of one to ten, how would you say the pain is?" Bruce asked.
"Five," Freyja said stiffly.
He gave her a doubtful look.
"I have a high tolerance for pain," she explained, not bothering to say why. "If it makes you feel better, I'm certain that it will be a seven in two minutes."
She lay on her borrowed bed, staring up at the ceiling as she mentally prepared herself for the pain that would greet her. Her shoulder had healed itself, but it hadn't set properly, and needed to be broken again so that she could fix it. A twisted piece of steel had worked its way into a major nerve in her ankle and the entire left side of her torso had been scraped raw despite her armor.
Thor was standing at her side, Mjolnir in hand, as he waited for his orders. He wasn't exactly pleased with the prospect of deliberately causing her more pain, but she managed to persuade him. She cut off a large piece of her tunic with her good arm and twisted it until it resembled a rope before she placed it between her teeth.
"Are you sure this is the best way?" Thor asked skeptically.
"We can't take her to a hospital like this. Not only would they have no clue what to do with her, but there are still too few people in the city at the moment. And she doesn't have enough energy to fix it herself."
"If Loki hears I did this, he'll have my head for a mantelpiece," he sighed.
She rolled her eyes, focusing on the ceiling with more interest than necessary. She heard Thor give a resigned sigh before he struck her, not as hard as he would an enemy, her bone broke with a sharp crack. Her scream was muffled by the cloth as she bit down hard on the tough material. She grimaced as Bruce set it for her and she pulled out the leather when he was done.
"Thor, could you bring Hermes in?"
All of the gods, and the other Avengers, were in the living room of Tony's penthouse. Freyja couldn't summon enough strength to create a portal just yet, so the immortals bided their time. She was just grateful that they seemed to be getting along.
"If you need energy, Freyja, you know I can help," Thor told her.
"No, you are fatigued as it is. Besides, I wish to speak with him."
Thor nodded, walking out of the room. She yelped as Bruce suddenly pulled the scrap of metal out of her ankle.
"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "I figured it wouldn't bother you as much if you weren't paying attention."
She nodded in understanding, grimacing as he gently prodded her side. Her armor had long since been removed and, although she wasn't ruining Tony's mattress, there was still blood slowly seeping out.
"Is it possible for a Vanir to bleed to death?"
"That is the same as asking if decapitation will kill me," she answered. "Vanir are immortal, not indestructible. I may be a little stronger than the average human, but I will still die, if subjected to certain debilitating wounds."
Iovantucarus, the Celtic god with orange curls and a kind face, came rushing in before Bruce could reply. Thor and Hermes walked in after, looking in shock at the blood-soaked sheets.
"I felt that something was wrong. It seems I was right," the god of healing said as he placed his hand on her side.
"It is good that your instincts are often right. How fare the others?" she asked as his hand began to glow white.
"A few scrapes, some minor cuts, many bruises, nothing too difficult to handle. You seemed to have gained the worst of the wounds."
"One of the many hazards of fighting an Eternal," she sighed as the cut healed under his palm, her tone only half-joking.
He moved his hand to her shoulder, causing the bone to knit together again, faster than it would have relying solely on her magic.
"You should not allow yourself to obtain such injuries. Though I am sorry to say it, few find it within themselves to look past the scars on one's skin to love them."
She laughed, "I have no scars, my friend. And you know that my only-"
"Your only love is mischief," he finished. "So you have said many a time. There are some days on which I doubt the existence of your so-called man of chaos."
"One day, perhaps, I shall disprove your lack of belief," she told him, sitting up slowly. "But, for now, you must take me at my word
He nodded and left the room, no doubt to heal the rest of Tony's guests. Thor, Hermes, and Bruce stared at her in confusion, reminding her that none of them spoke Old Gaelic.
"When did you learn the language of the Goidels?" Hermes asked, one angular eyebrow arched in query.
"You must have wondered where I ran off to every now and then."
"Zeus would have been furious had he known."
"You should know by now that Zeus never held any power over my actions," she said. "But as long as we're on the topic, I was wondering if you could perhaps hint to him the idea of setting up permanent communication between the immortal realms."
"Athena, with all due respect, do you know exactly how dangerous that could be?"
"Our differences may cause problems, but the possible alliances are worth the trouble."
"And if you cause a war between the worlds?"
"I know what I'm doing, Hermes. War will not break out among us."
"How can you be sure?"
"Just mull over it, please?"
He sighed, "I'll see what I can do, but I make no promises. My tongue is not made of silver, and you know how adamant Zeus can be."
"Thank you."
"I suppose you're returning to Asgard," he said, not bothering to walk out just yet.
Quietly excusing himself, Bruce took the opportunity to take his leave. Thor watched her carefully, as Hermes had switched into English with his question, and she knew she would have to answer. She gave both an assenting nod.
"Make sure to visit Olympus soon," Hermes said. "We all miss you."
"I'm sure Hera and Aphrodite would be positively thrilled to see me again," she said sarcastically.
He threw his head back with a laugh, his hands clutching his sides as though he might otherwise fall apart, as he walked out. Thor turned to watch the younger god, a peculiar expression on his face.
"He is similar to Loki, in certain ways."
"In certain ways," she replied, getting to her feet. "But Hermes' sense of mischief comes from his love of games, and Loki's from his curiosity and his hunger for attention. At their core, they are actually very different."
He shook his head, "No wonder the Greeks named you goddess of wisdom. Zeus has told me some interesting stories. Speaking of Zeus and the other gods you invited, how will you send them back?"
"The same way I brought them," she scoffed as they walked out the door. "Honestly, Thor, what good is a head on your shoulders if you don't use it?"
He laughed, recalling when Loki had once said the same thing. Freyja smiled as well, happy that he had realized she was teasing him, as well as looking forward to the moment she would return to Asgard. But that would have to wait, as Tony had decided to throw a celebratory party. Thor was having her bring a barrel of Asgardian ale by magic later on. She had a feeling that she would have to stop Tony from getting alcohol poisoning.
Freyja, hair returned to its usual shade of red and feeling much more like herself, walked out of her borrowed room with a fervent wish that she could disappear. Natasha had come to her with an apology for her antipathy, explaining that she would not forgive Loki but wouldn't hold her responsible for his actions or for falling in love with him. Freyja had thanked the superspy for her honesty. Though they might disagree on Loki's mental state, they could at least act civil towards each other.
She had even given Freyja a dress to wear that evening. It was made of rose-colored silk, with a Queen Anne neckline, capped sleeves, and a hemline that rests just below her knees. A gold belt sits at the waist and Freyja graciously accepts the shoes that match. It is a rather beautiful, if a bit vivid for her taste, gown and Freyja finds she only has to barely adjust measurements for it to fit her.
Tony was the first to spot her, a look of shock on his face, "Is that Natasha's dress?"
"It is," she concedes. "It would seem we have come to a sort of truce."
"Well, you look as I'm not really sure who wore it best," he said with a smirk. "Let's go see what Spangles is up to."
As it turned out, Steve was at the bar with what looked vaguely like Tony's best scotch. Freyja had the unfortunate knowledge of every type of liquor Tony owned, courtesy of him having her taste every one of them, and knew immediately that Tony was not going to be pleased. Steve choked on his drink when he saw her.
"Is that my fifty-year-old Glenfiddich?" Tony asked, raising an eyebrow.
Steve pulled his eyes away from Freyja, face red as a beet, to glance at the glass, "I don't know. Clint gave it to me, said it was the best."
"Damn it! Where is Robin Hood? I need to show him what he gets when he steals from the rich."
He walked off without another word, leaving an amused Steve and a very confused Freyja.
"I actually understood that reference," he said with a laugh.
"That makes one of us," she replied, sitting down next to him.
He gestured to the dress, "Tony's idea?"
"Natasha's, actually."
"You look ravening – ravishing. I meant ravishing," he corrected himself hastily.
"Thank you," she answered, biting back a laugh. "Although I would have gone with something more subdued in color."
"That's Nat for you. I'm surprised you're over here, practically alone. Nat already had to fight off about four of your friends."
"Mild disregard spell," she explained. "It dissuades any interest aside from friendship or familial bonds."
"Really?"
"Being the goddess of beauty is not always a benefit. Many men cannot differentiate love from obsession or lust. And, for some inexplicable reason, I cannot appear plain, no matter how I change my face. It is a side effect of my mixed blood. I'm stuck with using spells to turn away men."
"You're complaining about being beautiful?"
"I suppose I shouldn't be, but it becomes tiresome when I find myself facing suitors who only want my hand in marriage for the bragging rights, as Tony calls them."
"And Loki doesn't want bragging rights?"
She laughed, "He wouldn't mind having them, as everyone else brags about their winnings. But he does not see me as a prize to be one. We courted for three centuries, by Midgardian time, and never spoke a word of it simply because I asked him not to. I am lucky to have found him."
"As opposed to…?"
"As opposed to having a husband who would prefer me to have an empty head, as most Asgardian men do."
"All muscle and no brains?"
"You have no idea. The one reason Loki and I got along so well: we both preferred tactics to sparring."
"You can't be too bad at fighting. I heard you took out over fifty of those Brood before Thanos found you."
"I said I didn't fight, not that I couldn't."
"Do you ever just say the entire truth?"
She gave him a crooked grin, "On occasion. But where is the fun in that?"
He laughed at that, downing the last of his drink, "So what brings you over here, to my lonely little corner, when so many of your friends would obviously want to catch up?"
"Sometimes I prefer to be alone," she answered. "And what of you? All of these beautiful people around you, and yet you sit here with me. No one to dance with?"
He shrugged, "Guess I'm still waiting for the right partner."
She watched him carefully, catching the sort of wistful look in his eyes, and couldn't help but glance into his possible futures. It didn't take long to filter through for what she was looking for. She focused on the vision of Steve standing next to a coppery-skinned woman, both of them looking out the window of an unfamiliar building at the cityscape below. Although they were silent now, apparently having finished their conversation, Freyja could tell there was a comfortable air around the two. The woman turned slowly and laced her fingers around Steve's neck, gently pulling him down into a kiss.
"Would you like to know something?" Freyja asked, pulling free of the vision.
He shrugged, "Why not."
"A year and a half from now, you'll meet one of your right partners," she told him. "But she has been hurt deeply before – how, I cannot tell – and she will not trust you immediately. When she begins to doubt you, have patience. She will have faith in you."
"What?" he looked at her as if she had lost her mind.
She tapped her temple, an amused smile playing on her lips, "I can see glimpses of the future, remember? Trust me."
"You said one of the right partners," he remarked. "Who's the second?"
"Ah, but where is the fun in knowing the surprise?"
As she turned her eyes over the others, a flash of green caught her eyes. She peered into the crowd until she found familiar green eyes looking back at her. Loki smiled at her from across the room, looking immensely pleased, and motioned for her to follow him. She watched as he turned without further preamble and made for the overhang outside.
"If you'll excuse me, I have my own partner to see," she told Steve. "Oh, before I go, ask Thor about Asgardian ale. It's aged for a thousand years in barrels of built from the wreckage of a warship of legend, or so I am told. It should be enough to circumvent even your metabolism."
"Are you trying to get me drunk?" he laughed.
Freyja didn't answer aloud, offering him only a wink before she got up and walked towards the door. She wasn't going to bring up the fact that it had been Tony who had stated the super-soldier's inability to become inebriated, or the fact that it had been Clint who had confided that Steve sometimes said he would like to, as she felt as though it was an emotionally charged topic.
No one bothered her as she slipped outside. The warm summer air was a welcome surprise after the cold air conditioner of the building, and she couldn't help but wonder if Loki could feel the heat even through the projection. He stood with his back turned to her and, when he noticed her approaching, he glanced over his shoulder and smiled. She came to a stop beside him and looked down on the New York lights. The city glowed brilliantly against the darkness of the night, causing shadows to play across his face.
Uttering a quick spell, Freyja watched as the view was momentarily obscured by her aura forming a silvery net around them. It faded out of sight just as soon as it had appeared and Loki turned to look at her with a bemused expression.
"Trying to hide from prying eyes?"
She shrugged, "Perhaps I just wanted some privacy."
"Well, we are very much alone," he noted aloud.
"How did you know I would be here?"
"Thor," he said with a smirk. "He informed me that Thanos had followed you, and I knew you would face him. You have always had a particular form of bravery, Freyja, even if it is not one most Asgardians can acknowledge."
She gave a soft laugh, but said nothing in reply. She found she didn't need to as, just a few seconds later, he turned to face her. There was amusement in his eyes and she knew he had something to say.
"You graced the soldier with a dance. May I have the same honor?" he asked, holding out his hand.
She entwined her fingers in his as he brought her closer with one arm snaked around her waist. He led her into a traditional Asgardian dance, their bodies swaying slightly to a song no one else could hear.
"I must say, I am quite envious of all men who lay eyes on you in this dress. I would say it suits you, but I'm afraid you rather outshine the dress. I am, however, still partial to you in emerald. Even your usual cobalt has become a favorite of mine."
She laughed softly, "Perhaps I'll wear emerald tomorrow."
"Ah, yes. You're returning on the morrow. And I sense there is something you will want to discuss with the All-Father when you arrive."
She took her hand of his shoulder, not pausing in the dance, and summoned Freyr's dragon ring from its hiding spot in her room. Loki glanced at it for a single second before looking at her again. He had only seen it every now and again, but she could see the instant recognition in his expression.
"Where did you get that?"
"From Thanos," she answered, making the ring return with a flick of her wrist. "It came with a hint that my brother is not lost to me."
Loki gave a sigh, "Can you be sure that Freyr is even alive? I don't wish to bring you more sorrow, but I don't want you to chase after empty hints only to find your brother long since dead."
"If there is one thing Thanos unintentionally picked up in Vanaheim, it's that he never lies. He's out there, Loki, I just have to find him."
"Why do I have the feeling you're not going to stop until you either find him or his body?"
"Because you know me too well," she said.
"Do I?" he asked in mock surprise. "Funny, I wasn't aware of that."
"You know almost everything about me," she remarked, deciding to give in to the diversion he was intentionally creating.
"Such as?" he said in a playful tone.
Freyja's lips tugged into a smirk. If he wanted to play games, she would acquiesce. She was determined to tease him just as he once did to her. He stiffened ever so slightly as she leaned up to whisper in his ear.
"Such as exactly how I love to be kissed."
"Simple, you-"
"Show me."
A mischievous glint flickered in his eyes and she realized she had dug herself into a hole. He let go of her hand to lift her chin up slightly, leaning down so their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. When he pulled back, a false look of thoughtfulness crossed his face.
"No, that's not it. How about…?"
He trailed short, tender kisses that started at the corner of her lips and ended when he reached the hollow just below her jaw. She stifled a sigh, not wanting to let him know he was winning just yet.
"Or perhaps…" he murmured against her skin.
He brushed his lips down to her neck where he placed teasing, open-mouthed kisses over her pulse. She tensed when he bit softly into skin, his grin widening at her response, but she didn't give him the satisfaction of hearing her moan.
"Hmm…Ah, I remember now."
He moved quickly to her collarbone, not giving her time to refrain from gasping as he sucked on the still tender spot. He laughed against her skin as she blushed.
"Was I correct?"
"Took you long enough," she answered, trying and failing to sound aloof.
"Must you wait until the sunrise to return?"
"It's nearly midnight. Most of Asgard is sleeping."
"And I'd have you all to myself until dawn. All the more reason to return now, if you ask me."
"I am not spending the night in a prison cell," she pointed out. "While my people are less restrained than yours, voyeurism has never appealed to me."
He laughed at her unamused expression, thoroughly enjoying teasing her. It almost caused him to miss it as she sobered.
"Your projections are getting better," she noted. "I can actually feel this one."
"I've been saving my strength."
"And how does it feel?"
"Warm," he joked, turning serious as she gave him a look. "It feels comforting, less isolating."
She smiled, "Well, I appreciate your effort."
They fell silent once more, still moving to a slow tempo. Freyja watched as a concerned edge crept into Loki's eyes. An inevitability, she supposed, and she steeled herself for his questions.
"How are you, love?
"Tired," she answered honestly. "But I also feel…relieved. I suppose I shouldn't, as I just killed someone, but it's almost as though a weight has been taken from my shoulders."
"How was he dispatched?"
"Mirrored victim spell, a powerful one. The building collapsed from the aftershocks."
If he saw her guilt on the matter, he didn't say anything more on Thanos. Instead, his lips pulled into a wry smile, and she knew he was going to go back to teasing.
"And yet here you are, a vision in starlight."
It wasn't how I am to die, she thought. But she wouldn't tell him that. Not only could she not yet tell him about the prophecy, as she was incapable of doing so, but she wasn't sure she would ever have the heart to tell him. So she forced a smile and a joke.
"You would believe a few tons of rock and metal would be enough to kill me? What small faith you have in me!"
He laughed, shaking his head at the theatrics. After a second, he looked down at her with a smile, resting his chin atop her head.
"I will always have faith in you."
Her heart sank at his words, but she said nothing. Freyja simply shut her eyes and tried to relax, telling herself that she was safe, even if just for the moment. Renascentia still hung over her head. But, for those few minutes, she would enjoy the small peace she had been awarded.
After all, there would be other times to worry.
Freyja, Thor, and Loki will return in HeartTorn.
The Avengers will return in Alchemist: The Seventh Avenger.