Chapter 4
MIDGARD
Fury frowned and looked up. He blinked in surprise to see Sigyn sitting in the chair on the opposite side of his desk. He hadn’t had a tremendous amount of interactions with her. He knew she was the one who killed Thanos so he had to respect that. She was also there that day the Enchantress Amora showed up so his history with her was a lot more positive than negative. “Did we have a meeting scheduled?”
Sigyn shook her head slightly. The way her hair fell did nothing to obscure her pointed ears. But this was a human who knew she wasn’t from Midgard. “No. I had a few minutes so before returning to Asgard I wanted a moment of your time.”
Nick pushed aside the keyboard in front of him and folded his hands on his desk. “What can I do for you?”
She was here for a couple of reasons. But this question had been plaguing her for a while. “Why is the human attitude against those that are mutants so negative?”
Fury sighed forcefully, “Hell…fear of the unknown?”
“But you are not afraid of them.”
Leaning back into his chair. “I’m not a fan of the chaotic power your fiancé represents but no. They’re people. You all are. You have good ones and you have bad ones. Being a mutant doesn’t change that, just makes the bad ones more dangerous.” Bad people could harm regardless. But giving them power that could be used as a weapon that was difficult to defend against…that was the scary part. “Those that fear them see that being a mutant means all of them are bad.”
Sigyn looked weary. “That is ludicrous.” But it wasn’t just Midgard. She’d seen enough on Asgard to recognize some of the similarities against those with seidr.
Grunting in irritation. “Fear turns intelligent people into a mob of panicking sheep. The fear-mongering tactics out there for the general public to hear don’t help.”
“Is that why there is no school for those with magic?”
“Uh, well…not exactly.” Sigyn slowly lifted an eyebrow. Until quite recently, the conversation of magic was not an aspect of his world. At least not unless the one talking about it wanted to be called crazy. Magic was make-believe. It was in books and movies. Speaking now to an elf from another freaking planet who could do magic, it made him feel a bit silly to ever doubt it. “Generally speaking, magic is not accepted as a real thing here.”
“Huh.”
Fury caught the bemusement in her tone. “Surprising?”
Her shoulders shifted a bit in a shrug. “I grew up on a realm where magic is an unquestioning reality.”
He nodded and pointed to the computer he’d been working on. “Here? Electricity and technology are the magic.”
“Mmm, that would explain why so many mortal realms have technological advancements.” A gleam of interest flickered in Fury’s eye. “I saw that.”
Nor would Nick apologize for it. “You’re a Queen. If you see an advantage for your people, you act on it.”
“Perhaps I do.”
Fury leaned forward now. “How do we get access to those other planets?”
“Yours is a closed realm. A loophole and a stretch of the rules is the only reason we were introduced.” A very big stretch. It was probably only because Asgard had made their own arrival so obvious that the Inter-realm Council were unaware of her involvement.
Crossing his arms. “Okay. What about opening us up?”
With a wince Sigyn shook her head. “You do not want that, Nicholas Fury. You are not prepared for the consequences.”
“What’s the worst that could happen?” She lifted a silent eyebrow. “I’ve worked on the military side of things a long time. Give me the practicalities.”
Her deep blue eyes flicked away as she thought about what would most probably happen. Midgard was a realm with resources that many other realms coveted. It would be a disaster. “You are a ripe apple. If you were no longer closed, Asgard would no longer stand between you and the rest of the Nine. Even if the other long-lived races leave you in peace your resources would be plundered by untold mortal species scrambling over one another to take a bite…and your people would be among those resources.”
“We need weapons.”
Sigyn sighed impatiently. “Wrong answer.”
Fury frowned. “Why is that wrong?”
“Asgard has 90% of their male population trained to fight. Weapons are a solution for them. Vanaheim has a dense magical population and 45% of both sexes are trained to fight. Alfheim…we have our own ways to protect ourselves.” The majority of people were civilians on Midgard, unprepared to defend themselves. “From what I have observed and have been told, your realm is seven times smaller than mine, yet you are not unified. You have no means of protecting yourselves on a global scale, nor have you built an armada to travel outside of your own solar system.”
Huffing in frustration. “Why are the other mortal places ahead of us?”
Sigyn’s expression reflected that the answer was obvious. “Their species are older than yours. Once a realm hits an advanced technological boom, it on average takes another one to three centuries to become fully self-sufficient…or it destroys itself.”
“Great. What’re our chances?”
She pondered the question. “Those you describe with extraordinary talents are becoming more frequent, not less. They are your future. Your jump forward in evolution.” Humans had progressed to this point. They had grown smarter, more adept at mastering their environment with each generation. “A species establishes a standard that defines them over time. Some are immortal. Enhanced hearing. Shapeshifters. Ice magic. Aquatic. There will be variations, of course, but some core traits are inherited. Who is to say that humans were not meant to become saturated with random potential?” The Jötunn, while part of the long-lived races, would be an example. Their tolerance for their world’s climate was a core trait, but their inherited ability to use ice magic had developed as their species had progressed. “If you cannibalize and destroy what your genetics have determined you are to become, then you have no chance.”
“Why?” Nick asked curiously.
Narrowing her eyes a fraction in thought. “The Norns of Fate weave all of our futures. None of us know why we are as we are. It simply is. The species I have heard of that used methods to weed out certain inherited traits die out. What if there was a population boom of advanced humans capable of defending themselves? At that point, would the rest of the Nine be able to argue that your realm should remain closed?”
Fury’s jaw clenched as his attention shifted sharply. “A goddamn dog??”
The corner of her mouth twitched. “Perhaps you should embrace it.”
He ground his teeth. “This wasn’t supposed to happen to me.”
“True enough. An unintended accident. But it has. Use it. You are by nature a spy. What is more inconspicuous than a small dog?” Sigyn shrugged and stood up.
He had an odd expression on his face. “Why do I feel like I got more out of this conversation than you did?”
The corner of her mouth twitched minutely. “You would be surprised what I obtained from this conversation, Nicholas. See you at the wedding.” She turned to leave the way she came.
Calling after her, “Never said I was going.”
At the door she paused and spoke over her shoulder. “I know. But you will. We both know it.” She opened the door.
Grumbling. “Is he ever not going to be an immature asshole?”
Chuckling deep in her throat. “I certainly hope not.”
“You live vicariously through him, don’t you?”
Sigyn made a gently chiding sound. “Now Nicholas. An elf would never admit to such a thing…even if it were true.”
***
ASGARD
Tyron and Nora weren’t twins. They were quick to set anyone straight the first time they met someone. But it was an honest mistake because they looked so much alike, even though they were brother and sister. Blond hair, hazel eyes, and they both had a cute little bump on the end of their noses.
Tyron was the oldest at 14 seasons and a bit short for his age, his name inspired by General Tyr’s. Which was very ironic since Tyron had absolutely no interest in being a warrior. He wanted to be a playwright, and he was quite gifted. A couple of his smaller pieces had even been purchased and performed in the theater.
Nora was three seasons younger at 11 but quite tall and had a passion for plants. As a budding witch, she was quite gifted when it came to gardening and she spent the majority of her time tending to anything green.
Their father was one of the instructors for warriors in training and their mother worked in the palace kitchens. Because of their mother’s job, they were often found prowling the palace grounds. Tyron would be found in one of the public corridors, sitting on a bench and scribbling on parchment. Nora would be in one of the public gardens, coaxing flowers into bloom.
Tyron was busy on his scribbles when he paused, feeling a whisper against his ear. He knew it was Nora, who wasn’t here, and she didn’t use that little trick unless it was important. Stuffing his parchment in his satchel, he followed the trail of that whisper to stand next to Nora.
They both looked at each other. They tended to keep to themselves because most of the people at the palace sucked. The adults were stuck up and bitchy. The servants were all busy performing their various duties. The elders were boring. Even the pages didn’t have free time like they did. The exceptions were the Prince’s new kids.
Bragi was friendly. Melody even moreso if a bit awkward. El was wary and tended to act as the family protector. Talia was very quiet.
Watching several adults harassing Talia and one of the boy elves…not cool. Tyron nodded once.
They joined hands, closed their eyes, and thought the word very hard over and over again. A trick they had been taught recently. A green flash and Kid Loki popped into view.
“Wha—,” the boy cut himself off to scowl. “Right.” In a flash he was gone again.
***
Bruce Banner hadn’t really changed much in recent years. It was kind of hard to change when your alter ego was an enormous green rage monster. He still wore rumpled clothing, his wavy locks dark and eternally mussed. He was carrying a small duffel with him, for his extra clothes and a few toiletries. He was a bit surprised to receive the invitation, but he also wasn’t. Ever since he’d been re-introduced to Loki he’d decided to not overthink his interactions with the trickster.
Anya was escorting him down the corridor towards the rooms that had been set aside for him. Loki had already given her the all-clear that the humans could be in the family wing with the chiildren. And since they were in the family corridor, Anya had allowed the quiet sometimes distant efficiency of her station to fade.
“Am I the first one here?” Bruce asked politely.
She felt amused as she replied, “Sir Stark arrived before you did, Doctor Banner.”
With a grimace in place, he said, “Sorry in advance.”
Anya shrugged dismissively. “I find him humorous.”
Muttering, “That’s one way of putting it.”
She glanced his way. “How would you put it?”
Bruce didn’t even have to think before responding, “He has no filter, on purpose.”
“Filter?”
Reminded that in Asgard a lot of the normal human colloquialisms wouldn’t apply here. “What he thinks, he says.”
“Ah, blunt.”
Bruce sort of huffed a laugh and ducked his head for a moment. He’d always been a bit shy around a pretty woman and Anya was beautiful inside as well as out. “Uh, Thor is blunt. Tony can be crude and he takes a perverse pleasure in insults and basically making people uncomfortable. Especially if he doesn’t like them.”
Anya smiled. She’d noticed that. It was what was humorous about him to her. But then she looked a tad perplexed. “Surprising that he and the prince are such close friends.” Loki was not a fan of insults directed his way. He could also get easily irritated.
Holding up his hands in surrender. “I am not going to even try to figure that out.”
Idly she wondered where they had common ground, but she wasn’t going to speculate. Just as quickly as her thoughts went in that direction, they ventured into another. She couldn’t wait for her next date with Cedar. He was the oldest of the elven brothers who remained in Asgard with Sigyn. They were taking things slowly and, since the elven were matriarchal, their relationship progressed at Cedar’s pace.
Thor’s greeting came from a distance down the corridor but it was still loud. “Friend Banner!”
Grimacing a smile in Thor’s direction, Bruce held up a hand. “Hey—”
With a burst of green light a small figure teleported in front of them, causing both of them to pause. A small boy with frizzy black hair and familiar green eyes. The sudden appearance made Bruce jump a bit and drop his luggage.
“Uh…”
Kid Loki was focused on Anya. “Green alert.” She squared her shoulders, knowing what that meant. His hand wrapped around her wrist. “Look scary.” Green eyes flicked in Bruce’s direction. “You, too,” before grabbing onto Banner’s wrist with his other hand.
“Brother?” Bruce looked back and forth between them.
Kid Loki rolled his eyes. It had been explained repeatedly to Thor what he was and wasn’t. He was going to bluntly get the point across that he was Kid Loki, not Loki. He looked over his shoulder, stuck out his tongue at Thor, and teleported away with his two passengers.
Bruce almost stumbled when he appeared in the middle of one of the gardens. He felt a bit nauseous. It was a rougher ride than he was used to when dealing with Loki’s magic. Still reeling, what he was seeing was almost surreal.
There were several adults, both male and female, that seemed to be screaming at a couple of elven children. The two kids were nudging one another, the girl trying to physically shield the boy while the boy was trying to do the same. Wait, he knew that girl. Talia, one of Loki’s daughters.
No one had touched them…but that wasn’t saying much.
A blond boy was in front of the two elves and the adults didn’t seem to know what to do with him there.
A girl just as blond as the boy was touching the trunk of the tree they were all standing near. The air around her was shimmering a soft tan color.
A scream.
The tree moved, one of the branches smacking a woman into the pond.
Anya had landed at a slight kneel next to Bruce. She smoothly found her footing and rose to her full height. Her eyes were hard, jaw tense, and a growl in her voice, “LEAVE THEM ALONE.”
The adults were so taken by surprise they turned to stare at her. Rognin and Talia took the opportunity to join hands and with a burst of elven speed, to practically leap behind Anya. Tyron followed suit and grabbed Nora, the pair scattering.
The remaining adults collected themselves. Steps were taken forward. Anya raised a shaky hand and commanded them. “Stay your distance.”
Bruce swallowed and clenched a fist, green mottling the pale flesh.
None of them listened.
Her blue eyes narrowed, her jaw ticked, and her hand whipped outward. A concussive wave spiraled out, knocking everyone off their feet and sending several tumbling away into the pond. Windows shattered. Cries of alarm filled the air. Anya pulled in an unsteady breath and slowly turned to stare at her own hand.
Feet were thundering from a multitude of directions and Bruce’s fragile control snapped.
***
MIDGARD
Loki and Tony walked side by side down the corridor. “Do I want to know what Sigyn gave you?”
Sigyn had met up with them for a few seconds. She passed something to Loki and they shared a kiss before she left. Abyss had decided to go with her rather than follow Loki.
The mage shook his head. “Plausible deniability. What did you wish to speak regarding?”
“Down low?” Loki gave him a dirty look. Just because he knew Midgardian slang didn’t mean he wanted to entertain it. Tony rolled his eyes. “Fine. Tash has legitimately dropped off the grid. Not even with my connections can I find her.”
Frowning lightly. “And you think I can.”
A loose shrug before pointing upwards. “Or a certain Gatekeeper could.”
“Hmm, perhaps.” Loki did have respect for Natasha. Enough so that he wasn’t opposed to making at least a small gesture to ensure her good health. “Heimdall has primary duties but I will ask him to pass his gaze over Midgard as he is able.”
“Great.”
At the receptionist they gave their names and waited.
While they waited, Tony asked while still frowning, “Could this be a Thanos thing?”
Loki reminded him. “He is dead, remember?”
The inventor shrugged. “Yeah, but could it be something that lived beyond him?”
Grimacing a bit, not fond of any topic that involved the Mad Titan. “Why ask me?”
“You’re Yoda?”
A mild side eye moved in the inventor’s direction. “He did not employ magic and most spells do not work beyond the life of the caster. Technology, however, I could see that being a possibility.”
They both turned their attention to the receptionist who cleared her throat. “The Senator will see you now.”
Nodding politely, the duo entered the office.
“Prince Loki.” Senator Phillip Johnson reached out to shake Loki’s hand. He’d been surprised to receive a request for a meeting, but he was more than happy to oblige. Any man that helped save his son Andrew from that madman Wilson would always have his ear.
Tony held out his own hand. “Tony Stark.”
“You need no introduction, Mr. Stark. Sit. Please.” Phillip gestured to a pair of seats in front of his desk.
All three men sat easily, Loki starting the conversation. “Thank you for seeing us on such short notice. A matter of some urgency has come to my attention that requires an expedited resolution.”
“Anything I can do to help.”
Tony nudged Loki. “A question first, Senator Johnson—”
“Phillip.”
Loki tipped his head in agreement. “Phillip, then. And I shall extend the same courtesy of accepting first name responses as well.”
“Ditto.” The Senator blinked at the inventor.
The mage ignored Tony. “Phillip…how do you feel about mutants?”
A slight grimace, quickly suppressed, appeared. “Er, mutants. That’s, uh, a complicated question.” Phillip was clearly uncomfortable. But that was a normal response. It was a very polarizing topic right now and only the politicians that were vocal extremists voiced their thoughts boldly.
“Not really. I do not ask what your political party feels you should say, I asked for your personal opinion.” Loki snapped his fingers to produce a green flame that hovered above his palm. As if to remind the man that he was much more than he seemed.
Phillip pulled in a slow breath before focusing on a book sitting on a far table. He reached out a hand and after a wavering moment, it shot into his palm. Putting the book down. “I would say, Loki, I have no issues with mutants.” Tony silently lifted his eyebrows.
Loki smiled faintly. “Are you ambitious, Phillip?”
“To be a Senator, I have to be.”
“And how far do your ambitions carry you?” The question wasn’t an idle one.
Phillip wasn’t aggressive about it, but he wasn’t afraid to be honest. “To the top.”
Tony nodded in Loki’s direction.
Loki leaned back and got comfortable. “I think, Phillip, we should have a discussion about that. You seek something that might be decades from your grasp. Something that with the pair of us assisting, might be obtainable much sooner.”
“In exchange for what?” Nothing was for free. Phillip had learned that at an early age.
A calculating smile. “Support in return, Phillip. You are aware of mutants. How familiar are you with those on your planet like myself that can use magic?”
Tony just stayed quiet, listening as a Senator and a Trickster spoke in depth about Guilds and Committees and things that no other human really knew or understood. But he knew Loki would get what he wanted out of this meeting. And very soon, by next election at the latest, he and Loki would make sure Phillip Johnson was the next president.
***
ASGARD
Odin would like to think that, while he was not a new man, he was a more tolerant man. What he saw made him seriously contemplate turning right back around and crawling into bed. A tree had been uprooted and thrown half through a wall. A few of the courtiers and aristocracy were in the pond and huddled together. Anya was standing in front of Rognin and Talia, looking astonished. Veilya and Frigga were on either side of her with narrow eyed focus…on the ones in the pond.
A pair of blond children were nearby, the boy alert while the girl was staring mournfully at the devastated garden.
Some distance away, a large green creature seemed to be in some sort of scuffle with Thor, Fandral, Sif, and Tyr.
The only reason Odin didn’t turn around was because Reed, who was Rognin’s father, was standing next to him and would take a very dim view of it. Well, one of the reasons. He internally bristled to see that expression on Frigga’s face. The way Talia and Rognin were leaning towards Anya to seek comfort. A flash of green announced the arrival of the child version of Loki, tucked into the shadows of the corridor they were standing in.
The boy was an accidental magical creation who seemed to embody Loki during that particular period of time in his childhood…and who only seemed to listen to Frigga and the adult version of himself. He was also a carefully kept secret at the moment, only appearing to a select few people.
Odin grumbled, “Do I wish to know what occurred?”
Pointing to the adults whimpering and cringing in the water. “They started it.”
“Mmm, and you finished it?”
The magical boy huffed, “Fine, the windows were me. Not the tree. Not…him.” Looking perplexed. “I did not know humans could do that. Is that normal?”
Odin paused to stare at the green creature. That was a human?
Kid Loki vanished without waiting for a reply. Reed cleared his throat lightly. Odin took the hint and strode into the garden…former garden. It would take…
…the plants were wrecked, some of the walls would need repairs. He had no idea how long it would take to set everything back to right.
“Frigga?” He kept his expression neutral but his voice betrayed his agitation.
Her own voice, like her expression, was cold. “These adults thought it best to berate children.”
The temperature in his own now dropped. “Did they?”
Astri pointed a damning finger at Talia. “It was her!”
Haakon growled, “She ruined my marriage!” Before the messages had started to get messed up, Haakon had been cheating on his wife Evina with Astri. Discovering the infidelity, Evina had moved back home with her parents and her father had made his displeasure with Haakon known.
Additional cries filled the air until Odin glared and their complaints quickly stopped.
Only once they were no longer going to be stupid enough to interrupt him did Odin ask, “Was this witnessed?”
Silence. Which was its own answer.
“You would dare to utter unconfirmed accusations in our presence?” Cringing was the response he got from them. His tone gentled as he focused on the two young elves. “Are the two of you alright?”
Talia nodded silently.
Rognin was scowling. “They did not touch us.”
Odin felt rage course through him. “I see.” If the aristocracy thought they were miserable before, they were in for a world of hurt once Loki found out about this. After this he might give his son a few ideas.
Timidly one of the courtiers recently rescued from the pond spoke, “Respectfully, my King, this servant assaulted us.” She gestured in Anya’s direction.
When he turned again his face was impassive. “You seem wet but uninjured.” Where did Loki learn to hide his emotions? Odin was not the best at it around his children but when he was fulfilling the role of being a King he was quite good at it.
From behind the bush a few more ventured out of hiding. “But, sire, a servant is not permitted such an action.”
There were murmurs of agreement.
That was not entirely accurate. Anya was both Loki’s personal servant as well as his valet. She was permitted whatever power he had granted her. And when it came to the children, he would grant her any power necessary to protect them.
But Odin made no mention of that. “What specifically is the accusation?”
“She used her witchcraft against us.”
“For nothing!” Astri cried.
Odin glared at her, a reminder to rein in her tone. Returning to a dignified expression. “You wish for a full inquiry before the throne?” The question had to be asked. If proven true, the price could be high…but the price was equally high if a false accusation was presented.
“Yes, sire, we do.”
With a firm nod an irritated look crossed Odin’s face before he turned. “Thor! Stop tussling with that green beast and take your bit of sport to the training yard!”
Hulk paused to bellow at the old king.
Odin narrowed his eye at the blatant disrespect and roared back. “BEGONE.” That pulled the Hulk up short. The Aesir present all shivered. With a grumble Hulk slunk away, the other four following him a bit sheepishly.
With a cry the remaining children all but appeared and immediately pulled Talia and Rognin within their group. An insistent gesture from El had Tyron and Nora joining them.
With a snarl El demanded, “What happened?” Although with the looks she was throwing the adults she’d already come to a few conclusions.
“They must…be…” Astri was trying to argue that if they had to be separated, as was customary during a full inquiry, so did the children.
Odin stared stonily back until the courtier shrunk. Bragi may have no idea what was going on but it didn’t stop him from sticking his tongue out at her. Melody immediately copied.
“Frigga.”
Frigga took the hint, her tone regal but still gentle. “Talia. Rognin. You cannot speak of what happened until each of you have a parent present.”
The pair nodded silently in understanding.
Odin gruffly ordered, “Einherjar. Escort each witness to separate rooms for individual interviews. No one may converse with them until statements have been taken. As an official inquiry, procedure shall be followed to the letter.” This way, there would also be a list of those who decided to officially complain.
Frigga hand a hand on each shoulder. “The children shall stay with me.” El and Martina shared a relieved glance.
The old king nodded in agreement. “They are both underage. Their interview shall be performed when they have an appropriate guardian present. They shall remain with the Queen until that time.” As his orders were followed he looked to Frigga. “Where is Loki?”
She looked back, amused. “Off-world at the moment with Sigyn.”
That made things convenient. Then he blinked in surprise. “He planned this?”
A slight smile that was less about humor and more regarding something else. “No, he would never intentionally distress the children. Though…it is a bit of timing that can be used to our advantage.”
Odin considered her observation before nodding slowly in return. “It can at that.”