A/N: Hi! I'm back! Sorry this took so long. And that the end of this chapter seems really choppy. I openly admit that I am no good at writing action-y scenes so I skipped it altogether. Another reason is that I've had an interesting week at work. On another random note-OMG the holidays are coming! The holidays are coming!
The group appeared in the observatory dome, facing Heimdall as the lights faded. Jane grinned, giddy from the rush. The boys both looked up at Heimdall, and instinctively stepped back, each taking one of Darcy's hands.
"Welcome back to Asgard." The gatekeeper intoned. Thor nodded slightly and began to walk past him, when suddenly Loki appeared in the dome. Fenrir and Jormagundar both raced forward, throwing their arms around his waist. Loki smiled, putting a hand on each of their shoulders.
"I told you you'd get to come home soon, Jormagundar." He said quietly before turning to the rest of the group. "I need you all to come with me. There's no time to explain. Everybody join hands." They all did as they were told. Before they could even blink, they were all inside the healers chambers. Thor, Loki and Fandral all headed for the door. Fenrir grabbed onto Loki's coattails, trying to stop him.
"Father, take us with you!" Loki turned to face the boy.
"Fenrir, you're only a boy. You have no place in a battle. Wait here for Hela to wake up." Both lads stared up at their father disappointedly.
"But we can fight!" Jormagundar said.
"No. I will not lose you again. You're staying here." Fenrir scowled, and transformed into a large black wolf, snarling viciously. Loki took an instinctive step back. He heard a low hiss coming from across the room, and saw Jormagundar in his serpent form, this time looking more like a dragon than a sea creature. His scales were no longer dull and black as they had been in the loch, but were now a deep green, with gold tracing around the edges. Two thin streams of smoke trailed from his nostrils, and he stared his father down with his golden eyes. A ghost of a smile crept across Loki's face.
"I suppose you can fight." He conceded. Fandral and Thor exchanged an amused glance. This was going to be interesting.
Tony landed on the balcony of the tower, relieved to be home. He'd seen some crazy things, but yesterday's events had to be the icing on the cake. He went over to the bar and poured himself a scotch, and rested his elbows on the marble countertop. A sense of unease shot through him. Someone was watching him.
"Jarvis, turn on the lights please." Tony stood up straight, ready to suit up if he needed it. Slowly, the lights came on, revealing Fury and Agent Coulson. Tony scowled. "Okay, this is out of line, guys. I don't know who exactly you think you are, thinking you can barge into my tower…" Fury held up a hand, effectively silencing the billionaire.
"You allowed the rest of the Avengers access to the premises. As I am the one who assembled your team, I have every right to be here." Tony glanced over at Phil.
"Come on, Agent, help me out here…" Phil held his hands up.
"I don't want to be here any more than you want me or Fury here." Tony shook his head.
"You don't really bother me, it's Eyepatch over there that's giving me the creeps." Phil looked relatively pleased by that. Fury ignored the name-calling.
"Stark, it has come to my attention that you allowed Loki to stay in your tower."
"Yeah, so? I've had worse houseguests before." This comment was followed by a pointed look. Phil hid his laugh behind a cough.
"You harbored a known criminal." Tony held up a hand.
"He's not really that bad. He's just a guy who's looking for his kids. I don't see why you have a problem with this." Fury's ears perked up at the mention of Loki's kids.
"His children were here on Midgard? Why didn't we know about this?"
"I dunno, maybe because you would've locked the sorry bastard up? That, and possibly tried to capture his kids as well, which wouldn't have worked out, by the way…" Tony poured a little more liquor into his tumbler, and took a slow swallow. "He may have a few issues, but he's really not all bad." Phil looked a little uncertain, but Fury was livid.
"I ought to terminate your involvement with the Avengers Initiative after this, Stark." Tony smirked.
"And who exactly was it who agreed to fund your little response team, Fury? Who offered the Avengers a place to stay if they needed it? Who's currently re-fitting the Helicarrier?" Tony paused, trying to look like he was thinking. He took another sip, belching quietly, covering his mouth with his fist. "Oh yeah…that was me."
"I don't have time for this crap." Fury said, his ego a little bruised. "Coulson, deal with this." He turned and left. Once the director was out of sight, Tony glanced over at the agent.
"Care for a drink?" Coulson smiled.
"Sure."
After the battle, the Fenrir-wolf glanced around searching for his brother. The dragon tackled him, both of them rolling to a stop a few feet from Loki. They slowly transformed back into their two-legged forms, and ran over to the father.
"Told you we could fight!" Fenrir crowed triumphantly. Loki ruffled his hair before setting him back down, and picking up Jormagundar.
"Are you all right?" he asked, hoping that the battle hadn't had too severe an effect upon his youngest. Gunner wrapped his arms around Loki's neck.
"I'm fine, father. I wanted to be able to help." The boy whispered, closing his eyes.
"Let's go find Hela and your grandmother, then." Loki shifted Gunner in his arms and picked up Fenrir as well. Thor saw them, and smiled. It was nice to see this side of his brother. Gunner perked up a little when he saw his uncle.
"Can I walk, Papa?" Loki set the boy down, and Gunner ran over to Thor.
"Jormagundar, what's going on?" Thor asked, picking the boy up and swinging him around in a circle before settling him into his arms.
"Did you see what I did?!" Gunner asked. Thor grinned. He had seen the enormous jet of flame unleashed upon the attacking Jotuns. After that, they had sounded the retreat, and gotten back to whatever path-between-realms they had come from.
"Indeed, it was a most impressive feat, young one. Your father should be proud of you." Loki grinned over at his brother.
"Believe me, I am. Let's go see what the damages are, and check on your sister."
"Yes sir!" Fenrir said, squirming free of Loki's arms. Gunner looked up at Thor.
"Can you let me go? I want to catch up with my brother."
"Of course." The two gods watched the younger ones run on ahead. Thor turned to Loki, amused.
"Why does this seem familiar?" he asked. Loki gently punched his arm.
"Why do you always ask the most obvious questions, brother?"