On Punching Gods and Absentee Dads
Enigmaris
Chapter 8: Ah Miscommunication, My Old Friend
Summary:
Harry reveals the prophecy to a group of serious Avengers and then manages to calm the raging godly storm that is Thor. Of course, things seem to go even further south between him and his dad.
Notes:
Hey guys! Sorry the chapter's a bit shorter. Finals are next week and I'm a bit busy finishing up all of my final projects/assignments. Who knew Grad school would be so time consuming? Thanks for all the great comments last week!
Chapter Text
Once Harry finished his call to Ron and he was free to eat, he found himself being mothered into a seat by Loki, who then put the largest plate full of food he'd ever seen in front of him and told him to eat. It was a little weird, the way the man hovered. He didn't say anything for a few minutes more focused on eating but eventually all of the staring, not just from Loki but from the others was getting to be too much.
"I'm not a painting."
"I'm sorry what?"
"You don't have to stare. I'm just eating breakfast."
"Right. Of course." Loki looked away but every few moments he'd glance back.
"That's almost worse somehow." Then Harry made a face. "You didn't watch me while I was sleeping did you?"
"I wouldn't do that."
Harry looked over at the other Avengers and finally Hawkeye broke.
"It was sort of cute. He pet your hair."
Harry made a small anguished noise at the very thought while Loki called Clint a betrayer. A huge clap of thunder made Harry duck his head over his food for a moment. He looked outside with a frown.
"Does it normally rain like this here?"
"When you have the god of thunder living here, yeah it does." Captain America told him. "It gets like this whenever something gets him angry."
"What's he got to be angry about?"
"Well we all just listened to the same thing right? Your friend telling us just how much of a scumbag Dumbledore is? How he lied and manipulated you for your entire life all for this prophecy. You didn't forget that did you?" Tony asked.
"I didn't forget. I just don't see why he's mad about it."
"How could he not be?" Loki asked him. "I'm furious about it! We all are!"
Harry could understand Loki's anger, after all the man had been lied to by his leader. But…the rest of them didn't make sense. Harry took a moment to consider what reasons they'd have to truly be angry about this situation. It wasn't like they cared about Harry's misfortune, it wouldn't make sense for them too. Maybe he was just too tired to figure it out.
"Okay." Harry said slowly before going back to eating. "When's the storm going to end then?"
"No, you don't just get to change the topic." Tony said. "You do understand that we are all outraged about this right?"
"I…do." All of the Avengers looked very offended and Harry decided to drop it. "Sorry, sorry. I'm just a bit…overwhelmed today. Nothing on you guys."
Loki didn't look like he believed Harry but Harry decided he was done talking about it. So, he forcibly changed the subject.
"What happened while I was dead to the world?"
"Well." Loki said. "The others volunteered to help defeat Tom Riddle, since it seems we can't rely on the Order for help I'm glad to have a team I can trust. I've been training them to take on Death Eaters and teaching them how to recognize lethal spells."
Harry froze over his large plate of food. The Avengers wanted to help? Why would they risk themselves like that? Harry couldn't let them, he wouldn't let anyone else die for him. Before any of those words could spew out of his mouth, Captain America continued.
"This is our job Harry, helping to protect people who can't defend themselves. We're glad to do it, if you'd be willing to tell us anything you know so that we can be better prepared we'd be grateful."
The arguments drained out of him. They weren't fighting for him, they were fighting for the world. That he could accept. But he would never, ever accept someone dying for him, fighting in his name. Savior of the world or not, it wouldn't happen. He nodded slowly, wondering what exactly they wanted to know. Slowly he lifted up another forkful of his breakfast.
Where to start? What to say?
"I have a question." Black Widow said, Harry looked at her and she said simply. "Would you mind telling us the prophecy? Loki told us it could be dangerous but…"
"Sure." Harry cut her off. "I mean if you think it'll help. It's pretty straight forward."
"Straightforward?" His dad demanded. "Prophecies are very complicated."
Harry snorted at the idea. He took a drink of water and then spoke in the steadiest voice he could. It turned out to be not that steady at all, but he felt he should get credit for trying.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies. And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not. And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."
Silence. Harry lifted another forkful of food up to his mouth. He knew this was a serious occasion and honestly those words still haunted him but that didn't stop him from being so hungry. It took about five bites of food for Harry to decide to continue.
"Born to those who have thrice defied him. How many times did you fight Tom before you died?"
"Three."
"And mom?"
"Three." He answered sounding mutinous. Harry rolled his eyes and continued.
"Born as the seventh month dies. Easy my birthday's July 31st."
"You were born at 11:59 at night." Loki closed his eyes.
"What a coincidence." Harry said in his most sarcastic voice which made Hawkeye and Stark snort in near unison. "The Dark Lord will mark him as his equal."
Carefully he lifted up his hair to show off the awful lightning bolt beneath. At the same time there was a huge crash of thunder.
"The night my mom was murdered I got this mark from Tom. Before that point there were other babies that could have been…I'm not the only kid who was born on July 31st with parents who fought Tom. But Tom decided in his twisted brain that I was the threat, making me his equal when I was just 15 months old. So you know…there's that."
He finished the whole thing lamely, not even sure if he'd won the argument for how straightforward the prophecy was.
"Neither can live while the other survives?" Hawkeye asked.
"Ron reckons it means that I can't have a life outside of Tom and well…neither can Tom." Harry said. "Tom's obsessed with killing me, he tries it constantly. Which means I'm obsessed with not getting murdered. Until one of us dies it's always going to be like that. I mean…Tom's gotten so good at ruining my life, he made me fail an OWL. The history one and I studied for that!"
"An OWL?"
"Sorry. Think of them like…big final exams. You take them at the end of your fifth year of magic school and if you fail them, it limits what magic classes you can take in the last two years." Harry explained. "And I know I failed my history one. Not to mention astronomy."
"How did you fail?" Loki asked.
Harry groaned at the suspicion his voice. Was this really his life right now? His hunger pushed him to eat some more of his food while the other Avengers laughed. Outside the storm was still raging. Was Thor okay?
"How long do these storms last?" Harry asked, looking out the window.
"Your uncle is fine." Loki said almost carelessly.
"He doesn't look fine!" Harry motioned at the storm outside.
"Thor does this. He won't be harmed by a storm of his own making."
But other people, innocent people will. A dramatic huge lightning bolt strike flashed right outside the window painting everything in the room in a bright light. The clash of noise made Harry wince.
"Where is he?"
"The roof." Tony said. "He'll calm down soon kid."
Harry's jaw set stubbornly, and he saw something like a dawning horror in Loki's eyes as he stood up.
"How do I get to the roof?"
"Are you crazy kid?" Hawkeye demanded. "The roof is a death zone when Thor is like this."
"How do I get on the roof?"
"We're not going to let you go up there! You'll die." Harry gave Tony a very sharp look and he looked a little stunned. "It's not safe kid."
"I'll be fine." Harry said seriously. "Is it that way?"
He pointed at two doors that suspiciously looked like they'd hold a set of stairs.
"Harry." Loki said. "I'd really suggest letting your uncle work through this on his own."
That was good enough for him. He strode past the group towards the door, of course the others moved to follow him, but no one actually stopped him. He took the stairs two at a time and soon enough he found himself using more of his strength than he expected to kick the door open. Sure, enough there was Thor. The man was standing there, the center of an insane storm. Rain stabbed into Harry's skin from the force of the wind.
Harry didn't even flinch at the water or the sound of roaring wind that seemed to destroy any other noise it came into contact with. Instead he kept walking, his feet steady on the wet slippery roof. Harry had a suspicion about his life that he was testing, a suspicion Hermione would never consider because she didn't like divination. He should be slipping, the wind should pick up his light body and fling him unforgivably into a building. He shouldn't have won in the fight against Amora. Those Death Eaters in the arcade should have been able to take him down.
Some sort of metal debris was flying right at Harry but Harry didn't stop his march. The metal veered wildly to the left, missing his hair by inches. He heard someone choke behind him, but he didn't bother to check who. Didn't matter.
"THOR!"
The god heard him, thankfully. He turned, his eyes glowing an unearthly blue before flickering off. Immediately whatever rage Thor had been venting was replaced with horror. The storm raged on around them, the wind howling and lightning searing its way across the storm.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" Thor actually balked at Harry's voice, who felt some sort of righteous indignation he normally only saved for Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy.
"I…"
"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! STOP THIS STORM THIS INSTANT!"
Immediately the storm clouds began to thin and the wind died as Harry trembled with rage and upset.
"I can't believe this! You're flooding the streets! People live here you know! You can't just go around…throwing a tantrum when things don't go right! Honestly! You're over 2000 years old! Act like it!"
Thor switched between looking at the flooded streets far below and Harry's face looking rather embarrassed. Harry began to feel a bit pink in the cheeks himself and he cleared his throat.
"I'm just saying. You can't be hanging out with me if you're going to make storms like this anytime something unpleasant happens. I don't think Mr. Stark should have to pay for water damages on the 93rd floor a few days from now because you flooded the city."
"Is your life really so tragic?" Thor asked, his voice sounding fragile.
"It was a joke." Harry said defensively. He waited for Thor to relax in relief and then added. "But yeah."
Thor gave him a look that made Harry laugh and then jerk his thumb behind him.
"Come on. Let's go back inside and see who can clean out the kitchen of food faster."
"A contest?" Thor asked a smile finally breaking over his face. "A perfect way to brighten the morning."
The sun was shining on the puddles left over from Thor's fit and the sky was a painfully blinding blue as they made their way back inside. Harry's hair was dripping wet and his pajamas were sopping too. Thor was a lot worse off since he'd been inside the storm since the beginning of it.
"We should umm dry off first."
"No need." Loki said waving his hand. Immediately they were both dry and crisp thanks to the spell. Thor clapped the other man on the back thanking him and Harry made a noise that sounded like he was mumbling the words thank you.
Most of the other Avengers were looking at Harry like they couldn't believe he existed and he decided abruptly that he hated that look. He hunched his shoulders in and walked past the group.
"Nephew." Thor said, right behind him. "I'm sorry for losing my temper. You're right. Flooding this city wasn't helping anything."
"It's fine." Harry said.
"But you shouldn't have gone out there. My storms can be very dangerous." Harry finally turned to look at the man, Harry lifted up his eyebrows in shock at the man.
"Trust me, mate. I've had worse. I should tell you about the chamber of secrets. That was way stupider than this."
"Oh?"
So, Harry started telling Thor about the Chamber of Secrets. To his surprise, and pleasure. Thor didn't act like any adult he'd ever known before. He wasn't patronizing like Snape or Dumbledore. Nor was he overprotective like Mrs. Weasley. He also didn't take the time to compare everything Harry did to people he didn't know like Remus and Sirius. Instead Thor was excited and awed and treated Harry like he could handle himself.
It was brilliant.
So, Harry told him everything, from the aborted Dueling Club to the Death day party that had been still one of the weirdest events he'd ever been too. Thor was delighted to know that Harry could talk to snakes and he lacked any sort of apprehension over it being evil. He also agreed that the Headless Hunt was being ridiculous for not letting Nearly Headless Nick join them.
Loki made choking pained noises from the other side of the breakfast table as Harry told them about the basilisk and finding a way into the chamber of secrets to save Ron's little sister. He had to spend a little time explaining exactly what a basilisk was to the other Avengers who hadn't had to take a class on dangerous magical creatures like Harry, Thor, and Loki.
Thor cheered at all the right times as Harry described the fight with Tom Riddle (the diary version) and the basilisk. He looked concerned but eager when Harry described losing his wand and discovering that the journal was actually a memory of Voldemort's. But then when Fawkes appeared with the hat and Harry removed a sword from it, Thor whooped so loudly that the windows vibrated in their frames.
"So here I am, running through the chamber of secrets, the now blinded Basilisk chasing after me, listening." Harry said, his voice turning hushed. "I held my breath and hid in a alcove, watching as the giant snake sniffed and then slithered past."
Thor was literally on the edge of his seat. Harry described getting back into the main chamber and climbing up the statue of Slytherin, sword drawn and ready to defend himself.
"And then I jumped."
"Jumped?"
"Into the basilisk's mouth." Harry said. "And I used the sword and pushed it right up into its brain."
Thor actually cheered as Harry described the basilisk's death throes and how Harry ended up at the feet of the ghostly Tom Riddle, having destroyed his most powerful weapon before he could release it on the school. Then he gasped when Harry described the realization that he was dying, that he'd been bitten. Out of the corner of his eye he thought that Loki looked a little green.
"You okay?"
"You were bitten by a basilisk?" Loki nearly shrieked.
"Er…impaled is probably a better…"
Harry's good mood immediately drained away from him as Loki jumped up and started ranting about how he couldn't believe this had happened. Harry felt himself get a little smaller as he watched his dad get more and more upset about something that Harry didn't even think of in negative terms. Sure, being bitten had hurt but Fawkes had fixed him quite quickly. There wasn't any reason to get all upset about it. Besides he'd managed to save Ginny too.
He lifted up his arms and hugged himself around the chest and fell back into his chair, waiting for Loki to start demanding that he let him wrap Harry up in bubble wrap from now on because he can't handle anything ever.
"Loki." Thor said. "Harry wasn't finished with his story. This is a tale worthy of the mead halls of Asgard I think, and you've interrupted it."
Loki froze mid-rant and turned to look at them. He looked first at Thor, upset for the interruption and then at Harry. The fight seemed to drain out of Loki at whatever he saw there and Harry looked away and back down at his food.
"Right. Of course. Finish your story, Harry."
It wasn't as fun that time but he did as he was bid and thankfully Thor acted like nothing was the matter at all. When it was over and their food had been eaten entirely, Thor clapped Harry on the shoulder and told him he was a brave warrior for facing such odds to save Ginny. Harry pretended that he didn't blush and mumbled out that it wasn't a big deal.
"It is a big deal." Thor said his voice rumbling as he peered down at Harry. "You shouldn't dismiss your abilities, Harry."
Harry decided then and there that he really liked Thor.
"Mjolnir, only chooses the best to let her weild her." Harry assumed that was Thor's hammer.
"So, it's like a wand then? It only likes to work with certain people?" He asked.
"Yes exactly. You're the only other person I've met who can weild her."
"What all can she do then?" Harry asked.
Thor immediately talked about all of the aspects of his beloved hammer and Harry didn't interrupt until Thor said something really interesting.
"You can fly? What's your speed like? What about your turning ability? Maneuverability?"
Thor looked a little bemused but thankfully someone else had sense. Harry found himself immersed in a conversation about different flight techniques employed by the team with Tony Stark. Loki would just turn into a bird, Thor used his hammer and Tony used his suit. Tony insisted his suit had the best capabilities out of all of them, which Thor, Loki and Harry took offense too.
Loki on the grounds that Tony's suit was eye catching and impossible to miss, which made it terribly for aerial fights. Thor because Mjolnir was always the best at everything. Harry insisted that Tony only thought so because he hadn't seen a Firebolt in action yet. Pretty soon people were making claims about who could outfly who and Harry didn't care that his body was still sore. He'd not lost a flying contest yet and he wasn't about to start now.
"I'll get my broom and we'll prove it then." Harry said. "Because if you think you're suit can outfly the greatest flying broom ever, you're delusional."
"Mjolnir was created in the heart of a dying star. She won't be defeated by mere wood or metal, no matter how clever."
"You're both on." Tony Stark said. "Loki, where's a good place I can show these you losers how it's done without breaking all those laws you were talking about?"
"I'm not sure if…"
"Come on." Harry said. "You're not just going to let him show us up are you?"
He looked pleadingly at Loki and the man instantly crumbled telling them exactly where they could go to have a flying contest. The other Avengers started planning out exactly what sort of course they'd need to see what method of flying, and more importantly who was the best flyer.
Harry felt almost lightheaded by the fact that Loki had just given in. Done something that he thought might be silly just because Harry had asked. He didn't know what to make of it at all.
"I need to go get my broom." Harry said, looking over at Loki. "And the rest of my stuff…I mean if you want me to stay here with you that is…"
"Of course, I want you to stay." He said. "Where are your things?"
"At my hotel? My key card was in my pocket of the clothing I was wearing before, it's a portkey that can take me there…"
"Ah yes. One moment, we'll go together and once you've got your things and checked out, we'll come back here."
Harry nodded in understanding feeling abruptly rather nervous about having Loki come with him. Had he left the hotel room a mess? Did it matter? Loki left him for a few minutes and returned with Harry's new shoes, some clean socks, and the key card. Harry quickly put those things on and then took the key card.
"I'm not…"
"It's best if we're close." Loki said. "Since it's a single person…"
"Right. Um." Harry shifted awkwardly and snuck a look up at Loki to see him looking just as uncertain.
Screw it.
Harry reached out and grabbed Loki's hand, tugged him so that he was right next to Harry. At the same time Harry pressed the top of the card and felt the familiar tugging sensation around his navel. Loki reached out and latched onto Harry in a weird mockery of a hug. Something about it made Harry's skin feel wrong so the moment they landed with a thud on Harry's hotel bed he was rolling out of the hug and getting onto his feet despite the dizziness of the situation.
Loki looked a little confused from his position of half standing and crouching on the bed.
"I'm gonna…get out of my pajamas." Harry said stumbling over to his school trunk and quickly grabbing whatever clothing he'd stuffed inside most recently. It didn't take long at all for Harry to get dressed and pack everything up. Loki spent most of that time looking out the window up at Stark, Harry thought he almost looked stupefied that Harry had been so close. "I was…well I knew you lived there but I didn't know how to get inside without…"
"So, you were what? Stalking me?"
"I was determined." Harry sniffed. "I'm going to check out real quick and then we can get back."
It took him all of about 30 seconds to use the magical pamphlet he'd been given upon checking in to check out. Once that was done, he picked up his broom while Loki picked up the trunk and shrunk it so it could fit in his pocket.
"Harry, are you sure you're up for flying? You were…"
"I'm fine. It's going to be fun."
"It's just you can't be using too much magic for the next few days. Flying shouldn't be a problem because the magic's in the broom not in you but you need to rest your magic, or you could really hurt yourself."
"I know." Harry said. "I'm not stupid."
"I didn't say you were. I'm just trying…"
"Can we just go back before they have this contest without me?"
He hadn't meant to sound so curt. Harry winced a little but Loki didn't see that. He was looking out the window instead of at Harry. Harry struggled trying to come up with an apology but he couldn't before Loki acted. The man nodded and held out a hand. Harry took it and prepared himself for the hug that Loki would pull him into. Only for the man to surprise him again but teleporting them in a ring of green fire, while just lightly holding Harry's hand. They arrived back right where they'd left, although now a lot of the Avengers were gone.
"You're back!" Thor said. "Come on. Clint's gotten the Quinjet ready, time to prove ourselves nephew."
"You're going to lose." Harry said easily stepping away from Loki while brandishing his broom. "Nothing outflies a Firebolt."
He didn't look back at Loki as they went to the Quinjet, which Harry assumed was some sort of plane based on the name. Apparently, the hug thing had been a one-off sort of thing. Loki hadn't wanted to hug him, it was an instinct thing because of the portkey. That was fine. Wasn't like Harry needed a hug from his dad, he'd gotten on just fine before. He ignored the disappointment in his gut that he'd been too shocked and weirded out to actually enjoy the hug. The first one, back at the arcade had been just as awkward but for different reasons. Maybe Harry just wasn't good at it?
The quintjet turned out to be an actual jet that had enough seats for all of them. Harry listened as Tony, now in his Iron Man suit, explained exactly how the competition was going to work. It was meant to a be a trial that tested speed and versatility in the air. Which wasn't going to be a problem for Harry at all. Tony helped him get buckled into a seat with his broomo safely nearby and Thor sat down right next to him.
As they flew, with Clint at the helm, Harry snuck looks at his dad. This morning things had seemed a lot…smoother. Loki had been worried about the scar and had held his hand during the call with Hermione. He'd been nice and the conversation about Quidditch had been really good. But now Loki wasn't sitting near him on the jet, wasn't even looking at him. How had Harry ruined it already?
Harry had no doubt it was his fault somehow. Maybe he'd been too weird for Loki, or too difficult. Lots of adults found Harry difficult. Or perhaps it was the fact that he had his mum's eyes that bothered the man. So many people had reacted similarly to Harry in the past, why would Loki be any different? Was it the prophecy? Did Loki blame him for the prophecy? Did he blame Harry for his mum's death? His mom would still be alive if it weren't for Harry after all.
Whatever. That was fine. Harry hadn't come here expecting to get along with Loki. The fact that Thor was cool was just an unexpected bonus. If Loki didn't want him, then Harry could easily spend time with the god of thunder. Harry slid closer to Thor and asked him a question about his ability to call storms out of nothing and didn't look at Loki while Thor answered.
He pretended it didn't hurt.