DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters from Guardians of the Galaxy, either in its movie or comic incarnation. I own any OC I can invent, though. I am not making a £ out of this. It is just for shits and giggles.
Thanks to , diarmour and MadelineT for their reviews. I'm glad you enjoyed the update and humbled by the compliments. I never imagined this story would become someone's favourite. It means a lot to me.
This is the first chapter of the new arc, in which I try to weave together more strands of the MCU, and it is also relatively long.
Warnings: angst, grief, oecumenism, religiously-motivated bloodletting, mentions of odin behaving like a dick and some silliness.
Enjoy, and please don't shout at me!
After the hearing, they all move to the Temple to say Grace.
Inside great dome, the air still smells like smoke and blood. It sets Ronan's nerves on edge, but he tries to stay calm.
He hasn't had the opportunity to pray formally, in a real temple, with the right rituals, for a very long time. Peter, Drax, Rocket and Gamora never came across as very religious, and Groot is... well, Groot.
Usually he just goes to the closest temple on his own, in his spare time, or prays by himself in his room, but this time Gamora has insisted that they all should go and give their thanks to the gods.
Shanleigh and the other three have insisted about coming too, as have the four Xandarians, several of Peter's sisters, and obviously enough, Vesta.
It's more an oecumenic ceremony than a simple, private thanksgiving, but it still suits him fine. More than fine, actually.
He is happy to stand next to Gamora, Peter and the others as they light the incense and make libations in front of the winged statue of Pama.
He remembers his parents doing this together, at their small domestic altar, while he and his little brother watched in awed silence. It pleases him to be able to continue the tradition with his new family.
Gamora's parents were religious too, most warriors are, one way or another, and they managed to teach her the ways to honour the ancestral gods of her people before they were taken away from her.
She finds her gods among the many foreign gods ensconced in the Temple of a Thousand Faces, and for the first time since he knows her, Ronan hears her speak in her native language as she worships them.
It sounds very different from Trader's or even High Kree, but it is almost eerily beautiful.
Her voice rises and falls in a chant, as she raises the libation cup to the sky. Ronan doesn't understand a word of what she is saying, but from her expression and the hint of tears in her eyes, it must be heartfelt.
She lowers the cup back on the altar and turns towards the rest of their party.
"Peter, Ronan, come here." she invites.
They do, without hesitation, and stand on either side of her, waiting for her instructions.
Gamora sets the cup down on the altar and pulls out one of her knives. Green blood drips in the spiced milk of the offering, marbling it with colour.
She wipes the knife and passes it to Peter, who doesn't hesitate to prick his finger and let some of his red blood mix with hers.
"Are you alright with this?" the Terran asks, handing the knife over to Ronan. He looks slightly worried and Ronan loves him even more for that.
"I'll be fine." he replies, and cuts a small nick into his palm, letting the blood flow into the cup, adding darker swirls to the rainbow of colours.
Gamora smiles and nods, setting the knife down on the altar. She picks up the cup again, and both him and Peter join her, holding it with her and rising it again as she chants some more, thanking the gods for seeing all of them safely through their latest ordeal.
Originally she had some misgivings about doing this, because only formally bonded triadas used to perform this ritual, but eventually she decided that the gods would show understanding for their situation, and see that, while they aren't formally bonded, their committment is no less serious.
So there they are, repeating the words of a language to all extent and purposes dead, and honouring the gods of an almost extinct people. Because of Thanos, Gamora is the last of the Zen Whoberi people, and her traditions will die with her. No one will speak their eerie, singsong language, no one will praise the name of the Ever-Maiden and her two consorts, no one will sing their old songs... All will be dust.
They share the libation cup between the three of them, like the High Priestess used to do with her two Champions. It should have been disgusting, but instead it tastes sweet and fruity, and at the same time smoky and slightly tingly like peppercorns. It is an odd combination, but not unpleasant and even a small sip is enough to warm him up a little. It must be the spices, or maybe it's the sheer intimacy of the gesture.
"Nothing says 'we are one' like sharing a bit of blood, eh?" Peter comments, looking more uncomfortable than either him or Gamora. It is odd, since he was the one who had come up with the idea for their little bloodplay scene at the Silk Den.
Context, Ronan muses, context is everything.
Blood rituals are relatively common in Kree religious practice, but Ronan bets they aren't in whatever faith Peter grew up with on Terra.
He lets the subject drop and just smiles at him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders for comfort.
They move from altar to altar, paying homage to the gods of Xandar and those of Spartax, to the manes of Shi'ar and the divine ancestors of the Skrull.
It takes time, but they have it, and this is something that needs to be done.
When she finds her gods in a small alcove, Nebula breaks down in tears and it seems that nothing will ever stop them.
She doesn't remember the names of the gods of her people, she doesn't remember how to worship them, but she remembers the multi-armed, flexible-limbed statue of the goddess standing over the altar where her mother made her last stand against Thanos to defend her, and remembers it painted in blood when Thanos killed her in front of Nebula's eyes.
Loki kneels on the ground beside her, holding her against his chest. His red eyes gleam with barely repressed anger.
So far, according to what Peter has told him, Nebula has been his anchor in his moments of weakness and breakdown. She has never faltered, she has never let him down, and now, as she breaks down in turn, after a lifetime of keeping her pain bottled up, Loki does his best to repay her in full.
Ronan doesn't know whether they should try to help too, or leave them alone, and by the looks on their faces, the rest of the Guardians don't know either, while the four Accusers seem just extremely embarrassed.
As usual, Groot is the one to break the impasse, slithering in Nebula's lap and hugging her gently with his branches. It seems to make her cry even more, but she doesn't chase him away. Upon the contrary, she frees one arm from Loki's embrace and wraps it around the plant-child, holding him even closer to her body.
This seems to push Gamora over the edge of her indecision. She kneels on the floor too, next to her sister, and whispers words of comfort in her ear as she pets her newly grown hair.
Ronan sighs and kneels next to Gamora, even if his wounds twinge in protest after all the abuse he has put his still-recovering body through.
Nebula stood at his side almost to the very end on the Dark Aster, and now he is going to be at her side and support her, if she accepts his help.
"He is going to pay for what he did. - he says quietly, placing a hand on her shoulder - I promised this to you once, and I am going to renew my promise today. Thanos is going to die by our hand, Nebula. Justice will be done for your mother and your people. We have sworn to make it so." he adds.
It is not much in the way of consolation, but it's all he can offer.
Her loss is too great and still too raw to be soothed by platitudes.
This must be the first time in years that she allows herself to cry for her family and her people. He doubts that Thanos would have been so kind as to let her mourn them properly.
Nebula cries and cries. There is no shame in it. It just means that she is finally healing.
Her face is blotchy and her organic eye is all puffy when she finishes, but she seems a bit calmer, a bit better.
"I will remember. - she says, standing up and wiping the last of her tears from her face with her metal hand - I will remember your names, gods of my people, and when he's dead I'll come here and sacrifice to you a fat ewe that never bore lambs, like my mother used to do after a battle." she promises.
Her voice trembles, but she manages to stay in control.
Loki stands too and hugs her tighter. "And then you'll teach me, so there will be two of us to remember them." he offers.
Nebula nods in agreement, then in a spur of the moment, grabs him by the lapels of his coat and kisses him hard.
Things seem to be mending, Ronan thinks as he pushes himself upright.
Suddenly a loud clap of thunder rumbles above the Temple.
"Aw, shoot! This one was close. - Rocket exclaims - We're gonna get soaked just crossing back to the Palace!" he adds, ears dropping in disappointment.
Ordinarily Ronan would have felt tempted to make some sarcastic remark about how pitiful the Raccoon looks when he is miserably wet, but Loki's reaction has captured his entire attention.
For a moment the Jothunn slips back into his pale pink-skinned Asgardian persona, then turns back to his true form with a grimace.
"That's no natural thunderclap." he announces somberly.
"Wait, what?!" Rocket exclaims, but Loki doesn't wait to reply to him and in a split second has already teleported out of the Temple.
"What the hell is going on here?!" Peter protests.
"That was the Bifrost." Nebula replies with a certain anxiety.
"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Rocket insists.
"It means that someone or something is arriving from Asgard." she replies over her shoulder as she starts running straight out of the temple.
Gamora curses and runs after her.
Ronan exchanges a glance with Peter and they both start running after them as fast as they can, which in Ronan's case is a lot slower than his usual pace.
He hears Rocket curse loudly and start running too, huffing and puffing and struggling to keep up with them with his shorter legs. From the sound of it, he is running bipedal, which is odd, because he can move much faster on all four limbs.
"I am Groot!" Groot exclaims.
Ah, now he understands why. Rocket is carrying the plant-child as he runs.
Ronan hears the thump of a pair of boots, someone is approaching fast, then Rocket yelps.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?!" he exclaims.
"I am carrying you, I thought it was self-evident!" Drax replies.
In a moment he has managed to fall in line with Ronan and Peter, and the Terran nearly runs into a doorpost because he is guffawing at them. Drax is carrying a slightly terrified and quite humiliated Rocket and the Raccoon in turn is holding on to Groot for dear life, while the plant-child laughs merrily. It is enough to bring a smile to his lips.
As soon as they step outside, though, things get suddenly serious again.
Loki is standing in the middle of the plaza, squarely in front of a rushing column of multicoloured light, which is quickly coalescing into a bipedal silhouette.
They take their places behind him, in a loose defensive semi-circle, weapons in hand.
The Accusers and the Nova are not far behind and join in the defense. Whatever emerges from that thing will have to mind their behaviour or face a serious beating.
The light suddenly fades, revealing an Asgardian man, pink-skinned and muscular, with long blond hair and a short beard. He is wearing an armour and a cape, and a hammer hangs from his belt. He looks like he knows how to use it.
"Bro... Thor Odinsson." Loki greets, masking his grimace with a polite incline of his head.
"Brother! - the newcomer exclaims, looking surprised - What are you doing here?! And where is...?" he starts.
"The All-Father is in the Imperial Palace, at the moment, conferring with the rest of the Council. - Loki concludes for him - I assume you were looking for him..." he adds coolly, even as his form flickers again between Asgardian-like and Jothunn.
"I was, but you... - he stammers - What are you doing here, Loki? Does father know? Has he pardoned you?" he asks, caught between sternness and hope.
Loki shakes his head. "The All-Father has formally forbidden me to claim any relation with him or his kin." he reveals, managing to appear calm as a pond even though Ronan knows that it hurts him.
"The only reason why I am not in a dungeon once more is this." the Jothunn adds wryly, pulling out the Space Gem, seemingly from thin air.
It sits on his palm, glowing gently, and Thor looks at it with awe and horror.
"It's the Tesseract! - he exclaims - How can you have it?! It was..."
"It was in Odin's most secure vault, I know. - Loki completes smugly - I took it from there. It wasn't hard, since I was Odin at the time."
"This is preposterous! - Thor exclaims - How could you be Odin?" he asks.
Loki shrugs. "Easily. I have been shapeshifting unconsciously ever since I was an infant. Doing it voluntarily was hardly more challenging." he explains smugly.
"You took his place!" Thor accuses.
Loki just nods. "Ever since the Svartalfar invasion. - he confirms - Remember when you commented that he had mellowed out? You thought that it was because of mo... of his wife's death, but actually it was because I am not as heartless and cynical as he is." he comments angrily.
"So all the reforms he made, all the edicts he emanated..." Thor says, still shaken and astonished.
"Yes, it was me all along. - Loki confirms - You agreed with me. You realised that it must be done." he adds, now with a hint of desperation.
"I did, brother. Your actions were wise. - he agrees, inclining his head - But what about your intentions?" he asks sternly.
"My intentions? - Loki repeats - I wanted Odin to pay for his myopic idiocy. I wanted to rule. I wanted to prove to myself and the rest of Asgard that I could be wise and just, that I could be better than him." he hisses angrily.
"Petty, is it not? - he adds self-deprecatively - I was petty and angry. I was furious with him for using me as a political pawn against the Jothunn, for letting me believe that he cared when he did not, for leaving me to rot in that cell and pretending I never existed. And I was furious at myself, for letting Thanos use me in turn."
"Thanos? Who is Thanos?" Thor asks, more and more confused.
"He is the one who tortured me into near-insanity and then sent me to Midgard to wreak distruction on the not-so-puny mortals. - Loki reveals with a wry grin - He is the one who breeds wars of mutual destruction beween neighbouring systems all across the Universe. He is the one who breaks people into weapons. He is the one who seeks to re-unite the Infinity Gems and bring about Ragnarok. He is the enemy, and we have all sworn to fight him to victory or death." he adds solemnly.
"The Infinity Gems?!" Thor repeats.
Loki nods as if his adoptive brother is a bit slow.
"Yes, bro... Thor. Ingots of raw power born of the primordial forces of creation. - he explains - The Tesseract is Time, the Aether is Reality..."
"And the Soul Gem surfaced on Midgard only a few months ago." Thor concludes.
"Woah! - Peter exclaims - How comes three of the Gems have found their way to Terra?"
"I have no answer for you, man of Midgard, but this last one Loki brought it to Midgard with him." Thor replies.
A little chorus of "What?!" resonates in the plaza. Loki seems the most shocked of all.
"It was hidden in the Chitauri scepter you were wielding." Thor explains.
Loki shakes his head and chuckles.
"I was wielding two of the Gems and some mortals still managed to defeat me..." he comments self-deprecatively.
"It was for the best, mo chroi. - Nebula reassures him, placing a hand on his shoulder - And at least they didn't defeat you by distracting you with their pelvic sorcery..." Nebula comments archly, shooting a very obvious glance at Ronan.
"It wasn't because of the dancing per se, - the Kree feels compelled to justify himself, blushing furiously - it was because it was random and out of context." he adds lamely.
"So it was not because I am so sexy?" Peter provokes, winking and cocking his hips seductively.
"Peter, this is not the right moment!" Ronan retorts, blushing even harder.
Thor gives them all a totally flabbergasted look.
"Oh, don't worry, they are always like this." Loki reassures him with a grin.
"Who are these people?" Thor asks.
"These six are the Guardians of the Galaxy. - he adds, indicating them with a wide gesture of his hand - The four blue people are Kree accusers. The ones that look like Midgardians in the dark uniforms are Xandarians, those maidens are part of the Spartoi imperial family, and the two purple people are from the Shi'ar royal family..." he continues nonchalantly.
"And this is Nebula, my partner." he concludes finally, taking the Luphomorian's hand in his.
"Ah... - Thor manages - I am honoured to meet you." he says awkwardly, dipping a sketchy bow at Nebula.
"It seems you have made friends quite fast here, brother." he continues more archly.
"Anyone who can teleport a metric fuckton of incendiary bombs in Thanos' face is my friend!" Rocket comments.
"I used the Tesseract's power. - Loki explains, seeing his former brother's uncomprehending expression - I am its master and its vessel. It chose me. It is part of me, now. This is why the All-Father couldn't send me back to his dungeons." he reveals. He whips it out again, seemingly from nowhere and holds it in his palm again. All it takes is for him to concentrate a bit and the Gem dissolves into his flesh, becoming one with him once more.
"Is that the reason why your countenance is... changed?" Thor asks, looking even more awed than before.
Loki laughs and shakes his head. "Why I am blue, you mean? It would be a fine explanation, but no. - he replies - I am like this because this is how I really look. This is what I really am, and I am not going to hide it anymore, especially not to spare anyone's sensitivity." he reveals, his voice low and tense.
"I wanted for you, Queen Frigga and Odin to accept me, I wanted to be like you, so I hid my face behind a lie for years and years, for my entire life. - he continues, nearly shaking in anger - I lied so long and so much that I didn't know it wasn't the truth anymore. But now I know: I am not Asgardian, and I am not really Jothunn either, Odin made sure of it. I am some twisted in-between, with no place to call his own, and this is my face. You can either accept it or not. I don't care. I am not going to change for you." he declares defiantly, but his own body gives him the lie by flickering again between blue and pale pink.
No matter how tough he acts, Loki still craves the affection and the recognition of the only family he had ever had.
"I... It's strange to look at you and see the countenance of an ancient enemy of my people. - Thor comments, shaking his head - Doubly so because you are my brother, and I used to know your face better than my own, but I am sure I will get used to your true form, in time." he adds with a warm smile.
"I am not your brother. There is no blood-kinship between us." Loki objects sadly.
"Our mother called you son. This is enough for me, no matter what the All-Father might think. - Thor retorts - I will call you brother. Will you do the same with me?" he asks, holding out a hand towards him.
"I would... but I can't. - Loki reveals, looking heartbroken - I physically can't. The All-Father put a binding geas on me as part of my sentence of perpetual banishment from Asgard." he explains, hanging his head.
Thor looks totally heartbroken too, and once more Ronan is caught by the sudden impulse to beat Odin All-Father to a pulp for his callousness towards his family.
"Sen-i. - he blurts out - Call him sen-i. It means the same, but in High Kree. The geas will not be able to stop you." he explains, feeling Loki's red eyes bore into him.
"Is Sir No-Loopholes offering me a loophole?" the Jothunn quips.
"Your thoughts are unchanged, and no law would be able to change them, even if the word is forbidden to you. You need to voice them, lest they fester inside you. - Ronan replies ignoring his defensive sarcasm - I am just offering you a word to do so, and preserve the bond between the two of you." he adds, gesturing towards them.
"Sen-i." Loki tries. The geas doesn't stop him and a broad smile spreads on his face.
"Sen-i. - he repeats again - This is how I will call you, Thor Odinsson, if it pleases you." he declares.
"It does, brother." Thor agrees. They clasp hands solemnly, then the Asgardian nearly crushes Loki into a bear hug, despite his protests.
"So, good-brother, what do you seek on Spartax Prime?" Helenai asks when the enthusiasm for their reunion has died down a bit.
"Good-brother? How are we related, Princess?" Thor asks.
"Nebula is Gamora's sister, and Gamora is practically married with Ronan and with my brother Peter." Helenai replies with a smile.
"Oh. - Thor comments, a bit at a loss - I never thought I would find more of my kin here. Well, pleased to meet you all." he greets genially.
"The pleasure is ours. - Helenai retorts - Loki has told us much about you."
"Good things, I hope." Thor says.
"Of course." Helenai confirms.
"I come here with disquieting news from Midgard. - Thor announces - A third Infinity Gem has surfaced on the planet and it was nearly claimed by a twisted artificial intelligence, bent on the total destruction of humankind." he reveals.
"A bad robot?" Rocket comments.
"Yes, self-aware and with a giant ego." Thor confirms.
"Let me guess. Tony Stark made him." Loki butts in.
"That is correct, brother. The similarity was uncanny. They truly looked like father and son." Thor comments with a wry smile.
"Who the hell is Tony Stark?" Rocket butts in.
"One of the Avengers, my battle-brother." Thor replies.
"One of the Terrans who kicked Loki's backside." Nebula explains.
"He didn't precisely do that. - Loki protests - It was mostly the huge green monster." he clarifies.
"Wait, that can't be right! They didn't have giant green monsters on Terra, when I left." Peter comments.
"They definitely have now." Loki confirms grimly.
"I assume you dealt with the robot, am I right?" Helenai intervenes, pushing the conversation back on track.
"The Avengers did, with some help. - Thor confirms with a nod - Vision dealt him the death-blow." he reveals.
"Vision? - Loki comments archly - I don't recall anyone with that name among the Avengers. Did you start recruiting?"
"We had a bit of a restructuration. - the Asgardian explains with a grimace - Hulk left, and Hawkeye is on paternity leave, but we were joined by Falcon, War Machine, Scarlet Witch and Vision. He is an android." he adds with a certain fondness.
"Stark made him too?" Loki asks.
"I helped." Thor reveals proudly.
The Jothunn cracks up laughing.
"Oh, dear. You make it sound like you and Stark had a baby..." he snickers.
The Asgardian goes bright pink in embarrassment.
"I am sure I did not." he tries to defend himself.
"You did too. Is Jane very jealous about this?" Loki teases.
"Boys! Let's stick to the topic!" Nebula chides.
"Thanks, good-sister. - Helenai says, taking back the lead - So, Thor Odinsson, where is the Gem now? Is it contained? Is it safe from Thanos' hands?" she asks.
"Vision has it. It is part of him." Thor replies with a nod.
"And you trust him with it?" Loki comments archly, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
"I do. - Thor replies simply - He is worthy." he adds.
Loki's reaction tell Ronan that there is something more to that word that simple praise.
"What do you mean with worthy? - the Jothunn asks - Did he...?"
"He did, indeed. He lifted Mjolnir and swung it mightily at our foe. - Thor confirms with a broad, proud smile, patting the unwieldy hammer hanging from his belt - We fought together, side by side, like..."
"Like kin." Loki fills in for him, and there is a wistful smile on his face.
"He can never replace you, brother. - Thor reassures him, laying a hand on his shoulder - The kinship between me and Vision is... different."
"I can't wait to see Odin's face when you tell him he's become a grandfather to an android..." Loki comments.
"I apologise for ruining your family moment, warriors, but how can you tell someone's worthiness by the fact that they can lift a hammer?" Helenai butts in, crossing her arms under her breasts. She doesn't look convinced at all.
"The hammer must have a geas on it, like our weapons of office and Keenblade do. - Shanleigh interjects, pointing at her own weapon - You can use them only if you follow a certain moral code." she explains.
"Then your old hammer must have had a major malfunction, innit, buddy?" Rocket comments, elbowing Ronan not quite discreetly.
"It must have been corrupted alongside me by Thanos when he used the Mind Gem on me. - Ronan replies - It's a good thing you destroyed it, comrade." he admits. It is quite painful to do so, but the Universal Weapon was a mighty tool, and he wouldn't have liked the idea of it being used against his allies and kin.
"So it is not totally foolproof, is it?" Helenai insists.
"Barring major mind control, it should be." Shanleigh retorts, among much nodding from the Accusers.
"Alright, let's leave it at that, for now. - the princess concedes - The news you bring are dire indeed, prince of Asgard. It seems like Terra has become a major battlefield in this fight against Thanos. The Council needs to be informed." she declares.
"I would be honoured to do so." Thor agrees.
"Theo! - Helenai calls, and another of Peter's sisters emerges from the ranks - Go tell Father that they need to interrupt whatever negotiations they are engaged in. This takes top priority."
"Father won't like it." Theo, short for Theodora, replies, pushing her blond fringe out of her eyes. She is in her teens and has been serving as Helenai's ensign in the Army for a few years.
"See if I care. - Helenai retorts - Now run along!" she orders.
Theo huffs, but bows.
"I'm on it, sis." she agrees and disappears towards the Palace at an incredibly fast clip.
"We should move to the Palace too. - Helenai proposes - It won't take long before we are summoned, and I suppose you would like to refresh yourself before then." she adds, turning to Thor.
"I would be glad to do so. - the Asgardian agrees - I have never travelled so far on the Bifrost, and I must admit it is thirsty business." he adds.
"You shall have drinks of water and fragrant juice." Helenai proclaims.
Thor's face falls a bit.
"I think he meant ale, but your hearty red wine should suffice, I reckon." Loki intervenes on his behalf.
"Oh... I apologise. - Helenai says - I thought you didn't partake. I mean, because of the geas in your weapon." she explains.
"What does it have to do with drinking?" Thor asks with a perplexed frown.
"Well neither Ronan nor the Accusers drink, and their weapons are all bound with some sort of geas. So I assumed..." Helenai explains apologetically.
"The code doesn't say anything about imbibing inhebriating drinks. - Shanleigh confirms - We just don't drink when we are in service." she adds with a shrug.
"To be honest, it's not like we really clock off. - Morthwyl explains - To be an Accuser is not just a profession, it's a calling." he declares proudly.
"And you don't like the taste of alcohol." Euan teases, much to the youngster's chagrin.
"I don't like it either." Ronan intervenes. That seems to make Morthwyl feel a bit better.
"There will be wine, for you, son of Asgard." Helenai concludes.
"Many thanks, Princess. Shall we go then?" he offers.
"Let's, by all means. - she agrees solemnly - Nothing starts your afternoon like a good strategic meeting." she adds sarcastically.
"We were supposed to go on our honeymoon, my husband Gladiator and I, but the Goddess knows what has happened to that plan..." she sighs.
Gladiator wraps his arm around her shoulders and gives her a quick kiss on a cheek.
"Don't worry, mi lepus, if we play our cards right, we might still go on our honeymoon on Terra." he says with an excited smile.
"That would be quite nice." Helenai admits.
Ronan cannot help but second her comment. He sincerely hopes that the Council will send them there, not just because it seems to be one of the main battlefields, but because Peter has told them so many incredible stories about his home planet that he cannot help but wanting to see it for himself.
One can only hope, he thinks, and this time he walks to the Hall of the Council with almost childish excitement instead of dread.