Chapter 6
Hela sat in the new avengers’ compound. Hers and Anthony’s ideas and designs mixed together showing a mix of their two worlds. Though the new HQ for the team wasn’t gold it showed her background as an Asgardian warrior in design. The open space and large arched doorways allowed Fenris to move around as he pleased. Due to the massive size of the property each member had been able to add to the request to the new compound. There was a separate building strictly for magic users to practice or perform their spells. Hela, Loki, and Strange had a place there. Hela still smirked at the sorcerer knowingly as her centuries of experience still gave her an edge over the Midgardian. After the instatement of Loki to the avengers once everything was worked out as her son had planned, Strange had applied and been added.
Other heroes were coming out of the woodwork seeking to join the Avengers. Due to the number and the different level of skills there were now different departments of the Avengers. Hela was part of her own department called The Knights, which also included Jarvis, Peggy, and Vision. Fenris was part of the team but as he was her loyal ally and not considered a ‘person’ he was not formally on any document as employed by the Accords. The Knights aided the main Avengers if they required help but otherwise they were for intergalactic threats.
Hela had met several of the Defenders as well as the X-men and Fantastic Four. She actually found herself rather fond of some of them. She spent a few nights drinking with Jessica if she didn’t have any other plans, she joined Danny and Matt for training on occasions interested in both men’s fighting style, and she had been talking with several of the X-men on occasion who were interested in learning about worlds beyond their own.
She was at the compound due to business suddenly coming up that took Pepper away from their promised lunch date. Hela understood the time a throne can take so she had assured Pepper everything was alright.
Seeing Fenris lift his head she put down her cup of tea and stood with all the grace of a goddess and queen. It didn’t take long to spot what had drawn Fenris’s attention. Coming into her home was the group who she and Loki had been working together to decide a fitting punishment for. Leading them was one of the Accords representatives. Hela had met the woman on a few occasions, if she recalled the woman’s name was Samantha Cross, she was a former Colonel in the military.
“Colonel Cross.” Hela greeted her with a small nod.
“Queen Hela, I was told someone would be present so I could give the new signees of the Accords a tour. Would you be my guide today or should I call the office?”
Hela smiled in a friendly manner towards the Colonel.
“I was unaware of this tour but allow me to find out who was meant to lead the tour. I’m afraid a call came in some time ago so perhaps the appointed person was directed elsewhere. If they were it would be my pleasure to aid you in the tour.”
“Why the hell do we need someone else to give the tour? We already have the Accords person here.”
Hela turned a blank look on the one who spoke, it appeared to be the archer known as Hawkeye. She kept her own hatred a secret because Loki had advised her to keep her personal feelings out of the picture so when they finally got their revenge it would be unexpected.
“It is the rules of any building that houses enhanced beings signed under the Accords. To avoid putting anyone at risk a level 5 signee must accompany those being given tours by an Accords representative.”
Hela decided she wanted to lead this tour as she made a motion to alert Friday that she sought her attention. The former Avengers stepped back shocked as a woman appeared dressed in white with red hair.
“Friday, please let whoever was assigned to give the tour know that I will be tending to this task.”
“Of course Queen Hela, I shall let the appropriate people know. Originally Doctor Strange was asked to lead the tour but he was called away for an interdimensional threat last night.”
“I see, very well.” She said as Friday disappeared.
“What was that? I’ve never seen something like that.” A man Hela quickly recognized as Scott Lang said having moved forward to get a closer look but Friday was no longer present.
“That was Friday, the AI that runs and monitors the Compound. When addressed by authorized personnel she will appear as a hologram to address whatever is needed.” Hela told him before motioning for Cross to begin the tour.
“Alright everyone, this is the common space. All public spaces are monitored at all times and there is always a security team on the premises.” Colonel Cross began explaining as she began walking.
Apparently the group hadn’t noticed Fenris until they passed right by him. His appearance caused a startled cry and Wanda immediately attacked. Her red bastardized magic hit a wall of green as Hela always protected her own.
“Colonel Cross, was this group made aware of the current signees of the Accords?”
“They were Queen Hela as per protocol.”
Hela nodded turning to the witch.
“That will be a strike against you Miss Maximoff. Attacking innocents is unacceptable of Accord signees.”
“Who the hell let a massive monster like that into the compound?” She countered yelling and stomping her foot like an overgrown child.
“Look, she was just startled.” Steve tried to reason but Hela leveled him with an unimpressed look.
“Do you wish to explain that to a civilian why she nearly killed them? Oh she was startled so you can’t be upset about her attacking them. If this is her level of control I will be advising the council to put her through some serious training before she is allowed on any mission.”
“Hey now that’s not fair.” Steve argued.
“Who the hell are you to decide that shit?” Clint accused.
“I am a skilled magic user, one of which can tell when someone possess no control or selective control. As a level 5 signee I am capable of making such suggestions to the Accords council. Now let us continue the tour. Another such incident though will end with the one responsible being escorted out.”
Fenris nudged her and earned a scratch behind the ears. They kept walking and Cross brought them to the large cafeteria where Hela spotted Eddie Brock and the man who had only introduced himself as Cable. The two were seated together even though there was plenty of open space to sit at separate places. Eddie didn’t often stay at the compound but when he did having times between chasing new stories he worked security. Cable worked full time as security for the compound.
“This is the cafeteria, it’s open during the hours of 9am to 10pm.” Cross explained.
“Why is there a cafeteria? What happened to the kitchen?”
“The kitchen is available only to residents. Private living spaces are not on this tour.”
“Why isn’t it on the tour? How will we know where our rooms are?” Natasha asked, not sounding as rude or disrespectful as the others had.
“I’m afraid an application needs to be submitted after you’re placed on the team you’ll be a part of.” Cross explained.
“The compound is for the Avengers, that’s our team.” Steve said sounding like he was lecturing Cross.
“Shut the hell up, your voice is grating on my nerves.” Cable spoke up from his seat looking rather tired as he’d just finished his shift and was eating before he’d likely go knock out for the day.
“Sorry Mr. Cable.” Cross told the man knowing he wasn’t the best when exhausted.
“Why are you apologizing for him being an ass?” Clint asked as he decided to storm over to where the two security guards were sitting. “You should be apologizing to Cap for being a dick.”
Cable stared unimpressed as he put another bit of food in his mouth.
“Go away, besides Rogers isn’t a real captain. He’s only ranked Private, really you insult every member of the military who earned the rank they’re called when you insist on calling him that.” Eddie said stuffing another bite of chocolate sauce covered tater tots into his mouth.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about dickhead.” Clint snarled at him.
“I’m a well-informed reporter, I know exactly what I’m talking about.” Eddie told him unimpressed eating another bite and earning a look of disgust as Clint realized what he was eating.
“Eddie, would you mind removing Clint Barton from the premises? I already gave him and the others their only warning and I’d like to have him removed now rather than wait for an on shift security officer.”
Eddie pushed his seat back and gave Hela a wink.
“Our pleasure.”
Suddenly Eddie was replaced by Venom causing Clint to quickly put space between them but it didn’t stop the giant alien from grabbing him and holding him upside-down by his leg.
“You come into our home and insult us and think there’s no repercussions? You’re a bigger idiot than we thought.”
“Hey let him go! He didn’t do anything wrong.” Steve snapped striding forward intent on starting a fight but Bucky grabbed Steve stopping him.
“Punk stop it, he was warned. We all were.”
Venom took the struggling archer out of the compound.
“Hopefully Eddie got enough food in his system otherwise the idiot’s going to be missing a limb.” Cable said unbothered as he continued eating.
“Venom is good about not eating people when it’s not a situation where that is an appropriate response.” Hela said as Cross began the tour again.
“Eating people?” Sam asked sounding horrified.
“It’s nothing to worry about.” Cross assured them. “Before signing onto the Accords, Venom strictly ate criminals.”
Hela wanted to smirk because well, Venom still ate people if they weren’t human or in the event of a mission with criminals refusing to back down he still did. Usually eating one head stopped the others.
“What are the chances we’ll be put on the Avengers team?” Natasha asked as they moved on from the cafeteria.
“I’m not certain, I’m not the one who decides that.” Cross answered.
“Who does?” Bucky asked.
“That would be the team leaders. You’ve already been given an introductory package that includes all enhanced signees of the Accords. Later once you’ve been evaluated you’ll meet the team leaders and be explained each department of Avengers and see where you believe you’d like to be. Of course after your evaluation you will also be told which team leader believes you best suits you. However if you do not like the teams recommended to you, they’ll work with you to see if the team you prefer will accept you as a good fit.” Hela explained.
“Who performs the evaluations and what do those involve?” Natasha asked eyeing her.
“Elected members of the teams perform the evaluations and what they involve will be revealed to you at the time they are performed.” Hela answered careful to not give away anything and being as vague as possible.
“We lived here before, why do we need an application?” Steve asked sounding so offended at the idea.
“An application is needed for any residence. They don’t just give apartments out, they check to see if someone can afford the place they’ll be living.” Cross explained as they arrived at the training area.
“Afford the place? We never paid rent before.” Steve argued earning a look from Bucky.
“Yes well the avengers and other teams are people that others look up to. We try to set a proper example and it would look quite ridiculous if young minds learned their heroes don’t have the common decency to pay for their living space and instead decided to live off another. Everyone who lives here works and contributes to the compound in some way.” Hela explained.
“Oh you expect us to believe someone who’s being called a queen works?” Wanda sneered.
“I do in fact work. I work at my son’s company though I volunteer my time teaching. Someone with my years of experience has much to offer a species that is sadly much further behind other worlds.”
“What do you teach?” Bucky asked respectfully.
“A number of things including fighting, history of the realms, and I teach magic though I have found few in this realm who hold the capability of using magic. Midgard I have found does not have many natural magic users.”
Their next stop was the parking garage where several vehicles were parked already.
“As the compound is a training facility as well as home to many enhanced, this is one of the parking areas so when you visit you will be given a pass to access this area should you have a vehicle. If you receive a pass it is for your vehicle only in the assigned location. You will be unable to bring any unauthorized people into the compound.”
As the tour continued Hela could see several members of the group growing increasingly unhappy. She was quite happy when the tour came to an end at the office where the group could choose to set up an appointment for an evaluation.
“If any of you would like to set up a time for an evaluation you can make an appointment now.”
Hela watched them all agree to be evaluated as soon as possible. She almost smirked when they stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of Laura Barton sitting behind the desk. She didn’t react to them the way they likely were expecting. She remained professional and set up their appointments without responding to any of their questions that had nothing to do with the appointment.
“That concludes our tour. If after your evaluation you submit an application and it’s accepted there will be a different tour of private spaces.”
“Colonel Cross if I may have a moment of Sargent Barnes’s time?” Hela asked knowing Cross couldn’t officially end the tour unless all members that arrived were accounted for having left.
“I don’t mind staying a bit longer. It’ll give me a chance to answer any extra questions people have.”
“Why do you want to speak with Bucky?” Steve asked eyes narrowed.
“Steve its fine, just give me a moment.”
“But Bucky, you don’t even know this woman.” Steve argued a hand on Bucky’s arm preventing him from moving away.
“If it is acceptable to you Sargent Barnes I could simply say what I was going to with your friend present. I am not attempting to cause issues between the two of you.” She lied so perfectly because really, when she was done Steven Grant Rogers would lose his best friend forever.
“Alright, yeah. I’m really not sure what a dame like you would want to talk to me about. Not sure you’ve heard, but I was the winter soldier.” Bucky said sounding a bit confused.
“I’m aware of your past Sargent Barnes, I actually witnessed it firsthand when you murdered me and my husband.”
Silence echoed for a moment before Steve screamed outraged, “That isn’t funny! If Tony put you up to this-”
Cold eyes turned on him then but Hela made no move towards Steve.
“My name when I walked among humans before was Maria Stark. My husband Howard Stark was the god Zeus, living in mortal form just as I was. To escape the places that had become our prisons we became mortal for a time.”
She turned a kind gaze to Bucky.
“I only wished to tell you that we do not blame you. We are aware your mind was not your own, that you had been twisted to suit the wants of others. I cannot imagine the turmoil in your heart having known you ended many lives while corrupted by Hydra. I hope knowing we understand and don’t blame you can ease some of the pain on your conscious.”
She nodded to Cross informing her that was all she wished to say. She moved to follow as Cross started leading the group back outside the compound. Before any of them left Bucky spoke to her again seeming to finally come out of his shock.
“So you…and Howard, I didn’t really kill you?”
“You killed our mortal forms that returned us to our immortal bodies. Neither of us nor my son blame you for what happened. He’d asked me what I thought regarding your actions and I assured him there is not a single part of me that blames you. In fact, going forward if there is any help I can offer please let me know. I can’t imagine your recovery will at all be easy and just having someone to listen can help.”
Bucky just stared at her for a few moments before Hela turned hearing several people running. She spotted her son running away from a charging Hercules. There was a big grin on his face as he laughed dodging a tackle from the larger god. Not far behind Peter was following in his Spiderman suit. He swung from the ceiling and did a backflip as he landed on Anthony’s shoulders as the older man continued to dodge and escape Hercules’s grasp.
“You’ll never catch me at this rate!” Anthony teased as he worked with Peter flinging the teen to ensure the door would be open and ready for his quick escape.
Hercules roared at the challenge while Peter escaped up the side of the building when Anthony was through the door.
“You know when I heard I might be working close with Tony Stark, I never expected this.” Cross laughed.
“My son has always been more on the energetic side. Regaining his youth with his awakened godhood has only increased that.” Hela said a smile on her face. “It helps that his brother is just as energetic. Hercules has mentioned Zeus does intend to visit soon and my brothers intend to visit as well. You should come, both Asgardians and Olympians do enjoy and respect warriors such as yourself.”
Cross gave her a look like she didn’t believe her.
“I’m very human and I’ve seen what you can do, I doubt I’d impress anyone.”
“It is not the strength that is impressive of a warrior. It is their spirt and honor as well as their skills. You are an honorable warrior recognized by your realm and its people. Come, I may have already promised Hercules you’d be present.” She said with a smirk causing Cross to roll her eyes.
“I’ll try and be there. Let me know when they arrive.”
Cross motioned for the others to leave, seeing the group staring where Anthony had run through.
“That was Tony?” Steve asked shocked.
“He looked so young.” Natasha commented.
“He is my son, when I returned from my banishment I told my son the truth of my origins as well as his own. He accepted his godhood and now shall live as long as I do…or he shall live as long his father’s side of the family. We’re not quite certain which side he takes after.”
“There’s a difference?” Sam asked.
“Yes, Asgardian do eventually age and die. Olympians do not age or die with the passage of time. Though with my title as a goddess that may very well make me different. I’m not entirely certain. Now I believed you were asked to leave.”
Reluctantly they left and Hela turned away deciding to go to the private garden that Vision tended to. There was a bench there for anyone who wished to simply relax in the massive garden and as she sat down she found herself with a guest.
“You did remarkably well for your first time playing the part of a trickster.” Loki praised.
“I don’t want any of this to come back on Anthony and you said so long as I show no signs of open hostility that it is unlikely they will come back from what we will do to them.”
Loki grinned.
“Yes, I have plenty of practice in doing such schemes. I assure you, there are more ways to destroy someone than simply killing them. With how they’ve acted so far they will destroy their image all on their own.”
“They’ve already made appointments for evaluations. I do have high hopes those.” She said a bit of excitement showing in her tone.
“Do remember what I told you for the evaluations.” Loki whispered before he vanished.
Hela smirked staying in the garden for a while longer as she ran her hand through Fenris’s fur.