Time to get ready to return to Asgard…
Differences in this chapter: Think more in the lines of party banter.
Hours later, Dalla and Steve joined the others for dinner. They secretly held hands under the table as they ate. Loki, who had SHIELD agents guarding him, stared at Steve and Dalla. Thor noticed Loki after a moment. They shared a look before both staring Steve down.
Steve felt their eyes on him and whispered to Dalla, "Why are your brothers glaring at me?"
Dalla looked away from Natasha and looked to see what he was talking about. She glared at her siblings. They noticed but didn't take their eyes off her soldier. She sighed. Loki, will you and Thor stop already? Steve is a good man. I told you all about him. Remember?
Just because you told me of his great deed doesn't mean he is good enough for our sister, Loki said.
You have no room to talk, brother! Dalla stood up, her chair scrapping across the floor.
You think that I will spare him if he hurts you? Loki mimicked her movements. I will not see you like that again!
Natasha looked at Thor and asked, "What's going on?"
"They are arguing telepathically," Thor said. "They do this very rarely. They are extremely close." He looked at Steve. "I have a feeling I know what it is they are arguing over."
But Steve didn't notice him. He put his hand on Dalla's shoulder. She looked at Steve. She pulled her chair back and sat. Thor and Loki looked at each other in shock. No one, not even Loki, could calm Dalla down that fast. Loki sat down.
"I shouldn't have snapped," Dalla said. "I know you're just looking out for me. Both of you are."
"After you last trip, I had never seen you hurt like that," Loki said, playing with his food. "We almost lost you to your grief."
Dalla smiled. "Without you, I would have."
Steve smiled at her. She's come so far from when we first met. I'm proud of her. He took her hand back. He couldn't bring himself to let go of her hand, knowing this could be the last time they saw each other for some time. Still, just before sunset, the three siblings would be taking the Tessaract to Asgard. He wished time would stop just so he could have more time with her.
Dalla squeezed his hand. She dreaded returning to Asgard. She would gladly stick up for Loki, no matter how angry she was with him, but if Odin found out Steve still lived… No, she had to protect Steve. Odin would try to get him to come to Asgard to judge him, if not use him in some way. She could not allow that. Loki, don't say anything to Father about Steve. He believes him dead and I want to keep it that way.
I understand, sister, he gave a small nod.
They all finished eating, going to change into comfortable clothing. Dalla stood waiting with her brothers. Seeing Steve in normal Midgardian clothing, she couldn't help but feel as if she were leaving a piece of her behind. She went up to Steve to hug him. Steve, however, had other ideas. He didn't care that her brothers saw. He kissed her, knowing that he wouldn't see her for some time. As much as Loki and Thor didn't like seeing them kiss, they didn't stop it either.
"Try to come back to me," Steve said when they pulled apart.
"If I had my way, would never leave," she replied.
He nodded, knowing exactly how she felt. She went back to her brothers, taking Loki and Thor's free hands. With a twist of a handle, they were back on Asgard. For the first time in her life, Asgard didn't feel like home. She wanted to be back with Steve. She looked down, feeling ashamed but she couldn't change what her heart was telling her. Steve was home to her.
Just as Loki was about to comfort her when the guards came, putting him in chains. He didn't fight them. Dalla looked around while Thor sighed.
"You don't need to do that!" Dalla said. "Take the chains off of him!"
"King's orders, princess," said one guard.
"It's fine, Dalla," Loki reassured.
"Come, sister," Thor replied. "Let's go speak on Loki's behalf. I also need to tell Father that you are trustworthy."
She nodded. Using their weapons, the twins flew to the palace. They landed and went straight to Odin, kneeling before him.
"My children," he said, "welcome home."
"Thank you, Father," Thor said.
"What news do you bring?"
"Dalla has proven herself to be trustworthy and we have brought the Tesseract with us to be placed in the Vault."
"That is good to hear. And your brother?"
"Loki aided us against an enemy named Wendigo," Dalla informed. "An ice demon who worked for another. He tortured Loki and attempted to start a war on Midgard."
"And those that Loki killed?"
"The torture he went through, he was in great pain. He took hold of a scepter to make it stop and it fogged his mind so that he was not in control of his own actions."
"Why would he agree to such a thing?"
"To keep me from falling into enemy hands." Her voice was small.
"Then, you should stay here, where you are safe."
"That's not necessary, Father," Thor said. "Dalla will have me to aide her, as well as Earth's Mightiest Heroes. She will not be in danger."
Odin indicated the bandages on her arms. "Yet, she is here, injured by this Wendigo. She is a princess."
"I am also a warrior, Father," Dalla said as she and Thor stood. "Please, don't let a small injury keep me from protecting Asgard and Midgard."
"I will not have my daughter fighting when she should be looking for a suitor!"
She stepped back in shock. She was unable to speak. She thought they had moved past this.
"Odin!" Frigga scolded.
Odin ignored his wife. "You have a duty as princess to find a match worthy of your station. As the plan for you and Loki is no longer an option, we must find you a new suitor. Fandral has expressed interest."
"Stop!" Dalla yelled, fighting tears. "I thought we talked about this! There is only one man I have ever wanted and it is in no way Fandral!"
"YOU WILL OBEY YOUR KING!"
"I cannot marry another when I do not love them!"
"Then you will be confined to your chambers until these whims have passed!"
She ran from the throne room. Frigga glared at her husband. Thor followed, meeting Loki as he walked to their father. The guards stopped so the brothers could speak.
"What's the matter?" Loki asked.
"Father has confined Dalla to her chambers because she refuses to marry," Thor said. "Do not agitate father and make this worse. Dalla explained your situation with Midgard. I will speak with Father later about allowing you to work with us to protect Midgard, but…"
"Go to Dalla. While I normally would try to taunt Odin, for her, I will try not to." He sighed. "As difficult as that is."
"She needs you. Keep that in mind, brother."
Loki nodded then went to the throne room. Thor followed after Dalla. He found her sitting on her bed, the curtains aflame. He sat next to her.
"We should be in the throne room to support Loki," Thor said.
"I know, but I don't understand Father at all. I ask to be a warrior and to choose who I love. That is all. He allows me to battle, but when it comes to my heart…"
"I'm sure he is trying to act like a father and not a king."
"I understand that my love is a mortal. I understand what it is like to lose him. Would I survive a second time? I do not believe so. But I can choose no other to love. Why can Father not see this? Why must he continue to hurt me, to try and make me into someone different?"
Thor didn't know how to help her. But he didn't need to wait long. Frigga and, surprisingly, Loki walked in. They joined her on her bed. It was clear that their mother and brother had heard what Dalla had said. Frigga knelt before her daughter as her sons sat on either side of Dalla.
"My dear girl," Frigga said, "he is trying to show you he cares. He does not want you to be different. He does not want you hurt again."
"Forcing me to marry someone else is not caring, Mother. Why can't he let me simply be me? I love Steve. I always have and it will not change."
"Why do you think he wishes to change you?"
She indicated the flaming curtains. "Every time I feel… anything, I start fires. I wish to fight alongside my brothers to protect Asgard and Midgard. And I love a mortal. He doesn't want me to do any of that."
"He wants you to control your ability, not your emotions, my little flame. He does not want you injured or worse. Lastly, you were in great pain when you returned from your last trip to Midgard and he does not want you to feel that pain again."
"None of us do, sister," said Loki. "Watching you break was difficult enough. To have to witness it again…"
"We lost your laugh, your smile, the light you bring to Asgard," Thor added. "Worse, I lost my twin and sister. We want to keep you with us for all time. Your grief last time put a shadow over this family. Losing you to that grief would destroy us as well."
"I love Steve. I want to go back to him. I have never felt safer or calmer than I have with him. No matter how much I miss my family last time, I was never happier than when I was with him. I felt like I was… home."
Frigga smiled, cupping Dalla's cheek as she said, "My sweet girl. I have waited for this day for you. Time will tell how true this is, but I believe it has finally happened."
"What has?"
"I will not reveal it now, but it will be shown to you in time. But trust me," she looked at all of her children, "all of you, that your father cares for you. He doesn't always know how to show it, but he loves you all greatly."
Dalla hugged her mother, the flames dying down. Then, Dalla turned to Loki and asked, "How are you not in a cell right now? I had to spend six months in one."
Loki looked uncomfortable as he said, "I have been made to join the Avengers."
Dalla smiled. "Mortals aren't that bad. Some are braver than any found on Asgard."
"I have yet to see one."
"Steve?"
"Your stories are biased, sister."
"You just got done fighting alongside him."
"I barely noticed him. His skills…"
"He has the heart of a warrior and is one of the bravest men I know. That is all that matters."
"And who are you exactly comparing him to?"
She smirked. "Well, I haven't met many of the heroes of Asgard, so I have to go with my brothers." Loki and Thor chuckled. "But to be honest, I've never met anyone like him. When I first saw him, he was a third his size and barely any muscle, yet he stood up to a man bigger than him, never backing down. It was then that I think… I started to admire him."
"Well, as good of a man the Captain is, he will never be good enough for you, sister," Loki reminded.
"So, your mortal lives?" Odin asked from the doorway.
Dalla's heart sank. Loki knew what this would mean. He gave her a reassuring smile. She took a breath and looked at her father.
"Yes, Father," she said.
"And even after all of this time, despite what happened to him and the pain it caused you, you still…"
"Yes."
"I see. Let me think about this. Fandral…"
"Has no real interest, Father. He probably only told you that so you would stop looking for a suitor for me. We are friends, nothing more!"
"Well, I do not like this Wendigo. Go to the healing room for now. We shall have a banquet to celebrate the return of the princes and princess."
Loki swallowed and looked down. Dalla took his hand and said, "Do we have to have one? Not everyone will look upon Loki and I…"
"It will not be for a couple of days and I will send out…"
"Let's just keep it small! Why must Loki and I be paraded in front of people and judged for the past?"
"There will be a banquet, Dalla, and the truth told. Both of you are pardoned." Loki and Dalla looked at each other, shocked. It was not what they expected him to say. Dalla, maybe, but they thought Loki would have at least been sent to a cell. But Odin's next words were more surprising. "Dalla and Thor, as protectors of Asgard, you will be in charge of Loki while he is on Midgard."