Awakening

*Insert your preferred disclaimer here*

Third POV

Fawkes still hadn't forgiven Tony, and therefore was staying far away from him, or as far away as Thor's shoulder would allow him to be.

The fight between Penny and Fati had decimated the top two floors of the Tower to complete rubble, which Tony wasn't too happy about as his penthouse was now completely destroyed. However, he was happier just to know that his daughter was alright, for the time being.

The Immortals, Tony, and others made their way into the Tower through a door that had surprisingly, had not been destroyed by the energy attacks. However, the rest of top floors hadn't been so lucky. Tony led the group down seven levels before they came across a floor that was intact enough for them to accommodate.

Infinitas had become amused at the antics of Stark, who had taken to muttering under his breath to Jarvis about the repairs, reports, and about anything else that wandered across his mind. It reminded the Immortal strongly of Aequivalere when she was deep in thought, in this life and others.

After placing the unconscious Avengers, and Loki, in various armchairs and couches around the lounge that the group had claimed, Jarvis retired all four suits, and was now a silent observer, while dutifully keeping his attention on not only the Tower, Tony and Pepper, but Penny's vitals and NY as well.

After the Jarvis controlled suits vanished, Tony and Bruce both collapsed onto the furniture; Bruce into the last free armchair, and Tony onto the couch besides his daughter and Mortem. Thor leaned against the wall behind the chair which Bruce rested in, while Infinitas, Vitam, and Insania all took up their own places in the room. Insania made herself at home much like her Brother and had conjured another armchair and was currently staring at them all upside-down as her legs hung over the back of the chair. Infinitas was simply leaning on her staff by the door, and Vitam was standing awkwardly by Thor, not exactly comfortable in the room.

"So," Tony sighed as he looked around at the room, filled with his many and diverse guests. "what a day, huh."

Pleased that he was no longer muttering Vitam simply nodded, while Bruce, Insania and Mortem all chuckled at the understatement.

"Indeed, Anthony." Infinitas chuckled, before her eyes narrowed and with a soft spoken word to Mortem, she vanished, muttering angrily to herself.

"Our sister apologies," Mortem stated as Bruce and Tony looked at him. "But it seems that not everyone is taking Fati's actions well. She was called in to try and calm the situation down."

"And I am needed in Cor as well, sorry to leave all of the explaining to you." Vitam suddenly stated, knowing that she wouldn't be much help here. "Let me know how Aequivalere is when she awakens."

"Of course," Mortem nodded and Tony and Bruce both shared a look while Thor bowed his head in good bye as the Immortal vanished.

"You're not going to suddenly vanish on us, are you?" Tony asked, looking between Mortem and Insania, causing both of them to chuckle.

"My presence in Cor would neither be welcome nor needed." Insania stated softly as she conjured some colorful bubbles to entertain herself as Mortem and Tony both chuckled, used to her behavior.

"I'm not leaving Penny." Mortem stated simply, running his fingers through his Bonded's hair again, her head once again in his lap.

"I didn't expect you to." Tony shrugged, being honest. "I assume that Hel is taking care of things?"

Tony didn't know a lot about Mortem, Hel and the others, but after being around them for three months he had pieced a few things together, some easier to discover than others. The fact that Mortem was Hel's boss wasn't that hard to figure out.

"She is." Mortem stated and Fawkes thrilled loudly, causing everyone to look at him. He puffed up his feathers and jumped from Thor's shoulder to the back of the couch, by Tony's head. The phoenix glared at the billionaire the best a bird could, and Tony rolled his eyes while wondering how his life ended up like this.

"Ok, ok, I'm sorry I called you a flaming turkey, you're obviously a very noble and proud phoenix who is attached to my daughter. Happy now?" Tony drawled, his voice heavy with sarcasm, but if Fawkes noticed or cared he showed no sign as he squawked and nestled back down on Penny's stomach singing softly.

"I have a question," Bruce said suddenly, speaking for the first time. Everyone turned to look at him in surprise and he ducked his head at Mortem and Insania's stares. Hulk was growling at Mortem in the back of his mind, which was another reason why Bruce had been keeping to himself. He didn't want Hulk doing anything that any of them would regret.

"Do not fear to speak." Insania said suddenly, getting to the heart of the matter like usual. Bruce blushed in embarrassment as Mortem chuckled.

"Don't worry doctor; we are here to answer your questions," Mortem stated with amusement in his voice, though he refrained from chuckling. Knowing that that would only make Banner more hesitant about speaking his mind.

"Aye, speak and you shall be heard Dr. Banner," Thor stated once again breaking his stark silence. "I shall assist Lord Death with explanations as much as I am able."

Bruce still looked unsure but Tony just waved him on, knowing that his friend just needed to get comfortable.

"Are all of your related?" Bruce asked, glancing between Mortem and Insania, and the others knew that he also spoke of Memoria, Vitam, and Infinitas.

Mortem chuckled as Tony also glanced over at him in silence question. He knew that Insania was his Sister, but he wasn't sure about the others, Vitam looked like his opposite he had noticed but the fact that they all kept referencing each other as siblings was throwing him off.

"In a way," Mortem nodded simply before glancing up at Thor, "Oh, and call me Mortem Thor, you have known me too long for anything else."

Thor nodded in acceptance as Mortem turned back towards Bruce to answer his question. "As I said, in a way we are all related. Our race is called the Immortals, we are not from your world, and most of us rarely enter your realm. We live in a world different than all others, we call it Cor, and it is attached to all worlds that exist, in this dimension and others. Only Immortals are able to survive in Cor, and our race is not a large one. Because we are Immortal, we are unable to have families of our own, and there is no need for them. Yes, we have Mates or Bondeds as we call them, but that is it. Because we can't have families of our own we see each member of our race as family, as call each other such. There are a few of us who truly are related, like Vitam and myself, we are twins, though this is rare and I believe there is only two other incidences like it."

Tony and Bruce were both nodding along by the end of Mortem's little speech both taking the fact that there is a whole world filled with Immortal beings with a lot of power pretty well. Through all of this Thor just watched silently, already being aware of the information.

"Good to know," Tony muttered to himself as Jarvis watched diligently like usual.

"…." Bruce looked around the room, looking like he wanted to say something else but wasn't sure if he should speak.

"Just say it, I don't care." Mortem stated with a chuckle and Bruce flushed again before just coming right out and saying it.

"Hulk doesn't like you," Banner's statement was echoed by a growl by Hulk, not that anyone else could hear him.

"I am aware of that," Mortem stated with a chuckle. "But I am Death after all, most creatures with instincts tend to avoid and dislike me, even humans at some times."

"And Asgardians." Thor added, recalling the times when Mortem's presence in Asgard was met with scorn and hatred. That was one reason why Hel usually stayed in Helheim or another realm, the Asgardians didn't exactly get along every well with her.

Bruce nodded in acceptance, and silence filled the air for a short moment before Tony decided that he wanted to know what was going on.

"Ok, so, now that we're all on first name basis and such, are you three going to fill us in on what's been going on? Because I, for one, would like to know why the hell all of this happed!" Tony exclaimed, looking quite angry by the end of it.

Insania glanced at him in pity, knowing that this wasn't easy for the man, but at the same time admiring his persistence. Most mortals would have a hard time dealing with this.

Insania and Mortem shared a look before Mortem sighed and spoke. "Such an explanation is a long one, and it will take much time. I had hoped that Penny would be awake to tell some of the tale herself as it is her tail to tell…"

Insania cleared her throat, giving Mortem a pointed look. Sure, it was mostly E're's tail but Mortem did need to be giving them spoilers before they even had an idea about the story ahead!

Suddenly, Fawkes' soft singing stopped and was replaced by a loud squawk, causing everyone to glance over at him. The same moment, Penny's eyes opened and she gasped loudly.

"Penny!?" Tony and Bruce both exclaimed in worry as Thor, Insania, and Mortem all called out, "E're?!"

However, before they were able to move, a three loud groans filled the air along with another gasp. The five looked away from the redhead reluctantly to see that the other Avengers, and Loki, were also waking.

"Of course they wake up now," Insania muttered to herself, echoing Tony's thoughts as Mortem scowled at the ceiling.

"Wonderful timing Sis," He drawled before turning his attention back towards his Bonded. She was awake now, but her eyes here darker than normal, and slightly glassy. Mortem swallowed in worry but kept his feelings as far away from the newly connected Bond as he could. He didn't want to cause her any more stress than need be.

"You ok?" He whispered into her ear as he and Tony helped her sit up.

When she didn't reply he reached out through the Bond and tried to sooth her emotions, which were flying around her head like a hurricane. Without even trying he could sense the inner turmoil and chaos that Fati had caused in her mind. It wasn't going to be easy, healing this, but right now she needed to be ok…at least for a few more hours.

"It's alright love," He sent through the Bond as Tony moved off the couch and knelt down in front of his daughter, speaking softly to her. "Fati's gone, nothing she said was true. You're safe, and so is your Realm. We're all right here, just come back to us love."

Fawkes, who was now in Penny's lap thrilled softly and rubbed his soft head against her cheek. This seemed to be the key, along with her father's and Bonded's presence, as the glassy look in Penny's eyes faded and she smiled weakly at the two in front of her.

"Hi, Mortem, Hi Daddy," She whispered and Mortem wrapped her mind in a mental embrace as Tony pulled her into a physical one.

Sadly, any other communication between them was cut short as a very loud and annoyed voice drifted across the room.

"Arg, my head…what on earth hit me!? Did you see so that I can return the favor?"

Bruce chuckled softly at Barton's grumbling joke as he and the others slowly came too. Almost instantly Thor was by Loki's side, making sure that his brother wasn't too injured.

"Brother!" Thor exclaimed as Romanoff and Rogers both also came too.

Mortem glanced down at Penny and noticed that she was slowly drifting back into the mess that was her mind. Grabbing hold of her conscious, he glanced over at Insania who was no longer upside down, but right beside them.

"Do you think you can hold it at bay? Only for a few hours… until the situation has calmed and we have to opportunity to deal with this?" Mortem asked their Sister quickly and she nodded.

"It's won't hold long through, a mere bandage over a mortal wound." Insania informed her Brother before her eyes flashed light blue for a brief moment.

Tony glanced at the two in question, and Mortem quickly signed later as Rogers' and Romanoff's attention was drawn to them.

Insania nodded to everyone and vanished into the shadows and Penny's eyes cleared completely and glanced at everyone in the room with a sigh.

"I don't want to deal with them," She grumbled as Tony, Mortem chuckled.

Insania smirked to herself as she arrived home in Cor in front of her screens with popcorn. That was why she had left after all.

"This is going to be interesting." She grinned widely as her eyes glittered; very, very interesting indeed.

Ok, I'm really sorry that I haven't updated in a week. Things were too busy to update while I was at ComicCon (Which was completely amazing…the dude who plays Crowley was there, as well as the dude who plays Oliver Queen from Arrow, and Richard Dean Anderson (I was SOO happy about that as I love Arrow and Stargate, and Supernatural…) Stan Lee was also there, and a bunch of other people that I sorta knew but didn't care all that much about…OH the dude who played the original Batman was also….And to be honest Comic Con got me into a Star Trek obsession….BLAME SPOCK!)

…and I've been trying to it just seemed like one thing after another kept popping up at the times that I actually felt like writing….BLAME SPOCK mostly :)

It would have been up yesterday but I took Sparrow, and two of my little sibs to see How To Train Your Dragon 2, and a few others tagged along with us, and I loved it! It was really good for a sequel and while slightly different than the first in the terms of plot style and story style, it was still really good. I love toothless SOOO much…can I have him?

I want a dragon. Have been saying it for years, and I will keep on saying it till I get one ^.^ Thanks for reading!
Cp