Madame President
When Steve opened his eyes, he, Loki, and Odin were standing in the oval office of the White House. And there were five secret service members with their guns trained on them and one very confused president watching it all unfold.
“Captain Rogers? What is… put your weapons down. She waved to the secret services members who one at a time lowered their weapons.
“Madame President, I am so sorry. Please excuse our sudden arrival. This is King Odin, of Asgard.”
“To what do I owe the pleasure, your highness?” She spoke to Odin with measured practice and Steve’s estimation of her rose a couple notches,
“Madame, it is president yes? And not simply, ruler?” She nods. “Please do excuse our popping in.”
Next to him, Loki snickered. Steve elbowed him.
“I am made to believe that you have control over the people of your realm. There is a man, Fury. He reaches past what he should and I will have him dealt with if not I shall pull back my protection of your planet.” He looks around the room, cataloging the security probably. “You do not want me to do this. Your planet is small and would be easily conquered if left to fend for itself.”
A man, Steve had clocked as an advisor of some sort started sputtering. “Now see here...”
“You will talk to my father with respect. He is a king.” Loki pulled himself tight and this was going to go downhill fast.
“Wait, please sir.” He turned, “Loki, calm down. America does not have royalty for a reason.” He took a step forward, pulling his wings tight. He hated being the center of attention like this. “Madame President, Colonel Fury is heading the New Shield, I am certain you know this as you work closely with the World Council. This is correct, right?”
She nodded and sat back in her chair. Steve took it as a win. The advisor was still vibrating with the need to cut in but she waved him back.
“As the head of Shield, Fury does what he thinks is reasonable actions. Sometimes I agree with him.” In her chair, she smiled and shook her head a bit, she’d seen him go toe to toe with Fury and the World Council before. “I have to say that him wanting to track and or study Loki, is a certifiably bad idea.”
“I am not a beast to be poked and prodded.” Loki ground out. The servicemen raised their guns again, but Steve waited them out.
“I agree, he is not a science experiment. He is our friend and without him and his brother Thor, we would not have beaten the Chitauri and Red Skull. So, when King Odin says he will pull his protection, that is only one level of help we would lose. And, I would go too.”
“You are an American Citizen, a soldier, hell, you’re Captain America. You would leave us to be vulnerable?” She stood, arms crossed. Steve focused on the small American flag pin on her lapel and decided then it was time to come clean.
“When I signed up for Project Rebirth, I thought myself to be American yes. I wanted to do my part and help my country. I will forever be thankful for Dr. Erskine and Howard Stark for helping me find my true self. And my true self is the long lost prince of a planet on the brink of extinction. I can prove that too, if I have to. I don’t want to have to.”
Her jaw had dropped. The security around the room started a low murmur.
“He is not done.” Odin said, his voice nearly booming in the cavernous room.
“In the past few weeks I have learned of my true self, and all I want is the leeway to continue to learn. I do not think that that is too much to ask. Is it?”
“No, no it isn't. If I asked you to prove what you are saying?” She was testing the waters, but he let her.
“I could crack a joke about how the wings should give it away, even then Erskine and Stark could not figure out how their machine and serum made them. They didn’t. It made me healthy enough for my latent self to shine through. My birth mother and I were kidnapped and brought here somehow. Perhaps because I was born sickly, even for a Soros. That is my people.” He paused and took a deep breath. “I don’t want to make any drastic moves. I don’t want King Odin to withdraw his support, because as he said, we won’t survive without it for long. There are much worse things out there than the Chitauri. All I want is for someone to leash Fury.”
“The man should have been leashed when he messed with the Tesseract.” Odin adds. “Earth has been under Asgard's protection for millennia. The Tesseract had been placed here for safekeeping, not to be turned into a weapon. I could have rightly withdrawn our protection then, but my sons like this planet. They have made friends here.”
“Can I ask for anything here? Do I have any say in what is happening?” She asked.
“Why do you need a say in my personal life? When I signed up for Project Rebirth it was with the understanding that I was American. It turns out I’m not. When I was defrosted, Tony Stark stood by and fought to make sure I returned my person-hood. To make sure that Shield or the American government could not make me their pet soldier. Would you try to do that now Madame?” At his side Loki was getting antsy, Steve had to get this done before his friend got angry.
“It sounds as if you are attempting to leave us behind. I’m not trying to control you, I am trying to figure out how to keep my country safe, you have been a big part of that in recent months.” She admitted.
“It’s easy then, tell Fury to stop trying to collect Loki, and allow me the dignity to be my own person. If that means leaving the planet, understand that I would never willingly leave you unprotected. I have gone to Asgard twice in the past weeks, and both times I have made sure to leave someone in my place. In fact there is a delegation from Asgard at the tower right now, working with Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four.”
“As long as Fury leaves my family alone, and please be assured that includes Steven Rogerson and the Avengers, then you will have my continued help. You have known galactic peace, with the exception of the Chitauri, and will continue to know it.”
“It is not an unreasonable request, to be left alone. If I can help, I will. I will have the World Council chat with Fury. It might go a long way, your highness, if you were to speak as well. Let them know your feelings on the matter.”
“I will speak to your council, but know this, I will not help your planet reach a height it is not ready for. That is my chief complaint with your man Fury. He wants to study my son because of his abilities. He is magic, in a way your planet has forgotten. Your people will remember it in time, and your people will reach the cosmos in time as well. It has been seen. But it must be done on your own. You cannot cheat your way into these developments.” The air around the king crackled and everyone but Steve and Loki stepped back.
“It is time for us to go. Mother grows weary of Fury, at Stark’s tower.” Loki looked to the president. “You may not have royalty here in your country, but your people still understand the basics of proper respect for dignitaries and such. I have been abused twice by that man. I will not be kind if he attempts a third time.”
“We just worked out a solution, your highness.” The president did not seem as happy to talk to Loki as she was Odin.
“I am called the God of Mischief for a reason Madame. When I am angry, mischief happens. Like your Hulk that you treat so abysmally, you won’t like me when I’m angry.”
“Madame President, I will make an appointment to meet with you to talk more about this when we get back. We’re off to the Avengers Tower and then my home pallet. I do not plan to be gone long, but time moves differently off world. The Asgardians will keep you safe.”
“And Heimdall watches, should something arise that my brethren cannot handle, we will know.” Odin turned to Loki, “bring us back to your mother, Loki."
Steve linked hands with Loki and then there was black and when he opened his eyes again, he was standing in the tower. Fury and Coulson were still yapping silently. Hill had sat on the couch next to Sif and was conversing softly about weapons.
“My Queen, you may restore their voices.” Odin stalked over to where Fury and Coulson were glaring.
“What in the--”
“Quiet. You will not speak to my wife in any disrespectful manner, or I may let Hogun kill you. It would make him feel better.”
“Damn disrespectful Midgardians” The man mumbled from the table. His sword was leaning against his leg.
“I have come to an accord with the leader of this country and you have no way to work around it. If you try, you will regret it. I do not understand how someone with your lack of reason became so highly ranked, but you will not use it against those that I claim as mine. If I hear of you attempting to bother my sons or Steven Rogerson, or hel, any of the Avengers, I will rain hellfire on you like you have never imagined. I will make your holy book look tame in my rage. Do you understand me?”
Fury’s jaw ticked before he nodded once. Coulson was simply bug eyed. The two of them turned to leave. Fury stopped. “Hill.”
“I’m staying here. I can liaise with the Asgardians and Richard’s group. Plus, I agree with them. Sometimes you need to take the loss and just move on.”
Fury swore and walked to the elevator, Coulson looking back at Clint and Nat once before the door closed.
“Good riddance.” Tony said. “Now, Richards is on his way with Storm, we’ll talk, get them up to speed, and then let's blow this popsicle stand.”
“Stark, should we be worried about the Tower or the Asgardians? I can’t imagine Fury likes walking away with his tail between his legs.” Sam had a good point.
“Nah, I’ve got Jarvis, plus Pepper is here, and as evidenced, she does not actually need me to keep her safe. And, Hill has changed sides apparently. She’ll keep things kosher. Won’t you Agent Hill?”
“I can reason with him when he's not pissed. Because yeah, you guys managed to piss him off.” Hill told them. Steve was about to ask if she was sure she wanted to get involved, when there was a flash in front of him.
“Sup my friends.” Johnny Storm landed in front of him, and Steve was reaching for his shield when he realized he didn’t have it.
“Another Phoenix?” Frigga asked, gliding over to them. Steve moved to stand next to her. Storm was a hero, sure, but he also flirts with every person in his vicinity.
“Hello Ma’am. Johnny Storm at your call.”
“Please refrain from hitting on my mother, you fool.” Loki flipped knives across his fingers eerily, and Storm looked from Frigga to Loki and back. The two of them had clashed the first time they met. Steve didn't think Storm was fond of Loki or Thor.
“You are interesting my boy, what happened to you?” Frigga moved close, almost too close, and ran one hand in front of Storm. She stepped back and looked up at him alarmed.
“Oh, you poor thing. Did it hurt?”
“Huh?” Storm was speechless for the first time probably ever. They were interrupted by Richards coming out of the elevator.
“Sir, The Double F’s are here.” Jarvis’s dry tone had everyone looking at Tony. He didn’t show any sign of remorse for the stupid nickname.
“Stark.”
“Richards.” The two stood glaring at each other.
“Of for the love of...yes, you’re both very special boys. Can we please focus on the reason he is here?” Loki didn’t stomp his foot but he might as hell have. Steve hid a grin behind his hand, pretending to rub his nose.
“He’s not wrong. I know you two don’t always see eye to eye.” Steve ignored Stark's snort and powered through, “but we need you to please take over protection duties.”
Storm seemed interested, Richards just looked confused.
“Look. I know you guys mostly only deal with Doom when he tries to come stateside, but all of us are going off earth. We need you to work with the Asgardians,” He pointed out Sif, Hogun, Volstagg and Fandral, “to please keep the country safe.”
“We don’t know how long it’ll be. But you guys know all about personal missions don't you? Steve has some things to learn out there in the cosmos.” Tony butted in.
“Plus they will be acting as a delegate of Earth.” Loki added.
“Why you guys?” Storm wanted to know.
“Because the last time you guys were in space you turned into this,” Tony waved at Johnny’s whole self, “and birthed Doom. The villain. Remember him?”
“Well...okay.”
“You guys will have Maria Hill running interference with Shield and the World Council, but just, do what we would do. Keep the people safe.” Steve pleaded.
“Okay, sure. I guess Sue would tell me it’s the right thing to do.” Reed told Steve. Steve didn’t tell him that he should know what’s right without his wife telling him, but he wasn’t going to open that can of worms.
“Good. That’s all we needed to ask. Now, please see Maria,” Steve pointed her out in case they didn’t know her, “and talk to the Asgardians. They’re great. Okay?”
“Come, Steven, you have had a taxing day, come eat.” Thor ran a hand down his arm and took his hand. He saw Johnny clock the move and waggle his eyebrows at him. Steve ignored it. He was hungry, Thor was right, he'd barely gotten to eat before Fury had shown up.
“Yeah, I could eat.”
“Come sit by me, my princes. I have saved you the choicest of foods.” Hogun offered. Thor led him over and space was made next to Sif.
“Well, that's taken care of. We can eat and then go?” Steve asked Loki.
“Aye. It is best we leave right away, as the seamstresses needed a few moments to dress those of you who have not been in Asgard before.” Odin answered, rather than his son.
“Sweet! Asgardian clothes.” Clint shouted.
“Wait til you see Cap’s stuff. He and Thor are all matchy matchy.” Tony grinned, and Steve just let it all wash over him. He had to fuel up, and then there was only one more stop before he was on the planet of his birth. It was an odd thought, and he knew he would probably not get used to it before it happened.