Archive of Our Own

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Yggdrasil.  The connection to every single realm, beholding powers that could not be fathomed by the mind. No one would have thought the tree would bear a child. A child left abandoned and they named her, Asterix.  Visitors braided her hair, golden with light that resembled her parent, it curled in waves, her skin brushed a soft cinnamon. She spoke with the beasts that resided on her parent, she was loved. The Norns taught her of many things she ought to need to know about the realms. She never left Yggdrasil, she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her parent who gave her life and friends.

Within her was a fragment of Yggdrasil’s core that thrummed through her veins, her powers of life and creation bloomed from within, the Norns taught her to control her power, there were visitors and then there were enemies. Enemies that wished to hurt her friends, the serpent, the dragons, the birds, her friends were strong, she knew but the Norns recognised the importance of battle. She used the naganita, it was a long-brandished polearm that held a blade at the end, it was enchanted to respond to her, it hummed with power, her name Orphena.

In Asgardian terms, she had lived 1041 years, she was nurtured with the honey of the brilliant bees and the leaves of the tree. It was a nice life she had lived so far, despite the life she had she felt the need to know more, she was young, curious, the Norns told her as much as they could about the realms, there’s only so much as they could tell her.

“Ratatoskr... have you left Yggdrasil before?” She asked the furry beast, scratching behind his large ears.

“Many times.” The beast spoke to her. “Why do you ask, child?”

“Will I be able to venture the realms?” She paused her petting.

“You may, though will you be prepared? The realms will show you betrayal, pain and much more beyond what you have known.”

“I want to learn beyond tales, Ratatoskr, I want to know and have experience.”

“Bid your goodbyes, the most honoured place of the realms is of Asgard. You are the child of Yggdrasil, ensure that you keep it a secret.”

“Why?”

“You have seen many venture for the power of Yggdrasil, you have a fragment within you, they will not falter and may try cause you harm.  Remember your training and be in control of your powers, do not trust easy, my child.”

“Thank you, Ratatoskr.” Asterix pressed kiss onto his fluffy cheek, “I love you, I will return.”

“I love you too, child.” Ratatoskr’s black eyes curled with a gleam of affection.

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Asgard was interesting. Asterix saw the land, gold, green and earthy. The market area was filled with life, she kept her naganita next to her person at each time, it hummed as they passed various warriors, eager to test their strength. “Orphena, we have not even been here for two sun rises, be calm.” Asterix said to her dear naganita softly.

“Fruits! Fruits! Fruits that are the best of the realms!” A vendor called, Asterix would doubt that but the fruits were peculiar.

“May I have one of those?” Asterix pointed at a glossy red fruit.

“Ah, the apples.” The vendor smiled at her, “A nugget would suffice.” Asterix reached into her pouch and picked out a golden nugget, a currency she figured was used here, she didn’t quite understand how they did things but she mimicked what she had seen from the other beings that resided on the land. The man packed in seven apples into a meshed bag and gave it to her.

Tentatively she bit into one. The burst of flavour from the peculiar fruit was interetsing, a smile grew on her face as she chewed, “My gosh, these are wonderful, good sir!” Her eyes twinkled happily, glowing with a curious light.

“They are the best of the realms.” The man gave her a boisterous laugh. “Do you come from Alfheim? You seem to hold powers of light.”

Alfheim was home to the light elves, she must have shown a bit of her Aesir through her delight. It would be most difficult to explain her being so she meekly nodded. “Yes, my mother was a Light Elf.”

“Then your mother must be quite beautiful.”

“She is.” Asterix agreed, Yggdrasil was neither male or female but they were her parent. “Thank you for the fruit, I wish a good day.” And then the girl was off on her merry way, finding herself deeper within the marketplace.

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She wandered around for a few hours just buying things that intrigued her, such as hairclips, another sturdy pouch and a few small trinkets that reminded her of home. Until she bumped into someone, “My apologies, I had not been looking where I was going.” Asterix grabbed one of the apples that had been jostled from her bag from the sudden collision.

“You dare--” The insult certainly died on the man’s tongue as he tutted before brushing past her, he walked in a way that exuded his presence, chin up, eyes level, hair fairly draped down his shoulders, his clothes a deep emerald embroidered with black and gold, golden rings on his fingers though on one hand the set didn’t look complete. Asterix stepped forward and her feet crunched on top of something, a golden ring that certainly seemed to belong to the man. She picked it up and rushed after the man as he got swallowed up by the crowds.

“Excuse me, sir!” The maiden budged past people, trying to make sure that they didn’t get hit by her naganita. She caught up to the man at a stall. “Sir, I believe you dropped this.” Asterix presented the fallen ring.

“Is that right? Would you like a reward for it?” The man sneered at her, green eyes blazing in challenge.

“No, I simply wanted to return it.” Asterix pressed the ring into his open hand. “Good day.” She turned, her rivulets of curls whipped around before she was off.

“Halt.” The man ordered, making Asterix pause and look back at him.

“You are not of Asgard, surely you would have recognised their prince even so?” The man crossed his arms, tapping his arm with a finger in a slow tandem.

“Ah...” Asterix didn’t know what to say, she glanced at him, she had heard many tales of the princes of Asgard however she never paid too much mind to them, “Prince...?”

“Loki.” The man said exasperated.

“Ah yes! Prince Loki, the trickster and epitome of chaos!” Recognition flashed in her eyes, “Your sedir clearly shows that, no wonder!”

“You can see my seidr?” Loki asked incredulously.

“Yes, it is quite fluid, unrestrained and very well-tuned, it suits you, it likes you.” Asterix eyes glowed warmly with a not quite golden gleam.

“How curious.” Loki leaned closer to her, mapping out the strange energy the lady before him seemed to emit. “You’re warrior I presume?” He glanced at the naganita in her hand.

“You assume correctly, Prince Loki.” She smiled slightly, “My name is Asterix, daughter of-” She paused, how should she greet herself? “Daughter of Nobody.”

“Nobody?” Loki echoed, amused, the lady didn’t seem like she was saying the truth or lying. It must be an in between type of thing. The deity was curious of her, she seemed like interesting company, he guessed he could play along and be around her for just a while longer.

Little did they both know a tremendous friendship would begin that very moment.

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Asterix had spent a good few months in Asgard, Loki showed her many things, “Loki, you never cease to amaze me! I never thought of using my seidr in such ways!” The two were sat against a tree, reading the books Loki had brought from his bedroom bookshelf.

“My mother gave it to me.” He said with a soft smile.

“Her highness seems very knowledgeable indeed.” Asterix’s hair glowed happily just as she felt.  She could control it of course but when her guard was down it did tend to seep out.

“How peculiar.” Loki brushed a strand of her hair. “You do this a lot when you’re happy.”

“It happens.” She shrugged, “You sedir does the same even if many may not see it,” Her eyes glowed slightly before fading.

“You mentioned this before.” Loki said leaning back against the trunk of the tree.

“It speaks, it speaks the language of those who live upon Yggdrasil.” Asterix explained, “You know of the many brilliant beast that live upon them right?”

“I have heard many tales, though I’ve not made the venture to it yet.”

“Oh, you should! The beasts are ever so interesting, Ratatoskr usually makes his way from the bottom of Yggdrasil to the top to deliver insults, it's hilarious!” Asterix laughed, “The Norns tend to sometimes visit when they can, they taught me so much.”

“The Norns?” Loki eyes widened at the mention. “They know you personally? How do you know so much of about Yggdrasil besides what has been written upon the books?”

“I-” Asterix paused looking at lowkey. “I bind you to a vow of silence on what you hear from me next, do you agree?” She asked him slowly.

“In return I wish for knowledge too.” Loki said confidently.

“Then the vow shall be set.” Asterix’s eyes glowed, enveloping her sclera before her sedir slipped into a golden light traversing around Loki, beckoning his own sedir to mix with her own before both their respective sedir firmly dove into each other’s chests. “I am the child of Yggdrasil.” The light within her eyes dimmed down. “I was left for dead at the roots of Yggdrasil before they gave me more life as a premature babe.”

Loki’s brows furrowed slightly at the mention is her origin, “How did you manage to live?”

“I grew as any child would, I know not of my true heritage but what I do know is every realm has a pathway to my home.” Asterix said sadly, “Here, Loki. A gift.” It was an embellished earcuff, “For being my first friend from the outside, and this shall be my goodbye.” She smiled.

“Goodbye?” Loki echoed, time flew by way too quickly. It felt like yesterday since they met in that market place.

“I have to continue my travels, Loki, that has my sedir inside it. If you ever need a boost, it shall provide for you, if you need me, I will find you, friend.”

“Very well.” Loki said, pressing down his sadness and flashing her a smile. “We will meet again.”

“We shall.” Asterix pressed a soft kiss onto his cheek, “I believe people do that as goodbye, as I have observed here?”

“Some may.” Loki smiled before pressing a kiss on her cheek. “It’s different among many.”

“At least I have gotten this right. I will miss you and I shall never forget you, no matter what.” Asterix told him firmly.

“Goodbye, Asterix  of Yggdrasil.”

“Goodbye, Loki of Asgard.” The two hugged and went to their separate ways.

Chapter Text

Midgard was where she had felt her gift she had given to Loki being used. She was mid fight  within Alfheim against a group of Dark Elves that had managed to cross their territory. She had been travelling with a caravan when they had encountered the Dark Elves. It had been over two decades in which she had left Asgard to venture through the realms. They came with trails. Tribulations she had not encountered before, the betrayal in which Ratatoskr spoke of was the harshest of things she had to endure.

Betrayal stayed heavy in her mind. She made sure to not let it break her, she was raised to be strong and she will continue to stay strong no matter the struggle. Anyway, at the pull of her Aesir she could feel the beckoning call coming from the gift she had given Loki. Midgard. That was where she felt the pull. She stabbed through two Dark Elves with her her precious Ophena that happily groaned at the bloodshed. She made haste to finish the battle and subdue the hostile enemy before she reached into her core and built a path for only her. Yggdrasil’s power hummed inside her as she felt her hair and eyes glow with their gifted light before she began to walk across the path built. Straight to Loki in Midgard.

She had not travelled to Midgard before, she didn’t expect to see so many things there. Life and the noise was different. There wasn’t quite the peacefulness of the Alfheim forests or the bustle of the Asgardian markets. It was loud, restless, alive. Asterix followed her tether towards her gift and found a tower, it looked clean. Shiny. Intriguing.

She jumped, finding a weak window to break though which so happened to be right in front of a sight that angered her. A man in red metal, and… Loki. He seemed injured, his eyes a bleary- blue? In her memories he had green eyes that reminded her of the greenery you could only find on Asgard.

“You dare to injure my friend!” Asterix pointed her naganita at them. Her eyes and hair glowed gold with immense power.

“Oh come on, you’re on his side?!” The man in red armour said exasperatedly. Asterix waved a spell, interfering with his armour making him drop. “Oh, not good.”

“Silence.” She said, she  turned to Loki. “Who did this to you? Who has done-“ she noticed his gaze and ventured forward to him, putting her naganita into her strap before cupping his face.

“I am fine.” Loki said, despite his brutally beaten body.

“No… it is something about you.” Asterix could feel an interference in his mind. “That should not be there.” She shut her eyes as her fingers began to glow with seidr. Damage upon his mind could be seen, someone had broken him from deep within and rebuilt him around foreign seidr. It didn’t belong and had Loki’s own seidr fighting against it constantly, trying to regain control. She didn’t like it. So she removed it. Despite Loki’s pained gasps, she continued, she needed it gone. Eradicated from his mind. To return his mind back to him.

He slumped against her when she was done, clutching onto her tunic with ragged breaths. “You knew…” he said in a low voice.

“Who placed that constructive curse on you? Who?” Asterix turned to him. “You are not weak at all, whoever has done this to you shall pay.”

“I have done many things that has wronged the realms, should I really be the recipient of your kindness?” Loki asked, his eyes holding a small sadness.

“It matters not what you have done. You are my friend, I may not know what you have done and it will not excuse what you done but I will continue to be your friend. Just like before.” Asterix said firmly. “Now, I shall heal you.” She let a wave of gentle seidr coat over Loki, seeping deep into unhealed wounds, new and old, bringing them to anew, releasing him from a bout of pain.

Thunder cracked and flashed as soon as she was done. Asterix drew up her guard as the Thunder God crashed though the ceiling, wielding Mjolinir. So this was Thor. She had not known him before as he was off on travels with his crew when Asterix last visited Asgard. She drew Ophena, gripping her tightly in her grasp. “Prince Thor.”

“Who may you be, accomplice of Loki?”

“Asterix of Nobody.” Asterix said, she had taken to greeting many with the name. Only Loki knew of her name, as her friend, he was the only one true enough to have the honour of knowing. To be honest, Asterix didn’t find many friends, she couldn’t. They didn’t understand her like Loki did. They had ulterior motives whenever they approached her. She has made acquaintances but never a new friend.

“You are helping a traitor.” Thor said, his brows furrowed in anger.

“No. A friend.” Asterix said, “And you, are fighting your brother so I cannot help but see no value in believing your words.” Loki grasped her hand making her turn to him.

“The  Chitauri will come to claim Midgard.” He told her. She knew of the Chitauri, a warrior race that had minds that ran for bloodshed and destruction. They were vicious creatures, she couldn’t fathom how Loki managed to lead such an army before it slowly made sense.

“You didn’t wish for Midgard. You wanted something else.” She smiled at him sadly before turning to Thor. “Everyone has a means to survival, he’s no different.”

“You truly do not see anything wrong with it?!” Thor asked incredulously. How far did Asterix’s loyalties lie? In Loki nonetheless.

“What I find wrong is that you truly have not known what happened to your own brother.” Asterix glared at the thunder man before her, “If you truly do not understand the severity of it then surely you are not a good brother as you may think.” Loki grabbed the sceptre that had fallen beside him, taking his hand out of Asterix’s grasp to do so.

“Prepare, as the Chitauri are not one to fight half heartedly.” Loki grinned before he and Asterix disappeared in a flash green and gold fizzles of Seidr.

“JARVIS? A little help please.” Ironman huffed before the suit began to fold, finally free from the affects of whatever the freaky Tinkerbell lady did to it. “Your brother and his girlfriend are quite the pair.”

“The maiden is not his lover.” Thor said firmly before his brows furrowed slightly, but who was she? He didn’t know.

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“You called, I came, Loki.” Asterix was sat cross legged on the bed in the place Loki had relocated them to. “Is there… something you wish to tell me?”

“You should not trust me, I am not to be trusted, your safety is not guaranteed when you are with me.” Loki said pacing the room.

“I choose where I stand and now, I close to stand next to you!” Asterix said pinning him with a glare. “Even if anyone tries to take me away, I shall bring myself back.”

“No, you do not understand! The moment he recognises your power, your existence he will want you as his own!”

“Who?!”

“The One who should not be named!”

“Is he the one who tormented your mind and your body?” She seethed in anger, her hair glowing in flames of light.

“No. No no no no.” Loki paced towards her, placing his hands on her shoulder, “You shouldn’t find him, never. Don’t.”The fear in his eyes were enough to silence Asterix. Instead she brought him into a hug.

“This is not pity.” She said, feeling him tense up beside her, “I cannot take your pain that you have suffered as I can never fathom what you feel but only if you tell me. I will stay with you, for that is what friends do.”

“Friends do not go so far.”

“Then surely those are not friends you can count on.” Asterix smiled as Loki finally gave into the hug. “It’s okay to be tired, upset, angry. You’ve been silent about your pains for far too long.”

“Why is it that you understand but Thor does not?” Loki moved out the hug to sit down beside her on the bed.

“I do not know.” Asterix said, “All I know is that I know where I belong and where I should lend an ear or a shoulder to. To you. I am your person as you are mine.”

Loki was silent for a while, “Tell me of your travels, I wish to know what you’ve been up to.”

“Certainly!” Asterix began. “My first place I visited was Niflheim, it was ever so cold, they had these berries a little like frost berries and they were delicious! I had them make me some jam and a syrup. They taste lovely with warm honey bread.”

“Why did you wish to go somewhere so bitingly cold?” He asked with a smile of amusement.

“To see the snow. I had never seen snow but I didn’t expect the land to be that cold!” Asterix said, “My hand felt like they were going to succumb to the cold, it was a strange sensation feeling my body freeze up. Luckily a passing caravan clothed me in proper Niflheim clothes to keep the cold out.”

“You knew of the tales but chose not to do the most obvious thing” Loki shook his head in disbelief.

“I confess, that was a mistake on my part but it just happened.” She said with a sheepish grin. “I met good people.”

“Good people?”

“A nice family let me stay with them for a while after I healed the disease plaguing their daughter, they were a poor part of their nation and the disease took to her lungs.” She wrung her wrist with her hands, tapping slightly at the pulse. “She reminded me of myself and how I was left to die, so I wished that she wouldn’t be lost in the same predicament.”

“Is that right?” Loki hummed, his eyes flickered with a sadness, an anger that brewed, not exactly towards her but someone else. “Asterix, I had been lied to. I, the God of Lies had been lied to my whole life.”

“Who lied?” She asked him, turning to face him fully, making sure he had her full attention.

“My family. Odin stole me… from Jotunnheim, he said I was left to die in a temple, I was a runt of my kind.” Asterix glanced at him, noticing the venom pacing his words. “I am the same monster in which they grew up speaking of. I wished to be rid of my connections to that damned nation and I… I wanted them all gone! So that I was rid of my heritage, that I was true prince of Asgard, I did it to show them!” Loki’s eyes had gone a bit hysteric as he began to get worked up.

“What happened after?” She asked him softly, holding onto his hands with her own.

He pulled his hands away quickly, but Asterix didn’t display any hurt or anger, none of that, she settled her hands in her lap and just waited.”They called me a monster… I was getting rid of those creatures and they- they looked at me as thought I was the same!” Loki’s brows furrowed harshly as he let free his emotions, allowing just Asterix to listen, just her to what had befallen him. “Odin punished me. He said I had no right but he had done the same before?! Suddenly I do it and I’m in the wrong! They are not my family. Surely not.” He said bitterly and with righteous sadness.

“Surely your mother is still part of that family, regardless of what Odin did?” Asterix asked carefully, she knew how much Loki loved his mother. She knew that when he spoke of her, he was proud, happy, always having good things to say about Queen Frigga.

“She kept silent about my origin.” Loki said quietly. “I thought she would tell me, not me finding out in the midst of battle of my origin.” He glanced away from her.

“But she loved you regardless. Thor may have been your Fa- Odin’s but you certainly were Frigga’s. She never treated you differently, had she? She spent time with you oustide the company of anyone else, taught you magic, taught you things of her life before Asgard, those memories are for you and her only and she loves you. Speak to her, ask her, maybe don’t assume for assumption may bring you more pain than you wish.” Asterix turned his face towards her. “You have things left to say to her, don’t you? We can fix this.”

“Fix what? Fix the fact I’m a monster?!”

“You’re not a monster, not now not ever, you’re my friend and I see Loki. Loki who taught me how to bargain in the market, Loki who taught me how to find good metal and items with good quality, Loki who showed me what fun was, Loki who had the sweetest of smiles I’ve ever seen in all the nine realms. Loki, my only friend. Loki who I know is the greatest.” Asterix smiled brightly, “You.”

“Even with what I’ve told you… you still believe me to be your friend?” His eyes glistened with sadness.. hope.

“That will never change.” Asterix said, “Now sleep, I will keep watch over you, you’re tired and I will figure out a way to take away the Chitauri threat upon this land.”

“Can I truly rest with the guilt I have brought upon myself?” He asked quietly. “Don’t leave me.”

“I shall stay as long as you wish me to, though if you try push me away, I won’t listen.” She said with a smile, before laying down upon the bed, “Sleep.” He settled down next to her, the faintly look on his face slightly evened out as his strung up body loosened to the beckon of sleep. Asterix kept watch as she had told him but she looked into the pain that had been inflicted upon him. It truly was the worst thing she had seen. Years of his torment, of mind and body. She could tell his managed had been suppressed many times, they tried stopping the very thing that was dear to Loki.

She hated it. She needed to eradicate such a being and their fellows for she could feel Yggdrasil within her agreeing with her sentiment. Whoever had done this to Loki, was of great power. Unimaginable and they would come looking for Loki since she disconnected their tether on him. She glanced at the sceptre Loki had taken to and felt a slightly bluish glow that reminded her of the seidr that was used on Loki.

She held it as her seidr glowed with in her eyes and hair before she opened her mind to those who had used it of recent.

The Titan named Thanos. It was him.

Chapter Text

Loki felt well rested as he awoke from his lapse of sleep. It had been a long time since his mind had been plagued of the Titan. Who forced him to kneel. He hadn’t wished to be found after he fell into the Void. He could see into his mind scape freely. It felt like a fresh crisp breath of air.

“You’re awake.” Asterix smiled, “There are such things called room service which I have called to bring sustenance.” The were in a building, kind of like an inn but Asterix hadn’t understood a lot so she explored through the place and found numbers and items she had never seen before. “I ordered for some… pancake with forest berry and syrup and tea.” She said with furrowed brows not truly knowing what she had ordered but the second she saw berries she went for it.

“You love your fruits don’t you?” Loki said amused, sitting up on the bed.

“Fruits are good, no?” She smiled at him.

“You should be a fruit connoisseur.” Loki said sliding off the bed, “And this is not something Midgardian wear, they will know that you’re in my party much more quickly.” He pointed to her tunic.

“I like it.” She looked down at her pastel yellow tunic that had a satchel braced around her waist and her pouch over her shoulder that held her Orphena. Her boots were of good serpent leather that had been dyed brown. “Though, if it concerns your for my wellbeing, then that is fine. We shall change it. “

“Then we must shop.” Loki said pulling out a sleek black rectangle.

“What is that?” She asked leaning closer as it lit up.

“It’s a means of communication and does this thing called online shopping.” He said producing a small black card, “A bank has given me this after I gave them a lot of the gold I had in my pocket dimension. It hold valuable currency.”

“Oh! Perfect! Then we can look though the cataloging item.” She sat next to him, as he scrolled on a online marketing site.

“Would you like a dress?” He asked her, passing the rectangle to her. “You would suit many.”

“Yes but maybe next time, I wish to fight more freely, I quite like their dresses here. Perhaps I will by a dress of the yellow colour like this.” She pointed at a yellow floral print dress, she really liked it but it wasn’t suitable if there was indefinite danger that was to come, she didn’t want to ruin the dress for she would become incredibly upset.

They found things like floral guard shirts and trousers that Asterix liked and she got herself a nice satchel to go with it, they were very form fitting but then came a question they both hadn’t known how to answer. “What is a bra?”

“I do not know.” Loki said glancing at the term, it seemed like some kind of chest wear for women.

“Do they not enjoy the freedom of their breasts here?” She asked as she looked through the catalog. “Ask the rectangle.”

Loki did so and it provided an answer, “It’s undergarments that support them, most comfortable and suited for battle is the ‘sport bra’.” He told her.

“Interesting, how do they know it fits.” She asked.

“Apparently, many Midgardians attend in person stores to know their fit.” Loki told her. “Maybe we can find one.”

“Then we shall go later on. I believe our ‘room service’ has arrived.” Then came a door knocks Asterix opened the door to find a woman pushing a trolley along.

“For Loki?” The woman said with a smile.

“Yes, that’s us. Thank you, good day.” She rolled the trolley in before she waved her seidr over it. “No poisons.” She said pulling up the silver cover.  It was a tantalising sight, the fluffy flat things of cooked dough, the drips of syrup falling over the sides, the white wisps of cream and the berries sat on-top of the stack of the pancakes.

“Such an interesting bread.” Loki said grabbing his own utensils, cutting the fluffy mass of food before bringing it to his mouth taking a small bite. Asterix followed in suit.

“This is incredible!” She said, cream on the corner of her lips, “They truly outdid themselves, we must go on a journey to find many dishes to taste!”

“You get ahead of yourself, we still have things to do and prepare for.” Loki smiled at her enthusiasm.

“Then when we get to the stores we shall find food to try!”

And that’s what they did.

A few hours later, Asterix was holding a few bags in a comfortable outfit, she found shirts and comfortable pants to wear, Loki was also wearing nicer clothes though his armour were in his pocket dimension, along with Asterix’s naganita. “Asterix, there is a stall that makes chocolate covered strawberries. Would you like some?”

“Yes! If you would be so kind.” Asterix went to his side. “This reminds me of the day we met. It was so much fun!”

“That is true.” He smiled fondly as they got to a stall together and Loki bought her two cups of chocolate strawberries.

Thunder struck down onto the ground just as Asterix began to eat her cup of chocolate strawberries. Debris flung past Loki and Asterix, one of her cups tipped over and was covered by the dust. “My strawberries…” Asterix frowned.

“Brother!” Thor roared.

“That big oaf.” Loki sighed magicking the bags on Asterix into he pocket dimension before flicking a wave of seidr over his body and Asterix, replacing their clothes with their battle outfits. Naganita was drawn as Asterix jumped up and down getting used to her clothes again. “You ready, Orphena?” Her naganita hummed.

“You need not worry about me, Asterix. Fight to your heart’s content. We have company.” Loki said as he drew his twin daggers.

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Asterix did not lose, no. Loki had been subdued by tricks he had not foreseen, a mortal with a bow and arrow. A Barton. She had heard the man of iron speak through a system to the other warriors of Midgard and they managed to weaken Loki slightly from a series of attacks. Asterix had been fighting the Black Widow as she called herself, pacing herself as she didn’t want to hurt the woman more than needed. She didn’t foresee the blue warrior. The Captain to enter the fight. His shield was interesting and didn’t follow any rules, quite like how seidr was.

“Loki has been captured. Stand down.” The Captain said. Asterix glanced over to Loki and indeed saw him in the arms of his brother. Knocked out, bruised and battle worn.

“Who shall be the one to speak to him?” Asterix asked the crew as the sky split open with portals and began pooling with Chitauri. “Ah. They have arrived.” She hit naganita on the ground before she flew off, and began casting her seidr. It coated over the city in a golden wave as she flew into battle, striking Chitauri left and right. Splitting through their bodies with her bladed pole arm.

“Tinkerbell! What are these things!” The man in iron flew beside her, blasting the creatures.

“They’re Chitauri. A warrior race.” Asterix pulled the man in armour away from a blast from a Chitauri. “Keep your guard up, they are unreasonable creatures.”

“Thanks for the heads up Tinkerbell. We already know that.”

“May I ask? What is a Tinkerbell which you call me.” Asterix’s hair glowed as her scelera changed to match it as she formed a weapon into her hand, she slipped Orphena into her sling. The weapon she had formed was an inspired one that looked similar to a rocket launcher but was powered by her seidr. She made a twin pair before throwing it to the man of iron, “It should deal immense damage to that.” She pointed tothe large whale shaped beast that began floating out the portals.

“What’s this?” He asked.

“You have a good mind. Use it.” She pointed her weapon  at the large beast. It split through the air, a deafening zip split through the sky and hit the beast, hitting it straight through the side. Asterix strained as she kept the weapon straight before the beam dimmed down.

“Now this is what I call power.” The man got to using the weapon Asterix had given him.

.

The two friends were in two different cells from each other. No one could carry her naganita, the enchantment was way too strong. It was personalised for those Asterix had give permission to and and had acknowledged to holding it. The agents of SHIELD were, as you could know, not of her acknowledgment.

“Who sent you?” The one eyed man asked her,

“No one.” She said truthfully, playing with her hair dismissing the man. He had cuffed her, Asgardian cuffs, they felt like they were suppressing her seidr but not quite. How could they for she herself is a being who lived by seidr and such attempts to control or eliminate it was impossible. Seidr was dormant in every single thing that Yggdrasil could reach, that is why many could connect with Yggdrasil easier than most.

“How do you know of Loki?” Thor asked her.

“We are friends.” She said glancing at the man. “Have you dwelled on what I told you before?”

“Of Loki having gone through something?” Thor asked her. “Your trust in Loki is astounds me, I do not know whether you’re smart or rather lacking in intelligence.”

“You have failed as his brother. Beyond everything, you should have stuck by him. Have you never waited for an answer from your brother after he did things? Waited?” She asked him, growing angry. Cracks began to form on the walls as the light flickered. “He would have answered but you said the very things he knew would come. You didn’t prove him wrong for his thoughts. You solidified them! He thought of you as a brother until you told him he was not. He thought the world of Asgard until they turned their backs on him! You dare say my loyalties are wrong when you, as his brother have wronged him in the most terrible of ways?!”

“I do love my brother, he knows that-“

“Does he?! You made it clear you didn’t want him as your brother, you couldn’t accept his difference! He is not you! He is not a model of clay that can do no wrong! Your false righteousness clouds that, so damn you!” Asterix broke free of the cuffs and her eyes turned ablaze.  Agents rushed in pointing guns at her as Thor began to stew on the words she had thrown at him to chew. “I will return to Loki’s side as you certainly have proven you have lost that right.” In a flash she disappeared.

“Whew! Ten out of ten for that.” Stark walked in, “JARVIS says she’s in the same cell as Loki as of now.” He took part in the heavy hitting of the Chitauri, sending a missile into a portal taking out the whole mothership. He fell but was caught by Asterix who warmed up his suit again to a functional level and gave it a small spark of power before letting herself be detained by SHIELD.  

“Thor, what was she talking about?” Natasha slipped out from behind Tony.

“She believes I’ve wronged Loki. I do not know how when Loki was the one who…” Thor began to think, Loki seemed to have wanted to tell him something before on Asgard. He had but Thor was not in the mood. Not after what he had done. Then the fall happened. He thought his brother was dead. He mourned him. His brother had came back, seeking Migard. He knew his brothers attacks would be harsh but they were not as harsh as when they fought each other. “Something has happened to my brother. An awful thing but I do not know what it is.” Thor finally said, a grin look upon his face. “I must find out what.”

With Loki and Asterix, she was keeping the man company. He hid his shaking hands beneath the lapels of his shirt. His mind was beyond the walls of the cell. “Loki.” Asterix switched to Asgardian to speak to him, “I have not abandoned you.” She broke off his cuffs. “I made you a promise and I shall keep it.”

“You’re not meant to be here.” He said with a scratchy rasp, his eyes finding hers. “He will see you.”

“He is not here.” She brushed his hair back away from his eyes, “Tell me, what do smell?”

“Berries.” He said after a while of silence. Asterix smelled of the berries that she loaves eating, it came with all the fruits she tended to eat on every realm. “You could have left me here.”

“I wouldn’t.” She told him firmly.

“I am a broken thing. You should discard me as everyone else has.” Loki glanced away, leaning away from her.

“Then I shall tell you that I keep things I hold dear to me, no matter how broken or hurt they are. They belong with me. They amaze me of their strength, their past, their mind. No matter if they differ from others, they are special and I call them mine. Like you are my person.” She told him. “Don’t push me away for I shall endeavour over and over.”

“I feel weak, Asterix.” Loki told her.

“They  suppressed your seidr. I shall channel you some of my core to you.” The usual transformation began to erupt on Asterix and a wave of golden energy, not quite seidr but close began to fill up Loki’s reserves just as a camel would drink water, Loki indulged in it. He felt amazing, almost drunk on it.

“That feels… pleasant.” Loki with a  seidr-drunk smile.

“Ah, this is my first time I’ve tried this, I guess I should decrease the transfer.” She laughed, “Sleep, I will keep you company.” Loki… trusted her. It became clear that he most definitely did as he quickly found sleep on the bed he was given.

Chapter Text

“I do not smother him. I let him do as he wishes.” Asterix said as she was being interrogated once again but by the Spider. “I stand by him, if he does something, that is by his accord.”

“You treat him like he is fragile. What is it you keep from his own brother, Asterix?” The spider leaned forward.

“Then Loki will tell him. It’s not my place and clearly his brother if you could call him such does not realise the answers.”

“Then let me ask you this. Did you know of Loki’s plans?”

“No. Good day.” Asterix stood up from her seat and walked over to the door, tearing it open from its hinges. “Huh, such a weak thing.” She let it drop as she wandered off back to Loki’s cell.

She found Loki not in his cell. She walked along the halls of tethered traces of Loki’s essence and found another interrogation room with guards around it and the man with the eyepatch. They turned to her, arms raised. “I mean no harm unless you do so to Loki.” She said placatingly. “I wish to be with him.”

“Don’t you think you’re a little bit obsessive and attached to him?”

“I don’t believe I am.” She said raising her chin. “If you went to a different plane of land and you only knew one person, out of instinct would you not stick with that person as much as you could?”

“Are you afraid?”

“Negative.” She said just as the interrogation door opened up and the agent that had interrogated looked like he had just lost a psychological warfare with Loki.

“Sparkles,” Anthony Stark. “You can’t walk out your cell without supervision or permission.”

“I already have.” She said turning to the man who was no longer bearing the red and gold armour she had seen before. “Choco-late strawberries. Do you happen to have those here?”

“Chocolate strawberries?” Anthony asked with confusion laced in his voice.

“Thor made me drop mine. I never got to taste them. How is the chocolate made?”

“Asterix, dear, you care for fruits much more than you care for me, it’s so hurtful.”Loki said with a fake frown.

“Fruits fascinate me. Just as I like how figs are made with tiny organisms dying inside them to allow them to become so tasty.” She smiled, “maybe some things need to die to keep a harmonious balance.” It was an odd thing to think and say, why had she said it?

“Friend, back to our cell, perhaps?” Loki said grabbing her wrist and dragging her over, when guards pointed to them, “You dare fire, and I’ll let her kill you.” To be fair, they were staying on Midgard due to unfinished business. Migardian business due to not being able to finish what they had wanted to do before, they communicated with their seidr which the mortals saw as tricks but truly were in depth details of what they wanted to do.

To be honest, Loki felt a bit of… regret that Asterix’s first visit was due to his own misdeeds and unfortunate predicament. She hadn’t asked him until now of why he’d done the thing he did, she listened, she didn’t change her mind or the way she acted around him. She didn’t have any caution against him. She stayed. Closer than ever. She kept him close, didn’t stray a single floor away from him. Her seidr constantly pulsed making sure he knew that she was there. Despite the fact she was stuck with him, she never gave him harsh words. She was there for him and no one else.

For Asterix, she liked the fact Loki was planning to let her enjoy her stay in different places. Seeing an automated door, the ones that revolved and the ones that slid free were interesting things, without seidr too! He was letting her taste as many fruits as she could, he told her that he would! Even though they were in the cell, it wasn’t as though they were stuck, they just chose to stay.

“Friend Loki,” She spoke in Asgardian, “Why have you not called me before? Beyond this?” She asked, it was an innocent question until she saw the face upon her companion that caused her face to harden and halt. “I know who He, is. He shall pay for what he’s done to you.”

“Why… no. You shouldn’t do this for me. It’s a battle between him and I.” Loki clutched her hand, “I beg of you, don’t fight him for me- he will find ways to torment you and control you.”

“I am not to be controlled, Loki.” She said with a smile, “I cannot be, it’s simply not within my nature.”

“Years, Asterix. I wanted to call you for years.” He confessed. “I didn’t want him to have you. The moment I left his nauseating gaze, I called.”

“I would have preferred that you called me a long time ago.” She said sadly, “what matters most to me is that  at least you did. I shall never leave you alone as long as you need me.”

“I do not need.” He said, straightening up and letting go of her hand. “I am a Prince.”

“Ah yes. Right. You are lucky I don’t believe in social hierarchy, imagine if I did?” She huffed in amusement, sitting down on his bed and laid back. “I bow to no one.”

“Not even I?”

“Not even you.” She grinned. In essence, why should she bow when she is a creature made of Yggdrasil, her parent is respected upon the nine realms so why should she have to bow to beings that do not compare to her. She could provide respect but she does not bow.

“You are just as you have been since we met, you didn’t bow even at the mention of my status.” He grinned back at her, laying back on the bed. “You are incredible.”

“Thank you.” She said, “Say, if I ask the Spider of womanly Midgardian things, would she provide me with an answer.”

“What would you ask of her?”

“Of the times in which the womb bleeds, what do they do? I would ask of her if those times. She is the only woman I tend to converse with so often.” She said, she hardly thought it was a sensitive question, she knew that different realms did things differently, some treated it like taboo, some got angry, some some took it gently. She wondered if it was the same for Midgard, when she was on Yggdrasil, it would come four times every year. She would have three loin cloths on her, once her four days completed, she’d burn it with seidr and sprinkle the ashes along the roots of Yggdrasil. When she left, it was different, she kept the ashes in a pouch as she knew not what to do with it. Not when she knew that others could use it to control, it could power a lot of things, her blood seeped the essence of Yggdrasil, she would never let it in others hands.

“When does it come next?” He asked her.

“When morn comes.”

He sat up, eyes wide looking at her. “do you have spare loin cloths?”

“It is no worry, I shall ask the Spider.” Asterix said with a grin, “then we shall go on our ways, travelling is uncomfortable at times so I’d rather not be under unnecessary situations, your brother is quite an annoyance as is the Man of Iron.”

“I understand the sentiment.” Loki said settling back down on the bed.

.

.

.

“Loki, talk to me.” Thor was in the cell and Loki continued reading his book. “Brother…”

“I am not your brother.” He snapped shutting his book.

“You haven’t told me a single thing but I’m listening now.”

“Where was that when I needed you to listen?” Loki seethed. “Leave and have Asterix return.”

“It’s always this Asterix! Do you really think you should trust her? Where has she come from? Why do you trust her more than you trust me?” Thor looked like a wounded puppy.

“Leave! I do not wish to speak to you.” Loki glared, “If you wish for an answer, where were you when I needed you. You said you would be there for me but the moment I did one thing that didn’t align to your false righteousness yourturned your back on me! For years I called for you! You did not appear! The moment I called for her, she came at an instant.  That’s the difference between you and her.”

“I mourned you brother. I thought you were dead when you let go-“

“I did not let go!” He interrupted.

“-I mourned you with mother and we thought you were gone to the Void.”

“You should have looked for my body, you should have.”

“I should have searched better, I’m sorry, brother.” Thor said with tears in his eyes, not yet falling. “I’m sorry I failed you, to leave your side.” At the sight of his tears, Loki felt a great uncomfortableness settle over his stomach, churning it like a cauldron.

“Enough. Leave me.”

“Brother, I’ll depart after this question.” Thor steeled his eyes that still had a bout of sadness within him. “Who tormented you for so many years? It’s clear to me that you were found but by whom?”

“Get out! Leave!” Loki pushed him out with a harsh wave of seidr making Thor crash against the wall outside the cell, Loki’s hand trembled as he called for Asterix through their seidr link.

Asterix appeared in a glimmer of seidr and was by his side. “You called?”

“Did you tell him?!” Loki asked, gripping her shoulder with his hands. “Did you?”

“Thor? I’ve not told him much about anything.” She said calmly, she didn’t want to overstimulate him with emotions he’s not seen on her before.

“Asterix, he knows. How?” Loki’s grasp weakened.

“Maybe he finally gave some thought on what I asked him to.” She said, “I asked him about the ways he may have wronged you to truly dwell on it. I thought if he looked past the violence he so engaged in regularly and started thinking more level headed he shall figure things out.”

“I did not ask for you to do such a thing!” He said angrily. “You had no right!”

“I did so as a friend.” She said. “As your friend. Loki, you keep a lot to yourself and when it builds up and crashes, you tend to get yourself into a worser state than intended. So yes, I said a few things out of help for you.”

“Leave me.” He said turning away from her. “Go.”

“No.” She said. “You only say that to hurt me. I shall not listen.”

“I don’t want to hear you, be near you, or see you!” He pushed her. Asterix stood and made her way to the corner of the cell.

“I will stay here.” Asterix sat down in the corner, then began to play with the strands of her coiled curl hair.

“Do as you wish.” He turned from her.

He didn’t speak to her at all for the rest of the day, and the next. It came the day they had agreed when they wished to leave the cell. She looked at him straight in the eye, she wanted to ask him if he wanted to leave. He looked at her like she wasn’t there but she knew he could see her and was purposefully ignoring her.

The Spider spoke to her more than she would have liked but this time, the Anthony Stark was there too. He didn’t fear her or show any discomfort like he did around Loki. He tried conversing with her, it was strange. He always called her Tinkerbell or Sparkles. She didn’t know what tinker-a-bell was, but he sure called her that.  “What is a tinker-a-bell, Spider?” She asked as Natasha placed a card onto the deck of cards in front of them.

“A fictional character who’s a small fairy who has fairy dust.” the assassin replied to her.

“Faerie.” Asterix repeated, maybe  they were speaking of light elves, she presumed, she was not but they didn’t have to know that. “the correct term is light elf.”

“You don’t have pointed ears or is it not true?” Anthony said, placing another card onto the deck, it was a game called snap where they had to match numbers.

“I am half, from my mother’s side.” She said setting down a card, “Snap.” She placed her hand onto the deck. A pain bloomed from right inside her core, right beneath her heart, it felt like something had snapped away from her, wrenching away from her body. Fleeing. Alarm bells began to blare overhead, piercing through her brain, she placed her hands over her ears. She felt... broken.

“Asterix, Loki has left, do you know where he’s gone?” Anthony gripped onto her arms, she glanced at him and for the first time, she displayed sadness.

“No.” Loki had broken the seidr link and left her behind.

Chapter Text

Asterix had been transported to Stark Tower. She wasn’t seen as a big threat as she hadn’t done anything objectively wrong but taking Loki’s side was up for suspicion. She had been given a room by Anthony Stark and she stayed there. She ate when food was given, she rarely spoke when she was spoken to, she was passing through the motions.

“Come on, Tinkerbell, you have to come out your room someday.” Anthony was knocking again, “Thor has come to speak to you.”

“I don’t want to talk to him.” She opened the door, to find Anthony standing there.

“There you are.” He said placing his hands on his hips, “You look like you’ve had your first breakup, I remember mine, it’ll be okay.”

“I have not broken our friendship.” She said with a scathing glare.

“Ooh, touchy.” Stark smiled at her, “Let’s get you some ice cream, hm? And we can get fruits on it.”

“What is ice cream?” She soon came to find out the wonders of forest fruit ice cream. And she loved it.

“Hahahaaaa!!” Anthony laughed at her as she held her head, she wasn’t in pain, it was a numbing kind of feeling that just felt horrible. “Now that is what we humans call a brainfreeze.”

“My brain is not frozen.”

“Put your tongue on the roof of your mouth, it should help.” He advised her around a mouthful of his own ice cream. “So, what’s your story?”

“I’m a traveller, so far, Midgard and Helheim were the ones I hadn’t explored yet.” She replied, adding a few nuts on top of a new scoop of ice cream.

“How long have you been travelling for, Sparkles?” Anthony asked.

“Two decades.” She replied adding a few of the chocolate chips onto her ice cream, she added chocolate to the things she liked on Midgard.

“About two decades? How old are you?”

“1060 years in Asgardian metrics.” She scooped up some ice cream onto her spoon.

“In human terms?”

“The average Asgardian may live over five thousand and the average age of a human life span may transcend seventy-nine so if you divide those values.... hmm, the ratio would be about sixty-two point five and then if I... ah, I would be seventeen in your mortal terms.”

“You’re a teenager! Travelling by yourself, what did your parents say?” Anthony said slamming down his spoon.

“Mother let me, and I am not a child, I take care of myself!” She huffed.

“Isn’t that lonely?”

“I manage fine.”

“But you’re a teenager.”

“Your societal constructs matter to me, so do not place me within it when I am not of your people.” She set down her empty bowl of ice cream.

“Whatever you say, kiddo.” He smirked, “Then how old is your boyfriend?”

“He is not my lover.” She stood up from the chair, finally having caught on what he meant by the phrase. “He’s younger than me by nine years.”

“Oh my gosh, he’s a teen too... New York nearly got taken over by a teenager!” Stark brushed his hair back with a hand, “I need a drink.”

“Of mead? I quite like fruit wine.”

“You should not be drinking, young lady.”

“I am not a part of your societal constructs.” She shrugged, “Especially of the Land of America.”

“Still not good for you.” He said waving a finger at her, “no alcohol while you’re here.”

“Hm.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I am going to retire for the day.”

“Nope! We’re going shopping, Tinkerbell.” He said snapping his fingers, “JARVIS, which car should be perfect for today?”

“Maybe the Bugatti Chevron Super Sport, sir.” JARVIS replied above head, Asterix glanced around trying to find the source of the voice.

“He’s my AI.” Tony grinned noticing her confusion and curiosity. She just hadn’t been expecting it. “I made him myself.”

“Where is his body?”

“He doesn’t have one but he has eyes and ears around the whole building.” Tony said, quite proud of his creation.

“Anthony, you make such wonderful things.” Asterix said giving him a smile. “But what is a Bugatti?”

“A car.”

“What is that?”

“You’re about to find out.” He bought Asterix down a staircase to a place filled with wheeled big things. He opened the front after pulling a latch, “Ladies first.”

She slid into the thing, it was pleasantly cushioned, and she did have some leg space, it was nice. It was like a carriage with no horse or the usual design. “I presume that is how you steer?” She pointed at the steering wheel, she glanced around, looking into the components of the vehicle, a fascinating machine.

“Yeah, it is, and here’s how you speed up and break and there's the gears.” Tony said as he pointed at the respective things. He finally turned it on and if felt like it had become alive. “Don’t get spooked, its normal.” Tony said fixing his overhead mirror with a grin, “Just enjoy the ride.” The car moved, and it moved fast. Tony swerved through the traffic, he could drive safer, he could but where was the fun in that?

Asterix looked around as the passing world whizzed by, there were many shops, many other vehicles that she hadn’t seen before, even the flying contraptions in the sky, they were magnificent. She had seen spaceships but not the white birds that were indeed not birds.

Midgard is wonderful.

.

.

Shopping with Tony was making Asterix sad. Not that she showed the sadness on her face, it reminded her of shopping with Loki, it was fun when he was around, not that Tony was not interesting, he just wasn’t Loki. He wasn’t her friend either. She didn’t trust him, she just did things with him to seem compliant and not to bring problems for Loki... if he decided to let her find him.

Loki didn’t think of himself as good. Asterix knew this, he tended to not take what was offered to him, afraid that it would be used against him, he always expected more to it than there really was. Asterix didn’t pity him, she didn’t. She learned the exact same thing while travelling, she developed her perception skills that way, reading body language and mannerisms, there are good things and bad things in each realm and Asterix learned them well.

“Hey, Sparkles, do you like that?” Tony asked her, she was standing in front of a shirt that had a green snake wrapped around a red apple, ready to take a bite of it, fangs bared and ready. It was a stupid shirt, snakes are carnivorous and cannot digest cellulose that are within plants. It’s utterly stupid.

“No.” She said turning away from the shirt, “It’s inaccurate.”

“Is that so?” Tony looked at the shirt before shrugging, “Let’s go, seems like SHIELD isn’t happy that you’ve left the Tower.” He said after checking his watch.

“Must you listen to them?” She asked curiously, he didn't seem like the kind of man to listen to base his decisions just because someone told him so.

“I don’t. I make choices whether or not I listen.” Tony said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “So now we’re going to get you better shoes than those sandals.”

“I like them.” Asterix looked down at her feet.

“I’m sure you do.” Tony said.

In the end, he got her some shoes. Asterix didn’t like the restrictiveness of some shoes, but she liked the cushioning. She quite liked boots, it gave her feet more space, but Tony said, ‘it’s summer’. He still bought it for her. When they had gotten back, Thor was there waiting in the  living area.

“Asterix.” He narrowed his eyes a fragment.

“Thor.” She replied.

“Tony.” Tony said.

Thor glanced at Tony before looking back at Asterix, “May I speak with you?”

“I am retiring to my room.”

“For a few minutes.” Asterix gave him a look before giving him a nod.

“After I put these things away... I will find you.” Asterix gestured to the bags in her hands. She faded into a few sparkles of seidr.

“See? Sparkles.” Tony said with jazz hands raised.

“Tony, did she speak of Loki?”  Thor asked Tony, sadness within his eyes.

“Not a word except for his age.” Tony replied patting the Asgardian’s back. “They’re both teenagers you know.”

“In Asgard, they are perceived as adults at nine hundred.”

“Well, we’re on Earth, so they’re teens. Troubled to be exact.”

“I am not troubled.” Asterix said next to him making Tony jolt back.

“Okay, I totally don’t believe that and now I’m going to my lab.” Tony walked to the elevator.

Thor took a breath in before turning to Asterix, he could be civil, he was a prince. “Asterix... how have you been?”

“I have been well.” She replied curtly, taking a seat on a plush chair, she wasn’t very keen on speaking to the man, but it was long awaited.

“I have been meaning to ask, do you know of my brother’s whereabouts?”

“No. He has cut our seidr link.” Asterix replied, she had no reason to lie.

“But you could find him, I presume?”

“I could, but I have no means to help you.”

“I just wish to find my brother.”

“Don’t we all.” Asterix rolled her eyes.

“Then will you tell me of the one who has tormented my brother?”

“Ask your father, ask him of a titan whose skin is of a purple hue. He should know.”

“Are you certain my father would know?”

“Yes, the same man who went to Yggdrasil to ask for guidance at its roots, Odin? He is the same man who should know.”

“How...”

“How do I know?”  Asterix completed his question, “I saw him, when the Asgardians battled Jotunnheim, I was a babe then, but I saw him clearly.”

“You’re...  from Yggdrasil?” Thor’s brows drew closer, she wasn’t lying and she wasn’t one to lie. “There has been no mention of such beings beyond the great creatures that live upon Yggdrasil, your name has not been mentioned once.”

“They made sure of that.” Asterix said. “I was raised there, I see many things and hear of many things. I am of Yggdrasil, there’s no better way to put it.”

“Impossible.”

“I am possible,” she said looking him firmly in the eye, “because, I am.”

“Then it must be true.” Thor said straightening up slightly, he had seen the manipulation of seidr, how she carried herself, she had a presence that differed from warriors he had seen before, she showed fearlessness, independence and most of all, loyalty. As infuriating as it was her loyalty didn’t bend for anyone. He found that her loyalty to Loki was the most confusing and most astounding but... he discovered that maybe it wasn’t so bad that Loki had a friend. Of course, he knew of friends that Loki had when they were younger, but those friends had come and gone, and now he realised... they were more of his friends than Loki’s.

“Loki is... he needs help.” Asterix said, “I cannot tell you much but you’re his brother- and he needs you, maybe more than he needs me, he’s afraid but he is strong.”

“Then help me.” Thor said imploringly, not demanding however it was more like a plea.

“Only for Loki.”

“Only for Loki.” Thor agreed, bringing a handout for her to shake.

She shook his hand, “You tell anyone I fare from Yggdrasil, I will kill you.”  She vowed.

“Would the same apply to Mr Stark as he has been watching the footage?” The smooth voice from before said overhead.

“JARVIS... for Anthony, no.” Asterix said slowly.

“What differs from Tony and I?” Thor asked.

“I like his personality, its eccentric but kind.” She started heading to the elevator, “I don’t like you very much because I can.” Thor had no words to give after that, he could only just stay rooted to his spot and watch as the elevator shut after Asterix pressed a button she presumed was the right one.

Chapter Text

Loki felt bad. No. It was necessary. He had to leave her. He couldn’t have the creature who-shall-not-be-named knowing of her existence. It’s for the best. The niggling thought of her loyalty towards him was needlessly pressing at him, even his traitorous seidr was also upset from the departure away from Asterix. He had to get off Midgard, trouble was arriving any time soon and he would rather be far away from Midgard and Asgard if it were to happen.The rest of the  Chitauri were bound to find Midgard, Loki didn’t wish to be found again.

He felt lonely. Lonelier than ever but he’s done it before, he can do it again.

He didn’t need anyone.

.

.

.

.

“These are mangoes?” Asterix asked as Black Widow- Natasha Romanov slid her a plate of sliced mangoes. It was deep in a orange and yellow mix. She dug a fork into the fruit, it was an easy thing to do, it was both soft but holding shape. She placed it in her mouth, and a sweet burst of flavour coated her tongue, a smooth tangy hint made its way onto her tastebuds, it was a fibrous kind of fruit. “These are delicious.” Asterix said with a small smile, spearing her fork into another cube of mango.

“Glad you like it.” Natasha smiled at her, “We have more if you’d like some.”

“Yes please, oh, may I have some seeds as well? I wish to grow my own when I go home.”

“And where is that?”

“A path away.” Asterix smiled back at her. Natasha liked to get information out of her a lot. She presumed that came with her profession as an assassin. “My family would love them.”

“How many family members do you have?”

“Many.” The girl replied, “Thank you for the fruit, Natasha.”

“Asterix, would you want to spar later on?” Natasha was already out of her seat, she wanted to get a gauge on Asterix’s power level.

“I suppose that would be fine.” Asterix could control her strength, after all, Natasha is a mortal, she’s not exactly weak but she was a good fighter. It would help Asterix gain a clear understanding of humans. They were an unpredictable society, a bit behind in terms of developments of seidr and their mindsets haven’t moved on past the confines of whatever laws of science they keep but perhaps Asterix has a bit more to learn about the civilisation. “Which hour is that?” Asterix pointed at the clock, her Allspeak was good in terms of understanding people and phrases but not written inscriptions, she can get the gist of it but not exactly know what it says.

“Two-thirty.”  Natasha replied with a smile. “I can get Tony to give you a StarkPad to learn a few bits of English.”

“Is English known around Midgard?” Asterix asked, it was the first language she had been spoken to with along with the odd language that Natasha muttered under her breath. It differed from English so much. Midgard had many languages.

“Very, many countries teach it and speak it.” Natasha explained, “It will be good for you to learn it.”

“I suppose it would be the most effective thing to do.” Asterix replied, “Thank you, Natasha.”

“No problem.” The red head replied.

By three, Natasha had taken Asterix to the training room, Asterix held a blunt polearm in her hand, she adjusted her grip around the polearm, getting a good feel for it, she’d hate to break it, in case it harmed Natasha. Speaking of Natasha, she held had batons to use. She seemed well trained in using them.

“Do you have any ground rules for this spar, anything you don’t like?” Natasha asked as they began circling each other.

“Not that I can think of.” Asterix was used to fighting... for her life, for others. She steadied her polearm before she shifted her foot and launched off from the ground, Natasha was quick to parry the blows using her batons, once getting her footing, released one of her batons, spinning it in her fingers to try land a harsh jab at Asterix.

The girl evaded the blow easily, her feet dancing as she readied herself for Natasha’s attack that came swiftly, it landed its course. Managing to land across Asterix’s cheek. A clear wave tremored through the baton. Asterix’s body was stable like stone, unmoving- no, refused to be moved. The momentary stupor Natasha experienced was swept away with a flicker of alarm as Asterix pulled back her arm and landed a solid blow on her solar plexus.

Natasha skid back, her boots not being able to keep that trusty grip she quite liked, she had no time to collect herself, Asterix had charged. Light steps flickering across the training floor with purpose, the pole arm came spearing at Natasha’s side and the assassin managed to narrowly weave out the way from the point of impact.

A smile glinted its way over Asterix’s face, “You’re good, Miss Natasha.” She praised.

“Thank you.” Natasha said after evading another one of Asterix’s blows. She had to admit, the girl was holding back on her, not a single sign of her perspiring was shown, she looked like she was having fun. Not in a mocking way but truly it nestled something quiet and ugly into Natasha. The difference between a mortal and a being like Asterix.

Natasha ended up calling the end of the spar off. She knew she wasn’t winning and she value her health which was essential. It wasn’t a fight to the death but Natasha did feel like she was on the losing side against Asterix. The girl smiled her, thanked her for the fun and retreated to her room leaving Natasha to stew in the spar. Natasha felt humbled, slightly embarrassed but happy that the girl even sparred with her despite knowing the difference in their power.

A conclusion Natasha came to was that: Asterix is dangerous. More than Loki.

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.

Asterix was goaded out of her room that very evening by Anthony, of course. He was showing her how to use a StarkPad. Loki had one of them like he was showing her at the hotel. To think that one thing could store so much information was quite fascinating to Asterix. She could find books, small portraits that moved and spoke, she could even take the moving and speaking portraits herself! Anthony told her that’s what a photo is and a video. She would love to take it and capture pictures of fruit, herself, maybe Loki.

“I get to keep this?”

“Yeah, it's a gift.” Anothony told her.

“Thank you.” Asterix lifted up the StarkPad and scrolled through it clicking a button and falsh of light shot out of it. “Oh.” She said, slightly startled by it. The capture of luminal power was interesting; she wished to take it apart and look into the minds of the humans hamns behind the technology. Perhaps they needed a bit of a nudge into learning some of the aspects they refuse to learn as they don’t go hand in hand with their laws of Science.

“I think you’ve got a visitor.” Anthony rolled his chair to face the door where Thor stood not realy trying to breach the space they had created without persmission even though he wishes he could.

“Asterix, may I speak with you?” Thor asked, after a few moments of silence, Asterix set down the StarkPad and gave him a nod.

“If you’re wondering where Loki is, I still don’t know.” Asterix told him, “Loki however is planning to leave Midgard.”

“Without the tesseract?”

“Yes, by any means possible.”

“Why is that? I believed that was his main reason to come here.” Thor said before adding, “I spoke to father about the Titan you spoke of. He seemed unsettled, angry even. He spoke of the Titan called Thanos who once was a threat to all the realms. He has returned.”

Asterix hummed, thinking slightly. “He has, the Norns... when teaching me of the realms, spoke about him. His goals, his wants. His mindset was twisted and transgressed his restrictions as a Titan. They called him Mad but he in fact is not. He is calculative, he isn’t impulsive, he found his goals possible. He wishes to make that reality with the power of the Infinity Stones.”

“Infinity stones?” Anthony asked. Asterix forgot that Anthony was just a mortal who hadn’t been given the knowledge of the realms.

“They are stones created from the primordial singularities before your realm was made.” Asterix told Anthony, “Time, reality, space, power, mind and soul, they all have their singular powers, together would be enough to wipe out realms, civilisations, planets- in essence, anything and everything within the wrong hands.”

“And what does Thanos exactly want to do with them?”

“I assume it's to bring balance to the realms.”

“How is he meant to do that?”

“Wiping out half of the population of the universe.” Asterix’s voice was calm. The madness in her word were deafening.

“He’s been collecting them... hasn’t he?” Thor glanced at her, a gaunt look falling over his face. “He was using Loki for it.”

“Yes... There are three stones as of now on Midgard and Loki was sent- I believe, to retrieve them by Thanos.” Asterix’s lips tilted slightly downwards, “Loki intended to lose, here, in Midgard. Thanos has done monstrous things to Loki, and he wanted to have an escape... if he had to be a villain as you say he is, then he’d play the part and fall like one. If it meant he would’ve been free.”

Electricity sparked wildly around the room, a wave of seidr wafted around the room, smoothing over the electronics and Anthony, keeping him safe from a blast of electricity that shot at him from Thor. “How dare he?! How dare he hurt my brother!” Thor raged on, he turned on Asterix, “How can you not be angry?! How can you sit there and not even try locating my brother?” Anger scrambles the mind, it takes hold, finds something to blame and sinks into its target.

“I am angry.” Asterix said, maintaining a level tone. “I haven’t been sitting here doing nothing. I know the whereabouts of Loki’s seidr, it's more truthful than he is, I wait for him to assimilate with his seidr in his decisions then I shall. Earth needs to prepare. There’s a battle coming. I suggest you speak to the Sorcerers of this realm.”

Anthony brushed a hand through his hair, his face already seamed with inevitable stress coming, “This calls for the Avengers.” Tony sighed, already having his mind running on like a train station.

Thor had calmed down, the crackles of electricity still faint in the air, “I shall speak with my father. Asgard must prepare.” The prince had his duties to both Midgard and Asgard.

“We’re going to need a few more hands on this universal threat.” Anthony got up from his chair, “Asterix, go find Loki. I’ll deal with S.H.I.E.L.D, we need his help. He must have some information we could use against this guy.”

“Thank you, Anthony.” She smiled finally. “If he doesn’t wish to see you, accept it. I can relay information in his stead.”

“That’s... actually a good compromise.” Anthony said, “JARVIS, message the Avengers. We have a meeting to attend, clear up my schedule for the week too.”

“Of course, sir.” JARVIS replied.

“I shall be heading off, thank you for the hospitality.” Asterix said standing up, her eyes glowed gold as her hair began to follow in suit, the coils of her hair catching the glow. Her seidr searched for the lapels of Loki’s seidr before firmly grabbing on.

“Look after him... For me.” Thor implored to her, his eyes sad but trusting.

“I will.” She disappeared in a burst of seidr.