Awakening
If anyone tries to sue me, which would be stupid cause all I own are a few Marvel posters, I'll lock you in a closet with Insania and Fati for a month. *evil grin*
As the plane shook again I rolled my eyes. Everyone was gazing at the walls of the plane, including Romanoff, like it was going to fall out of the air. Dad's repulsors whirled to life, although they simply glowed.
Loki looked at Dad with a hopeful expression on his face, like he wanted Dad and Thor to duke it out. However, that wasn't the best idea.
Like Dad had read my mind he reassured me, "I'm just gonna talk to him."
"Just...be careful ok? Thor's a good guy but he also isn't one you want to mess with." I sighed and I saw Dad nod discreetly in my direction.
"Duly noted." Dad commented as he stepped forward and slammed his hand on the cargo hold door release.
"What on earth are you doing?" Rogers yelled as the platform slid open, and almost instantly Thor landed on it with a crouch.
"Hey…" Tony wasn't even able to finish his thought as Thor pushed him back a few feet, into Rogers, with his hammer. Dad stumbled a bit, but was otherwise unharmed while Rogers was probably bruised. I leapt to my feet just as Thor flew past me, grabbed hold of Loki, before swinging Mjolnir and soaring out of the jet.
"Can I kick his butt now?" Tony asked with a slightly bitter tone as he pulled Rogers to his feet.
"No." I stated simply, shaking my head.
Dad sighed and started walking towards the ramp, intent on following the wayward brothers when Rogers grabbed Tony's arm.
"What do you think you're doing? We need a plan!" Rogers yelled over the wind that whipped around hull.
"I have one." Dad replied simply with a shrug and shook of his grip. "Thor might be the psycho's bother, but we need him back."
"Wait, you're telling me that it's another Asgardian?" Romanoff stated looked hassled and irritated.
"Yup, so let's go see if we can go talk things out." Dad stated, and I knew he was smirking, as he walked out onto the platform, his repulsors now seriously powering up.
"Stark! You're not the best people person…" Romanoff started to protest but Dad ignored her and took off into the storm with a blast.
With a sigh I leapt out of my seat and followed him into the air. However, instead of flying off I simply vanished with a bolt of lightning. Lightning was more inconspicuous in a storm then sparks after all.
I reappeared with a loud bang just as the two Asgardian brothers landed on a rocky mountain peak overlooking a forested valley. I wasn't really planning on seriously revealing myself to them, so I just sat down on a ledge only a few feet away from the two and settled down to watch.
My head was pounding again, and I knew that while I was no longer running on empty, I was still low on energy. I just hoped things didn't get out of hand, I didn't know how much I would be able to do if it did.
Thor was frowning at his brother, but Loki simply started chuckling as he slowly sat up from where he had landed on his back. He looked very amused, which seemed to irritate Thor.
"Where is the Tesseract?" Thor questioned instantly, not one to beat around the bush.
"I missed you too, brother." Loki drawled with an eye roll as he leaned back again a small rock outcropping that overlooked the valley.
"Do I look to be in a gaming mood, brother?!" Thor boomed, taking a step towards the smaller god who simply sneered at the blonde.
Great, things were already starting off on the wrong foot.
"You should be thanking me. With the Bifrost gone, how much dark energy did the Allfather have to muster to conjure you here to your precious Earth?" Loki smirked, appearing to be very content with what he had done.
"There are many ways to cross the Realms, brother." Thor stated, unwilling to give Loki the satisfaction of winning. "But if you inquire so, I will answer. It was young Hel who helped me cross the barrier."
Loki froze at the mention of his daughter, but then just glowered at his elder brother.
The fact that Hel had helped her uncle was news to me, but I wasn't really all that surprised. After all she was quite fonder of him then other Asgardians. Her uncle still tried to visit her and her siblings when he could. The other Asgardians had just shunned Loki's family.
I was brought out of my thoughts when Thor dropped Mjolnir to the ground and got in his brother's face. "I thought you dead brother, and it was not only I. Adayna mourned for you, Father and Mother thought you dead! It wasn't until Hel informed us that your Soul had yet to pass into her realm that we searched for you!"
Loki's face was unnaturally blank, even when his wife and daughter were mentioned. I knew that it was his wife because Hel had told me about her. It caused a pit to grow in my stomach. Something still wasn't right here.
"I found them." Dad's voice drifted in through the com. causing me to sigh and rub my temples.
"I'm down here with them…would you mind giving them a moment? Their sorta having a family discussion here." I asked him, my voice was barely over a whisper. Just because I had managed to make my sparks hide my voice, didn't mean that it worked with Asgardians. They had much better hearing after all.
"I'll circle." Tony replied after a moment's paused "But I can't for long. Apparently, the Capsicle decided that it was a good idea to follow us." His voice was harsh and it sounded like he wanted to chew the Captain out.
I groaned…great just great. That's just what we needed, SHIELD's goon messing things up.
"He's your father." Loki hissed, his mind finally starting again and I rolled my eyes. He just ignored everything that Thor had said about his family
"He did tell you of my true parentage, did he not?" Loki questioned as he rose to his feet and pushed away from his brother. Thor's face became pained as he gazed sadly at his younger brother.
"We were raised together, we played together, fought together, learned together. I was there when you asked for Adayna's hand. I was there when little Hel was brought into this world. Do you remember none of this?" Thor asked his brother desperately, trying to understand his actions.
"I remember a shadow," Loki spat, "living in the shade of your greatness. I remember the shadow growing after he died." Loki's face contorted in pain and I wondered who he was speaking about. "I remember you tossing me into an abyss. I, who was and should be king!"
Deciding enough was enough, and that Thor was going to lose his temper sooner or later, I intervened. "There is more to ruling, Loki then just claim." I commented, making my voice echo among the rocks.
I watched as Thor glance around in mild confusion and as Loki's eyebrow twitched. Loki sneered at the rocks but didn't reply. For a moment I wondered if Thor would recognize my voice, but dismissed it. The echoing technique made my voice a little different; and besides, he had only heard me speak a few times previously.
Thor, obviously not sure what to do with me, decided that the best course of action was to ignore my interruption. He also changed the topic. "So you have decided to take the world I love as recompense for your imagined slights? Earth is under my protection Loki!"
"Thor, they are far from imagined." I stated calmly though internally I was extremely confused. I had no clue where this was coming from, again! "Exaggerated, perhaps, but not imagined; and you are not the only one protecting Midgard."
"Who are you!? Who are you to mettle in Asgardian affairs?" Loki finally screamed, looking very frustrated and irritated.
I chuckled at the look on his face and said with my voice like the wind, "I'm a friend, willing and able to protect her home."
"Friend or not," Loki stated regaining some composure, his words dripping with sarcasm. "You all are doing a marvelous job. The humans' slaughter each other in droves, while you idly fret. I mean to rule them, as why should I not?" Loki asked of his brother and I.
"They must learn on their own." I stated, my gut telling me that my Duties were influencing my responses. "Your people held their hands, as parents do children, millennia ago. Now it their time to strike out on their own, make mistakes, fall down…and learn. They no longer need someone to stand with them and to keep them on their feet. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't those who will defend them."
"Besides," I added on after a small moment of silence. "It is not your place, to rule this world."
"You speak with much wisdom, M'Lady." Thor commented, glancing around in slight confusion before he shook his head and turned his attention back towards his brother. "Do you truly think yourself above them brother? We know of the Midgard people, we know who protect them. They do not need a ruler to guide them."
"Well, yes." Loki replied to Thor's question simply, looking slightly confused while ignoring the rest of his statement.
"Then you miss the truth of ruling, brother." Thor said sadly, "A throne would suit you ill."
Loki shoved his brother aside in his anger and started pacing. I crept closer to the two just in case.
"I've seen worlds you've never known about! I have grown, Odinson, in my exile." Loki declared with a crazed look in his eye and a sneer. I bit my lip as I felt a shift in the air and my Soul twisted in protest. Something had changed, something...wasn't right.
"I have seen the true power of the Tesseract and when I wield it…" Loki continued his rant but Thor interrupted.
"Who showed you this power?" He demanded, sounding worried for his brother. There were many powerful forces in this world that you didn't want to mess with.
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion and I looked up at the dark clouds. How had I known that?
"Whomever it was, he is the one pulling your strings Asgardian." I stated, my head spinning as my Duties and Soul chose my words. "You have been misled, becoming a mere pawn in this game."
Loki literally growled at me as Thor's concern for his brother grew.
"Who is it that controls the 'would be king'?" Thor demanded, grabbing the front of Loki's shirt and pulling him close.
"I am a king!" Loki yelled in a blind rage as the wrongness in the air increased. My Duties squirmed and I knew that things were getting out of hand.
"Not here!" Thor rebutted with a growl. "You give up the Tesseract! You give up this poisonous dream. If what has been said is true…since when does my brother allow himself to be a pawn to another?! Come home, brother." Thor begged, calming his rage.
"Heh," Loki scoffed before smirking, "I don't have it."
"But you know where it is." I pointed out as Mjolnir flew back into Thor's hand as he released Loki.
Warning bells started going off in my head and I bit my lip again. "Okay Dad, think it's time you intervene." I said through the com. I wasn't sure if sending Dad in was a good idea or not, but I really wasn't up to duking it out with two pissed Asgardians.
"You need the Cube to bring me home." Loki smirked in triumph but it was short lived as Thor brushed his comment aside.
"Hel has offered us safe passage through her Realm back into Asgard…returning home is not the issue." Thor stated as he tried to keep his temper under control.
"You sure you want me to drop in?" Tony asked me in hesitation, and I faintly saw the suit flying in the overhead clouds.
"Yeah, I think that Loki's pushing Thor's buttons a bit too much." I stated with a wince as I saw Thor's body starting to admit sparks.
"Wait…doesn't that mean that he could be more uncooperative with me?" Dad deduced with protest, and I watched as he got closer.
"Pretty much." I agreed with a shrug he couldn't see. "I'd deal with them but I'm not really up to duking it out with two Asgardians."
"Where is it?!" Thor demanded, raising his hammer in a threatening manner and suddenly I was glad that I had called Tony in.
Dad sighed but didn't reply.
"I've sent it off." Loki stated with a smirk and a light tone. "I know not where."
"You listen well, brother, this shall not…" Suddenly, as Dad came in to land, a bolt of lightning struck him. He went spiraling out of control and smashed into Thor, sending them both over the edge of the cliff.
"Ouch…" I muttered with a wince as I glared at Loki's amused expression. "Rotten luck."
"I'm listening." Loki sneered with a laugh and a tilted head.
"Oh shut up." I mumbled to Loki as I threw up a shield around the area so he couldn't get away.
"You okay Dad?" I asked as I reappeared next to the heap of limbs and armor that was Tony and Thor.
"That was a rush…" Dad's quip was simple and eased my worries. At least he wasn't too hurt. I watched with a careful eye as they both clambered to their feet. After he was steady, Dad's faceplate slid back revealing a reddening bruise on the side of his face.
"Don't touch me again." Thor warned my father, lifting the hammer to back up the warning.
"Hey!" Dad raised his hands up in surrender; not wanting to anger the god any more. "It was totally an accident. Got hit with lightning, didn't mean to crash into you."
I hoped that Thor would accept Dad's explanation for what it was; we really didn't need a fight.
"You were following us." Thor stated with narrowed eyes, unsure whether or not Dad was a threat. I leaned back against the tree and wished that I had popcorn. I wasn't all that worried about Tony, he could handle himself. Besides Dad had a way with words.
"I was," Tony admitted causing Thor's eyes to narrow. "But I assumed that it was better me than SHIELD."
Thor's hesitation was apparent as he asked, "You work for SHIELD?"
"No, not really. I mean, sure I've been asked to help them out from time to time but we don't exactly see eye to eye." Dad growled before shaking his head and shrugging.
Thor seemed to accept this with a nod. I assumed that he was thinking about how he didn't agree with all of SHIELD's actions either. cough them taking Jane's research couch.
"Loki will come with me and face Asgardian justice." Thor stated, daring Dad to challenge him on the matter.
"Look, Thor buddy. I don't have a problem with that. Don't know how ol' eyepatch will take it but…" Dad said with a shrug and an air of indifference.
"You know of me?" Thor asked, lowering his hammer as he became even more confused. I sorta felt back for him, he really didn't know very much about Earth, and here he was caught up in one of our issues. Ok, one of Asgard's issues got messed up with us, but still.
"We have a mutual friend who speaks highly of you." Dad chuckled and I stuck my tongue out at him, even if he couldn't see me.
I didn't really mind if Tony talked about me with Thor, he was Hel's uncle after all; and I trusted him.
"Who is this, mutual friend?" Thor inquired with a tilted head. I giggled; he looked so much like a puppy just then.
"You know her, red hair, fiery temper, also has a thing for lightning." Dad laughed as Thor's eyes widened in recognition.
"You know the Lady Penny?" Thor asked in shock, I bet that was the last thing he was expecting.
"Yup." Tony stated, popping the "p". "I know her very well."
"I would hope so." I stated aloud for the both of them, and Thor's face lit up in recognition.
He suddenly laughed wholeheartedly, causing Dad to become confused. "As I said before, you are a strange Mortal young one."
I laughed and replied, "It comes with the job description."
Our conversation was interrupted as Jarvis took control of the suit's speakers and reported, "Sir, Captain Rogers is approaching."
Thor peered around in confusion, looking for the source of Jarvis' voice. "It is normal on Midgard for there to be multiple invisible people?"
I laughed and shook my head. "Nah, it's just a Stark thing. Besides, Jarvis isn't a person per say, just a very intelligent computer."
"Strange." Thor stated though he still sounded uncertain.
"We just want the Cube." Dad stated with a shrug as I felt Rogers approach. "Well, I specifically don't…but you get it."
Thor raised an eyebrow at the abrupt change of topic, but didn't mention anything as Rogers came crashing into the tiny clearing, obviously ready for a fight.
"Huh?" He gasped and froze as he saw Thor and Dad standing in the middle of the clearing talking civilly.
I chuckled at his bamboozled expression, once again, priceless. Too bad I didn't have a camera.
Done! I didn't write the cannon fight scene because this Tony knows all about Thor and he's a tiny bit more on the rational side of things with Pen around. Sorta :)
Thanks to everyone, hope you are enjoying it.
Cp