A Poisoned Touch

The ride to the large building where what is left of his people were living was somber. He watched the landscape fly past the sides of the ship, all of it was grey and droopy. It was only once they got closer to the tall, white building that he started to see signs of life. The place itself was gorgeous. Atmos explained that it was the capital city, and there were less than a couple thousand Soros living there, when once the planet housed millions.

The capital palace rose into the sky, with waterfalls that seemed to come from nowhere and multiple smaller buildings that also seemingly hovered freely, dotted around the main building. It was gorgeous and his artistic side was screaming for a pencil and some paper.

He must have let some of that desire show, because Thor leaned in to whisper in his ear. “I made sure your art supplies were packed in our trunk.”

“Thanks love.”

“This whole thing violates every law of physics I thought I knew.” Tony says angrily, his hand waving at the floating buildings.

“Two words for you Stark,” Clint says, leaning against the side of the ship, his sunglasses pushed down the tip of his nose, “alien planet.”

“Yeah, physics might work differently here.” Bruce added, a light in his eyes Steve had never actually seen before.

“Aggh.” Tony threw his arms up in surrender. “And you’re absolutely sure I can’t just...have Jarvis scan everything?”

“Tony, we promised a KING. Remember.” Bruce pleaded.

“Right, right.. .” Tony trailed off.

“Interplanetary war, Tony. We’re trying to avoid that, remember?” Steve told him. Behind him Loki had a smirk on his face, and Steve just knew his friend was amused by Tony’s pouting.

“Fine, fine. I’ll be a good human and not try to jump start out tech. Ugh.” He dropped his head to Bruce’s shoulder and the other scientist just sort of patted Tony’s head stiltedly.

Steve walked over to the Minister and Loki. "It is breathtaking. I can imagine how the rest of the planet looked before the sickness.”

“I am sad that you will not get to see your home in it’s full glory. In the summer, the meteor showers were seen best from the fields of wildflowers. And there used to be rivers crossing our lands that teemed with fish, perfect for a campfire.” Atmos’s voice had gone soft and Steve can picture it in his head, how beautiful it was before it ruined so grey.

“Perhaps we can figure out what happened. Tony whines a lot, but he is a genius and Bruce is as well. They might be used to earth sciences, but I’m sure they'll study whatever we can find.”

“I’m sure our best thinkers will appreciate any help they can get. We have been searching for answers for years. It was almost to the point where we would have looked for outside help.”

“That would be a monumental decision for your people, would it not?” Loki asked. Steve had been wondering the same thing,

“Indeed it would have been. We are not as technologically advanced as others, such as Asgard, but we are proud people. We are also a broken people, and I would give most anything to undo what has befallen us.”

“Well, we’ll see if we can help while we are here.” Steve offered. He hoped the other man was not upset at how that sounded, but he was still planning on returning to Earth. He couldn't stay in the stars for too long.

“Your people will appreciate it.” Was all the minister said, and then the ship was docking at a port that shimmered varying shades of blue and gold. “Come, I shall show you to your rooms so you may rest. A dinner will be held this evening so that you may meet the regent.”

Steve and his group followed Atmos, passing a troupe of young Soros who moved to carry the trunks up to the capitol building. They were brought to a long hallway and doors opened on their own, and each of his team had a trunk placed in a room. At the end of the hall were two larger rooms.

“For the princes.” Atmos explained, leading Loki and to his and, presumably, Thor's room. Steve peeked in to see a large open window and two low slung beds.

“And for you, my prince.” Atmos pushed open the last set of doors and Steve stepped into to find a room unlike any he had ever seen before. The wells were deep midnight blue, the bed was carved from something that might have been silver or a silver colored tree. There was a large window with a balcony outside it. When he stood on it, he turned his head to see one of those brilliant waterfalls that started from nowhere.

“It is lovely, thank you.” Steve told Atmos after coming back inside. Thor had gone to talk to Loki apparently as he was nowhere to be seen.

“Only the best for you.” He wringing his hands in front of him, and Steve placed a hand on his shoulder

“What is it?”

“Um, our thinkers will want to prove you are who I say you are. I am afraid they may be indelicate about it.”

“Oh, that’s nothing I’m not accustomed to. It’ll be fine and it totally makes sense.” Steve assured him.

“I had tried to lobby on your behalf, but they would not be deterred.” He continued.

“Minister Atmos, it is fine. Let me ask you this, though, now that I am here. What is it about our feet? Shoes were never a problem before, and then all of a sudden wearing boots made me twitchy.”

“Shoes are not worn on Naenia. We all learn how, for reasons like travelling abroad, but in our day to day lives, we do not wear them. The same can be said for shirts. Though, you will notice most will wear them around you and your group as you are visitors.”

“Oh, okay then. Thanks.”

“At your service. Now rest. A page will come and get you in time for dinner.”

“We’ll see you later.” Atmos went to walk away but Steve stopped him. “What sort of dress code are we looking at for this dinner?”

“Casual tonight. Tomorrow you will have a proper audience, that will be more formal.”

“Okay, thank you.” Steve watched him walk out of the room, and once he was gone, he went back out on the balcony. He sort of expected to see others like him flitting about in the skies, but there wasn’t anything in the air around the tower he stood in. It hit him then, that he always ended up in a tower. He wasn’t Rapunzel, but Tony referred to him as Sleeping Beauty enough times, it was all good. Steve loved Disney.

“Ah, elskan, this room is quite fetching, is it not?” Thor came through and wrapped an arm under Steve’s wings.

“It is. Where’d you run off to?”

“Ah, I had a chat with Loki. He did not get to spend much time here the first time he arrived with Atmos, yes? He said the longer he is here the more something calls to him. It feels, um, familiar was his word. So he is eager to explore and see if he can find what calls him.”

“Oh, okay. I would love to do a flyover tomorrow if we get the chance. I Want to see if I can spot a point of origin for what is killing the planet.”

“Of course my love. Perhaps you, Sam and I can go out early in the morning. The three of us could cover a larger space.”

“Tony will want to come. Any excuse to bust out the suit. I know he brought it even though we asked him not to.”

“You said to bring our suits, show a united front.” Tony says in a sing-songy voice from inside the bedroom. Steve and Thor go inside and find the whole team lounging about.

“Yes, please come in.” Steve said, deadpan, Sam grinned. Clint raised a green glass in a toast.

“Lokes gave us some elf wine, we thought we’d come do a pow wow.” Clint told him.

“Okay, so, Sam, Tiny in the morning? Fly over?”

“Yep.” Tony answered.

“And while you four fly, we’ll talk to Atmos. He seems to be the person to get information from. Timelines and such.” Nat looked to Bruce who nodded.

“Yes, we need to be able to track the trajectory of whatever is affecting the people and the planet.” Bruce wrote in his little leather notebook that he always carried. Steve looked around the room, grateful to have these people with him.

“Brother, look for anything that reeks of Jotunheim.” Loki offered a tight smile on his face.

“You believe something from the land of Frost Giants has infected this planet?”

“Whatever artifact that is here feels eerily similar to the Casket of Ancient Winters. So I am not sure, but it is worth looking into.”

“Um, what is Jotunheim? And a Frost Giant?” Sam asked. Steve turned to Loki, ready to tell him he didn’t have to say, but the prince was taking a deep breath.

“You know I am Thor’s adopted brother, right?” They all nod. “Remember when I got angry and brought the cold?” More nods. Loki closes his eyes, and before them, he drops the glamour that keeps him looking Aesir.

“My brother is a prince twice over. The unwanted prince of Jotunheim and the welcome prince of Asgard.” Thor says it all with a measure of pride that Steve knows Loki will hold tight to his chest. “Anthony, you will not speak ill of this form.”

“Why did I get singled out?” Tony squeaks but everyone in the room, including a still blue Loki, just snickers. Loki pulls it back, his skin going back to the pale porcelain they are all used to.

“I did not handle it well when I found out. It has been some time, I am now able to accept it. But yes, you will not find amusement if you mention it, Stark.”

“Sheesh. I do have some tact.” Nat laughed. A full uninhibited laugh, and Steve laughed with her. “I’ll show you guys.” Tony crossed his arms and leaned against the bed post.

“‘Loki, thank you. I uh, asked Atmos about dinner. He said tonight is casual, but tomorrow I'll be formal. I’ll also be subjected to a test of my authenticity.”

A round of denials rose from his friend's lips, but both Nat and Clint looked at each other and shrugged.

“Yeah, makes sense.” Nat said right as Clint threw out. “Like Anastasia.”

“The cartoon?” Bruce asked and Clint nodded.

“Based on a real story, Lots of con artists tried to sell off their version of the lost princess. So yeah, it makes sense to me. If this regent who has been ruling for who know how long, only has Atmos’s word to go by? Definitely makes sense to prove it.”

“And, he said at that dinner, that it would be easy to tell in two ways. The eyes and tattoo, right?” Nat asked. Steve nodded.

“It would be hard to fake the eyes. The tattoo sure, but not a constellation in his eyes.” Loki told them, moving closer to peer at Steve’s eyes. Steve crossed them and stuck his tongue out. Loki poked him in the side.

“Grow up.” Sam says, tossing back his elven wine. “Now, I’m going to go yank on some fine Asgardian clothing, and we’ll meet again before we go down, alright?”

“Sure thing Sam.” Steve watched them all leave one by one, and then it was just him and Thor. He sunk into his boyfriend’s arms. “Hey babe? Do you think that at some point our life will be calm enough for something as boring as a vacation?”

“I am certain of it. Where shall we go? I could bring you to Vanaheim, that is my mother's home world. Or Alfheim, which is the land of the light elves. There are so many galaxies and so many planets, I will bring you wherever you wish to go.”

“How about we trade off? There is so much on earth I still haven't seen. Like The Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls.”

“That is a perfectly acceptable compromise, my love.” Thor pressed a kiss to his forehead before pulling away. “We should probably dress as well.”

“Yeah. I know. C’mon, we can be all matchy matchy, and annoy Stark.”

The page knocked on the door just after the rest of the group came back, all done up in Asgardian casual wear. Nat was a knockout in anything, but even Bruce and Clint looked amazing. They followed the page, who sported pale green wings, down to the main floor of the tower, and into a large dining hall. There was room for a half a dozen tables, but there was only one, sat directly in the middle of the room.

“Please be seated, Regent Isabe will be with you presently.” The page left them quickly, and Steve sat next to Thor, determined to let the rest of them argue over who would sit by who. When the doors opened again, it was with Atmos leading two others. A pair, perhaps a couple, both with the same muted brown wings that Atmos claimed.

Steve stood, glad to see everyone else did as well.

“Minister Atmos, good evening.”

“Hello Steven Rogers, may I introduce Regent Zuaw Isabe and his wife, Aya Isabe. They have ruled Naenia in the stead of it’s missing prince since the death of the King, nearly fifty moons ago.”

“Hello to you, Steven Rogers and troupe. Welcome to our home. You are the first visitors our humble palace has seen in many a decade. I do hope that our hospitality has not deserted us.” The Regent spoke with a melodic voice, a bit higher than Steve would have expected.

“Please, sit, sit. Our meal will be out shortly. I spoke with the kitchens specifically to be sure that you would enjoy this dinner.” His wife waved everyone back into their seats.

Steve sat, but there was something that wasn’t right. He glazed to Nat and Clint and they were both on high alert, it seemed they were noticing the same thing that he was. He looked around the room but nothing stood out to him. He knew he’d have to just have to keep his eyes open, and then once they were out of this room, he’d confer with the Spy Twins.

If there was something wrong, he would find out, and then he would fix it. That’s what he did.