fossilised | Jotunheimr

Apparently it was that all mortals were bad at listening or remembering and not just Stark, for he had already said at least once that they were here about a source of seidr that they had felt and needed to retrieve. He schooled his patience as Stark explained it to Phil Coulson, which oddly made the man look a little nervous.

His initial thought was for Steve Rogers, of course. That was the last thing they fished up, but-- but he was meant to be here, and he wasn't magical at all. Maybe the serum? No, that didn't make sense.

"Could you be more specific?" He asked, keeping himself as calm as possible on the outside.

"No, only that I felt the seidr pulse and connect from a great distance."

Wait-- pulse. Could this have anything to do with the day the Tesseract suddenly surged with energy and then went dormant again? This could be bad.

"Is that so?"

"--yes, that is so. Our guide informs us that your artefacts are kept in a building that we require permission to enter. Therefore we seek your permission to retrieve what we have come to seek."

“Could you tell me a little more about this seidr? What does it do, or what is it supposed to do?” Coulson asked better questions than Stark, but only because Stark was pretty sure what the answers were and never fully investigated matters. It was almost as if his ego wouldn’t allow it.

And he was somewhat worried now about the meaning behind the tesseract. He knew the legend attached. He knew its history. He knew how dangerous it could be.

And he really didn’t want to hand it over.

“He means magic. Energy,” Stark cut in. “Something that can be used to harness a lot of power. But I’ve run some scans and can’t find anything.”

"Then your scans are incomplete or ineffective, for I know where the seidr is located. I feel its pulse call to me, I could walk to it without fail with my eyes shut tight, you cannot hide it from me."

Loki did not like this new man, this Coulson, he seemed much more reserved and less helpful than Stark. He leaned forwards, blood-red eyes fixed on the mortals with firm purpose, though he was careful to keep any hint of a threat out of his voice.

"The All-Father has tasked us with retrieving this object, and we shall do so. We wish to do it peacefully, for we bear no ill-will to Midgard, but make no mistake that we shall leave with it."

Tony didn’t like being told he was wrong and neither he nor Coulson appreciated Loki’s tone. The Jotun night not have meant to sound that way, but his words? “It sounds like there’s no room for negotiation here,” Coulson said. He wasn’t all fire, he wasn’t about to cut the talk off immediately. Stirring the pot of a potential enemy he didn’t know and couldn’t predict was not a smart move. “That sounds a lot like you’re telling us what you plan to do. And that’s a threat.”

It sounded to Thor like a threat too and though he liked and trusted Loki, though he knew that the monstrous rumours of Loki’s people were false, he had trouble dismissing the way hearing those words felt.

“The All-Father tasked us with discovery,” Thor said as he strode into the room. His sudden presence had Coulson on his feet, though it looked more respectful than a testament to the edge he was on. “We are not here to steal but to determine if there is danger here for Midgard, son of Coul.”

Thor might often come off as an idiot, but he genuinely was not.

Loki pursed his lips but he did not argue with Thor, the Odinson was in charge of this mission, but it would be foolish to assume that such a powerful object would not cause danger for Midgard. Theirs was a people that could not control such dangerous seidr, even if they had gathered their own sorcerers now, and he honestly had not intended for that to be a threat.

He hesitated, but he switched to the tongue of the Aesir to speak to Thor's ears alone even while they were in other company.

"Thor, I feel it. It tugs at me in a way I cannot explain, it has power that I fear even Asgard being capable of containing. If I spoke rashly, it is because I truly believe it cannot remain on Midgard with any degree of safety."

Thor wished to say words of comfort to Loki. He wanted to take his hand and have a discussion with him, close and affectionate. He was fairly sure that was only because Sif had confronted him about Loki and now he could not place it from his mind. It was truly annoying to have the idea scratch at the back of his skull when it had never been there before. He would need to discuss that very thing with Loki later. In private. Thor required the same reassurances he gave to Sif.

For the time being, he arched an eyebrow in Loki’s direction. The Midgardians probably did not like the idea that they were speaking in a way that they could not understand so he would make this brief.

“My true fear is doing to them what my father did to your people. This source of magic may be what keeps their Realm running. Perhaps they do not understand its use? I am no expert on these devices, Loki, but this is a fact finding journey. We will bring our knowledge to the All-Father and he will decide what to do.”

It was likely as commendable a speech as it was infuriating.

As Tony muttered about rudeness, Thor reverted back to All-Speak. “Apologises are requested. We wish to learn more of the artefact you have. It is likely dangerous for many reasons. We will not seek to steal from you but wish only to learn of this object. My friend here would care to examine it.”

Even as Loki felt a flash of annoyance that his words weren't being immediately heeded, he also felt a rising pride in Thor. He needed to learn to be proud when Thor took his instruction to heart, even if it meant him being reasonable and king-like when Loki would prefer that he acted differently, because wasn't that his goal? He wanted to create an All-Father that would be heralded through the ages, that would mean sometimes setting aside his selfish pride.

It was difficult, but he swallowed such things down and nodded, allowing his expression to become something more contrite and peaceful.

"I spoke out of turn, you have my apologies. Thor is correct, I wish only to examine this source of seidr and be sure it will cause no danger to any."

Coulson wasn’t sure he had the authority to even agree to another possible meeting but he had to make a judgement call here. “I might be able to arrange that, but I need to discuss this first. Stark—“

“I’ve done okay for the last few hours, Agent Coulson, I think I can be trusted babysitting,” Tony snapped back, eye roll and all, and though Coulson hadn’t been planning on questioning that, he let whatever else he’d meant to say go. It was just easier.

He stood from the table, smoothing a hand down his shirt and tie, but let it go at that, without bothering to offer his hand to shake. “Answer your phone when I call,” he told Tony as he left, the elevator swallowing him up as Tony repeatedly hit the lower floor.

Back in the meeting room, Thor sat gingerly on a chair that could barely support him and leaned in towards Loki.

“I am hoping that we will have an excuse to come here many times. Even if we do not need to take whatever is causing the pulse of seidr, we ought to monitor it.”

"It feels like the Casket."

Loki hoped that those simple words, which should be unintelligible to the mortals, but which the others would all understand, would convey the gravity of the situation. This was no mere trinket that they had come to observe, this was something ancient and powerful that sang from across oceans to the seidr inside Loki.

It wanted to be found, it wanted to be used and understood.

"I spoke out of turn and I will not do so again, you were wise to seek a softer touch here to mitigate Asgard's reputation, but do not be so soft a touch that you cannot do what might be necessary."

The Casket? Thor was even more uncertain now about allowing Loki near the artefact. It wasn’t Loki’s to have and while Thor was working on the return of the Casket to Jotunheim, this could not be a replacement.

They were alone for the moment, his friends making banter a room behind them, the mortals struggling with their box-stair and bantering and so this was more private. Thor leaned in to shield his words from any and all that might hurry back to them, face close to Loki’s.

“If it is like the Casket, it may be the only thing keeping this Realm from ruin. But if the mortals do not understand how to use it— Loki, this could be the push that the All-Father needs to return your power source. You must show restraint, perhaps teach the mortals to use their own Casket. But if it proves too dangerous... if it would be better in the vault of the All-Father... I will not hesitate. Midgard, as is Jotunheim, is under my protection. I will not allow it to fall to ruin when I want nothing more than to see all Realms grow to glory.”

Loki very nearly bared his teeth and snarled at Thor that Jotunheim did not need to be under Asgard's protection, that it was a mighty realm of its own with a people proud and strong. It was instinct, he had been raised on the same tales of Asgardian conquerors as everyone else and it was a struggle sometimes to push that down and see Thor for an individual.

Part of him was too in line with Helblindi and his desire for violence, even if he hid it much better.

"I will not betray you." Loki was more astute than to not have seen the flash of worry in Thor's eyes. "I do not lust after power, any power, I am no monster. I wish the return of the Casket, not the heart of another realm, I only wished to illustrate how powerful this thing is."

As far as Thor was concerned, every Realm was under his protection. If he was to be All-Father, a job he did not relish, then all would need to feel important and safe. He wanted to be the strong arm to keep all strife at bay. It was naive of him to think that way and even more naive not to see what his words did to Loki. He assumed that the moment of anger, or annoyance, he saw on his friend’s face had more to do with his words assuming there might be a betrayal than anything else.

“I do not believe you will betray me,” Thor said, fist on the table for emphasis before it flattened back out. “Nor do I believe you will betray these people. I think m there should just be a dialogue between us... openly. I have great confidence in your advice, Loki.”

Thor was a fool with his heart on his sleeve.

Reading between the lines, Loki might understand that Thor was finding a means to drag their conversations and their meetings out. He might not be aware of it himself, it was subtle, but his actions did not favour a quick and speedy end to their journey, but a more leisurely stroll.

Loki was torn between his duties. He wanted to get this done as quickly as possible because he felt the tug of this artefact and he hated feeling as though he were an Aesir lapdog. But he also wanted to string this out and tie Thor closer to him for his longer term goals. Was he strong enough to set aside his own impetuous fire for the sake of the future?

He wasn't sure.

But for now, he set his hand onto Thor's arm, carefully bleeding his skin back to paleness rather than the blue that would cause injury. "Thank you, it is good to hear such things, for I fear your friends do not think so highly of me."

That was not fair, Volstagg had been nothing but friendly, while Fandral and Hogun had been distantly polite, but Sif was obvious in her dislike.

“They’ve yet a chance to get to know you,” Thor said, in all seriousness. “And I think Fandral would not deny you into his furs, for what that may be worth,” he continued, grin to his face. He probably shouldn’t give anyone ideas. He didn’t want Fandral to bed Loki. And he certainly didn’t want Loki to be interested in Fandral of all people!

The man was his friend, and they had shared a partner or two in the past but that partner was not Jotun royalty with whom Thor was somewhat smitten with.

“Give them time, Loki. You seem fast friends with the Midgardian at least. He seems to like me not at all.”

Thor didn’t care about that, though. Stark was not exactly someone he cared much for either.

Loki had to consider, briefly, whether it might be worth inviting Fandral into his furs. Not because he had any real interest in the man, but it might be the push that Thor needed to spark his realisation, especially knowing that the idea had come from his own tongue and that Aesir culture smiled on such pairings.

Something to be considered.

"I find him interesting, but he is only a mortal, a mayfly lives a longer life. So many generations has it been for me to only reach my majority, that the war with Jotunheim and Asgard is now myth believed by almost none."

That still broke his brain a little.

"But perhaps you are right, I will attempt to get to know your companions better, and you should attempt to know our mortal guide so as well."

This was either very good or very bad advice for Thor because it took less than two hours for Stark to be utterly done with the giant blond man who followed him around ‘getting to know him.’ When Coulson called to extend an invitation to meet with Director Fury, he was more than ready to pile Thor and Loki into a car with him and just go.

He hoped his Tower was left standing when he returned. The other Asgardians were very hard on his furniture. And walls. Oh his poor walls.

Tony was not at all prepared for the what he would see when he was led into a conference room with his alien guests behind him, however.

Coulson was there, but so was a blond man ripped right from the pages of the history books Tony eschewed in favor of Modern Mechanic magazine and just about anything else that would not have anything about Steve Rogers written in it. “What is this? Celebrity dress up day?” he asked, hanging back even as Thor and Loki took seats.

Steve wasn't really sure what he was doing here at all. His speciality was Nazis, not aliens ripped right out of Norse mythology, a religion he had never really studied from his youth. But he was here because he'd been asked to stand in and give his insight, and support Coulson if necessary.

He nodded to all of the newcomers when they came in, not forgetting his manners even if this was a bizarre situation, though he did look confused when Tony Stark - wow, Howard actually had a son - spoke up about dress up.

"Not as far as I know, but a lot of things have changed so maybe I missed the memo along the way."

"You didn't," Coulson was quick to reassure his idol. "Tony is just being an idiot as usual, it's best to ignore him. Steve, this is Tony Stark, Thor Odinson, and Loki Laufeyson."

"Laufeybarn." Loki corrected, son and dottir were for other realms, all children were the barn of their dam in Jotunheim.

"Laufeybarn, sorry." Repeated Coulson. "Tony, Thor, and Loki, this is Steve Rogers, he's here to help out with the meeting."

Suddenly, a meeting with intergalactic visitors about a source of technological or magical power didn’t make a lick of difference anymore. He couldn’t stop staring at Steve for what felt like an eternity, but was really just a few seconds.

“Is this some sort of attempt to one up me, Coulson? Because aliens trump formerly frozen super soldiers.” Hr took a seat on the far side of the table instead of the head (where he liked to be) because it was the furthest away from Rogers he could get.

They should have told him.

Someone should have told him. JARVIS had fallen down on the job. He should have been more focused on spying... there were so many things he wanted to say right now to Coulson, but none would be polite.

Fury, of course, made a dramatic entry. He sat where Tony normally would have and took read of the room. Throwing Stark off with Rogers had worked pretty well. “So what’s this I hear about having some sort of magic bullshit in the basement?”

Wow. Well, that was as close to a snub outright as was possible, and Steve couldn't help but wonder what it was he had done that had offended someone that he had never even met. He kept it to himself, though, he wasn't here to get involved in interpersonal relationships, just to observe what was going on in the world now.

Loki wrinkled his nose at the terms the one-eyed leader used, but he took the spotlight here because he was the fyri. None of the others could sense what he could sense, and being in the building was like having it vibrating beneath his feet.

"You possess an artefact of great seidr, something more powerful than any one person could wield safely. I can feel it below us, dormant but fighting to break free. We have come as a delegation of the All-Father of Asgard to make sure such a powerful source of seidr does not provide a threat."

“What sort of threat are you thinking?” Fury asked, mostly trying to gauge the situation. The entire base was on high alert because no one knew anything about these people save for some quickly tapped scholars of mythology who had been working feverishly with the group trying to decipher the tesseract and the ones who handled all of the evidence of alien existence on this planet in the distant past. It had been bad enough when there were only a few dozen covered up leftovers of some massive war fought here during the time period they all now called the Dark Ages. It was another to be presented with living proof that the people that stomped all over Scandinavia still existed.

Tony did his best to pay attention here but his eyes and his attention were still focused on Rogers. It wasn’t fair, he knew that. He knew that the guy wasn’t at fault for anything and some part of him was amused that his father’s little pet project had finally been uncovered well after he was gone, but Tony was a child of a man and he didn’t care how fair it was.

Steve Rogers was a personal enemy and the guy he could never match up to. It pissed him off.

“Do you think we’re the threat for having it or are you worried that we’ll hurt ourselves? No offense, but we aren’t idiots. We’ve managed without you for awhile now.”

"It is not that we think either of these things, only that such artefacts are dangerous in and of themselves. Midgard is not a realm of power in seidr, and that is no fault of your own, without those trained in such things it would be easy to accidentally cause danger."

There, that was more peaceful and diplomatic than agreeing that they were like children playing with an open flame.

"We wish only to see the artefact so that we may provide information for the All-Father, we do not wish to steal what may belong to Midgard by right."

A lot of this was going over Steve's head. Seidr - what in the heck was that? - and all this talk of other realms and archaic speech. Instead, his eyes were drawn by Stark and the way that the other man seemed to be staring at him in open hostility. In the end, he couldn't help but speak up.

"Is something wrong, Mr. Stark?"

“Big lunch,” Tony smoldered. He cleared his throat and readjusted his seat and leaned back with his fingers laced over his abdomen. Not his proudest moment, but he had not intention of engaging Steve Rogers in conversation. Hr was just so annoyed by his presence.

He had no reason being here.

Fury glanced over at Stark and then at Rogers. Maybe he’d underestimated the way Tony would react after all. It had been amusing but now it would just be distracting.

“All right. I know what you’re talking about,” Fury said, returning to Loki. “The device turned on briefly but is back in its dormant state. If you’d like to take a look, we’d welcome it. But we’re the kind of people that like to make our own decisions. And mistakes.”

No one was leaving here with the tesseract.

"Then we have an agreement, because all we have come to do is observe."

Although that might change very abruptly when they reported back to Odin what it was they had found. Loki almost felt sorry for Midgard; Thor might be cut from a different cloth, but he did not trust Odin Spearshaker not to pillage anything of worth for his own gain just as he had done in the past.

"Lead us to where it is."

Steve stood up at the same time that Loki did, though he hung back a bit to try and speak to Tony because he wasn't buying indigestion as an excuse for anything. Nobody glared like that unless they had a personal problem.

"We're on the same team here, Mr. Stark, whatever your problem with me is, I suggest you either tell me so that we can work it out, or learn to keep a better lid on it."

This was exactly what Tony did not want to happen. If there was any way to shoot people down dead with your eyes—. He needed to come up with a way to shoot people down dead with your eyes. This was just awful otherwise. He exhaled slowly and pursed his lips together before he glanced up at Rogers.

“First, we aren’t on a team. I’m here because of them. When they go home, I go home. Army of One.” That was the slogan now right? Tony didn’t keep up on the military now that he was pretty much out of helping fuel the arms race. “Second, I don’t know you enough to have a problem with you. Except for those shirts. Don’t they come any bigger?”

Seriously, SHIELD. Those were ridiculously tight.

Steve frowned and folded his arms over his chest, which just served to bulge his biceps further and make the material stretch over his arms. He was still sometimes a little self conscious about his body, that scrawny guy still inside him wondering when all of this might go away.

"Fine. Then let me introduce myself properly and maybe we can get off on the right foot, okay? I'm Steve, Steve Rogers."

He unfurled his arms to hold one hand out towards Tony with an open and honest expression on his face.

"I knew your Dad once upon a time, so you'll have to forgive me if it takes a while to get used to Howard having had a son."

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