Dauða Fönix
The atmosphere in the room full of spies and superheroes wasn't completely hostile, but it was clear that Alexis was very well protected. And by Muggles, no less. Neville was a Pureblood wizard, with little experience in the Muggle world, though that was more because he was happy in his own bubble than because he didn't want to be. He looked around at the others, who in turn looked at him curiously. Neville didn't have a television, so he hadn't seen the Avengers in action, but he knew who they were from Hermione's information pack.
He was surprised that Alexis had wanted to hug him, but then again, he was not at all surprised that a man had taken notice of what she had wanted to do and stopped her. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Neville almost laughed at the fact that he was seen as a threat. Who knew?
He raised his arms in a gesture of surrender. He looked around the man at Alexis and gave her a crooked smile. ‘Good job Potter. I should have known.’ Alexis grinned back. ‘Sorry Nev,’ she said, pointing at Tony. ‘With everything I've told them, and what's happened...’ her voice trailed off.
‘No, that's okay, I get it. Where can we talk? You've missed a lot and I've been sent as an uhm... ambassador.’ Alexis frowned at him. ‘What do you mean, ambassador? You're not with him, are you?’
Sighing deeply, Neville lowered his arms. ‘No, not with him, but not against him either. Call me neutral. But I do have a lot to tell you, because you're a bit behind, as we say.’ He shrugged apologetically.
By this time, Tony had a headache and he desperately needed a drink. ‘Why don’t we go upstairs? Get everyone a drink and then you can tell your story Chuckles.’
Alexis was happy with the suggestion and started to walk over to Neville, but now she was stopped by Loki, who grabbed her arm. ‘Not yet...I want to make absolutely sure that he can't take you without us knowing where you are.’ Alexis bit her lip, looked at Neville with regret, and stepped back.
Loki pulled her aside and Tony continued to look at Neville with furrowed brows. Looking into the eyes of the woman he loved, Loki prayed to his mother that she didn’t take his suggestion the wrong was. ‘I want to do something to you, so that I can always find you. But it won't be entirely painless.’ Alexis looked up. ‘Excuse me? What would that be?’
‘It's something we do on Asgard with little children,’ Loki said with a wink. ‘Little children,’ was her bewildered response. ‘I'm not a little child, or did you forget that?’ Her eyes flashed with anger. A small moment of panic and people acted like she couldn't defend herself. But you did panic... said her subconscious. And he only wants to protect you.
She sighed. ‘Okay, what then?’
Thor came to stand next to them. ‘We make a small mark, on the inside of the arm. A kind of burn. Normally this happens right after birth, we never do it with adults. But through that small wound, a little bit of my magic goes to you and I can always find my own magic again.’ Thor looked at his brother and put his hand on Alexis' shoulder.
‘Think of it as an investment in your safety, little lightning sister.’ Alexis was torn. Let herself be branded, make Loki very happy with it because then she would be safer, or continue to hold on to her independence. The choice was simple really. She loved him. He loved her. ‘Okay, but maybe we should inform the others. Or at least, Tony?’
Thor walked over to Tony, who was still eyeing Neville with suspicion. Steve decided to intervene and suggested that he go upstairs with the others so Tony could talk to Loki, Thor, and Alexis.
Neville walked away with the two supersoldiers, Wanda and Vision, Natasha and Clint. He smiled at Wanda. ‘That was very impressive, your magic. I have never seen anything like that.’ Wanda smiled back. She already knew Neville was no threat, she had seen his mind. ‘How did you get those powers? Is it something only you can do? Is it always red?’ Neville went red after the last question and apologized. ‘So sorry, I am asking you all these questions…you, of course, do not have to answer me. It’s just, we have no one with magic like yours.’ Wanda knew that too. ‘I will tell you. Later. I think maybe, we need your story first?’
Back in the lab, Loki explained his plan. Tony wasn't too happy about his daughter having to be branded, but it wasn't his place. Still, he couldn’t help himself and he sneered.
‘You don't have any ulterior motives, do you, Reindeer Games?’ Loki rolled his eyes. ‘Don't worry Tin Man, she'll be fine.’ Alexis held out her arm and Loki pushed her sleeve up, above her elbow. He pressed his thumb into the soft hollow there and his eyes glowed green for a moment. Alexis let out a yelp and a wisp of smoke came from her arm. When Loki removed his thumb, there was a small mark on her arm. Alexis brought her arm closer to see what it was. A crescent moon. The pain was gone again, and indeed, it looked just like a small burn.
‘Great, now that she's been branded like a piece of cattle, how about we hear what this guy has to say?’
‘Tony!’
Alexis glared at him. ‘There was no need for that. Loki has a point and you know it. There are portkeys. All someone has to do is hex a piece of rope, throw it on me, say the password and I'm gone. And how are you going to find me? You don't get it. Magic can do so much more than you know. Why are you being such a jerk?’
She stomped off angrily, leaving the three men behind. Loki's eyes were glowing. ‘And thank you. Good job. You're like a toddler sometimes, Tin Man.’ He walked away too, leaving Thor with Tony. The latter let out a scream and threw the screwdrivers he had saved from Alexis earlier across the room in anger. Thor put his hammer down and waited. After about five minutes of going through the lab and thoroughly destroying everything, Tony had calmed down. He looked at Thor, who observed him without any judgment.
‘He has that effect. My brother. Always has. But I do believe that he does love her. He is different with her. My mother predicted it, years ago, but we had given up hope.’ Tony had sat down by then. ‘Go ahead, tell me. What had she predicted then?’
Thor smiled at the memory. ‘My mother has the gift of sight. She was raised with witches, on one of the other planets we call Vanaheim. Different magic than what Alexis has, mind you. Loki never fit in. Logically, he is in fact a Jotun. My father took him with him after Laufey was defeated. He had found Loki, who was left behind by his own people to die, and felt sorry for him. Loki had never known any better than that he was my real brother. When that came true, he became bitter and the misery began in New Mexico and then New York.’
Tony hummed, that was somewhat understandable.
‘My mother predicted that Loki, during his penance, would meet someone who would love him unconditionally. She called that person Dauða Fönix. It means the Deadphoenix. We never really understood what she meant, but when we were in Asgard with Alexis, my mother did everything she could to make sure Alexis and Loki were together.’
Thor smiled. ‘They couldn't stand each other. Insults, tears, fights, a destroyed kitchen, and guards who refused to work around them. And suddenly, something changed. Loki had asked Alexis to be his table date. And there it was. Magic. Little sparks. Everyone felt it, could see it even. My mother was so happy. I had asked her what she meant by the name, Death Phoenix, and if it was Alexis, but I didn't get an answer. My mother doesn’t tell us what we are not meant to know.’
Tony thought over the information. ‘Do you think it has to do with that black smoke? The one Alexis has?’
‘It could very well be, but I'm not a seer. I do have some form of magic, every Asgardian does, but nothing compared to Loki and Alexis.’
After a deep sigh from Tony, Thor grinned. ‘Come on, let's hear what the warlock has to say.’
Tony looked up, pulled a face and nodded. The men walked to the elevator, both lost in their own thoughts. ‘Jarvis, where's Alexis?’ ‘She's with the others, sir. Top floor.’ ‘Thanks buddy.’ ‘You’re welcome, sir.’
The elevator doors opened and Thor and Tony walked into the living room, which was shared by all the people who lived in the upper levels of the building. Neville was sitting on a couch, with Wanda next to him. Alexis was sitting with Loki on the couch across from him, and the others were spread out. Swallowing his pride, Tony walked over to Alexis and Loki. ‘Okay, I admit it, I'm a jerk. Nothing you didn't already know.’
Alexis could never stay mad at Tony for long and nudged Loki with her elbow. She gestured with her head and signaled with her eyes. When Loki continued to look stubborn, she rolled her eyes and stood up. Stubborn guy.
She gave Tony a hug and a kiss on his cheek. ‘It's all right.’
When everyone was seated, Neville took a deep breath and started talking.