A/N: Bum bum bum! Drama!
The Avengers, Loki, Iron Man, or anything of the like. Just the thoughts inside my head. And taking some personal freedoms with mythology and lore.
Loki frowned a little as he stood by the door. It had been far too long for Steve and Gabby to still be at the church taking pictures, and he knew that they would never skip the reception. He looked over at the wards he had placed around the hall yesterday. He had placed some around the church as well, and even Tony couldn't fault him for being cautious.
"I got nothing from their phones," Tony said as he came over. "I've got JARVIS doing a scan of traffic cameras for the car. Pepper has taken over and everyone's going to start eating soon, just saying that they were held over at the church.
"I have a bad feeling," Loki admitted. "I want to go out and look for them."
"Take Balder with you, then." Tony didn't argue with his thought process. "Thor will stay here, we can keep an eye out just in case. The man's getting nervous about his daughter, and he doesn't know about what we saw." He handed Loki an ear piece. "I'll let you know if JARVIS gets anything." Loki nodded and kissed him before heading off to get Balder. Tony put his hands in his pocket out of nervous habit and let out a little sigh.
Loki found his brother and motioned for him to follow. They walked out of the hall and Balder frowned a little. "Two days ago, Tony and I got,... a message. We think that a Fae has come here." Loki cleared his throat a little. "Possibly one of Lanhr's changelings."
Balder growled a little but Loki held up a hand, and nodded. "I know, I should have said something right away, but I thought it would be fine. I warded the church and the hall from any magical being, other than us, and none of them were set off."
There was a moment of silence before Balder spoke. "The car wasn't warded." Loki shook his head. "Then this was planned."
"I'm afraid so. I'm going to look for them now," Loki told him. "Tony and Thor will stay here, and he's already scanning for the car." Balder nodded and he slipped off his jacket. "I know of a spell that can help us. It will pick up their trail giving us somewhere to start."
"Are we sure that they're still on Midgard?" Balder asked as he followed Loki out of the building.
"I am, even if Fae can travel without being seen they can't if they're taking others," Loki told him. "Specially if it's against the others will. I would have sensed a travel spell like that, and they know it." Balder frowned a little, but didn't think much on it.
JARVIS had helped them track the car faster than Loki's spell, but the car was empty, the driver left unconscious in it. "Where would a Fae take them, without being seen?" Balder wondered, looking around. Loki took a breath and closed his eyes. As he exhaled slowly Balder looked over and blinked. A faint green trail appeared on the ground.
"They take them through the tear," Loki said as he opened his eyes. "Take my hand, we'll step through and find them."
"Wait, what's the tear?" Balder asked as he walked back over to Loki.
"A space between the fabric of reality of the realms. It's how the Fae travel unseen," Loki told him as he worked up a spell on his hand. "They slip out of sight, into the tear, where no one can see or interact with them, but they can see or interact with anyone on this side. Positions must be precise when leaving the tear." He grabbed Balder's hand and dragged two fingers down in a vertical line in front of them. The line glowed with green energy and Balder felt a faint wind before Loki pulled him through.
On the other side the area around them was the same, but the car was no where to be seen. The colors seemed to be a little dull and Loki let go of Balder's hand. The green trail was still on the ground and Loki started following it.
"How do you know so much about the Fae, Loki?" Balder asked as they moved. He usually didn't ask Loki about his personal life, knowing that they man liked his privacy, and he took the risk of being outright denied.
"I have encountered them before, on several occasions," Loki said, not looking away from the trail. "We aren't far," he lowered his voice as they were headed for the trees. "When we find them, take Gabby and Steve and head back to where we entered. I'll take care of the Fae and-" Loki stopped talking and held back a growl. "I'll take care of Lanhr. For good this time."
"I thought you had-" Loki shook his head a little and Balder nodded. Loki moved his hands and the snow turned silent under their feet.
Loki didn't like that it was silent, that he couldn't hear anything, no movement or talking. He sensed Lanhr, sensed his magic, knew he was physically close. He had to be waiting for them. They walked a little further and Loki sucked in a breath and Balder gasped as something passed through them.
Loki turned back to look at Balder who was frowning. "I can't call upon my powers," Balder said looking back up at Loki. Loki cursed and turned when he heard the sound he had wanted to hear just moments ago.
"I've been working on a few things since we last met, Silvertongue." Lanhr walked towards them through the trees. "And the first thing was to disable your Asgardian magic. I needed a level playing field since I've still yet to recover all of my powers. I had planned on using those two Midgardians," he spit on the ground as he spoke, "but the bitch is pregnant and there's something wrong with the other one."
"If you have harmed them or the children-" Balder started to growl out, stepping forward before Loki stopped him.
"Don't worry," Lanhr rolled his eyes. "She's too early for me to have done what I wanted. Her own energy is currently feeding the other two life forms inside of her, it's too weak for me to take. The Midgardians have ruined the man, changed him somehow." Loki never thought that he'd be happy about Steve having gotten the serum. "So instead I simply blocked your powers."
"That's not actually going to help you," Loki snorted a little. Lanhr growled, his fist starting to glow before he launched at Loki. Loki narrowed his eyes then caught his fist with his glowing hand. There was a crack and the an illusion of trees disappeared. Steve and Gabby were surrounded in a ring of elven runes and Lanhr's eyes widened.
"This shouldn't be possible," he growled and took a step back. "What did you do!"
"I didn't do anything." Loki shook his hands out, calling onto more power. "You underestimated me."
"That spell should have taken out your powers, no matter what breed you are!" Loki could tell that the Fae was furious now, and he smirked a little.
"Balder, I'm going to break the spell, and you will get Gabby and Steve," Loki said as he kept in front of Lanhr.
"I'm not letting any of you go, not this time," the elf growled. he launched at Loki again and Loki caught his arm and threw him to the ground. Lanhr grabbed his hand and flipped Loki down onto his back before rolling up. Loki snaked out and grabbed his belt pulling Lahnr back. He grasped onto an amulet in his pocket and pulled it out, slamming it to the ground, smashing it with his powers.
A shockwave pushed through them and Balder called up a wind to deface the runes on the ground. Steve had taken Gabby's hands and followed the older god quickly as Loki and Lanhr fought. "Dad, if he can fight against our powers, isn't there a way to disable the powers of a Fae?" She couldn't leave Loki to fight without help.
"No!" Loki shouted turning to face them. Lanhr threw a spell at him and he disappeared, a clone shimmering away. "Just get out of here!"
Lanhr threw a spell to the ground revealing the actual Loki and he slammed him against a tree. Loki reached out and grabbed his neck, digging his nails into the Fae's neck. His other arm reached up and grabbed his shoulder and pulled. Lanhr screamed when there was an audible pop then the breaking of bone.
"You were weak before I broke your spells," Loki hissed at him. Lanhr narrowed his eyes then started to laugh.
"Why didn't I see it before! That's how you were able to break my hold on your pet!" Lanhr laughed louder and Loki growled, digging his nails deeper into his skin. "It all makes sense, and oh I hope to be there when they find out." The both stopped when they felt the prickle of a spell.
Loki's eyes widened and he looked over at Balder who was working a spell. "Balder! No!" He fought to get free from Lanhr's grip. "Don't release that spell!"
"It's aimed at Lanhr!" Gabby called out. Balder was too engrossed in the spell to hear Loki shouting.
"No, it's aimed at Fae!" Loki growled and kicked the elf away from him. "Don't do it! I'm part Fae!" His eyes widened and he gasped when the spell released. Both him and Lanhr fell to the ground unconscious.
