A/N: Alright, so half of this chapter will be in Steve's point of view, back on Earth with the rest of the gang (because I'm not gonna lie, I miss them all). And the second half will be back on Asgard, but in Loki's point of view. (Why did he need Thor in the last chapter? Ehehehe). Also, I know that I've cast Benedict Cumberbatch as Will thanks to a suggestion from one of my readers (thank you, by the way :)) but I was thinking about changing it to Ben Whishaw, especially since I saw some pictures of him from Skyfall. I'll attach a picture at the side, let me know If I should have Benedict or Ben, thank you :) And suggestions for Ava are always welcome because I literally have no idea. Anyway, enjoy and have a wonderful day/night, love abbiemca x
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Chapter Six - Midgard and Plans
-Earth/Midgard-
Steve's View
I pulled my jacket tighter as rain soaked my head and shoulders. I grumbled to myself and rapped on Ava's door once more. Where is she? Was the dress fitting really that bad? Nobody has seen or heard from her since. I only needed to ask her how to fix my phone, the others just laugh at me. Maybe Nat and Pepper aren't telling the whole story; have they upset her or something? After a soaking wet jacket later, I gave up knocking and walked to Stark Tower. Surely Tony or Pepper know where she is, right?
JARVIS let me into Stark Tower and I sent myself straight to the 56th floor of the tower, where I usually find at least one of the two. Thankfully, I was greeted by Pepper before Tony. She smiled at me, with that smile that hasn't been off her face since Tony propsed to her. They were so happy.
"Hey, Pepper. Have you seen Ava?" I asked her, she pondered for a moment then her smile dropped slightly.
"No, I can't say I have. Sorry Steve, did you need her for something?" She asked, tilting her head to the side, her strawberry blonde hair falling over one shoulder slightly.
"Um... I'm having a bit of trouble with my mobile, she usually helps me."
"Oh, right. I haven't seen her since the dress fitting, sorry. But I'm sure Tony could help you with the phone?" Pepper said to me. I raised an eyebrow sceptically. She just laughed. "Yeah. Maybe that's not a great idea. But you should go down and see him anyway, he might have heard from Ava."
I nodded and then led myself down into Tony's workspace. I entered the passcode, which Pepper had told me a while ago. Tony barely even looked at me when I entered, he was too engrossed welding a piece of metal together.
"Capsicle. It's rude to enter without knocking."
"Have you seen Ava?" I asked, sitting on the only chair in the room. He glared at me as I spun around on it.
"No. What did you need her for? Fancied declaring your undying love again?"
"No, Stark. You drugged me when that happened."
"I didn't drug you, Capsicle. Don't be so over dramatic. I simply slipped a chemical I needed to try into your drink. Banner said it was safe too-"
"Because you and Banner are so reliable."
"Of course we are, according to SHIELD, we are two of the most intelligent men in the world."
"That doesn't make you reliable."
"No, but it's a good factor." Tony said. The 'undying love' thing was a while ago, after the big Loki battle, we all went round to Stark's and basically threw a big party. A party in which Tony spiked my drink with a new chemical he'd found and it basically had the same effect as alcohol does on normal people. Makes them drunk.
"So you haven't seen her, then?" I asked, irritably. He shook his head and I sighed before leaving him alone in his workspace. I suppose the only place I could check now would be SHIELD headquarters. Banner's probably out somewhere, so it would be pointless looking for him. I grumbled and made my way back from Stark Tower, with a farewell to Pepper, to my apartment to get my motorbike; this was the disadvantage of not having Ava around, she can't teleport us everywhere.
It didn't take me long to get to SHIELDs base and Agent Hill soon greeted me warmly.
"Looking for something, Cap?" She asked, her dark hair pinned up into a ponytail. She smiled at me.
"Yes, have you seen Ava anywhere?"
"Ah. I think you need to go and see the Director."
"Why, what's happened?"
"You'll see."
"Agent Hill-" She cut me off by promptly spinning around and beckoning me to follow her. I sighed and trailed behind her. I had a feeling this wasn't going to be good news. She led me to Fury's office and I was grumbled all kinds of curses under my breath. Agent Hill opened the door for me and I stepped through, she came through after me. Fury looked up from his papers and raised an eyebrow at us.
"Rogers? Hill? Can I help you?" He asked, looking at us with suspicion.
"Steve is looking for Ava." Hill replied before I could even open my mouth. Fury sighed and brought his hands together on top of the desk in a very patronising, consulting-y way. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"You might wanna sit down, Cap. You're not gonna like this."
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-Asgard-
Loki's View
I slammed the door behind me with a mighty bang. Who does he think he is?! I only came for some armour and now Ava isn't speaking to me! I growled again, and stalked the corridors in desperate search of Thor. He said he'd meet me this morning, and I've had no sign or mention of him yet.
For Odin's sake, why can't people just stick to their word here? I need Thor, he promised he'd meet me.
Then I realised where he'd be. I sighed. Breakfast. I slumped off to the Hall and entered, trying to collect and calm myself so that no questions would be asked. Of course, Thor was sitting in the middle of the table, his plate stacked high with all kinds of food. He was laughing heartily at whatever Volstagg, Fandrall and Hogun (Warriors Three) were saying. I walked up to them, with a good morning from Mother. I smiled at her and wished her a good morning too, before sitting down next to Thor. He grinned at me with bits of bacon stuck in his beard. I sighed and rolled my eyes.
"And where were you this morning? You know, when I needed you?" I asked through my teeth. Thor looked as if I'd just said something completely alien. I groaned and hid my face in my hands.
"What are you talking about Loki?" He asked, spitting food at me as he did so. I wiped the escaped food off my cheeks and scowled at him.
"You know what I'm talking about!"
"I'm afraid I do not."
"Thor!" I groaned, burying my head in my arms on the long table. Thor just gave a hearty laugh.
"I am only teasing, Loki. I have the item you require right here," Thor said, putting down his food for a moment and fishing in his pocket. I grabbed his wrist and stopped him before he pulled it out. He looked at me with wide blue eyes. I shook my head.
"Not here. Do not get it out here." I said quietly so that nobody around could hear. Volstagg narrowed his eyes at the two of us.
"What's going on? I hope you aren't scheming again, Loki." He said, a tone of warning in his voice. I grinned.
"Of course not, dear Volstagg. Would I do such a thing?" I asked, placing my hand over my heart dramatically. He raised an eyebrow.
"Just don't get us into trouble."
"Oh do not worry. I will not." I said, standing from the table and taking Thor with me. I led us both out of the hall, with a quick wave to our Mother. Once we had left the hall, I scanned the surroundings using magic and made sure nobody was eavesdropping. I nodded to Thor who took the item out of his pocket and held it out to me in his large hand. Compared to his hand, it looked tiny, but copared to mine it was relatively normal sized.
The item was a small, black, velvet box with a tiny golden clasp holding it together. I grinned and took the box gently from Thor's palm. He looked warily at me as I unclipped the golden clasp and opened the box to reveal the ivory silk lining within.
"I have collected the right one, have I not?" He asked, his face forming a frown. I grinned at him.
"Of course you have. It is perfect, brother," I said, with the stupid grin not leaving my features. I looked down into the box once more, grinning at the elegant silver band within. The ring held a single diamond on the top of it, with tiny, silver tree-like branches holding it in place. Inside was an engraving which stated 'The power of love will be defined' in tiny, elegant script.
"Do you think she will like it?" Thor asked, as I shut the tiny box closed and slipped it into my jacket pocket.
"Let's hope so," I said, with my hand over my pocket, making sure that the small box wouldn't magically disappear.
"When do you plan on asking?"
"At the Ball."
"The Ball? But that is only in two days, Loki."
"I know."
"Is that not too soon?"
"Why would it be? I do not think you quite understand how much I love her, Thor. Think of it like this - there is one thing you cannot live without in this world. Okay, whether that be a person, object or maybe a simple thing, you cannot live without it and you would sacrifice absolutely everything for it, even your life. That's how much I love her Thor, she is the one thing that I cannot live without. The one thing that I would happily sacrifice my life for."
"You speak as though you are the only being to have ever felt love."
"So?"
"I have been in love too, Loki. In fact, I still am. You do not have to explain yourself to me, little brother. I know what it is like. Except you have your love by your side, I do not. Just think about that next time," Thor said, as his eyes seemed to cloud over. I frowned and then immediately wanted to take everything back.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. You were only explaining how you feel - I respect that," Thor said, the mist over his eyes fading a little and then his big, goofy smile returned. He slung a heavy arm over my shoulder, almost knocking me to the ground. "Come on, go and find Ava and Sondra. We're going into Town are we not?"
I grinned back at my big brother and all of our differences suddenly meant nothing. It didn't matter that we weren't biological brothers, that we both had different views on almost everything. We were brothers at heart and that's all that mattered.