Chapter 4
A week from the time Hela returned from her quest she and her family were settled into the tower and the compound being rebuilt with a new design in mind. Rhodey was aiding Pepper in preparing for the return of the rogues as Tony had proven to be right as the public began to rise up in the defense of the rogues. The UN was going over the information attempting to fix what had gone wrong to allow Ross as much power as he’d had. Damage was already done though and many were losing faith in the Accords. Tony was trying to navigate the waters of the mess as well as shed light on exactly what the Accords had intended to be and how the Avengers should be held accountable for their actions. Vision, Jarvis, and Peggy were often together learning of the world they lived in now. Vision had never properly been given the chance to understand what it meant to be human or what kind of world existed around him. Jarvis had seen the world through Tony and the projects he helped with but even that was limited. Peggy found herself wholly unimpressed with what Shield had become. She was catching up on world politics and everything she’d need to know for the modern world.
Hela had joined them in learning of the world she was now calling home while also offering what help she could in the political problems around the Accords and the rogues. While she was new to this world she was not new to politics. Even as a war loving god, Odin and Asgard still had such things. She tried to help ease some of the stress of the situation for Tony but she was limited in what she could do. It did not help when a week into living at the tower her brothers finally decided to make an appearance.
The tower shook with the force of the bi-frost. Hela was on the common floor when she sensed the bi-frost before she actually felt it. Her son apparently had sensors capable of detecting the bi-frost’s energy so the others gathered shortly after it could be felt. They stood a united force as Thor Odinson, Loki Odinson, and four other warriors Hela didn’t recognize arrived in the tower without so much as a knock or request for entrance. So far Asgard’s people were off to a poor start.
Thor looked ready to say something but paused when he looked at the group.
“Where is the man of iron?” He sounded so confused.
“Hey point break, is that really how you greet family? Well I guess it’s better than choking me again.” Tony said causing Hela’s magic to spark in rage and Fenris growled as he stood.
Thor saw the aggression towards him but was mainly focused on Tony.
“Stark?”
“It’s Helason actually.” He said with a sharp grin.
Thor paled and even Loki looked shocked.
“So what brings you to my home Thor? And without even asking to enter first. Did Odin forget to teach you manners while he was being a terrible parent?” So maybe Tony had picked up some of Hela’s anger towards Odin while they were spending time together.
“You dare speak lies of our former king?” One of the warriors, the only female snarled as she reached for her blade.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You’re in my home and on my planet. You can’t beat me.” Tony said which was the truth. Much like Hela drew strength from Asgard and Hel, so did her son of Midgard.
“We did not come to fight Anthony Helason.” Loki spoke up attempting to ease the mess their meeting was already. “I was told by Queen Hela that if we were to speak with her to come to wherever you were. King Odin had mentioned the dangers of her being freed from banishment and there is the matter of the rightful heir to the throne of Asgard. We simply came to settle matters.”
Tony smirked.
“You’re usually the one that fixes Thor’s fuck ups aren’t you?”
Loki was taken aback by the comment but seemed to decide on honesty as the best option.
“You have no idea.”
Thor looked offended and the warriors looked ready to turn on the trickster.
“Awesome so you’ll be doing the talking then. C’mon, I’ll get us something to drink while we talk.” Tony said as he motioned them further inside. “What can I get everyone?”
Thor opened his mouth to speak but Loki cut him off.
“Tea or water please.” Loki said with a small respectable bow.
Tony snorted.
“I know Thor would prefer beer and it’s not like it can get him drunk.”
“I’m aware but it is not proper of such meetings. I did not wish to insult you.”
“You’re fine Loki but thanks. Just make yourselves comfortable and try not to piss off mom or Fenris.”
The massive wolf decided to frighten the warriors a bit by baring his teeth. It did work to unsettle them as they sat down on the couches and chairs in the common room. Jarvis moved to help him gather drinks. He grabbed a beer for each of the warriors and Tony prepared tea for the others and Loki who didn’t seem to be one to drink like Thor. They returned and offered each person a drink.
“Thank you Anthony Helason.” Loki bowed a bit after accepting the cup of tea.
“No problem Lokes, so I’ve got to ask because the curiosity is just killing me. What happened to the whole bag of cats I’m going to make you kneel routine? I mean crazy wasn’t the best look on you but I’m surprised it’s gone. Was it just a phase?”
The warriors frowned at the tone while Loki smiled at the teasing.
“I would agree it was not the best look on me. I much prefer the elegance of a prince and the deadly skill of a warrior and mage. Madness you could say was a phase of sorts. It is why while ruling as Odin on Asgard I did not continue to maintain order throughout the other realms. I needed all of Asgard’s forces home in order to survive the threat coming.”
Thor looked startled by that while Hela looked interested.
“Oh? What threat has you worried.”
Loki’s expression turned deadly serious.
“Thanos.”
Hela rolled her eyes as she leaned back.
“Oh Norns not him again.”
“You know him mom?” Tony asked.
“Of course dear, he has been sending me offerings since I left him in hopes of regaining my favor. He was a fine lover for a time but I grew quite bored of him. He has yet to realize I hold no love for him and it’s not like I can just return all the souls he sent to me.”
Loki was pale and his hands trembling.
“You know of Thanos? You allowed that monster to court you?”
“Courting is not what we did. It was purely physical and I was quite pleased with the size of him.” Hela answered honestly while Tony covered his ears horrified.
“Things I don’t need to know mom!”
She chuckled before sipping her tea.
“Sorry my son, I will try and keep stories of my past exploits to myself.”
“So this Thanos guy is what, coming after you?”
“After all of us. He seeks the infinity stones, one of which is in your comrade’s forehead.” Loki said eyeing Vision.
“Oh shit, where are my manners. I didn’t introduce you guys. Loki, Thor meet my sons Vision and Jarvis. This is Peggy, my godmother and my brother Rhodey. Whenever the rest of my family decides to visit I’ll introduce you to them to.”
“Rest of your family?” Loki asked.
“Yeah apparently my dad is Zeus so he and my siblings should be visiting at some point.”
Thor and Loki both paled and Tony just smiled pleasantly at them like nothing was wrong.
“You are the son of two of the most powerful gods?” Thor asked sounding honestly horrified.
“Apparently, also my godmother, brother, and son have all been granted power as Knights of Hel. Isn’t that great? I’m sure we can begin preparing for Thanos. If he thinks he can stalk my mom and try and kill my son well, let’s just say my enemies have a habit of not coming after me or mine again.” His grin was sharp and a deadly glint to his eyes.
Thor swallowed before he spoke again.
“So Queen Hela, I understand that Odin was…wrong about many things. He kept many secrets and told many lies. I hope among them is that you are a danger to Asgard.”
“I was before I escaped my banishment for a time. I would have torn your armies apart to take my place as rightful ruler. Now though I am no threat so long as your people leave me and mine alone. I have a family here in Midgard and have come to take a worthy lover. I do not need Asgard’s throne built on lies and deceit.”
Thor nodded.
“When the mad titan comes, we will stand with you. He aimed for Midgard once before when he sent me to retrieve the tesseract. It is likely he shall attack Midgard again before seeking to target Asgard.” Loki offered without consulting Thor.
“Thanks Lokes. We’re actually putting together a new team; we could use someone with your skillset.”
“What happened to the avengers?” Thor asked with a troubled expression.
“They betrayed me and left me for dead.” Tony answered a cold look on his face.
“They were not worthy to be your shield brothers.” Loki stated like he knew their team had been doomed to fall apart.
“How do you know?” Rhodey asked looking at the trickster.
“You forget the scepter had been in my possession. I was linked to it just as I was to Thanos’s trusted servant before the green beast severed me from both. I saw through the scepter the petty argument that transpired between this realm’s forces. I also received information of this realm’s forces from the hawk while he was under my control. The captain is a man out of time with no intention of learning or accepting this time. The widow is a creature of no loyalty and will sacrifice all she has to in order to survive. Not only that but I could tell through the report she gave that her judgement was clouded when spying on the man of iron. She judged him by rumors and stories; she failed to see the strength and potential of such a man. The hawk is skilled with his chosen weapon but his weakness lies in his temper, of that he told me himself. He and the widow spend their lives loyal to an organization that built a cage of one they were considering for the team they were creating. One has to wonder one kind of people work for such a group when they speak of teammates while also planning for their containment or destruction without consulting them first. The doctor that houses the beast is afraid of his other self and for good reason. When all who face them show nothing but fear it can grate on one’s nerves until they snap. He knew this and therefore planned accordingly by running and hiding at the first signs of danger. The avengers were a group doomed to fail and the only saving grace of the team was Anthony.”
“Brother I was part of the avengers.” Thor protested.
“Yes, part of a team created with Midgard and their laws in mind. You are a warrior with few who can stand against you as an equal yet you know nothing of this realm and its ways. You knew nothing of what you were fighting for and likely did not bother to ask any questions. I saw the argument between your comrades Thor. That organization Shield was building weapons to kill our people yet you didn’t seem to realize just how bad that was. You fought alongside the avengers even while they were under Shield’s command knowing they were planning on how to destroy our people even when you told them that Asgard was no enemy of Midgard and its people. In Asgard and on other realms you are a worthy warrior to stand beside in battle. Here in Midgard you were a fool simply looking for another battle without realizing what was happening.”
“He’s got a point Thor. I was actually surprised you didn’t seem to care that Shield was using the tesseract to build weapons to defeat your people.” Tony agreed with Loki.
Thor frowned but he at least seemed to be listening.
“Now brother, let’s discuss the fact you laid hands on my son.” Hela cut through the silence with a sharp tone that could put her blades to shame.
“My apologies sister. I was in the wrong, I was angry that he had messed with the scepter to create Ultron. I had entrusted him with it for a few days and I felt betrayed.”
“I told you that I didn’t create Ultron. My program for Ultron wasn’t that monster. Bruce and I weren’t even close to getting the program to activate. I told you that and you didn’t listen.”
“If I may shed some light on the situation. I recall what I had picked up with my sensors at the time.” Jarvis spoke up.
“What did you sense?” Tony asked his son.
Jarvis appeared troubled as he considered the information he had gathered then and since his return.
“I was unaware of what it was at the time but I have since been going over data gathered after I had died. There was an anomaly in your scans during the time following your return from the mission to retrieve the scepter. As it was an unknown I had not yet brought it to your attention and continued to look into the matter. You were not acting out of the ordinary so I did not believe it to be something that would endanger you and your health. However seeing further scans done by Friday after my demise I have come to realize that your mind was affected by an outside force. One that I now know is Wanda Maximoff. As you were attempting to put me inside the body that is now Vision, it was Friday that was in charge of my previous duties and took scans in the tower. She took scans of Wanda and her powers but did not have the information I did from before so she was not aware of the connection. If I were to guess I would think Wanda wanted you to take the scepter and have it within your possession for an extended period of time. Considering the scepter’s effect on you and the others on the hellicarrier it is possible that it had the same effect on the AI you were seeking to create. It is not something I would think you’d forget so it is possible your actions were guided by Wanda as it was her power affecting your mind that I picked up with the regular scans you had me doing.”
“Why did you have JARVIS doing regular scans?” Rhodey asked confused.
“It was my prevention measures in case of mind control. Sure Loki’s scepter failed to work on me but if it ever did? I wanted to make sure there were protocols in place.”
“That was a wise choice. Someone with your kind of power and abilities would have been a nearly unstoppable force.” Hela praised her son’s thinking.
“Didn’t work though I guess.” Tony said sounding bitter. “What did that witch do to my mind? Did she just affect my choice in taking the scepter for a few days or something more?”
Jarvis reached out and placed a hand on Tony’s shoulder.
“I have been going over all the footage and scans between the time I died and when I was brought back to life. She has affected you many times as far as I can tell but not to control you.”
Tony’s eyes snapped up to him.
“What has she done?”
“The number of nightmares you were suffering had increased greatly since her arrival to the team at the captain’s insistence. The scans showed the same power affecting you during those times.”
Tony stood rage burning in his eyes.
“I’ll burn that witch.”
“We shall help I promise you my Tesoro.” Hela promised as she stood and rested her forehead against his. “We will make them all pay for what they’ve done to you.”
“I am sorry for not having seen what she was doing.” Vision sounded so guilty and Tony moved away from his mother to place a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“You couldn’t have known, you were still new to this world and being alive.”
Vision tried to take comfort in that but it was reminder that he was still naive about the world he was a part of now. He had also had feelings developing for the witch and now he was experiencing his first heartbreak and betrayal all in one.
“We’ll need to plan things out for preparing for Thanos as well as bringing news of his impending attack to the proper authorizes.”
“Can we not just tell them now?”
“I don’t know, did you believe me when I told you something else was coming?” Tony countered making Thor shrink in on himself slightly.
“I know I did not believe you before-”
“None of you believe me which is why we can’t just tell people.” He clapped his hands together an idea coming together already. “Here’s the plan, Asgard is going to formally sign an alliance with Midgard.”
Thor made a face.
“Asgard is the protector of the nine realms; we are already your allies.”
Loki rolled his eyes before turning his attention Tony.
“Please explain your plan; I believe I know where you’re going with this.”
Tony grinned at him.
“Sign an alliance recognized by our world and our people. We’re separated by different nations but if Asgard signs an alliance stated they’ll side with us in the event of further invasions from outside forces,”
“Then we can bring the attention of Thanos’s invasion stating we’ve seen his forces heading towards Midgard.” Loki finished part of Tony’s plan.
“And we can formally bring you in as an ally as well as bring to light your own time being under the scepter’s control. As of right now no one will believe either. Asgard as a whole is an unknown to our planet. Thor you’ve just come and gone as you pleased and didn’t make things better with the attack on London and the fact you just left without trying to make up for the damage done or explaining anything that happened then. We need communications between our worlds which between me and a few other geniuses I happen to know we should be able to create a way to contact Asgard or vice versa. We can find a way to explain your absence with the fact your world protects various others and try and appease the anger of anyone who might argue by creating a team that will handle further issues between our worlds.”
“I believe this plan will work. Without the space stone Thanos’s forces likely will not reach Midgard for another few years. A formal alliance will take perhaps half a year to a full year, correct?”
“I think we can aim towards half a year.”
“Then wait several months before bringing attention to the fact Thanos is coming.” Loki said completely on the same wavelength as Tony in regards to the plan.
“Exactly.”
“You know it’s scary how similar you two are.” Rhodey broke through what had turned into a conversation between just the two.
“I’ll take that as a compliment because he has a big beautiful brain and I love it.” Tony told his best friend and brother.
“Ew, now I’m seeing the resemblance to Zeus.”
Tony punched him in the shoulder.
“Oh my god I meant platonically like with Brucie Bear. You’re just disgusting and that wouldn’t even make sense, Loki’s adopted so no blood relation there anyways.”
Rhodey still made a face like he found the entire situation terrible.
“I believe this plan the best course of action as well.” Vision spoke up.
“I will follow your lead on this.” Hela told Tony.
That just left Thor to decide if he wanted to follow this plan.
“Planning such as this has never been one of my strengths. If you both believe this to be best I shall go along with this plan. Asgard has been separated from Midgard to long. How would we go about forming an alliance with your realm?”
“You’d have to talk to the UN but first we need you to mesmerize this plan because I’m not going to let you mess it up. I’m going to contact Pepper, my PR team, and some of the best damn lawyers I can find on international law. You’re going to owe me for that last one by the way, they’re not cheap but no striking deals with the UN without someone to help you understand all the legal talk. Once we have all that taken care of then I’ll make arrangements for you to speak to the UN.”
Thor already looked overwhelmed by the entire thing.
“Before I contact them who exactly is the current ruler of Asgard?”
The three siblings looked at each other and seemed to have a stare off.
“I am ruler of Hel, I need no other realm to rule.” Hela finally said dismissing the option of ruling Asgard with a wave of her hand.
“No one would trust me to rule Asgard and I don’t feel like being assassinated.” Loki said crossing his arms over his chest and looking away.
Thor grumbled before he sighed having the duty fall to him.
“I am the current king of Asgard.” Thor finally answered Tony.
“Good, I’ll make the calls. It’ll take a while to get my team together so you can go back to Asgard or stay, either way I don’t care.”
With that he was off talking into his cell phone. As he walked away a glowing red circle formed under Loki drawing everyone’s attention. Hela quickly whispered a spell and the portal attempting to open there vanished. Loki moved away from where the portal was as though it might open again.
“Seems your sorcerer friend has attempted to capture me again.” Loki said annoyance dripping from his tone.
“What sorcerer?” Hela asked.
“Dr. Strange, apparently Midgard has sorcerers.” Thor said. “He wanted me to leave with Loki and our father but then Odin passed on and we needed to come here to speak to you.”
“Friday my dear, does this Dr. Strange have contact information?”
“Calling now.” Friday answered in a happy tone.
“Hello?”
“Is this Dr. Strange?” Hela inquired.
“This is. Who is this?”
“I am Queen Hela, ruler of the realm of the dead, rightful heir to Asgard and the firstborn of Odin Allfather. You’ve just attempted to capture my brother and violate the safety of my home with your magic. Do so again and there will be no place among the living or dead that you will be able to run to in order to hide from what I will do to you. Am I understood?”
There was a pause on the other end before Strange spoke.
“I am the sorcerer supreme, charged with protecting this world from all magical threats. Loki wasn’t suppose to return to this world. I told Thor that when I helped him find his father.”
Hela took a calming breathe before she disappeared from the tower. She was gone but a few moments before she returned to the tower holding an object in her hand.
“Right about now your fellow sorcerers will be alerting you to the fact the time stone is missing from your possession. I will be sure to return it to your so called protection when I receive a formal apology for the attempt to capture my brother. If you attempt to forcefully take the infinity stone back I can promise you there will be no time loop this time to save you from my grasp. Good day Sorcerer Supreme.”
With that Friday ended the call and Hela put the stone in one of her pocket dimensions. It also reminded her of something rather important as she spun around to look at Thor.
“You are a fool. You placed Surtur’s crown right next to the eternal flame that would allow him to rise up and destroy Asgard. Think before you act you fool!” She snapped at him.
Thor was taken aback by the anger in her voice and sudden change of subject.
“You were the one who took Surtur’s crown!” He snapped back jumping to his feet.
“Because you not only put it near the eternal flame but had in right in the heart of Asgard. How much of a fool could you be?”
Thor tried to protest but he couldn’t deny he’d been an idiot.
“I made a mistake yes, you needn’t yell at me for it.”
“Of course I do. You could have destroyed all of Asgard with that choice. Think you fool!”
“As entertaining as it is to see you two yelling at each other I think we should focus on the fact you just stole an infinity stone.” Rhodey cut in looking at Hela. “Not sure who the sorcerer supreme is but stealing is illegal either way and if he tried to open a portal he knows you’re here.”
“Colonel Rhodes is right, Doctor Stephan Strange is in the lobby requesting entrance.” Friday spoke up.
“Is he alone?” Jarvis asked.
“He has brought one other with him that I have not yet been able to identify.”
“Then shall we go meet our guests? He owes me and Loki an apology.” Hela said completely calm.
Loki smirked as he stood to follow her.
“Oh I do look forward to this.”
“Loki, behave yourself brother.”
Loki gave Thor a look before his eyes lit up with mischief.
“But brother, I’m simply following the lead of our elder sister.”
Rhodey bit off a laugh and tried not to find the situation hilarious. He’d dealt with Tony in his teen years, he was use to being around someone who was a little shit. Jarvis smiled slightly finding it also amusing though he hadn’t known Tony in his teens but had in later years when he was still a bit mischievous. Thor sighed and muttered something about wondering if he was the adopted one.
“Please do not start a war with Midgard or its sorcerers. I’m returning to Asgard for now; call Hiemdal when you’re ready to return brother.”
Loki just kept smiling looking far to entertained by the situation as he followed Hela. The two deities entered the elevator and headed down to the lobby.
“Do you actually care if they tried to capture me or was it simply the fact they used their magic to access your home?” Loki asked before they reached the lobby.
“It may surprise you but I do care for my family. Not just my son but my brothers and mother.”
Loki stared at her a moment before he whispered, “Frigga is dead.”
“I am aware though she was not my birth mother.”
Loki stared at her shocked.
“She wasn’t?”
“No, Frigga raised me but my mother was Jotun. Odin had many mistresses and like Zeus was not loyal to his wife. Though unlike Hera, Frigga delighted in raising children regardless of who birthed them.”
Loki turned away from her as he asked, “What of your birth mother?”
“I killed her. Odin made certain I did it during the conquest of Jotunheim. Sentiment was weakness and he could not have an heir that was weak.”
The elevator opened and the dark look in Hela’s eyes vanished as she smiled at the two sorcerers.
“Now which one of you is Dr. Strange?”
Strange stepped forward looking less than pleased.
“You stole something of mine.”
“And you broke into my home. Both things are quite illegal.” Hela countered.
“Difference is I’m in charge of handling magical threats and Loki is a criminal.”
“Loki is a prince and to target him would be to incite war between this realm and those of Asgard and Hel. You say you protect this realm yet you invite war. And to think people believe only the intelligent can become sorcerers.”
A snort came from behind both meaning Loki and Strange’s comrade were stifling laughs.
“The time stone.”
“Our apology.” Hela replied with all the false sweetness she could muster.
Strange looked like he sucked on a lemon.
“My apologies for trying to capture the criminal I was assured would be taken off the planet.”
“And?”
He glared.
“Sorry I broke into Tony Stark’s dedication to his ego.”
“It’s Anthony Edward Helason actually but apology accepted.” She summoned the stone and held it out to him.
“Do try to avoid getting on my bad side again.”
He took the stone and left through a portal.
“Oh that was delightfully entertaining. You know he had me falling through that portal for thirty minutes last time.”
“I do admit the idea of that happening is entertaining.” She chuckled as they returned to the elevator.
“I suppose now I must return to Asgard and help to ensure Thor does not ruin our plan.”
“He is not the brightest of people is he?”
“His talents reside in fighting. I had hoped when he matured he would take more of an interest in the other areas of being king.”
She raised a brow at him.
“Do you believe he can handle the task of being king?”
“Truly I have no idea.”
She made a sound of acknowledgement before she surprised Loki with her next words.
“Once things are settled between Asgard and Midgard I am going to make him regret ever laying his hands on my son. Care to help me? I promise nothing violent as he does need to be able to do his duties as king, I’ve been reliably informed you are the god of mischief and I could use such talents.”
Loki’s eyes lit up.
“I am at your service, is it just with Thor you require my talents?”
“No, I have been informed I’m not allowed to kill or maim those who have betrayed my son but I will ensure their lives are hell. I believe you are familiar with the people that were once avengers. Captain Rogers, Agent Barton, Agent Romanov, the so called witch, Scott Lang, and Sam Wilson.”
“I know some of them yes. I am not familiar with the witch, Lang, or Wilson. If you will give me what information you have on them to look over while I’m in Asgard I will begin plans for mischief best suited for them.”
Hela smiled.
“I think we may actually get along.”
She gave him files on the rogues before he left. Rhodey just gave her a look like he knew exactly what she was doing and while he shouldn’t approve he did.