Frostwitch

He used to spend his evenings in the same way. Once he had finished all his princely and commissioner duties, he would return to his chambers and with a cup of warm lavender tea in hand, Immerse himself in books. Rarely did he read something he hadn’t read before.

Throughout his life in the shadow of his older brother, he had found solace for his mind in books. By now he had read every book in the Royal Library- ranging from historical texts detailing wars and the lives of their ancestors to short novellas about grand balls and feasts. Among the duties assigned to him as penance for the crimes committed on Midgard, he was serving the All-father as a commissioner in various matters. He was also tasked with collecting reports from the outposts at the edges of the realms and offering counsel during times of unrest and dispute.

Loki was one of the most educated individuals in the kingdom, capable of answering nearly any question in almost any field. He knew a little bit about everything. Thus, despite his crime, Odin recognized the wisdom in seeking the advice of his adopted son. There was no one better suited for the role. Yet Odin never wanted to place Loki at his right hand - let alone on the throne.

“Your highness, with all due respect, you seem quite absent today. May I ask why” Dorian approached the dark-haired man, who had just risen from the ground after failing to notice the elf’s strike for the third time.

“I am fully present” Loki said, raising his chin high. “Merely a bit tired”

“A rough night?”

“Oh, that is none of your concern, Dorian” Loki replied, placing his saber on the bench and walking away toward the gardens. The elf quickly closed the distance between them.

Dorian Seveilson was the son of the king of Alfheim, a rebellious heir who had no desire for the throne. Elves were exceptionally intelligent and beautiful creatures, naturally tall as well. Yet Dorian only surpassed Loki in height by half a head. He had long brown hair, eyes as blue as a morning sky, pointed ears, and a flawlessly handsome face with delicate features.

“Your highness, perhaps I should prepare some herbal tea for you. It would surely sooth your restless thoughts” the elf suggested, stepping ahead of the prince. His long brown hair fell from his shoulders to his back.

“How many times a day must I tell you, Dorian, to address me by my name? You are as much a prince as I am” Loki snapped irritably

“Of course, Loki…” The elf nodded. “Shall I brew the tea, then?”

“Do something useful, Dorian, and stop bothering me today” Loki replied, brushing past him toward his chambers.

Since his return to Asgard, Loki had thought of nothing but her. He longed to return to Earth, to spend more time with her, to get to know her. To understand why she didn’t look at him the way everyone else always had. Wanda Maximoff had completely taken over his thoughts.

Walkin down the long corridor, its walls and ceiling made of gold and floors of marble, Loki spotted a figure running toward him. As it drew closer, he recognized his older brother, sprinting at near-lighting speed toward the palace exit. Loki watched with a frown as Thor came to a stop beside him.

“And where are you rushing off to, brother?” Loki asked, eyeing Thor critically

“Earth needs me!” Thor called out briefly before running off again.

Loki stood still for a moment, turning his brother’s words over in his mind.

“Earth needs him…” he murmured under his breath “Earth…”

Without further thought. Loki set off in pursuit of his brother.

***

Nothing had returned to normal. Nothing. Her thoughts were still consumed by one thing:

“When will I see him again?”

A week had passed, and Wanda Maximoff found it impossible to focus on anything. She was absent during every conversation, and with each passing night, sleep became harder to find. Thor’s enigmatic brother was supposed to leave and never return to the place he still lingered: her mind, where he roamed as though it were his private estate, with no intention of leaving.

The redhead was sitting on the couch with Clint, wo had stopped by the tower that day. They were watching a western when Steve burst into the room, carrying an injured Natasha in his arms. Both immediately sprang from the leather couch and rushed to Steve.

“My God, what happened?!” Clint shouted.

“Is she going to be okay? Where’s Bucky?” Wanda asked, panic-stricken.

“It happened so fast!” Steve stammered, trembling. “We were out on the walk when Bucky suddenly started muttering to himself, crying and screaming and then he attacked us. I couldn’t do anything because others showed up!”

Steve spoke quickly, his voice shaking and tears welling in his eyes. No one had ever seen Rogers in such a state on the verge of hysteria.

“Others? What others? What are you talking about, Rogers?” Clint frowned.

“Hydra soldiers” Steve whispered.

Wanda and Clint exchanged alarmed glances. Then without hesitation, they sprang into action.

“Jarvis, call Helen Cho and sent an alert to Barbie” Clint ordered as he rushed toward the weapons storage. Wanda stayed behind with Steve and Nat.

The young woman pressed her hand against Natasha’s wound to slow the bleeding. Her clothes were already soaked in blood. Natasha was losing far too much of it. If no one helped her soon, she wouldn’t survive.

“Listen, I have to help Barton. Don’t move from here. Helen will be here soon, to tend to Nat” Wanda instructed calmly before hurrying to the weapons room.

Clint was busy packing his quiver with his specialized arrow. Although Wanda didn’t need additional weapons, her powers were more than sufficient, she only clipped a small pistol to her belt. Together, they briefed the brown-haired doctor on what to expect three floors up, before heading outside.

What awaited them was a horrifying sight: the wounded everywhere – children, adults and the elderly. Streets reduced to rubble. Wholes in the buildings. What happened here?

They followed the vehicle’s trail, scanning their surroundings for Barnes. Hydra seemed determined to retrieve their Winter Soldier at any cost.

A few weeks earlier a similar incident had occurred, but it had been during a covert mission that turned out to be not so covert. During that mission, Hydra had brutally exploited James, leaving him barely alive. He had spent 40 days in a coma, and until the very end, only Steve had believed he would pull through.

After several blocks, they finally spotted the vehicle – a massive, armored tank, far too large for them to handle alone. It moved slowly, demolishing everything in his path: people, cars, roads, and anything else that stood before it.

“We need a plan” Clint said.

“Wat kind of plan do you want?” Wanda snapped. “They’re about to destroy half of the city and kidnap our friend! What’s there to plan”

“Let’s at least wait for backup” Barton said, placing a and on her shoulder and trying to pull her below the enemy’s line of sight. “We called S.H.I.E.L.D. and Thor, they’ll be here any moment. Just wait”

But Wanda launched herself into the air, flying toward the tank.

“And how am I supposed to reason with her when she acts like a child…” Clint muttered, sighing deeply before following her into the fray.

Wanda used her powers to locate and incapacitate each hydra agent rendering them unconscious or worse. Meanwhile, Clint scaled the tank, searching for a way inside to rescue Barnes.

The area was swarming with hydra soldiers, and without a miracle or reinforcement they wouldn’t last long. Gunfire erupted everywhere, and now the wounded included Wanda and Clint. Despite their injuries, they fought on, determined to save James.

Suddenly, the sky darkened with storm clouds. Thunder roared, lightning flashed, and rain poured down, reducing visibility and footing. Just as they thought all hope was lost, a blinding flash of light struck the ground before the tank, and Thor emerged.

Wanda turned her head toward him - a mistake. She didn’t see the bullet that pierced her abdomen. With loud thud, she collapsed onto the metal roof of the tank. No one could help her until they found James. He was their priority.

“What in the nine realms is going here?” Tor demanded, swinging his hammer to scatter hydra agents.

“They took James and tried to use him to hurt Natasha and Steve earlier” Clint explained hurriedly, struggling with the hatch.

Thor reached down, ripped the hatch off its hinges, and tossed it at the hydra soldiers. Clint climbed inside.

“Don’t worry Bucky. I’ll get you out of here” Clint muttered, grabbing James by the jacket.

Lacking the strength to carry him, clint dragged Barnes back to the hatch, where Thor was waiting. Together, they lifted him out.

“It’s time to leave” Clint said glancing at the thunder god. “I’ll take care of Wanda, You handle him”

“I believe someone else had already seen to her” Thor replied, nodding toward Wanda, over whom Loki Laufeyson now stood.