Vagary

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Chapter 8: “Point Zero ”

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“I wanted to punch him and understand him at the same time.”

 -Shannon A. Thompson, Take Me Tomorrow

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Spring, 1656, Aspédona, Near Crest Valley, Vanaheim

One day her little heart will fail because of her death wish for sure, she thought.

Nova’s heart pounded in her chest as she plowed through the narrow downhill both sides full of colorful market stands. She could hear the heavy footfalls of the guards chasing behind her, one of them angrily shouting drawing more and more attention from the passersby. 

I should’ve listened to Skadi! She cursed herself for her stupidity, for letting her sharp tongue get the better of her once again.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," she muttered, berating herself for getting into this mess. She had known better than to trust a stranger, especially one as shady as that feckless merchant in the magic shop. But her desperation for answers, haunting her each night, one more year already passed since she left and it still ached the same, had clouded her judgment, had led her to make a foolish mistake.

It had started innocently enough. The little girl was happy, since last year she and Magpies visited many places beyond her small world. 

 After purchasing the goods Angda asked for, Nova had been wandering the streets, lost in thought when she had passed by a magic shop. The sight of the shop had reminded her of the pendant she had stolen from her before she disappeared, and a sudden urge to learn more about it had taken hold of the little girl.

She decided to ask the shopkeeper about it, about its origins and if it possessed any powers, if she knew anything about her mother, the pendant definitely had something special. She was willing to have any piece of information she could get. Any clue would get her one step closer to finding her. 

She entered the boxy shop tentatively, the bell above the door tinkling softly. The shop was filled with all manner of mystical objects, from potions to enchanted trinkets. The air was thick with the smell of incense, and the walls were lined with shelves overflowing with curiosities.

The shopkeeper, an elderly porcine man with a long beard and twinkling eyes, looked up from his counter as Nova approached. She hesitated for a moment, then pulled out the pendant and placed it on the counter before him.

But as soon as she saw the officious glint in the merchant's eyes at the sight of the pendant, Nova knew she was in trouble.

The merchant had tried to bargain with her, to convince her to sell him the pendant. But Nova had refused, unwilling to part with the only clue she had about her mother's whereabouts. The merchant had grown angry, his greed getting the better of him, and he had tried to intimidate her into selling.

“It is not for sale, sire,” she responded with a sharp tongue and a fiery spirit, accusing the merchant of trying to cheat her. Enraged, the merchant had threatened to report her to the authorities for possessing a prohibited good, and the little girl knew it was time to flee.

Now, as she raced through the busy narrow streets, dodging the curious gazes of the onlookers, Nova cursed her at her bad luck, recklessness, and the greedy merchant. She knew she had put herself in danger, had risked everything for a chance at answers. But she also knew that she couldn't give up, couldn't let fear or doubt hold her back.

Brushing her fiery hair aside covering her vision, Nova pushed herself harder, her legs pumping as she sprinted towards the city gates. She knew she had to escape, to disappear into the setting sun over the horizon before the city guards caught up with her. 

The little girl suddenly felt a surge of magical energy wash over her, lifting her off her feet and carrying her through the air. She looked down in surprise to see Ida and another young woman, both with their hands outstretched, using their magic to whisk her away from danger.

Nova recognized Ida immediately, despite the chaos of the moment, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at seeing her now. Ida was only a few years older than her, Nova had always admired her, her strength and mastery of magic. 

The duo landed all three of them safely on the rooftop of a nearby building, away from the prying eyes of the city guards. the little girl stumbled slightly as she regained her footing, her breath coming in short gasps. She looked at Ida and the other woman, her eyes wide with gratitude.

"Thank you, thank you! " she managed to say, her voice hoarse from exertion.

The Jotun girl smiled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "No problem, little rabbit," she teased, using the nickname she had given Nova when they first met. “Hey I want you to meet my friend, come here,”

Nova chuckled despite herself, relieved to see that Ida was taking the situation in stride. She glanced at the other woman, she didn't know her, but she was grateful for her help nonetheless.

"Thanks to both of you," Nova said, her voice sincere. "I don't know what I would have done without you." The little girl moved toward her to shake her hands, “ I’m Novandéyri, thanks for saving me.”

The blonde woman, older than both girls gave her a kind smile, “No need to mention it. My name is Idunn, nice to meet you.”

Ida put her both arms on their shoulders easily since she towered over both of them, her expression serious now. "You need to be more careful, Nova," she said, her tone firm, swiftly pointing out her slightly pointed ears hidden behind her auburn locks. "The world out there is dangerous, especially for a half-blood like you."

Nova nodded, knowing that she was right.  "I'll try," she promised, knowing that it wouldn't be easy. 

“Did you get the fish gills and the correct belladonna mix she asked for?” 

The little girl nodded as she hit the side pack hung on her hips, “Yep, I got the disgusting stuff.”

“Good,” Ida approved with a smirk, “ Finally she won’t hang you from your ankles this time.”

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May 12, 2013, Planet Ria

The blinding light from the crystal's shattering vacuumed everything that wasn’t secured to a place in the room; the broken pieces -miraculously some of them managed to stay intact- of various furniture, tomes and scrolls, and its inhabitants.

They landed roughly on the ground, disoriented and surrounded by towering trees. The world around them was like nothing they had ever seen. Strange, twisted trees with glowing leaves cast an eerie light over the landscape, and the ground beneath their feet felt spongy and unfamiliar.

After coming to their senses, Clint was the first one to get off the ground. “No, no, noo…”

Nova was desperately looking out for any piece of her necklace. Bile and a hiccup of terror were rising from her throat, her eyes glossy with panic and the feeling of loss. “No, please, no…”

The raven-haired god was desperately yelling to the sky, “Heimdall!!” he kicked the ground in frustration, “Take me back, you old hack!”

The silence between them was thick with unspoken words and unresolved emotions, a powder keg waiting to explode. And explode it did.

With a sudden, guttural cry of frustration, Loki roared at the witch, his anger boiling over. "This is all your fault!" he accused, walking toward her in a trot.

The woman was caught off guard, her body stiffened with tension as she silently rise to her feet fisting her hand, her own emotions raw and unfiltered. "My fault?" she started silent, her voice rising with each syllable. " You broke it! You selfish piece of—"

But before she could finish her sentence, the tall man was upon her, his fists flying. She fought back with equal ferocity, her blows fueled by grief and anger.

Clint, already on edge from the surreal situation they found themselves in, felt a rising panic within him. He knew about the mythical man Loki yelled at, they were beyond his reach. The pressure of the unknown, the fear for his family, and the chaotic fight before him overwhelmed him, triggering an anxiety attack. Laura…

"Stop!" he cried out, his voice breaking with emotion. "Where the hell are we!? How are we going to get back? How are we going to get back home?!" His words echoed in the strange landscape, a stark reminder of the terrible situation.

It was only when Nova landed a solid punch to Loki's jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground and spitting blood, that the fight finally came to an end. They stood there, panting and bruised, each with frustration and letting the situation sink in. 

The archer sank to his knees, gasping for air. Nova reached over him, their anger momentarily forgotten as they watched him struggle with his anxiety.

"Whose fault was it doesn’t matter! We need to stick together," Clint managed to say between ragged breaths. “ We can’t return home if we don’t work together… "

The world around them was alien and unsettling, the air thick with an otherworldly humidity. Strange, towering flora cast twisted shadows across the landscape, adding to the eerie atmosphere of their surroundings. The purple sky was almost invisible between the towering mossy trees, each could be a size of a building with enormous trunks. 

“Do any of you have any idea where are we right now? And how to get back?” The blond man asked after his breaths returned to normal. 

Loki, rubbing his jaw where the last punch landed, thought for a while. " Heimdall is not responding … This could be any of the Nine Realms beyond Bifrost," he muttered, scanning their surroundings. "But without any point of reference and my powers, it's impossible to determine which one. That wicked thing could send us to any point of the damn universe for us to figure out."

The young woman sent a glare toward his position, then continued to scan the area for any sign of her lost necklace, and shook her head. "The memory crystal couldn't have sent us somewhere it hasn't been before," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "But I've never been anywhere like this."

As they spoke, The archer's eyes widened in alarm. "Guys, where's Frost Giant?" he asked. 

But as they turned to look, there was no sign of the Jotun woman. She had vanished without a trace, leaving them alone in the strange and hostile world.

"We need to find shelter and figure out our next move," Clint said, his voice much more steady than before. "Gather anything portable and could be useful. We can't stay out in the open like this."

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May 16, 2013, Avengers Tower, New York City, Earth

The lab room of the tower was in chaos.

In the dimly lit room, the two genius men worked tirelessly, surrounded by a jumble of scattered tools and half-disassembled machines. The room was heavy with tension, the silence broken only by the occasional clatter of metal on metal and slurp of sipping coffee as they searched for clues.

The billionaire’s frustration was palpable, his movements sharp and erratic as he zoomed and narrowed the bundle of holograms flickering with static. "This is ridiculous," he muttered, running a hand through his hair, flatly reaching to his eyes from oiling up. "We should be out there, finding them, not playing detective in this... wherever we are."

After fixing J.A.R.V.I.S and the power outage enough to function things as fast as they could, they immediately went to work, examining every single clue, any piece of information they could find in the wreaked library. 

Dr. Banner, on the other hand, was the picture of calm concentration, his focus unwavering. "We have to start somewhere, Tony," he said, his voice steady. "This crystal could be the key to figuring out where they've gone."

As they worked, the power in the lab flickered, casting long shadows that danced across the walls. Tony cursed under his breath, his patience wearing thin. Dark circles and bags were occupying both scientists’ under eyes from tiredness and lack of sleep.  It’s been three days.

Tony reached out to touch the crystal fragment, and a sudden surge of electricity shot through him, causing him to recoil in pain.

"Damn it!" he exclaimed in pain, shaking his hand. "This thing is dangerous."

As he nursed his injured hand, the billionaire’s mind drifted back to the events leading up to their current situation. He remembered finding Thor and Prem battered and devastated, among the ruins of the library. The blond prince had explained the situation, his concern, and guilt for their missing friends were evident in his voice.

The frost giants had been after Nova and Loki, but Barton had gone missing in the chaos. Tony recalled the urgency in Clint's voice as he informed them that something was wrong. They had returned to the tower as quickly as possible, only to find Jarvis offline, the tower ebbed in darkness and destruction, and their friends missing.

Natasha and Steve were questioning their captives, two angry Jotun women who had been captured during the chaos. Thor went back home with the cat to find any piece of information. Tony knew they were desperate for answers, just as he was.

"We need to find them, Bruce," Tony said, his voice tinged with determination. "No matter what it takes."

The man nodded, his expression grim. "We'll find them, Tony. We have to."

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May 15, 2013, Planet Ria

The fallen prince angrily swat another obnoxious blud sucker bug on his face. He had enough.

The ground moderately dryer he was laying was far from comfortable, splotchy like a sponge. The branches of trees were way too high to reach and safely sleep on them. The air was like a blanket, it was smothering and way too warm, and occasional rain made sure nothing on his body stayed dry enough.

He turned gruffily to find a better position, he lost his sense of time a long time ago, and all he knew it was nighttime. It has been three torturous nights.

He gave up and opened his emeralds. The bark of the tree he was facing was glowing with warm light hit by the small campfire. Under the three, a clump of fabric was moving with steady rhythmic breaths. The human was lucky to be asleep as it seems.

Loki sighed tiredly and turned to face the campfire. Then saw the young woman sitting silently, her hands fiddling with a piece of pebble, her eyes gazing off the forest landscape. The witch was lost in her thoughts.

 He observed her for a moment, taking in the way the firelight played across her lithe features, casting a warm glow that seemed to soften the hard edges. 

Sensing being watched, she called for him in a silent tone, “ Couldn’t sleep, huh?”

He huffed humorlessly, “Unfortunately, no.” With a resigned sigh, the raven-haired man pushed himself into a sitting position. “Is it time yet?” he asked for the change of watch time.

The woman shook her head, her fiery hair glowed like a halo around her face. “There’s three more hours, try to sleep while you can.”

The prince shrugged his shoulders, “ Doesn’t matter what I do, the damn place is impossible to sleep on.”   He rests against the root behind him.  “I can take the watch if you want to,” 

Nova gave him a condescending look behind yer yawn,  “Now you can think for others? Really?”

Loki's face darkened as his thin lips tightened. "You think you know so much about me, don't you?" he muttered, his voice dripping with vexation.

Her features were as sharp as his, “I know enough to see that you're heading for disaster." she retorted in a whisper, her tone firm. "You'll never regain your powers if you continue like this."

The raven-haired man let out a scoff, his expression incredulous. "And what would you know about my path? What is it to you, huh?" he spat, his voice laced with mockery as he tried to keep it low. "You're just a little nuisance, putting up your nose in things you don't understand."

The words stung, but Nova refused to back down. "I understand more than you think," she replied, her resentment more obvious than before, “You betrayed us all for your selfish gain. You're the last person who should be giving advice."

"Selfish?" he shot back, his voice slightly rising. "You think I wanted any of this? You think I wanted to be here, in this godforsaken place, with you?" He momentarily checked with his eyes if Barton was awake. 

"You're the one who chose to betray me," Nova retorted back in a whisper, her voice cold. "You're the one who chose to turn on me when we needed you most."

Loki's expression turned into a scowl. "I did what I had to do to survive. You can’t blame me for something everyone warned you about, it’s on you."

"Survive?" Nova's voice was laced with disbelief. "You call that surviving?” she licked her lips to calm her anger, “Wow, thank you for implying how stupid I am.” shook her head.  

“Did you know what could that necklace do when you broke it?” she accused.

“Of course not!” He looked at her perplexed, “If I knew I would never touch the damn thing.” 

She took a tired deep breath, “ Hope you are happy now, Your Highness.” She turned her eyes away to put another lock into the cracks in the campfire. “You managed to take our homes from us.”

The prince didn’t want to admit it, but her statement stung. With that, the duo sat in silence, the crackling of the campfire and the calls of woodlands deep in the forest the only sound in the still night air.

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May 16, 2013, Planet Ria

The leaves hanging from gigantic branches of towering trees swished with the moist breeze, adding to the chorus coming from various jungle creatures.

The sun partly visible from clouds passing by over the purple horizon looked like woolpacks, and the morning rain stopped earlier, the witch left their campsite to search in the hope of finding something edible. They run off from her magical stash this morning, where each time some snacks, some of them from Earth, appear in thin air. 

After drinking some water from the leather pouch, the blond man sat across from the alien prince, his expression guarded. The fire crackled between them, casting flickering shadows across their faces.

"So," the archer began, his voice carefully neutral, "how's it going with Nova? Any progress on those visions of hers?"

The raven-haired god shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Clint's gaze. "We've made some progress before the attack," he replied evasively. "But there's still much we don't understand."

The blond raised an eyebrow in suspicion, "And what about the jotuns? Any idea what they wanted with you?"

Loki hesitated, his gaze flickering to the ground. "It's... complicated," he breathed out finally. "They were after something I can't give them."

The archer gave him a questioning look.

The god sighed, running a hand through his choral locks. "One of  Laufey’s spawns, my brother  became the new king recently, it seems," he admitted reluctantly, "he sent the Magpies after my head for the crown."

Clint's eyes widened in surprise. "Your own brother?" he exclaimed, unable to hide his shock.

The prince nodded with a bitter smile playing on his pale lips. "Family, huh? Can't live with them, can't live without them."

The blond man shook his head, unsure of how to feel. He didn't know whether to pity him or despise him for all the suffering he caused. What you sow is what you reap, he couldn’t help himself to thought.

In need to change the subject, the archer asked, "So, what's your plan now? What do you intend to do?"

The raven-haired man shrugged, his shoulders sulked. A hint of resignation in his voice, "I don't know," he admitted. "I'm still figuring that out."

The two sat in silence, the crackling of the fire the only sound in the night. 

"I heard you and Nova arguing last night," Clint finally admitted what had been bothering him, "What’s the issue ?"

Loki's expression darkened, a shadow passing over his features. "It's... complicated," he replied, choosing his words carefully. "You see, we don't exactly see eye to eye."

Clint gave him a sarcastic huff, “ Oh, yeah I can see so far,” His brilliant blues had a serious glint in them. “ I hoped that we would never have to have this conversation, Loki, you know? But last night you sniffed out the last hope to that.”

The expression of the prince turned darker, “ Is that so?” He grimaced, “ Then let’s not do it. Maybe you should mind your business and won’t listen to others' private conversations then.”

Clint shook his head, his tempers were getting wired faster than he could control. "You know, I never trusted you in the first place," he muttered under his breath. " Even for all you had caused, I was willing to toss out just to get rid of this awful situation. And now, seeing how you treat Nova... calling her stupid? For after all she suffered and did for you? You don't deserve an ounce of kindness from her."

Loki's eyes narrowed, a flicker of anger crossing his features. " I never asked that from her-" he began, but Clint cut him off with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Stop it," Clint retorted, his voice firm. " You will apologize to her as soon as she returns, for every little trouble you cause to her,”

The prince gave him an incredulous look, “ Why should I do such a thing?” he tossed out his hand in the air, “ It was not my fault! I was only trying to survive and none of you would help me with that!”

The blond man scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Survive? Is that what you call it? You put us all in danger, Loki. Put me and the team aside for a second and be honest for once! She would still help you, and you still chose to be that treacherous snake."

Clint took a deep breath to calm down. “ I honestly think you are incapable of having remorse, otherwise you would stop being such a jerk after everything you had done. I will never forget what you did, I can’t even if I want to, Loki. But that girl was the only person you can ever find who is willing to help your miserable life, and if you have even the tiniest ounce of brain you’ll start to treat her good.  I’m not saying you should be besties, all I am saying is we need to stick together if we're going to survive out here. And you better start that with apologizing to her as soon as she returns back.”

With that, the archer stood up and walked off to cool off his feelings to the jungle, leaving the prince with his thoughts. 

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