On Punching Gods and Absentee Dads

Enigmaris

Chapter 33: A Family Found

Summary:

The summer is coming to an end and none of the Avengers are looking forward to saying goodbye to the magic users.

Notes:

Woo! Last week's update was terribly bittersweet, here's a chapter that's mostly sweet.

Chapter Text

"So, I bought property."

"We're not playing Monopoly right now Tony." Steve said, not looking up from his plate.

"What? No. I mean in real life. I bought some property."

"And you're telling us about this why?" Natasha asked.

"If you'd stop interrupting me I'd tell you."

"Fine fine." Bruce said. "Tell us about this property."

"It's beautiful guys, not my normal aesthetic but good." Tony began. "Tudor Style Mansion practically. Ancient thing, I bought it at the beginning of the summer but it hasn't been ready until now. Had to do a lot of refurbishments on it to make it habitable while also keeping in with the…historical aspects. I dunno one of my lawyers keeps track of all of that."

"Tony. You're monologuing." Clint warned.

"Right. You know how Loki, Hermione, and Harry are packing up to go to Scotland in a week?"

They knew that. Thor had been very sad to see the signs of his departing brother and nephew. Not to mention the disappearance of Lady Hermione. The Grangers had settled into New York well. Their dentistry business, which serviced workers at Stark Industries was booming and they had already made plenty of friends. Whatever tension the adults had felt at being there had faded and they felt comfortable enough greeting the heroes when they saw each other while also having more than enough to do on their own.

They were also the only adults not to be extremely disappointed that the magic users were leaving. This would the be sixth time they would see their child off for boarding school and they knew how to handle it. Thor and the rest of the Avengers had gotten used to Harry being around. To having Remus and Sirius causing trouble. And they'd all grown to love Loki and accept him. No one was happy about the magic users leaving for Hogwarts.

"What about it?" Thor asked.

"Well I might have…asked a little trickster if he knew the location of Hogwarts, like on a regular map." Tony said. "And he did. The nearest village to the school is Hogsmeade which is an all magic village so no one but Thor is allowed inside. Like literally, if we tried to go in there we'd just get magicked back before we got close."

"We already know about Hogsmeade." Bruce said.

"But did you know that about 20 miles away from Hogsmeade there's a quaint little Scottish village that just so happened to be home to a Mansion that used to belong to some lord or king or something and I bought it?"

"Tony." Thor said grinning.

"Sirius helped me with the final touches." Tony said. "We put in a doorway in the penthouse that when you open it leads to the entryway of the mansion. We'll still live here in New York for security purposes but there's nothing saying we can't pop over to Scotland occasionally and then use one of the specially made portkeys that'll take us to the castle gates. Maybe we can visit for Harry's games."

"Tony." Clint said. "You old sap."

"Yeah. Yeah whatever. I just figured that since all of you were going to be so glum about it that I might as well do something. Not like I'm going to miss Harry or Hermione or anything."

"But you said you bought the house months ago."

"I think ahead." Tony mumbled. "For Steve. He's too emotional you know."

"Right." Steve said. "Well thank you Tony, I appreciate you taking into account my sentimentality."

"And mine." Thor said. "I was going to miss my nephew terribly."

"Yeah. Don't cry about it or anything."

They all pretended to believe Tony, well used to his inability to admit to having 'feelings'. Personally, Thor thought it was adorable. They all knew that Tony was going to be the worst about missing the kids. He'd spent a lot of time with Hermione in the lab, teaching her engineering and physics and in return being taught a voracious amount of magical theory. Two insane babbling geniuses melding together like alchemy.

Tony himself had been brighter since having Hermione around. The billionaire had adored having a person around who had crazy ideas and questions and had no hesitation in testing them out with Tony. The amount of times they'd seen the two experimenters with singed hair from a test gone wrong (and occasionally one gone right) was too numerous to count. Thor wouldn't be surprised if Tony had bought that Scottish Mansion just to avoid not being able to see his little mentee.

The Grangers had approved of it, they preferred it over their daughter wielding a battle axe for reasons Thor couldn't comprehend. Hermione was wonderful with an axe. Of course, she had to cast a spell to lighten it for her slightly since Asgardian metals were quite dense for humans but beyond that she used it wonderfully. A fearsome warrior indeed.

"Has it really been an entire summer?" Clint asked.

"August went by quickly." Natasha agreed. "I don't think we've ever been this busy between fights before. Normally we fight something, go back to the tower and…"

"Speak for yourself." Tony said. "I have a real job to go to."

"You gave the real job to your girlfriend."

"Not because she was my girlfriend but because she's amazing. I don't like the nepotism accusation! Besides I may not be CEO but I still am the face of the company and I do a lot of R&D. The rest of you just relax on my dime."

"Yes Tony." Steve said. "We know we owe you a lot. But Nat's got a point, we didn't spend much time with each other outside of training and fights."

"Yeah well…" Tony shrugged. "Didn't seem like something we wanted to do."

"I'm glad we've changed." Thor decided. "We are shield brothers now, not just a team."

And that was certainly true. While they did not dislike each other before Harry's arrival they also had very little tying them together. They had the invasion of New York and keeping an eye on Loki as the two reasons they even lived together in the same place. Now that Loki didn't require keeping an eye on, his innocence and sincerity proven beyond a doubt and trust having been gained, there should have even been less reason for them to talk.

Steve had once expressed a desire to leave and find a place on his own. Clint and Natasha had in the beginning mentioned needing to return to work with SHIELD. Bruce, ever the most slippery, had tried to escape multiple times with various excuses. Even Thor had wondered if it would be better for him to leave this team and go spend more time with Jane.

By all rights, they shouldn't even be together in the penthouse. Before Harry they used it so rarely, preferring to spend time by themselves. But Tony had volunteered his living space as a team gathering site and it had become comfortable. There were video games to play and everyone's favorite snacks stored in the kitchen. Things felt comfortable and homey in a way Thor had never expected to find on earth and it was thanks to the strong bonds he had with these brilliant humans.

"What exactly is a shield brother?" Bruce asked.

"Oh I can answer that!" Hermione piped up.

"Hey!" Tony said brightly. "When did you get up here Elphaba?"

"Just now." She said. "I came to remind you we have lab time scheduled in an hour. You were late last time."

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I promise I won't forget."

"Why do you know what a shield brother is?" Clint asked.

"I read about it obviously." She said. "And…well, if you promise not to tell my parents I might have a bit more practical knowledge as well."

"Already been sworn to secrecy kid you know that." Hermione looked pointedly at everyone else who nodded and promised not to mention it with varying degrees of sincerity. Then she nodded and walked over while rolling up her sleeve, she revealed her bare wrist to show an intricate knotted mark. Marks that Thor would know anywhere.

"This is a mark of…brotherhood you could say." She said. "They're magical tattoos you get when you promise to be another person's shield brother or sister. It's a bond, sort of like family, but different. It's one you chose and one that's build on experiences not blood. It's a symbol of love and affection and trust."

"And you have one?"

"Of course, I have one." She sniffed, letting her arm fall back and her sleeve slip down covering the mark. "When Harry found out his dad was…well Loki, he was frightened and confused. Had no idea what to do or who to be. Me and Ron wanted to make sure he knew that no matter what he had us. We were his family and we'd be by his side. So we did the little ceremony and got our marks."

"That was very kind of you." Thor said.

"Practical." She corrected. "That way anytime Harry gets the stupid idea that he should just go out on his own he has a reminder as to why that's a terrible idea inked in his skin. And when he went to New York, we'd be with him in spirit."

"So, when Thor says that we're shield brothers…?" Steve pushed.

"That's sort of personal. Ron, Harry, and I just…knew I suppose. We didn't get along at first but now there's no doubt that's what we are. If you all have a bond like that then eventually you'll know too."

"She's correct." Thor agreed. "It's not a sentiment declared lightly. I make it because…I feel at home with you all here. I had been afraid that my time on earth would be lonely, even with Jane and my other friends, that I would miss my home and my people. Now I am hardly ever homesick because I have friends like you."

Suddenly based on the mystified looks on some of his friends faces' Thor realized he might have misstepped.

"It's fine if you don't feel the same." Thor said, reassured. "I know you are my friends and that is what is important."

"How do you get one of those tattoos?" Tony asked, looking at Hermione. "There's no blood sacrifice or anything is there? I don't want blood on my 1000 dollar carpet."

"Tony…" Thor said.

"Hey, I might be…allergic to emotions but that doesn't mean I can't…what's the ritual?"

"Oh, it's simple!" Hermione said. "You just raise your hand, state your true name and declare that you are a shield brother or sister to however many other people are participating in the ceremony. Then your magic binds you…although since most of you don't have magic I think you'd have to get a magic user to help facilitate."

"That simple?" Clint murmured. "Seems like the sort of thing you'd need a potion or something for."

"No. Sometimes the best magic is just the simplest." Hermione said. "Now. Harry and I were…working on something, so I'll see you in an hour Mr. Stark."

"For the last time Elphie! It's Tony."

"Whatever you say Mr. Stark." And then with a smirk that was far from innocent the girl genius left, going back down the elevator to work on projects unknown.

"What do you think the kids are working on anyway?" Steve asked. "Every time I come in the room they freeze."

"Me too." Bruce said. "Must be something exciting."

"I know Remus knows what it is." Natasha said. "Cornered him about it but he slipped away before giving it up. He doesn't seem worried though, I doubt it's dangerous."

"Do you think it's got anything to do with why their breath smelt like plant matter last week?" Clint asked. "I noticed it and pointed it out and Harry lied and said it was a new tea they were drinking."

"Somebody needs to teach that kid a better poker face." Steve said. "I don't support lying but…really it's getting sort of sad at this point."

"I'll get on it." Nat said. "Give him some pointers before he leaves for school."

The conversation continued between them, eating brunch and gossiping like old women together. None of them brought up the shield brother thing again but Thor suspected it was on all of their minds. It was certainly on his mind. Thor had of course done this ritual before, with the Warrior Three and Sif. It was a bond he still felt, and the mark rested on his chest forevermore. But Thor felt far less proud of the mark as of late. It was a mark he had formed without Loki, an exclusion he wanted to claim was accidental but he knew better. He'd been young and foolish and cruel.

Loki had found mortals to form that bond with, his Marauders, but that didn't change that Thor had excluded Loki from that sort of bond for centuries beforehand. And now here he was in the same exact situation, a team he trusted and loved was considering that next step and they were doing it without Loki.

Thor wouldn't allow it to happen twice. He wouldn't. Loki was, in a twisted sort of way, the person who had brought them together. First by his invasion and subsequent sentencing and again with his son and his willingness to accept their help fighting Voldemort and his kin. Excluding Loki would be excluding an important part of their history and of Thor's family here on earth.

Tony left the brunch first, going down to his lab to get to work on his techno-magical experiments with Hermione. Slowly the others began to disperse too for their own personal tasks. Thor himself wandered away from the penthouse and down to the floor that he shared with Loki and Harry. Loki was in Scotland today, the man had some 'training' to do that was required of new instructors at the school that would keep him away for a few days. In order to keep up the ruse that he was a teacher and not Harry's father he wouldn't be able to spend much time here in New York in the next week.

He wouldn't even be able to see Harry off on the train. That would be Remus and Sirius' job this year. So far as Thor knew, Harry was now by himself with Hermione gone to work with Tony. Perhaps Thor could tempt him into a training session or to play a game with him that afternoon. It would be a good way to spend the day Thor thought. He was after all still competing for title of best uncle against Black and any little bit helped right?

Thor stepped out of the elevator and began making his way towards his nephew's room. To his confusion he heard a strange rustling and turned away from the hallway that led to the bedrooms and went to the small living room that was connected to their personal kitchen. Thor carefully reached for his hammer, ready to use it if someone was breaking into the tower. He pressed his back along the wall and quietly slunk forward towards the strange noises.

He turned the corner and paused at the sight before him.

There was a raven on the back of the couch.

Thor knew ravens. His father used to breed them. His favorites, Huginn and Muninn, had spent a long time on Odin's shoulders acting as two extra sets of eyes. When he'd been a young man those two birds had spied on him and whenever he'd been up to trouble, they'd tattle on him to Odin. Thor had gained an appreciation for their intelligence and playfulness once he grew a bit older. There was still a raven aviary in the palace that Odin would visit when he was especially troubled.

The raven on the couch was small enough and had the shape of one not quite grown. The flight feathers had replaced the first fluffy kinds but it still had a bit of awkward growing left to do. The pronounced feathers below the beak hadn't yet grown in either. Thor liked the young ravens best out of all of them. They were more sociable and playful than the adults. This was probably because they were small enough to know they could still be eaten by something larger than them and liked the protection Thor offered, but still.

Even Loki liked ravens for all Huginn and Muninn had ratted them out as children. They were tricky and smart and were amendable to getting into any sort of mischief if there was food involved.

But where had this raven come from? There were no open windows in the room, had it snuck in through a vent? Thor watched as the raven ruffled it's feathers a little, and then hopped from place to place on the back of the couch. The bird seemed to be gearing up for something. Thor watched as the lights overhead glinted off the black feathers and gave a purple iridescent sheen.

The bird let out his wings and jumped off the couch. Thor expected it to start flying around, perhaps do some tricks. He had once seen a particularly crafty raven fly upside down around the palace for what appeared to be no reason at all. Instead he had to hold back a laugh as the bird awkwardly flapped it's wings, failed to catch any air and dropped to the ground. Ah, so it was very young then. Just learning to fly.

He was content to watch as the raven got back up, hopped onto the couch with a harsh flap of their wings and tried again. Most ravens had their parents and siblings to teach them but it seemed this poor thing was on it's own as it attempted to learn. The bird attempted it five more times with various success until it finally managed to get airborne. It began to circle in the room, learning how hard to flap to stay steady, growing in confidence.

At least it was until it turned towards Thor and spotted him. The raven squawked in shock, lost its flow and started to fall out of the sky. Thor jumped forward and carefully caught the juvenile raven.

"Well hello there." He said. "Aren't you a handsome bird? It's been such a long time since I've seen a raven as fine as you."

He was well aware that while ravens couldn't necessarily understand words completely, they did know when they were being complimented. Thor helped the young raven stabilize on his arm and looked at the shifting bird.

"How did you get inside here little bird? Did someone bring you in or did you sneak in? I won't tell anyone if you snuck in."

He got a better look at the bird and noticed a strange discoloration on the crown of its head. Normally a raven's feathers were all black, but up close he could see a few of the smaller feathers on the crown of its head were white, forming a runic pattern. The bird's eyes were also strangely green, something he hadn't seen on a raven before either. He normally would have assumed it was an earth variant of the bird but…

"Harry?"

The bird looked away.

"Nephew."

The bird ducked it's head.

"I'd prefer to have this conversation with you having a human mouth."

And so, the bird's body began to grow, feather's sinking back into skin until he had his nephew clinging awkwardly to his arm.

"It's me?" He said. "Surprise."

"At least you didn't greet me with a knife."

"A knife? Why would I do that?"

"Long story." Thor said. "I didn't know your shapeshifting lessons with Loki had progressed this far?"

"They haven't?"

"Are you asking or telling me?"

"This is different. Dad's teaching me aesir shapeshifting and that was a human version. Me, Ron, and Hermione have been learning it together. It's supposed to be a secret."

"Uh Huh."

"You're not going to tell anyone are you? Come on Uncle Thor. Sirius and Remus don't even know we managed it yet. It'll stay between us." Harry said, still holding onto his arm and looking at him with wide green eyes. Thor's will immediately wavered.

"I don't know…"

"It's just until we've worked out all the kinks. I'm trying to figure out how to fly. Ron and Hermione haven't worked out how to move on four legs yet."

"What do they turn into?"

"Hermione's an otter and Ron's is a cute little dog." Harry answered easily. "Makes sense, otters are super smart and so is Hermione and Ron's super loyal just like a dog. I'm a raven I think cause of the flying. Hermione said ravens are excellent flyers."

"They are. Although you don't seem to have inherited that."

"Hey! You try having wings instead of hands sometime." Thor giggled at the offense in his nephew's tone.

"Fine. I won't tell anyone. But you've got to prank your father with this."

"Prank him?"

"When Loki first learnt to turn into an animal, he pranked me in his snake form. I want justice." Thor said as he lowered his arm so Harry could touch the floor. The boy grinned up at him.

"I can do that."

"Then we have a deal, nephew."