Disclaimer: Don't own.
Chapter Seventeen
Harry and Sleipnir just stared at each other for a few minutes, green eyes filled with shock and dark grey eyes calm. Finally, the wizard said hesitantly, "Did you just talk?"
"I did." The words were without inflection while horse tossed his head lightly.
"Well... okay then." Was the only thing the man could think to say. Because, really, what does one say to that? "... You're a lot more intelligent than even I gave you credit for, and I am sorry for that."
"You are human. Mistakes are expected. No matter how powerful you are."
Harry ignored the other humans around him, who were talking about hacking something and learning secrets, to focus on this new development. "I thought Fenrir would progress the bond to the talking stage first. Actually, I kind of figured you wouldn't trust me enough to form a bond at all." He said conversationally.
"The pup is young. Very young. And the bond he is cultivating is accidental on his part. I am older and have created mine on purpose, thus it progressed faster."
Harry hummed thoughtfully. "That's a lot of big words. You know, you kind of remind me of this guy I met on one planet, laziest bastard you'd ever meet, didn't like any kind of work. But also had one of the most brilliant minds that I have ever encountered. Hid his intelligence so that no one would make him work. I guess you're kind of like that?"
Sleipnir nickered and shifted. "You are correct in a the two legger that had forced a bond with me, or even if my father, had realized that there was more to me than a placid mount, I would most likely have been forced to join one of my brothers in their exile. While playing pony to the one who smelled of power and anger was undesirable, it was preferable."
The wizard stretched and stood. "That's interesting. So you figure you don't have to worry about that anymore?"
"With you, your power is... more potent and variable in scent than my father's. He can not take me from you now, no matter how hard he tries. Though I dislike this metal bird you have brought me to, I do think that you would not just sit back and allow my brother and I to be sent back to our former situations." The world-traveler was pinned with one shrewd eye. "I am trusting you with not only myself, but with my kin. Do not prove me wrong, Master of Death."
Harry blinked. "Wasn't planning on it. How'd you know about my title?"
The black mane was tossed again, accompanied by a snort that sounded derisive to the human's ears. "It is more than just a title. Your powers smell... of Death. And Nature. Forces that my father nor the man he called his father would win against should they attempt to regain my brother and I by force."
"Well, that's nice to know." Harry said. He finally realized that at some point the argument brewing between the 'team' had been derailed because the members were staring at him. He stared back with blank green eyes. "Yes?"
"You were talking to your horse." Tony said helpfully.
Harry bit back a smirk. "That I was." He lost and allowed the smirk to bloom over his face when the other man made a frustrated sound.
"Let me put it this way. Why were you talking to your horse?"
The wizard shrugged. "He said something, and it's rude to ignore it. Some of us still abide by social necessities." He slipped his pack back around his shoulder, "Well, I promised Fenrir he would get a familial visit, so I'm off to go irritate Loki some more." He picked up the wolf, who just blinked blearily and cuddled into him, and led Sleipnir out. The diagnostic spells would send him the results, whether he was in the same room or not.
He grinned when he heard Stark say, just before the door closed behind him, "Are we sure that this guy isn't just crazy?"
Harry just put his hand on Sleipnir, tossed off a quick warning, and they landed neatly outside Loki's glass chamber.
The god saw them at once, and sneered.
"So you brought them here. To what? Soften my heart?"
Harry placed a suddenly very awake Fenrir on the ground. "Actually, I brought them here to see that maybe you're worth saving. You see, Sleipnir here is totally prepared to write you off. I don't blame him. But Fenrir is younger, less jaded somehow, even though those woods he was in since the day he was born had to be harsh. I think he believes I can save you." The wolf stopped just before he touched the glass, looking up at his father with piteous and adoring eyes.
Loki frowned down at the cub. "I sense the bonds they are both creating with you. So they allow you to speak with the... animals."
Harry leaned against his currently larger companion. "Only Sleipnir, for now. I get general feelings from Fenrir, though."
"Why did you bring us here? You are giving the pup false hope." Sleipnir's voice drawled in his head.
Without thinking, Harry answered, "Maybe, maybe not. If I can clear whatever is messing him up from his head, maybe I can get him to see sense. But for now, I think that wand thing is... amplifying and twisting his emotions..." He said slowly, as one of the spells came back with the results. He guffawed suddenly. "Truth? Really? It's a freaking compulsion spell of some sort! Why didn't I think of that earlier?"
"What are you going on about?" Loki demanded, sounding affronted at being ignored.
"Sleipnir asked me something." Harry answered absently.
"The horse is smart enough to form words?" This was said in a scoffing tone, and Harry frowned at him.
The wizard was getting really of tired of this guy's attitude towards his own kids. "Yes, he can. Actually, I think he's smarter than you. Probably smarter than me."
"Probably?"
"Preposterous. The horse has always shown the smallest level of intelligence of any of the things that sprung from me."
Harry snarled. "That's it, no more Mr. Nice Wizard. The next time you insult of your own kids, be they my companion or one that isn't with me, I'm turning you into a slug!"
Loki smiled, though it was more a bearing of teeth. "I would like to see you try."
"Don't test me, Loki Odinsson. I have dealt with people a lot more crazy and a lot more powerful than you." Harry warned.
"All I have to do is insult one of them for you to attempt to change my species? Fine. How about all of them. They were all a disappointment, none of them were fit heirs for-gurk!"
In the middle of the cylinder, where there formerly stood an arrogant and insane man, there was now, "Huh, slugzilla. How fitting. Alright, boys, we've got better things to do than sit around here." Harry said, while Fenrir whined and shifted in his spot. Sleipnir's laugh rang in his head, the tone was distinctly satisfied.
The slug gurgled in a disgusting fashion. "Oh, don't worry, Loki. It's only a temporary transformation. It should last until, well..." He tilted his head slightly as the listening charms he set in the console room whispered information in his ear, "Agent Romanoff is heading this way to talk to you, and you won't be much use as a slug so... you'll turn back as soon as she shows up." He waved his hand and a giant salt shaker appeared above the slimy creature. It slowly began to pour the grains onto slugzilla. "Hope she walks fast, Silvertongue."
With that, Harry scooped the distressed pup up, and led the amused horse from the room.
Deciding he had nothing better to do than bother Bruce and Stark, Harry decided that he would head back to the lab. "Apparation again, Sleipnir."
A gusty sound filled his mind, and he figured the horse god had sighed. "Must we?"
He shrugged. "I would get lost any other way. Sorry. I know it's unpleasant."
"To say the least, but I will forgive you of this method of traveling for the entertainment you have just supplied me with."
"Glad you enjoyed it." Harry muttered, cradling the wolf pup, who was howling in a distraught manner, closer. He placed his hand on Sleipnir's coat, and they were gone.
Just as Romanoff entered the hall.
She would never know just how relieved Loki was that she was quick to get there. Death by salt is a rather humiliating way to go.
The world-walker would pay dearly for that slight.
Stark jumped when they reappeared in the large lab. Bruce didn't even twitch.
"Geez! Can't you send a warning ahead or something?" Stark grumbled, Harry smiled at him.
"The sudden appearance of a warning would shock you just as much as my own arrival, Stark."
The man just scowled, and turned back to the screen he was working one. "I thought you were Fur-"
"What are you doing, Mr. Stark?"
The man turned, and blinked. "Huh, speak of the devil. I've kind of been wondering the same thing about you." He pointedly looked at the screen he and Bruce had been working on before. Harry wondered what was going on now.
It did not escape anyone how Fury dodged the question. "You're supposed to be locating the Tesseract."
Bruce jumped in. "We are, the model's locked and we're sweeping for the signature now. When we get a hit, we'll have the location within half a mile."
"And you'll get your cube back, no muss, no fuss. What is Phase Two?" Stark asked, all innocent curiosity. Obviously no one was expecting Cap to pick that moment to enter the room and unceremoniously toss a gun onto an unoccupied table.
"Phase Two is SHIELD used the cube to make weapons. Sorry, computer was moving a little slow for me. Hey, Glen, this look familiar to you?"
Harry frowned at the gun. It had been quite a few jumps since the last time he'd seen one, but he'd recognize it anywhere. "Isn't that a HYDRA gun?" He asked, unconsciously turning his body so that Fenrir was no where near it, and stepping in front of Sleipnir.
Fury made a rather valiant attempt to cover his ass under so many accusing eyes, in the wizard's opinion. "Rogers, Potter, we gathered everything related to the Tesseract. This does not mean-"
Stark was fiddling with the screen again. "I'm sorry, Nick." The screen was turned to show the display to all of them. It was obviously the plans for a gun of similar structure to the HYDRA weapon. "What were you lying?"
Cap crossed his arms, and a betrayed look entered his eyes. "I was wrong, Director. The world hasn't changed a bit."
Thor and Romanoff chose that moment to enter, and Harry was feeling rather claustrophobic in the usually large and airy room. He subtly pushed his way over to Bruce, pulling something out of his bag and handing it to the man. "Drink this." He ordered quietly.
"What is it?" The other man asked, just as quietly, as he turned the small vial over in his palms.
"Just trust me, please." Harry said, and either the honest request, or something in his expression that convinced the good doctor, because he popped out the cork and drank it all swiftly. A then distinctly suprised look crossed his face.
"What is this? What did you do?" He breathed. Harry figured that he would probably sound more demanding if it wasn't for the potion.
"It's called Calming Draught. I was feeling pressed, no doubt you were too."
"I- er... thank you." Harry just nodded.
It was then that they realized Romanoff was talking to Bruce. "You wanna think about removing yourself from this environment, doctor?"
"I was in Calcutta, I was pretty well removed." Bruce pointed out.
Romanoff frowned. "Loki is manipulating you."
Harry crossed his arms. "And you guys have been doing what, exactly? Don't think that he's stupid enough to believe any of your bull." He said, knowing his new friend would probably say something similar... If he wasn't at peace with the world at the moment.
Romanoff rounded on him. "He didn't come here because I bat my eyelashes at him."
"No, he came because he was told he could help save the world, and your twisted little group convinced him that was what he needed to do to absolve himself of the things he was not responsible for." Harry shot back. "And I think we would all like to know why SHIELD, reputed protector of this world, is building weapons of mass destruction."
Fury huffed, and pointed to Thor. "Because of him!"
Happy Friday, everyone! Not much humor in this one, but had to have some seriousness. Cookie brownie bars to the first person who figures out what other fandom was mentioned in this chapter! Love you all, see you Monday!
Lionna